Mbeki's HIV/AIDS policy communication: the beliefs and behaviours of a South African community
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Date
2004
Authors
Kiwanuka-Tondo, J.
Amico, R.
De Wet, G.
Fisher, J.
Cornman, D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
In South Africa by 2002, the number of people living with HIV had risen to 4. 7 million
with JI% of the population infected. About 25% of the pregnant women in South Africa
are HIV positive, and hundreds of infants are infected at birth every day. Amidst this
grave public health emergency, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa sparked a huge
international debate during the 13th International AIDS Conference, when he
challenged the prevailing AIDS paradigm that HIV causes AIDS, raised questions
about the role of AZT as a treatment, and argued that poverty was responsible for the
aggressive spread of AIDS in his country. The theoretical body of research implies that
communication of political issues from the media influences public perception about
these issues. Residents of Ikageng, a suburb of Potchefstroom in South Africa, were
p·urposively sampled because the township was demographically similar to many of the
townships in South Africa. Results suggested that President Mbeki's statements may not
have played a discernable role in influencing opinion and risk behaviour in this
particular sample. This is most likely due to this sample's reliance on other sources for
health-related information. The majority of participants reported relying upon medical
officials for information about HIV or AIDS. The lack of a direct influence of Mbeki's
controversial stance regarding HIV/AIDS on individual risk behaviour, however, may
speak to the potential positive and resilient influence of HIV prevention campaigns
Description
Keywords
South Africa, HIV and AIDS, Thabo Mbeki, Communication, Public perception, HIV prevention campaigns
Citation
Kiwanuka-Tondo, J., Amico, R., De Wet, G., Fisher, J., & Cornman, D. (2004). Mbeki's HIV/AIDS policy communication: the beliefs and behaviours of a South African community. Communitas, 9(1), 79-90.