<p>The HIV and AIDS epidemic is deemed the single greatest threat to South Africa's future and its growth in one of the most rapid in the world. The South African government has marked 2006 as the year of accelerated HIV and AIDS prevention. It was against this background that the leadership role of principals was articulated as the focus of this research. This study was aimed at gaining an understanding of the challenges facing school principals and of the unique role they could play in addressing the HIV and AIDS epidemic.</p>

<p>This project suggested tha HIV people in Region A (Nelson Mandela Metropole, formerly Port Elizabeth) health districty of the Eastern Cape, seek HIV testing when they are already in stages three (late disease) and four (AIDS) of HIV infection. Data had been obtained from the AIDS Training Information and Counselling Centre in the Nelson Mandela Metropole in 2000. The consequences of diagnoses onlu in the advanced stages of HIV infection will have a devastating impact on case management. Therefore, this paper yielded important data for South African policy makers to write health and welfare policies that might improve the quality of life of those terminally infected with HIV.</p>

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has had a devastating effect in the world, as it is now rated as the world’s greatest killer since its appearance in the mid 1980s. A UNICEF Report (2005) states that sub Saharan Africa is the hardest hit with countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique having an average of one in every five adults being infected. Sub Saharan Africa has less than 3 percent of the world’s population but it has an estimated 65 percent of the world’s population living with HIV/AIDS as it has 26 million of the 40 million infected people worldwide. In May 2003 the Government of Zimbabwe declared HIV/AIDS a national emergency a move that seems to have yielded results as the HIV prevalence rate has come down from 26.1 percent to 18.6 percent in 2005 and further to 15.6 percent in 2007. The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (2004) states that if the prevalence had continued at 26.1 percent, about two thirds of today’s 15- year-olds would die from this disease. The deterioration of the political, social and economic situation since 1999 and the withdrawal of donor development support due to policy differences require concerted efforts from all parties concerned, now, rather than later. More commitment must be shown by private and public sector organisations to active participation in the establishing of effective workplace programmes, to assist employees, for the pandemic has placed a heavy strain on the health delivery system, as AIDS patients occupy between 50 percent to 70 percent of all hospital beds. Furthermore, the pandemic is killing the youth at the prime of their working careers so the pandemic, while being a health problem also has a negative macro-economic impact which may lead to a developmental crisis. A study was conducted of six organisations, using two questionnaires, one for management and one for non-management level employees. The study investigates whether the organisations had HIV/AIDS programmes and whether such programmes were effective. The findings were that all six organisations had HIV/AIDS programmes in place. However, some of the programmes were not effective because the employees did not know of their existence. Furthermore, it was found that management initiated awareness programmes and made condoms available but the employees were not changing their risky behaviour.

A mini-thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in the Faculty of Education, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010 / Education and knowledge are regarded as imperative tools to changing human attitudes, perceptions and behaviour. The researcher embarked on the study to explore possibilities in the teaching and learning process to substantiate the importance and implications of integrating HIV/AIDS education and awareness into the Grade 8 curriculum. The ultimate purpose of this study is to see how teaching and learning can take place in a collaborative setting, with the possibilities of exploring how effectively an integrated programme can be implemented into the curriculum. The secondary purpose of this study is to use this information to make a contribution to integrate HIV/AIDS education and awareness into the Grade 8 curriculum. The pivotal question with regard to the integration of life-skills into the school curriculum is: How do educators and learners perceive a teaching-learning scenario that can efficiently promote genuine learning of HIV/AIDS within the Life-skills curriculum? In this study, semi-structured interviews and a tool for teaching styles was used to assess 16 educators’ perceptions towards integration and how it can lend itself to integrate HIV/AIDS education and awareness. Furthermore, a questionnaire and a learning styles inventory were used to assess 70 learners’ perceptions of integration. The study found that learners could be assisted with information and be guided to make their own responsible choices. The ideal could therefore be to provide learners with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and values that might enable them to make informed choices among conflicting and competing moral codes. The study found that learners should be given more ownership and responsibility in the teaching and learning process. In doing so, educators should relinquish more control. Educators should also work in collaboration with their colleagues in order for integration to be successful. It will be essential to develop curricula that prepare learners for a new reality which might threaten their future with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Outcomes-based education allows learners to learn at their own pace and the content selected can be age appropriate that suits learners and their community best to prepare them to be responsible citizens in a democratic country.

M.Ed. / The phenomenon of HIV/AIDS is not restricted to the medical and behavioural sciences. The social implications of what is labelled as a pandemic, has influenced both sufferers and those in their realm of social intercourse. Education has become one of the most important strategies in an attempt to arrest the spread of the virus. The National Curriculum Statement compels educators to integrate HIV/AIDS across the whole school curriculum. The needs of educators, learners and the community must be considered in a cross-curricular HIV/AIDS education program. A quantitative survey placed focus on educator questionnaires from which a situation analysis was drawn. The research indicated that 72 (n=72) participants contributed to the study. In the study for n=72, 76.4% were female and 23.6% male. The majority of the participants indicated their ethnicity as white (95.8%) with the remaining 4.2% indicating their ethnicity to be, Black, Indian or Coloured. It was found that an integration of HIV/AIDS through an inter-disciplinary approach in the curriculum of secondary schools is not convincingly implemented. In general it was found that educators consider the integration of HIV/AIDS into the curriculum as an imperative part of education. The emphasis of integrating HIV/AIDS into the curriculum does not replace the role of parental intervention strategies in educating adolescents on the dangers of high risk health behaviour. Thus, much emphasis is placed on values education as a priority in HIV/AIDS prevention strategies to be implemented in the curriculum. Secondly, it was found that the majority of respondents show a positive attitude and willingness to the integration of HIV/AIDS across the curriculum. In support of this inference, it was found that the majority of the participants believe that HIV/AIDS should not only be addressed in the Life Orientation class and most educators supported the concept of addressing HIV/AIDS throughout the curriculum. Thirdly, it was clear that learner receptiveness towards HIV/AIDS education can be perceived as positive. However, the inference can be made that attitudes towards the HIV/AIDS stigma and prejudice is not successfully addressed in the current intervention initiatives. Fourthly, the majority of educators indicated that the formal resources for teaching (viz. the textbook) did not include much relevant material on HIV/AIDS and that most educators employed the printed media as main source of information for their lessons. Furthermore, support of educators, especially through the integration of peer group leaders that should discuss the dangers of high risk behaviour with learners, is clear. Finally, the premise that an inter-disciplinary approach to HIV/AIDS (as well as other themes of education) is the underpinning element of authentic education, is strongly supported. / Dr. M.C. van Loggerenberg

M.A. / The human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), a virus which causes an illness known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is spreading at an alarming rate in South Africa. The exact number of people already infected by this virus is unknown, since the epidemic can only be measured by the number of reported incidents of AIDS cases. Van Bilj on (1994:7) believes that the most accurate prediction is perhaps the result of estimations based on preventative studies, projections and mathematical models. hi short, HIV/AIDS is today widely regarded as a serious problem, which affects people economically, politically, ethically and socially. Lachman (undated) considered the ethical and social implications of HIV/AIDS as follows: the first is to protect the public's health; the second is to protect the inherent rights of AIDS patients and HIV-positive people who, although they seem to be healthy, are in actual fact sufferers; the third involves consideration of the allocation of scarce resources to people with HIV/AIDS and other groups in need of health care. The seventh national annual survey of women attending antenatal clinics, conducted by the Department of Health during October/November 1996 indicated that more than 2.4 million South Africans were HIV positive at that stage. More specifically, the level of HIV infection amongst the total population in the provinces was estimated as follows: Western Cape - 3,09%, Northern Cape - 6,47%, Northern Province - 7,96%, Eastern Cape - 8,10%, Gauteng - 15,49%, Free State - 17,49%, Mpumalanga - 15,77%, KwaZulu Natal - 19,90% and North West - 25,13%. According to this survey, North West has the highest level of HIV infection, and Western Cape the lowest. Initially this epidemic mainly involved white homosexual men. Today it is mostly found among heterosexuals and is increasing among mothers and children. The development and intensive utilization of HIV testing of blood transfusion resulted in better control of blood donation in South Africa and it is still being improved. Van Biljon (1994:8) believes that over the last few years the disease became more prevalent in black communities. Most of the reported AIDS cases fall in the age group 20 to 39 which represents the largest portion of the economically active population. From the results of some research projects conducted in the work situation it can be stated that many of the potential work-place problems associated with AIDS may stem from a lack of understanding of how the virus is passed on. Employers can help to promote understanding by providing information and encouraging thorough informed discussion of the issues. Trade union leaders should also play an important part in assisting employers to develop policies which will make the life of HIV infected people better. This is an essential feature of any company's AIDS policy.

M.A. / The HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa continues to grow at a rapid rate, and it is estimated that a total of 4.2 million people are infected with the virus. HIV/AIDS has been described as the biggest threat to the continents development, with severe economic, social and human impact. In South Africa, young people are considered a particularly vulnerable group, especially young women between the ages of 15 to 29 years, due to various predisposing biological, psychosocial and economical factors. Despite the numerous efforts that have been made at education and prevention, people’s behaviour has been slow to change, and the disease continues to spread at an alarming rate. It has been reported that between 1998 -1999, there was a 65% increase in the prevalence of HIV in 14-24 year olds. It has further been estimated that 50% of our population could die of AIDS in the next 5 years. This study was undertaken to research the cultural context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, as the gap between knowledge about HIV/AIDS and behaviour change, with particular focus on our young African females. The study was based on present literature, research and media, which provided for an exploration of the cultural context of HIV/AIDS and how it applies to behaviour change. The respondents of the study were female pupils in Grade 11 at two African high schools, namely Northview and Soweto. An exploratory study was conducted, in which 234 pupils responded to the questionnaire sent out by the researcher. The primary limitation being the scope of the study, as it was limited to only two schools and one particular grade. However, due to the population size, the sample can be representative of the broader population of urban black female adolescents. The results showed that the respondents have knowledge about HIV/AIDS, however, numerous cultural contextual factors have impinged and shaped their risk-reduction behavior. The results therefore support the hypothesis that the cultural context is a key to understanding the gap between knowledge and behaviour change. HIV/AIDS prevention, education and recommendations were discussed according to results from the study. / Prof. C. Fouche

Ph.D. (Employment Relations) / Extensive research has been conducted within the field of HIV/AIDS, most of which has been epidemiological, as scientists work towards finding a cure. In the interim, social scientists continue to investigate ways to address social and behavioural aspects that encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS. Employment Relation practitioners are no different as they are sensitive to the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Programmes and policies are measures that have been established by Employment Relation and Human Resource practitioners in order to reduce the influence of the disease on the workforce. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) face similar challenges. Therefore, Higher Education HIV/AIDS Programmes (HEAIDS), together with the South African government, have developed a framework to guide HEIs in developing HIV/AIDS programmes and policies that are institution specific. Various HEIs within South Africa have developed their unique programmes based on the HEAIDS framework. However, none of these institutions at the time of commencement of this study have evaluated the effectiveness of their individual HIV/AIDS programmes. The main objective of this study was to evaluate an HIV/AIDS prevention programme at a South African university. The study investigated the university’s HIV/AIDS programme by comparing the programme against the HEAIDS framework. In order to ascertain programme effectiveness, stakeholders for whom the programme was designed were questioned on their experiences and perceptions of the university HIV/AIDS programme. Participants were asked to participate in a survey and were also interviewed. The study adopted a mixed method approach, which used a dominant explanatory sequential approach. The quantitative phase of the study was conducted with a sample size of 739 respondents. The survey included four sections: Section A included demographic-related questions; Section B included questions on programme awareness; Section C comprised of questions relating to health management; and Section D focused on HIV/AIDS programme content. The qualitative phase of the study was conducted with a sample of 14 participants...

M.A. / This dissertation will focus on the notions of masculinity in Northern KwaZulu-Natal and the impact of that on the effectiveness of HIV/Aids prevention strategies employed by the South African government. It first examines gender and gender roles in society and then questions what it means to be a man and describes the concept masculinity as a socially constructed aspect of patriarchy with reference to a particular area of South Africa today. Masculinity is extended to the relations (both sexual and social) that men have with women as well as with other men. Notions of masculinity make men vulnerable because they lead to risk-taking behaviour that may result in HIV infection. I was drawn to this field after realising that most HIV/Aids prevention programmes do not take notions of masculinity into account. This specific geographical area was chosen for its proximity as well as the very high levels of HIV prevalence. During my research I realised that the realities of manhood and masculinity in the South African context are not addressed in the HIV/Aids prevention strategies of the South African government. This gap created by the absence of gender sensitivity with regards to men enhances the vulnerability of men and women in South Africa to be infected with HIV. My research in Northern KwaZulu-Natal included semi-structured interviews with five respondents, a focus group, questionnaires as well as in-depth literature study. / Ms. C. van Rooyen

This research project looks at the perceptions of an Employees Wellness Programme (EWP), at Nissan South Africa (NSA) as expressed by lowest strata employees. In this study lowest strata employees are black males who receive, bin, pick or dispatch parts at the Parts or Accessories (P&A) warehouse. The literature reviewed suggests that a good EWP should offer the following: HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, condom usage and distribution, Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and free HIV/AIDS treatment. This qualitative case study shows that lowest strata employees perceive the NSA’s EWP to be an effective programme. This is supported by findings that show the respondents are aware of HIV transmission and prevention measures. However, there is room for improvement in the areas of VCT and HIV/AIDS treatment. The challenge for the workplace is implementation of an EWP because participation in the programme is voluntary. This qualitative case study offers recommendations, which might assist NSA’s EWP to more effectively address the HIV/AIDS-related needs of lowest strata employees. These recommendations are as follows: the VCT programme and education on antiretroviral drugs should be conducted at shorter intervals, partnerships should be formed with local traditional healers and non-profit organisations that are working on HIV/AIDS projects. Also, since this study has focused on one strata of employees, further research is suggested on skilled workers, who in NSA, are mostly white males. Lastly, similar studies could be conducted in workplaces across the motor industry and the manufacturing sector at large. / Professor Anton Senekal Mrs Bronwyn Dworzanowski