Social Work students’ attitudes towards gay men and lesbians in Namibia: Results from an exploratory study

Type Journal Article - South African Journal of Higher Education
Title Social Work students’ attitudes towards gay men and lesbians in Namibia: Results from an exploratory study
Author(s)
Volume 31
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2017
Page numbers 286-306
URL https://journals.co.za/content/journal/10520/EJC-90b4992f7?crawler=true&mimetype=application/pdf
Abstract
This manuscript explores the attitudes towards gay men and lesbians of social work students in
Namibia. While previous published research has explored social work students’ attitudes towards
this population in numerous international contexts, no published research presents the
perspectives of students within Southern Africa. Results presented are based on a sample of 193
undergraduate social work students in an accredited social work degree programme at a Namibian
public university. Results indicate an overall low level of open and accepting attitudes toward gay
men and lesbians. Using both bivariate and multivariate analyses, the findings indicate that
females, students from Namibia, students who know someone identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
or transgender (LGBT) and those who attend religious affiliations less often are more accepting of
gay men and lesbians. Suggestions for addressing high levels of negative attitudes towards gay
men and lesbians are addressed in terms of curricular integration and increasing opportunities for
student exposure to LGBT populations.

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