Culturally Appropriate AIDS Prevention in Urban Africa: Implications for Health Education

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	Culturally Appropriate AIDS Prevention in Urban Africa: Implications for Health Education
Author:	Airhihenbuwa, Collins O.
Year:	1991
Periodical:	African Urban Quarterly (ISSN 0747-6108)
Volume:	6
Issue:	1-2
Period:	February-May
Pages:	53-57
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	health education AIDS Health and Nutrition Urbanization and Migration Education and Oral Traditions Medicine, Nutrition, Public Health AIDS (Disease) Medicine, Preventive urban areas
Abstract:	In this article, the author examines sociocultural and economic factors as well as contemporary urban realities that tend to influence Africans' health-seeking behaviours and preventive health decisions. The author also discusses how the increasing incidence and prevalence of AIDS in Africa, particularly in the urban areas, has levied an unprecedented tax on social and economic resources. Although health education is widely believed to be the key weapon against this pandemic, the synergy of sociocultural and economic factors is not always adequately considered when conceiving, planning, implementing and evaluating AIDS education programmes in urban Africa. Recommendations are offered for employing health education strategies that utilize culturally appropriate multidisciplinary approaches to address AIDS prevention in urban Africa. Such approaches should be grounded in the cultural beliefs, traditional practices, and economic realities of the people. Ref., sum.