The aim o f the study was to determine the knowledge and concerns about HIV/AIDS
among childbearing wom en in M ahalapye, Botswana.
A descriptive study design using an inri-view schedule was used. The sample o f 166
respondents (aged 18-29 years) was drawn from a population o f wom en who attended
M ahalapye clinics. D ata were analysed by use o f a computer and descriptive statistics
including frequencies and percentages.
The demographic data showed that the majority (85.5%) o f the respondents w ere not
married, o f whom 78% had partners and 9% w ere cohabiting. Seventy percent had
secondary education and 70.4% w ere unemployed, hence their dependence on their
partners and relatives for economic support.
The results showed that the respondents had a high level o f know ledge about HIV/AIDS
including risk factors, m ode o f transm ission and prevention. A ll respondents (100%)
seem to be aware that a person can contract HIV through having m ultiple sexual partners.
The m ajority (98%) stated that HIV can be transm itted sexually and 97% said that infected
pregnant w om en can transm it HIV to their babies. Ninety seven percent o f w om en said
that the spread o f HIV can be prevented by \ h g condoms, 21.1 % said by having sex less
frequently and 98.8% said people can protect themselves from contracting HIV by
V
through sharing utensils and food w ith an infected person, 38% believed that mosquitoes
and insects can transm it HIV and 41.6% did not believe that a person infected with HIV
might look healthy. Thirty six (21.7% ) women perceived themselves not to be at risk o f
HIV owing to current m onogamous relationships and their trust in their partners. Radio
and health personnel w ere m entioned as the main sources o f information about HIV/AIDS.
All (100%) respondents revealed that they were afraid o f becoming infected w ith the virus
and 98.2% said that they were concerned that m en do not like using condoms. Even
though 93.4% said that they w ere free to discuss sexual activities w ith their partners,
83.7% said that they would not find it easy to reveal their HIV status to their partner for
fear o f rejection and stigmatisation. The results showed that knowledge was related to
education level. All wom en who had post secondary education indicated that AIDS
cannot be cured by consulting traditional doctors (9 -0 0v'7) and W estern doctors
(p=0.046) as com pared with those who did /iOf hav-'-post secondary education. A ge and
marital status seem not to be related to knowledge (p>0.05).
Educational program m es targeted at these women should address the m isconceptions
about the mode o f transmission. W om en should be equipped with effective
com munication and decision m aking skills that will empower them to adopt behaviours
that will protect them from becom ing infected or infecting others. Further research is
needed to determine the extent to w hich concerns expressed by wom en in this study are
expressed by other groups o f women.