Reviews : Learning About AIDS: Exercises and materials Peter Aggleton et al Churchill Livingstone, 1989, £19.95
| Published date | 01 September 1989 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455058903600307 |
| Author | Una Padel |
| Date | 01 September 1989 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
at our hands than others. It is no~ble,
vides a background text= A detailed
for ,example, that a book which ’pro-
description of the medical facts is
poses an analytical framework aimed
followed by a discussion of tests and
at developing the best possible practice
testing, lay beliefs about HIV and AIDS,
for the writing of social inquiry
sexual lifestyles, safer sex, meeting
reports’ has nothing specific to say
drug use and HIV infection, and living
about race and gender issues in report-
with HIV and AIDS. This useful
writing. Equally interesting is the
booklet is an excellent resource in its
absence of any discussion of the so-
own right, but in the context of the
called ’strategic’ probation order which
pack it acts as a reference point for use
surely poses dilemmas for report
with the exercises which
form the core
writers operating within a social work
element.
framework - such orders would ap-
These exercises, designed for use
pear to be excluded from the canon of
with groups, are well presented on
these authors.
easily photocopied A4 sheets. Each is
In asserting the primacy of social
preceded by an introductory sheet ex-
inquiry report writing among the tasks
plaining the aims of the exercise, what
of the probation officer the authors
materials are needed, what to do, and
might perhaps have considered in more
discussing the likely outcomes. They
detail the strategies necessary to make
cover eight subjects, including intro-
sure that reports do not become
ductory and course closure exercises,
routinised ’hack work’. More par-
medical and scientific facts, sexuality
ticularly, should we not be arguing
and safer sex and injecting drug use.
more strongly that there are optimum
Particularly welcome and important
workload levels beyond which the
are the sections on confidentiality and
quality of report-writing may
on
the application of understanding in
deteriorate to an unacceptable level; in
course participants’ personal and pro-
seeking to obtain...
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