Overview and information issues concerning the HIV/AIDS situation in Africa
Loading...
Date
2007
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The paper examines the information and knowledge issues concerning the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. The paper starts by presenting an overview of the HIV/AIDS pandemic citing evidence which shows clearly HIV/AIDS is spread out in Africa, the hardest hit continent. The impact of HIV on the youth, women and girls, and orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs) is explored and reasons for the high levels of infections presented. This outline provides the backdrop for analyzing the HIV/AIDS information and knowledge issues which include overlapping information functions and responsibilities which have led to the emergence of a non traditional scientific communication model; the absence of an HIV/AIDS infostructure and infrastructure at grassroots level leading to an information vacuum in places away from the major urban areas; and the negation of the impact of information on behaviour change because of socio-economic and cultural factors. The final section proposes knowledge management at national and grassroots level as the best way to improve the local production, transfer and sharing of HIV/AIDS knowledge and information in Africa which will lead to innovation and concrete action to curb the spread of the disease.
Description
Keywords
Information issues, HIV/AIDS, Africa
Citation
Mchombu, K., Mchombu, C. (2007). Overview and information issues concerning the HIV/AIDS situation in Africa. 1-12.