M.A. / This study was aimed at analyzing the involvement of social workers in AIDS/HIV education, by analyzing their knowledge about AIDS/HT V infection, attitude towards the disease and their level of participation in AIDS/HIV educational activities. The results of this survey indicate that although some social workers are relatively knowledgeable about AIDSTHIV infection and have positive attitudes towards the disease, they are not fully and actively involved in educational activities to prevent the spread of this disease. Very few social workers indicated that they are involved.

<b>Background:</b> Women who inject drugs face vast disparities in health outcomes relative to their counterparts in the general population, most notably in HIV. Intimate partner violence (IPV) victimisation has a detrimental individual effect on women's HIV risk behaviour. Furthermore, IPV often co-occurs with substance use and poor mental health among women in high-income countries, but little is known about the cumulative and interactive effects of these conditions on women's HIV risk behaviour in low- and middle-income countries. This thesis applied an ecological approach guided primarily by syndemics theory to understand influences on women's HIV behavioural outcomes. It examined associations and mechanisms linking IPV, substance use, and depression, with HIV sexual and injecting risk outcomes in the first quantitative study of Indonesian women who inject drugs, the Women Speak Out study. <b>Methods:</b> This study combined community-based participatory approaches and extensive formative research with quantitative survey methods. 731 women, ≥18 years of age, and injecting illicit drugs in the preceding year were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) from urban settings in Greater Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia. Network characteristics of the sample were assessed using the RDS software package for Stata 14. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regressions, marginal effects models, and interaction analyses on the additive and multiplicative scales. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Indonesian Drug User Network. <b>Results:</b> Paper 1: Past-year IPV victimisation doubled the odds of engaging in one or more sexual HIV risk behaviours. Several covariates were associated with higher odds of sexual risk behaviour: HIV-positive status, non-injection crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth) use, low educational attainment, younger age, and being single. Co-occurrence of psychological, physical and/or injurious, and sexual forms of IPV had cumulative effects: sexual risk behaviour was reported by 62% of women who did not experience any form of IPV, but increased to 89% among those exposed to all three forms. Paper 2: Past-year IPV elevated women's odds of receptive syringe sharing. These effects remained after controlling for socio-demographic confounders. Two covariates, injecting illicit pharmaceuticals (vs heroin only) and housing instability and/or homelessness, remained associated with receptive syringe sharing in multivariate analyses. Paper 3: More than 1 in 4 women experienced concurrent IPV, depressive symptoms, and crystal meth use. All three exposures had independent negative effects on HIV sexual risk outcomes. The co-occurrence of all three factors produced a 4-fold increase in rates of survival sex work, 5-fold increase in STI symptomatology, and a 7-fold increase in inconsistent condom use. The joint effect of depressive symptoms and crystal meth use together was greater than the product of the estimated effects of each exposure alone on STI symptomatology, indicating an interaction on the multiplicative scale. Statistically-significant positive additive interaction was detected between IPV victimisation and crystal meth on inconsistent condom use; depression and crystal meth on STI symptomatology and on survival sex work; and IPV and depression on STI symptomatology and survival sex work. <b>Conclusion:</b> This thesis provides new evidence of the individual and cumulative effects of IPV, methamphetamine use, and depression on HIV risk outcomes among Indonesian women who inject drugs. The interaction analyses are the first to empirically test the assertion that these co-occurring conditions interact synergistically to increase drug-using women's HIV risk. This thesis furthers our understanding of how syndemics function within women who inject drugs to produce health disparities, and contributes to the problem theory for HIV risk behaviour in this population. The findings of this study have great public health significance and important implications for future longitudinal research, interventions, and policy.

Thesis (M. A. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2004. / The aim of this study was to explore the impact of culture on the prevention and reatment of HIV/AIDS amongst people in low-resourced areas like Malamulele. he study focused on the lifestyles, beliefs, attitudes and perceptions around ultural elements and practices, which might impact negatively on the prevention nd treatment of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. There were three groups of research espondents namely: learners from three high schools in Malamulele, some arents of the learners and the traditional/cultural leaders. The researcher ollected both qualitative and quantitative data. The data was gathered through he use of an interview schedule (questionnaire), focus group discussions and ound-table discussion sessions. The data was presented, analysed and nterpreted by means of tables and charts. t was found that people in low-resourced (rural) areas have little knowledge about HIV/AIDS, causes, symptoms and how the disease is transmitted. Despite the fact that awareness and educational campaigns and programmes are being rendered, people in low-resourced (rural) areas have little knowledge and needed skills about prevention and treatment of the pandemic. Polygamy and extra-marital relations by men is still highly valued and viewed at high esteem. Religious structures seem to be detached to the issue of HIV/AIDS as they mentioned that talking about HIV/AIDS is immoral and against their principles. The study also tried to explore the extent to which people in low-resourced areas view and use condoms as a protective means.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.PH.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Voluntary counselling and testing, the cornerstone of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts worldwide, is at the centre of a policy debate rega rding its effectiveness. Informed by social constructionism and drawing on various tools from ethnomethodology and conversation analysis, a sample of twenty-seven vid eotaped simulated counselling interactions in South Africa was analysed. The aim was to assess how the interactional tasks of the voluntary counselling and testing sess ion were worked through by clients and counsellors, and how this was done against the publ ic health and counselling frameworks that inform voluntary counselling and testing pract ice. The goal of the analysis was not to examine practitioners’ competencies, but to exam ine their unfolding actions in the situation and to consider the interactional functio ns these actions might serve. The results show that of the three interactional ta sks of voluntary counselling and testing, information-giving lays the foundation upon which the advice and support goals are realised. It is constructed as critical to client a nd counsellor identities and is a powerful tool through which hope is dispensed. Both the info rmation-giving and support tasks of voluntary counselling and testing combine to manage client distress into more concrete and manageable terms that encourage client coping. Counsellors draw on a range of advice-giving strategies – those that place the onu s of responsibility on the client to those that view the counsellor as the moral guide able to direct client change – in order to encourage clients to reflect on their risk behaviou r. In general, voluntary counselling and testing is framed as a moral activity, and this is most evident in the advice-giving segments. The public health and counselling framewo rks that inform voluntary counselling and testing create a dilemma for counse llors. In practice, counsellors orient towards a directive and health-advising role rather than a non-directive, client-centred counselling role. The implication of this research is that voluntary counselling and testing needs to be defined and framed more clearly – i.e. as a public health intervention with preferred outcomes that draws on a set of client-centred skills. Reconceptualisations of voluntary counselling and testing need to acknowledge the mor al framework under which it operates. Clear implementation guidelines (and training) on what voluntary counselling and testing is and that define its goals more clearly will be useful in assisting counsellors to implement the policies that govern their practice. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

Primarily, this dissertation examined the extent to which churches have potential in preventing HIV/AIDS. Set in rural KwaZulu-Natal an area marked with both high levels of HIV prevalence and high religious participation, the study used the concept of social space as a framework within which the contribution of churches towards the prevention of further spread of the HIV infection can be understood. Unlike recent studies which have consistently shown that the contribution of churches in the prevention of further spread of HIV infection is likely to emanate from the churches‘ teaching on morality, this study has argued that the contribution of churches in minimizing risky sexual behaviours is likely to emanate from how churches balance their teachings on moral issues and the subsequent practice of social control on the one hand and the provision of social support on the other. This is particularly so because in African settings where behaviour is largely influenced by the prevailing circumstances within society, and where churches are significantly entrenched in the lives of individuals providing a variety of social support services, there is a strong likelihood that churches will have an impact on their adherents‘ behaviour as well. The social space concept, therefore, defines churches not only as institutions enforcing the moral code which churches emphasise but also as caring and integrating forces, providing social support for their members in time of need. The study investigated four churches representing three Christian religious denominations: the Mainline, the Pentecostal and the African Independent churches. In investigating these churches, it used two types of data: The Africa Centre Demographic surveillance Systems (ACDIS) data collected between 2002 and 2004 and the Ethnographic data collected in 2006 consisting of a total of 96 in-depth interviews, 11-13 services of each church type selected, 6-8 church- related activities (or groups in each church), 3 informal discussions with community members and a set of 2 conversational data from each church. The analysis is done in two parts. The first part of the analysis (Chapter Five) focuses on the existing quantitative ACDIS data, examining whether there exists a relationship between church affiliation, participation in church activities and sexual behaviours. The second part uses ethnographic data in order to provide explanations of the observed relationship. Overall, the study found that unlike church affiliation which had no influence on individual sexual behaviour, individuals who participated regularly in church activities were less likely to engage in behaviour that would put them at risk of acquiring the HIV infection. The study found, however, that there existed denominational differences and that churches where participation was high were the same churches likely to influence protective behaviour. The explanation provided from qualitative findings suggested that the ability of these churches to minimise risky sexual behaviour was found in the Intensive Social Spaces that churches and their members constructed. The study concluded that the ability of churches to minimise risky sexual behaviours resulted from an individual negotiating losing the benefits provided by fellow members of the church when she/he ceases to be a member. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulul-Natal, Durban, 2013.

The aim of this research was to investigate the different methods incorporating HIV/AIDS education into formal academic curricula at the University of Natal. This research aimed to flag up examples of ways of incorporating HIV/AIDS into the different curricula, and also to look at some of the obstacles the different academic departments may have encountered in trying to incorporate such education into their curricula. I had guessed that a variety of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes, initiatives and education were being undertaken at the university and that on the whole students and staff were well aware of the basic information regarding the disease. What I wanted to look at in particular was how the university was responding to HIV/AIDS within the curricula. Were academic curricula being altered in any way to allow for the impact of HIV/AIDS and how was this being undertaken? The key issues to be addressed and the main questions posed by this research were: • What are the different ways that HIV/AIDS education is incorporated into academic curricula? • What do lecturers consider to be the specific links between their subject matter and HIV/AIDS? • What is the purpose of such education? Why are lecturers choosing to incorporate HIV/AIDS education into their programmes? • What aspects of HIV/AIDS are being covered within the programmes? • How do lecturers attempt to get students to relate disciplinary knowledge to HIV/AIDS in order to inform future decision-making? • What are the main positive features of the current HIV/AIDS programmes being undertaken? • What are the main difficulties/concerns encountered by the different schools in incorporating HIV/AIDS education into the curricula? Through examining different schools within the university it was hoped to come up with a variety of different and innovative ways that HIV education can be incorporated into the curricula. This research started with a search of the HIVAN database to find lecturers with programmes that are undertaking some form of HIV/AIDS education. From this initial search I gained a number of contacts, who were then able to direct me to further contacts within the university. I ended up with an initial sample of seventeen lecturers based across fourteen schools or programmes and spanning seven faculties. The sample included lecturers from the faculties of Community & Development, Human Sciences, Law, Management Studies, Engineering, Medical Sciences, and Education. (See appendix I) For this research I used a number of methods of data collection. The first data collection method used was to carry out semi-structured interviews with the lecturers in the sample. This method was the prime method and the vast majority of the data was collected using this method. The following methods were mainly used for triangulation purposes although a number of new insights were made from these. The second method used then was to review printed material made available to me from a number of the lecturers interviewed. This was mainly course outlines but in a small number of cases also included reports on the HIV/AIDS modules. The third method used was to observe a number of the chosen programmes and following this observation to interview students about the HIV/AIDS education. (See appendix 11 Interview Questionnaires) Initially I have presented the findings of this research by documenting and summarizing the responses to each research question. In order to make for an easy overview of the findings for the reader I have drawn up a table under each research question, these tables list the responses to the research questions. I then go on to look at the different models this research has shown for teaching HIV/AIDS education. I have taken each model in turn and shown how it works in practice through giving a detailed description of the example cases. Following this I have attempted to outline the main features of these HIV/AIDS programmes and to document the main insights emerging. Looking back at the literature reviewed in this field, I have then attempted to review the responses in terms of what was said in the literature regarding HIV/AIDS education. I have also outlined the questions and surprises brought to light by this study and have attempted to draw some conclusions regarding the teaching of HIV/AIDS within academic curricula. Finally, in the light of the findings, I have made recommendations for future work in this field. It was impossible from this study to say which programmes work better than others with regards to the teaching of HIV/AIDS education. What I have merely attempted to do is to describe the methods and approaches used at present in order that others wishing to undertake similar programmes may review these. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This research emerges within the context of rapidly rising levels of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection amongst young adults and the escalation of deaths from the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This study critically examines the commonly used theories and models that guide HIV/AIDS communication campaigns. However, it notes that the broad ranging theories and models used during HIV/AIDS preventative and care campaigns emphasise communication linearity and individualism and therefore fail to acknowledge culture. In view of the multiplicity of cultural and language groups that exist in South Africa, culture plays a crucial role in HIV/AIDS communication interventions. Failure to acknowledge the cultural context in campaign theory has various negative implications. One is that, because these theories and models are linear, they are sender-oriented. The recipients are therefore unable to identify with the message as they are divorced from the context of its production. Furthermore, because of a lack of engagement by the recipient in the development of messages, retention of knowledge is minimal and this leads to a lack of acceptance of the message. Clearly then, there exists a need for these theories and models to be re-articulated so that they are less linear and individualistic, but rather more flexible so that they may be adapted for application within various cultural contexts. This study suggests that one of the ways of alleviating campaign linearity and including culture is by borrowing Paulo Freire's (1990) underlying principles of participation and incorporating them into communication campaign theory in the form of audience participation. Communication campaign theory would therefore include audience participation as a central component during its planning, implementation and evaluation phases. The appropriateness of this suggestion is demonstrated by applying it to and evaluating a HIV/AIDS awareness campaign targeted at young adults at a tertiary institution in KwaZulu Natal. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

his study discusses the benefits of Popular Participatory Theatre (PPT) as a research method with which to investigate the culture of silence around HIV/AIDS issues in Malealea Valley, Lesotho. Popular Participatory Theatre provided the means by which the community named, reflected on and initiated action with regard to their problems. This research will contribute to the growing body of research which aims to uncover effective modes of communication which could lead to behaviour change. This study employed the qualitative research methodology. This was in recognition that qualitative research involves in-depth understanding of human behaviours and the reasons that govern that behaviour, and looks at the reasons behind various aspects of behaviour, perceptions, beliefs and attitudes. Qualitative research seeks meaning rather than generality and contributes to theory development (Miller et al, 2003:192-3). In-depth interviews and focus groups were also used as instruments for data collection. The findings of the study indicate that socio-economic issues such as language, cultural practices, the way that Basotho are brought up and power dynamics around patriarchy contribute to the culture of silence. The Malealea Theatre Project helped the Malealea community to re-examine some of their beliefs and cultural practices. The findings also indicate that popular participatory theatre is an effective research method that can be used to collect data while also leading to community action. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

HIV / AIDS in the South African present context remains fraught with obstacles and challenges. The previous regime's willingness to turn a blind eye to the problem, combined with the present government's confused response has accelerated the disease and it's devastating impact to pandemic proportions. This has placed additional pressure on other sectors to respond. While civil society challenges government's delaying tactics and seeks to ease the plight of those living with HIV, the business sector is being called upon to act, in the interests of the stability of the national economy and it's own survival. Business is identified, locally and abroad, as the most relevant environment for intervention because of it's unique capacity to impact on both the workforce and the consumer market simultaneously. Business however exists for the purpose of making a profit. This is in itself an area of study that requires investigation: how does business meet the pressure to 'do the right thing' and protect its own best interests? This study will consider how some businesses have shifted the burden of AIDS, while others have prepared to meet the costs associated with implementing any interventions. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of HIV / AIDS on the business sector with an assessment of the risk faced by business in the immediate and long-term. It further seeks to analyse business's current response in the context of international best practice standards. Case studies of Workplace HIV / AIDS Programmes are used to identify and analyse successful interventions that may be utilised in the South African context. While there are a few outstanding examples of workplace interventions being implemented in South Africa, there is some concern that too many companies are processing HIV / AIDS as a paper exercise without the commitment and care required for change. The impact of the disease on a physical level is compounded by stigmatization and fear. Issues of discrimination and intolerance permeate the environment in which employers are required to implement programmes that shift knowledge, attitudes and behaviour around HIV / AIDS. The secondary objective of this study is to test the emerging hypothesis that the face-to-face or one-on-one intervention is the most effective in successfully changing knowledge and attitudes about HIV / AIDS and can therefore influence a long-term change in behaviour. This study seeks to provide guidelines and recommendation for companies willing to implement HIV / AIDS workplace interventions by presenting an overview of the options available and indicating where best to invest limited resources. While the nature and scope of the study is by no means conclusive and remains open to ongoing social and medical research, it remains relevant in that it is placed in the context of timeless best practice. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.