Quantitative, descriptive research, using self-completion questionnaires, was
conducted to determine the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge of the learners in
Sefhare. The sample, comprising 92 learners, was selected from forms 1-3.
Of the learners, 53.4% knew what HIV/AIDS stand for, but only 13.6% said AIDS
is caused by HIV and only 4.5% said AIDS is an incurable disease. The ABC of
protecting oneself against HIV (abstain from sex, be faithful to one sex partner,
use condoms) was mentioned by merely 57.6% of the learners.
The learners’ lack of knowledge should be addressed by school HIV/AIDS
programmes offered at schools in Botswana. As 81.5% of the learners were
willing to be tested for HIV, this service should be made available with
simultaneous confidential personal HIV/AIDS education, irrespective of the HIV
test results. Teachers’ and parents’ HIV/AIDS knowledge should also be
updated regularly.