Abdool Karim (Daily News, 02 December 2009) aptly states that one of the daunting social development challenges facing our young democracy in South Africa is the HIV and AIDS pandemic which has seriously impacted on the increase of HIV infected children. The study explored the experiences of social workers in the provision of reconstruction services to HIV infected children. This research study used a qualitative descriptive methodology. There were two sample groups: one consisted of five social workers from five institutions and the second consisted of six social workers from two child welfare organizations. Data was collected by means of semi-structured in- depth interviews with the institutional social workers. One focus group was held with child welfare social workers for the purpose of enhancing the reliability, validity and trustworthiness of the study. Globalization has had a substantial impact on social work services which has been further articulated through ‘new managerialism’, whereby welfare states are becoming cost effective businesses (Dominelli, 2002). Both welfare agencies and social workers pursuant to “new managerialism” have to justify their existence on a day to day basis due to the market principles that have been applied to the profession; it has to be ‘economically sound’ to be a social worker and to continue to be employed. The findings show that there were five key themes and various sub-themes that emerged from the in-depth interviews and the focus group interviews that posed as challenges for social workers. The lack of resources, high staff turnover, the recruitment of foster families emerged as factors that contributed to the challenges experienced by both institutional and child welfare social workers. Despite the many constraints placed on social workers several initiatives have been taken by institutional and child welfare social workers in the implementation of various services and programmes provided to families, communities and children infected or affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. In the face of “new managerialism” it is recommended that social workers need to accept that structural forces such as the economy, political, poverty and unemployment have a profound impact on organizations therefore it is necessary for social workers to advocate and lobby for adequate resources such as vehicles, access to telephones and computers and regular supervision, in the provision of reconstruction services. Furthermore social workers must have an updated knowledge regarding relevant policies and legislation that impact service delivery. The Department of Social Development should work in collaboration with the Department of Health and Education so that efforts could be made to ensure that HIV infected children continue with schooling, thereby developing them into more independent individuals. Finally an additional subsidy should be provided by the National Department of Social Development to institutions for services to accommodate family and prospective foster parents who stay over at institutions. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Objectives. Explore and describe the impact of premature life-threatening illness, stigma, multiple loss of significant others, decreased vocational choice and mobility and decreased financial security among young gay men living with AIDS. It was hypothesized that young gay men with AIDS and the elderly experience similar physical, social, and psychological changes, but the cognitive adaptation to these changes are hindered by the non-normative timing of these events. / Methods. Thirty-two self-identified gay men with AIDS between the ages of 22 to 44 years were recruited from an out-patient clinic in Montreal. These participants were asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire, which assessed the respondent's daily stress, impact of HIV, health-related quality of life, ways of coping, multiple loss, dependency on informal and formal supports, and preparation for death. Quantitative methods were used to analyse the data. / Results. The hypothesis was confirmed. Respondents reported relatively low levels of health-related quality of life, significant concern over health and financial security, considerable multiple loss, increased dependency on informal and formal supports, proportionally greater use of active coping strategies, and significant concern about discrimination. / Conclusions. A comprehensive method of intervention which addresses all of the biopsychosocial aspects to care is proposed. It is suggested that a coordinated multidisiciplinary approach to clinical and research endeavors should be adopted to address the multidimensional obstacles facing young gay men with AIDS.

HIV/AIDS care needs to be comprehensive and holistic (UNAIDS, 2002). Counselling has proved to be one of the most effective behavioral tools in the global anti-HIV/AIDS fight by equipping people mentally, emotionally, psychologically and socially for the disease (Anon, 2000). Over the past two decades researchers identified cultural factors, race, gender and class as leading inequitable treatments in general counselling situations (Coleman, 1995). This challenge happened to be the same in HIV/AIDS counselling, especially because the counselor work with sensitive information. Nurses who forms the back-bone of HIV/AIDS counselling, are all trained on a Western model of HIV/AIDS counselling. Herbst (1990) also pointed out that knowledge concerning cultures and subcultures and its implications has become a major issue for the nurse to deliver health care in South Africa. Faced with the history of South Africa and the diverse cultures it was my personal experience as a professional nurse, counselor and researcher while I was working on the *Ufe health train, that the knowledge of culture is one of the most important factors of HIV/AIDS counselling. This motivated me to embark on this research. This research aims at providing an analytical description of the experience of counselling for African (Batswana) counselees and their counselors with specific reference to HIV/AIDS counselling with view to improve this interaction. The objectives of this research was to: a) analyse the counselling done by Western and African counsellors in the health system, with a particular focus on HIV/AIDS counselling, b) establish how acceptance and decision-making is promoted, understanding of the counselee is established and psychosocial support is given, and c) develop a middle -range theory that describes appropriate HIV/AIDS counselling for African counselees. Glaser's (1965; 1967; 1992) grounded theory approach was used to guide this research. Multiple data collection methods were used, which took place concurrently with the descriptive analysis. Glaser's conceptual analysis paradigm for qualitative data analysis was utilised. Based on the results of this research the importance of an HIV/AIDS counselling approach for Africans is emphasised. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.

Schools reach further into communities of young people than any other institutions, and therefore, they are critical for reducing the HIV and AIDS vulnerability and risk among this age group (UNESCO, 2002). Therefore, if the schools are to be used as an entry point for prevention activities, it is important to have a clear idea of the current level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour with regard to HIV/AIDS. A quasi-experimental design was adopted for this study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected during the period between June and October 2004 to establish baseline knowledge and behaviour. A total number of 613 respondents participated in this study. Two groups, an experimental and a control group with equal number (306) of pupils in each were established by drawing a random sample of 51 respondents per school from 12 secondary schools in Kigali. However, an extra respondent from one school was noted. A selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data whereas qualitative data was generated by asking each respondent to write any concerns or experiences with HIV/AIDS on a piece of paper. All respondents (n= 613) expressed their thoughts anonymously and freely on these papers. Furthermore, focus groups and interviews were conducted with some key informants amongst the respondents who were especially the leaders of Anti-AIDS clubs and student managers from schools or counselling session organizers at Kacyiru Health Centre. These were particularly Anti-AIDS club leaders and/or active club members. After a baseline assessment, a phased intervention (sensitization, pre-test counselling, testing, post-test counselling and follow-up) were implemented with the experimental group. This process was described, identifying all barriers to implementation. Finally a second measurement concerning both groups took place. During the baseline measurement, respondents were more concerned about their reproductive health issues rather than HIV/AIDS as a specific topic. With regard to HIV/AIDS transmission, however, the following was found: high awareness, many misconceptions about HIV/AIDS transmission and almost half of respondents have had sexual intercourse. Unprotected sexual intercourse was also reported. A summary of reasons given for having sexual intercourse is: experience, curiosity, peer pressure, partner empathy, monetary gain, and coercion. A sensitization phase prior to the testing sessions resulted in a large number of respondents (434) attending Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services, the main intervention for this study which took place in a Health Centre. Only twelve respondents (3%) tested HIV positive while five respondents (1%) tested syphilis positive. Although the immediate coping with test results for all respondents was successfully dealt with, the findings from this study indicate some difficulties with regard to the management of individual respondents who tested positive. The strong emphasis on anonymity during the study did not allow the researcher to follow-up all respondents who tested positive. All steps were successfully implemented according to this study model. In spite of certain problems encountered in terms of access to schools, there was nothing insurmountable during the VCT implementation process. After the intervention, a large number of respondents showed a high HIV/AIDS awareness, expressed willingness to change their behaviours, and a willingness to advocate for VCT amongst their peers. The follow-up sessions and the quantitative data at the second measurement and especially statistical analysis carried out did not indicate a significant difference in the sexual behaviour of respondents. However, a significant difference was found when comparing the knowledge of the two groups on HIV/AIDS's physiological effects and transmission. Finally, recommendations and Best Practice Guidelines were established with regard to further research and the implementation of VCT in secondary schools. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006

In this study, the researcher is interested in the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention methods among university students. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that influence the utilization of existing HIV/AIDS prevention methods amongst students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal residing in a selected campus. Four residences within the selected campus were randomly selected and participants were conveniently selected from each of sampled residences. There was a total of 335 respondents and 261 (78%) completed the manual questionnaires while 74 (22%) completed online questionnaires. The study used quantitative approach and was descriptive-exploratory in nature. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15. The majority of respondents were young people with the mean age of 22.9 years. The sample comprised 278 (78%) undergraduate and 57 (17%) post graduate students. Study findings showed that the factors which influenced the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention methods varied and that they were mainly influenced by the awareness of the existing university-based HIV/AIDS prevention strategies. It also emerged that the mostly utilized HIV prevention methods were VCT services and free condoms. Perceived susceptibility and the perceived threat of HIV/AIDS score was also found to be correlated with HIV Risk Index score. Furthermore, there was Correlation between perceived susceptibility and perceived threat of HIV/AIDS and self-efficacy on condoms and their utilization. However, there seemed to be no relationship between utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention methods and these variables. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that most of Health Beliefs Model (HBM) variables were not predictors of the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention methods among students. Intervention aiming to improve the utilization of HIV/AIDS prevention methods among students at the UKZN should focus on removing identified barriers, promoting HIV/AIDS prevention services and providing correct knowledge on HIV for behavioral change. / Thesis (MN)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Thesis--Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, 1989. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-68).

Thesis (MMedSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis ( Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 277-292). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2009. / Thesis advisor: Joanne diPlacido. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Health Psychology." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-87). Also available via the World Wide Web.