Contextual factors affecting adolescents’ risk for HIV/AIDS infection: Implications for education

Abstract

The primary aim of this study has been to investigate contextual factors that affect the adolescent’s (especially the young girl’s) risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection and the implications thereof for education. Initially it was important to conduct an orientational background analysis to provide the necessary background material. The investigation revealed that the number of people living with HIV/AIDS continues to increase and that life expectancy in South Africa may drop dramatically. A further fact that became apparent is that more girls are living with HIV/AIDS than their male counterparts. The important role of the school as an institution serving society and its important role in the prevention of HIV/AIDS infection emerged very clearly in this study. The fact that the school should address the contextual factors that increase the risk of the young girl with regard to HIV/AIDS infection gave rise to the formulation of the primary research problem: Which contextual factors affect the adolescent’s (especially the young girl’s) risk to become HIV/AIDS infected and what are the possible implications for education? Chapter 2 presented a study of the influence of parenting styles and the possible ways in which these might predispose the adolescent (especially the young girl) to HIV/AIDS infection. Other aspects of the family in contemporary society such as its vulnerability and deterioration were investigated with regard to the possible predisposing of girls to become HIV/AIDS infected. The focus in this chapter also included gender inequalities, perceptions of traditional gender roles, and physiological factors that might increase the risk of the young girl with regard to HIV/AIDS infection. In Chapter 3 the socio-economical situation of women and young girls and the manner in which this increases their risk to HIV/AIDS infection was investigated. It became apparent that socio-economic factors such as poverty, violence against women, sexual behaviour and prostitution, as well as conflict and displacement increase the young girl’s risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection. In Chapter 4 several implications that the adolescent’s (and especially the young girl’s) risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection poses to education were discussed. This chapter also focused on challenges for the educational manager and educators with regard to effective management of schools that may be severely affected by HIV/AIDS. This chapter is concluded with a suggested framework for developing and implementing an HIV/AIDS policy for schools in an effort to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. Chapter 5 concludes this study with a reflection upon the findings of the study and a presentation of specific recommendations that may contribute towards reducing the risk of the adolescent (especially the young girl) with regard to HIV/AIDS infection.