ERIC Number: EJ977800
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Mar
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0258-2236
EISSN: N/A
"Our Culture Does Not Allow that": Exploring the Challenges of Sexuality Education in Rural Communities
Khau, 'Mathabo
Perspectives in Education, v30 n1 p61-69 Mar 2012
Within sub-Saharan Africa, AIDS is becoming a greater threat to rural communities due to the high numbers of urban dwellers and migrant labourers who return to their rural villages when they fall ill and due to the lack of information and health services. Previous studies have found a reduced rate of infection among people who have high educational attainment, and thus advocate for education as the vaccine against new HIV infections among the youth. However, very little research has focussed on the delivery of sexuality and HIV&AIDS education in rural classrooms. With teachers positioned at the forefront of the pandemic, especially in rural communities, it is important to understand how teachers experience teaching about sexuality in rural schools. In this paper, I explore the experiences of eight women teachers through focus group discussions. Thematic inductive analysis was used to identify the stumbling blocks within sexuality education classrooms in rural schools. Societal constructions of childhood and nostalgia for past traditional practices were found to be the major challenges to teaching. The findings highlight the need for a sexuality education curriculum that integrates traditional ways of knowing into formal sexuality education in order for it to be effective in reducing further spread of HIV. (Contains 1 endnote.)
Descriptors: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Health Services, Rural Schools, Sex Education, Focus Groups, Educational Attainment, Rural Areas, Foreign Countries, Sexuality, African Culture, Urban Areas, Migrant Workers, Youth, Health Education, Teacher Attitudes, Teaching Experience, Teaching Methods, Cultural Influences
Perspectives in Education. Faculty of Education, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa. Fax: +27-51-401-7044; e-mail: pie@ufs.ac.za; Web site: http://search.sabinet.co.za/pie
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A