This study seeks to investigate the practical strategies used by religious organisations in dealing with issues related to HIV/AIDS in Greater Pietermaritzburg. The study comes from the assumption that all religious organisations tend to structure and restructure themselves as a means of responding to and intervening in the problems of society. The study therefore argues that intervention in HIV/AIDS issues is one of the conditions through which restructuring of religious organisation in Greater Pietermaritzburg is currently evident. By way of conclusion then, the study attempts to answer the question as to what extent such interventions are sustainable. The interventions are sustainable in that they are, by and large, undertaken by the grassroots people who are directly affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. However, the interventions are often very variable, ad hoc and haphazard. Thus the study concludes that questions about the sustainability of such interventions still give unclear answers. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. School of HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the level of HIV/AIDS Knowledge, attitudes towards HIV/AIDS as well as practices amongst the employees of Telkom SA Ltd. Furthermore it also aims to determine the effectiveness of the Peer Education programme within the company as well as the role that promoters are playing in encouraging Peer Educators to do awareness in the workplace on the one hand and encouraging their subordinates to attend such programmes on the other hand. A total of 80 employees were invited to participate in the survey. At the end of the survey period, which ran from 2 to 21 February 2009, it was found that a total of 66 employees responded by completing the on-line survey. This represents a return of 82,5%. While the survey results shows a remarkably high level of HIV/AIDS knowledge amongst the responds, it could not be conclusively proven that it was as a result of attending HIV/AIDS workplace awareness programmes. However, it can be said that this knowledge was sufficient to: Enable employees to make informed decisions about their own sexual behaviour Peer Educators were confident that their knowledge levels were sufficient to educate their peers. The results also show quite a high level of disinvolvement on the part of promoters with regard to HIV/AIDS workplace issues. Finally this study also contains a range of recommendations and suggestions which were derived from the findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek the vlak van MIV/VIGS Kennis, houdings teenoor MIIV/VIGS sowel as die gebruike van die werknemers van Telkom SA Bpk. Dit poog ook om die effektiwiteit van die Portuur Voorligtingsprogram binne die maatskappy te ondersoek sowel as om te bepaal watter rol toesighouers speel om enersyds Portuur Voorligters aan te moedig in bewusmakings sessies in die werkplek te reel en om andersyds die rol wat toesighouers speel om hulle ondersgeskiktes aan te moedig om sodanige sessies by te woon. ‟n Totaal van 80 werknemers was genooi om die navorsing mee te maak. Aan die einde van die navorsingstydperk, wat vanaf 2 tot 21 Februarie 2009 geloop het, was daar bevind dat ‟n totaal van 66 werknemers die aan-lyn vraelys voltooi het. Hierdie syfer verteenwoordig ‟n opbrengs van 82,5%. Onderwyl die resultate ‟n merkwaardige hoë vlak van MIV/VIGS kennis onder die respondente getoon het, kon dit nie onteenseglik bewys word dat dit as gevolg van die bywoning van MIV/VIGS werkplek bewusmakings sessies was nie. Ten spyte van die voorgenoemde, kan daar egter met sekerheid gesê word dat hierdie kennis genoegsaam is om: Werknemers in staat te stel om ingeligte besluite te neem oor hulle eie seksuele gedrag Portuur Voorligters in staat te stel om hulle gelykes voldoende op te voed by wyse van bewusmakings sessies. Die resultate het ook ‟n hoë mate van onbetrokkenheid van toesighouers getoon ten opsigte van MIV/VIGS werkplek angeleenthede. Hierdie studie bevat ook „n reeks van aanbevelings en voorstelle wat voortspruit uit die bevindinge.

Ideology is a fundamental aspect of society, and ideological analysis has been applied to the development of explanatory frameworks for understanding structural dominance within social formations. Structural and post-structural conceptions of ideology have focused on macro-ideological phenomena and processes, offering explanation of relations between economic base and super-structure as they interrelate with ideological dominance. Ideologies serve the interests of particular social formations or classes over others, and at the macro-level this has to do with organised thought as it relates to power. This thesis explores the concept of ideology and related concepts of dominance, power and hegemony, through relocating macrolevel understandings and analysis of ideology within analysis of superstructural entities - notably organisations, groups and elites. HIV/AIDS is an ecological phenomenon that is accompanied by processes of sense-making that incorporate ideological dimensions in the public sphere, particularly in relation to social policy and strategy. Ideological discourses about HIV/AIDS have drawn on specific epistemological foundations and world-views, incorporating intersections with parallel ideologies, and in many instances being directed towards achieving expansion and dominance of particular ideas. This ideological strategy incorporates the construction of common sense. Ideological claims are reiterative, but are also related to processes of legitimation that combine structural relations with communicative power. A South African HIV/AIDS programme, LoveLife, is utilised as a case study to demonstrate ideological trajectories over time. The inter-relation between claims about the HIV/AIDS epidemic, claims about impact of the LoveLife programme, and the utility of alliances and structural partnerships in legitimating such claims is explored. These claims-making processes are found to also occur at global level through the active resourcing and facilitation by LoveLife programme's founding funder, the Kaiser Family Foundation. These activities intersect in the development of an ideological bloc that is directed towards expansion and dominance through appropriation of indigenous and global discourse spheres. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.

The importance of partnerships between marginalised communities and support agencies (from the public sector, private sector and civil society) is a pillar of HIV & AIDS management policy. Such alliances are notoriously difficult to promote and sustain. The thesis presents the findings from a longitudinal, qualitative case study of a project seeking to build partnerships to facilitate local responses to HIV & AIDS in a remote rural community in South Africa. The partnership aimed to empower community stakeholders to lead HIV-prevention and AIDS-care efforts through the support of local government departments, NGOs and the private-sector, and make public services more responsive to local needs. I highlight the value of building longterm relationships with, and ownership of the project by community stakeholders, i/ by involving community stakeholders in partnership building and facilitation from the very beginning of the process, and; ii/ through a compliance with, and respect for community protocols and norms in the process of entry, community engagement, and partnership facilitation. I illustrate how features of the local public sector environment have actively worked against effective community empowerment and partnership. These include a rigid hierarchy, poor communication between senior and junior health professionals, lack of accountability, limited social development skills, and the demoralisation and/or exhaustion of public servants dealing with multiple social problems in under-resourced settings. I outline the obstacles that have prevented private-sector involvement, suggesting a degree of scepticism about the potential for private-sector contributions to development in remote areas. The most effective partners have been the NGOs — run by committed individuals with a keen understanding of social-development principles, flexible working styles and a willingness to work hard for small gains. Despite the challenges, the partnership has achieved many positive outcomes, including the formalization of the partnership and its institutionalization within a permanent government structure. I outline these achievements and discuss the essential role played by an external change agent in facilitating the process of partnership building. I conclude with eight key lessons learnt and recommendations which emerged out of the research. Firstly, partnerships are embedded in and influenced by the contexts within which they are located; secondly, stakeholder organizations must create an enabling environment to encourage and sustain partnership participation; thirdly, capacity building and empowerment of partners is crucial for ensuring ownership and sustainability of the partnership; fourthly, partnerships within resource (human and physical) poor contexts like Entabeni, where skills and resources are scarce, require the services of a dedicated, skilled facilitator or external change agent; fifth, partnership building needs to be guided by regular monitoring and evaluation and a systematic documentation of the process; sixth, relationships based on trust are a central pillar of partnerships; seventh, partnerships are as much about individuals as they are about communities and organizations, and; finally, partnerships can and do work, in-spite of the many challenges that may be encountered. of partnerships between marginalised communities and support / Thesis (Ph.D.)-Universtiy of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.A)-University of Durban-Westville, 2004.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Sc.U.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1999.

The researcher is propelled and motivated by the Minister of Public Service Association, Geraldine Frasser-Moleketi, recognising the serious nature of HIV and AIDS and its impact on South Africa when she initiated the Impact and Action Project in January 2000, which was aimed at ensuring that Public Service is able to sustain a quality service in spite of pandemic: AIDS. The apprehension of writing on the theme is to enlighten both the employer and employees with their obligations, rights and legal framework in the management of the pandemic: AIDS within the employment perspective. The eminence of the study is based on the participation of management and their intervention, because without their involvement, AIDS deaths translate into lost productivity, increased high rate of absenteeism, short or long illnesses, and lower morale of employees and hampering of rendering of services. The study comprises of five chapters, containing the orientation of the study; literature review; research design and methodology; data analysis and results and summary, findings and recommendation, respectively. The instrument employed to gather data was applied in five regions, and data is gathered from a target sample of 96 out of 2084 employees. Please note in order to avoid the continuous use of "HN and AIDS", virus, epidemic, disease or cumbersome descriptions, the noun pandemic: AIDS, will be used and will denote "HIV and AIDS". / MBA (HRM) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

This study was motivated by the commitment of the researcher to contribute towards the agenda for the development of women, in particular women affected and infected with HIV/Aids, through a better understanding and improved knowledge of the national and international legal and policy framework aimed at empowering women in South Africa. This study builds on countless efforts which have been implemented internationally to transform the world and create a peaceful and liveable world for women who have been historically oppressed, unrecognised and, in the case of women affected and infected with HIV, stigmatised. An increasing trend towards recognising the need to advance women and acknowledge their status in the community on the part of the international community was observed and then explored in the literature review which was conducted for the purposes of the study. The development of women is dependent on an enabling environment which is free from all forms of discrimination. Poverty, gender-based violence, cultural perceptions, as well as traditional and religious practices, all contribute to the challenges facing women. In addition, HIV/Aids is a continuous threat and impacts greatly on the lives of both women and their families. The aim of the study was to explore the contribution that the Commission of Gender Equality (CGE) makes towards a better quality of life for women and also to contribute to the development of a strategy to optimise the integration of HIV/Aids issues into the mandate of the CGE. The requisite data was collected through an extensive literature study of the research field, a document analysis and personal interviews with Commissioners of the CGE. The data were complemented and supported by the inputs of focus groups in which community members provided inputs about their experiences of the role played by the CGE at a community level. ii Data revealed limitations in the effective functioning and the measurable impact of the CGE. These were subsequently addressed in the design of a suggested strategic plan. The limitations included aspects relating to CGE organisational structure; the knowledge and skills of personnel, the lack of role clarification; the lack of a coordinated strategy; as well as a deficient working plan which, in its current format, shows a lack of continuity as a result of high staff turnover, a weak continuity strategy when commissioners’ term of office ends, limitations in terms of financial resources, and the absence of monitoring and control systems. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

M.A. (Psychology) / The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome not only threatens the world with hitherto unknown rates of mortality and economic ruin, but has also saddled the health sciences with an unprecedented challenge in curing and managing this disease. Herein, the health sciences have not found a cure, and the management of the disease is made extremely difficult because of the unpredictable nature of the interrelationships in biopsychosocial factors inherent in the disease. In order to attempt a description of the complex interrelationships between biopsychosocial factors in this disease, a group of twenty patients in a treatment programme comprising of an exercise and cognitive-behavioural intervention, were subjected to immunologic and psychological assessment before and subsequent to the intervention. The data obtained indicated that none of the interrelationships between psychological and immunological variables predicted by psychoneuroimmunological science existed prior to the intervention. It would appear that the interrelationships between these variables were in total disarray - defeating the object of systematic logical description of biopsychosocial factors in this condition. The post- intervention data suggested a pattern of interrelationships totally within the confines of predicted neuropsychoimmunologic patterns of a biopsychosocial interaction in a disease of immunologic origin. This pattern of predictability would then render possible a treatment programme of a multidisciplinary nature which would bear predictable fruit. It also underscores the necessity of psychological interventions as an adjunct in the treatment of AIDS.

The aim of this research project was to determine the effectiveness of DaimlerChrysler South Africa’s efforts in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The devastating impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic have already been felt at the workplace as without further successful interventions, HIV/AIDS mortality at DaimlerChrysler South Africa (DCSA) was expected to peak in 2006. Investment in HIV/AIDS programmes has been proposed as good business practice. The DCSA HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme was thus established to limit the impact and consequences of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on its workers, their families and surrounding communities. The empirical survey, comprising a questionnaire, examined the attitude and perception of employees regarding the effectiveness of the DCSA HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme. The findings of the empirical survey corresponded with the findings of the literature survey in concluding that the DCSA HIV/AIDS Workplace Programme has been successful in effectively addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. A few aspects of the Workplace Programme need attention and recommendations have been made in order to contribute to the lowering of HIV/AIDS prevalence rates at DaimlerChrysler South Africa.