Potrayal of HIV/AIDS in selected children's stories in Kenya: a study of love lasts forever, Kesani gives advice and Fina the dancer
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Date
2012-04-03
Authors
Kiprono, Tonui
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Abstract
This study is an investigation of how the theme of HIV/AIDS is portrayed in selected children's stories published in Kenya. These selected texts are David Mulwa's
Love Lasts Forever, Lorna Muhirwe's Kesani Gives Advice and David Njeng'ere's Fina the Dancer. The books are published under the title 'Junior Lifesavers Series' by Longhorn Publishers to aid primary school children comprehend the causes, spread and impact of HIV/AIDS. The study is based on questionnaires collected from the children and library research. The study has determined how children respond to the depiction of the theme of HIV AIDS. The study ascertains that children realize that HIV/AIDS spreads due to involvement in promiscuity, use of infected sharp objects and involvement in drug abuse where the users share needles. During child birth, a mother may also pass the disease to her unborn child. The spread of the disease again is fuelled by the sexual exploitation of
minors and young girls by older men who take advantage of the girls' naivety and desire.for basic needs to involve them in sex for money, consequently infecting them with HIV/AID. In addition, this critical work has shown the economic, social and psychological consequences of HIV/AIDS that the children identified. Besides, it was found out in the study that the authors of the selected fiction ingeniously use language devices to depict the sensitive theme of HIV/AIDS. This is achieved through use of plot and pacifying themes for cathartic effect. This critical work also identified some shortcomings in the selected texts that hindered children from comprehending appropriate themes. These shortcomings are an inappropriate exploitation of descriptions and illustrations. Also, the use of symbolism and satire failed to communicate the intended meanings because of the failure by the children to decipher them. The study concludes with the recommendations that may aid society to fight the onslaught of the HIV/AIDS scourge. The study uses the Reader Response Theory and Stylistic Criticism to analyse the literary presentation of the causes, spread and impact of HIV / AIDS in the selected children's texts.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School Of Humanities and Social Sciences in Partial Fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Arts (Literature) of Kenyatta University
Keywords
HIV(viruses) --Kenya | Sexual abstinence --Kenya | Sexually transmitted diseases in literature --Kenya | Children | Children --Fiction