The widespread epidemic HIV/AIDS still remains a confirmed and terminal disease without any currable vaccine and therapy. The only means of protection to resist an infection and HIV spread is a patient´s education, motivation and proper prevention, whose essential tool for everybody is getting information. Especially young people are threatened by the attack of that infection, so mainly basic school should participate in the HIV/AIDS prevention. The first aim of my thesis is to find out, whether and what preventive activities are accomplished at basis schools in Pilsner Region. The research work has a qualitative character. The applied method was a questionaire which was sent and applied to 31 organizations associated in Forum of non-governmental organizations at National Comisssion for HIV/AIDS problem solving in 2006. Another applied method was the derived analysis of data and documents. The second aim of my thesis was to find out basic pupil´s knowledge about HIV/AIDS infection. A qualitative research was chosen to achieve objective results. A questionaire was a research method. 319 pupils from 8th and 9th classes created a selective group. HIV/AIDS problems are always included in some school subjects at all the basic schools. Tution of the appropriate topic is provide only by school teachers and outweighs the use of supporting preventive programmes. Increased demands on school teachers education about HIV/AIDS result from that fact. Basis school pupils have basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS infection. Most pupils acquired information about HIV/AIDS at basic schools. Pupils consider a condom to be a hundrer-per-cent protection to resist veneral diseases. Despite the knowledge of this danger pupils don´t feel threatened by HIV/AIDS infection. Results of my thesis proved that as for information handover, the prevention accomplished at basic schools is efficient. Pupils´ have information about HIV/AIDS. If they act up to them even in possible risky situations that is another question. Since it is a serious problem, it seems to be necessary to keep acting this prevention whose part should be not only the information handover, but also the action at pupil´s behaviour and their responsibility.

A infecção pelo HIV/aids no mundo atinge, desproporcionalmente, determinados grupos sociais, dentre eles a população privada de liberdade. Mediante o impacto da epidemia no âmbito carcerário, organismos internacionais orientam a adoção de estratégias de cuidado, pautadas em evidências científicas, o que determina o impacto positivo no controle do agravo nas prisões. Este estudo objetivou identificar e analisar as evidências científicas disponíveis na literatura sobre a assistência prestada às pessoas que vivem com HIV/aids (PVHA) no âmbito prisional. Trata-se de uma Revisão Integrativa da Literatura, tendo a prática baseada em evidências (PBE) como referencial teórico. No que se refere às etapas de desenvolvimento da revisão integrativa, procedeu-se à seleção dos estudos, por meio da utilização de descritores controlados e palavras-chaves junto às bases de dados LILACS, PUBMED, CINAHL e Web of Science. Dos 894 estudos recuperados, após leitura de forma independente por duas pesquisadoras, derivou-se uma amostra final de 15 estudos. Houve predomínio de pesquisas realizadas nos Estados Unidos, com população masculina, indivíduos afrodescendentes e com história pregressa de mais de um encarceramento ao longo da vida. A população abordada se encontrava em situação de privação de liberdade, contudo, em processo de transição para a comunidade. De modo geral, as estratégias de cuidado prestadas às PVHA em situação de encarceramento, enfocaram a coordenação e a transição para a comunidade, mediante estratégias de gestão de caso com referência e vínculo para serviços de saúde e sociais, planejamento de alta, tratamento de substituição com a utilização de metadona para dependentes químicos e a Terapia Antirretroviral Diretamente Administrada (DAART) para grupos com baixa adesão ao tratamento, em especial os usuários de drogas. Há que se ressaltarem as investiduras na identificação, sensibilização e engajamento de outros atores-chave, com destaque para egressos do sistema prisional visando a implementação de estratégias educativas, assistenciais e de suporte por pares, bem como a identificação, tentativa de reestabelecimento e fortalecimento de vinculo com a rede de suporte social dos indivíduos privados de liberdade em transição para a comunidade. Destaca-se o papel da enfermagem na viabilização das estratégias de gestão do caso, planejamento de alta, sensibilização e capacitação de atores-chave com potencial de engajamento nas atividades envolvendo o cuidado por pares. Concluiu-se que a assistência no âmbito prisional pautou-se no cuidado ampliado, transcendendo a dimensão clínica do manejo do HIV/aids em si, uma vez que incorporou no bojo das ações desenvolvidas, a identificação e integração de ações e serviços sociais e de saúde, valorizando, deste modo, um processo de cuidar pautado na reinserção social dos sujeitos no período que corresponde ao pré e pós-livramento prisional / The HIV infection affects certain social groups disproportionately, among them the prisoners. By the impact of the epidemic in prisonal ambit, international organizations guide to care strategies, conducted by scientific evidence, which determines the positive impact in controlling the disease in prisons. This study aimed to identify and analyze the scientific evidence available in the literature on assistance provided to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the prison context. This is an integrative review of the literature, and evidence-based practice (EBP) as the theoretical reference. With regard to development stages of the integrative review, we proceeded to the selection of studies, using controlled descriptors and keywords together to databases LILACS, PUBMED, CINAHL and Web of Science. Independently, two investigators read 894 recovered studies and derived a final sample of 15 studies. There was a predominance of researches done in the United States, with male population, Afro-descendant and individuals with a history of more than one life-long imprisonment. The covered population was in a situation of deprivation of liberty. However, they were in transition process to the community again. Generally, the care strategies provided to PLWHA in incarceration situation, focused on the coordination and the transition to the community, through case management strategies with reference and link to health and social services, discharge planning, substitution treatment with the use of methadone for drug addicts and the Directly Administered Antiretroviral Therapy (DAART) for groups with low adherence to treatment, particularly drug users. We have to highlight the investitures in identification, awareness and engagement of other key actors, especially former convicts, aiming the educational strategies implementation, care and support by peers, as well as the identification, attempt to re-establishment and strengthening of bonds with the social support network of private individuals of freedom in transition to the community. Besides, it is important to point the nursing role in the feasibility of case management strategies, discharge planning, sensitization and training of key actors with potential engagement in activities involving peer care. In conclusion, the assistance in the prison context was characterized in the extended care, transcending the clinical dimension of the management of HIV/AIDS itself. It is explained once it had incorporated in the core of the actions taken, the identification and integration of actions and social services and health, valuing, thus, a process of care founded on the social reintegration of the subjects in the period corresponding to the pre and post-prison

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / As doenÃas sexualmente transmissÃveis (DST) sÃo consideradas risco ocupacional para as prostitutas, podendo ser prevenidas com o uso do preservativo. Faz-se necessÃria uma conscientizaÃÃo acerca da sua importÃncia mediante a EducaÃÃo em SaÃde, pois esta à a estratÃgia mais eficiente na prevenÃÃo das DST/Aids, trazendo mudanÃa de comportamentos, valores e atitudes. Diante de toda a problemÃtica que à a prostituiÃÃo e sua relaÃÃo com as DST, interessou compreender o trabalho realizado pelas prostitutas da AssociaÃÃo das Prostitutas do Cearà - APROCE no que se refere à prevenÃÃo das DST/Aids. Nesse contexto, este estudo objetivou analisar o trabalho educativo realizado pelas prostitutas da APROCE no que se refere à prevenÃÃo das DST e Aids, e verificar se essa EducaÃÃo em SaÃde estimula a reflexÃo, criticidade, mudanÃa de comportamento, ou à somente um repasse de informaÃÃes. Dessa forma, despertou-se para a relaÃÃo do objeto de estudo com a abordagem teÃrica baseada nas reflexÃes de Paulo Freire, pois âmudanÃaâ, ao lado de âconscientizaÃÃoâ, à um âtema geradorâ da prÃtica teÃrica de Paulo Freire. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, inspirada na teoria e prÃtica de Paulo Freire e analisada segundo a Teoria CrÃtica. Os dados foram agrupados de acordo com as etapas em que foram coletados: Observando as Educadoras Sociais e Dialogando com as Educadoras Sociais. Posteriormente, dividida a segunda parte em duas categorias: o perfil e o diÃlogo com as educadoras sociais. No diÃlogo com as educadoras sociais, foram identificados seus sentimentos quanto ao trabalho realizado; as principais dificuldades; os pontos facilitadores; como percebem seus resultados; os pontos mais e menos importantes do trabalho que realizam. Conclui-se, portanto, que conscientizar-se da importÃncia da prevenÃÃo das DST e Aids, e mudar de comportamento, nÃo sÃo tarefas simples, pois vÃrios fatores interferem na vida da prostituta. As estratÃgias de EducaÃÃo em SaÃde utilizadas pela AssociaÃÃo nÃo estimulam a reflexÃo, criticidade, mudanÃa de comportamento, como se deseja e espera, mas jà deu um grande passo, pois repassa informaÃÃes e entrega freqÃentemente o preservativo para as prostitutas, e, como essa à uma aÃÃo que acontece hà alguns anos, muitas mulheres jà mudaram de comportamento. Devem ser realizados projetos, estratÃgias mais eficazes, para que conscientizaÃÃo e mudanÃa aconteÃam em um menor espaÃo de tempo. Para obtenÃÃo desse fim, foram elaboradas estratÃgias metodolÃgicas de EducaÃÃo em SaÃde na prevenÃÃo das DST/Aids para prostitutas / Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) are considered an occupational risk for prostitutes, and they can be prevented with the use of condom. A conscientization about its importance through health education is necessary, as it is the most efficient strategy in STD/Aids prevention, what will bring changes in behavior, values and attitudes. In face of all this problematic situation of prostitution and its relation with STD, we got interested in understanding the work carried out by the prostitutes from the Association of Prostitutes from Cearà - APROCE concerning STD/Aids prevention. In this context, this study objectified to analyze the educational work carried out by the prostitutes from APROCE concerning STD and Aids prevention, and to verify if this Health Education estimulates reflexion, criticism and behavior change, or if it is only an information provider. This way, we awakened to the relation between the object of study and the theoretical approach based on Paulo Freireâs reflexions, considering that âchangeâ, together with âconscientizationâ, is a âtheme generatorâ of Paulo Freireâs theoretical practice. It is a qualitative research inspired in Paulo Freireâs theory and practice, and analyzed according to the Critical Theory. The data were grouped according to the stages they were collected: Observing Social Educators and Dialoguing with Social Educators. Later, the second part was divided in two categories: the profile and the dialogue with social educators. In the dialogue with social educators their feelings about the work done were identified, as well as the main difficulties; the facilitator points; how they perceive their results; and the most and least important points of their work. Therefore, we can conclude that being aware of the importance of STD and Aids prevention and changing behavior are not easy tasks because many factors interfere in prostitutesâ lives. The Health Education strategies used by the Association are not estimulating reflexion, criticism and behavior change as expected, but it has given a great step, as they provide information and condom to prostitutes. And, as it is an action that has happened for some years, many women have already changed behavior. More efficient strategies and projects must be carried out so that conscientization and change happen in a shorter period of time. For the obtention of this aim, Health Education methodological strategies in STD/Aids prevention for prostitutes were elaborated

Estudou-se a experiência de mulheres vivendo com HIV e aids também conviverem com situações de violência por parceiro íntimo, e as repercussões destes entrecruzamentos para o cuidado de sua saúde. Tomamos como referência o conceito de vulnerabilidade já formulado para a AIDS e retrabalhado especificamente para as questões de gênero, permitindo explorar o conceito nas situações de violência doméstica contra as mulheres. Partiu-se do pressuposto que os contextos do HIV/Aids podem gerar situações de violência de mulheres soropositivas e que as representações amorosas, o ideal de conjugalidade e de família podem influenciar no impacto do cuidado da saúde das mulheres. Foram realizadas 20 entrevistas em profundidade com mulheres em acompanhamento do HIV/Aids, inseridas nos Serviços de Saúde da Rede Especializada em DST/Aids da cidade de São Paulo, na modalidade história de vida. Encontraram-se diversos contextos da vulnerabilidade, denominada de gênero, nas narrativas produzidas, na infância, adolescência e fase adulta, reforçando padrões hegemônicos de gênero ao longo dos diferentes ciclos de vida dessas mulheres. O estudo aponta que as experiências do adoecimento na revelação do diagnóstico é o elemento disparador de medos e sofrimentos em decorrência da reação dos parceiros e a das preocupações com os filhos. O diagnóstico do HIV é o momento não só do contato com a doença, mas de desvelar ou reconhecer situações de violência. É a partir das concepções e contextos de vida que as mulheres identificam o modo de se situarem no enfrentamento do HIV e da violência. O cuidado da saúde foi abordado tanto como cuidado de si, quanto na relação com os serviços de saúde, o que mostrou a grande preocupação representada pelas dificuldades que, em função de suas condições de portadoras do HIV, essas mulheres viam para se manterem na condição tradicional de cuidadoras, dentro das referências do padrão social de gênero, quer em torno de seus adoecimentos e expectativas de vida futura, quer para com os filhos. Tais preocupações surgem como justificativas da manutenção da família diante de parceiros violentos. Embora presente, observou-se que o tema violência não é pauta na atenção à saúde da mulher vivendo com HIV e aids, nos serviços de saúde especializados. A vulnerabilidade de gênero destaca-se pela ênfase na condição materna, em que por ela e para ela as mulheres dão significados às suas vidas, ao adoecimento e ao cuidado. / This work studied the experience of women living with HIV and AIDS also live with situations of violence by their intimate partner and the implications of these intersections for their health care. We took as reference the concept of vulnerability already formulated to AIDS and adapted for gender issues, allowing explore it in situations of domestic violence against women. We started from the assumption that the contexts of HIV / AIDS can lead to situations of domestic violence involving HIV positive women and that the representations of love, the ideal of marital and family can influence on health care of these women. We made 20 in-depth interviews with women living with HIV / AIDS, followed on STD / AIDS reference centers of the Municipality of São Paulo, using living history method. We found in the narratives several contexts of the so called gender vulnerability occurred in childhood, adolescence and adulthood, reinforcing hegemonic gender patterns over the different life cycles of these women. The study shows that the fact of the diagnosis disclosure to be made during an illness is the element that triggers fear and suffering in relation to the reaction of the partners and worries with their children. The time of HIV diagnosis is not only the moment of contact with the disease, but also the time to uncover or recognize situations of violence. It is through conceptions and contexts of life that women identify how to locate themselves in the struggle against HIV and violence. Health care was addressed as much as caring for oneself as well in relation with the health services. This approach showed the great concern about the difficulties perceived by these women in order to keep the condition of traditional caregivers within the references of hegemonic social pattern of gender, either about their illnesses and future life expectations either about children. Such concerns arise as a justification for maintaining the family when there is coexistence with a violent partner. Although present, it was observed that violence is not an issue discussed in health care of women living with HIV and AIDS in specialized health services. The vulnerability of gender of these women is distinguished by an emphasis on maternal condition which gives meaning to their lives, illness and care.

Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Karen S. Myers-Bowman / Today the HIV/AIDS epidemic is one of the many crises families may face. Many people have died of the disease while others are still living with it. At the end of 2003, an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV/AIDS, with 24-27% undiagnosed and unaware of their HIV infection. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that approximately 40,000 persons become infected with HIV each year (CDC, 2007). Stigmatization and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS is one of the many challenges that individuals and families affected by the disease face. They are unable to get employment, are denied health care, cannot access services in their communities and sometimes lose respect and power as a result of stigma. Stigma and discrimination also have been recognized as one of the main obstacles to HIV/AIDS, testing, prevention and treatment and yet little has been done to combat it. Stigma and discrimination is not only experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS but their family members, close friends, service providers and people that work with them also are stigmatized by association. This report highlights the need for family life educators to expand HIV educational programs to include issues on stigmatization and discrimination. It identifies some of the reasons why people stigmatize, the ways which stigma and discrimination are expressed and the impacts it has on individuals and their family members. Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of human development, this report identifies the need to look at HIV-related stigma and discrimination as a societal problem rather than individual problem, and presents implications for education programs for the general public.

Magister Public Health - MPH / 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 severe immunosuppression. Study Design and Setting: This was a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study involving adult ART naïve HIV infected patients in WHO stage I and II. Systematic sampling was used to select the participants from all adult ART naïve 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 ≤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 ≤200cells/mm3 and ND (p<0.0001). CD4 count ≤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<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 ≤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 ≤350cells/mm3. / South Africa

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 learners attending church and cultural activities that offer 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 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 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. / South Africa

Magister Public Health - MPH / Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a major public health problem. Globally, the number of new HIV infections is decreasing but the total number of people living with the disease is increasing. An estimated 5.7 million South Africans are currently living with the disease. The life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in South Africa has slowly increased due to the availability of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). The progressive "chronicity" of HIV may be associated with a variety of impairments and disabilities for people living with HIV. This emphasising the increasingly important role that physiotherapists play to minimize the disabling impact of the disease and improve quality of life for PLHIV. The aim of study was to determine the HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and the occupational risk perception of physiotherapists practicing in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This study utilized a cross sectional descriptive quantitative survey to collect data. The data was collected via a structured self-administered postal questionnaire. The questionnaires were captured in Microsoft Excel and analysed statistically using CDC Epi-Info version 3.5.1. Data was analysed descriptively and the chi-square test, T-tests and ANOVA was used to identify any statistically significant relationship between variables. The results of the study identified that the physiotherapists in the study have "high" general HIV related knowledge, although major gaps regarding HIV prevention and transmission still exists. The physiotherapists expressed a positive attitude towards PLHIV, while they perceive themselves to be at low risk of HIV transmission risk when managing PLHIV. The physiotherapists with more than 10 years' experience had significantly better HIV related knowledge compared to those with less than 10 years' experience while the attitudes of married physiotherapists towards PLHIV were significantly less favourable than those who were not married. There is a need for intervention strategies to address the HIV knowledge gaps of physiotherapists. Intervention strategies need to address physiotherapists HIV prevention and transmission knowledge.

HIV/Aids has become a household term in South Africa. Most people are aware of the existence of the disease and how it is transmitted. Several people have used this information as the impetus for behaviour change but there are many individuals who have not heeded this call and have not made any significant changes to their lifestyles. This is reflected in South Africa’s high infection rate. It would seem as if, for various reasons, people know how to protect themselves but have not used this knowledge to guard against possible infection. The purpose of this study is to explore the reasons why people have not changed their behaviour and to identify possible techniques that can be used to amend this situation. This will take the form of an intensive three-day prevention workshop where participants will be asked to think critically about their own behaviour. The aim of the programme will be to discuss, demystify and debate ideas. How will this programme be designed? The researcher will make use of focus groups consisting of Technikon students who will offer their thoughts and opinions. Once these focus groups have been conducted the researcher will undertake an intensive analysis of the data and identify certain key issues. A literature review will then follow. Therefore, the foundation of this programme will be based on the ideas of the participants, the researcher’s ideas and some points from formal behaviour change theories. The goal of this study is to add to the already growing body of HIV/Aids prevention literature and to design a programme that is useful and relevant. / Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

The incidence of HIV and AIDS is rising rapidly and has become a serious concern in South Africa. In order to address the HIV and AIDS problem, Community Based Care was introduced to render an effective service to the HIV and AIDS patient. The volunteers receive training to equip them to render a holistic service to the HIV and AIDS patient. The researcher’s concern is that despite the training programme offered, there are still problems regarding the service delivery by the volunteers. Volunteers focus on the physical needs of the HIV and AIDS patient only and do not attend to their psychosocial needs, despite the fact that they are trained to take care of the needs of the HIV and AIDS patient from a holistic approach. Due to this problem, the researcher decided to explore the experiences of the volunteers regarding the implementation of the training programme on HIV and AIDS Community Based Care in order to find answers as to why they do not attend to the psychosocial needs of the HIV and AIDS patient, although they were holistically trained. The research question was formulated as follows: What is the experience of volunteers in the Potchefstroom Municipality regarding the implementation of the training programme on HIV and AIDS Community Based Care? The researcher used a quantitative approach to explore the research question. Twenty (20) volunteers from the two Community Based Care programmes, namely Baptist Children’s Centre and Bambanani Youth Project, were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. The data collection method used was a group questionnaire. Three themes were explored, namely, the content of the training programme, presentation of the training programme and empowerment of the volunteers to render an effective service to the HIV and AIDS patient. The findings showed that volunteers experienced limitations regarding the content and the presentation of the training programme, and much so in the area of attending to the psychosocial needs of the HIV and AIDS patient. They recommended changes to the training programme, based on their experiences in practice. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted