King J, Whiteside AW, Crownie D, Tomlinson J; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. WePpD1407.
J. King, Po Box 2778, Mbabane, Swaziland, Tel.: +092 684 043 947, Fax: +092 684 043 972, E-mail: jtk@realnet.co.sw
Issues: Surveyed antenatal clinic HIV prevalence in Swaziland in 1998 was 31%, with little difference between rural and urban areas. A 1999 study by UNICEF estimated that 22% of children would be orphaned by 2000, and many more living in AIDS affected households. The education sector is seen as one of the key sectors in the fight against AIDS but it has not developed a strategy and is losing teachers at an alarming but unknown rate. The study asked what the scale of the problem was and what the ministry should do. Description: The study involved field work including extensive interviews and discussion groups. The future course of the epidemic was modelled. The report was drafted then discussed with the stakeholders in a two-day workshop in November 1999. The ministry put forward two core concerns: (a) Will the ministry be able to provide formal education to the majority of young Swazis into the future (maintaining near universal enrolment at the primary level and expanding enrolment at the secondary level)? (b) How can the education system contribute towards stemming the rising tide of the epidemic and assist in the mitigation of the impacts on society? Conclusion: Prevention interventions are already a decade too late. The aim is to `crest' the epidemic at a lower infection rate than modelled, and reduce it faster. Almost all respondents felt they were confused about HIV/AIDS. The epidemic will make it difficult for the ministry to fulfil its mandate, and costs will rise dramatically. Recommendations from the study need action.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Child
- Disease Outbreaks
- Educational Status
- Evaluation Studies
- Foster Home Care
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Prevalence
- Research
- Swaziland
- Teaching
- United Nations
- education
Other ID:
UI: 102240838
From Meeting Abstracts