Publicidad y Comunicación Organizacional

4.1.1 Reported Common Health Problems Affecting Apprentices

Participants at the FGD sessions were all young ladies of a mean age of 21.7 years, equal number of apprentices represented the vocations that is hairdressing and tailoring. Nearly all the discussants across the groups gave similar responses. Several health problems were identified, including unwanted pregnancy, which topped the list because many young ladies reportedly dropped out of school and within a short time became pregnant. This was the concensus in the the three experimental and control groups.Other common health problems affecting young ladies mentioned by the respondents were body itching at the vagina, problems with the flow of menstruation, lower abdominal pain, headache, fever and cold. For example an apprentice in E1 said “Some apprentices talked about body itching, most of the time on the vagina while some complained of menstrual pain”.

Another apprentice in E3 added ―Young ladies complained of low abdominal pain when they have sexual intercourse with their boyfriends.” Other health problems mentioned by apprentices in the four sites included vaginal discharge and abortion. The apprentices claimed that these health challenges were resolved as some young ladies usually patronized the patent medicine/chemist

stores to purchase drugs to treat their ailments or use traditional herbs. An apprentice in E2 also added ―Only few would go to the hospital for treatment, many people preferred chemist shop because a quick and cheap treatment is available.”

Average young people claimed to prefer treatment from the chemist shops because of easy access to purchase medication off the shelves without a prescription from medical practitioner (self-medication) that has been the norm. The ladies claimed the treatment at these shops is regarded to be quick, nearly all of the discussants claimed that providers at the chemist shops are more approachable and reliable to obtain emergency drugs and treatment from them.

4.1.2 Knowledge /Information about HIV/AIDS

Almost all the participants had heard about HIV/AIDS. Some of them described it as a serious disease that can kill. The consensus from E1 and 3 was that their source of information included the television, radio, news- papers and from peers, while apprentices from E2 and control, their source was mainly friends, campaigns and radio. They were able to list some of the modes of transmission:

For example responding to how one can contact HIV:

An apprentice in E3 said “someone can get HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse”;

Another mentioned “by sharing sharp objects with other people”;

The consensus from E1 and control groups added that “one can get HIV through blood transfusion”; “blood exchange during oath taking (cultism)”“It can be spread by having many boy- friends and having sex with them”

However, there was no one from the four groups that mentioned that it can spread through Mother to Child Transmission. There was misconception and disagreement about the spread of the disease. In E3, few apprentices thought HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites, kissing or using the same feeding utensils with infected persons.

From the three Experimental groups; many of the participants were able to mention several signs and symptoms that could be used to identify people with AIDS. They mentioned symptoms like troublesome cough, appearance of body rashes, recurrent sickness, complaint about abdominal pain, diarrhoea, loss of much weight, falling off of hair and the person looking very sick. One of the apprentices from E1 said ―someone can know his/her HIV status by going to the hospital to do blood test”

In protecting oneself from contracting HIV/AIDS: several suggestions were given:

In E2, an apprentice said “I believe abstinence from sexual intercourse until one is married is the best protection”;

Another apprentice from E3 said ―refusing to go out with different men and having self-control would protect young ladies from contracting the disease‖. The conscnsus from the most of the participants was that they can be protected by not sharing sharp objects with other people or engaging in bad practices that involved exchange of blood. Another apprentice suggested a precaution that ―blood should be screened for HIV before transfusion to the sick people”

The participants from E1 suggested ―one can protect one-self from contracting HIV/AIDS by using condoms at sexual intercourse”.

4.1.3 Risks associated with premarital and unprotected sex

Many of the Apprentices admitted that they had been exposed to pre-marital sex and they were aware of the risks involved and their response was similar. From the experimental and control groups, they mentioned unwanted pregnancy as one of the risks and the consequences that are likely to occur which include disgrace, drop out from school, the parents may disown the lady or even the man that impregnated the lady may deny responsibility and refuse to claim the child; and most likely lead to terminating the unplanned pregnancy (abortion).

An apprentice said “This can lead to single parenting or the lady can throw the child away (abandonment)”.

Another apprentice said “Risks resulting from premarital sex include getting some infections such as Sexually Transmitted Infections, Gonorrhea, Candidiasis, and HIV/AIDS”.

The risks mentioned above were discussed extensively, almost all the participants mentioned ways to prevent these risks among young ladies. The participants in group E2 suggested-

―Young unmarried ladies should stay away from sexual intercourse and wait till when they get married”. ―The young ladies should develop to maturity before marriage”.

In E1 most of the participants condemned the practice of ladies staying out late with men, and indecent dressings by young ladies which might render them prone to sexual harassment and rape.

The participants also suggested that young ladies should guide against the influence of bad friends and peer pressure.

E2 participants also added that ―The female apprentices should be advised against going out with men (sugar daddies) and should not accept gifts for exchange of sex”.

Furthermore, the participants from control group identified poverty, inadequate care by the parents and peer pressure influence as the major factors that exposed the female youths to premarital sex.

They therefore suggested the counselling of young ladies about self-control and dignity;

“Young ladies should be bold to tell their boyfriends to postpone sexual intercourse”

In addition, the E3 participants collectively encouraged their peers to practice safer sex-

―Otherwise if they should accept to have sex, they should protect themselves by using condoms.”

The Apprentices form E1 were of the opinion that the influence of friends and pressure from parents were major problems the apprentices have in preventing premarital sex. Some of their friends would call them names such as ―unsocial girl‖, ―bush girl‖, ―village girl‖, ―Jesus woman‖,

―He no sabi‖, ―she is not wise‖. Boys may even gang up to rape these innocent girls. They stressed that mates of innocent girl may despise her and be unwilling to associate with her. An apprentice said: “the young ladies that engage in premarital sex feel there is fun derived in having sex with their boy-friends.”

A consensus response from the four groups reported that cohabitation with boyfriends was very common among out-of-school females because of poverty and lack of care by the parents.

“Young girls indulged in living with boy-friends and have sex because they are hungry and are looking for security that is why they sell their bodies for exchange of money.” ―They want to have a means to meet their basic needs, collect money from men to pay for their vocational training, buy clothes, shoes and bags and plait hair”;

These reasons were given by apprentices why many young ladies engage in premarital sex. They frowned at parents that indulge their daughters to go into prostitution. Some of their comments were:

 “It was also observed that some mothers encouraged their daughters to ask their friends how to source for money and some of the friends would oblige to introduce the one in need to someone (Sugar daddy) that can provide money to meet the lady’s needs.‖

 “Parents should be encouraged to provide for the needs of their daughters.”

 “Parents should be more responsible to educate their children on good morals and provide the basic needs for these young ladies.”

The Apprentices in E3 however suggested that if parents could provide for their daughter’s needs there would be no need to go out with men and engage in casual sex in exchange for money.

However, in discussing ways to help young ladies to resist premarital sex: Majority of the participants believed that the parents should be responsible and provide for their children.

“Parents should not ask their daughters to go and copy friends’ life styles”.

They suggested that young ladies should be counselled about the consequences of premarital sex which included as STIs- Gonorrhea, Candidacies, HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, abortion are grievous and at times can be fatal. Some of them pleaded with the young ladies to resist the influence of peer pressure, stay away from sex, and refuse gifts from men in exchange for sex. Some of them were excited that female condoms are available and if they cannot postpone sexual activity

they should engage in safer sex behavior. Few of them therefore requested for demonstration on use condom.

Furthermore, apprentices in E1 sought for additional information about HIV/AIDS: the participants wanted more knowledge on how to counsel their friends in order to protect them from contracting HIV/AIDS and knowledge about the cure for AIDS. Some wanted to know if it was true that India has a cure for AIDS. Many would like to know about other causes of the disease. Also they would like to know how to take good care of their health and more explanation about safer sex behavior. Appropriate responses were provided for their questions.

Section Two Survey Findings: Baseline

4.2 Demographic Characteristics of Apprentices