An investigation into pupils' knowledge of and attitudes towards AIDS : a survey of four private schools

Because of the extent and immediacy of the problem of AIDS in the RSA and because this disease, which is mainly transmitted by voluntary human behaviour, has no cure, the need for educational programmes to curtail the spread of AIDS is seen as of prime importance in the RSA. At present there is little published research about the levels of knowledge of AIDS attained by pupils in junior and senior schools, nor of the attitudes they have towards the disease. It was felt that without this information, it would be difficult to develop appropriate AIDS education programmes. In this research, questionnaires were administered to investigate the knowledge of and attitudes towards the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - (AIDS) - of the standards 5, 7 and 9 pupils at four private schools. These three age groups were chosen in order to look at the possible effects of the maturation process on these pupils' perceptions of AIDS. A questionnaire was also completed by selected school personnel to provide background information on any existing AIDS education in the schools. A pilot study was carried out with a small group of pupils in order to establish the areas of concern being expressed by senior school pupils. The results of the survey have shown that while there is a gradation in the knowledge levels of the pupils in standards 5, 7 and 9, there is a need for more intensive teaching of AlDS at or before the transition from junior to senior school. That the pupils perceive a need for school-based education, particularly in order to acquire knowledge of prevention strategies, was evident. The attitudes of the majority of the pupils towards AIDS sufferers were found to be tolerant or circumspect, although there was evidence of intolerance from some quarters. The fears of the pupils were found to stem largely from the unique characteristics of the disease and a lack of knowledge of how to protect themselves against it. In developing guidelines for a programme of AIDS education for the South African schools, the programmes and interventions currently operative in the USA, Great Britain, Europe and two African countries were considered. This research has raised a number of questions, the answers to which will he important in the development of future programmes of AIDS educatio