RESULTS
6.14 SUMMARY OF RESULTS
• Transmission - Knowledge of transmission comprised 4 categories.
^ Sexual transmission - While all respondents correctly indicated that HIV/AIDS is
sexually transmitted, 46% indicated that HIV/AIDS is also transmitted by kissing an infected person.
S Sharing physical utensils - close to 1 in 4 respondents believed that HIV/AIDS can be
transmitted by sharing physical utensils (22%). 24% of respondents believed that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by eating food prepared by an infected person and a slightly higher frequency (26%) indicated that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by sharing a cigarette with an infected person.
•S Social interaction - 1 in 4 respondents were poorly informed regarding transmission
by social interaction. 43% of respondents believed that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted when an infected person coughs on you. Respondents were well informed with regard to transmission by playing with an infected person (81%), holding hands with an infected person (84%), travelling on the same bus/taxi with an infected person (97%) and living in the same room/house with an infected person (78%). Significantly more Indian and Coloured than African respondents believed that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by playing with an infected person. Similarly, significantly more females as compared to males believed that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by playing with an infected person.
S Contact with blood - Respondents' knowledge of transmission was poorest with
regard to HIV infection by contact with blood. Although 87% of respondents reported that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by using needles used by an infected person, just under half the sample (49%) indicated that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by mosquito bites.
• Cure - The large majority of respondents understood that there is no cure for AIDS (78%). With regard to myths about cure, significantly more Africans than Indians and Coloureds believed that having sex with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS. A significant association was found between knowledge on cure of HIV/AIDS and peer norms.
• Detection - Respondents showed high levels of knowledge with regard to ways of detection, with a large majority understanding that HIV/AIDS can be detected by taking a blood test (70%). A large percentage of respondents were not aware that an infected person could have no symptoms (54%).
• Knowledge of Condom Use - Most respondents were familiar with a condom and its use. Differences in seeing and knowing what a condom is used for were found across grades and gender, with more respondents in the lower grades than the higher grades and more females than males reporting not seeing a condom and not knowing what a condom is used for. Only 1% of respondents indicated that they carry condoms with them. Knowledge of condom use was strongly associated with threat.
• Perceived Knowledge of HIV/AIDS - A high percentage of respondents indicated that they had poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS (73%), this being significantly more pertinent to females than males.
> Personal Exposure to HIV/AIDS - Respondents' exposure to persons with HIV/AIDS seemed to be minimal. Differences across race were noted, with Africans reporting significantly less exposure to infected persons than Indians and Coloureds.
A significant relationship was found between personal exposure and knowledge of transmission.
> Threat
• Perception of Risk - The large majority of respondents have a generally high perception that HIV/AIDS is a threat to society, with significantly fewer Africans than Indians and Coloureds holding this view. Significantly fewer females than males and fewer Africans than other race groups indicated that they are susceptible to HIV/AIDS. A moderate but significant relationship was found between threat and transmission.
• Fear - The majority of respondents showed a relative lack of fear in making contact with HIV infected persons with differences regarding fear being noted across race,
with more Africans than Indians and Coloureds revealing fear of casual contact with infected persons.
> Prejudice - In general, respondents appeared to be accepting in their attitudes towards stigmatised groups and persons with HIV/AIDS. There were significant gender differences in refusing to be friends with an infected person, with more females than males refusing to be friends with an infected person. A significant negative relationship was found between prejudice and threat.
> Prevention of HIV/AIDS - Respondents were generally accurate in knowing that the best ways to protect oneself against HIV/AIDS is through condom usage and abstinence.
'r Behavioural Practices (Sexual Activity and Frequency) - Only 14% of respondents
indicated being sexually active, with most of these respondents indicating having only one sexual partner in the last six months. Respondents with high levels of personal exposure reported not being sexually active or having fewer sexual partners in the last 6 months. Condom usage amongst sexually active respondents was disappointing, with only 46% indicating regular condom use. Sexually active respondents with higher levels of knowledge on condom use reported more consistent condom use.
> Peer Norms - Peer norms appeared to influence respondents' opinions regarding
sexual activity and condom usage. A large percentage of respondents felt that it was unacceptable for boys and girls to engage in pre marital sex, with significantly more Indians than Africans and Coloureds indicating that pre marital sex is unacceptable.
Respondents generally felt uncomfortable in letting their friends know that they use condoms.
> Self-Efficacy - Respondents reported generally high levels of self-efficacy with regard to sexual practices and condom use. However, a fairly large number of respondents indicated that their sexual partners would refuse to use condoms, with a significantly larger number of Africans as compared to other race groups indicating that their sexual partners would refuse to use condoms. Similar differences were noted across gender, with more females as compared to males indicating that their partners would refuse to use a condom. A significant relationship was found between threat and self-efficacy.
> Health Seeking Behaviours (Care and Support) - Most respondents indicated that
if they were HIV positive, they would go regularly for treatment. However, a significant percentage of respondents indicated that they would keep their HIV status a secret. A high percentage of respondents indicated that in the event of needing information about HIV/AIDS, they would turn to their parents or medical practitioners.
> Education
• HIV'AIDS Information Exposure - The primary sources from which the respondents learned about HIV/AIDS included the media (primarily television), teachers and peers. Very little exposure was reported to be taking place in the family, with siblings and parents being rated poorly as sources of information.
• Sexuality Education at School - The large majority of respondents indicated that their school does not play an active role in educating them about HIV/AIDS. The most preferred sources of school based HIV/AIDS education were medical experts and teachers.
CHAPTER 7
DISCUSSION