The purpose of this study was to develop a support programme for facilitating the integration of nutrition and food security with HIV prevention, treatment and care. The study was organised in three phases. Phase one was a quantitative cross-sectional survey that employed a structured interview with people living with HIV among selected two public hospitals and three health centres. The second phase employed focus group discussion with senior health experts to explore their perspective and experience in integrating nutrition and food security with HIV prevention, treatment, and care. The findings indicated that malnutrition and food insecurity were highly prevalent and significantly affected the treatment outcome and quality of life of PLWHA in the region. Socio-economic, clinical features and structural factors, such as educational status, place of residence, household income, source of drinking water, kind of toilet facility, inadequate dietary diversity, poor asset possession, opportunistic infections, duration on ART, CD4 cell count, and health system-related factors such as lack of viral and CD4 analysis laboratories and inconsistent antiretroviral medication supply were found as predictors of malnutrition and food insecurity. To cope up with the dire impact of malnutrition and food insecurity, short term, erosive and unsustainable food consumption coping strategies were employed. Based on the findings, the researcher developed a support programme for facilitating the integration of nutrition and food security with HIV prevention, treatment and care as phase three of the study. The developed programme is holistic and focuses on multi- and intersectoral collaboration to improve the treatment outcome, quality of life and overall wellbeing people living with HIV. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of food gardens in influencing the vulnerability of women in rural communities to HIV-infections. The study was conducted at the Makotse Women's Club in rural Limpopo. Qualitative field research was used and five participants were purposefully selected for participation in face-to-face interviews. The study found that the women's involvement in the food gardens enabled them to take responsibility for their own lives. Participation in food gardens gave these women an opportunity for income generation, the chance to access healthy food sources to improve their and their families' diets and a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. Financial independence from husbands and male partners freed them from poverty and male domination. Through exposure to HIV and AIDS education programmes offered at the food gardens the women were empowered with knowledge about sexual health, hence reducing their vulnerability to HIV-AIDS. / Sociology / M. A. ((Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS))

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of food gardens in influencing the vulnerability of women in rural communities to HIV-infections. The study was conducted at the Makotse Women's Club in rural Limpopo. Qualitative field research was used and five participants were purposefully selected for participation in face-to-face interviews. The study found that the women's involvement in the food gardens enabled them to take responsibility for their own lives. Participation in food gardens gave these women an opportunity for income generation, the chance to access healthy food sources to improve their and their families' diets and a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. Financial independence from husbands and male partners freed them from poverty and male domination. Through exposure to HIV and AIDS education programmes offered at the food gardens the women were empowered with knowledge about sexual health, hence reducing their vulnerability to HIV-AIDS. / Sociology / M. A. ((Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS))