The evaluation of the implementation of HIV-AIDS policies at school level with particular focus on discrimination and stigma amongst educators

• Main Author: Mokwatlo, Elizabeth Maboakae
• Other Authors: Du Plessis, G. (Ms.)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: HIV-AIDS and discrimination education and human rights; HIV-AIDS and stigma; Schoolbased HIV-AIDS policy; Qualitative research; HIV-AIDS policy formulation and policy implementation; Educators living with HIV-AIDS; 362.19697920096824; Stigma (Social psychology) > South Africa > North-West; Prejudices > South Africa > North-West; Human rights > South Africa > North-West; Discrimination against people with disabilities > South Africa > North-West; HIV-positive persons > Employment > South Africa > North-West; Health education > South Africa > North-West; AIDS (Disease) > South Africa > North-West > Prevention; Sexually transmitted diseases > South Africa > North-West > Prevention; HIV infections > South Africa > North-West > Prevention; HIV (Viruses) > South Africa > North-West > Prevention; Teachers > Diseases > South Africa > North-West; AIDS (Disease) > Social aspects > South Africa > North-West; HIV infections > Social aspects > South Africa > North-West; Health behavior > South Africa > North-West; Health promotion > South Africa > North-West; Schools > Health promotion services > South Africa > North-West; Education and state > South Africa > North-West; Educational change > South Africa > North West; Health planning > South Africa > North-West
• Online Access: Mokwatlo, Elizabeth Maboakae (2009) The evaluation of the implementation of HIV-AIDS policies at school level with particular focus on discrimination and stigma amongst educators, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2085>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2085

Against the background of evidence that HIV-AIDS has had and continues to have an enormous impact on all South African schools, a need has arisen for HIV -AIDS policies and programmes to be effectively implemented in all schools. In this study, a qualitative methodology was used to evaluate policy implementation in the North West province. Data was gathered by means of field notes, observation and interviews with management and educators. The study found that although principals and educators are knowledgeable about HIV -AIDS, there is a tendency to discriminate against infected educators, particularly in terms of educator workload. This study also revealed that educators fear being accidentally exposed to HIV -AIDS infected blood, despite the guidelines given in the National HIV -AIDS policy and the availability of emergency first aid kits. The key thought emerging from this study is that not all schools are able to deal effectively with HIV -AIDS and that schools urgently need to plan or implement their own policies in this regard. School-based HIV-AIDS policies can only be successful if they take cognisance of local contextual issues and involve the three spheres of influence in the lives of educators and learners, namely, the sphere of the school, the sphere of family life and the sphere of the community. === Sociology === M.A.(Social and Behavioural Studies in HIV-AIDS)