KHOPOTSO: The survey conducted during 2002 ‘€“ 2005 and released today (30/01/2007) shows a trend vastly different from the established view that poverty and low levels of education increase one’€™s chances of HIV risk. Professor Carel van Aardt is the Director of Research at UNISA’€™s Bureau of Market Research. He says the results show that as the epidemic grows, it evolves to target different pockets of society.  

Prof. CAREL VAN AARDT: Our belief that HIV is a disease of the impoverished, the unemployed, the uneducated is actually wrong. It seems that we’€™re dealing, at the moment, with a possible third epidemic ‘€“ the first epidemic (was) more (of) a homosexual epidemic, the second one, heterosexual, but more of the poor. It seems that the most rapid growth at the moment is among the educated, among the employed, among the people with higher incomes, and also the people in high class in society, and it’€™s putting really at risk also, a very substantial part of the growing black diamond class, which is very necessary for future economic development and we’€™re also seeing a very high growth among the white group that was for a long time believed not to be so heavily affected by HIV/AIDS.                        

KHOPOTSO: Data gathered over the research period shows a consistent rise in HIV infections among professionals and people in permanent employment.

Prof. CAREL VAN AARDT: In 2002, the estimate was that, of professional people, about 6.2% were HIV-positive. By 2004 that went up by 34% to 8.3%… When you look, for example, at full-time employees it increased from about 14.1 % prevalence rate in 2002 to about 19.2 % by 2005 ‘€“ very consistent – a 36% increase.

KHOPOTSO: Van Aardt says that the high class of South African society is also experiencing a high prevalence of HIV infection.

Prof. CAREL VAN AARDT: These are the people with the real spending power, the drivers of the economy in terms of also their household expenditure. It increased from about 6.1% in 2002 ‘€“ their prevalence rate ‘€“ to about 8.5%, which is a 39% (increase). So, the real take-off of this third epidemic was about 2000, growing strong to 2002, picking up speed towards 2005.

KHOPOTSO: Contrary to popular belief the education system in South Africa is not much of a solution in dealing with HIV/AIDS, says Mari Harris, Director and political analyst at research firm, Markinor.

MARI HARRIS: We always talk about South Africans not having enough skills and education plays a big role in that. But with teachers being absent from work, they can’€™t teach the children’€¦ That really grows the future impact of AIDS and I don’€™t think the sums have really been made to say 20 years down the line how this is going to affect us because already we see in a lot of schools that teachers are not turning up for work because they cannot. They’€™re sick. They’€™re infected. And we do not have enough teachers to teach our children. And a different aspect of education is the education programme about HIV and AIDS. What do you teach these children? If the parents and the teachers don’€™t have the correct information’€¦ then a very skewed message arrives at the end.

KHOPOTSO: The survey involved 3 500 sexually active South Africans representative of the demographics of the country. These were divided into five groups, ranging from the very high risk to virtually no risk individuals. The very high risk group comprised of young people under the age of 30 with diverse educational and financial backgrounds. However, there were striking similarities on their attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. The group is called Lover Boys and Girls.

MARI HARRIS: They have extremely promiscuous behaviour. They do not believe that when you use a condom you would be protected. Quite a large proportion of them believe that AIDS can be cured ‘€“ whether it’€™s by Western medicine or by an inyanga or sangoma. And quite a big proportion ‘€“ bigger than any of the other groups ‘€“ believed that AIDS can be cured if you have sex with a virgin’€¦ One would almost assume that these would be people that have little or no education, and it’€™s actually not true. There are people from all education levels in that particular group’€¦ They would also say, ‘€œwell, a condom spoils the fun’€. They wouldn’€™t use a condom when they have sex’€¦ They have very negative views about condoms.      

KHOPOTSO: Prof. van Aardt says this attitude, irrespective of people’€™s level of education, could be an indication that prevention programmes are not effective.

Prof. CAREL VAN AARDT: A lot of the programmes don’€™t really get to the people because it’€™s the same message being told over and over and over again. A lot of people believe that they’€™ve heard this message quite a lot and they are really bored with the message. Another reason is that, we’€™ve found with the focus groups, that a lot of people say that they are confused because sometimes they hear that AIDS is really dangerous and that AIDS kills. Some other people actually tell them that by, for example, using specific basic products that it can be cured.

KHOPOTSO: Van Aardt is not comfortable being drawn on this, at which point Mari Harris chips in to suggest at the debate around nutrition in AIDS treatment.

MARI HARRIS: ‘€¦ Carrots and beetroot.

KHOPOTSO: South Africa’€™s national response to HIV/AIDS has been marred by unclear communication around the treatment of the condition. Van Aardt believes that that has dealt a critical blow to prevention efforts.

Prof CAREL VAN AARDT: People hear from a lot of their leaders conflicting messages. And it’€™s very important to have an effective campaign. There must be a consistent   message driven to the people, otherwise people are simply not going to believe that message.