Youths in the Anglican church in South Africa still have many misconceptions about HIV and how it is spread, despite the number of educational campaigns that have been conducted by various stakeholders, says News24.
According to recently concluded research, some young people still believe that HIV/Aids can be transmitted via toilet seats, and the virus can be avoided by having a bath after sex.
Last year the church commissioned research aimed at better understanding what its role can be in the battle against HIV/Aids among young people. The University of Stellenbosch’s unit for religious and developmental studies conducted the research among young Anglicans between the ages of 10 and 24, in 12 Anglican dioceses across the country.
This problem was also highlighted by OneLove web site reader Pretty Sithole, who wrote to us to ask us to help her to educate the youth in her community about HIV and AIDS.
She said: “I believe most of our youth don’t know how their bodies works and they are only driven by hormones and there myths that they assume is true that they use as precautions after having sex assuming they will prevent them from being infected.”
Take Action
Educate the youth in your community:
- Give them the facts about HIV and AIDS - how it is spread, how they can prevent infection, what they need to do to find out if they have HIV, what to do if they have HIV and how to live a healthier life whether they have HIV or not.
- Help them to become aware of how having multiple concurrent partners helps spread HIV faster and more efficiently
- Encourage them to delay having sex until they better able to cope with the consequences of sexual relationships
- Show them how to use condoms correctly, so they can protect themselves from infection.
- Show them how to have fun without sex.
Tell us your story
If you are already involved in educating the youth in your community about love, sex, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS and multiple concurrent partnerships, write to the OneLove web site to tell us your story and we’ll publish it here.
Send your story to admin@onelovesouthernafrica.org
