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University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N CONTEXTUAL FACTORS AFFECTING ADOLESCENTS’ RISK FOR HIV/AIDS INFECTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION Dirk Nicolaas van den Berg 2004 University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N CONTEXTUAL FACTORS AFFECTING ADOLESCENTS’ RISK FOR HIV/AIDS INFECTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION by Dirk Nicolaas van den Berg Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree: MASTER OF EDUCATION In the Faculty of Education, School of Educational Studies Department of Curriculum Studies University of Pretoria Promoter: Professor Doctor Linda van Rooyen University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N DECLARATION I, Dirk Nicolaas van den Berg, declare that this dissertation is my own work. It is submitted for the Degree of the Master of Education at the University of Pretoria. This dissertation has not been submitted before for any degree or examination at any other university. _______________ D.N. van den Berg 2004-10-28 University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N DEDICATION This study is dedicated to my parents Dirk and Beryl van den Berg, my wife Helga van den Berg and two children, Marianné and Dirk. Your encouragement, sacrifice and love made the completion of this study possible. University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I thank my heavenly Father for the opportunity, courage, strength and guidance that made this study possible. My sincere gratitude and appreciation to the following people that made the successful completion of this study possible: My promoter, Professor Doctor Linda van Rooyen, who guided me with positive criticism, persistent motivation, and endless patience towards producing high quality work. Her sacrifices, goodwill, dedication and compassion are truly appreciated. My wife, Helga, for her patience, unconditional love, support and sacrifices during my studies. My children, Marianné and Dirk, for their patience and love. My parents, Dirk and Beryl van den Berg, for their continued support and endless love. My in-laws, Abraham and Marie Kok, for their constant motivation and loving interest. Professor J.W.M. Pretorius for his meticulous language editing of this dissertation. The educators of Hlomphanang Secondary School, for their assistance and support. Mishack and Daphney Modiba for their encouragement, prayers and support. University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all the ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths”. Proverbs 3:5,6 SUMMARY University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N CONTEXTUAL FACTORS AFFECTING ADOLESCENTS’ RISK FOR HIV/AIDS INFECTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION by DIRK NICOLAAS VAN DEN BERG PROMOTER: PROF. DR. LINDA VAN ROOYEN DEPARTMENT: EDUCATIONAL STUDIES DEGREE: MEd: MASTER OF EDUCATION The primary aim of this study has been to investigate contextual factors that affect the adolescent’s (especially the young girl’s) risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection and the implications thereof for education. Initially it was important to conduct an orientational background analysis to provide the necessary background material. The investigation revealed that the number of people living with HIV/AIDS continues to increase and that life expectancy in South Africa may drop dramatically. A further fact that became apparent is that more girls are living with HIV/AIDS than their male counterparts. The important role of the school as an institution serving society and its important role in the prevention of HIV/AIDS infection emerged very clearly in this study. The fact that the school should address the contextual factors that increase the risk of the young girl with regard to HIV/AIDS infection gave rise to the formulation of the primary research problem: Which contextual factors affect the adolescent’s (especially the young girl’s) risk to become HIV/AIDS infected and what are the possible implications for education? Chapter 2 presented a study of the influence of parenting styles and the possible ways in which these might predispose the adolescent (especially the young girl) to HIV/AIDS infection. Other aspects of the family in contemporary society such as its vulnerability and deterioration were investigated with regard to the possible predisposing of girls to become HIV/AIDS infected. The focus in this chapter also included gender inequalities, perceptions of traditional gender roles, and physiological factors that might increase the risk of the young girl with regard to HIV/AIDS infection. University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N In Chapter 3 the socio-economical situation of women and young girls and the manner in which this increases their risk to HIV/AIDS infection was investigated. It became apparent that socio-economic factors such as poverty, violence against women, sexual behaviour and prostitution, as well as conflict and displacement increase the young girl’s risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection. In Chapter 4 several implications that the adolescent’s (and especially the young girl’s) risk with regard to HIV/AIDS infection poses to education were discussed. This chapter also focused on challenges for the educational manager and educators with regard to effective management of schools that may be severely affected by HIV/AIDS. This chapter is concluded with a suggested framework for developing and implementing an HIV/AIDS policy for schools in an effort to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. Chapter 5 concludes this study with a reflection upon the findings of the study and a presentation of specific recommendations that may contribute towards reducing the risk of the adolescent (especially the young girl) with regard to HIV/AIDS infection. University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N KEY WORDS Adolescent Contextual factors Empowerment Gender Girl HIV/AIDS Poverty Sexuality School Violence University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N SLEUTELTERME Adolessent Kontekstuele faktore Bemagtiging Geslag Meisie MIV/VIGS Armoede Seksualiteit Skool Geweld ACRONYMS University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome FGM Female Genital Mutilation HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus NGO Non-Governmental Organization PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease SGB School Governing Body STI Sexually Transmitted Infection UN United Nations UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund VCT Voluntary Counselling and Testing VD Venereal Disease WHO World Health Organization University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N This research Report is written in the third person. References to myself will thus be reported as “the researcher”. University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND AND ORIENTATION Page 1. Aim of this chapter. 1 2. Introduction and orientation. 1 2.1 General statistics. 1 2.1.1 The youth. 1 2.1.1.1 A factual profile with regard to youth sexuality. 2 2.1.1.2 Youth sex workers. 3 2.2 Historical background with regard to HIV/AIDS. 4 2.2.1 The essence of HIV and AIDS. 4 2.2.2 Symptoms of HIV/AIDS infection. 4 2.2.2.1 Clinical stages of HIV/AIDS infection. 5 2.2.3 HIV transmission. 7 2.2.3.1 The most common ways of HIV transmission. 7 2.2.3.2 Less common ways of HIV transmission. 8 2.2.3.3 Ways HIV is not transmitted. 8 2.2.4 Myths about HIV/AIDS. 9 2.2.5 Prevention of HIV/AIDS infection. 10 3. Stating the research problem. 11 4. The aim of this study. 14 5. The significance of this study . 15 6. Methodology. 16 6.1 Theoretical framework. 16 6.1.1 Biochemical individuality. 16 6.1.2 The concept “health”. 16 6.1.3 The criteria for “positive health”. 17 6.1.4 The criteria for “lack of good health”. 17 6.1.5 The study as a social epidemiological study. 17 6.2 Epistemological commitment . 18 i University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N 6.3 Research approach. 19 6.3.1 Positivistic approach. 19 6.4 Paradigmatic perspective. 19 6.5 Research methods. 20 6.5.1 The concept “method”. .. 20 6.5.2 Modes of inquiry. .. 20 6.5.2.1 Conceptual analysis . 20 6.5.3 Data collection techniques. 21 6.5.3.1 Analysis of primary sources . 21 6.5.3.2 Analysis of secondary sources. 21 6.6 Objectivity of the study. 22 7. Delimitation of the study. 22 8. Plan of study. 23 8.1 Chapter 1: Background and orientation. 23 8.2 Chapter 2: The socio-pedagogical vulnerability of the young girl. 24 8.3 Chapter 3: The socio-economical vulnerability of the young girl. 24 8.4 Chapter 4: Implications for education. 24 8.5 Chapter 5: Reflection, findings and recommendations. 24 9. Analysis of concepts . 24 9.1 The concepts “vulnerable” and “risk”. 26 9.1.1 Definitions according to dictionaries. 26 9.2 The concept “young”. 27 9.2.1 The concepts “adolescent” and “puberty”. 28 9.2.1.1 The concept “adolescent”. 28 9.2.1.2 The concept “puberty”. 29 9.3 The concept “girl”. 29 9.4 The concept “HIV/AIDS”. 30 9.4.1 The concept “HIV”. 30 9.4.2 The concept “AIDS”. 31 9.5 The concept “infection”. 32 10. Summary. 33 ii University of Pretoria etd – Van den Berg, D N CHAPTER 2 THE SOCIO-PEDAGOGICAL VULNERABILITY OF THE YOUNG GIRL 1. The aim of the chapter. 34 2. Introduction. 34 3. Basic forms of parenting. 36 3.1 Warm parenting. 39 3.1.1 Characteristics of warm parenting. 39 3.1.2 Effects of warm parenting. 40 3.2 Cold parenting. 40 3.2.1 Characteristics of cold parenting. 41 3.2.2 Effects of cold parenting.