Previous studies reporting perceptions of HIV and AIDS by white youth in South Africa suggest both explicit and implicit racial stereotypes and negative attitudes. This paper contributes to the literature on the discourse of racial stereotypes found in discussions about HIV and AIDS. The study was conducted in the suburb of Edenvale, north-east of Johannesburg, South Africa. Three focus group discussions were held with mixed-sex, white middle-class participants aged 16 to 24. Key findings show stereotypes related to cultural knowledge and group character of black youth. Participants spoke negatively of ignorance, illiteracy, traditionalism, backwardness and lack of civilisation among black youth. Black youth were negatively represented as relying on ancestors and traditional healers for guidance. Participants reasoned that black young males were sexually irresponsible and promiscuous, and were spreading HIV intentionally. Thus it is imperative that contemporary HIV prevention interventions in South Africa address and dispel stereotypes reproducing racist discourses. Keywords: adolescents, HIV, stereotypes, race, racism, youth, South Africa.Mzikazi Nduna is a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She has research interests in sexual and reproductive health, gender and gender-based violence and psychological distress. She worked on the adaptation and evaluation of the Stepping Stones programme. She is currently visiting professor at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Jacky Mendes is a Masters Research Psychology student in the Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand. Jacky is interested in social determinants of health, HIV prevention, youth, gender and social discourses of intergroup relations. Jacky was a youth representative at the Psychological Association of South Africa in 2009. RésuméDes études antérieures sur les perceptions du VIH et du SIDA chez la jeunesse banche en Afrique du Sud suggèrent l' existence de stéréotypes raciaux explicites et implicites et des attitudes négatives. Cet article contribue à la littérature sur le discours des stéréotypes raciaux relevés dans les discussions à propos du VIH et le SIDA. L' étude a été menée dans la banlieue d'Edenvale, au nordest de Johannesburg, en Afrique du Sud. Trois groupes de discussion ont été formés avec des participants et participantes blancs issus de la classe moyenne et âgés de 16 à 24 ans. Les principales conclusions de ces échanges montrent l' existence de stéréotypes à propos du bagage culturel et du comportement de groupe de la jeunesse noire. Les participants ont évoqué de manière péjorative l'ignorance, l'analphabétisme, le traditionalisme, le retard et l'absence de civilisation des jeunes noirs. Ceux-ci sont dépeints négativement comme des personnes se fiant à des ancêtres et des guérisseurs traditionnels. Les participants sont parvenus à la conclusion que les jeunes hommes noirs étaient sexuellement irresponsables, de moeurs légères, et qu'ils étaient en t...
To the Editor: The Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act instituted safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility regulation for women. Universal access to reproductive health services is available through the district health services. 1 By 2001, there had been a 91% decline in maternal mortality from unsafe abortions in South Africa (SA) as a result of the CTOP Act. 2 However, despite the availability of free reproductive health services, few women are utilising family planning services in SA.3 Recent studies have reported that unsafe abortions are on the increase. [4][5][6] We wished to determine the number of terminations of pregnancy (TOPs) requested and the number of TOPs performed from January 2008 to December 2009 in the Johannesburg Metropolitan District (JM). We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study including TOP data from district health information systems in the JM. All health facilities offering TOP services at the district level were included.The analyses showed that a total of 14 683 and 16 031 women Although the number of TOP requests increased from 2008 to 2009, the facilities offering first-trimester TOP services declined. In addition, the number of first-trimester procedures performed was far less than the number of requests received. A major concern is that if the demand for TOPs remains unmet in the public sector, the incidence of unsafe abortions may continue to rise further. J F Mendes D Basu Medical indemnity regulations: MPS maintains commitment to South AfricaTo the Editor: I want to reassure members of the Medical Protection Society and readers of the SAMJ that the surprise new government regulations on indemnity will not diminish our longstanding and strong commitment to the South African medical and dental professions.We had no warning of the new regulations and we know their publication has caused a great deal of uncertainty, but the regulations will not affect MPS members until the end of December and in the meantime we are committed to doing everything we can to find a long-term solution.The MPS has operated in South Africa for over 50 years and we want to be here for another 50. We have 25 000 members in South Africa, and each of them is important to us. As a mutual, our ethos, when looking at whether to offer our services and support in a country, is to ask the question: does the profession want us? We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from our members over the past week, and this has galvanised our search for a solution that will allow the MPS to continue to indemnify and support doctors and dentists in South Africa. We are also encouraged by the response of government agencies and regulators who have voiced a strong desire for us to remain.We do not dispute the principle behind the regulations; we agree that medical professionals should have compulsory professional indemnity so that they and their patients are protected if something avoidable goes wrong. We also support the requirement that indemnifiers should be capab...
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