Aesthetics of Pain in Africa’s Third Generation Female Narrative: A Study of Amma Darko’s Beyond the Horizon.

Abstract Sexual reproductive health communication between parents and children has been shown to promote safer sexual choices. Where third generation female caregivers, often grandmothers or other older females, commonly called gogos in South Africa, are primary care givers, the responsibility of talking about sex and related issues has shifted to them. This study explored the experiences of gogos in Alexandra, Johannesburg, talking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with the children they are raising. Ten primary caregivers were purposively sampled. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. Thematic analysis was performed and inductive codes and themes identified. All gogos sampled found it difficult to discuss sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS due to culture and traditional values impacting on personal experiences and generation and gender barriers. Perceived low self-efficacy due to low levels of knowledge and limited skills in speaking about sex and HIV and AIDS also contributed to the low levels of sexual reproductive health communication. This study highlights the need for interventions that focus on improving gogos’ knowledge about HIV and AIDS in addition to providing them with the skills to talk about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care.

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“Knowledge I seek because culture doesn’t work anymore … It doesn’t work, death comes”: the experiences of third-generation female caregivers (gogos) in South Africa discussing sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10494-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jane E. Simmonds ◽

Charles D. H. Parry ◽

Fareed Abdullah ◽

Nadine Harker Burnhams ◽

Nicola Christofides

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Communication ◽

Primary Caregivers ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Third Generation ◽

Gender Barriers ◽

Sexual Reproductive Health ◽

Parents And Children ◽

Low Levels ◽

Generation Female

Abstract Background Sexual reproductive health communication between parents and children has been shown to promote safer sexual choices. In many South African households, third-generation female caregivers, often grandmothers or other older females, locally known as gogos, are primary caregivers of children due to parents being deceased or absent. Subsequently, the responsibility of talking about sex and related issues has shifted to these gogos. This study explored the experiences of gogos living in Alexandra, Johannesburg on talking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children aged 10–18 years that are in their care. Methods Ten primary caregivers were purposively selected. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. Thematic analysis was performed and inductive codes and themes identified. Results All gogos selected found it difficult to discuss sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS due to culture and traditional values impacting on personal experiences as well as generation and gender barriers. Perceived low self-efficacy due to low levels of knowledge and limited skills in speaking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS also contributed to low levels of sexual reproductive health communication. Conclusions This study highlights the need for interventions that focus on improving gogos’ knowledge about sexual reproductive health in addition to providing them with the skills to talk about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care.

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“Knowledge I seek because culture doesn’t work anymore … It doesn’t work, death comes”: The experiences of third generation female caregivers (“gogos”) in South Africa discussing sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care

10.21203/rs.3.rs-27898/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jane Simmonds ◽

Charles Parry ◽

Fareed Abdullah ◽

Nadine Harker Burhams ◽

Nicola Christofides

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Communication ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Third Generation ◽

Sampled Data ◽

Care Givers ◽

Sexual Reproductive Health ◽

Low Levels ◽

Generation Female

Abstract Background Sexual reproductive health communication between parents and children has been shown to promote safer sexual choices. Where third generation female caregivers, often grandmothers or other older females, commonly called gogos in South Africa, are primary care givers, the responsibility of talking about sex and related issues has shifted to them. This study explored the experiences of gogos in Alexandra, Johannesburg, talking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with the children in their care aged 10-18 years. Methods Ten primary caregivers were purposively sampled. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. Thematic analysis was performed and inductive codes and themes identified. Results All gogos sampled found it difficult to discuss sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS due to culture and traditional values impacting on personal experiences and generation and gender barriers. Perceived low self-efficacy due to low levels of knowledge and limited skills in speaking about sex and HIV and AIDS also contributed to the low levels of sexual reproductive health communication. Conclusions This study highlights the need for interventions that focus on improving gogos’ knowledge about HIV and AIDS in addition to providing them with the skills to talk about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care.

Download Full-text