Mission and HIV/AIDS prevention in Sterkspruit Parish, Eastern Cape: new insights from an evaluation and a critique of Education for Life Programme (EFLP), of the Roman Catholic Church.
Kizito, Joseph Mary
In this study, the researcher investigates an HIV and AIDS prevention programme known as
Education for Life (EFLP) run by the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). The programme seeks to
encourage behaviour changes as a viable approach for the prevention of HIV and AIDS through
education. EFLP is faith-based and run by the RCC as one of the programmes in RCC pastoral
mission activities to mitigating the HIV and AIDS epidemic.
EFLP aims at preventing HIV and AIDs through creating awareness of human values in the context
of the gospel, facts about HIV and AIDs and promoting behaviour change, particularly among the
youth. The programme is youth-led, peer-driven and peer support based. The researcher examines
EFLP in Sterkspruit Parish from 2003 to 2013 to assess whether EFLP was effective in bringing about
preventative sexual behaviour, as a result of participants in the programme changing attitudes and
values and acquiring life skills.
RCC and many Christian churches promote behavioural intervention abstinence, fidelity within
marriage, counselling and delaying sexual debut and partner reduction. Behavioural change
programmes have, however, not been without controversies.
A qualitative research method was followed to investigate the impact of EFLP. Data were obtained
and tape-recorded during one-on-one interviews of 25 youth participants. The researcher
employed the theory of reasoned action to examine the data.
Analysis of data revealed that the mission of the church could be achieved through social
transformation in the lives of the youth, especially behavioural change concerning HIV and AIDS.
It also showed that a single preventative approach should not be taken to the exclusion of others
in the prevention of HIV and AIDs. The study recommends combining different approaches,
including promoting behavioural change
Bibliography: pages 360-378
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