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Article Title: The Impact of Health and Life Skills on Student Teachers' Behaviour at a Teachers' College in Zimbabwe
by Herbert Muradzikwa and Kudzai Chinyoka

Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of health and life skills on student teachers� sexual and reproductive health behaviour with the aim of suggesting sound and preventive measures to the spread of HIV and AIDS among student teachers at a teachers� college in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with demands and challenges in everyday life. The study is informed by Bandura�s social cognitive theory and Rogers� person centered theory. A qualitative phenomenological case study design was used with focus group discussions, interviews and document analysis as data collection instruments to twelve (six males and six females) third year students, the dean of students, two wardens and the lecturer in charge of health and life skills who were purposively selected at Bondolfi Teachers� College in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. For easy analysis of data, the researchers used the content analysis method. The study established that health and life skills have a positive effect on the lives of students� sexual and reproductive health attitudes. The skills help the student teachers to take positive actions to protect themselves and to promote health and meaningful social relationships. Generally, students� knowledge base on sexual and reproductive health was noted to be high. Poverty as well as peer pressure were identified as major challenges affecting the effective implementation of health and life skills programmes in teachers� colleges. The research study proposed that training workshops and other capacity building workshops must be held with students to sensitise them and raise their awareness on appropriate skills to help students in need of sexual and reproductive help. There is also need for students to have an on-campus Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) to test and conscientise them of the HIV/ AIDS pandemic. The study also proposed the need to address the root problems affecting effective implementation of health and life skills education to students at Bondolfi Teachers� College. Thus, the study will also influence students towards positive living, curbing of HIV transmission by students and creation of student friendly environments to address several sexual and reproductive health challenges among learners.

Keywords: a case study, behaviour, health and life skills, impact, student teacher,

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