Oscar Mwaanga presents a theoretical analysis of the justifications for the use of sport for addressing HIV/AIDS.
The article critically examines the value of each of the following theories that underpin sport for addressing HIV/AIDS initiatives:
- Sport for moral development - Sport develops social skills and moral values that will curb the spread of HIV/AIDS
- Sport as a positive diversion – ‘Time spent in sport is time away from sex’
- Sport as a hook – Using sport as bait to supply core HIV/AIDS services
- Sport as a means to foster empowerment – Sport fuels self confidence and belief in physical capabilities
- Sport as a means to improve health for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) – An active lifestyle has a positive impact on both the psychological and physical health of PLWHA
Rather than ‘essentialise’ sport, Mwaanga suggests that there is a need to apply a more theoretical approach to the use of sport for development and peace, arguing that it is crucial to understand why certain aspects of sport have the greatest impact.
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