Die kennis van adolessente in 'n Gautengse skool rakende MIV / VIGS: research

HIV / AIDS is a pandemic as well as an international problem. Since 1998 HIV / AIDS has been responsible for 11, 3 million deaths. In South Africa approximately four million people are infected with HIV and there are 1500 - 1800 new cases reported yearly. According to statistical analysis it is calculated that by 2010, six million of the population will be infected with HIV / AIDS. Most of the new infections are among persons between 15 and 24 years of age. It is important that the increased ratio of infections in this life phase must be investigated. The question that arises is, do adolescents have knowledge of HIV / AIDS, the consequences of HIV / AIDS and what measures exist to prevent HIV / AIDS. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the knowledge of adolescents at a school in Gauteng with regard to HIV / AIDS. As a result of the findings recommendations will be described in order to enhance existing HIV / AIDS knowledge and to overcome shortcomings in knowledge. For the purpose of this study, use was made of an exploratory, descriptive and contextual design. Adolescents of a school in Gauteng's knowledge with regard to HIV / AIDS were explored with the use of a questionnaire as data collection instrument. The questionnaire consisted of five open questions and was completed by participants during school hours in a classroom.The general findings indicate that adolescents do have a fairly good knowledge of HIV / AIDS. Shortcomings and misperceptions identified were described and as a result of the findings, recommendations are made to enhance identified shortcomings in knowledge. MIV / VIGS (Menslike Immuniteitsgebreksvirus / Verworwe Immuniteitsgebreksindroom) is 'n pandemie asook 'n internasionale probleem. Sedert 1998 was MIV / VIGS verantwoordelik vir 11, 3 miljoen sterftes. In Suid-Afrika is ongeveer 4, 2 miljoen mense met MIV / VIGS geïnfekteer en daar is ongeveer 1500 - 1800 nuwe gevalle jaarliks. Volgens statistiese analise word bereken dat teen 2010 ses miljoen van die oorlewende populasie met MIV / VIGS geïnfekteer sal wees. Die groep onder wie die meeste nuwe infeksies plaasvind, is persone tussen die ouderdom van 15 en 24 jaar. Dit is belangrik dat ondersoek ingestel moet word na die oorsaak vir die verhoogde koers van infeksies in hierdie lewensfase. Die vraag wat ontstaan is of adolessente werklik kennis het oor MIV / VIGS, die gevolge daarvan, asook maatreëls wat bestaan om MIV / VIGS te voorkom. Die doel van die studie is om die adolessente aan 'n skool in Gauteng se kennis rakende MIV / VIGS te verken en te beskryf en om aanbevelings te doen om geïdentifiseerde leemtes in adolessente se kennis aan te vul en klem te lê op kennis wat versterk moet word. Vir die doeleindes van die studie is gebruik gemaak van 'n verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele studie. Die adolessente verbonde aan 'n skool in Gauteng se kennis rakende MIV / VIGS is verken met behulp van 'n vraelys as data-insamelingsinstrument. Die vraelys het uit vyf oop vrae bestaan en is deur adolessente binne klaskamers tydens skoolure voltooi. Die algemene bevindinge toon dat adolessente wel oor 'n redelike goeie kennis rakende MIV / VIGS beskik. Leemtes en wanpersepsies wat geïdentifiseer is, is beskryf en na aanleiding van die bevindinge is aanbevelings beskryf ten einde geïdentifiseerde leemtes in adolessente se kennis aan te vul en klem te lê op kennis wat versterk moet word. (Health SA Gesondheid : interdisciplinary research journal: 2002 7(4): 3-13