African
Journals Online
Southern African Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health
The Millenium Issue
Vol 12 No 2, 2000
HIV/AIDS Knowledge Among South African Youth
Liberty Eaton and Alan J. Flisher
Departments of Psychiatry and Mental Health, and Psychology
University of Cape Town
Groote Schuur Hospital
Observatory 7925
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
A review of research literature involving HIV/AIDS knowledge of South Africans aged 14-35 was conducted. Thirty-four studies since 1990 were included. Over half the studies featured high school or university student samples. It was found that young people are very aware that AIDS is a disease that is sexually transmitted and fatal. They are less knowledgeable about HIV and how it is physically transmitted from one person to another; the asymptomatic carrier phase; and methods for preventing HIV infection. The studies show moderate to high levels of misconceptions about the risk of casual contact and insect bites. They also illustrate that respondents show less knowledge when assessed with open-ended, rather than set-choice, questions, suggesting low levels of spontaneous memory for AIDS information. Recommendations for further research are made.
Smoking Habits Among Secondary School Students In Selected Districts In Zimbabwe. Gender, Urban/Rural And Social Class Differences
Leif E. Aarø,
University of Bergen,
Bergen, Norway:
Department of Psychosocial Science
Correspondence to:
Department of Psychosocial Science,
University of Bergen, Christiesgt. 12,
N-5015 Bergen, Norway
e-mail address: [email protected]
Arne H. Eide
University of Bergen,
Bergen, Norway:
Research Center for Health Promotion
and
SINTEF Unimed (Oslo)
Department for Health, Technology and Usability
AH Eide
Stanley W. Acuda, Tecla Butau
University of Zimbabwe,
Harare, Zimbabwe:
Department of Psychiatry
Abstract
Objective To examine the relationship between smoking habits and indicators of socioeconomic status, the urban/rural dimension and gender among secondary school students from selected districts in Zimbabwe.
Design A two-stage stratified random sample of students was drawn. Schools were stratified by school type and students were stratified by gender and grade.
Setting The data collections took place in schools by trained personnel from Department of Psychiatry, University of Zimbabwe.
Subjects A total of 3500 students were sampled. Questionnaires were completed by 3308 students. After exclusion of incomplete and inconsistent questionnaires, the material consisted of questionnaires from 3061 students (87.5%).
Results Only 0.9% reported to be daily smokers, 2.1% smoked weekly (but not daily), and 19.8% smoked more seldom. The increase in the prevalence of smokers across age groups proved to be small. Smoking (daily, weekly and more seldom combined) is more common among male students (27.6%) than among female students (17.5%). The risk of being a smoker increases with increasing socioeconomic status. According to the students' proxy reports, more fathers (25.5%) than mothers (8.7%) were tobacco users (smoking, sniffing or chewing tobacco). Among mothers, being a tobacco user (as reported by their offspring) increases with higher education, occupational status and with having their son or daughter in a private school. Among fathers there is no association between indicators of socioeconomic status and use of tobacco. This indicates that the population being surveyed has reached a stage in the diffusion process where tobacco use is becoming less fashionable among high status segments of the adult male population.
Conclusion A rather modest income in large groups may explain the low prevalence of daily and weekly smoking among secondary school students in the districts covered by the present survey. The proportion of experimental smokers is, however, high. A future increase in the income level may therefore lead to a marked increase in tobacco consumption. In order to prevent this, there is an urgent need for developing intervention strategies which are relevant to the Zimbabwean culture and societal context. Smoking among young women deserves special attention.
Patterns of Substance Use among Kenyan Street Children
C. J Othieno, ,
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Nairobi.
P.O.Box 19676
Nairobi, Kenya
A. A Obondo,
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Nairobi.
D. M. Kathuku,
Department of Psychiatry,
University of Nairobi.
D. M. NdeteiDepartment of Psychiatry,
University of Nairobi.
Abstract
A sample of 50 (36 male and 14 female) street children currently in a remand home at Kabete in Nairobi, Kenya, were interviewed using a predesigned questionnaire in order to estimate prevalence rates for use of selected substances. The lifetime prevalence rates of the drugs most commonly used were volatile hydrocarbons 42%, tobacco 32%, alcohol 14%, cannabis 14% and Khat (catha edulis) 12%. Ten percent were habitual users of tobacco while 4% were regular users of cannabis or khat. The prevalence for use of hard drugs was low, cocaine 4 (8%) and Mandrax (methaqualone) 1 (2%). These findings are similar to those from Cameroon where solvent use was found mainly among street children.
A COMMUNITY STUDY OF TAXI VIOLENCE AND DISTRESS SYMPTOMS AMONG YOUTH
Chris Zissis, Karin Ensink, Brian Robertson
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health
University of Cape Town,
Groote Schuur Hospital,
Observatory 7925
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of distress symptoms among youth exposed to taxi violence in Khayelitsha, a South African peri-urban settlement. Design: A cross-sectional community study of a stratified sample of youth. Setting & Subjects: Five hundred and four Xhosa speaking youth aged 9-20 years, from 5 primary schools in Khayelitsha; 396 attending 4 schools in close proximity to a taxi rank (site C) and 108 attending a school away from any taxi rank (site B). Outcome Measures: An adapted version of the Survey of Exposure to Community Violence (SECV) was administered to investigate exposure to violence. The Levonn Instrument, a cartoon-based 29-item questionnaire was used to identify distress symptoms. Results: Three hundred and six respondents (61%) reported personal exposure to taxi violence. Overall, 31 (6%) of the youth reported that a family member had been shot and killed while travelling in a taxi and 41 (8%) reported that a family member had been wounded while travelling in a taxi. Exposure to other forms of violence was recorded. Nearly all subjects, 493 (98%), reported the presence of distress symptoms. Three hundred and thirty three (66%) reported feeling sad about people who have died, 328 (65%) reported feeling sad but did not know why, 294 (59%) were scared about something they had seen, and 248 (50%) reported not being able to concentrate in class. Of note, 132 (26%) reported that life was not worth living and wished they were dead. Those who had been in a taxi that was shot at, those who had been at a taxi rank when people were shot, and those who had seen taxi men shooting, had significantly higher levels of distress symptoms than those who did not have such experiences. Conclusion: The results indicate that an alarmingly high percentage of youth living in Khayelitsha are exposed to taxi violence, in addition to other forms of community violence, and that this increases distress symptoms in those already at risk for exposure to high levels of violence. Unacceptably high levels of distress symptoms were found in the study sample.
'Cross-cultural' Issues in Child Development and Assessment within the South African Context
A Venter
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
PO Box 339 (G69)
Bloemfontein
9300
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
It is universally accepted that child development is influenced by the naïve dichotomy of nature versus nurture. Therefore, children's cognitive and academic development is thought to reflect both biological and cultural influences. In a country such as South Africa, where professionals are often faced with many different cultures, understanding the variables that come to play in the development and assessment of children becomes a daunting task. This paper explores cross-cultural research with respect to child development, assessment and school failure, and highlights those factors that have emerged as significant modulators in developmental issues.
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