<p>The main purpose of the study was to assess and explore the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among secondary learners in rural Bergville district of KwaZulu-Natal. A stratified random sample of 100&nbsp / learners was selected from two secondary schools in the area. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interviews were scheduled with the teachers from the selected schools. The&nbsp / questionnaire was administered to a sample of 54 learners from school A and 46 from school B. The mean age was 16, with age range from 13-20. The participants were enrolled for grade&nbsp / 8-12 in both schools. Both qualitative and quantitative data on learners‟ knowledge and perception about HIV/AIDS, condom use and sexual issues including their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS were collected in the questionnaire. Chi-square test was used for statistics purpose to test if the HIV knowledge of learners were associated with gender, culture and&nbsp / religion. Qualitative interviews with 9 teachers from both schools were conducted. The main purpose of the interviews was to investigate the management of HIV/AIDS in public schools in rural&nbsp / areas. Furthermore, to assess the learner‟s attitude towards HIV/AIDS education provided in schools. The results showed that the learners in Bergville district were more knowledgeable of&nbsp / HIV/AIDS through HIV/AIDS education in schools that had limited effect on gender, culture and religion. Quantitative findings presented, indicated no significant differences between those&nbsp / learners attending church and cultural activities that offer&nbsp / HIV/AIDS awareness programmes and those who do not with regard to the knowledge of HIV/AIDS. However, culture stood out to be associated with one item on the knowledge of whether school children can get HIV/AIDS (p-value = 0.04). On average, the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS between female and male learners was similar. The major findings on both quantitative and qualitative findings confirmed that learners‟ knowledge levels were very high for modes of transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Despite this knowledge, poor&nbsp / behavioural change among learners is a major setback thus increasing high risk of contracting HIV. Adequate knowledge about issues of cure, HIV testing and treatment was of concern in the findings in this study. Furthermore, data from qualitative interviews with the teachers highlighted the lack of multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS in Bergville rural communities which thus&nbsp / compromise the effectiveness in management of HIV/AIDS in schools. In summary, the study revealed some of the challenges faced by teachers and learners in regard to HIV/AIDS education.</p>

<p>Eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients is defined either by a cluster of differentiation antigen 4 (CD4) count of less than 200cells/mm3 or clinical diagnosis of WHO stage III and IV. Therefore, the decision to start ART becomes difficult when CD4 cell count is not available. With limited laboratory infrastructure, the decision to start ART is usually made based on clinical symptoms leading to late commencement of ART. This calls for alternative criteria to see if nail discoloration (ND) correlates with low CD4 count among untreated HIV infected patients. This will serve as a complementary screening tool for identifying asymptomatic ARV naive HIV patients with a CD4 cell count of less than 200cells/mm3 which signifies&nbsp / severe immunosuppression. Study Design and Setting: This was a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study involving adult ART na&iuml / ve HIV infected patients in WHO stage I and II. Systematic sampling was used to select the participants from all adult ART na&iuml / ve HIV infected patients attending APIN clinic, located at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Nigeria. Data Collection: Face-to-face interviews, physical examination and relevant laboratory investigations with selected participants were conducted using a questionnaire guide. Questions on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, general physical examinations including finger nail examination and photographing with subsequent laboratory investigations including CD4 count and western blot were employed. Data Analysis: Variables were categorized and data analyzed using descriptive statistics including the frequency, percentage frequency / mean and standard deviation of continuous variables. Association between CD4 count of &le / 200cells/mm3 and ND was tested using the chisquare test with an alpha level of 0.05. Prevalence of ND, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values and accuracy of the screening test of ND was calculated. Results: 394 patients had their fingernails photographed and assessed. It was shown that distal banded and grey nails were the common types of ND seen with a prevalence of 38%. There was an association between CD4 count &le / 200cells/mm3 and ND (p&lt / 0.0001). CD4 count &le / 200cells/mm3 was a risk factor for developing ND (RR=2.3[1.8-3.6]). The association has a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 55%, positive predictive value of 50%, and negative predictive value of 80% and accuracy of test 63%. Conclusion: With a significant association (p&lt / 0.0001) and a sensitivity of 78%, ND can be a useful clinical indicator of immune dysfunction mediated by HIV among patients in WHO stage I or II. ND can either be a clinical sign or a symptom in HIV patients with a CD4 of &le / 200cells/mm3 as seen in the study as the specificity and sensitivity of ND compared favourably with other WHO stage III diagnosis. Recommendations: Nail discoloration should complement CD4 count as an additional staging sign to help identify patients likely to benefit from ART especially in resource-limited settings. Finally, all patients with grey or distal banded should be on co-trimoxaxole prophylaxis in line with WHO /national guideline on the use of co-trimoxaxole for all HIV positive patients with a CD4 cell count of &le / 350cells/mm3.</p>

The prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women is still on the rise despite existing preventive programmes aimed at reducing HIV-transmission. Voluntary counselling and testing during pregnancy is the key entry point in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (Department of Health, 2000:16; Birdsall et al. 2004:3). Women are often diagnosed as being HIV-positive for the first time when they attend antenatal clinics and consent to HIV testing (UNAIDS, 1997). The objective of this study was to determine the pregnant women's experiences of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and to explore and describe the impeding and facilitating factors that played a role in their choice whether or not to consent to HIV testing after having received pre-test counselling. By understanding the impeding and facilitating factors that play a role in the pregnant woman's choice to undergo HIV testing, recommendations could be made to possibly improve the uptake of HIV testing among pregnant women. The population studied in this research consisted of pregnant women making use of antenatal clinics in the Potchefstroom sub-district. Purposive sampling was used to select participants with the assistance of mediators who were working in the local clinics and the hospital. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached after 10 interviews. A qualitative design was used and data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data collection. In consensus discussions, the researcher and the co-coder reached consensus on the main and sub-themes. The main themes are the facilitating and impeding factors that play a role in the pregnant women's choice to undergo HIV testing. Based on findings, it was concluded that facilitating and impeding factors that play a role in the pregnant woman's choice to HIV testing do indeed exist. Impeding factors identified were: fear of a positive status; fear of stigmatization and discrimination; fear of lack of support; lack of opportunity to consider their choice to undergo HIV testing; lack of trust that confidentiality will indeed be honoured; fear of knowing possible positive HIV-status that can lead to feelings of depression and mental anguish; differences between counsellors' and pregnant women's characteristics. Facilitating factors consist of the desire to be aware of own HIV status; desire to protect the baby; sufficient information and the importance of trust and confidentiality. Recommendations were subsequently made to make HIV counselling and testing services to pregnant women more user-friendly in order to facilitate the pregnant woman in her choice concerning HIV-testing. Heeding these recommendations will possibly lead to more pregnant women's HIV status being known by the time they go into labour. Recommendations were made that pregnant women be counselled for HIV testing during their first antenatal visit and the HIV-testing being offered to them during the second visit. Research findings reveal that most pregnant women need time to consider their choice to undergo HIV testing and to prepare themselves for the test. Most pregnant women felt that they would possibly consent to HIV testing during their second antenatal visit. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The last few years have seen an increase in the infection rate not only of HIV but also TB. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is increasing rapidly mainly in developing countries with 71 % of infections in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. South Africa, which forms part of the Sub- Saharan region, has the highest infection rate in the world with 3.2 to 3.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS. People with HIV are especially vulnerable to TB, and HIV pandemic is fuelling an explosive growth in TB cases. The increase in the infection rate of TB and HIV exert increased pressure on health service delivery thus reflecting the serious problem in the country with regard to health service delivery to people co-infected with TB and HlV/AlDS. Health service delivery is also hindered by negative attitudes of health workers that have been reported towards people living with HIV/AIDS. They entertain a biased view of their own risk, considering risk only from occupational exposure and denying the possibility of infection in their private life. These attitudes of health workers decreases the quality of care and support delivered to patient co-infected with TB and HIV. This result in people not disclosing their illness even in cases were treatment is available like TB for the fear of stigmatisation. Hence the problem of stigmatisation escalates into a dilemma for the patient co-infected with TB and HIV. Therefore these patients tend to shy away from health services and isolate themselves due to fear of being stigmatised twice. The need to address TB and HIV together in the light of this dimension is urgent so as to improve the utilization of the health services by people co-infected with Ti3 and HIV. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe the experiences of patients co-infected with TB and HIV regarding stigmatisation by the health workers, to explore and describe the attitudes of health workers towards patients co-infected with TB and HIV, and to formulate guidelines for health workers that will facilitate the health service utilization by patients co-infected with TB and HIV in the Potchefstroom district. The research was conducted in the Potchefstroom district in the North West province of South Africa. A qualitative research design was used to explore and describe the experiences of patients co-infected with TB and HIV regarding stigmatisation by the health workers, and to explore and describe the attitudes of health workers toward co-infected patients. A purposive voluntary sampling method was used to select participants who met the set criteria. Two populations were used, that is the patients co-infected with TB and HIV, and the health workers who were involved in their care. In depth unstructured interviews were conducted with the patient population and semi structured interviews with the health worker population using an interview schedule that was formulated from the background literature. Data was captured on an audiotape, and transcribed verbatim. Field notes were taken immediately after each interview. The researcher and a co-coder did data analysis after data saturation was reached and a consensus was reached on the categories that emerged. From the findings of this research it appeared that there were general perceptions by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV that indicated stigmatisation by the health workers. This perceived stigmatisation was reported as being perpetrated by all categories of health workers. Negative behaviours such as the health workers not having time for the patients and being impatient were reported. Lack of sufficient knowledge was related to these behaviours especially amongst lower categories or non-professional health workers. In spite of the above, the researcher also observed that there was a limited number of health workers who were still being perceived as committed and caring by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV. The researcher concluded that the relationship between the health workers and the patients co-infected with TB and HIV was characterised by conflict. The health workers seemed to perceive the patients co-infected with TB and HIV as stubborn, harsh, abuse alcohol, manipulative and not taking responsibility of their illness. These perceptions lead the health workers to have a negative attitude towards these patients and occasionally came across as unsympathetic towards them. On the other hand the researcher observed that there were other health workers who did not present with negative behaviours towards these patients and tried to understand the reasons for their sometimes-unacceptable behaviours. Recommendations are made for the field of nursing education, community health nursing practice and nursing research with the formulation of guidelines for health workers so as to facilitate the utilization of the health services by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV. The guidelines are discussed under three main categories, namely guidelines for the health workers to facilitate the utilization of the health services by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV, guidelines to improve the utilization of the health services more efficiently and adequately by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV, and guidelines to improve the attitudes of the health workers towards the patients co-infected with TB and HIV with the intention of improving the utilization of the health services by these patients. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

<p>Eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients is defined either by a cluster of differentiation antigen 4 (CD4) count of less than 200cells/mm3 or clinical diagnosis of WHO stage III and IV. Therefore, the decision to start ART becomes difficult when CD4 cell count is not available. With limited laboratory infrastructure, the decision to start ART is usually made based on clinical symptoms leading to late commencement of ART. This calls for alternative criteria to see if nail discoloration (ND) correlates with low CD4 count among untreated HIV infected patients. This will serve as a complementary screening tool for identifying asymptomatic ARV naive HIV patients with a CD4 cell count of less than 200cells/mm3 which signifies&nbsp / severe immunosuppression. Study Design and Setting: This was a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study involving adult ART na&iuml / ve HIV infected patients in WHO stage I and II. Systematic sampling was used to select the participants from all adult ART na&iuml / ve HIV infected patients attending APIN clinic, located at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Nigeria. Data Collection: Face-to-face interviews, physical examination and relevant laboratory investigations with selected participants were conducted using a questionnaire guide. Questions on socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, general physical examinations including finger nail examination and photographing with subsequent laboratory investigations including CD4 count and western blot were employed. Data Analysis: Variables were categorized and data analyzed using descriptive statistics including the frequency, percentage frequency / mean and standard deviation of continuous variables. Association between CD4 count of &le / 200cells/mm3 and ND was tested using the chisquare test with an alpha level of 0.05. Prevalence of ND, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values and accuracy of the screening test of ND was calculated. Results: 394 patients had their fingernails photographed and assessed. It was shown that distal banded and grey nails were the common types of ND seen with a prevalence of 38%. There was an association between CD4 count &le / 200cells/mm3 and ND (p&lt / 0.0001). CD4 count &le / 200cells/mm3 was a risk factor for developing ND (RR=2.3[1.8-3.6]). The association has a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 55%, positive predictive value of 50%, and negative predictive value of 80% and accuracy of test 63%. Conclusion: With a significant association (p&lt / 0.0001) and a sensitivity of 78%, ND can be a useful clinical indicator of immune dysfunction mediated by HIV among patients in WHO stage I or II. ND can either be a clinical sign or a symptom in HIV patients with a CD4 of &le / 200cells/mm3 as seen in the study as the specificity and sensitivity of ND compared favourably with other WHO stage III diagnosis. Recommendations: Nail discoloration should complement CD4 count as an additional staging sign to help identify patients likely to benefit from ART especially in resource-limited settings. Finally, all patients with grey or distal banded should be on co-trimoxaxole prophylaxis in line with WHO /national guideline on the use of co-trimoxaxole for all HIV positive patients with a CD4 cell count of &le / 350cells/mm3.</p>

<p>The main purpose of the study was to assess and explore the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among secondary learners in rural Bergville district of KwaZulu-Natal. A stratified random sample of 100&nbsp / learners was selected from two secondary schools in the area. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interviews were scheduled with the teachers from the selected schools. The&nbsp / questionnaire was administered to a sample of 54 learners from school A and 46 from school B. The mean age was 16, with age range from 13-20. The participants were enrolled for grade&nbsp / 8-12 in both schools. Both qualitative and quantitative data on learners‟ knowledge and perception about HIV/AIDS, condom use and sexual issues including their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS were collected in the questionnaire. Chi-square test was used for statistics purpose to test if the HIV knowledge of learners were associated with gender, culture and&nbsp / religion. Qualitative interviews with 9 teachers from both schools were conducted. The main purpose of the interviews was to investigate the management of HIV/AIDS in public schools in rural&nbsp / areas. Furthermore, to assess the learner‟s attitude towards HIV/AIDS education provided in schools. The results showed that the learners in Bergville district were more knowledgeable of&nbsp / HIV/AIDS through HIV/AIDS education in schools that had limited effect on gender, culture and religion. Quantitative findings presented, indicated no significant differences between those&nbsp / learners attending church and cultural activities that offer&nbsp / HIV/AIDS awareness programmes and those who do not with regard to the knowledge of HIV/AIDS. However, culture stood out to be associated with one item on the knowledge of whether school children can get HIV/AIDS (p-value = 0.04). On average, the level of knowledge of HIV/AIDS between female and male learners was similar. The major findings on both quantitative and qualitative findings confirmed that learners‟ knowledge levels were very high for modes of transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Despite this knowledge, poor&nbsp / behavioural change among learners is a major setback thus increasing high risk of contracting HIV. Adequate knowledge about issues of cure, HIV testing and treatment was of concern in the findings in this study. Furthermore, data from qualitative interviews with the teachers highlighted the lack of multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS in Bergville rural communities which thus&nbsp / compromise the effectiveness in management of HIV/AIDS in schools. In summary, the study revealed some of the challenges faced by teachers and learners in regard to HIV/AIDS education.</p>

The prevalence of HIV infection in pregnant women is still on the rise despite existing preventive programmes aimed at reducing HIV-transmission. Voluntary counselling and testing during pregnancy is the key entry point in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (Department of Health, 2000:16; Birdsall et al. 2004:3). Women are often diagnosed as being HIV-positive for the first time when they attend antenatal clinics and consent to HIV testing (UNAIDS, 1997). The objective of this study was to determine the pregnant women's experiences of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and to explore and describe the impeding and facilitating factors that played a role in their choice whether or not to consent to HIV testing after having received pre-test counselling. By understanding the impeding and facilitating factors that play a role in the pregnant woman's choice to undergo HIV testing, recommendations could be made to possibly improve the uptake of HIV testing among pregnant women. The population studied in this research consisted of pregnant women making use of antenatal clinics in the Potchefstroom sub-district. Purposive sampling was used to select participants with the assistance of mediators who were working in the local clinics and the hospital. The sample size was determined by data saturation, which was reached after 10 interviews. A qualitative design was used and data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data collection. In consensus discussions, the researcher and the co-coder reached consensus on the main and sub-themes. The main themes are the facilitating and impeding factors that play a role in the pregnant women's choice to undergo HIV testing. Based on findings, it was concluded that facilitating and impeding factors that play a role in the pregnant woman's choice to HIV testing do indeed exist. Impeding factors identified were: fear of a positive status; fear of stigmatization and discrimination; fear of lack of support; lack of opportunity to consider their choice to undergo HIV testing; lack of trust that confidentiality will indeed be honoured; fear of knowing possible positive HIV-status that can lead to feelings of depression and mental anguish; differences between counsellors' and pregnant women's characteristics. Facilitating factors consist of the desire to be aware of own HIV status; desire to protect the baby; sufficient information and the importance of trust and confidentiality. Recommendations were subsequently made to make HIV counselling and testing services to pregnant women more user-friendly in order to facilitate the pregnant woman in her choice concerning HIV-testing. Heeding these recommendations will possibly lead to more pregnant women's HIV status being known by the time they go into labour. Recommendations were made that pregnant women be counselled for HIV testing during their first antenatal visit and the HIV-testing being offered to them during the second visit. Research findings reveal that most pregnant women need time to consider their choice to undergo HIV testing and to prepare themselves for the test. Most pregnant women felt that they would possibly consent to HIV testing during their second antenatal visit. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The last few years have seen an increase in the infection rate not only of HIV but also TB. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is increasing rapidly mainly in developing countries with 71 % of infections in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. South Africa, which forms part of the Sub- Saharan region, has the highest infection rate in the world with 3.2 to 3.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS. People with HIV are especially vulnerable to TB, and HIV pandemic is fuelling an explosive growth in TB cases. The increase in the infection rate of TB and HIV exert increased pressure on health service delivery thus reflecting the serious problem in the country with regard to health service delivery to people co-infected with TB and HlV/AlDS. Health service delivery is also hindered by negative attitudes of health workers that have been reported towards people living with HIV/AIDS. They entertain a biased view of their own risk, considering risk only from occupational exposure and denying the possibility of infection in their private life. These attitudes of health workers decreases the quality of care and support delivered to patient co-infected with TB and HIV. This result in people not disclosing their illness even in cases were treatment is available like TB for the fear of stigmatisation. Hence the problem of stigmatisation escalates into a dilemma for the patient co-infected with TB and HIV. Therefore these patients tend to shy away from health services and isolate themselves due to fear of being stigmatised twice. The need to address TB and HIV together in the light of this dimension is urgent so as to improve the utilization of the health services by people co-infected with Ti3 and HIV. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe the experiences of patients co-infected with TB and HIV regarding stigmatisation by the health workers, to explore and describe the attitudes of health workers towards patients co-infected with TB and HIV, and to formulate guidelines for health workers that will facilitate the health service utilization by patients co-infected with TB and HIV in the Potchefstroom district. The research was conducted in the Potchefstroom district in the North West province of South Africa. A qualitative research design was used to explore and describe the experiences of patients co-infected with TB and HIV regarding stigmatisation by the health workers, and to explore and describe the attitudes of health workers toward co-infected patients. A purposive voluntary sampling method was used to select participants who met the set criteria. Two populations were used, that is the patients co-infected with TB and HIV, and the health workers who were involved in their care. In depth unstructured interviews were conducted with the patient population and semi structured interviews with the health worker population using an interview schedule that was formulated from the background literature. Data was captured on an audiotape, and transcribed verbatim. Field notes were taken immediately after each interview. The researcher and a co-coder did data analysis after data saturation was reached and a consensus was reached on the categories that emerged. From the findings of this research it appeared that there were general perceptions by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV that indicated stigmatisation by the health workers. This perceived stigmatisation was reported as being perpetrated by all categories of health workers. Negative behaviours such as the health workers not having time for the patients and being impatient were reported. Lack of sufficient knowledge was related to these behaviours especially amongst lower categories or non-professional health workers. In spite of the above, the researcher also observed that there was a limited number of health workers who were still being perceived as committed and caring by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV. The researcher concluded that the relationship between the health workers and the patients co-infected with TB and HIV was characterised by conflict. The health workers seemed to perceive the patients co-infected with TB and HIV as stubborn, harsh, abuse alcohol, manipulative and not taking responsibility of their illness. These perceptions lead the health workers to have a negative attitude towards these patients and occasionally came across as unsympathetic towards them. On the other hand the researcher observed that there were other health workers who did not present with negative behaviours towards these patients and tried to understand the reasons for their sometimes-unacceptable behaviours. Recommendations are made for the field of nursing education, community health nursing practice and nursing research with the formulation of guidelines for health workers so as to facilitate the utilization of the health services by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV. The guidelines are discussed under three main categories, namely guidelines for the health workers to facilitate the utilization of the health services by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV, guidelines to improve the utilization of the health services more efficiently and adequately by the patients co-infected with TB and HIV, and guidelines to improve the attitudes of the health workers towards the patients co-infected with TB and HIV with the intention of improving the utilization of the health services by these patients. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

In this dissertation, the argument is the understanding of the beliefs of Black farm workers regarding HIV and Aids and how these beliefs that protect them from being infected, will lead to the formulation of suggestions for a belief-sensitive approach, which can be incorporated by health care professionals in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers. Several authors stress the fact that if any HIV and Aids programme is to be implemented successfully, the health care profession should strive to know more about the beliefs of the community, in this case Black farm workers, so that there can be sound human relations and effective programmes. Based on the problem statement for this study the following research questions were asked: 1. What are the beliefs of black farm workers regarding HIV and Aids? 2. How do these beliefs protect them from being infected? 3. Based on the answers to the first two questions, what suggestions can be formulated regarding a belief-sensitive approach in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers? The objectives were in line with these questions, namely to explore and describe the beliefs of Black farm workers regarding HIV and Aids; to explore and describe how these beliefs protect them from being infected; and to formulate recommendations, specifically suggestions regarding a belief-sensitive approach in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers. The study followed a qualitative, explorative and descriptive approach. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach was used to collect data. 'Lekgotla' was used as a strategy to collect data. The results indicated that Black farm workers do have beliefs about HIV and Aids. Most of the beliefs they uphold protect them from being infected, however there are some marginal beliefs that can put them at risk of being infected. Suggestions, which health care professionals can incorporate in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers, were formulated based on the results, a literature control and ensuing conclusions. Beliefs of Black farm workers that protect them from being infected could be included in the suggestions for prevention strategies. Health care professionals involved in prevention strategies should actively listen to Black farm workers’ beliefs in order for these strategies to be successful. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

In this dissertation, the argument is the understanding of the beliefs of Black farm workers regarding HIV and Aids and how these beliefs that protect them from being infected, will lead to the formulation of suggestions for a belief-sensitive approach, which can be incorporated by health care professionals in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers. Several authors stress the fact that if any HIV and Aids programme is to be implemented successfully, the health care profession should strive to know more about the beliefs of the community, in this case Black farm workers, so that there can be sound human relations and effective programmes. Based on the problem statement for this study the following research questions were asked: 1. What are the beliefs of black farm workers regarding HIV and Aids? 2. How do these beliefs protect them from being infected? 3. Based on the answers to the first two questions, what suggestions can be formulated regarding a belief-sensitive approach in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers? The objectives were in line with these questions, namely to explore and describe the beliefs of Black farm workers regarding HIV and Aids; to explore and describe how these beliefs protect them from being infected; and to formulate recommendations, specifically suggestions regarding a belief-sensitive approach in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers. The study followed a qualitative, explorative and descriptive approach. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach was used to collect data. 'Lekgotla' was used as a strategy to collect data. The results indicated that Black farm workers do have beliefs about HIV and Aids. Most of the beliefs they uphold protect them from being infected, however there are some marginal beliefs that can put them at risk of being infected. Suggestions, which health care professionals can incorporate in HIV and Aids-prevention programmes for Black farm workers, were formulated based on the results, a literature control and ensuing conclusions. Beliefs of Black farm workers that protect them from being infected could be included in the suggestions for prevention strategies. Health care professionals involved in prevention strategies should actively listen to Black farm workers’ beliefs in order for these strategies to be successful. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.