An Analysis of HIV and Aids Spatial Awareness and Vulnerability Level with Specific Reference to Staff at One Polytechnic in Zimbabwe

Abstract

With the gravity of the HIV and AIDS situation in most African nations and its implications for the education sector, a study was undertaken to analyze the spatial awareness and vulnerability level to pandemic in tertiary institutions with specific reference to academic and support staff at one polytechnic in Zimbabwe. A sample comprised of sixty-five academic and forty support staff was selected through stratified random sampling from a target population of five hundred and twenty-five. For data triangulation institutional administrators were purposively selected to participate in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and interviews were used to collect data from the participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed manually according to themes. The findings from the study revealed that it is critical for learning institutions to have an HIV and AIDS policy framework to facilitate employees’ acquisition of knowledge on HIV and AIDS pandemic, resulting in them experiencing healthy lives. In the study it was noted that the institution under study has no institutional HIV and AIDS policy framework, thus issues to do with awareness, prevention, treatment and care of the same are done in an uncoordinated manner. Therefore this triggers existence of cases where those living with the disease are stigmatized. The study also revealed some strategies, which can be used to reduce negative effects of failure to have an institutional policy, among them the provision of employees with basic information on transmission, protection, treatment, care and support. It can be concluded that an institutional HIV and AIDS policy was acknowledged to be an important framework guiding activities on education and training related to the epidemic. At the institution under study members of staff encounter challenges on issues to do with HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support of the infected and affected staff, resulting in high vulnerability level to the pandemic. Having an institutional policy to provide framework for the effective operation in fight against the epidemic through provision of adequate information, education and training is recommended. Thus with this notion it is probable that stigmatization and discrimination indignations may be curtailed.

Keywords: Analysis, spatial awareness, HIV and AIDS and vulnerability level