Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007 / The main objectives ofthis research were • To investigate how HIV/AIDS affect Southern African tourism, with specific reference to the tour operators. • To investigate measures taken by the Southern African tour operators and governments to combat HIVIAIDS and the chances of success. • To make some recommendations on what can further be done to fight HIV/AIDS in the Southern African tourism sector. T 0 conduct the literature study, the following methods were used: I. Literature search particularly about Southern Africa and in general, as well as news report has been conducted. H. Review ofHIV statistics. lll. Use of Internet. IV. Journals and government publications. RESULTS: The United Nations (2005: 22) indicates that Southern Africa is experiencing the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. The infection rate is particularly high among the young people (aged 15 - 49). This age group constitutes people who are economically active, and some of them work directly or indirectly in the tourism sector. THETA (2003: 4) conducted a study on a number of tourism and hospitality companies in South Africa. The study results indicate that 92% of the companies surveyed do not have HIVIAIDS educational programmes for their employees, and that 91% of the surveyed companies do not provide HIV/AIDS preventive measures like condoms to their workers at workplace.

Thesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010 / Purpose: Botswana is one of the countries with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world. This research aims to investigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the socio-economic environment in Botswana with special reference to the country’s tourism sector. Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of Botswana. It creates employment, earns foreign exchange, markets Botswana internationally, attracts foreign investments and contributes to Gross Domestic Products (GDP).Methodology: This report explains the HIV/AIDS situation and policy framework relative to the tourism sector in Botswana and in selected African countries through conducting an extensive literature review and empirical surveys. This is a quantitative research in which non-probability method is used to indentify the respondents. Here tourism general managers are identified and asked to identify their subordinates who are available and willing to participate in the survey by answering a self-administered questionnaire.Findings: This study indicates that HIV/AIDS threatens the Botswana tourism and the viability of the socio-economic factors. In general, the Southern African region is experiencing the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. The infection rate is particularly high among the young people (aged 15 – 49). This age group constitutes people who are economically active, and a number of them work directly or indirectly in the tourism sector. HIV/AIDS kills the economically active population – people who hold the skills, do the work, pay taxes, raise children, vote in the elections, and provide leadership. HIV/AIDS results in increased mortality and morbidity rates, and it also results in increased health expenditure. It also results in increased poverty level in the country.Practical implications: When observing the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS not only in the tourism sector but in general, it becomes evident that the fight against the disease should be a collaborative approach involving various sectors including tourism. Relying only on government and health sector to address the complex and systematic impact of HIV/AIDS cannot effectively combat the disease and its prevalence rate.Originality/value: This report analyses HIV/AIDS situation in Botswana in a creative way, contributing to the understanding of its impacts on the socio-economic environment as well as identifying strategies that can be used in addressing the impacts. This research is important for public policy makers, government officials, and tourism role-players to be aware of implications HIV/AIDS has on the socio-economic environment and take them into consideration in the policy formulation and implementation, business strategies and processes. It is also imperative to academics who would like to expand their knowledge on HIV/AIDS.

The Health Belief Model was used to study HIV/AIDS beliefs of 419, 18 to 24 year old, never married, sexually active, heterosexual college students and predict their AIDS preventive behaviors from a larger sample of 662 college students. The structural properties of the scales used were evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Recent preventive behaviors were predicted in a LISREL Structural Equation Modeling analysis.

This dissertation breaks new ground. It examines the perceptions of older adults towards AIDS prevention. Using the National Health Interview Survey, 1988: AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes Supplement, a modified Health Belief Model is developed. Despite the low number of older adults 55+ with AIDS, some extenuating circumstances increase their risk of AIDS contraction. Older adults have lower levels of knowledge about AIDS, weaker immune systems and receive more blood transfusions. Societal influences include educational neglect at the hands of physicians, healthcare workers and social service personnel. The first stage of the dissertation involved establishing older adults as an at-risk population through an extensive literature review. Next, the data was described utilizing frequencies, correlations and factor analysis. Frequencies clearly indicated that older adults in the data set had low levels of AIDS knowledge and did not view themselves at risk for AIDS contraction. Correlations between the variables were minimal. A modified Health Belief Model was developed and tested. Multiple regression determined that minimal variation in the two dependent variables, "Perceived Effectiveness of Effective Methods to Prevent AIDS Contraction" and "Perceived Effectiveness of Ineffective Methods to Prevent AIDS Contraction" was accounted for by the independent variables. Although F ratios allowed rejection of the two null hypotheses, beta weights were low. Adjusted R^2's accounted for only 21% and 16% respectively of the variation in the dependent variables. Finally, discrepancies in the model were determined and recommendations made for further research. Most health belief models concentrate on individual social-psychological variables. Due to AIDS' societal consequences, it is proposed that societal providers of education: physicians, social service workers and healthcare personnel need to be included in the model. Recommendations were made for additional research into sexual behavior of older adults and exploration of available training of physicians, healthcare and social service professionals. Finally, recommendations were made to provide training and education for both professionals as well as the elderly to prevent their growth into an at-risk population.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Hospitals have been directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to educate health care workers about bloodborne pathogens. The purpose of this descriptive study is to assess the knowledge and concerns of health care workers regarding bloodborne pathogens and describe the application of universal precautions in practice.Orem's Theory of Self-Care was used for the framework because nurses are self-care agents, responsible for personal well-being, as well as patient's well-being. The instrument "Bloodborne Pathogens and Universal Precautions Test" was used to collect the data (Jones & Ryan, 1992). A convenience sample of twelve hospitals within the state of Indiana with four hundred-fifty licensed nursing personnel responded to the questionnaire.Findings revealed a mean score of 84.5 on the knowledge scale. Perception of availability of supplies and equipment ranged from consistently available (68.5% to 98.7%) to never available (0.0% to 0.9%). Perception of application of universal precautions ranged from consistently applied (32.4% to 84.0%) to never applied (0.0% to 9.5%). Content analysis of concerns related by health care workers included fear of contagion and accidental injury.Conclusions indicated knowledge of transmission and availability of supplies do not ensure compliance with universal precautions. Increased knowledge levels will decrease, but not eliminate, fear of contagion.Universal precaution training alone does not adequately prepare health care workers for HIV/AIDS patients. On-going educational endeavors are needed, including affective concerns. / School of Nursing

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 description available.

The proportion of HIV-positive people over the age of 50 is increasing rapidly in New York City. An estimated half of those living with HIV are over 50. While many are long-term survivors, reflecting the transformation of HIV from a life-threatening illness to a chronic disease—due to the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996—others are newly diagnosed or newly infected. However, relatively few studies have examined how older adults with HIV/AIDS are aging well, and whether these strategies are associated with a reduction in risk behaviors. To address these gaps, paper one, using a basic qualitative research methodology and constructivist grounded theory analysis approach, had two related objectives: (1) to explore the lived experience of men over 50 with HIV/AIDS in New York City; (2) to examine the ways in which individuals have aged successfully. Based on the findings of the aforementioned paper, paper two and paper three, using the Research on Older Adults with HIV/AIDS (ROAH) data set, determined if loneliness predicted condomless sex in the past three months and chemsex (paper 2) and if loneliness predicted a reduced CD4 count and substance use in the past three months. Using the three-paper model, the following dissertation sheds new insight into how older adults age well with HIV/AIDS but finds that loneliness does not predict negative health and risk behaviors in this group. The dissertation does, however, highlight other avenues for research, policy and practice based on the results.

Each year approximately 600 000 infants, most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa are born with HIV infection as a result of mother to child transmission of HIV. Whereas significant progress has been made in reduction of mother to child transmission of HIV in developed countries, the situation remains desperate in developing countries. Progress has been hampered by shortage of staff, facilities, limited access to voluntary counselling and testing and lack of support for women by their partners and communities. The challenge is to increase voluntary counselling and testing uptake during antenatal care. Onandjokwe district in Northern Namibia is currently introducing the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Program (PMTCT). It has been found the previous PMTCT programs have failed because they adopted a top down approach where there was no community consultation. This study was conducted to explore the community perceptions, knowledge and attitudes regarding mother to child transmission of HIV through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews of key community members.