Chapter 11: Aids Education In Traditional Africa

Question 1

What is meant by indigenous knowledge system

Answer 1

Is made up of local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. It contains insights skills and experiences of people and mainly applied to improve people’s lives.

Question 2

What is the PEN model

Answer 2

PEN: positive exotic negative

Positive cultural beliefs and behaviour are values and behaviours known to be beneficial. Eg is abstaining from sex before marriage

Exotic behaviour are customs and behaviours unfamiliar with and strange to an outsider

Negative behaviour are those that are harmful to a person’s health. such as
Multiple sex partners

Question 3

What is the importance of culture in healthcare

Answer 3

It aids to determine the meaning of illness that individuals in a certain culture will adopt and the health practices the individuals in that culture will seek

Question 4

How is illness understood in the African context

Answer 4

Illness is understood to be caused by disharmony between a person and the ancestors by a god or spirits by witches and sorcerers by natural causes or by breakdown in human relationships.

Question 5

What role does ancestors play in African culture

Answer 5

Ancestors are seen as benevolent spirits who preserve the honour and traditions of a tribe and can protect their people against evil and destructive forces

They can also punish people by sending illness and misfortune if people don’t listen to their counsel where social norms and taboos are violated and cultural rites are neglected.

Question 6

Give reasons for lack of condom use in African culture

Answer 6

Promiscuity
Permissiveness
Lack of moral and religious values.