Young South Africans broadcast media and HIV / AIDS awareness: results of a national survey.

HIV prevention efforts in South Africa are at a critical stage. Considerable investment in HIV/AIDS awareness and education through the media and other programs has been made in recent years. Previous surveys have found high levels of awareness among young people about HIV the means of transmission and the required sexual behavioral modifications. However surveys have also found that many sexually active youth still do not think of themselves as personally at risk of HIV infection and misconceptions about the transmission prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS still exist. Broadcast and other media have a crucial role to play in promoting sustained behavior change for HIV prevention. However more research is needed to understand the reach of current media messaging as well as the types of messages that resonate most with young people. The purpose of the current study is to help inform the approach of the national public broadcasters and other broadcasters in South Africa to HIV/AIDS messagingand programming in the future as well as other principal actors in the field of HIV prevention. In order to do this we conducted a nationwide survey of young South Africans including questions designed to: Gauge what media young people use and how often they use it; Assess the general attitudes of young people towards broadcast media programming in relation to HIV/AIDS; Measure exposure to and attitudes about various HIV/AIDS communications campaigns that have run on radio and television; Determine young South Africans general feelings about their lives and their future; Assess the general level of HIV/AIDS awareness and knowledge among young people; Measure sexual behavior patterns and perceptions of risk of HIV infection. (excerpt)