Factors contributing to high HIV and AIDS prevalence : development of a multifaceted theoretical model
Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Abstract: South Africa is estimated to have about 7.06 million of the global HIV/AIDS \ninfections of 36.7 million people in 2017 (UNAIDS, 2017a; Statistics South Africa, \n2017). It is estimated that 19.2 percent of South Africans of ages 15 to 59 were \ninfected with HIV/AIDS in 2015 (UNAIDS, 2015a). In South Africa, Gauteng \nprovince had the fifth highest HIV and AIDS prevalence in 2012 (Human Sciences \nResearch Council, 2014). There is a need to reduce HIV infections amongst \nadolescents in Gauteng province of South Africa. \nThe study focused on developing a model of factors contributing to high HIV and \nAIDS prevalence amongst adolescents in Gauteng province of South Africa. To \nestablish the specific model, the researcher elicited learners‟ perceptions of \ncontributing factors to adolescents‟ high HIV and AIDS. \nVarious individual models used to design interventions in South Africa had been \ncriticised. In this study, three of these models were explored; the Theory of \nPlanned Behaviour, the Information Motivation Behaviour Skills Model and the \nSocial Ecology Theory. These three models were integrated into a new model to \ndetermine the applicability of interventions based on each model, as well as to find \nout other factors that contribute to HIV infection besides behaviour. This was done \nto fill the gap of the narrow perspectives and non-lasting effects of each model \nbased intervention. \nIn this study a qualitative research method was used. The study was influenced \nby, but not exclusively based on Grounded Theory. Purposive and convenient \nsampling methods were used to identify Grade 11 learners (n=24) in three high \nschools in Gauteng province. However, 15 Grade 11 learners were the actual \nsample size that provided information that addressed the purpose of the study. \nData was collected using semi structured interviews. The results were analysed \nusing initial and focused coding and comparative analysis. \nResults were situated in the context of these three existing models. Findings show \nthat intentions, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, knowledge and social ecology settings were contributing factors to adolescents‟ high HIV and \nAIDS prevalence in Gauteng province. In addition, novel findings extended the \nexisting definitions of intentions, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, \nknowledge and social ecology settings. Consequently, the researcher developed a \nnew multifaceted theoretical model to describe those factors that participants \nregarded as contributing factors to the high HIV and AIDS prevalence amongst \nadolescents. This model may describe HIV and AIDS behavioural studies and \nprevention more effectively than existing models, although the study did not \ninclude the development of interventions to test the model. \nPolicy makers, researchers, educators and adolescents may use findings of this \nstudy. It is hoped that the model would be useful for the scholarship pertaining to \nHIV and AIDS studies and prevention.
Author: Kelechi Oluchi Ifekoya
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2921067609