Attitudes of Hivjaids Orphans towards teachers, Classmates and the Community: the case of Three government ghildrens homes In Addis Ababa
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Date
2007-03
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the attitude of HI VIA IDS orphans towards their
teachers, the classmates and the community by using 3 point attitude scale questionnaire
(consisting of 49 items), interview and focus group discussions.
The study also aimed at revealing the main perceived contributing factors to favor or unfavor
their teachers, the community and the classmates.
Sixty HIVIAIDS orphans (grades 3 - 8 and ages 9-18) were included in the study 55
percent of them were females. The respondents were purposely selected from the three
government children's homes (Kolfe, Kibebe Tsehay and Kechene Children's Homes) Two
social workers, two counselors and 6 HIVIAIDS orphans were interviewed and 18 teachers
and 12 non-orphan classmates also participated in the focus group discussions. The
teachers and the non- orphan classmates were selected from three primary schools (Tsehay
Chora, Kechene Oebreselam and Medhinalem primary school).
Analyses of the data were made using quantitative method; (percentage, mean, standard
deviation and t- test) and qualitative methods. The mean score differences of the
respondents based on sex, age and grade level was checked by suing t-test.
The obtained data indicated that the majority of the respondents, (71.67%, 68.83% and
83.33%) had favorable attitudes towards their teachers, non-orphan classmates and orphan
classmates respectively However, majority (53.33%) of them had negative attitudes
towards the community The mean scores of the respondents 2.22, 2.17 and 2.43 towards
the teachers, non-orphan classmates and orphan classmates, respectively (which are above
the average value =2), indicating their positive attitudes to the respective sections of the
society But, the mean value 1.97 towards the community indicates their negative attitudes
towards the community
The major perceiv,ed contributing factors for the respondents to disfavor their teachers, the
community and the non-orphan classmates were mainly related to stigma and discrimination
by the section of the society mentioned above. However, the stigma and discrimination
against them were not related with the impact of HI VIA IDS on the respondents.
The mean differences based on sex, age and grade level weren't statistically significant at
alpha = 0.05.
Finally, recommendations were forwarded in accordance with findings and conclusions.
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Education