HIV/AIDS In South Africa

806 Words4 Pages
HIV/ AIDS is affecting a countless number of people each day and is a major health concern. Risk behaviour and all factors influencing risk behaviour play a large role in the understanding and reasoning behind how HIV/AIDS is perceived, spread and managed amongst adolescents in South Africa. This essay will investigate the risk behaviour of South African adolescents in relation to HIV/AIDS, adopting a socio-cultural perspective, incorporating issues such as peer pressure, conformity, substance abuse and gender roles in a South African society. Although the prevalence rate for HIV infection varies by population and geography, global estimates have shown a modest drop over the past several years (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),…show more content…
Furthermore, according to Brook (2006) adolescents tend to be more vulnerable to sexual behaviour in poverty stricken areas. Often it is found the use of condoms is frowned upon by adolescents due to peer pressure and the need to fit in. According to Van Den Borne (2001) adolescents in South Africa have multiple sexual partners due to extreme levels of peer pressure, as well as high levels of conformity to an idealistic American culture experienced through television and movies. According to a survey taken across ten schools in South Africa, 65% of adolescents stated that virginity was ‘uncool’. Mizuno (2003) emphasises, that strong substance abuse leads to further spread of the virus through infected needles and viral contact, as often when adolescents are under the influence of alcohol they become more susceptible to unsafe and risky sex behaviours. This ultimately can result in leading to sexual abuse and rape. Families have an impact on adolescent’s behaviour and often when the adolescent is not provided with support and guidance, they tend to engage in less responsible behaviour (Brook,…show more content…
According to Fisher & Fisher (1992) HIV prevention is based on three factors; information about transmission, motivation to reduce risk, behavioural skills to practise prevention. Furethermore It is of great importance to better education in less fortunate areas where education is of an undeveloped nature. Parental care and guidance, as discussed, hugely contributes to positive influences of knowledge and understanding towards risk behaviours. According to Webb (1997) the prevention factors continue on toward gender roles, where males being the dominate gender in most partnerships refuse protection and prevention and females having no say as they are the passive members, making it impossible for negotiation and choice in the
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