Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is at the core of HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care programmes. Timely access to treatment and related services requires knowledge of one‟s HIV status. Adolescents are at the epicentre of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. This study investigated the factors that influence adolescents‟ decisions to actively seek VCT. Semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with twelve adolescents aged 15 to 19 who were conveniently selected to participate in the study. The study found that adolescents have extensive knowledge regarding the benefits of VCT and acknowledge the need to test for HIV. However, fear of the consequences of testing positive for HIV such as stigmatisation by family and the community, inability to influence their partners to take an HIV test and the inability to make their own decisions and follow through on them still hinder their maximum uptake of VCT. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS

The pathways to manhood for young adult African men in urban settings are based more on socio-economic demands than socio-cultural expectations of being a man. This study was a qualitative explorative research on the perceptions of HIV-prevention practitioners on the different pathways to manhood among young adult African men in urban settings in Gauteng, South Africa. From the findings it was clear that there are diverse socio-cultural and socio-economic pathways to manhood, including the media, older men, peers, religion and women. These pathways affirm, confirm, validate and value a man as a man and not a boy in urban settings such as cities and informal settlements in Gauteng. The research concluded that a great deal more could be done to ensure that men get involved in HIV-prevention programmes by ensuring dialogue on manhood and masculinities between men and men, and men and women. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Science)

Evidence suggests that caring for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS remains one of the greatest challenges facing South Africa. Statistics indicate that there are 1.91 million AIDS orphans in the country (UNICEF, 2012; Statistics South Africa, 2009:8)). The majority of these orphans live in rural and poor urban households. Caring for orphans and vulnerable children places severe strain on support systems, such as the extended family; this spills over into the community. Providing care and support also places an extra burden on the already overstretched welfare sector and drains state resources. The primarily objective of this study was to explore community resilience strategies on challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng. A purposive sample of 32 participants was selected and field data were collected over a period of two months using a structured research guide. A combination of data collection methods was employed in order to explore different perspectives of community resilience strategies on challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS in Benoni. Emerging data illustrate a clear account on the impact of the AIDS epidemic in Benoni. All of the respondents were directly or indirectly affected by the epidemic. This should be located within the high prevalence of HIV and AIDS and the high number of orphans in Ekurhuleni. The study findings further suggest a correlation between socioeconomic challenges and the AIDS epidemic in Ekurhuleni. This is demonstrated through the challenges experienced by orphans and vulnerable children in Benoni, which include: non-disclosure by parents of their illness; economic deprivation and disrupted schooling; children caring for an ill parent with AIDS and child-headed households; emotional, sexual and economic exploitation, stigmatisation and discrimination. Despite these challenges, through community resilience the Benoni community has taken some initiatives to mitigate against these challenges. This includes the establishment of a community based organisation which provides basic services to orphans and vulnerable children in Benoni. To date this organisation has successfully provided material and psychosocial to more than 278 orphans. The success of this initiative confirms the importance of community driven interventions using the resilience framework to supports orphans and vulnerable, rather than dependency on the government imposed programmes- top down approach. However, community based programmes need to be strengthened by the government and non-governmental organisations in order to maximise benefits. / Psychology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies)

The pathways to manhood for young adult African men in urban settings are based more on socio-economic demands than socio-cultural expectations of being a man. This study was a qualitative explorative research on the perceptions of HIV-prevention practitioners on the different pathways to manhood among young adult African men in urban settings in Gauteng, South Africa. From the findings it was clear that there are diverse socio-cultural and socio-economic pathways to manhood, including the media, older men, peers, religion and women. These pathways affirm, confirm, validate and value a man as a man and not a boy in urban settings such as cities and informal settlements in Gauteng. The research concluded that a great deal more could be done to ensure that men get involved in HIV-prevention programmes by ensuring dialogue on manhood and masculinities between men and men, and men and women. / Sociology / M. A. (Social Science)

Text in English / The South African government provides people living with HIV Temporary Disability Grants to assist them with money when they cannot work due to being disabled by HIV. The toll of the disease has contributed to the inability to be employed among black South Africans. The aim of this exploratory qualitative study was to investigate the challenges experienced by people living with HIV when their Temporary Disability Grants are terminated in the semi-urban area of Gauteng. The temporary disability grant is terminated after six months of receiving it. In-depth interviews were conducted with people who live with HIV who are members of Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre support group. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The findings of the study revealed that the termination of Temporary Disability Grant affects the running of the households of people living with HIV, causes poor management of the disease, non-adherence to treatment which leads to viral rebound, poor nutrition as a result of poor finances. The findings of this study are significant for the policy review on how long a person should receive the disability grant and the criteria used to apply for a disability grant, and to encourage the people living with HIV to start their own gardening programmes for food supply. Moreover, to encourage the introduction of a Chronic Disease Grant (CDG) for people who live with HIV. / OKUFINYEZIWE Uhulumeni waseNingizimu Afrika uhlinzeka abantu abaphila ne-HIV Izibonelelo Zesikhashana Zabaphila Nokukhubazeka, ama-Temporary Disability Grants, ukubasiza ngemali ngesikhathi bengakwazi ukuthi bayosebenza ngesizathu sokukhubazeka ngenxa ye-HIV. Ubunzima balesi sifo sebubenomthelela wokuthi kube nokungaqasheki kwabantu abamnyama baseNingizimu Afrika. Injongo yalolu cwaningo oluchaza kabanzi kwakuwukuphenya ngezinselelo ezibhekana nabantu abaphila ne-HIV uma Izibonelelo Zesikhashana Zabaphila Nokukhubazeka zinqanyulwa endaweni yasemalokishini aseGauteng. Isibonelelo sesikhashana sabaphila nokukhubazeka sinqanyulwa emva kokutholakala kwaso izinyanga eziyisithupha. Ukuxoxisana okunzulu kwenziwa nabantu abaphila ne-HIV abangamalungu esikhungo Sezempilo Yangokomqondo, Ekupholeni nabayiqembu lokusekelana Lesikhungo Sokuphazamiseka Emqondweni. Ukuhlaziywa kwale ndikimba kwenziwa ukucwaninga imininingwane eyayiqoqiwe. Okwatholwa yisifundo kwaveza ukuthi ukunqanyulwa Kwesibonelelo Sesikhashana Sabaphila Nokukhubazeka kuthikameza ukuqhubeka ngendlela efanele kwamakhaya abantu abaphila ne-HIV, kubangele ukungalawuleki kahle kwesifo, ukungabambeleli ekuphuzweni kwemithi okubangela ukuthi igciwane lihlasele kabusha, ukungadli ngokufanele ngenxa yokuswela imali. Okutholakala kulolu cwaningo kusemqoka ekubuyekezweni kwenqubomgomo yokuthi kumele umuntu anikezwe isibonelelo sokuphila nokukhubazeka isikhathi esingakanani kanye nemigomo esetshenziswayo ukufaka isicelo semali yesibonelelo sokuphila nokukhubazeka, kanye nokukhuthaza abantu abaphila ne-HIV ukuthi baqale izinhlelo zabo zezingadi ukuze bathole ukudla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukukhuthaza ukuqala ukusebenzisa Isibonelelo Sezifo Ezingelapheki, i-Chronic Disease Grant (i-CDG) sabantu abaphila ne-HIV. / KGUTSUFATSO Mmuso wa Afrika Borwa o fana ka Dithuso tsa Nakwana ho batho tshwerweng ke HIV le ba Koafetseng ho ba thusa ka tjhelete nakong eo ba sa sebetseng ka lebaka la ho tshwarwa ke HIV le ho koafala. Sekgahla sa kokwana se bakile bothata ba ho hloka mesebetsi ka hara batho ba batsho ka hara Afrika Borwa. Maikemisetso a dipatlisiso tsena ke ho hlahloba diphephetso tseo batho ba phelang ka HIV ba kopanang le tsona nakong eo Dithuso tsa Nakwana tsa ho Kowafala di felang dibakeng tsa seka-ditoropo Gauteng. Dithuso tsa Nakwana tsa ho kowafala di fihla pheletsong ka moea dikgwedi tse tsheletseng ka mora ho di fumantshwa. Di-inthavu tse tebileng di ile tsa tshwarwa le batho ba phelang ka HIV bao e leng ditho tsa sehlopha se tshehetsang sa Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre. Manollo ya mookotaba o ile wa sebediswa bakeng sa ho sekaseka lesedi. Tse fumanweng ka hara dipatlisiso tsena di hlahisa hore ho fela ha Dithuso tsa Nakwana tsa Ditjhelete di ama tsamaisong ya malapa a batho ba phelang ka HIV, di baka taolo e fokolang ya bohloko, ho se ikamahanye le phekolo ho etsang hore bohloko bo kgutle hape, phepo e sa lokang e bakwang ke tjhelete e nyane. Tse fumanwanwang ka hara dipatlisiso tsena ke tsa bohlokwa bakeng sa hore maano a shejwe hape mabapi le hore e k aba nako e kae moo mokudi a lokelang ho fumantshwa thuso, mmoho le tsela e sebediswang ho etsa kopo ya dithuso tsa bokowa, le ho kgothalletsa batho ba phelang ka HIV hore ba iqalle manane a temo bakeng sa phepelo ya dijo. Ho feta moo, ho kgothaletsa ho hlahiswa ha Dithuso tsa Mahloko a sa foleng (Chronic Desease Grant) bakeng sa batho ba phelang ka HIV. MANTSWE A SEHLOOHO Bokowa, dithuso tsa bokowa, baamohedi ba dithuso tsa bokowa, batho ba phelang ka HIV le AIDS, ho fela ha dithuso tsa bokowa le phekolo ka dipidisi tsa anthiritrovaerale. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS))

Evidence suggests that caring for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS remains one of the greatest challenges facing South Africa. Statistics indicate that there are 1.91 million AIDS orphans in the country (UNICEF, 2012; Statistics South Africa, 2009:8)). The majority of these orphans live in rural and poor urban households. Caring for orphans and vulnerable children places severe strain on support systems, such as the extended family; this spills over into the community. Providing care and support also places an extra burden on the already overstretched welfare sector and drains state resources. The primarily objective of this study was to explore community resilience strategies on challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng. A purposive sample of 32 participants was selected and field data were collected over a period of two months using a structured research guide. A combination of data collection methods was employed in order to explore different perspectives of community resilience strategies on challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV and AIDS in Benoni. Emerging data illustrate a clear account on the impact of the AIDS epidemic in Benoni. All of the respondents were directly or indirectly affected by the epidemic. This should be located within the high prevalence of HIV and AIDS and the high number of orphans in Ekurhuleni. The study findings further suggest a correlation between socioeconomic challenges and the AIDS epidemic in Ekurhuleni. This is demonstrated through the challenges experienced by orphans and vulnerable children in Benoni, which include: non-disclosure by parents of their illness; economic deprivation and disrupted schooling; children caring for an ill parent with AIDS and child-headed households; emotional, sexual and economic exploitation, stigmatisation and discrimination. Despite these challenges, through community resilience the Benoni community has taken some initiatives to mitigate against these challenges. This includes the establishment of a community based organisation which provides basic services to orphans and vulnerable children in Benoni. To date this organisation has successfully provided material and psychosocial to more than 278 orphans. The success of this initiative confirms the importance of community driven interventions using the resilience framework to supports orphans and vulnerable, rather than dependency on the government imposed programmes- top down approach. However, community based programmes need to be strengthened by the government and non-governmental organisations in order to maximise benefits. / Psychology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies)

Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is at the core of HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care programmes. Timely access to treatment and related services requires knowledge of one‟s HIV status. Adolescents are at the epicentre of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. This study investigated the factors that influence adolescents‟ decisions to actively seek VCT. Semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with twelve adolescents aged 15 to 19 who were conveniently selected to participate in the study. The study found that adolescents have extensive knowledge regarding the benefits of VCT and acknowledge the need to test for HIV. However, fear of the consequences of testing positive for HIV such as stigmatisation by family and the community, inability to influence their partners to take an HIV test and the inability to make their own decisions and follow through on them still hinder their maximum uptake of VCT. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Three years into the human territory, the fight against HIV/AIDS still prevails. According to Fuller (2008), it is estimated that by 2025, 80 million Africans will have been killed by this pandemic, while 90 million are estimated to be infected by HIV. Close to 3 thousand women are infected with HIV daily. In the beginning of 2008, some 22,5 million sub-Saharan Africans were living with HIV (Fuller 2008). In South Africa, 5 million people are estimated to be infected with HIV, 250 thousand die each year due to AIDS-related deaths, while a thousand people die daily and 17 hundred get infected daily. South African women are the hardest hit population group, compared to their male counterparts (Fuller 2008; Zuberi 2004). In South Africa this epidemic crawled under the shadow of denial, fear, ignorance, stigma and discrimination, which disrupted efforts to prevent further spread and care for the infected and the affected individuals and groups. South African women are subjected to gender inequality, sexual violence and rape, and in the presence of HIV/AIDS their plight became exacerbated. They became subjected to blame and rejection because people do not want to associate themselves with this group, who possess the deadly infectious disease which is associated with commercial sex workers, intravenous drug users and homosexuals. The aim of this research was to investigate the plight of anticipated and enacted stigma among the South African women who receive treatment as outpatients in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The study was conducted among six women who are living with HIV/AIDS over a period of four weeks, with a qualitative research design adopted as research method. In-depth interviews were used as the primary tool for data collection. This study was conducted in order for the researcher to obtain insight into the subject of HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and to highlight the experiences of participants for policy and programme designing and development purposes.

In many South African communities, socially constructed masculinity norms that promote unequal gender relations and high risk sexual behaviour are key contributing factors to HIV transmission. Following a qualitative approach, using in-depth interviews, this study engaged graduates of the Tavern Intervention Programme (TIP) in Gauteng to explore and describe their perceptions of traditional and modern masculinities, as well as their experience of the TIP. The findings indicated that, while there are differences between traditional and modern men, several masculinity practices, such as unequal gender relations, inconsistent use of condoms, infrequent accessing of HIV testing opportunities and entitlement to multiple partners endure as potential barriers to HIV prevention. Additionally, peer groups reinforce and reward HIV risk behaviour among modern men. Participants did, however, report changes in perceptions and behaviour regarding gender relations and HIV prevention as a result of their participation in the TIP. This study concluded that the role the TIP played in providing these men with an environment where alternative masculinity behaviour could be explored and supported was of particular value in terms of changes in their perceptions of masculinities, gender relations and HIV prevention. / Sociology / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Three years into the human territory, the fight against HIV/AIDS still prevails. According to Fuller (2008), it is estimated that by 2025, 80 million Africans will have been killed by this pandemic, while 90 million are estimated to be infected by HIV. Close to 3 thousand women are infected with HIV daily. In the beginning of 2008, some 22,5 million sub-Saharan Africans were living with HIV (Fuller 2008). In South Africa, 5 million people are estimated to be infected with HIV, 250 thousand die each year due to AIDS-related deaths, while a thousand people die daily and 17 hundred get infected daily. South African women are the hardest hit population group, compared to their male counterparts (Fuller 2008; Zuberi 2004). In South Africa this epidemic crawled under the shadow of denial, fear, ignorance, stigma and discrimination, which disrupted efforts to prevent further spread and care for the infected and the affected individuals and groups. South African women are subjected to gender inequality, sexual violence and rape, and in the presence of HIV/AIDS their plight became exacerbated. They became subjected to blame and rejection because people do not want to associate themselves with this group, who possess the deadly infectious disease which is associated with commercial sex workers, intravenous drug users and homosexuals. The aim of this research was to investigate the plight of anticipated and enacted stigma among the South African women who receive treatment as outpatients in the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. The study was conducted among six women who are living with HIV/AIDS over a period of four weeks, with a qualitative research design adopted as research method. In-depth interviews were used as the primary tool for data collection. This study was conducted in order for the researcher to obtain insight into the subject of HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and to highlight the experiences of participants for policy and programme designing and development purposes.