The lives and experiences of HIV positive teenage learners : a case study of Intshanga schools of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2008
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Abstract
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is acknowledged as a disease that has harmful
impacts on the social and economic development of developing countries.
Much of the research on the pandemic has not, until recently concentrated on
its impact on the education sector and on teenagers as people living with HIV.
This study investigates the lives and experiences of HIV positive teenage
learners (main participants) in some Intshanga schools in KwaZulu-Natal. As
teenagers are essentially minors, and would be under the care of parents or
other caregivers, it was necessary to learn more about the lives of the
teenagers from caregivers in the community and from family members within
families where there are individuals living with HIV. The study provides some
insight into how other people like family members and caregivers understand
the pandemic as well as the role they play in the lives of those infected by the
HIV virus.
Empirical data was collected over a period of a year (2004-2005) and yielded
the following main findings:
* Fear about disclosing one's status: HIV and AIDS are still not accepted as
one of the significant realities of the lives of learners. It is regarded as a
shameful disease which most members of the community prefer not to talk
openly about.
* Effects on affected learners: Social, economic and cultural circumstances
and perspectives impact negatively on relationships in general and on
relationships significant to learners themselves, i.e. parent-child and adult.
* Persons living with HIV are called names by those who are seemingly not
affected.
* Teenagers report that they avoid using local healthcare services because
they have on occasion experienced being verbally abused at these health
care centres.
* Teenagers are not assisted in dealing with peer pressure.
* Teenagers are vulnerable to making disastrous choices.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.
Keywords
Teenagers--Sexual behaviour--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Gender studies., AIDS (Disease) in adolescence--KwaZulu-Natal--Inchanga., AIDS (Disease) in adolescence--Social aspects--KwaZulu-Natal.