With greater advancement in medical treatments for individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a growing numbers of individuals living with HIV/AIDS are contemplating returning to the workplace. However, they have been faced with barriers to employment and have demonstrated a need for vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of employment outcomes of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, who used the state/federal VR program services, using the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) data file from Fiscal Year 2006. Data analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses (chi-square analyses, independent t-tests, and ANOVAs), and binary logistic regression using cross validation. Results of the study indicated that of socio-demographic, health, and VR service variables, service variables were only found to be significantly related to employment outcomes. Job search assistance, job placement assistance, and on the job support were found to be significant predictors of successful employment outcomes at closure. In addition, higher costs of purchased services increased the likelihood of being employed at closure. However, the longer the length of VR program participation was, the lower the likelihood of being employed at closure was. Among participants with successful employment outcomes at closure, differences were significant between participants earning less than $200.00 per week and participants earning equal to or higher than $500.00 per week. Participants with less than $200.00 of weekly earnings were more likely to be African Americans, to have lower education levels than an associate degree at closure, to have service occupations or clerical and sales occupations, and to receive SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and Medicare. On the other hand, participants with equal to or more than $500.00 weekly earnings were more likely to be White, to have higher education levels than an associate degree, and to have professional and managerial occupations and were less likely to receive SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, and Medicare. In addition, they were more likely to receive assessment, VR counseling and guidance, college or university training, job search assistance, transportation, maintenance, and information and referral services compared to those with less than $200.00 weekly earnings. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed. / text

Background. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are not always cared for by nurses who are competent to deal with mental health problems (MHP) in Blantyre district, Malawi. Little is known regarding nurses’ perceptions about their ability to provide mental health care in the district’s general settings. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to explore nurses’ perceptions about their provision of mental health care to PLWHA in Blantyre district. Methodology. A quantitative study was conducted to explore nurses’ perceptions about their provision of mental health care to PLWHA in Blantyre. Permission was granted by relevant authorities to conduct the study. Between March and April 2010, 165 nurses were randomly sampled from all wards and other departments at a central hospital and five selected health centres. They gave a written consent before joining the study. 151 questionnaires which were completed at participant’s convenient time were personally collected. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data and nonparametric tests were also used to explore associations amongst variables. Findings. This study found that nurses’ perceptions about their provision of mental health care to PLWHA vary. Most nurses reported positive perceptions about caring for PLWHA who have MHP in general settings although some had negative perceptions. It was apparent that a relationship exists between nurses’ willingness to deal with MHP and perceptions about their knowledge, skills and access to support from mental health specialist. The perceived lack of knowledge, skills and support from mental health specialists were identified as reducing nurses’ ability to provide relevant mental health care to PLWHA. Conclusion. Conclusively, it is logical to say that the more support nurses receive from mental health specialists, the more knowledgeable and skilled they will become in dealing with MHP and, consequently, these nurses may demonstrate more willingness to deal with MHP of PLWHA. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

D.Phil. / This thesis presents an intervention programme that aims to facilitate anger-expression and takes psychosocial and immunological variables into account. The present research argues that if the effects of the programme are validated, similar programmes may yield similar benefits for other participants in future intervention programmes in a South African context. The nature, course and effects of the HIV disease are described and include specific processes and mechanisms of influence in physical, mental and social terms. Biological processes that result from immunological deficiencies causing AIDS are analyzed and an explication of disease progression is offered. Psychological and social aspects related to immune-system deterioration carry implications for patients and influence their prognosis. The research was conducted in the context of a biopsychosocial conceptualization and was aimed at reducing levels of anger and helping establish recourses in the patients to manage infection and disease, as well as improve or at least retard decrements in immunological functioning. The goal of this intervention programme was to reduce levels of anger, anxiety, depression and social isolation. This would in turn increase the participant's personal sense of self-control, self-efficacy and self-esteem. Changes in these factors would help retard the overall HIV disease progression. An intervention programme was tailored to address the specific needs of HIV- infected patients. The group intervention was focused in such a way that relevant psychological, behavioural and social aspects were addressed. The programme borrowed and used aspects of different models and reformulated an intervention that would best address the specific needs of the participants. It was possible to isolate specific problems and focus the intervention on these specific areas, such as depression, anger, social isolation and hopelessness. For example, it was possible to take into account the participants' low self-efficacy and problems related to a lack of interpersonal coping skills and develop the participants' confidence and assertiveness (Antoni, 1991)

Thesis (MCur (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Nursing Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / One of the greatest challenges in the world today is fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Life expectancy in developing countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, decreased to 46 years while in developed countries the average life expectancy is 78 years. World Health Organisation(WHO) indicates that HIV/AIDS, now the world's leading cause of death in adults aged 15 to 59 years, is killing almost 5 000 men and women in this age group, and almost 1 000 of their children, every 24 hours in sub- Saharan Africa. In South Africa today, employees operate in an increasingly complex legal environment with regard to HIV/AIDS in the workplace. Despite the legal protection against employees affected by HI/AIDS and vigorous campaigns to combat HIV/AIDS in support of affected employees, the researcher has observed that management and co-workers show no compassion, empathy or understanding for the needs of these affected employees. An in-depth literature review of quality of life was completed. The goal of this study was to investigate whether the quality of life of the employee affected by HIV/AIDS is adversely affected. The following objectives were set: • To determine the family history of the employee affected by HIV/AIDS • To determine occupational history of the employee affected by HIV/AIDS • To determine the symptoms of the employee affected by HIV/AIDS • To determine the effectiveness of the anti-retroviral treatment programme of the employee affected by HIV/AIDS A descriptive qualitative research design using the case study method was applied to investigate whether the quality of life of the employee affected by HIV/AIDS was adversely affected. The population of this study were HIV/AIDS-affected employees working at a food and beverage company. Ten employees who gave consent participated in the study. The trustworthiness of this study was assured with the use of Lincoln and Guba’s criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. A pre-test study was also completed. All ethical principles were met. Data was collected through an interview using an interview guide designed for use in a semi-structured interview. Data analysed show that the basic needs of the employee affected by HIV/AIDS are not adequately met and that the employee therefore does not experience quality of life. Recommendations include the improvement in public–private partnerships; in-service training and continuous refresher courses for all employees, supervisors and management; employee assistance programmes; involvement of church and communities; support circle; holistic approach in nursing care and further research. The findings play a role in understanding the importance of remaining at work for as long as possible when one is affected by HIV/AIDS. The findings of this study further validate the concepts in basic needs and that QOL is perceived differently by each individual.

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many HIV positive patients are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to assist in decreasing the replication of the HIV virus within the body. Adherence to this medication is important, as non- adherence can have serious repercussions. Therefore, the patients’ knowledge of ART and their disease is crucial in ensuring good adherence. A range of barriers to patient education were suspected by the researcher in this community of Delft. The high influx of patients into the clinic everyday minimized consultation time and thereby diminished the opportunity for effective patient education. Consequently, adherence to medication which is closely related to the knowledge and understanding of patients about the disease may be affected. The following research question was therefore explored: What is the knowledge of infected HIV/AIDS patients who are receiving antiretroviral treatment about HIV/AIDS and ART? The objectives set were to evaluate the patient’s knowledge of HIV/AIDS, evaluate the knowledge of ART and to determine whether there are statistical differences between the dependant and independent variables within the study. A quantitative descriptive correlational research design was applied and a convenience sample of n= 200 (8.5%) patients was selected from a population of N= 2349 at the Delft Community Health Centre. A multiple choice questionnaire comprising of mainly closed ended questions with multiple responses was used in individual interviews conducted by either the researcher or fieldworker. Reliability and validity was ensured through the consultation of experts in the fields of research methodology, statistics, HIV/AIDS and the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University. Permission to conduct this study was granted by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University, the Provincial Regional Head for Primary Health Care Services, as well as the head of the Delft Community Health Centre. Data revealed that the participants were mainly female (n=145/72.5%), and the mean age was 37.5 years. Participants were mostly Xhosa speaking and literate, and the majority (n=112/56%), of the participants had a highest education level between grade 9 and grade 12. Many (n=73/36.5%) of the participants had been living with HIV for more than 5 years, but had been on ART for between 1 to 3 years. Knowledge was assessed by asking questions about various aspects of HIV and ART throughout the study. Scores for the 14 critical questions revealed that (n=0/0%) of the participants had good knowledge, (n=40/20%) of the participants had average knowledge and (n=160/80%) of the participants had poor knowledge. The average score for all participants for all 20 knowledge testing questions was (12.6/63%). The findings showed that the overall knowledge (n=160/80%) is poor. Basic terms and principles of HIV/AIDS and ART were not understood and serious misconceptions regarding the disease were revealed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Baie MIV positiewe pasiënte is op antiretrovirale terapie (ART) om te help met die vermindering van die replisering van die HIV virus in die liggaam. Gebruik van hierdie medikasie is belangrik omdat versuiming van inname ernstige gevolge kan hê. Dus, is die pasiënte se kennis van ART en hul siekte van deurslaggewende belang om volgehoue inname te verseker. ’n Reeks van hindernisse om pasiënte te onderrig, is deur die navorser in die Delftgemeenskap vermoed. Die hoë toestroming van pasiënte na die kliniek elke dag het die konsultasietyd tot die minimum beperk en daardeur die geleentheid vir effektiewe pasiëntonderrig laat verminder. Gevolglik, kan die nakoming om die medikasie te neem wat ’n noue verband toon met die kennis en begrip wat pasiënte het oor die siekte, geaffekteer word. Die volgende navorsingsvraag is gevolglik ondersoek: Wat is die kennis van geïnfekteerde HIV/VIGS pasiënte wat antiretrovirale behandeling ontvang oor HIV/VIGS en ART? Die doelwitte wat gestel is, is om die pasiënt se kennis van HIV/VIGS te evalueer, die kennis van ART te evalueer en te bepaal of daar ’n statistiese verwantskap tussen onafhanklike en afhanklike veranderlikes binne die studie is. ’n Kwantitatiewe beskrywende korrelerende navorsingsontwerp is toegepas en ’n gerieflikheidsmonster van n= 200 (8.5%) pasiënte is geselekteer uit ’n bevolking van N = 2349 by die Delftgemeenskap Gesondheidssentrum. ’n Veelkeusige vraelys wat hoofsaaklik uit geslote vrae met veelkeusige response bestaan het, is gebruik in individuele onderhoude wat deur of die navorser of veldwerker gevoer is. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid is verseker deur oorlegpleging met spesialiste op die gebied van navorsingsmetodologie, statistiek, HIV/VIGS en die Gesondheidsnavorsing se Etiese Komitee van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Toestemming om die navorsing te doen, is gegee deur die Gesondheidsnavorsing se Etiese Komitee van Stellenbosch Universiteit, die Provinsiale Streekshoof vir Primêre Gesondheidsdienste, asook die hoof van die Delftgemeenskap Gesondheidssentrum. Data het bewys dat die deelnemers hoofsaaklik vroulik is (n=145/72.5%) en die gemiddelde ouderdom 37.5 jaar. Deelnemers is meestal Xhosasprekend en geletterd en die meerderheid (n=112/56%) van die deelnemers se hoogste opleidingsvlak is tussen graad 9 en graad 12. Baie (n=73/36.5%) van die deelnemers het met HIV geleef vir 5 jaar, maar was op ART vir tussen 1 tot 3 jaar. Kennis is geassesseer deur vrae te stel oor verskeie aspekte van HIV en ART dwarsdeur die ondersoek. Puntetelling vir die 14 kritiese vrae het aan die lig gebring dat (n=0/0%) van die deelnemers goeie kennis het, (n=40/20%) van die deelnemers beskik oor gemiddelde kennis en (n=160/80%) van die deelnemers se kennis is gering. Die gemiddelde puntetelling vir al die deelnemers van al 20 kennisvrae wat getoets is, is (12.6/63%). Die bevindinge bewys dat die algehele kennis (n= 160/80%) gering is. Basiese terminologie en beginsels van HIV/VIGS en ART word nie begryp nie en ernstige wanopvattinge aangaande die siekte is geopenbaar.

The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Zambia has led to the development of innovative ways of coping with sickness related to this infection. HIV/AIDS home-based care is one such innovation designed in Chikankata Hospital in 1987. Home-based care depends on the availability of family members and community volunteers in the provision of care and support for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).<br /> <br /> This minithesis is based on a qualitative descriptive case study exploring perspectives regarding skills, supervision and support mechanisms for carers in the Chikankata HIV/AIDS Community-Home Based Care (CHBC) program. The study utilized documented research, focus group discussions with carers and structured interviews with local CHBC supervisors, national experts in CHBC, and PLWHA and their families, to collect data from 32 study participants.<br /> <br /> The findings were that CHBC was being delivered by community volunteers with limited involvement from the local health services / that carers were highly motivated, personally and collectively mobilizing resources to meet the needs of CHBC clientele / that local arrangements for training, skills and support of carers were not aligned to national guidelines regarding process, content and duration of programmes / and that carers acquired skills in CHBC through formal and informal training processes and were facing challenges related to inadequate skills, poor infrastructure and extreme poverty in households caring for PLWHA. <br /> <br /> Based on the findings the local arrangements for coordination of CHBC need to be strengthened and linked to formal processes for technical support, financial resources and materials for delivery of CHBC in line with existing guidelines on CHBC. The picture of the real situation of the carers that emerges from this qualitative study might inform the supervising organizations and policymakers on the gaps in the training and support of this crucial cadre in the provision of quality care for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at community level.

Currently, HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest threats to child survival in South Africa. It is estimated that approximately 6000 newborn babies become infected with the HIV virus monthly i.e. approximately 200 babies per day. During a 24 month period (October 1999 &ndash / October 2001), a descriptive prevalence study of the oro-facial manifestations affecting HIV-positive children was conducted in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. The study population consisted of 268 vertically infected HIV-positive children. The study was motivated by the lack of data regarding oral mucosal lesions in children with vertically acquired HIV-infection.<br /> <br /> The study design was descriptive, and the population included consecutive, vertically infected HIV-positive patients sourced from out-patient clinics, hospital wards and special child-care facilities. The children were examined once consent was obtained from caregivers. The findings were documented using data capturing sheets. The data was captured on the Microsoft Excel program and analysed using the Epi 2000 program. The results indicated that a large proportion of HIV-infected children presented with orofacial manifestations at some stage during the course of HIV-infection. Oro-facial manifestations were observed in 70.1% of the study population. The prevalence of the most commonly observed manifestations were: oral candidiasis, 38.8% / parotid gland enlargement, 10.8% / oral ulceration, 5.6% / molluscum contagiosum, 7.8% / periodontal conditions, 3.4% / and herpes simplex infection, 0.7%.It can be concluded that in this sample of HIV-infected children, the prevalence of orofacial manifestations is higher than, and comparable with the findings of similar studies conducted in other regions of the world.

The aim of this study was to investigate met and unmet palliative care needs for people living with HIV/AIDS in selected areas in Rwanda. The achieve this aim, the study, firstly, identified the palliative care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, secondly, it identified the health care services available to meet these needs, and thirdly, it determined the extent to which palliative care needs were met.

<p>People's attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS remain a major community challenge. There is a need to generate a climate of understanding, compassion and dignity in which people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) will be able to voluntarily disclose their status and receive the support and respect all people deserve. However, many people expereince discrimination because they have HIV/AIDS. In a certain area in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town, a young woman was killed after disclosing the HIV status after being raped by five men. While many previous studies have focused on the external stigma in the general population, there is a dearth of studies on stigma among PLWHA themselves and hence the aim of the present study was to investigate stigma attached to HIV/AIDS from the perspective of PLWHA.</p>

A sample of 227 undergraduate students was administered pre-intervention paper-and-pencil questionnaires to assess homophobia, fear of AIDS contagion, symbolic representations of AIDS and homosexuality, and specific personality attributes including authoritarianism, religiosity, and conservatism. Participants then read one of eight intervention vignettes about an ill person; these vignettes varied by sexual orientation of the patient, disease (AIDS versus lung cancer), and mode of transmission (in the AIDS conditions). Participants then completed post-intervention measures assessing the degree to which the ill person in the vignette was responsible and to blame for his illness, the level of stigma toward him, and concerns about social interactions with him. Results indicate the following: a) Attributions of personal responsibility are primarily a function of mode of illness transmission; b) fear of AIDS contagion is predictive of stigma and social avoidance of PWAs; and c) AIDS-related stigma and attributions of blame are largely a function of symbolic associations between homosexuality and IV drug abuse (which were previously stigmatized) and AIDS.