Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za PreparedfortheEducationLabourRelationsCouncilbyaresearchconsortiumcomprisingtheSocialAspectsof HIV/AIDSandHealthResearchProgrammeoftheHumanSciencesResearchCouncilandtheMedicalResearch Council PublishedbyHSRCPress PrivateBagX9182,CapeTown,8000,SouthAfrica www.hsrcpress.ac.za ©2005EducationLabourRelationsCouncil Firstpublished2005 Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedorreproducedorutilisedin anyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,orothermeans,includingphotocopying andrecording,orinanyinformationstorageorretrievalsystem,withoutpermission inwritingfromtheEducationLabourRelationsCouncil. ISBN0-7969-2101-6 CopyeditingbyVaunCornell TypesetbyRobinTaylor CoverdesignbyJennyYoung PrintmanagementbycomPress DistributedinAfricabyBlueWeaverMarketingandDistribution POBox30370,Tokai,CapeTown,7966,SouthAfrica Tel:+27+21701-4477 Fax:+27+21701-7302 email:orders@blueweaver.co.za Distributedworldwide,exceptAfrica,byIndependentPublishersGroup 814NorthFranklinStreet,Chicago,IL60610,USA www.ipgbook.com Toorder,calltoll-free:1-800-888-4741 Allotherenquiries,Tel:+1+312-337-0747 Fax:+1+312-337-5985 email:Frontdesk@ipgbook.com Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za Contents Listoftables v Listoffigures vii Foreword viii Acknowledgements ix Listofcontributors xi Executivesummary xiv Abbreviations xxiii 1Introduction 1 1.1Epidemiologicalmodel 5 1.1.1Independentvariables 6 1.1.2Moderators 11 1.1.3Dependentvariables 12 1.2Rationaleofthestudy 13 1.3Researchquestions 13 1.4Objectivesofthestudy 13 2Methodology 15 2.1Researchdesign 16 2.2Instrumentsandscales 16 2.2.1Individualquestionnaires 16 2.2.2Scalesusedinthestudy 17 2.2.3Learningareas 18 2.2.4HIVtesting 20 2.3Pilotstudy 20 2.4Ethicalclearance 20 2.5Sampledesign 21 2.6Sample 22 2.7Datacollection 24 2.7.1Recruitmentandtrainingoffieldworkers 24 2.7.2Accessintoschools 24 2.7.3Qualitycontrol 25 2.7.4Needlestickinjuriestonursesduringfieldwork 26 2.7.5Datamanagement 26 2.7.6Weightingofsamples 27 2.7.7Dataanalysis 27 3Strengthsandlimitationsofthestudy 29 3.1Strengths 30 3.2Limitations 30 4Results 31 4.1Responserates 32 4.2Demographicandsocio-economiccharacteristicsofthestudysample 35 4.2.1Introduction 35 4.2.2Demographiccharacteristics 35 4.2.3Socio-economiccharacteristics 45 4.2.4Summary 52 4.3HIVprevalenceamongSouthAfricaneducators 52 4.3.1HIVprevalencebysocio-demographicfactors 53 Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za Thehealthofoureducators 4.3.2HIVprevalencebyprovinceanddistrict 58 4.3.3ProfileofteachersandHIVprevalence 66 4.4DeterminantsofHIV/AIDS 69 4.4.1Numberofsexualpartners 70 4.4.2AwarenessofHIVstatus 71 4.4.3Condomuse 72 4.4.4Consistentcondomuse 77 4.4.5HIV/AIDSknowledge 80 4.4.6Same-sexrelationships 83 4.4.7Agemixing 84 4.5Residence,migration,mobilityandHIVstatus 84 4.6AlcoholuseamongSouthAfricaneducators 91 4.6.1Alcoholusebysex,race,ageandmaritalstatus 91 4.6.2Alcoholuseofmaleeducatorsbysocio-economicstatus 92 4.6.3High-riskalcoholuseofmaleeducatorsbyprovince 93 4.6.4Alcoholuseandhealth-relatedqualityoflife,absenteeismfrom workandHIVstatusamongmaleeducators 94 4.7TBprevalence 95 4.7.1Method 95 4.7.2Results 96 4.8SexuallytransmittedinfectionsandHIV 98 4.9HealthstatusofSouthAfricaneducators 99 4.9.1Educatorhealth-relatedproductivity 100 4.10Violenceineducationalinstitutions 103 4.11Potentialattritionofeducators 105 5Discussionofthefindings 113 5.1Profileofeducators 114 5.2PrevalenceofHIV 114 5.3Condomuse 120 5.4KnowledgeofHIVtransmission 123 5.5Alcoholuse 123 5.6Healthstatusandhealth-relatedproductivity 124 5.7Potentialforattrition 125 6Conclusions 127 7Recommendations 131 8Appendices 139 Appendix1:Developmentofscalesandindices 140 Appendix2:LaboratoryHIVtestingprocedures 146 Appendix3:Evaluationoftheage-sexdistributions 147 Appendix4:ReliabilityandvalidityofHIVprevalencerate,socio-demographic profiles,coefficientofvariationandthedesigneffects 156 Appendix5:Listoffieldworksupervisors,interviewersandcoders 158 9References 165 Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za Thehealthofoureducators Table2.1: Learningareasandsubjectgroups 18 Table2.2: Breakdownofthesampleofschoolsbyprovince 23 Table4.1: Responseratesofeducatorsinpublicschoolssurveyedbyprovince,South Africa2004 33 Table4.2: Demographicandbasiccharacteristicsofthesample 36 Table4.3: Age-sexdistributionbyrace 39 Table4.4: Age-sexdistributionbyprovince 39 Table4.5: Socio-economicfactorsbyrace,SouthAfricaneducators2004 47 Table4.6: Socio-economicfactorsbysex,SouthAfricaneducators2004 48 Table4.7: Unionmembersandcharacteristics 51 Table4.8: HIVprevalencebyvariousdemographiccharacteristicsofpublicsector educators,SouthAfrica2004 53 Table4.9: ComparisonofHIVprevalenceinSouthAfricaneducatorswiththegeneral population 55 Table4.10: OverallHIVprevalenceamongeducatorsbysocio-economicstatus, SouthAfrica2004 58 Table4.11: OverallHIVprevalenceamongeducatorsbyprovince,SouthAfrica2004 59 Table4.12: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,WesternCape 61 Table4.13: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,EasternCape 62 Table4.14: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,FreeState 62 Table4.15: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,Gauteng 63 Table4.16: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,KwaZulu-Natal 63 Table4.17: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,Limpopo 64 Table4.18: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,Mpumalanga 64 Table4.19: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,NorthWest 64 Table4.20: HIVprevalenceamongeducators,NorthernCape 65 Table4.21: AnalysisofareaswithhighHIVprevalence 65 Table4.22: DistrictswithlowHIVprevalence(under5%) 66 Table4.23: HIVprevalencebymetropolitandistrict 66 Table4.24: HIVprevalencebylearningareataught(trainedin),SouthAfrica2004 67 Table4.25: OverallHIVprevalencebytypeofeducationalinstitution,positionin educationalsystemandyearsofteachingexperience,SouthAfrica2004 68 Table4.26: OverallHIVprevalencebyeducator’semploymentsituation,havinghousing subsidyandmemberofmedicalaidfund,SouthAfrica2004 69 Table4.27: Numberofsexualpartnersinthepast12monthsbyrace,SouthAfrican educators2004 70 Table4.28: Numberofsexualpartnersinthelast12monthsbyraceandsex,maleSouth Africaneducators2004 71 Table4.29: Numberofsexualpartnersbyraceandsex,femaleSouthAfricaneducators 2004 71 Table4.30: AwarenessofHIVstatus 72 Table4.31: Condomusewithregularpartnersduringlastsexualactbydemographic characteristicsofpubliceducators,SouthAfrica,2004 73 Table4.32: CondomuseatlastsexwithregularpartnersamongstHIV-positiveand HIV-negativeSouthAfricaneducators,2004 75 Table4.33: Frequencyofcondomusewithregularpartnerinthepastyearamongst HIV-positiveandHIV-negativeSouthAfricaneducators,2004 76 Table4.34: Frequencyofcondomuseinthepastyearwithregularpartnerbyawareness ofHIVstatus(alleducators)SouthAfricaneducators,2004 76 Listoftables v Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za vi vii Table4.35: Frequencyofcondomuseinthepastyearwithnon-regularpartnerby awarenessofHIVstatus(alleducators)SouthAfricaneducators,2004 77 Table4.36: Relationshipstatusandconsistencyofcondomuse 78 Table4.37: Consistentcondomusebyregularorsteadypartnerandcasualornon- regularpartnerinthepast12months 79 Table4.38: HIV/AIDSknowledgebysex,SouthAfricaneducators,2004 81 Table4.39: SamesexrelationshipsandHIVprevalenceamongeducators,SouthAfrica 2004 83 Table4.40: ExtentofagemixingamongSouthAfricaneducatorsandHIV prevalence,2004 84 Table4.41: Residence,migrationandmobilitybyraceandsexandotherdemographic variables,SouthAfricaneducators,2004 85 Table4.42: ResidenceandHIVstatus,SouthAfricaneducators,2004 87 Table4.43: MigrationandHIVstatus,SouthAfricaneducators,2004 88 Table4.44: MobilityandHIVstatus 89 Table4.45: Logisticregressionbetweensocio-economicstatus,sexualbehaviourandHIV status 90 Table4.46: AlcoholusebySouthAfricaneducatorsinpublicschoolsbysexandrace, 2004 92 Table4.47: Alcoholuseofmaleeducatorsbysocio-economicstatus,SouthAfrica 2004 92 Table4.48: High-riskdrinkingamongmaleeducatorsperprovince,SouthAfrica2004 93 Table4.49: Alcoholuseofmaleeducatorsbyunhealthydays,SouthAfrica2004 94 Table4.50: Alcoholuseandself-ratedabsenteeismfromworkin2003 94 Table4.51: AlcoholordrugusebeforelastsexandHIVstatus 95 Table4.52: PrevalenceofHIVbyself-reportedhistoryofhavingasexuallytransmitted infection 98 Table4.53: Sizeofpopulationofeducatorssufferingfromchronicconditionsthatmay affecthealthandmaycontributetoabsenteeism 100 Table4.54: Absenteeismandpresenteeism(unhealthydays)byeightcommonchronic illnesses(sevenself-reportedillnessesandHIVstatus)andsubstanceuse, 2003 101 Table4.55: Health-relatedproductivityandwork-relatedvariables(workplacemorale, intentiontoquit,jobsatisfaction,andjobstress),2003 102 Table4.56: Educatorsupportandabsenteeismandpresenteeism(unhealthydays) 103 Table4.57: Violenceexperiencedoroccurredineducationalinstitutioninthepast 12months 104 Table4.58: Violenceindexbylocality,typeofschool,province 104 Table4.59: Violenceindexbyself-ratedmoraleateducationalinstitutionandintentionto leavetheeducationprofession 105 Table4.60: Intentiontoleavebysocio-demographicsandlearningareas 106 Table4.61: IntentiontoleavebyHIVstatus,localityandjobexperience 108 Table4.62: Factorsofjobsatisfactionandintentiontoleaveteaching 109 Table4.63: Factorsofjobstressandintentiontoleaveteaching 111 TableA1: Itemsandfactorloadingsforthejobsatisfactionscale 141 TableA2: Itemsandfactorloadingsforthejobstressscale 142 TableA3: Medianage(years)ofeducatorsinthe2003GHSand2004ELRC surveys 149 TableA4: Overallsexratiosofeducators 154 Thehealthofoureducators Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za vi vii Figure1.1: Epidemiologicalmodel 5 Figure2.1: Stepsinthesampledesign 21 Figure2.2: Stepsinthedrawingofthesample 22 Figure2.3: Schoolsample 23 Figure2.4: Stepsindataprocessing 26 Figure2.5: Stepsusedforweightingofthesample 27 Figure4.1: Flowofdatacollection 34 Figure4.2: Percentageofeducatorsincurrentmaritalstatuscategory 41 Figure4.3: Currentlymarriedmaleeducatorsbyageandprovince 41 Figure4.4: Currentlymarriedfemaleeducatorsbyageandprovince 42 Figure4.5: Nevermarriedmaleeducatorsbyageandprovince 42 Figure4.6: Nevermarriedfemaleeducatorsbyageandprovince 43 Figure4.7: CurrentlyandnevermarriedAfricanfemaleeducatorspregnantin thelast12months 43 Figure4.8: Currentlyandnevermarriedwhitefemaleeducatorspregnantoverlast 12months 44 Figure4.9: Currentlyandnevermarriedcolouredfemaleeducatorspregnantover last12months 44 Figure4.10: CurrentlyandnevermarriedIndian/Asianfemaleeducatorspregnantover last12months 44 Figure4.11: Highesteducationalqualificationofeducatorsbyprovince 45 Figure4.12: Currentannualgrossincomeofeducatorsbyrace 46 Figure4.13: Percentageofeducatorswithhousingsubsidyandmembersofmedical aidfund 50 Figure4.14: Numberofchildrendependentoneducatorsbyprovince 50 Figure4.15: HIVprevalencebyageandsex,SouthAfricanpublicsectoreducators, 2004 54 Figure4.16: HIVprevalencebyageandsexinAfricaneducators,SouthAfrica 57 Figure4.17: ComparisonofHIVprevalenceamongwomen:educators,antenataland populationsurveydata,SouthAfrica 59 Figure4.18: DistrictcouncilsofSouthAfrica 60 FigureA1: Reportedsingle-yearagedistributionofeducatorsinthegeneral populationandtheELRCstudy,males 150 FigureA2: Reportedsingle-yearagedistributionofeducatorsinthegeneral populationandtheELRCstudy,females 150 FigureA3: Five-yearagedistributionofmaleeducators,GHS2003andELRC 2004 152 FigureA4: Five-yearagedistributionoffemaleeducators,GHS2003andELRC 2004 152 Listoffigures Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za viii ix Foreword Thenewmillenniumhasheraldedinseveralchallengesatthedoorofeducatorsand educationingeneral.However,nonehavebeenasdauntingorascatastrophicastheHIV/ AIDSpandemic.EducationisoneofourmostpowerfulweaponsagainstHIV/AIDS;however, itisalsoasectorthatislabourintensiveandthereforemostvulnerabletothedisease. Ourchildrenareourhopeforthefuture.Ourteachersmouldthemintoinstruments ofsocialcapital,thewellspringofourfuture.Withouttheinculcationoftheskillsand competenciesthatenhancehumanpotentialnodevelopingcountrycanhopetostart buildingthebasicsocialinfrastructurethatisaprerequisiteforgeneratingthelevels ofeconomicgrowththatunderpinsustainabledevelopment.InSouthAfrica’scasethe needtotimeouslyaddresstheinequitiesentrenchedbygenerationsofapartheidismore urgent.Thusthecountry’steachersaretheprimaryagentsofsocialchange. Theefficacyofoureducationalsystemdependsontheefficacyofourteachers.Tothe extentthatitsranksaredepletedbyteacherdeaths,illness,absenteeism,orchronic disabilitiesduetoHIV/AIDS,theeducationofourchildrenisthenputatrisk,levelsof accesstoeducationarereduced,standardsofeducationattainedlowered,opportunities forsecondaryandtertiaryadvancementreduced,jobskillsforfeited,andsocietystunted. SouthAfricacanillaffordtoallowadiseaselikeHIV/AIDSandchronicdiseasesto depleteitsteacherworkforce.Theseriousnessofsuchanimpendingcatastrophe thereforegalvanisedtheDepartmentofEducation(National,Provincial,District),South AfricanCouncilofEducatorsandtheunions–SouthAfricanDemocraticTeachers’ Union,theNationalProfessionalTeachers’OrganisationofSouthAfrica,SuidAfrikaanse Onderwysers’UnieandtheNationalTeachers’UnionsofSouthAfrica–aswellasthe HumanSciencesResearchCouncil-ledconsortiumanditspartner,theMedicalResearch Council,undertheauspicesoftheEducationLabourRelationsCounciltotakeprogressive actioninascertainingtheprevalenceandimpactofHIV/AIDSandtuberculosisonthe teacherworkforce.ThisstudywasoriginallyinitiatedseparatelybytheSouthAfrican DemocraticTeachers’Union,theNationalDepartmentofEducationandotherteacher unionsandisaprimeexampleofhowkeystakeholderscanbenefitbyworkingtogether forthecommongoodoftheirconstituency.ThemanagementofHIV/AIDSdemands amulti-sectoralresponseofpartnershipsandcollaborationofgovernment,organised labour,non-governmentalorganisationsandsoforth.TheEducationLabourRelations CouncilandtheHumanSciencesResearchCouncilwereinstrumentalinfacilitatingthis consensus.TheHumanSciencesResearchCouncilwasabletoharnesstheenergiesofall thepartners,notablytheMedicalResearchCouncilandothermembersoftheTechnical TaskTeam,throughouttheresearchprocessandwasreceptivetoideasgeneratedbythe stakeholderswithoutcompromisingtheintegrityofresearch.Consequentlyitwaspossible toco-generateknowledgethatinformspolicy.NowthereportistabledtotheEducation LabourRelationsCouncilandthepartnerswillberequiredtoexaminethereportand debatethepolicyrecommendations.Thevalueofthisinitiativewillbejudgedbythe extenttowhichinterventionsareimplemented. IfSouthAfricacannotcurtailthelevelsofinfectionandprogressionofHIV/AIDSamong itsteacherstheconsequenceswillbebequeathednotjusttothepresentgenerationof learnersbuttofuturelearners,addingimmeasurablyandunnecessarilytopovertyand socialstagnationinfuturedecades. DhayaGovender GeneralSecretaryandCo-ChairoftheTechnicalTaskTeam EducationLabourRelationsCouncil Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za viii ix Thisresearchstudywasacollaborativeendeavourinvolvingmanypeoplefrombeginning toend.Althoughnotanexhaustivelist,wewishtothankthefollowingpeopleand organisationsfortheirparticipationinonewayoranotherinthisstudy: •ThethenMinisterofEducation,ProfessorKaderAsmal,MP,andhistwoadvisors, DrAlanTaylorandMsKgobatiMagome,aswellastheSouthAfricanDemocratic Teachers’Unionleadershipwhowereinvolvedintheinitialdevelopmentoftermsof referenceandthenational,provincialanddistrictofficialsforencouragingeducators toparticipate; •TheeducatorsofSouthAfrica,withoutwhosegenerosityandtimethissurveywould nothavebeenpossible.Inparticular,wewishtothanktheprincipalsof participatingschoolsforallowingusintotheirbusyschoolprogrammestoconduct thestudy; •TheDepartmentofEducation(nationalandprovincial),theSouthAfrican DemocraticTeachers’Union,theNationalProfessionalTeachers’Organisationof SouthAfrica,theSuidAfrikaanseOnderwysers’UnieandtheSouthAfricanCouncil ofEducationforfacilitatingentryintoschoolsandcontributingtheirideastothis research; •ThemembersoftheAdvisoryTaskTeam,theMinisterialCommitteeonTeacher EducationandtheEducationLabourRelationsCouncilTechnicalTaskTeamwho guidedtheproject,especiallyduringitsformativestages; •TheDeansofEducationFacultiesatuniversitieswhoadvisedusonsampling universitystudents; •ThemembersofstaffofvariousresearchprogrammesintheHumanSciences ResearchCouncil,including:SocialAspectsofHIV/AIDSandHealth;Surveys, Analyses,ModellingandMapping;EmploymentandEconomicPolicyResearch;and AssessmentTechnologyandEducationEvaluation.Inparticular,wewishtothank DrMokubungNkomo(AssessmentTechnologyandEducationEvaluation,of UniversityofPretoria)forfacilitatinginitialconsultationsbetweentheSouthAfrican DemocraticTeachers’UnionandtheHumanSciencesResearchCounciloninitiating theproject,DrStephenRule(ofSurveys,Analyses,ModellingandMapping)for sharinghisexperienceinsurveysespeciallyonexecutingfieldwork,andMrAdlai Davidsofthesameprogramme,forassistinginsamplingofschools.Finally,but notleast,MrsMonicaPeretforleadingtheteamwhodidtheday-to-daydata managementforthisstudy; •DrJohanvanZylforcontributingtremendouslyinquestionnairedesignand formatting; •DrMarleneRoefs,thenationalprojectco-ordinator,forhertremendouseffortin ensuringsmoothrunningofthefieldwork; •Theprovincialco-ordinators:MsShantinieFrancis,MrsNomvoHenda,MsLebogang Letlape,MsJuliaLouw,MrAyandaNqeketo,MrGeorgePetros,MrShandir Ramlagan,MrTsilisoTamasane,MrFhumulaniThaba,MrBrianvanWyk,Mr NhlanhlaSitholeandMsNompumeleloZungu-Dirwayi,whospentmonthsinthe fieldarrangingschoolvisitsandmanagingday-to-dayfieldwork; •Thenurse-supervisorsandfieldworkers,wholabouredtirelesslyandtravelledmany kilometerstogatherthedata; •Theprojectadministrators:MsHermienBolton,MrsMarizaneRousseau-Mareeand MrsYolandeSheanofSocialAspectsofHIV/AIDSandHealthforsupportingthe day-to-dayrunningoftheproject; Acknowledgements Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za Thehealthofoureducators x xi •MsNtombizodwaMbelleforkeepingtrackoftheprogressoftheproject; •ProfessorDavidStoker,astatisticalconsultant,fordesigningthesamplingstrategy anddevelopingsampleweightsforthestudy; •.TheContractLaboratoryServicesfortestingthespecimensforHIVstatus; •BEXcouriersfortransportingequipment,questionnairesandspecimenstoandfrom allcornersofthecountry; •MsLynneWilsonforeditingthisdocumentandProfessorAnnaStrebelforher review;and •Theco-editorsofthisreport,ProfessorKPeltzer,MsNompumeleloZungu-Dirwayi andMsJuliaLouw,whotakeresponsibilityjointlywiththePrincipalInvestigatorfor itscontent. Inadditiontotheabove,wewouldalsoliketomakespecialthankstotheEducation LabourRelationsCouncil,forcommissioning,supportingandfundingthisstudy. Wewouldalsoliketothankthefollowingmembersofthereviewpanelwhoprovided invaluableinputstothestudy:DrDeeviaBhana,DrImmoKleinschmidt,ProfessorSlim Karim,ProfessorMichaelSamuelandMrMuaviaGallie. Finally,theteamwouldliketothanktheirfamiliesforthesupporttheygaveuswhilewe undertookthisstudy. OliveShisana,MA,ScD LeicknessSimbayi,MSc,DPhil PrincipalInvestigator ProjectDirector Free download from www.hsrc p ress.ac.za . viii ix Foreword The newmillenniumhasheraldedinseveralchallengesat the door of educators and educationingeneral.However,nonehavebeenasdauntingorascatastrophicas the HIV/ AIDSpandemic.Educationisone of our mostpowerfulweaponsagainstHIV/AIDS;however, itisalsoasectorthatislabourintensiveandthereforemostvulnerableto the disease. Our childrenare our hopefor the future. Our teachersmouldthemintoinstruments of socialcapital, the wellspring of our future.Without the inculcation of the skillsand competenciesthatenhancehumanpotentialnodevelopingcountrycanhopetostart building the basicsocialinfrastructurethatisaprerequisiteforgenerating the levels of economicgrowththatunderpinsustainabledevelopment.InSouthAfrica’scase the needtotimeouslyaddress the inequitiesentrenchedbygenerations of apartheidismore urgent.Thus the country’steachersare the primaryagents of socialchange. The efficacy of our educationalsystemdependson the efficacy of our teachers.To the extentthatitsranksaredepletedbyteacherdeaths,illness,absenteeism,orchronic disabilitiesduetoHIV/AIDS, the education of our childrenisthenputatrisk,levels of accesstoeducationarereduced,standards of educationattainedlowered,opportunities forsecondaryandtertiaryadvancementreduced,jobskillsforfeited,andsocietystunted. SouthAfricacanillaffordtoallowadiseaselikeHIV/AIDSandchronicdiseasesto depleteitsteacherworkforce. The seriousness of suchanimpendingcatastrophe thereforegalvanised the Department of Education(National,Provincial,District),South AfricanCouncil of Educators and the unions–SouthAfricanDemocraticTeachers’ Union, the NationalProfessionalTeachers’Organisation of SouthAfrica,SuidAfrikaanse Onderwysers’Unieand the NationalTeachers’Unions of SouthAfrica–aswellas the HumanSciencesResearchCouncil-ledconsortiumanditspartner, the MedicalResearch Council,under the auspices of the EducationLabourRelationsCounciltotakeprogressive actioninascertaining the prevalenceandimpact of HIV/AIDSandtuberculosison the teacherworkforce.Thisstudywasoriginallyinitiatedseparatelyby the SouthAfrican DemocraticTeachers’Union, the NationalDepartment of Educationandotherteacher unionsandisaprimeexample of howkeystakeholderscanbenefitbyworkingtogether for the commongood of theirconstituency. The management of HIV/AIDSdemands amulti-sectoralresponse of partnershipsandcollaboration of government,organised labour,non-governmentalorganisationsandsoforth. The EducationLabourRelations Counciland the HumanSciencesResearchCouncilwereinstrumentalinfacilitatingthis consensus. The HumanSciencesResearchCouncilwasabletoharness the energies of all the partners,notably the MedicalResearchCouncilandothermembers of the Technical TaskTeam,throughout the researchprocessandwasreceptivetoideasgeneratedby the stakeholderswithoutcompromising the integrity of research.Consequentlyitwaspossible toco-generateknowledgethatinformspolicy.Now the reportistabledto the Education LabourRelationsCounciland the partnerswillberequiredtoexamine the reportand debate the policyrecommendations. The value of thisinitiativewillbejudgedby the extenttowhichinterventionsareimplemented. IfSouthAfricacannotcurtail the levels of infectionandprogression of HIV/AIDSamong itsteachers the consequenceswillbebequeathednotjustto the presentgeneration of learnersbuttofuturelearners,addingimmeasurablyandunnecessarilytopovertyand socialstagnationinfuturedecades. DhayaGovender. The health of our educators xvi Executivesummary xvii The DoEin the variousprovincesassignedco-ordinatorswhoensuredthatschoolswere informedabout the study. The districtofficers of the DoEandlabourunionsassisted the HSRCco-ordinators,whoconsisted of MAandPhdresearchinterns,inmaking appointmentsatschoolsand/oraccompanyingco-ordinatorstoschoolstoaddress educators. Officialsfromlabourunionshelpedwithadvocacyfor the studyand the nature of the study,whichincreasedparticipation. The fieldteamsweresupportedbyanational fieldmanager,andaseparateprojectmanagerwhotrackedprogress of the study.Visiting timestoschoolswereadaptedtominimisepossibledisruption of teachingtime. Findings Demographicandsocio-economiccharacteristics of the ELRCstudysample The demographicandsocio-economicprofileanalysis of educators in the samplerevealed that68% of the sample of educators consisted of females. The majority of the educators weremarried.Overthree-quarters of the samplewereAfricans(77%)whilelessthan5% of the samplewereAsians,whichisareflection of the demographiccharacteristics of SouthAfrica.Self-reportedsocio-economicstatusandincomedistributionsuggestthat educators weregenerallywellqualified,withafirstdegreeorhigher,andhadmanyyears of teachingexperience,with70% of educators teachingforatleasttenyearsorlonger. About94% of educators reportedthat the DoEemployedthemwith the rest(6%)being SchoolGoverningBody(SGB)appointments. Only27% of educators in the samplesaidtheyhadahousingsubsidyand67.8% of the educators reportedtheyweremembers of amedicalaidfund. The majority of educators (89%)weremembers of atradeunion.Thereweredisparitiesinsome of the demographicandsocio-economicprofiles of educators byraceandprovince. The findingsshowedthattherewereproportionatelymorefemaleandmaleAfrican educators in the low-incomecategorycomparedwith educators inotherracegroups.On the otherhandtherewereproportionatelylessmalewhite educators in the medium-income categorythanmale educators inotherracegroups. Prevalence of HIV The resultsshowedthat12.7% of educators whogaveaspecimenforHIVtestingwere HIVpositive.Thispercentageincludes educators inallprovinces,and educators of all ages,sexandracialgroups. Inthisstudy,withoutconsideringageandracedifferences, the HIVprevalencewas the samefor the maleandfemale educators. The resultsinthisstudyshowedthatHIV prevalenceamong educators washighestforthoseaged25–34years(21.4%)followed bythoseaged35–44(12.8%).Older educators (55yearsandolder)had the lowestHIV prevalence(3.1%).However,differenceswereobservedwhen the analysiswasrestricted towomenandmenaged25–34years,withwomenhavinghigherHIVprevalence. WomenweregenerallymorevulnerabletoHIVinfectionbecause of theirbiological makeupaswellastheirlowsocio-economicstatus.