HIV/AIDS PREVENTION ISSUES: VIEWS OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN GRADUATE STUDENTS IN MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITIES (IMMUNE DEFICIENCY).
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 139
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.; Education, Health.
Description: The purpose of this study was to invite 32 sub-Saharan African graduate students, 22 males and 10 females, ranging from 26 to 50 years, from 17 different African countries, to discuss their concern about AIDS and AIDS preventive efforts in their homelands. Data were collected using in-depth open-ended face-to-face interviews following a semi-structured interview guide designed on the qualitative principle of naturalistic inquiry.

Respondents perceived AIDS as a great threat to their countries, but less important than political and economic conditions that Africa faces today. Informants pointed out ignorance is the first major barrier to AIDS prevention efforts. AIDS prevention information does not reach people at all levels. Respondents identified education and information dissemination as the most powerful potential tools to address the barriers to AIDS prevention. They pointed out that widespread AIDS education efforts must be community-based and relevant to the particular population it seeks to serve, whether it be in the rural and uneducated areas, or in the urban and sophisticated setting.

Participants said they plan to become actively involved in efforts to curb the AIDS epidemic when they return home: some plan to "teach by example," leading exemplary lives; some plan to take on AIDS-related volunteer responsibilities; some plan to enter politics to insure that pertinent legislation is passed.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-07, Section: B, page: 4300.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1996.

School code: 0806.