Factors associated with teachers’ implementation of HIV/AIDS education in secondary schools in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

This study investigated the factors influencing whether high school teachers implemented HIV/AIDS education. The independent variables included constructs derived from expectancy value theories, teachers’ generic dispositions, their training experience, characteristics of their interactive context and the school climate. We conducted a postal survey of 579 teachers responsible for AIDS education in all 193 public high schools in Cape Town. Questionnaires were completed and returned by 324 teachers (56% response rate) from 125 schools. Many teachers (222; 70%) had implemented HIV/AIDS education during 2003, and female teachers were more likely to have implemented than males (74% vs. 58%). The teacher characteristics associated with teaching HIV/AIDS were previous training, self-efficacy, student-centeredness, beliefs about controllability and the outcome of HIV/AIDS education, and their responsibility. The existence of a school HIV/AIDS policy, a climate of equity and fairness, and good school-community relations were the school characteristics associated with teaching HIV/AIDS. These findings demonstrate the value of teacher training and school policy formulation. They also demonstrate the value and importance of interventions that go beyond a sexual health agenda, focussing on broader school development to improve school functioning and school climate.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the participating schools and the Western Cape Education Department for their cooperation, and to Jim te Water Naude for statistical help.

This study was carried out as part of the European Union-funded research project. The full title of the project is: ‘Promoting sexual and reproductive health. School-based HIV/AIDS prevention in sub-Saharan Africa’. The acronym for the project is ‘SATZ’, which stands for South Africa Tanzania. The SATZ study is funded by the EC – INCO research programme (Fifth Framework Programme – Contract number ICA4-CT-2002-10038). The partners and principal investigators include: University of Cape Town (Alan J. Flisher), Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, (Sylvia Kaaya), University of the North (Hans Onya), Karolinska institute (Minou Fuglesang), University of Maastricht (Herman Schaalma), University of Oslo (Knut-Inge Klepp), World Population Foundation & Youth Incentives (Jo Reinders), University of Bergen (Leif Edvard Aarø –z coordinator).

This study was partially funded by the South African Medical Research Council.