Chapter One includes an introduction to AIDS, the AIDS Quilt, and work by communication scholars related to AIDS and the AIDS Quilt. A literature review of creative works inspired by the AIDS Quilt follows. The research question which guides the analysis is included and followed by descriptions of the three artifacts to be analyzed: The Quilt: Stories from The NAMES Project, "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, and The AIDS Quilt Songbook.Chapter Two describes the method to be used in the analysis, cluster analysis developed by Kenneth Burke. The steps in the cluster method are: 1) identify key terms in the rhetoric, 2) chart the terms that cluster around key terms, 3) discover patterns in the clusters, and 4) name the motive, or situation, based on the meanings of the key terms.Chapter Three is a cluster analysis of a book entitled, The Quilt: Stories from The NAMES Project. Key terms found in this analysis are "love," "grief," "memories / remembrance," "hope," "intolerance," and “individuality." Chapter Four is a cluster analysis of a documentary, "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt." Key terms examined in this analysis are "negligence," "disease / AIDS," "grief," "love," and "memories." Chapter Five is a cluster analysis of poetry from The AIDS Quilt Songbook, a performance of poetry, music, and singing. Key terms discovered through this analysis are "death / dying," "disease / sickness," "cool / cold," and "warm / hot."Chapter Six contains conclusions pertaining to the analysis of all three rhetorical artifacts. Conclusions include the effectiveness of the positive, realistic approach to AIDS portrayed in the personal stories, which have helped humanize the AIDS statistics. Positive outlets for handling grief are also found through the analysis. Contributions to cluster analysis and rhetorical theory include the unique results in analyzing visual images, the effectiveness of using cluster criticism to uncover emotion-laden key terms, and evidence for the therapeutic uses of communication. Finally, communication scholars who study the personal side of contemporary problems can contribute by helping people understand the details behind the statistics, encouraging them to take steps toward solving contemporary problems such as AIDS. / Department of Speech Communication

This study examines the experience of individuals who participated or did not participate in the caregiving process for a family member who died within approximately the past three years of an AIDS-related illness. The focus of this study is on the adjustment of the caregivers and non-caregivers after the death of the PWA. It was hypothesized that due to their direct involvement in the caregiving process, caregivers would differ significantly from non-caregivers on a number of measures designed to evaluate adjustment. It was hypothesized that caregivers would report better overall adjustment than non-caregivers.Participants completed the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90; Derogatis, Lipman, & Covi, 1973), as well as a semi-structured interview about their experiences. A two-tailed t-test revealed no significant differences between groups. However, effect sizes computed for these variables revealed moderate to large diff ererences between caregivers and non-caregivers on the somatization and interpersonal subscales of the SCL-90. Comparisons to a standardization sample showed that caregivers differed significantly on all subscales from that standardization sample: Non-caregivers differed only on the depression and interpersonal sensitivity subscales. Analysis of the interview data revealed a significant difference in reported stress, with caregivers reporting significantly more stress during the illness of the PWA than non-caregivers. Effect sizes were computed for nine other interview categories; these suggested that caregiversreported substantially less social withdrawal, fewer feelings of guilt, fewer problems resolving issues with the PWA, substantially more physical illness, and more life affirming statements than their non-caregiver counterparts. Several other noteworthy trends that emerged in the interview portion of the study are discussed.Small sample size and pre-existing characteristics of the participants are explored as possible factors affecting the outcome of the study. More controlled studies exploring the adjustment of caregivers and non-caregivers are needed in order to better understand the possible differences that may exist between caregivers and non-caregivers in terms of adjustment after the death of their loved one from an AIDS-related illness. / Department of Psychological Science

The aim of this study was to investigate experiences and perceptions of private · medical practitioners about the implementation of the current death notification form (Bl-1663) in cases of confirmed Aids-related deaths. The study focussed on reporting patterns by private medical practitioners of the deceased's underlying causes of death in BI-1663. The study also focussed on the reasons advanced for the reporting patterns described above. The research method employed in this study was cross-sectional surveys. Self-administered questionnaires were used to gather the data and the target population was all private medical practitioners practising within the Mafikeng / Mmabatho area of the North West Province of South Africa. A response rate of eighty-two and half per cent (82,50%) was achieved. The data were presented in the form of frequency tables and pie charts and descriptive statistics was used to analyse it. The findings of this study revealed that the majority of private medical practitioners either omitted information that HIV / AIDS was an underlying cause of death or reported another condition in BI-1663 during notification of confirmed AIDS related deaths. Reasons advanced for the phenomenon were fears of unauthorised breach of the deceased's confidential information by unintended parties that often led to invalidation of the deceased's insurance and funeral benefits, as well as stigmatisation and social discrimination of relatives the deceased. The study recommends that third parties (informants) should be relieved of the duties of conveying the deceased's confidential medical information to the state during death notification processes. Medical practitioners themselves should submit Part 2 of BI- 1663 that contains the deceased's confidential information directly to Public Health Officials. The study also recommends that the Department of Health should provide formal training to the medical practitioners with respect to death certification in order to enable them to certify causes of deaths in a manner that is useful for epidemiological analysis and public policy. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

The present study sought to understand the relationship between attitudes and prevention knowledge of HIV I AIDS among matriculation students. HIV infection rates has reached epidemic proportions in South Africa and has serious consequences for individuals, particularly for adoiescellts as they make up the largest percentage of the vulnerable age group aged between 15 and 29. Given the high risks that adolescents are faced with, many awareness and prevention programmes have been implemented. These programmes have focused particularly on attitudinal and behavioural change towards HIV I AIDS prevention. The reason for this is that all sexual behaviour is mediated, facilitated and or justified by cognitions and beliefs (Vanwesenbeeck, Bekker & Van Lenning 1998). The sample was selected from a boys school, which chose to remain anonymous and a girls high school in Westville, Durban. Questionnaires aimed at assessing knowledge regarding the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS were administered. Questionnaires aimed at assessing their attitudes towards prevention of HIV/AIDS were also administered to learners. Learners had been exposed to awareness and life skills programmes as part of their curriculum. Festinger's (1957) theory of cognitive dissonance was used as a framework to understand the relationship between one's attitudes and behaviour. The findings indicated that most respondents had adequate knowledge regarding HIV I AIDS spread and prevention. The results also indicated that there was a correlation between knowledge and attitudes but it was not a strong relationship suggesting that there may have been external factors that may have impacted on the relationship thus placing adolescents at a relatively high risk to the HIV infection. This according to Festinger's (1957) theory suggests that there is some inconsistency between attitudes and behaviour towards HIV I AIDS prevention amongst learners. The findings of the study also highlight the need for future research in this area, which would better inform and improve intervention programmes that have been targeted at adolescents in high schools. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

A group of 21 HIV-positive gay or bisexual men was compared with a matched group of 22 HIV-negative individuals. All subjects were sexually active gay or bisexual males matched for age, as well as age at first intercourse with males. Subjects completed a detailed sexual history questionnaire as well as a series of standardized measures of psychosocial functioning. Results indicated that subjects engaged in a wide range of unsafe sexual behaviours, and frequently combined drugs with sex. Scores on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) were significantly correlated with lifetime condom use. Social support was also found to be significantly associated with the lifetime number of homosexual partners. Regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between MAST scores and social support and a positive relationship between social support and CD-4 cell count. The groups were found to be similar in terms of clinical levels of anxiety and depression, self-esteem in interpersonal situations, and risk-taking personality.

No abstract available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, 2000.

The focus of this thesis is to look at breastfeeding patterns in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa in relation to HIV infected women, who as mothers may, transmit the HIV virus to their child. It seeks to understand in depth the social context of HIV and AIDS in the time of the AIDS pandemic looking at gender culture; powerlessness of women in households in society. These dynamics occurring at such a crucial time and moment of this spiral explosive epidemic reflects a more broader concerted effort to understand and find solutions. This study emerges from a larger research project conducted under the auspices of the Medical Research Council, which was examining the transmission rates of HIV infection in babies born to HIV positive woman for a period of six months, on breastfeeding having given these women nevirapine as well. The study was HIVNET 023, which looked at the use of NVP that was given to breastfed infants in order to reduce MTCT of HIV, Phase 1,11 Study. This work was conducted from 2000 and completed in 2001. This thesis seeks to further explore challenges experienced by these breastfeeding HIV positive women in the public domain (i.e. in the clinics, hospitals as well as in communities), and how these challenges impinge in their daily lives as women. Issues of gender inequality, the social context of culture in the midst of a health crisis, and suggestions for change in the context of clinical practice, make up the bulk of the thesis argument. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Kwazulu-Natal, 2003.

The way gender relations influence access to care and treatment particularly access to antiretroviral medicines is a challenge to HIV/AIDS programmes and to the individuals and families with HIV. Gender norms that push women and men to adhere to dominant ideals of femininity and masculinity may restrict women's access to economic resources, health care and fuel the spread of HIV. The aim of this study was to determine the role of gender relations in influencing decision-making for access to antiretroviral medicines between partners and in the family.

The aim of this study was to investigate met and unmet palliative care needs for people living with HIV/AIDS in selected areas in Rwanda. The achieve this aim, the study, firstly, identified the palliative care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, secondly, it identified the health care services available to meet these needs, and thirdly, it determined the extent to which palliative care needs were met.

With the increase in the number of persons suffering from HIV/AIDS, physiotherapists are often required to treat these patients who present with respiratory and neurological complications. Although physiotherapists are at a lower risk of HIV infection in the workplace than nurses and doctors, it is necessary to determine their knowledge and perceptions of the risks, fears of HIV transmission and their attitudes towards patients with the disease. The aim of the study was to determine the physiotherapists knowledge of, and their attitudes towards patients with HIV/AIDS. It also explored whether the physiotherapists knowledge influences attitudes towards HIV/AIDS patients in Lusaka, Zambia.