This study is a need assessment for the establishment of an HIV and AIDS support group within the South African Police Services (SAPS), Head Office Divisions and the purpose was to explore the extent to which an HIV and AIDS support group was needed for HIV and AIDS-infected and affected personnel within the South African Police Services (SAPS). The SAPS employees as well as HIV and AIDS programme managers participated in the study. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data was used in the study. The former was obtained from a survey of 90 SAPS personnel based at the SAPS Head Office Divisions in Pretoria. The latter, on the other hand, was obtained from in-depth interviews with five SAPS HIV and AIDS programme managers, also based at Head Office Divisions in Pretoria.The overall results showed that an internal workplace HIV and AIDS support group for infected and affected employees was seen as necessary to deal with the psycho-social and emotional needs of the personnel. The study participants were generally of the view that such a support group would go a long way in addressing some of the challenges and obstacles – such as stigma, discrimination, judgement and so forth – faced by HIV and AIDS-infected and faced employees within the SAPS. In general, it was envisaged that a workplace support group would create a warm and caring environment that would enable employees to feel safe and supported by their colleagues – including commanders and managers – in dealing with their HIV and AIDS situations. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)

Text in English / The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and challenges of AIDS Councils in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities with regard to community mobilization and advocacy within the broader advocacy function of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and within the framework of the HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic plan for South Africa 2007-2011(NSP). A qualitative research design was applied. Individual face to face interviews were conducted with the respondents who were purposively sampled across the five local municipalities comprising Ehlanzeni District Municipality. Similar studies conducted previously suggest that many AIDS Councils stakeholders and members had a limited understanding of their role, and encountered more challenges in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities. This study revealed that stakeholders and members seem to have steadily progressed in understanding their role as well as in weathering the various challenges they are confronted with within the AIDS councils. Be that as it may, there still exists some gaps between what is envisaged in both the NSPs (NSP 2000-2005 and NSP 2006-2011) and the current situation in many LACs. Many questions still need to be answered if South Africans are prepared to triumph over the AIDS pandemic. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS))

AIDS-related illnesses are the leading cause of deaths in South Africa. Alcohol misuse among male youths fuels the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV. Literature review was conducted on the association of alcohol misuse and the risk of contracting HIV among male youths. In this qualitative study fourteen male youths, all from Soshanguve in Gauteng province, participated in face-to-face interviews. The male youths who misuse alcohol show greater signs of indulging in risky sexual intercourse. In addition, the male youths who find their sexual partners at taverns were less likely to use condoms during sex. Other factors linked to alcohol misuse that hinder HIV-prevention include multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, men who have sex with men (MSM), young men’s dominance over young women and non-use of condoms. The findings of this research project indicate the need of deliberate focus on alcohol misuse during HIV-prevention education. HIV-prevention interventions should pay attention to reducing sexual risk behaviour associated with alcohol misuse among young men. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

This study is a need assessment for the establishment of an HIV and AIDS support group within the South African Police Services (SAPS), Head Office Divisions and the purpose was to explore the extent to which an HIV and AIDS support group was needed for HIV and AIDS-infected and affected personnel within the South African Police Services (SAPS). The SAPS employees as well as HIV and AIDS programme managers participated in the study. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data was used in the study. The former was obtained from a survey of 90 SAPS personnel based at the SAPS Head Office Divisions in Pretoria. The latter, on the other hand, was obtained from in-depth interviews with five SAPS HIV and AIDS programme managers, also based at Head Office Divisions in Pretoria.The overall results showed that an internal workplace HIV and AIDS support group for infected and affected employees was seen as necessary to deal with the psycho-social and emotional needs of the personnel. The study participants were generally of the view that such a support group would go a long way in addressing some of the challenges and obstacles – such as stigma, discrimination, judgement and so forth – faced by HIV and AIDS-infected and faced employees within the SAPS. In general, it was envisaged that a workplace support group would create a warm and caring environment that would enable employees to feel safe and supported by their colleagues – including commanders and managers – in dealing with their HIV and AIDS situations. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS)

Text in English / The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and challenges of AIDS Councils in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities with regard to community mobilization and advocacy within the broader advocacy function of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and within the framework of the HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic plan for South Africa 2007-2011(NSP). A qualitative research design was applied. Individual face to face interviews were conducted with the respondents who were purposively sampled across the five local municipalities comprising Ehlanzeni District Municipality. Similar studies conducted previously suggest that many AIDS Councils stakeholders and members had a limited understanding of their role, and encountered more challenges in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities. This study revealed that stakeholders and members seem to have steadily progressed in understanding their role as well as in weathering the various challenges they are confronted with within the AIDS councils. Be that as it may, there still exists some gaps between what is envisaged in both the NSPs (NSP 2000-2005 and NSP 2006-2011) and the current situation in many LACs. Many questions still need to be answered if South Africans are prepared to triumph over the AIDS pandemic. / Sociology / M. A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS))

The global spread of HIV and Aids has greatly exceeded the most pessimistic projections. Infection rates are not declining and human tragedy is escalating. South Africa is a nation in mourning. If one is not infected, one is affected. Notwithstanding the catastrophic effects that are already being experienced, the full consequences of the pandemic seem yet to be felt. Developmental psychology and ecological systems theory were used in this study to examine the research problem. It has become necessary to determine the level of knowledge that adolescents have of HIV and Aids and whether Life Skills programmes stimulate any change in behaviour. This initially took the form of a quantitative study in which questionnaires were administered. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research (focus group interviews) was applied for verification. The goals of the research were achieved, providing valuable findings, confirming that there has been no behaviour change and adolescent knowledge remains inadequate. South African adolescents have insufficient knowledge of responsible sexual behaviour. Recommendations with regard to the content and course of the programme as well as further research are formulated as a result of the conclusions. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Socio-Education)

Text in English / The purpose of the study was to investigate the experience explore the experience of virginity testing of female adolescents in the uThungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative research was conducted to explore and describe the experiences of female adolescents on virginity testing. In-depth phenomenological interviews were conducted on 18 participants during data collection. Proponents of virginity testing believe that virginity testing is a traditional practice that can assist in reducing HIV infection and teenage pregnancy amongst the youth. On the other hand, opponents of virginity testing strongly believe that the practice of virginity testing interferes with human rights and Constitutional prescripts that protect the rights to equity, privacy, bodily integrity and sexual autonomy of young women. The study found that participants had only positive experiences of the practice of virginity testing and none expressed having any negative experiences. The findings also confirmed that virginity testing is being done irrespective of different opinions from different scholars and experts on the subject. Little knowledge about the Children’s Act and the Commission for Rights of Cultural and Linguistic communities was observed. / Health Studies / M.P.H.

AIDS-related illnesses are the leading cause of deaths in South Africa. Alcohol misuse among male youths fuels the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV. Literature review was conducted on the association of alcohol misuse and the risk of contracting HIV among male youths. In this qualitative study fourteen male youths, all from Soshanguve in Gauteng province, participated in face-to-face interviews. The male youths who misuse alcohol show greater signs of indulging in risky sexual intercourse. In addition, the male youths who find their sexual partners at taverns were less likely to use condoms during sex. Other factors linked to alcohol misuse that hinder HIV-prevention include multiple sexual partners, transactional sex, men who have sex with men (MSM), young men’s dominance over young women and non-use of condoms. The findings of this research project indicate the need of deliberate focus on alcohol misuse during HIV-prevention education. HIV-prevention interventions should pay attention to reducing sexual risk behaviour associated with alcohol misuse among young men. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Currently, 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection, while one in eight are unaware of their infection status. The purpose of this study was to test the ability of the expanded ARRM to see if the model contributed something to the research of why people protect themselves from HIV. To add to the research regarding motivating factors of HIV protection, we decided to add two concepts to the ARRM; partner protection and relationship preservation. Findings of the study suggest HIV-positive partners are motivated to using condoms to protect their partners especially when they believe their partners are at risk for contracting HIV. Relationship preservation results illustrated that when people fear of losing their relationship they are willing to do whatever it takes to keep the relationship going, even at the cost of contracting HIV. By extending the ARRM, as well as incorporating HIV status, we now can begin understanding the many motivating factors towards why people are and are not using condoms to protect themselves or their partner.