This article re-examines HIV/AIDs discourses within the global imagining of Africa. It focuses on official responses which, between 1999 and 2007, were characterized by denialism, when South African President Thabo Mbeki, questioned the origin of the disease. The historical factors that shaped arguments locating African AIDS discourses as a counter-ideological response to Afro-pessimism are examined. It is argued that the controversy generated by debates on the origin and spread of HIV/AIDS, the denial of the link between HIV and AIDS, and the resistance against the roll-out of antiretroviral therapy, was a contestation especially of the Euro-American image of Africa, rather than of the epidemic itself.

University students form an important constituency in interventions against HIV and AIDS. The majority of university students are between ages 18 and 30 years, which, according to recent surveys, is the age category at the highest risk of HIV infection. Even though there is currently no comprehensive statistical data on the HIV prevalence at South African institutions of higher learning, a number of studies have noted increasing AIDS-related deaths and sicknesses among students. This highlights the need for effective intervention against HIV infections within this community. Condom use remains the most effective intervention against HIV infection within sexually active populations. This paper examines perceptions of public-sector condoms and their impact on condom use among university students, based on the findings of research conducted at three universities in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Study findings indicate that public-sector condoms are perceived as ineffective, smelly and even 'infectious' and are widely seen to be of lower status as compared to the commercial brands. These perceptions were found to influence condom use as some students preferred to engage in unprotected sex rather than use public-sector condoms. The paper highlights the need for communication programmes to demystify the misconceptions surrounding public-sector condoms and to provide reassurance of the quality of such condoms.

The) paper) is) part) of) the) literature) review) of) an) ongoing) doctorate) research) on) communication) challenges) in) the) control) of) cervical) cancer) among) rural) women) in) Kenya.)The)paper)looks)at)communication)challenges)arising)from)culture)and)stigma,) which) contribute) to) setbacks) in) the) control) of) cervical) cancer) among) rural) women.) Culture) and) stigma) are) discussed) in) this) paper) because) they) address) some) of) the) concerns)of)the)research)questions)in)the)study.)Cervical)cancer)is)preventable)and)also) treatable) at) early) stages,) but) statistics) from) various) credible) sources) worldwide) indicate) that) it) is) one) of) the) cancers) that) is) high) in) morbidity) rates) especially) in) subM Saharan) Africa.) This) paper) interrogates) how) culture) and) stigma) pose) communication) challenges) that) prevent) women) from) seeking) the) necessary) healthcare) in) order) to) achieve) the) four) components) of) cancer) control) which) are:) prevention,) detection,) treatment)and)palliative)care.)The)paper)uses)a)qualitative)approach)in)its)methodology) because)the)main)research)takes)an)interpretivist)-constructivist)philosophical)stance.) Recommendations) and) conclusions) made) are) hoped) to) contribute) knowledge) to) the) field)of)cervical)cancer)control)especially)in)rural)communities.) !

With an increasing accessibility of smartphones and mobile Internet, social media are becoming an integral part of everyday life for young people in Kenya. The use of new social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp is quickly changing in the country. Previous research on new media, however, indicates socio-demographic differences in the access, appropriation and use of new technologies. This article aims at advancing our understanding of how young people in developing countries are appropriating and using new social media platforms. It examines the multiple ways in which young people in Kenya use social media platforms and how they use these new spaces to connect, interact, communicate and engage on different issues. The article argues that the new social media configurations are invariably making possible access to alternative spaces, relatively ‘free’ from mainstream communication platforms. These changes have implications on different aspects of social change processes such as sociocultural and socio-economic changes in the Kenya.

Visual impairment is viewed as one of the most threatening disabilities. About 40-50 per cent of the people with disabilities who have visual impairment may be categorized as heavy drinkers. Most studies conducted to establish the information needs of visually impaired people have concentrated on the format of the information. Yet, accessible health information is key to reducing health inequalities in health care experienced among the visually impaired. Very few empirical studies have examined the health information needs of the visually impaired. Some of the gaps related to the types of health information include non-format aspects like the content type, timing and sender of the messages. This study investigates the audience reception of alcohol abuse messages among the visually impaired in Kenya. Using a purposive sampling procedure, 25 participants with visual impairment were identified from rehabilitation centres and institutions for the PWDs within Nairobi County. Data was generated through in-depth interviews, then recorded, transcribed, analyzed thematically, and presented in narrative form according to the themes. Study findings indicate that people with visual impairment were unconformable with the way media consistently portrays them as needing assistance and as an instrument of sympathy to elicit mercy. The visually impaired face difficulties satisfying their information needs through media content that focuses more on visuals and less on audio description. Their exclusion made them perceive that messages were only targeting the general population and thus were not as effective. Nevertheless, they sought assistance from intermediaries such as religious leaders, local authorities, teachers, friends, and close family members when they faced difficulty interpreting messages. Intermediaries largely buffered their challenges in interpreting messages. Apart from tailoring messages to suit the needs of the visually impaired, there is a need to involve them in actively developing and disseminating messages in Kenya.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0587/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>