HIV/AIDS AMONG THE BASARWA OF GHANZI DISTRICT IN BOTSWANA: EXOTIC OPTIONS IN THE FACE OF A DREADFUL MALADY
Authors:
Dama Mosweunyane (PhD).
Abstract:
This paper is generated from the findings of a study conducted amongst the Basarwa (San), in the Ghanzi District of Botswana in 2010. The study was necessitated to find out if Basarwa were knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, whether they are any behavior traits and attitudinal manifestations that can be attributed to their accrual of information about HIV/AIDS. The study was conducted in the whole district of Ghanzi and it employed the qualitative paradigm, which allowed for the use of interviews, observations and perusal of documents as a triangulation measure. The respondents were identified through the purposive sampling, which allowed for the selection to be accommodative; as all segments of the population were selected, making the sample to be representative. The findings did reveal that Basarwa did not have enough knowledge about the scourge, which placed their lives in jeopardy because they did not change their risky behavior resulting from the dissemination of information about the malady. It was found out that Basarwa because of their low socio-economic status the government and NGOs paid less regard to their lives and did not put in place HIV/AIDS provisions that catered for them in their own language. The study also revealed that Basarwa culture was not taken into consideration when providing information to Basarwa on HIV/AIDS, which undermined efforts to utilize their unique indigenous knowledge. The paper presents an argument that the Basarwa do have a unique culture that cannot be ignored if any programme is to be accomplished, hence the need for them to be catered for through the use of the indigenous educational options.