Thesis (PhD)--University of Limpopo, 2010. / The role of indigenous healers and spiritual faith healers in managing various conditions of ill-health has been studied and debated. The aim of this study was to determine how indigenous healers and spiritual faith healers understand and define HIV/AIDS stigma and to explore the role that indigenous healers and faith healers play in reducing or reinforcing HIV/AIDS stigma in their communities. In this study, a qualitative approach and in particular, the grounded theory methodology was used. Grounded theory is described as a research method in which theory is developed from data, rather than the other way round. The application of this methodology included personal interviews with thirty-nine practising indigenous healers and spiritual faith healers in the Limpopo Province, while additional information was gleaned from the literature review. The researcher focused on the participants‟ conceptualisation of HIV stigma, from the context of the African world view in order to gain insight into their roles as healers. The findings indicate that indigenous healers‟ cultural beliefs prevented them from having a deeper understanding of HIV stigma when compared to the faith healers. Indigenous healers were generally found to have a positive attitude towards People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA), while spiritual faith healers showed a less positive attitude towards PLWA. The study further found that „HIV secrecy clause‟ contained in the South African National Policy on HIV/AIDS for Learners and Educators (August 1999) prevents traditional and spiritual faith healers, the affected and infected, the family and society at large from disclosing the HIV status of those infected. It is suggested that the tendency not to disclose has the potential to encourage stigmatization and discrimination whilst at the same time hindering efforts to find solutions to the problem. The study is concluded by suggesting that HIV testing must be compulsory for every person who consults in a hospital. Such a policy move could contribute positively in terms of health promotion. / Medical Research Council

Internet technologies are increasingly advocated as a means for transforming health care and improving people’s health. In the field of e-health questions on the health implications of internet use are typically approached through attempts at measuring the effect of internet use on health outcomes. In this, information is usually conceptualised as a form of knowledge/power and online information practices are enrolled in discourses on patient empowerment. Taking the different meanings ascribed to information in these approaches as my point of departure, in this thesis I rethink the implications of internet use on health through an empirical exploration of alternative conceptualisations of the relationship between information and health in the context of contemporary HIV treatment and care. I do this through two analytical moves. First, drawing on the concept of performativity, a concern with what effect internet use has on health is turned into one of how internet use enacts health. Second, rather than treating information as knowledge/power, through an analysis of how a specific group of women ‘living with HIV’ in the UK use the internet, I reconfigure the connections between internet use and health through a conceptualisation of information as care. Drawing on a range of empirical materials – including forty-seven in-depth interviews with patients and internet content providers, non-participant observations, document and website analysis – three areas of health-related internet use are analysed in detail: the seeking out of health-related and specifically biomedical information; the seeking out and sharing of experiential knowledge and narratives about living with HIV; meeting prospective partners and dating. However, rather than studying these areas of internet use in order to interrogate what they can tell us about the internet, I analyse them as part of the ethical regime of ‘living with HIV’, in which the virus, previously thought of as ‘terminal’, becomes, through info and bio technologies, normalised as ‘chronic’. From this perspective, enacting health not only entails working on and with one’s body, but also always invokes its distribution across bodies, to other areas and relations, including internet technologies and the networks of relations established via these technologies.

Thesis (MA (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / The aims of the study was to investigate if people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have access to health care, to determine utilisation patterns and to investigate how gender differences, socioeconomic, geographic location, and cultural beliefs influence access to and the utilisation of health care among PLWHA. Methods: This was a quantitative study based on a cross-sectional design. The study comprised of 200 participants (45% males and 55% females), of which 71% were unemployed. Twenty-eight (28%) survive by the disability grant due to the illness as well as child support grants. Sixty eight (68%) were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS for the duration of 3-5 years. Descriptives, frequencies and ANOVA were employed to analyse data. Results: Participants were found to have access to and to utilise health care services. There was no gender differences found with regard to access to and utilisation of health care, but there was however a significant (p<.05) difference in gender and educational level interaction. Educational level and geographical location were found not to influence the actual access and utilisation rather, it determined the type of health care service utilised. Participants with higher educational levels, and those who reside in urban areas were significantly (p<.05) found to utilise private health care services than primary health care. Cultural beliefs were found not to influence access to and utilise of health care services. Conclusion: Barriers outlined for non-use of primary health care services need immediate attention in order to maximise access to and utilisation of primary health care services by PLWHA.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological difficulties encountered and ways of coping by HIV/AIDS orphans in Limpopo Province. The sample was comprised of 70 children whose parent(s) died of HIV/AIDS related diseases between the ages 05 and 18 years. The data were collected through the use of face to face interview and questionnaires. The study results show that as a results of trauma resulting from taking care and witnessing ill parent(s) die, HIV/AIDS orphans suffer from sadness, helplessness, anger, guilty, aggression and frustration that often lead to withdrawal and subsequent depression, In quantitative study Beck Depression Inventory was also used to determine the levels of depression (mild, moderate, and/or severe levels) and it was discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans experience moderate to severe depression. The study further looked on whether demographic factors including (age, gender, religion, home language, number of siblings, and level of education) have an impact on the experience of depression. Qualitative study findings also discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans do not experience the relationship with their caregivers as being supportive. Furthermore, mixing with non-orphaned peers was reported to be a mission and emotionally distressing. Qualitative study also discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans lack many adults whom they can trust and who they could be able to express their feelings, as result they try to find their own ways of coping with their circumstances. However, quantitative study also looked at three ways of coping (cognitive, behavioural and avoidance ways of coping) that could be used by HIV/AIDS orphans. This was achieved through the use of ways of coping scales. The findings of this study discovered that HIV/IADS orphans use cognitive and avoidance ways of coping more than behavioural ways of coping. Furthermore, the study looked at whether there is a relationship between ways of coping and biographic factors (age, gender, religion, home language, number of siblings, and level of education). It was discovered that HIV/AIDS orphans are psychologically distressed and need to be transferred for psychological therapy after the loss of their parents.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Refer to document.

Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / This study measures the relationship between the AIDS risk reduction model (ARRM) variables associated with HIV related risk behaviours on learners from a South African rural community. A cross-sectional study was conducted using 308 learners in a Limpopo rural high school to identify HIV risk behaviours. Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression to test the usefulness of ARRM variables in predicting sexual risk. Sexual risk was measured as; (a) vaginal sex without a condom, (b) anal sex without a condom (c) number of sexual partners in the last twelve months and (d) time taken before having sex with a new partner. Two of the ARRM variables, that is perceived susceptibility and sexual response efficacy, were found to be the most important predictors of HIV related risk behaviours. There is an argent need for effective preventive activities in rural areas, especially through school-based interventions. Key words: ARRM HIV HIV prevention Risk behaviors

Thesis (M.PH.) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / Objectives: To determine the level of adherence of people who are on ARVs and to determine the influence of HIV and AIDS stigma and family support on adherence and non-adherence to antiretrovirals. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study involving 175 HIV/AIDS adult patients attending Siloam hospital was conducted. These patients were on ARV drugs. They were investigated for the level of adherence and the influence of HIV and AIDS stigma and family support on adherence and non-adherence to antiretrovirals. Data were collected from respondents through self-administered questionnaires which were distributed to 175 randomly selected participants. The key variables were demographic information and social support and disclosure, current use of ARVs and personal experience of living with HIV/AIDS. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, numerical summaries, tables, graphs, ANOVA, Pearson chi-square test and statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results: Forty comma eight percent (40,8%) of the respondents on ARVs were males and 28, 8 % females aged between 23-35 years; 23, 9% males and 40, 4% females ranged between 36-45 years; 35, 2% males and 30, 8% were 46 years old and above. The most commonly cited reasons for missing doses were: Social grant, forgetting, side effects and stigma. The most cited reasons for taking medication were: respondents wanted to feel better; to increase the CD4 count; and they feared death. The majority of the adhering participants, 68, 9% and 55, 8% of the non- adhering group never experienced negative reactions from their families after disclosure. There was no significant difference between the adhering and the non adhering group (P =0.250). A substantial number of ARV users of the adhering group 92, 2% participants disclosed that they were receiving support which included emotional/psychological support, financial support, physical care support as well as reminders to ensure that they took their medications on time. There was no significant difference between the adhering and the non adhering group on the general satisfaction with the overall support they received from their family (p= 0.976). Conclusion: Patients have a range of reasons for failing to adhere to their antiretroviral therapy and reasons for adhering. Support can improve adherence to therapy and patients can only receive support if they revealed their HIV positive status. It was recommended that the community should be sensitised about the availability of treatment and the importance of adherence Keywords: Adherence, antiretrovirals, HIV/AIDS, stigma and family support

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / The aim of the study was to explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on service delivery in Polokwane Municipality as an organisation and the mechanisms used to implement the HIV/AIDS policies and programmes. The researcher conducted the study in the city of Polokwane under the Capricorn District Municipality in the Limpopo Province. For this study, information was gathered from both municipal employees and managers in Polokwane municipality. The respondents confirmed that the organisation has on HIV/AIDS policy in place and its key provision serves to create a non-discriminatory working environment. They further acknowledged the fact that HIV/AIDS is a concern to the Polokwane municipal workforce and impacts negatively on service delivery that is the reason that led to the establishment of the EAP office. HIV/AIDS is still perceived as a very sensitive issue and employees are not willing to communicate about their status due to fear of being stigmatised. The Municipality should continue facilitation of educational awareness on employee’s health and wellness, and encourage their employees to utilise the office of the employee assistance programmes

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2006 / The research aimed at exploring and describing the perceptions of the refugees at Humulani village in the Ba-Phalaborwa municipality about HIV and AIDS. The objectives including determining the gender perceptions about HIV and AIDS and also providing recommendations for ways to increase the refugees’ understanding of HIV and AIDS. The approach used for the research was a quantitative approach. The target population of the study was all the refugees at Humulani village. The sample was comprised of both males (78) and females (122) who participated by completing questionnaires. The sample of the refugees consisted of different ethnic groups from Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe. The questionnaires consisted of three sections, section A, B and C. The findings of the study revealed that the participants had low levels of knowledge regarding HIV and AIDS which could be attributed to their possession of false myths about HIV and AIDS. The outline of the dissertation was as follows: Chapter 1 introduced the study and discussed the research problems, aim of the study, objectives of the study, research question, significance of the study, motivation of the study and definition of concepts. Chapter 2 discussed the literature review conducted on the refugees’ perceptions of HIV and AIDS. Chapters 3 discussed the research methodology of the study and describe the research design population, sample, data -collection instrument, limitation of the study and ethical considerations adhered to during and after collecting data. Chapter 4 discussed the data analysis and interpretation with reference to literature review.In chapter 5 the evaluation of the study, objectives, conclusions, recommendations and suggestions for further research were presented. Based on the findings it was recommended that the health Profession’s awareness campaigns should be strengthened and designed to reach refugees by taking into account the cultural contexts of the refugees

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / HIV/AIDS is devastating and fatal to working adults in the prime of their lives, thus leaving the responsibility of caring for the orphans to their grandparents. This study explored the experiences of grandparents assuming the role of parenting their AIDSorphaned grandchildren in Lephalale, South Africa. Phenomenological face-face interviews were conducted with ten elderly, black African grandmothers between the ages of 55 and 71. The participating women were self-identified as carers for their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren. The challenges the participant grandmothers faced in caring for their grandchildren were identified as the following: recurrent experiences of loss and grief, lack of social support, fear of stigmatization, financial constraints, mental health and physical strain, difficulty in acquiring state social grants, emotional distress, the caring role being divinely ordained and the rejection of orphans by their biological fathers. Recommendations are advanced on the basis of the findings.