Young South Africans, Broadcast Media, and HIV/AIDS Awareness: Results of a National Survey

To better understand the attitudes of young South Africans towards the media’s role in HIV prevention and education, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation conducted a survey of nearly 4,000 South Africans ages 15-24 between August and December 2006. 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 messaging and programming in the future, as well as other principal actors in the field of HIV prevention. In order to do this, Kaiser and the South African Broadcasting Corporation 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

Survey (.pdf)