People‘s behavioural responses are based very much upon their perceptions of vulnerability or risk. The ways in which people perceive risk within the context of a disease such as HIV and AIDS is influenced by their conceptualisation of certain key aspects of the syndrome and their lifestyles. Each individual has his/her own perception of the likelihood of experiencing a condition that would adversely affect one's health. Individuals vary widely in their perception of vulnerability to a disease or condition. Those at the low end of the extreme deny the possibility of contracting an adverse condition. Those individuals at the high extreme of susceptibility feel there is real danger that they will experience an adverse condition or contract a given disease.
Through asking various questions from the questionnaire and in-depth interviews, the study measured individuals‘ levels of knowledge regarding risks of infection and their willingness to be tested for the virus. Knowledge of HIV status helps HIV-negative individuals make specific decisions to reduce risk and increase safer sex practices so that they can remain disease free. Among those who are HIV infected, knowledge of their
status allows them to take action to protect their sexual partners, to access treatment, and to plan for the future.
To assess awareness of HIV testing services, research respondents were asked whether they had ever been tested for HIV. If they had never been tested, they were asked their willingness to be tested. Only 39.94% of the respondents reported to have been tested for HIV whilst 60.06% have never been tested as shown by Fig 6.2 below.
Fig 6.2 Percentage of respondents tested for HIV.
(Source : Survey Data, 2007)
Reasons for getting tested include; just knowing one‘s status, partner initiating the suggestion of going for HIV tests, doctor‘s requirement, company policies at work and antenatal clinic requirements. Only 37.5% of those not yet tested were willing to be tested whilst the majority declined with reasons such as ; getting an HIV test is a stressful process and if discovered to be HIV positive, one is more likely die of stress well before developing AIDS. Others were very ignorant and boastful that they knew they were negative and will
never get infected. Table 6.1 below shows that 67.2% of the respondents were confident it was very unlikely that they already were HIV positive.
Table 6.1 The likelihood that respondents think they are already HIV positive
(Source : Survey Data, 2007)
Such perceptions can be due to the fact that 89.9% of the respondents identified themselves as Christians. Christianity plays a significant role in people‘s beliefs in Zimbabwe and it is common to proclaim positive declarations and prophesies over their lives hence some believing they will never be infected with the HIV virus because God is protecting them. Only 34 respondents were simply not interested in getting tested and believed that the whole HIV epidemic is someone else‘s problem and not theirs. All interviewees who were not tested for HIV were asked if they thought they were at the risk of infecting others without their knowledge and only 18% said yes. All respondents were asked how often they worry that they might get HIV, if to their knowledge they were negative and 47% admitted they never worry about it as shown in Fig 6.3 below. This is an extremely worrying attitude towards the epidemic, in a country reported to have one in every four adults infected with the virus.
1 .3 .3 .3
Fig 6.3 Percentage of respondents concerned about getting the HIV virus.
(Source : Survey Data, 2007)
To examine the validity of such claims, the study also asked how likely it is that they will get infected by the HIV virus in the next five years and the results are shown in Fig 6.4 below:
Fig 6.4 Perceived likelihood of getting infected in the next five years (Source : Survey Data, 2007)
The research also assessed the levels of agreement to the statement that one gets HIV and AIDS if engaging in high risk sexual behaviour101 as shown In Table 6.2 below:
Table 6.2 You can get HIV and AIDS if you engage in high risk sexual behavior
(Source : Survey Data, 2007)
Those who strongly disagreed with this statement gave an example of commercial sex workers (CSW). There are wide reports in Harare that those in the commercial sex industry were found to have lower HIV prevalence rates as compared to married couples or committed relationships. The National AIDS Council key informant explained that that CSW being aware of their vulnerabilities have the highest percentage of condom use than those in a stable relationship.
There were discrepancies between adequate levels of HIV and AIDS knowledge and inadequate levels of risk reduction behaviour. Eighty two percent of respondents admitted
101 High-risk sexual activity includes any behaviour that would cause participants emotional or physical harm.
High-risk sexual activities include unprotected sex, sex before the legal age of consent, and multiple sex partners that can result in contraction of the HIV virus.
217 59.8 59.8 59.8
having high risk groups102 in their areas of residence such as commercial sex workers, truck drivers, cross border traders, peers, rich people, young people, single mothers and night club goers.
Perception of risk also depends on the individual‘s own self perception and self categorization. It also appears that an individual‘s response to health education campaigns also depends on his or her view of him or herself in relation to at-risk groups. Fifty three percent of the respondents agreed that both the rich and poor in socio-economic class system were equally vulnerable to contracting HIV. However, a total number of 99 respondents argued that rich people were more at risk than the poor. On a personal level, only 26.4% of the respondents reported that their present standard of living or their quality of life makes them vulnerable to being infected.
In the Central Business District (CBD) of Harare, at Fourth Street bus terminal, The researcher interviewed public transport drivers and their conductors, commonly known as Mahwindi in Shona. The minibuses run shuttle services to different suburbs around the city centre and they depart from their designated places at the old run down bus station. A significant number of these drivers and conductors claimed that they were being approached by professional female workers who have to commute to work offering them
102A group of people in the community with a higher-than-expected risk of being infected by the HIV virus, which may be defined on a measurable parameter–eg, lifestyle, habit, socioeconomic and/or educational feature, as well as environment.
sexual intercourse in exchange for free transport. One of the drivers reported to have agreed to such arrangements with more than five women; three of them were school teachers. In trying to validate such claims, the research findings suggest that such arrangements are in fact taking place due inadequate monthly salaries which is less that the cost of transport in just one week.
The Zimbabwean National AIDS Strategic Programme (ZNASP) tends to be focussed at high- risk groups hence creating stereotypical beliefs about people at risk, suggesting to the thinking that they simply recognise others who are HIV positive. A more psychological obstacle is the fact that the onset of the disease may be delayed for several years following exposure to the virus. Thus, the negative consequences of unprotected sex are uncertain and removed in time from the sexual act.