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Editor - I write with reference to the article by Campbell and
Mzaidume(1), and building on my own work with young men in Brazil, I agree
entirely with the authors that peer education is a valuable strategy in
the prevention of HIV/AIDS. However, the design of this South African
programme appears to contain a contradiction, and is likely to hinder the
participation of men in the target group. It is no surprise that Campbell
and Mzaidume found that men in the shack settlement resented the women who
led the programme.
As Shiner(2) explains, peer education refers to "a range of
interventions where the educators and the educated are seen to share
something that creates an affinity between them" (p. 564). See in this
light, the use of women sex workers as peer educators among miners is
likely to be counterproductive. Gender difference is linked to contrasting
biological, cognitive and emotional features, life experiences, and
behaviour. As remarked by the authors (1) sex workers and miners have
distinct views, attitudes and behaviour related to sex. More relevant
still, men dominate the community and have little respect for women. In
this context, it is clear that men do not recognise women, particularly
those who are powerful, as their peers. Understandably, men are likely to
reject the legitimacy of women as educators.
The programme for prevention of HIV/AIDS in South Africa needs to
include men as peer educators. It is also necessary to identify tactics to
sensitise them to the unique conditions and experiences of sex workers.
1. Campbell, C and Mzaidume, Y. How can HIV be prevented in South
Africa? A social perspective. BMJ 2002;324:229-232.
2. Shiner, M. Defining peer education. Journal of Adolescence
1999;22:555-566.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
18 February 2002
Sergio Luiz de Moura
Visiting Research Fellow
South Bank University, 202 Wandsworth Road, SW8 2JZ, London, UK
Peer education and HIV/AIDS
Editor - I write with reference to the article by Campbell and
Mzaidume(1), and building on my own work with young men in Brazil, I agree
entirely with the authors that peer education is a valuable strategy in
the prevention of HIV/AIDS. However, the design of this South African
programme appears to contain a contradiction, and is likely to hinder the
participation of men in the target group. It is no surprise that Campbell
and Mzaidume found that men in the shack settlement resented the women who
led the programme.
As Shiner(2) explains, peer education refers to "a range of
interventions where the educators and the educated are seen to share
something that creates an affinity between them" (p. 564). See in this
light, the use of women sex workers as peer educators among miners is
likely to be counterproductive. Gender difference is linked to contrasting
biological, cognitive and emotional features, life experiences, and
behaviour. As remarked by the authors (1) sex workers and miners have
distinct views, attitudes and behaviour related to sex. More relevant
still, men dominate the community and have little respect for women. In
this context, it is clear that men do not recognise women, particularly
those who are powerful, as their peers. Understandably, men are likely to
reject the legitimacy of women as educators.
The programme for prevention of HIV/AIDS in South Africa needs to
include men as peer educators. It is also necessary to identify tactics to
sensitise them to the unique conditions and experiences of sex workers.
1. Campbell, C and Mzaidume, Y. How can HIV be prevented in South
Africa? A social perspective. BMJ 2002;324:229-232.
2. Shiner, M. Defining peer education. Journal of Adolescence
1999;22:555-566.
Competing interests: No competing interests