M.B.A. / HIV/AIDS and the impact of this disease on the bottom line of companies is currently a very topical issue. This study deals with the economic impact of HIV/AIDS on companies, if they make use of the services of temporary employment service providers. The current impact of the disease on companies and the state of the temporary employment services industry in South Africa was analysed, based on existing literature. As part of the study a survey was conducted to determine the perceptions that currently exist in the market with regards to the use of temporary employment service providers and the impact of HIV/AIDS on companies. The results from the study showed that companies could obtain advantages from using temporary employment service providers. The study however further found that even though companies understood that there could be economic advantages for them in using temporary employment services, they were still reluctant to do so. Companies further indicated that the impact of HIV/AIDS on their bottom line would increasingly have a more negative impact over the next ten years.

Introduction: Globally, over forty million adults are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with twenty-five million people having already died of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) worldwide by 2007. To date, approximately twenty-eight million members of the labour force have been lost to AIDS. In terms of the settings approach to Health Promotion, the workplace presents as one of the most effective and significant settings in which to respond to the epidemic. This study formed part of The Workplace VCT/Treatment Uptake Project (WVUP), which is a longitudinal study located in a company in the South African mining sector. The broad aim of the WVUP was to provide new knowledge on the reasons for low and slow uptake of VCT and treatment services in workplace settings and to implement and evaluate interventions to improve uptake of these services. The specific aim of this phase of the study (a Situational Assessment) was to unravel the contextual influences on VCT and treatment participation rates at the selected site, as a precursor to succeeding phases of the WVUP. Method: This Situational Assessment comprised of an archival documentary analysis (aimed at developing a historical perspective of the company’s HIV/AIDS program) and interviews and focus groups with key organisational stakeholders (aimed at a contextual assessment of the program). A qualitative approach was used for this study, as it provided an in-depth and detailed understanding of the organizational and personal experiences, incidences and occurrences that make up the contextual milieu for the VCT and HIV/AIDS treatment services at the study site. Fourteen individual interviews were conducted with key stakeholders, followed by eight focus group interviews with these constituencies. Data was collected using audiotapes and were transcribed verbatim. A quality assurance check was conducted with random sections of the tape compared against the transcripts. A list of themes across all interviews and data was developed and then reduced and coded using Nvivo7, a qualitative datamanagement software programme. This tool enabled the researcher to store and code the data and search the data thematically. The results of the study were interpreted through the lens of two theoretical frameworks, viz., the Precede-Proceed model and the Elaboration Likelihood Model. Results and Conclusions: The discussion of results incorporated the findings from the archival audit and documentary analysis as well as the various factors that emerged from the key stakeholder and focus group interviews. Even though the mine had high VCT uptake rates, significant concerns were apparent with regard to the VCT and treatment programmes. Some of these concerns centered around the levels of support from mine management and Head Office, support of employees for the HIV/AIDS programme, relational challenges with the union, confidentiality issues, treatment and treatment adherence issues, environmental influences, spousal VCT uptake, race, culture and sexism, and fear. Salient findings have been discussed using the selected theoretical frameworks and several theoretically and empirically derived recommendations were offered to inform the next phase of the WVUP study. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008

"Food security is access by all people of all times to enough food for an active, healthy life" (World Bank, 1986:1). It is thought that between 300 million and 1 billion people in the world are food insecure. This could be as much as twenty percent of the world population. A World Bank study estimated that 340 million people in developing countries did not have enough calorie intakes to prevent stunted growth, and a further 730 million did not have enough income to ensure an active working life. Many households barely subsist around a poverty line - at times above it, and at other times below. Such transitory food insecurity is common, dependent on the weather and other environmental or socioeconomic factors. In South Africa, a rising population growth has meant a rise in food insecurity for many rural households, and this may be further exacerbated by the impact of HIV/AIDS which increases occupancy and dependency ratios in households when orphaned children are taken in to be cared for. This research introduces the key concepts and indicators of food security set in the framework of rural subsistence and a high HIV infection rate in Ingwavuma, KwaZulu Natal. Four research objectives have been developed around a 'case-control' design, whereby the demographic, agricultural and socio-economic characteristics of families who have adopted AIDS orphans are compared to households who have not adopted orphans. The first objective of the study comprised an assessment of the make-up and social fabric of households in order to analyse the household head's ability to manage the family's consumption requirement. The results showed that forty six percent of households in Ingwavuma were headed by a 'mother' (single parent) figure and that the larger household occupancy ranges tended to be female headed. Furthermore, households comprising between 11 and 15 people, were female to male headed 7:1, pointing to high dependency ratios in households less likely to receive consistent income from a local and employed male household head. The second objective was to assess the level of dependency on income related purchases of food compared to the level of food production generated within the household itself. Sixty-three percent of households stated that they would not anticipate being able to obtain any work and thirty two percent felt they might be able to obtain work in the cities or with neighbours which would sustain them for one month. Only two percent of the sample anticipated being able to source income for three months, and another two percent for six months - highlighting the high level of dependency that the study area has on agriculture as opposed to income. The third aim of the study was to assess the impact that illness, death and the adoption of AIDS orphans have on the dependency ratio within a household, and its resultant impact of food security. A high level of illness and death was shown to occur in both cohorts of the sample, although deaths in the 'orphaned households' created larger numbers of household occupants and thus dependents when compared to households without orphans. Finally, three logistic regression models of food security were developed based on the main food and livelihood management indicators in the Ingwavuma community and the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on these was included in the models. The indicators could be incorporated in the development of a predictive early warning food security model for the area, similar to the work undertaken in Mozambique and Botswana where an early warning system is used to highlight expected periods of 'lean harvest' in order to ensure that the most vulnerable households are cared for. Another recommendation of the study is the development of a surveillance system for the monitorinq of the epidemiology of illness and death in the area to enable organisations to tackle the impact of the HIV epidemic. Specific research to address the targeting of 'households at risk' which include grandparent headed households and household heads who are HIV positive would also be of great benefit. Research into the development of both the formal and the informal economy, the industrial and entrepreneurial development of the area and the training of the community's untapped labour supply would also be of value to the community. Finally, research into methods to improve the agricultural base and food production skills would be enormously useful in developing the capacity of the community to provide for itself. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

M.B.A. / The purpose of this research project will be to test the impacts of HIV/AIDS and the manner in which it will influence changes in marketing strategies for Retail Food Companies in the future. The research questions posed are: What do Retail Food Companies perceive the impact of HIV/AIDS to be on their customer profile in the next 5 years? Do Retail Food Companies have marketing strategies in place to address the impact of HIV/AIDS on their primary target market? Do Retail Food Companies perceive HIV/AIDS to impact on their current product portfolio and their product portfolio in the next 5 years?

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa faces one of the world's most severe HIV/AIDS epidemics. Whereas the disease was initially only regarded as a serious health crisis, it is now clear that the epidemic will also have economic repercussions. The objective of this study is to project the extent of the macro-economic impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa over the next 10 to 15 years. The study commences with a discussion of the key characteristics of HIV/AIDS and the current status of the epidemic in South Africa. The demographic inputs used are based on projections produced by the HIV/AIDS model of Metropolitan Life (the Doyle model). The methodology and key assumptions behind the Doyle model are described briefly, after which the demographic projections are presented and discussed. The paper contains a summary of previous approaches to modelling the economic impact of HIV/AIDS, as well as a presentation and discussion of their simulation results. In reviewing the available literature on the economic impact of HIV/AIDS, it becomes apparent that researchers have not yet reached consensus on the economic impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa - estimates of the impact on GDP growth range anywhere between a reduction of 0.3 and 2.0 percentage points over the next 10 to 15 years. The approach that is used in modelling the economic impact of HIV/AIDS in this study comprises the following: Firstly, a no-AIDS forecast of the South African economy is generated using the annual macro-econometric forecasting model of the Bureau for Economic Research. Secondly, the channels through which the epidemic would likely impact on the economy are identified and modelled. These include slower growth in the population and the labour force; higher employee benefit contributions by employers and employees; indirect costs to the private and public sectors (e.g. lower productivity and higher recruitment and training costs); and higher health and welfare expenditure by the government, as well as an increase in tax rates. The economic effects of each impact channel are analysed independently, after which the different impact channels are combined in the model for the aggregated AIDS inclusive simulation. The results are presented in the form of comparisons between "no-AIDS" and "AIDS" projections for key economic variables for the period 2001 to 2015. The paper also contains results from a macro-economic sensitivity analysis, in which seven of the key assumptions are altered in order to test the sensitivity of the model to these changes. Simulation results indicate that the epidemic will have a negative impact on economic growth in South Africa - real GDP growth could fall from a projected average of 3.7% over the period 2002-2015 without HIV/AIDS to between 3.4% and 3.1 % per year with HIV/AIDS. In contrast, real per capita GDP growth is projected to be 0.7 to 1.0 percentage points higher compared to a no-AIDS scenario, as the adverse impact of the epidemic on the population will outweigh the negative impact on real GDP. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika staar een van die wêreld se ernstigste MIV/VIGS epidemies in die gesig. Aanvanklik is die siekte slegs as 'n erge gesondheidskrisis beskou, maar vandag is dit duidelik dat die epidemie ook ekonomiese gevolge sal hê. Die oogmerk van hierdie studie is om die omvang van die makro-ekonomiese impak van MIV/VIGS oor die volgende 10 tot 15 jaar in Suid-Afrika te beraam. Die proefskrif begin met 'n bespreking van die belangrikste eienskappe van MIV/VIGS en die huidige stand van die epidemie in Suid-Afrika. Die demografiese insette wat gebruik word, is gebaseer op projeksies van Metropolitan se MIV/VIGS model (die Doyle model). Die metodiek en die sleutel aannames van die Doyle model word kortliks bespreek, waarna die demografiese projeksies aangebied en bespreek word. Die studie bevat 'n opsomming van benaderings wat van te vore gebruik is om die ekonomiese impak van MIV/VIGS te modelleer, asook 'n voorlegging en 'n bespreking van hul resultate. 'n Oorsig van beskikbare literatuur oor die ekonomiese impak van MIV/VIGS bring aan die lig dat daar in werkilikheid nog geen konsensus oor die omvang van die impak op die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie bereik is nie. Beramings van die impak op BBP groei oor die volgende 10 tot 15 jaar wissel van 'n vermindering met 0.3 tot 2.0 persentasie punte. Die benadering wat in hierdie studie gevolg word om die ekonomiese impak van HIV/VIGS te modelleer behels die volgende: Eerstens word 'n vooruitskatting van die Suid- Afrikaanse ekonomie sonder MIV/VIGS gegenereer met die hulp van die makroekonometriese vooruitskattings model van die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek. Die tweede stap behels die identifisering en die modellering van die verskillende kanale waardeur die epidemie moontlik die ekonomie kan affekteer. Dit sluit onder andere die volgende in: stadiger groei in die populasie en die arbeidsmag; hoër bydraes deur werkgewers en werknemers aan werknemer-bystandfondse; indirekte onkostes vir die privaat en openbare sektore (bv. laer produktiviteit en hoër werwings- en opleidings koste); 'n toename in staatsbesteding op gesondheids en welsyns dienste; asook 'n styging in belastingkoerse. Die ekonomiese implikasies van elkeen van die kanale word individueelontleed, waarna die verskillende kanale saamgevoeg word vir die oorkoepelende simulasie. Die resultate word aangebied in die vorm van vergelykings tussen "geen-VIGS" en "VIGS" projeksies vir sleutel ekonomiese veranderlikes oor die periode 2001-2015. Die proefskrif bevat ook 'n voorlegging van die resultate van 'n makro-ekonomiese sensitiviteits ontleding, waarin sewe van die sleutel aannames verander is met die doelom die gevoeligheid van die model vir hierdie veranderinge te bepaal. Die resultate toon dat die epidemie 'n negatiewe uitwerking op ekonomiese groei in Suid-Afrika sal hê - die gemiddelde groeikoers in die reële BBP oor die periode 2001-2015 mag daal van 'n geprojekteerde 3.7% sonder MIV/VIGS tot tussen 3.4% en 3.1 % met MIV/VIGS. In teenstelling toon die resultate dat die gemiddelde groeikoers in per capita reële BBP tussen 0.7 en 1.0 persentasie punte hoër mag wees vergeleke met die "geen-VIGS" scenario. Die toename in per capita BBP groei kan toegeskryf word aan die skerp daling in die groei van die populasie as gevolg van MIV/VIGS.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is known as the key component of HIVprevention and treatment programmes in workplace settings. The main objective of this study was to explore factors affecting the uptake of VCT amongst employees in the private sector. This study was also indirectly aimed in examining the effectiveness of HIV-prevention and treatment programmes in workplace settings. The Social cognitive theory (SCT) was adopted as the core theoretical framework in this study. The SCT explains behaviour change as a complex phenomenon and a product of multiple, complex factors embedded on the individual’s characteristic and his/her surrounding environment. This theory recognises the strength of other health promotion theories such as the health belief model (HBM), theory of reasoned action (TRA) in explaining behaviour change, but it mostly helps to provide a more holistic and coherent understanding of the complex factors affecting VCT uptake. This was a qualitative case study. Individual, semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data from 6 male and 4 female participants, who are employees of a courier company operating around Durban. This company implemented an HIV/AIDS policy about 10 years ago, with an aim to introduce HIV-prevention and treatment initiatives, and to facilitate easy access to these initiatives within the workplace setting. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Themes were analysed and discussed in relation to the topic of the study. Factors that affect VCT in the workplace were categorised thematically and critically discussed as findings of the study. Despite the convenient and easily accessible VCT and ART initiatives, rapid testing and onsite nature of VCT campaigns, the uptake of VCT appeared to be relatively poor within the compnay. The perceived lack of confidentiality regarding results, fears of stigma and discrimination, as well as organisational factors, were identified as barriers to the success of HIVprevention and treatment initiatives in this company. In light of these findings, the study recommends measures that might help improve service delivery. The study also contributes to the body of knowledge with respect to challenges facing HIV-prevention and treatment initiatives in workplace settings. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

The AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa threatens to roll back decades of development progress as the epidemic has contributed to rising child mortality, sharp reductions in life expectancy and has already orphaned a generation of children (Andrews et al 2006). UNAIDS (2007) notes that sub-Saharan Africa is the epicentre of the epidemic with an estimated figure of 22.5 million people having said to be living with HIV at the end of 2007. Approximately 1.7 million people were infected with HIV during the same year. UNAIDS (2007) further notes that one fifth of the adult population in Zimbabwe are living with HIV/AIDS. A total of 135 000 adults are estimated to have died between January 2003 and August 2003 as a result of HIV/AIDS related complications (Kujinga 2004:126). The HIV epidemic infects mostly the economically active household members and thus has the potential to draw households into poverty and even deeper poverty for those already in a state of deprivation. When hit by HIV/AIDS, like any other shock, households will adopt coping mechanisms; but in Zimbabwe’s context of hyperinflation and economic instability, how viable are these livelihood strategies? The objectives of this study were to explore the livelihood strategies that urban households resort to in response to the effects of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe; and to assess the feasibility of these strategies in the context of the country’s current socio-economic turmoil. A qualitative methodology making use of ethnographic techniques such as semistructured individual interviews, focus group discussions and observations was employed to gather this data. Results indicate that households are limited in livelihood options due to underlying structural problems such as hyperinflation, resource and cash shortages as well as market failure. Households engaged in livelihood strategies such as use of savings, the sale of assets and commercial sex work. / Thesis ((M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

The present study was conducted to determine the readiness of management at selected manufacturing organisation in the Buffalo City area to manage the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The study was conducted in the Buffalo City area on manufacturing organisations with a workforce greater than 250. The main aims of the present study were: · To provide an overview of relevant literature concerning theoretical key issues related to the management of HIV/AIDS in the workplace. · To assess the readiness of Buffalo City organisations in managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and to identify areas of improvement. · In the light of the findings, make further recommendations to manufacturing organisations to further improve their workplace policy, education and awareness programmes; and the accommodation of HIV-infected employees in the workplace. Another objective of the study was to provide additional research as a tool to assist organisations in managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace and to assist in fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Buffalo City area. The research process entailed: the selection of a test sample of manufacturing organisations in the Buffalo City area, and selecting an appropriate Human Resource manager or representative from these organisations to complete a structured questionnaire. The research tool used in the study was a questionnaire, which was used to extract relevant information on the demographics, policies, education and the accommodation of HIV/AIDS affected and infected employees in the workplace. The results revealed the following: · 73 percent of the selected manufacturing organisations in the Buffalo City have an HIV/AIDS policy in place; · 87 percent of the organisation indicated that their management are committed to the development and implementation of a HIV/AIDS policy; · management and supervisors in these organisations have not been adequately trained to manage the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace; · organisations in the Buffalo City area need to collaborate and share information; and · that very few organisations benchmark against best practices. Future research on HIV/AIDS policy can explore the effective implementation of HIV/AIDS policies in these organisations as well as the effective management of HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

HIV/AIDS is undoubtedly the single most important and daunting health problem facing Africa. Globally too, this is one of the most serious health, medical and social preoccupations of our time (Chinery-Hesse, 2000: 1). The aim of this research study is to evaluate the strategic impact of HIV/AIDS on first level component suppliers to the motor industry located in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. To achieve this aim a literature study was undertaken to determine the patterns of development, the infection statistics and to explore strategic options and actions for dealing with the effects of the disease. An empirical study has been conducted to assess the opinions of senior management within first level component suppliers. The results from the study indicate that most companies in the selected group believe that HIV/AIDS will have a serious impact on their organisations. In conclusion, various recommendations have been made with regards to the findings ascertained in the literature review and empirical study.

M.Com. (Business Management) / HIV/AIDS infection is becoming one of the greatest threats the world has had to face the past century. opinions on the subject vary from doomsday scenarios to those that feel that it will just pass as another storm in a teacup, without having any real effect on society. since the indications are there that it is especially the economically active that are exposed to the infection, top management cannot take the chance of ignoring the issue. Unfortunately this seems to be the case in South Africa, with the awakening of the new South Africa, new economic and political opportunities are openlng up for the country. Business leaders cannot allow AIDS to jeopardise these opportunities. Because HIV/AIDS can take more than ten years before becoming visible, most societies, firms and even governments are still only paying lip service in dealing with the matter. AIDS has devastating economic consequences for affected individuals and their families. If the experience of other countries, and current trends in south Africa are any indication, there is likely to be increasing discrimination in the work place, resulting in large numbers of those who are HIV positive losing their jobs. The burden on families who have to care for, and bury people dying of Aids, and consequently those who lose breadwinners, will be enormous. This will be aggravated by unemployment, by inadequate social support services and transfer payments, by discrimination of access to insurance and housing, and by the predicted inability of the health services to offer adequate care to affected individuals, and support of their families. HIV/AIDS is a reality for any work environment. It is therefore of vital importance for management to take cognisance of the important aspects in dealing with the problem. A formal AIDS policy is the only effective solution to prevent discriminatory practices in the workplace. Finally, and most importantly, the AIDS epidemic in south Africa will be a terrible, and enormous human tragedy, through the potentially avoidable loss of hundreds of thousands, and ultimately, millions of lives. In this study, the major implications of AIDS to be considered in company policy, dealing with the AIDS problem in the workplace and in particular the mining industry, are dealt with.