The impact of HIV and AIDS has threatened to destroy the education sector in South Africa. This qualitative study set out to investigate the psychosocial problems and needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS in Johannesburg Inner City schools. The study explores and describes the need to develop and implement a comprehensive and holistic treatment, care and support programme for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. This study also reviews HIV/AIDS policies and programmes implemented by the Department of Education to indicate that these interventions are not effective in addressing the problems and needs of these educators. Therefore, the study contends that the Department of Education should revise and reformulate these HIV/AIDS policies and programmes to cater for the needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. Ten educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS from two selected Johannesburg Inner City schools participated in this study. Phenomenological strategies and in-depth interviews were used to capture day-to-day personal life experiences of these educators. The findings of the study reveal that there is a need for an urgent response by the Department of Education to develop and implement treatment, care and support programmes for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The purpose of the study was to describe the effects of an EMR on patient management in selected HIV clinics in Johannesburg. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken in four HIV clinics in Johannesburg. The subjects (N=44) were the healthcare workers selected by stratified random sampling. Consent was requested from each subject and from the clinics in Johannesburg. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Median age of subjects was 36, 82% were female. 86% had tertiary qualifications. 55% were clinicians. 52% had 2-3 years work experience. 80% had computer experience, 86% had over one year EMR experience. 90% used the EMR daily, 93% preferred EMR to paper. 93% had EMR training, 17% used EMR to capture clinical data. 87% perceived EMR to have more benefits; most felt doctor-patient relationship was not interfered with. 89% were satisfied with the EMR’s overall performance. The effects of EMR benefit HIV patient management. / Health Studies / MA (Public Health)

This qualitative exploratory and descriptive study explored and described the experiences of HIV sero-discordant couples post diagnosis at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit in Soweto, Gauteng Province. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with each individual from seven HIV sero-discordant couples. Following thematic analysis, four themes emerged: immediate response to HIV sero-discordant results; challenges in relation to disclosure of HIV sero-status; limited information on HIV sero-discordant; and the impact of HIV sero-discordant on the couples. All these were mainly linked to poor counselling and inadequate support to HIV sero-discordant couples. The findings of this study have both clinical and policy development implications. Recommendations have been put forward for development of contextual relevant HIV Sero-discordant Couple Counselling and support guidelines focusing of enhancing knowledge and skills of health care professionals responsible for counselling and supporting HIV sero-discordant couples. / Health Studies / MA (Public Health)

Aims: The study was aimed at exploring adolescents‟ level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the influence this knowledge has on their sexual behaviour. Methods: In total, 20 in- depth interviews were conducted from a group of 20 (both males and females) secondary school learners. The interviews were audio taped with consent from participants. Results: The results of the study showed that participants possess basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS, including methods of prevention and transmission. No serious misconceptions about modes of transmission of HIV were found in this study. Although, participants reported condom use, no sexual intercourse with multiple concurrent partners and no intergenerational sexual relationships, the findings revealed some risk factors such as early sexual debuts, early dating, multiple sexual partnerships. Conclusions: The aforesaid sexual behaviours and the sexual activeness among learners is a cause for angst. Thus, these findings highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to sexual reproductive health education by all interested parties in order to enhance and sustain behaviour change among young people. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This study investigated the social factors influencing the poor uptake of HIV Testing and Counselling (HCT) services by middle-aged black men in Pimville, Soweto. A qualitative research approach was used for this study in which ten men and two key informants were interviewed. Themes explored were the participants’ biographical characteristics, knowledge of HIV and AIDS, health-seeking behaviours, understanding of multiple sexual partnerships, male circumcision, and challenges in using HCT services. Various social behaviour change theories formed the theoretical framework guiding this study. It was found that fear, stigma and cultural factors are major reasons for the poor HCT uptake. Despite the men’s high HIV risk perceptions, behaviour change lags behind. Greater efforts to establish a men’s forum to discuss sexual health matters in Pimville are recommended. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

This qualitative exploratory and descriptive study explored and described the experiences of HIV sero-discordant couples post diagnosis at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit in Soweto, Gauteng Province. Data was collected using in-depth interviews with each individual from seven HIV sero-discordant couples. Following thematic analysis, four themes emerged: immediate response to HIV sero-discordant results; challenges in relation to disclosure of HIV sero-status; limited information on HIV sero-discordant; and the impact of HIV sero-discordant on the couples. All these were mainly linked to poor counselling and inadequate support to HIV sero-discordant couples. The findings of this study have both clinical and policy development implications. Recommendations have been put forward for development of contextual relevant HIV Sero-discordant Couple Counselling and support guidelines focusing of enhancing knowledge and skills of health care professionals responsible for counselling and supporting HIV sero-discordant couples. / Health Studies / M. A. (Public Health)

The impact of HIV and AIDS has threatened to destroy the education sector in South Africa. This qualitative study set out to investigate the psychosocial problems and needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS in Johannesburg Inner City schools. The study explores and describes the need to develop and implement a comprehensive and holistic treatment, care and support programme for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. This study also reviews HIV/AIDS policies and programmes implemented by the Department of Education to indicate that these interventions are not effective in addressing the problems and needs of these educators. Therefore, the study contends that the Department of Education should revise and reformulate these HIV/AIDS policies and programmes to cater for the needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. Ten educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS from two selected Johannesburg Inner City schools participated in this study. Phenomenological strategies and in-depth interviews were used to capture day-to-day personal life experiences of these educators. The findings of the study reveal that there is a need for an urgent response by the Department of Education to develop and implement treatment, care and support programmes for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The purpose of the study was to describe the effects of an EMR on patient management in selected HIV clinics in Johannesburg. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken in four HIV clinics in Johannesburg. The subjects (N=44) were the healthcare workers selected by stratified random sampling. Consent was requested from each subject and from the clinics in Johannesburg. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. Median age of subjects was 36, 82% were female. 86% had tertiary qualifications. 55% were clinicians. 52% had 2-3 years work experience. 80% had computer experience, 86% had over one year EMR experience. 90% used the EMR daily, 93% preferred EMR to paper. 93% had EMR training, 17% used EMR to capture clinical data. 87% perceived EMR to have more benefits; most felt doctor-patient relationship was not interfered with. 89% were satisfied with the EMR’s overall performance. The effects of EMR benefit HIV patient management. / Health Studies / MA (Public Health)

This study investigated the social factors influencing the poor uptake of HIV Testing and Counselling (HCT) services by middle-aged black men in Pimville, Soweto. A qualitative research approach was used for this study in which ten men and two key informants were interviewed. Themes explored were the participants’ biographical characteristics, knowledge of HIV and AIDS, health-seeking behaviours, understanding of multiple sexual partnerships, male circumcision, and challenges in using HCT services. Various social behaviour change theories formed the theoretical framework guiding this study. It was found that fear, stigma and cultural factors are major reasons for the poor HCT uptake. Despite the men’s high HIV risk perceptions, behaviour change lags behind. Greater efforts to establish a men’s forum to discuss sexual health matters in Pimville are recommended. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Aims: The study was aimed at exploring adolescents‟ level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and the influence this knowledge has on their sexual behaviour. Methods: In total, 20 in- depth interviews were conducted from a group of 20 (both males and females) secondary school learners. The interviews were audio taped with consent from participants. Results: The results of the study showed that participants possess basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS, including methods of prevention and transmission. No serious misconceptions about modes of transmission of HIV were found in this study. Although, participants reported condom use, no sexual intercourse with multiple concurrent partners and no intergenerational sexual relationships, the findings revealed some risk factors such as early sexual debuts, early dating, multiple sexual partnerships. Conclusions: The aforesaid sexual behaviours and the sexual activeness among learners is a cause for angst. Thus, these findings highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to sexual reproductive health education by all interested parties in order to enhance and sustain behaviour change among young people. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)