Practices in disseminating HIV and AIDS information to individuals with hearing impairments: A case of Lusaka urban district,Zambia
Date
2015
Authors
Kakusa, Janet Mwansa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study sought to investigate practices of disseminating HIV and AIDS information to individuals with hearing impairments. The study was guided by four objectives; to establish the mode of disseminating HIV and AIDS information to individuals with hearing impairment, to determine how knowledgeable individuals with hearing impairments were about HIV and AIDS; to identify the challenges faced by individuals with hearing impairments in accessing HIV and AIDS information, to identify strategies used to disseminate HIV and AIDS information to individuals with hearing impairments.
The descriptive survey design was used in order to obtain true comprehensive picture of the study.In this report descriptive method was used because of its usefulness in describing the situation with regards to attitudes of stake holders in practices of dissemination of HIV and AIDS information to individuals with hearing impairments. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. The target population in this study comprised grade eight to twelve pupils with hearing impairments from Munali Secondary schools in Lusaka district and out of school individuals with hearing impairments from Zambia National Association for the Deaf (ZNAD). The sample also included parents of children with hearing impairments, media personnel from Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and teachers from Munali Secondary School. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides. Purposive sampling technique was used to pick a sample of sixty-eight(68) respondents, which comprised of twenty-seven (27)learners with hearing impairments; twenty (20) out of school youths with hearingimpairments, nine (9) teachers, five (5) parents and five (5) mass media personnel.
The results revealed that the modes of disseminating HIV and AIDS information to individuals with hearing impairments were through drama, peer education, television and life skills. The study also brought to light the fact that individuals with hearing impairments were knowledgeable about HIV and AIDS but they lacked detailed information about the pandemic. It was revealed that individuals with hearing impairments did have access to information through the radio, television and newspaper and other literature with comprehensive language. In terms of the strategies used in disseminating HIV and AIDS information, the findings were that television, the teachers, books and friends were the source. As a result of the communication
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barrier the strategies used in disseminating HIV and AIDS information established that individuals with hearing impairments had greater reliance on relatives, family members, and friends for information.
The following recommendations were made; detailed information on HIV and AIDS to be disseminated to individuals with hearing impairments through a familiar language which is sign language. Multi-sensory methods should be used in the sensitive topics using various pictorial methods, videos, drama and role-play. Furthermore disseminators of information on HIV and AIDS should use more visual aids when disseminating information on HIV and AIDS to individuals with hearing impairment. HIV and AIDS messages should therefore be written in adapted language to suit the needs of the individuals with hearing impairments
Description
Keywords
AIDS (Disease)--Africa, Southern , AIDS (Disease) , HIV infections. , AIDS (Disease) and mass media--Africa, Southern--Congresses.