AIDS-Risk among Street Children and Youth: Implications for Intervention

Abstract

With the co-operation of staff and volunteers from non-governmental programmes in nine South African cities, focus group discussions were held with 141 street children and youth, 79 of whom were enrolled in shelter programmes while 62 were still living independently on the streets. The group discussions focused on knowledge about transmission and prevention, attitudes towards AIDS and people with AIDS, and sexual and other behaviours related to AIDS risk. Both quantitative and qualitative information on the topics covered was extracted from the transcriptions of the discussions. The results indicated that, on a superficial level, South African street youth possessed relatively good knowledge about transmission and prevention. However, a more critical analysis showed that knowledqe is obscured by moral imputations. In addition, street youth disclosed extremely negative attitudes to condoms and to people with AIDS. Accounts of sexual behaviour confirmed that street children and youth engage in a number of high-risk behaviours. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention and, in particular, the inadequacies of the Health Belief Model and related theories, as the sole theoretical foundation for the design of intervention programmes.Deur die samewerking van personeel en vrywillige werkers by nie-regeringsprogramme in nege Suid-Afrikaanse stede, is fokusgroepbesprekings met 141 straatkinders en -jeug gevoer. Nege-en-sewentig lede van die groep was by beskuttingsprogramme betrokke maar 62 het nog onafhanklik op straat gelewe. Die groepbesprekings het gegaan oor kennis van VIGS-oordrag en -voorkoming, houdings teenoor VIGS en VIGS-Iyers, en oor seksuele en ander gedrag wat met VIGS-risiko verband mag hou. Beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe inligting oor die onderwerpe wat gedek is, is uit transkripsies van die besprekings verhaal. Die resultate het aangedui dat dit oppervlakkig voorkom dat Suid-Afrikaanse straatjeug oor 'n relatiewe goeie kennis oor oordrag en voorkoming beskik. Maar, 'n meer kritiese ontleding onthul dat hulle kennis deur morele imputasie verberg word. Verder, vertoon straatjeug 'n uiters negatiewe houding jeens kondome en teenoor VIGS-Iyers. Berigte oor seksuele gedrae het bevestig dat straatkinders en -jeug in 'n hoe mate deelneem aan gedrag wat hoe risiko inhou. Die resultate van die studie word bespreek in terme van hulle implikasies vir ingryping en veral van die ontoereikendheid van die 'Gesondheidsgeloofmodel' en verwante teorie as enigste teoretiese onderbou tot die ontwerp van ingrypingsprogramme.

Challenging dominant norms of masculinity for HIV prevention

“…Richter and Swart-Kruger (1995) indicate that the need for money, protection and intimacy are frequent influences in the sexual decision making of street children. Much of their research highlights the importance of power relationships in the sexuality of young people, yet this is also the case in less marginalised groups of adolescents.…”

Youth, HIV/AIDS and the importance of sexual culture and context

“…Similarly, May et al, (2000) examined the challenges faced by South African youth as they matured in a society characterised by high rates of HIV/AIDS. Studies among homeless youth and street children, who represent particularly high risk groups, revealed dangerous constructions of sexuality which encompassed survival sex, rape and relationship sex on the streets (Richter et al, 1994;Richter and Swart-Kruger, 1995;SwartKruger and Richter, 1997). Although these surveys were directed primarily towards knowledge, attitudes and practices, these authors concluded that HIV/AIDS prevention could not be achieved without reflections on the wider context of sexuality (Swart-Kruger and Richter 1997).…”

Predicting the Intention of South African Female Students to Engage in Premarital Sexual Relations: An Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action

“…With the advent of the AIDS pandemic (which in Africa is transmitted mainly through heterosexual sexual activity), attention has turned to sexual behaviour as an important factor in the fight to contain the disease. Of particular concern has been the behaviour of adolescents and young adults, as this group is acknowledged to be highly vulnerable to HlV infection (Richter & Swart-Kruger, 1995). Considerable research has focused on factors affecting condom use (Bandawe & Foster, 1996;Miles, 1992;Nicholas, 1998), exploring knowledge and beliefs about AIDS (Nicholas & Durrheim, 1995;Nicholas, Tredoux, & Daniels, 1994), and factors contributing to risk behaviours (Lindegger & Wood, 1995).…”