Evaluation of the grassroots soccer club HIV/AIDS programme in Musina, South Africa
Date
2010-09-28
Authors
Luppe, Tobias
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Abstract
Background and Study Question: Adolescents are a high-risk group for
HIV/AIDS infection and illness in South Africa. Despite substantial prevention
efforts, high risk behaviour among adolescents continues. Several organisations
have engaged in sports activities to reach out to adolescents and educate them
in life-skills and HIV prevention. There is, however, very little published research
on the effectiveness of such interventions. Grassroots Soccer (GRS) is one of the
emerging organisations in the field of using sports for HIV prevention. Financed
by De Beers’ corporate social responsibility initiative it operates in several South
African mining communities. This study evaluates the HIV prevention programme
in Musina, Limpopo Province run by GRS. The research focuses on the
processes and the outcomes of the organisation’s activities to determine barriers
and facilitators to implementation of the GRS activities and to measure changes
in HIV-related knowledge, self efficacy, and attitude of the beneficiaries.
Methods: A mixed-methods study design was used incorporating qualitative and
quantitative approaches. The qualitative component of the study was based on
key informant interviews and a document review. Qualitative interviews were
analysed using a four-step systematic approach; documents were analysed by
iterative reading. Quantitative data was collected by GRS through selfadministered
pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Secondary data analysis
was carried out using statistical software SPSS (Version 17.0). Results: The GRS programme managed to improve beneficiaries’ knowledge,
attitude, and self-efficacy concerning HIV prevention. In doing that, GRS
achieved its core objective. The increases, however, are modest and only
significant for knowledge gain. Many beneficiaries did not increase their overall
scores in the pre- and post-test questionnaire; the recognition of alcohol and
drugs as risk factors for HIV/AIDS is relatively low. Furthermore, the programme
operates in a difficult context with insufficient community involvement, constraint
resources, and inadequate monitoring and evaluation. Volunteer retention is a
major challenge, and there is a disjuncture between the GRS’ theoretical
approach and the practical implementation in Musina. Although the programme is
considered a success by key informants, these factors combined with a lack of
support from GRS and De Beers pose challenges to the programme’s approach,
its operations, and ultimately its sustainability.
Conclusion and Recommendations: The GRS provides a promising approach
to HIV prevention. The programme in Musina however falls behind the potential
of the organisation and the needs of the community. It needs to be more locally
integrated, receive additional resources, and have better monitoring and evaluation. Programme activities ought to move beyond knowledge transfer and
be closer to the actual GRS approach based on Bandura’s Social Cognitive
Theory, focusing on 12 to 14 year-olds, and include income generating activities.
Further research should focus on actual programme implementation, longer term
follow-up of beneficiaries, and assess the impact of the programme.
Description
Research report in partial fulfillment of the degree of MPH, Faculty of Health, University of the Witwatersrand
Keywords
HIV/AIDS, Grassroots Soccer (GRS)