Understanding HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to unpack an African perspective on HIV/AIDS. How it is understood in the African context, how the Africans have responded to it, and how their responses have impacted on its prevalence on the education system will be the focus of this chapter. The focus is specifically on a Southern African country called Lesotho. This chapter unpacks Basotho perceptions about HIV/AIDS and explore some roles in their culture and tradition that could have shaped their understanding (or lack thereof) of this concept. Furthermore, the chapter provides discussions on other factors, such as the church, health centres, culture, and tradition that could have also played a major role in HIV/AIDS understanding and the situation of HIV/AIDS in Lesotho. It is worth mentioning that the indigenous practices in Lesotho may be similar to other African practices or may add to the existing indigenous practices world-wide.