HIV/AIDS Health Literacy in Zimbabwe

P. E. Terry; T. B. Masvaure; L. Gavin

doi:10.1055/s-0038-1633965

Methods of Information in Medicine, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Methods Inf Med 2005; 44(02): 288-292
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1633965

Original Article

Schattauer GmbH

HIV/AIDS Health Literacy in Zimbabwe

Focus Group Findings from University Students

P. E. Terry

¹Park Nicollet Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

,

T. B. Masvaure

²University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe

,

L. Gavin

³Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

› Institutsangaben

Abstract

Summary

Objective: This qualitative study was designed to assess program needs and evaluate and improve HIV/AIDS prevention efforts at the University of Zimbabwe.

Methods: We conducted eight focus group discussions with 70 students and conducted key informant interviews with formal and informal opinion leaders. Four mixed-sex focus group discussions, two all-female, and two all-male sessions were held.

Results: We found a pervasive sense of despondency and powerlessness among students. Consistent across focus groups, but particularly within the women’s groups, respondents revealed that financial and accommodation needs and peer pressure were causing many male and female students to engage in prostitution. Focus group discussions also revealed condom use with regular partners is low and that students dating partners who are employed find it hard to insist on condom use in the relationship.

Conclusions: Participants stated programs had positively influenced their reduction in the number of sexual partners and intentions to get tested for HIV.

Keywords

HIV/AIDS - prevention - peer education - gender - edutainment

Volltext

Referenzen

References
1 Report on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS); July 2002
2 Johnson B, Carey M, Marsh K. et al. Interventions to reduce sexual risk for the human immunodeficiency virus in adolescents, 1985–2000: a research synthesis. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2003; 157 (04) 319-20.
3 Kamali A, Carpenter L, Whitworth J. et al. Sevenyear trends in HIV-1 infection rates, and changes in sexual behavior among adults in rural Uganda. AIDS 2000; 14 (04) 427-34.
4 Varghese B, Maher J, Peterman T. et al. Reducing the risk of sexual HIV transmission: quantifying the per-act risk for HIV on the basis of choice or partner, sex act, and condom use. Sex Transm Dis 2002; 29 (01) 38-43.
5 Ronald Hope KS. Promoting behavior change in Botswana: an assessment of the Peer Education HIV/AIDS Prevention Program at the workplace. J Health Commun 2003; 8 (03) 267-81.
6 Agha S. An evaluation of the effectiveness of a peer sexual health intervention among secondaryschool students in Zambia. IDS Educ Prev 2002; 14 (04) 269-81.
7 Ross M, Williams M. Effective targeted and community HIV/STD prevention programs. J Sex Res 2002; 39 (01) 58-62.
8 Brieger W, Delano G, Lane C. et al. West African Youth Initiative: outcome of a reproductive health education program. J Adolesc Health 2001; 29 (06) 436-46.
9 Siegel D, Aten M, Enaharo M. Long-tem effects of a middle school- and high school-based human immunodeficiency virus sexual risk prevention intervention. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001; 155 (10) 1117-26.
10 Feldman D, O’Hara P, Baboo K. et al. HIV prevention among Zambian adolescents: developing a value utilization/norm change model. Soc Scie Med 1997; 44 (04) 455-68.
11 Pearlman D, Camberg L, Wallace L. et al. Tapping youth as agents for change: evaluation of a peer leadership HIV/AIDS intervention. J Adolesc Health 2002; 31 (01) 31-9.
12 Wolf R, Tawfik L, Bond K. Peer promotion programs and social networks in Ghana: methods for monitoring and evaluating AIDS prevention and reproductive health programs among adolescents and young adults. J Health Commun 2000; 5 Suppl 61-8.
13 Hutton G, Wyss K. N'Diekhor Y. Prioritization of prevention activities to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in resource constrained settings: a cost-effectiveness analysis from Chad, Central Africa. Int J Health Plann Manage 2003; 18 (02) 117-36.
14 MacPhail C, Campbell C. 'I think condoms are good but, aai, I hate those things': condom use among adolescents and young people in a Southern African township. Soc Scie Med 2001; 52 (11) 1613-27.
15 Campbell C, MacPhail C. Peer education, gender and the development of critical consciousness: participatory HIV prevention by South African youth. Soc Sci Med 2002; 55 (02) 331-45.
16 Wolf R, Bond K. Exploring similarity between peer educators and their contacts and AIDS-protective behaviors in reproductive health programs for adolescents and young adults in Ghana. AIDS Care 2002; 14 (03) 361-73.
17 Ott M, Evans N, Halpern-Felsher B. et al. Differences in altruistic roles and HIV risk perception among staff, peer educators, and students in an adolescent peer education program. AIDS Educ Prev 2003; 15 (02) 159-71.
18 Campbell C, Mzaidume Y. How can HIV be prevented in South Africa? A social perspective. BMJ 2002; 324 7331 229-32.
19 Bosompra K. Determinants of condom use intentions of university students in Ghana: an application of the theory of reasoned action. Soc Sci Med 2001; 52 (07) 1057-69.
20 Vaughan P, Rogers E, Singhal A. et al. Entertainment- education and HIV/AIDS prevention: a field experiment in Tanzania. J Health Commun 2000; 5 Suppl 81-100.
21 Legarde E, Pison G, Enel C. Risk behaviours and AIDS knowledge in a rural community of Senegal: relationship with sources of AIDS information. Int J Epidemiol 1998; 27 (05) 890-6.
22 Mitchell K, Nakamanya S, Kamali A. et al. Community- based HIV/AIDS education in rural Uganda: which channel is most effective?. Health Educ Res 2001; 16 (04) 411-23.
23 Skinner D, Metcalf C, Seager J. et al. An evaluation of an education programme on HIV infection using puppetry and street theatre. AIDS Care 1991; 3 (03) 317-29.
24 Harvey B, Stuart J, Swan T. Evaluation of a dramain- education programme to increase AIDS awareness in South African high schools: a randomized community intervention trial. Int J STD AIDS 2000; 11 (02) 105-11.
25 Panford S, Nyaney M, Amoah S. et al. Using fold media in HIV/AIDS prevention in rural Ghana. Am J Public Health 2001; 91 (10) 1559-62.
26 Glik D, Nowak G, Valente T. et al. Youth performing arts entertainment-education for HIV/AIDS prevention and health promotion: practice and research. J Health Commun 2002; 7 (01) 39-57.
27 Valente T, Bharath U. An evaluation of the use of drama to communicate HIV/AIDS information. AIDS Educ Prev 1999; 11 (03) 203-11.
28 Noell J, Ary D, Duncan T. Development and evaluation of a sexual decision-making and social skills program: “the choice is yours – preventing HIV/ STDs”. Health Educ Behav 1997; 24 (01) 87-101.
29 Green L, Kreuter M. Health Promotion Planning: An Educational and Ecological Approach. 3rd ed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing; 1999
30 Norr K, Tlou S, McElmurry B. AIDS awareness and knowledge among Botswana women: implications for prevention programs. Health Care Women Int 1996; 17 (02) 133-48.
31 Dancy B, Marcantonio R, Norr K. The long-term effectiveness of an HIV prevention intervention for low-income African American women. AIDS Educ Prev 2000; 12 (02) 113-25.
32 Baeten J, Nyange P, Richardson B. et al. Hormonal contraception and risk of sexually transmitted disease acquisition: results from a prospective study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001; 185 (02) 380-5.
33 Norr K, McElmurry B, Moeti M. et al. AIDS prevention for women: a community-based approach. Nurs Outlook 1992; 40 (06) 250-6.
34 Hassim S. A conspiracy of women: The women's movement in South Africa's transition to democracy. Social Research 2002; 69 (03) 693-732.
35 Ramphele M. Whither feminism. In. Scott J, Kaplan C, Keates D. editors. Transitions, Environments, Translations: Feminisms in International Politics. New York: Routledge; 1997: 556.
36 Seidman G. Gendered citizenship: South African democratic transition and the construction of a gendered nation. Gender and Society 1999; 13 (03) 287-307.