Hey Ya'll!
Hope you enjoyed our unit on Africa! I know we have read and discussed issues that are very troublesome. As we have learned, South Africa is one of the richest countries in Africa, yet it plagued by so much, including a high population of HIV/AIDS.
Read the article from GLOBAL ISSUES- the link is below. The article is about teens- other kids your age, and the problems they face in South Africa today. To me, it is very disturbing.....
http://www.globalissues.org/news/2010/05/05/5490
After reading the article, please comment on the following two questions:
1. What do you feel is the BIGGEST problem facing teens in South Africa (choose only one out of the few you read about)? Why do you feel this way?
2. What are some solutions to solve these problems? What do you see happening that may "wake up" these kids, and get them back on the right path in life? Suggest at least TWO solutions.
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1. I feel that the biggest problem in South Africa is unsafe sex. Many children, 40% of which are 13-19, have had unsafe sex. This number is very disturbing considering the fact that many have had HIV/AIDS education. Kids there should know that if they have unsafe sex, the risk of getting HIV is extremely high. Not only because of not using contraception, but because of the region in which they live. If this problem does not stop, HIV and AIDS will grow and grow.
ReplyDelete2. Some solutions to the problems listed in the article consist of showing them what they will become shall they choose not to stop their bad habits. Have them visit rehab centers and hospitals. Show the kids how their obsessions have ruined other peoples lives to the point of no return. Things like unsafe sex, binge drinking, gang violence...they will all wreck a teenagers life within a certain amount of time. Next, they should provide even more education to those who need it the most. The ones who are already participating in these activities. Education is the number one way to show a kid why it is wrong to do such things. Finally, every adult, center, and hospital should be open to any patient regardless of age, gender, or race. No teenager shall feel like they are alone. If they know someone can help them, it will definitely motivate them to change their ways.
1. I really must disagree with TMerrick23, because no matter what happens in the next decade (except if they come up with a cure for HIV/AIDS), it's going to spread and grow as a virus. I'd say that the absence of a strong family union is something really disturbing. I would say that I feel this way because I am a "family-man", but that term isn't exactly a respected educated term. In a family, it is up to the parents not only to love you and give you your physical necessities, but also your morals and knowledge of right and wrong; the good and the bad. With that being said, with no particular guidance from any parent-like figure in their lives is extremely horrifying. In my opinion, it may very well be one of the underlying factors to problems globally. Parents (supposedly) discpline their children. These kids don't have caring parent-figures to lecture them and teach them what is good for their well-being and what isn't. Not that HIV and AIDS aren't key either; it's just that most of the circumstances in which these kids do have "unsafe" sex is under the influences of alcohlol and inhalants. If anyone could stop teens from doing that in the first place, that would be these parent-figures I speak of. Unfortunately, they aren't present in Africa, which makes them my major concern.
ReplyDelete2. A solution in attempt to solve the family life would be to have a program similar to 'Big Brother/Big Sister", except to have it with mature, physcolgically-approved adults assigned to a child and/or family to teach them on the homefront. Group-home settings aren't suitable well enough, for each child has different needs, and they ought to have those need addressed to them specifically. Another solution would be for these kids to be punished for doing these self-damaging actions. These punishments would be perfectly within humane grounds, yet wouldn't be a light slap on the wrist. The message would have to get through, but not to the point where the message is lost in anger, vengenance, and hatred. I think that if these parent-figures were to get into these kids' lives, then they would have a responsible role model to look up to and a sense that there are consequences for their actions. Perhaps awakening them to reality by showing them what happens to teens who choose this path end up on, and how the narrow and tough way is possibly the best way for them to live successful and prosperous lives.
1.) The biggest problem facing South African teens today is definitely unsafe sex. An astonishing 20% of teens have been preganant or made someone pregnant. Besides pregnancy, this unsafe sex has caused widespread cases of HIV/AIDS among teens. About 65% of these teens have recieved HIV education, but it does not seem to be effective enough.
ReplyDelete2.) As mentioned in the article, these teens are not listening to HIV education. What they really need is services provided for them. So, my first solution to solving unsafe sex rates in South African teens is to have these services available to anyone, including teenagers. The article claims that teens have been denied contraceptives, as well as other services, simply because their actions are considered shameful. However, this winds up leading to higher pregnancy and HIV/AIDS rates. My second solution would be to not only provide education about HIV, but to educate about contraceptives, pregnancy, etc. They also need to learn about gang violence, as well as drug an alcohol abuse, and the consequences. This should drop all of these rates.
1. I feel that the underage drinking is the biggest problem. THe kids hace to easy of acess to alcoholic drinks and they take advantage. When the kids drink it dilutes their descion making and they struggle to chose not have sex and to be safe doing so. Many of the people who have sex admt to also drinking. Also drinking develops bad habits to come inthe future.
ReplyDeleteDrinking is the basis of the rest of the problems in the article.
2. I think that a few things coul be done to solve this problem. One thing they can do is provide more education on drinking and dris and thier effects. It says they are educated on sex but they obvously do not know they effects of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. If they teach these effects than some people will stop doing it and they will be able to live bettr lives. Another thing that can be done to stop this problem is provide more places where kids can get condomns and other support. It says that kid do not have the place to get these things and if they did it would make life there a lot better. Creating support places would help the African kids and make their lives better.
1) I feel also that underaged drinking and use of drugs is the biggest problem facing the youth in South Africa today. The use of achohol and other drugs are leading them to have unsafe sex and start bad habits and also bring on states of depression. They also have such easy access that they feel they are being allowed to do these things also because they have no knowledge of the consequences of their actions.
ReplyDelete2) A solution to this problem would be to educate the youth and to tell them that if they continue to do what they are doing they are not going to erase their problems but add on to them which lead to more trouble. Its more like a circle of problems that will keep growing and growing and we have to tell the youth this before their problems are just too big for anybody to fix or break. Also the kids should not be shunned so easily by buying contraceptives this is the only way beside abstinence to stop or slow down the spread of pregnancies and HIV/AIDS. This could bring alot more kids into a better life and a better state of mind.
1. All of these problems stink and its quite obvious these kids are the product of their stinky environment. But I think the biggest problem there is the alcohol and drugs because when your tipsy, you're definatly more likely to do something you shouldn't and you probably won't think about doing it safe. One thing leads to another... And because i enjoy debating here we go... Can't be Unsafe sex because they beat women who try to use a condom any way; and You can't depend on the parents because uh... they are dead (from Alcoholism and AIDS).
ReplyDelete2. A super huge problem with a solution is you pretty much can't make sex not feel good, can't make drugs not fun, can't make condoms fun to wear, and it's gonna be tough to stop kids who are HIV positive, parentless, and poor from sniffing cheap glue to stop attempting suicide because their life sucks. The best thing you can do is make the alcohol, mary, and glue super expensive so it's out of reach of the kids. Like in America and Alcohol tax is ridiculous and a beer is like 5-6 bucks. Education doesn't usually work. I like the Idea that if you have contraceptives readily available, (even though they don't use them) it makes sex "ok" or "exceptable" because you won't get in trouble. You should face your problems and learn from experience. And if you still have unpretected sex after you watch your friend try to kill himself after getting HIV, you have serious problems... or your drunk...
oh and no I DO NOT SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE!! yeah.... haha
1. The amount of sex that these teens have is the biggest problem, almost 40% admitted to it, some as young as thirteen. South Africa has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS on the continent. With all of these kids having sex it will be easier for the virus to spread even more. The future really depends on the next generation and if they keep making these idiotic mistakes and having unprotected sex there will not be very many adults who will not suffer from life long effects of their stupid decisions.
ReplyDelete2. Making contraceptives readily available to the teens having sex rather then chastising them for it will greatly help to lessen the amount of unplanned pregnancies and spread of infectious diseases. Although the teens know about some of the consequences of having unprotected sex they are forced too for lack of a way of getting it. Setting up teen groups where these kids can go to spend free time could also lessen the amount of sex they have. If they have a place where they can go to interact with other teens and do fun activities like sports they may be less inclined to have sex.
1) I feel the biggest problem for South African teens is the lack of family support. They are doing risky behaviors like drinking, doing drugs, having unsafe sex, and trying to commit suicide. If they talked with their families and dicussed their problems maybe they would be less inclined to put themselves in danger. Many of the teens feel depressed and hopeless, but this is not surprising considering that apartheid only ended fifteen years ago. That means their parents experienced it first hand. The parents should be encouraging their children and telling them not to endanger themselves when they have so much more to live for now that they are all free.
ReplyDelete2)Although the article says that teens are educated about sex, they are still discouraged from buying condoms. If teens had access to condoms without question then their sex lives would be safer and the percentage of pregnancies would decline, as well as the spread of HIV. Bars and taverns should also be banned from selling alcohol to minors. If teens cannot get alcohol then that percentage would also drop. I also agree with Lexie. I think youth groups should be organized. There, teens can hang out and feel safe. They can talk to other teens and be better educated about the risks of drinking, doing drugs, and having unsafe sex. Together, the youth of South Africa can stand up to their problems and learn to live better, safer, happier lives.
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ReplyDelete1.)Personally, like a lot of others that have answered this question already, i agree that underage sex and AIDS is the biggest problem in Africa. Over 13% of kids under 14 that got interviewed had had sex, that is unheard of in the United States. And to add to that, those 13% have had sex more than one time with some one different! These kids are making it easier and easier to spread AIDS and worsen that epidemic. This obviously needs to be stopped.
ReplyDelete2.) In order to stop something like this, drastic measures need to be reached. One thing that could be done is make contraceptives easier to obtain and use. If in some way scientists could create contraceptives that could not really be felt but still protect people from getting AIDS, then that would solve some problems. Also, a law could be passed saying that it is illegal to have underage sex and have a punishment resulting in jail time if they are caught. This could possibly get through to some teens an scare them about having sex underage. This could result in a drop in the AIDS population.
Hi Guys!
ReplyDelete1. I believe that the alcohol and drugs is the biggest problem facing teens today. I mean, really?!? The pubs and taverns don't even card these children so now they can just walk in and get instant alcohol. This not only is dangerous to their health but the health of other teenagers. If a teen gets drunk it opens up the opportunity for unprotected sex and the spreading of AIDS. The underage drinking has the worst effects out of all of them.
2. One solution may be to give these kids the reality check they need, show them the negative effects of their decisions. Let them see for themselves what could happen to them if AIDS was to be contracted or they get pregnant. Educate them on how their choices are affecting their lives. I also think that bars and pubs should check the age of their customers to prevent underage drinking. They should always have proof of age before purchasing alcohol. THe rate of underage drinking would go down.
Hello people who are not communists.
ReplyDelete1.The biggest problem for South Africa is the large percentage of AIDS/HIV cases. there are 40% of 13-19 year olds having sex, 13 percent of them had it when they were under the age of 14. This goes along with the use of alcohol and drugs because you see that alcohol and drugs can sometimes cause people to not think straight and when people don't think straight, they dont make correct choices. Less than 3% of these people use condoms. And the people are educated (65%) but they dont have access to them. because of this, AIDS/HIV is spread throughout south Africa like a wild fire.
2)These people are educated on the use of condoms, however the problem is that condoms are not available. If condoms became available, then the HIV/AIDS rate would go down. The people selling condoms dont need to interrogate the minor buying them. That is an invasion of privacy. Another way would be to chut down bars that sell alcohol to minors illegally. Also if the drug problem was cleared up, that means more people would be able to think straight and if you can think straight, you can make GOOD choices.
1. The biggest problem for teens in Africa is their parents and family. The parents stand by and do nothing as they watch their children wither away. If the parents intervened they could stop all of the problems, but no, they just sit there and do not help. If the teens felt more secure at home then they would be less likely to join a gang and therefore less likely to have sex, do drugs, or drink alcohol. Furthermore, if a teens older siblings are doing these things, then the teen is more likely to do them too, so the whole family must abstain from doing these things.
ReplyDelete2. The solution to this problem is pretty simple. You have to not only educate the children, but their parents as well. If the parents know the horrible things that can happen to their kids then they will be more likely to stop it. A method to "wake up" the teens would be to show them a video that shows the horrible things that can happen if you participate in these activities, as well as the people who have died doing them. You have to tell the teens that if they do not stop soon then they will be one of the bodies in the next video.
1. The largest problem South African teens face today is sex. Out of 13-19 year olds, 40% have had sex. In addition, 41% of that 40% of teenagers have had sex with more than one partner. The teens make sex such a big problem because they practice unsafe sex even after proper education on the subject. From this, it increases the teens chances of becoming HIV-positive.
ReplyDelete2. To solve he problems of unsafe sex, gangs, drinking, and drug use the most beneficial way would be to get through to the teens by education. Allow clinics and hospitals to not turn away teens for wanting to protect themselves, doctors and nurses can educate and guide them in the right direction by having open arms to anyone who needs help and wants it. Show the kids they have a place to go when they need help. Also, have classes full of teens and bring in guest adult speakers who have lived through these problems to explain and show them what happens to a person after involving themselves in reckless and dangerous actions. They need a wake up call that if they do not change their behaviors the consequences can be fatal.
Thank you all for sharing your comments. This is a serious problem- and as we have learned, has an impact on the world- not just South Africa alone. I have conflicted thoughts on the issue- I feel that proper parenting and a strong family structure is the key to preventing these young kids from having sex and drinking. If they are not getting the love and support at home, which is seems a majority are not, they need to be educated about the risks and consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, that is not happening as much as it should in schools. I liked some of the ideas about classes, guest speakers, a Big Brother Big Sister Program, but again- there needs to be funds to support these organizations or groups. Hopefully, the country and local government of South Africa understand this is a growing trend amongst their young people- those who are supposed to lead their country one day.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope education and support reaches these young adults before diseases, jail, and other problems occur.
Kavy