HIV stress in primary school teachers in Zambia
Baggaley, R.; Sulwe, J.; Chilala, M.; Mashambe, C.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization 77(3): 284-287
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-9686 PMID: 10212524 Document Number: 281423
Stress factors experienced by primary school teachers in Zambia were studied after they had attended a course on stress management and counselling skills. The teachers were interviewed about their pupils problems. The majority of the teachers interviewed were aged between 30 and 40 years, and 66% were female. The interviews revealed that pupils were significantly affected by poverty, death and illness of parents, fellow-pupils and teachers, teenage sex and pregnancy, violence in the home and, among girls, low self-esteem. The HIV epidemic had a major bearing on these factors, and there were wide-ranging effects on the teachers' own lives. Despite the training they had been given, many teachers felt that they could not adequately counsel their pupils on these matters. It is suggested that the teachers require continuing support and training to enable them to cope with this aspect of their work.