Since the 1970's, the increasing scale and complexity of development schemes has led to mounting public concerns about their environmental impacts. Environmental assessment and management developed out of a recognised need to protect the biophysical environment from overuse and degradation . Evidence suggests that the issues continue to become more complex and we need to equip ourselves to deal with them. The complexity of issues we face today demands a holistic and integrated management approach. This thesis highlights the weakness in the application of environmental impact assessment (EIA) to deal with current issues . The conceptualization of EIA within the ecological modernisation discourse has limited the use of the tool to adequately consider issues outside the biophysical environment. On the African continent, social issues such as HIV/AIDS are becoming more dominant than biophysical impacts. EIA must thus be re-framed to address concerns regarding the HIV/AIDS impact of development schemes. An alternative discourse of social justice is put forward as an approach that will take EIA closer to achieving sustainable development. The hypotheses put forward in the thesis were investigated through the use of both primary and secondary data sources. Extensive interviews and case studies formed the bulk of the data generated through the study. The results of the investigation showed that there are varying views on the purpose of EIA, that social issues continue to be underplayed in the process and that HIV/AIDS is considered a valid impact to be assessed in EIA. It must be noted that although HIV/AIDS is recognized as a common impact of development projects, particularly in Africa , the approach to dealing with the issue has been very different across EIAs and the issue is dealt with in an ad hoc manner. In order to expand the applicability of environmental assessment in Africa , a framework has been developed to integrate HIV/AIDS into the EIA process. The premise behind the framework is that HIV/AIDS can impact on the viability of a development scheme and conversely, development schemes can increase the transmission of HIV. The framework considers the social, economic and cultural drivers that create living and working environments, which promote the transmission of HIV. By applying the appropriate tools throughout the EIA process, one can identify potential impacts. Mitigation and management interventions can then be built into an HIV/AIDS component of the environmental management plan. This approach will allow environmental assessment practitioners; decision-makers and developers to better understand the critical issue of HIV/AIDS and ultimately contribute to managing the pandemic and further sustainable development in Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

Thesis (MA (Political Science.International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study is based on the premise that HIV/AIDS and variable rainfall, in other words, events such as droughts and floods (climate), are likely to be prevalent in Southern Africa for the foreseeable future. Thus, these two factors are likely to accompany future food crises in the region. This study investigates the Southern African Food Crisis in the period 2001-2005, with certain objectives in mind. Firstly, the impact of HIV/AIDS and climate on food security is investigated. Secondly, in light of the findings relating to the first objective, it is investigated what an optimal humanitarian intervention in a food crisis in the Southern African context, characterised by variable rainfall and high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, might entail. Finally, the appropriateness of humanitarian interventions in the Southern African Food Crisis to ameliorate the long-term impacts of HIV/AIDS and climate on the region is considered. The study makes use of an extensive literature review, supplemented by a smaller set of e-mail and semi-structured interviews. Especially with regards to the second and third research objectives, the Consortium for the Southern African Food Security Emergency (C-SAFE) is used as a case study of an intervention in the above stated context. C-SAFE – composed of a consortium of international and local non-governmental organisations - is the largest humanitarian intervention programme that was created with the specific goal of ameliorating the food crisis in the Southern African region. They were primarily active in four countries: Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The study focuses on C-SAFE operations in these four countries in order to asses the impact of variable rainfall and HIV/Aids and other underlying causes – such as macroeconomic factors and government policy – on food insecurity in Southern Africa and to examine how these factors influence a humanitarian intervention programme such as C-SAFE. The most important findings of this study are that neither HIV/AIDS nor climate is driving food insecurity in Southern Africa. The impact of HIV/AIDS can however be devastating at household level. It is found that both factors, serve as catalysts bringing to the fore the underlying vulnerability of households. The findings of this study further suggest that interventions should provide resilience building to shocks such as drought, indicating a complex set of relief and developmental needs in the region. Furthermore, HIV/AIDS can be seen as a crisis in itself, requiring a comprehensive multisectoral response, however possibly requiring special attention in times of food insecurity. Finally it is argued that livelihoods erosion over time has meant that the work of relief agencies fulfilling their mandate, providing short-term relief to households and communities in need, regardless of the quality of such interventions, are ineffectual in addressing cycles of vulnerability in Southern Africa as inadequacies at national level, most notably a lack of government capacity, remain.

This study aimed at exploring the influence of the home environment of women that were on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme for HIV/AIDS. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to explore the home environment for the psycho-social support that was available for women on the PMTCT programme and the influence this had on compliance to the programme. Data collection was done using a semi-structured interview guide, with a sample size of 14 participants (n=14). The data was then coded and grouped into categories and major themes. The findings revealed that the common barriers that prevented full disclosure of an HIV positive status included stigma and discrimination, fear of social isolation and financial dependence. A major constraint that affected the women’s full utilisation of the PMTCT preventative strategies and their adherence to treatment was the poor acceptance of people living with HIV in the family and community / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study aimed at exploring the influence of the home environment of women that were on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme for HIV/AIDS. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted to explore the home environment for the psycho-social support that was available for women on the PMTCT programme and the influence this had on compliance to the programme. Data collection was done using a semi-structured interview guide, with a sample size of 14 participants (n=14). The data was then coded and grouped into categories and major themes. The findings revealed that the common barriers that prevented full disclosure of an HIV positive status included stigma and discrimination, fear of social isolation and financial dependence. A major constraint that affected the women’s full utilisation of the PMTCT preventative strategies and their adherence to treatment was the poor acceptance of people living with HIV in the family and community / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)