Abstract:
Currently, the syndromic management of HIV/AIDS is based on a biomedical model
that focuses on the ABC (Abstain, Be faithful, Condomise) model. The ABC model
overlooks the issue of indigenous cultural practices, sexual behaviours, knowledge
and attitudes of the society. A grounded theory study was used for the research. The
population for the research on which this article is reporting, was selected from the
Vhavenda ethnic group using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were held at
the participants’ own homes. The outcome of the study on which this article is reporting,
may assist in identifying indigenous health beliefs, attitudes and practices that will
assist in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The findings revealed that cultural practices,
such as premarital counselling, polygamy and widow inheritance, are believed to be
influential in making women more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV/AIDS. The practice of abstinence, as emphasised at initiation schools, should be
incorporated into current policies and preventative practices. The findings further
demonstrate that policy-makers who formulated the HIV/AIDS strategy have limited
knowledge of the health beliefs, attitudes and practices of the people they serve.
They thus find it difficult to draw up promotion and prevention strategies that meet
the needs of the community. It is therefore imperative that our health-care training
curriculum be reviewed to make provision for the incorporation of sound and effective
indigenous practices to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and to eliminate or refine
practices that are harmful and detrimental to people’s health. The cultural practices
that were proved reliable and effective will be recommended for integration into health
education.
