217014 Does the Penis Suck? The Logic of Lay Theories of HIV Transmission and Their Significance for HIV Prevention Strategies

Monday, November 8, 2010

David Dickinson, PhD , Department of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa
Background

The continued high incidence of HIV infection in South Africa, coupled with apparently good knowledge about the disease, questions the efficacy of convention prevention programmes. One possible conclusion is that the efficacy of knowledge has been over emphasised as a determinant of behaviour change. Alternatively, the degree of contestation between scientific, folk and lay theories of HIV transmission may be underestimated by survey-type research.

Methods

Thirty workplace HIV/AIDS peer educators from a South African company participated in a five-month action research project. Using dictaphones they documented their communication with peers. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews further explored their reported interactions.

Results

Over 80 ‘AIDS myths' and variants were recorded by the peer educators. Many of these drew on folk systems of knowledge (such as traditional healing). Others drew on a pastiche of scientific and folk ‘facts,' to develop logical and internally robust lay explanations of HIV transmission and how infection could be avoided during vaginal intercourse. The paper analyses the different lay theories that underpinned these ‘underground' prevention strategies.

Conclusions

Apparently irrational AIDS myths need to be respectfully investigated to reveal the underling logic of their construction. Simply dismissing or ignoring them will allow multiple sets of explanation and behavioural options to continue. Prevention programmes need to directly address these lay theories in ways and assist target audiences to turn lay theories into scientifically-compatible behavioural approaches.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Communication and informatics
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Design of effective HIV prevention programme. Design training programmes for peer educators that provide skills to address AIDS myths. Analyse lay theories of HIV transmission during vaginal intercourse.

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Health Education Strategies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present on this topic having conducted extensive research on HIV/AIDS peer education in South Africa with a special focus on their communication with peers. I work with a number of company HIV/AIDS peer educator programmes and am the author of a book published by Cornell University Press (2009) analysing the activity of peer education, Changing the Course of AIDS: Peer Education in South Africa and its Lessons for the Global Crisis. I am professor of sociology at Wits University, South Africa and teach the sociology of health promotion.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3320.0: Dialogue on Diversity in HIV/AIDS Issues 2