Primary and secondary school teachers' HIV/AIDS information needs, sources and its diffusion into Malawian society

Abstract

Objective: To provide evidence about effective HIV/AIDS dissemination strategies through involvement of teachers in a developing country.

Design: The study was based on a quantitative questionnaire-based opinion survey. A stratified random sample of 372 primary and 66 secondary school teachers was obtained from 12 primary and 5 secondary schools randomly selected across Malawi in 2007. Questionnaires were administered to teachers and HIV/AIDS teacher support groups. The questionnaire captured teachers' perceptions on adequacy, needs, sources and channels of dissemination of HIV/AIDS knowledge.

Results: Overall, 62 per cent of the teachers claimed to have sufficient HIV/AIDS knowledge. Main sources of information were radios (95 per cent); newspapers (91 per cent); religious gatherings (77 per cent); fellow teachers (72 per cent); learners (66 per cent); and from in-service training courses (57 per cent). The majority of teachers disseminated HIV/AIDS information to: learners (76 per cent); family members (75 per cent); and own children (70 per cent). The majority would share positive HIV-status to: spouses (63 per cent), siblings (61 per cent), parents (54 per cent); and at HIV/AIDS clubs (51 per cent). Although majority claimed to be providing various HIV/AIDS voluntary counselling and testing services, 51 per cent claimed to require more voluntary counselling and testing information.

Keywords:

• HIV/AIDS
• Malawi
• sources
• dissemination
• teachers