What I will learn

  • Understanding the meaning of HIV and AIDS
  • About the primary ways HIV spreads
  • Understanding the media’s role in society in providing information about HIV.
  • Ways of protecting against HIV and AIDS

What I will do

  • Investigate what is known in my community about HIV and AIDS.
  • Explore a range of sources of information about HIV and AIDS.
  • Explain the effects media campaigns have on communities.
  • Carry out a plan to raise awareness of strategies to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Introduction

HIV and AIDS

HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency Virus. A virus is a causative agent for diseases.

HIV virus affects the body’s ability to fight diseases. The ability of a body to fight diseases is called immunity.

A person infected by the HIV virus is said to be HIV positive and will eventually develop AIDS.

People test for their HIV status through Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centres. It is good for one to know his or her HIV status.

Awareness about HIV and AIDS testing.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a condition an HIV positive person develops when the virus has destroyed the body’s immune system and the victim’s immune system can no longer effectively fight diseases.

HIV is spread through four main ways:

  • Sexual intercourse with an infected person.
  • Mother to baby transmission (an infected mother may infect the baby at birth)
  • Blood transfusion where contaminated blood is used.
  • Sharing sharp objects such as syringes, safety pins and other sharp objects used by an infected person. HIV and AIDS cannot be spread through casual person to person contact.

Ways of protecting from HIV/AIDS infections

Keeping safe from HIV and AIDS requires changing behaviour.

Abstinence from sex, couples being faithful to each other,

using protections during sexual intercourse,

screening blood for transfusion and providing medical protection for infected expectant mothers to prevent them from infecting their babies.

Activity 4.1

Group work

  • Based on your existing knowledge, write short notes on the following
  • HIV
  • AIDS
  • How HIV is spread.

Positive Influence of Media

Awareness Creation: Broadcast media reaches wide audiences with vital information on HIV/AIDS.

Reducing Misconceptions: Helps combat stigma and false beliefs, such as viewing HIV/AIDS as a curse or believing you can catch it from shaking hands.

Support for Prevention & Treatment: Government and organizations use media to promote prevention strategies and treatment options.

Negative Influence of Media

Promotion of Risky Behaviour: Exposure to inappropriate content like pornography and provocative dress codes can encourage sexual immorality.

Youth Vulnerability: Media influences young people to adopt behaviour that may increase the spread of HIV/AIDS

.

  • Activity 4.2

Group work

  • Discuss three negative ways the media has influenced social change with reference to HIV and AIDS.

Sources of information on HIV and AIDS

Media awareness about HIV and AIDS by removing the misconceptions about the transmission of the virus.

Through the government departments that work on HIV and AIDS control

Churches also educate on types of high-risk behaviour that increase its transmission.

Misconceptions about HIV and AIDS

Misconceptions refers to the false rumours about HIV and AIDS, The following are examples of such misconceptions.

  • AIDS is a result of witchcraft or a curse.
  • HIV positive people must have been promiscuous.
  • All HIV positive people have AIDS.
  • Some herbalists can cure HIV and AIDS.
  • You cannot be infected on your first sexual encounter.
  • Young girls and married women are free from AIDS.
  • You can tell an infected person from symptoms like being too thin.
  • Close contact with an HIV positive person leads to infection.
  • Circumcised men can’t catch HIV through sex.
  • HIV is a death sentence.
  • HIV positive people cannot safely have children.
  • If you test negative for HIV, you can have unprotected sex.
  • If both partners have HIV, there is no need of using a condom.

Activity 4.3

Home Assignment

Q. Identify the misconceptions about HIV and AIDS in your community, and the problems arising from these misconceptions. Outline any Stigma that still exists towards infected people.

The story of an HIV/AIDS patient

Ladu worked as a farm manager for Mr. Maker who is a local farmer. When Ladu took a voluntary blood test, results indicated he was HIV positive. Somehow his employer got to know about this. He fired him. His reasoning was that he could not continue to employ a worker who was about to die. The reality was

that Ladu had not developed full blown AIDS. He was strong and in position to continue working. But even in the event of him developing AIDS, there were drugs (anti-retroviral drugs) that would contain the virus and keep him healthy.

At the local school where Maker’s wife was head teacher, Ladu’s children started being discriminated by their teachers and other children. They concluded that like their father, these children were also HIV positive. There were fears that whoever came into close contact with them would get AIDS.

Problems arising as a result of misinformation (misconception) about HIV and AIDS

Misinformation about HIV and AIDS affects our ability to change behaviour, reduce infections and does not support positive living and appropriate care for those infected.

Some of the problems arising out of misconceptions about HIV and AIDS include:

  • Stigma and discrimination

A person will be judged negatively if their HIV positive status is made known to others. This brings shame and negative self-image to those diagnosed or living with HIV.

Increased spread of HIV and AIDS

Misconceptions such as HIV is a curse or it can be cured by herbalists among others has made people to engage in risky behaviours, leading to high rates of infection.

  • Poor management and treatment of HIV and AIDS

Misconceptions such as if both partners have HIV, there is no reason for using a condom causes poor management and treatment of HIV and AIDS.

Raising awareness about HIV and AIDS

The struggle against HIV and AIDS can be best supported through creating awareness. Creating awareness involves disseminating information on what HIV and AIDS is, how it is spread, how it can be prevented and how if not controlled can affect households and the country.

  • Activity 4.4
  • Group work
  • In groups, Explain the role of media towards the prevention of HIV and AIDS.?
  • Q How do you control yourself from getting HIV/AIDS?

The role of media

The role of media in disseminating information about HIV and AIDS. The media plays the following roles:

  • Creating awareness of HIV and AIDS through Television, radio and newspapers.
  • Educating the public. The media groups have an enormous influence in educating and empowering individuals to avoid contracting HIV.
  • The media creates an enabling and supportive environment where some of the taboo can be addressed.
  • Providing facts and information about HIV and AIDS.
  • Carrying adverts that advise on protection measures such as abstinence and use of condoms.
  • Counselling sessions.
  • Messages that inspire behaviour change.
  • Carrying serialised stories and documentaries on HIV and AIDS.
  • Interviews of experts and people with reliable information such as health workers.
  • Testimonies from people living with HIV and AIDS.

Creating awareness is the best weapon against HIV and AIDS.

Role of voluntary groups against HIV/AIDS

These are groups that out of goodwill serve the community, mobilise or sensitise people to a worthy course such as creating awareness of HIV and AIDS.

Examples of voluntary groups are;

scouts,

student leaders,

religious and

local leaders,

AIDS awareness clubs in schools and

NGO’s.

They can engage in the following activities

  • Performing drama and playing music with HIV and AIDS awareness messages.
  • Providing peer discussions, talks and counselling.
  • Speaking at gatherings like school assemblies, worship gatherings, weddings and parties.
  • Organising activities where HIV and AIDS messages can be disseminated. For example, art exhibitions and competitions, sports galas.
  • Making and distributing simple fliers and posters.
  • Identifying and inviting speakers for different congregations.
  • Collecting and sharing relevant literature such as newspaper cuttings with information on AIDS.
  • Activity 4.5
  • Individual Assignment
  • In groups, find out the activities done by voluntary groups and NGOs working towards the prevention of HIV and AIDS.

Glossary

HIV – Human Immuno-deficiency Virus.

AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Misconceptions – False ideas about something.

Discrimination – Unjust treatment of different groups of people on basis of race, sickness, age, sex among others.

Voluntary groups – Organisation of people who work for free towards HIV and AIDS awareness and eradication.

VCT – Voluntary Counselling and Testing. The place where people visit to be tested for the HIV virus and AIDS.

Modifié le: lundi 12 janvier 2026, 17:12