Abstract:
The AIDS epidemic has affected every aspect of Zambian society and is recognized
as the greatest public health challenge of the past 30 years. Nevertheless,
education can generate hope in the face of the epidemic using different methods,
including social networks. This article investigates the positive and
negative impacts of social networks on the spread of HIV at the University of
Zambia (UNZA). The research study included survey-based oral interviews
with 280 UNZA students. During the course of the study, we realized that efforts
have been and are being put in place at UNZA to use online social networks
to spread news about HIV and AIDS and how to stop its transmission.
Findings showed that most participants felt that social networks hastened the
spread of the virus among social media users. Despite social networks having
a few positive effects, the results of our study indicate that the negative effects
far outweigh the positive effects.
