Magister Legum - LLM / The HIV/AIDS pandemic poses the greatest threat to Africa's efforts to achieve its full potential in the social, economical and political spheres. Cognizant of its devastating consequences, various mechanisms have been designed to address the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa. This thesis addressed the question: 'Are the legislations and policies of Ethiopia, Botswana and Uganda providing for various modalities of HIV testing consistent with human rights as enshrined under African Human Rights system?' The author of this dissertation critically analyzed the African human rights instruments and the relevant domestic legislation and policies of the three countries. / South Africa

Doctor Theologiae - DTh / HIV and AIDS present challenges to the well-being of individuals and to public health proportions unpresedented in modern history, and stigma has been identified as the single most contributor to the spread of the HI-virus. While the challenges presented by the AIDS pandemic are scientific and medical, it also has a psychological, legal,  economic, social, ethical and religious impact on those infected and affected. The underlying question in this thesis is not whether the church should respond to this urgent societal challenge, but how it ought to respond. To explore this question, the thesis investigated how a New Testament text (as primary resource), particularly Luke's Gospel, could be a resource for shaping/sharpening the church's response to the pandemic. / South Africa

This research was conducted on a section of mine employees ranging from skilled to the least skilled mine workers in Goldfields Mine, Carltonville. The aim of the study was to assess HIV/AIDS employees’ perceptions of social work counselling services in the workplace. The researcher was employed at the Department of Social Services and Population Development where she attended weekly to HIV/AIDS employees who had been referred for treatment without providing any form of counselling within the workplace. Researcher’s subsequent research at Goldfields Mine was designed to probe what the affected employees’ perceptions of a social work counselling service was. The gathering of data during research comprised conducting interviews with the use of semi-structured interview schedules. Ten (10) male employees from Goldfields were used during the study. Purposive sampling was employed. Findings reveal that although counselling was provided at Goldfields Mine, Carltonville, a minority of employees indicated that the current counselling programme (workplace programme) is not adequate and that more time should be provided by management for counselling during working hours. / Dissertation (Magister Artium(Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Because of the extent and immediacy of the problem of AIDS in the RSA and because this disease, which is mainly transmitted by voluntary human behaviour, has no cure, the need for educational programmes to curtail the spread of AIDS is seen as of prime importance in the RSA. At present there is little published research about the levels of knowledge of AIDS attained by pupils in junior and senior schools, nor of the attitudes they have towards the disease. It was felt that without this information, it would be difficult to develop appropriate AIDS education programmes. In this research, questionnaires were administered to investigate the knowledge of and attitudes towards the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - (AIDS) - of the standards 5, 7 and 9 pupils at four private schools. These three age groups were chosen in order to look at the possible effects of the maturation process on these pupils' perceptions of AIDS. A questionnaire was also completed by selected school personnel to provide background information on any existing AIDS education in the schools. A pilot study was carried out with a small group of pupils in order to establish the areas of concern being expressed by senior school pupils. The results of the survey have shown that while there is a gradation in the knowledge levels of the pupils in standards 5, 7 and 9, there is a need for more intensive teaching of AlDS at or before the transition from junior to senior school. That the pupils perceive a need for school-based education, particularly in order to acquire knowledge of prevention strategies, was evident. The attitudes of the majority of the pupils towards AIDS sufferers were found to be tolerant or circumspect, although there was evidence of intolerance from some quarters. The fears of the pupils were found to stem largely from the unique characteristics of the disease and a lack of knowledge of how to protect themselves against it. In developing guidelines for a programme of AIDS education for the South African schools, the programmes and interventions currently operative in the USA, Great Britain, Europe and two African countries were considered. This research has raised a number of questions, the answers to which will he important in the development of future programmes of AIDS education

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and impaired or threatened nutritional status seem to be closely related. It is now known that AIDS results in many nutritional disorders including anorexia, vomiting, protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), nutrient deficiencies, and gastrointestinal, renal, and hepatic dysfunction (1-7, 8). Reversibly, nutritional status may also have an impact on the development of AIDS among HIV-infected people. Not all individuals who have tested antibody positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have developed AIDS or have even shown clinical symptoms (9, 10). A poor nutritional status, especially PEM, has a depressing effect on immunity which may predispose an individual to infection (11). It has been proposed that a qualitatively or quantitatively deficient diet could be among the factors precipitating the transition from HIV-positive to AIDS (12, 13). The interrelationship between nutrition and AIDS reveals the importance of having a multidisciplinary health care team approach to treatment (11), including having a registered dietitian on the medical team. With regards to alimentation, the main responsibility of a dietitian is to inform the public concerning sound nutritional practices and encourage healthy food habits (14). In individuals with inadequate nutritional behavior, a positive, long-term change has been seen when nutrition education tailored to specific physiological and emotional needs was provided along with psychological support through counseling (14). This has been the case for patients with various illnesses and may also be true in AIDS patients as well. Nutritional education specifically tailored for each AIDS patient could benefit the patient by improving the quality of life and preventing or minimizing weight loss and malnutrition (15-17). Also, it may influence the progression of the disease by delaying the onset of the most severe symptoms and increasing the efficacy of medical treatment (18, 19). Several studies have contributed to a dietary rationale for nutritional intervention in HIV-infected and AIDS patients (2, 4, 20-25). Prospective, randomized clinical research in AIDS patients have not yet been published to support this dietary rationale; however, isolated case reports show its suitability (3). Furthermore, only nutrition intervention as applied by a medical team in an institution or hospital has been evaluated. Research is lacking concerning the evaluation of nutritional education of either non-institutionalized or hospitalized groups of persons who are managing their own food choice and intake. This study compares nutrition knowledge and food intakes in HIV-infected individuals prior to and following nutrition education. It was anticipated that education would increase the knowledge of nutritional care of AIDS patients and lead to better implementation of nutrition education programs.

The HIV and AIDS epidemic remains a major health concern among the Namibian population despite interventions to mitigate it. The creation of awareness about the epidemic through school curricula is one of the government’s interventions. However, the provision of Sexuality, HIV and AIDS education in schools today is based on adult ideas of what they feel is right for young people to learn. This leave learners vulnerable and inadequately supported regarding possible questions they may have in this context. With vast amount and variety of conflicting information available to young people regarding their sexuality; and how their sexuality can and should be expressed, some of this information leads them to engage in risky behaviours that exposes them to HIV infection. Hence the need to involve young people in the development of the curriculum, to meet their educational needs in context of sexuality, HIV and AIDS. In this study, evidence for including learners in the construction of educational content regarding sexuality education is sought. This qualitative study used a phenomenological research design, interpretive paradigm and a participatory arts-based research methodology. Drawings, Vignettes (Agony Aunt) and follow-up focus group discussions were used to generate data with junior and senior learners, aged 15-24, from two secondary schools situated in the Oshikoto region of Namibia. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system theory and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory underpinned and decipher the findings of this study. The findings revealed that the school curriculum has informed learners on Sexuality, HIV and AIDS matters. The data generated about what they want to learn revealed that there is a need for more information on matters of sexuality, HIV and AIDS, which are not provided by the current education system. The data also revealed that the information that young people are exposed to is mostly associated with myths and misconceptions. This study thus recommends that a more comprehensive sexuality education, which takes into account learners’ needs, be provided in order for them to be guided appropriately on issues concerning their sexuality in the context of HIV and AIDS, so that we can move towards as HIV free world.

Human Immune Virus (HI)V /Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has emerged as the most devastating epidemic that the world has experienced. Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) has proven to be an effective way of preventing and controlling HIV. South African universities provide free VCT services on their campuses; however, these facilities are underused. The study’s objectives were to use the components of the health belief model (HBM) to explore and describe the factors that influenced the decision made by university students who have gone for VCT. The sample consisted of five male students. Data was collected through one-on-one in depth interviews, which were recorded. Data was analysed using thematic analysis, and the components of the HBM were used as codes for the data. Themes were generated for each component. The results indicated that perceived severity, perceived benefits and cues to action played a role in influencing the participants’ decision to go for VCT. In addition, results show that perceived susceptibility had little influence on their decision to go for VCT. Even though participants acknowledged barriers to VCT, they reported that the perceived benefits for VCT outweighed the barriers, and the decision to go for VCT was made. Participants suggested that to increase uptake of VCT on their campus, the university could improve current VCT campaigns, introduce rewards for VCT and introduce couples VCT.

This study examines the experiences of HIV/AIDS prevention workers whose clients include injection drug users (IDUs). Via a mixed methods approach (survey questionnaire and interview) the specifics of workers' practices were documented, along with their perspectives on a variety of IDU, addiction and HIV/AIDS-related issues. Foucault's writings on knowledge and power were used as the theoretical framework for this analysis. Thirty-six workers completed a self-administered questionnaire, from which preliminary analyses were conducted to identify emergent themes for exploration during qualitative interviews. Sixteen participants subsequently discussed themes such as treatment options, social marginalization, and the workers' approaches to working with IDUs. The findings reveal that the workers share some common beliefs. They are convinced their IDU clients would be able to practice better self care if they had access to safe and affordable housing. In terms of addictions services, the continued broadening of needle exchange programs (NEPs) is good, but that NEP itself should not be the only harm reduction strategy in place. With regards to abstinence-based services, none of the participants found satisfactory the existing meagre services accesible to their clients who want to stop using drugs. They were ambivalent towards methadone maintenance therapy (MMT), once used as an initial stage towards total abstinence, now more commonly used as a harm reduction instrument, by eliminating opiate use (and injection), or reducing the frequency of opiate injection. Workers emphasized the substanial gaps between the services available and what is needed, in terms of harm reduction or (particularly) abstinence. These workers use their own, local knowledge about IDUs and addiction, and navigate their clients through the limited services available. As hundreds of IDUs continue to become infected with HIV each year in Vancouver, a dramatic increase in access to abstinence-based services, and a more explicit gradiation between "pure" abstinence-based programs and NEPs, could be put in place. Most workers support a more nuanced spectrum of treatment options for IDUs. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

D.Phil. / This enquiry represents an attempt to understand the ways in which the ecology of ideas surrounding HIV and Aids in post-apartheid South Africa functions discursively to silence people living with the dis-ease. In this regard, it seeks to understand how the range of subject positions available to people with HIV and Aids influences their opportunities for treatment and disclosure. The meanings emerging from this enquiry have implications for interventions aimed at people living with HIV and Aids, in that they challenge the liberal humanism underpinning a Western individualist paradigm which constructs people as ‘rational’ and ‘responsible’ on the basis that such constructions tend to attribute guilt or moral culpability to people living with HIV and Aids. The conversations and narratives elicited in the process of this enquiry suggest that such discourses constitute a form of disciplinary power in a Foucauldian sense, positioning people living with HIV and Aids defensively and limiting their options for ‘positive’ self-definition by foreclosing available subject positions, thereby contributing to the spread of HIV and Aids. Hence, this enquiry focuses on social constructions of morality and the impact of these on participants’ attempts to maintain key relationships that afford them a ‘positive’ sense of them-selves. Thus, it looks at experiences of connection and dis-connection and explores the ways in which efforts to retain ‘relatedness’ in order to maximise possibilities for the co-construction of a ‘moral self’ mediate opportunities for disclosure and treatment options. The enquiry aimed to assist participants in deconstructing dominant social constructions of HIV and Aids implicit in cultural and political discourse by applying a critical, poststructuralist and discourse-analytic lens in order that they might resist moral attributions based on liberal humanism and access their own voices in narrating the experience of living with HIV and Aids in keeping with their lived experience. My aim in this regard was to resurrect alternative or previously silenced accounts and to open up spaces for a multiplicity of meanings associated with HIV and Aids to emerge and be heard, toward the end of breaking the silence and creating a conversational space in which people’s meanings could simultaneously be heard and challenged through dialogue.Ultimately, this enquiry highlights the importance of attempting to understand the local and idiosyncratic nature of people’s constructions of HIV and Aids, which are often a hybrid mix of ideas and meanings circulating within social, cultural and political discourse. It also underscores the salience of considering people’s lives in context and particularly their need to maintain relationships that afford a positive sense of self. This is reflected in the tendency for participants to construct their identities in relation to significant others and for these relationships to mediate decision making in relation to HIV and Aids by availing or foreclosing certain subject positions, depending on the discourses within which they are situated.

M.Tech. / HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest and still unresolved challenges facing the world today (Giese, 2002). The UNAIDS (2004) Reports, 38 million people are infected globally with HIV/AIDS. One of the most devastating impacts of HIV/AIDS is the effect on children. Over 5 million infants have been infected with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic and 90% of these cases are in Africa (Osborne, 2002). The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a combination of four homoeopathically prepared growth factors, compounded and named Cell Signal Enhancers®, on CD4% and CD4+ cell count, growth parameters such as weight, height and head circumference and clinical outcomes in children with HIV/AIDS. A sample of thirty-one (n=31) HIV positive children between one to thirteen years of age was recruited. Twenty-five (n=25) participants completed the trial. The participants were recruited from an informal squatter area called Finetown, situated south of Johannesburg. The parents or legal guardian of each participant were required to read and sign a Patient Information and Consent form (Appendix A). The duration of the study was fourteen weeks. Each participant acted as his/her own control in a two week pre-treament period. Analysis of CD4% and CD4+ cell count, measurements of growth parameters that included weight, height and head circumference and evaluation of the clinical outcomes were conducted pre-treatment, during treatment and post treatment. The school principal and daily caregiver administered the homoeopathic growth factor medication to each participant. One tablet was given three times a day, for a twelve week period. Statistical models such as a paired t-test, one-sample t-test and linear regression were used to analyse the data. The resultant analyses of the data have provided the following conclusions. HoGF treatment improved immune function of the participants, as there were increases in CD4% and CD4+ cell counts and an overall decrease in frequency of HIV symptoms. HoGF intervention reversed growth failure. This was demonstrated with increases in weight, height and head circumference that resulted in a form of “catch up” growth. When compared to published data trends of age-matched subjects using ART, HoGF demonstrated more favourable effects in the CD4%, CD4+ cell counts and growth parameters in a twelve week period. HoGF treatment was effective in each stage of HIV/AIDS; namely the asymptomatic, symptomatic and AIDS group. HoGF has proven to be effective in treating HIV infected children living with limited resources. It showed a 52% positive result as statistically significant versus a 5% prediction by random chance. Statistical significance was detected in the following; height, head circumference, energy, strength, vomiting, lymphadenopathy, skin lesions, respiratory tract infection, sinus tenderness and throat infection. There were no reported signs of adverse side effects while on HoGF treatment. The results of this study are expected to initiate further, much needed research in the area of HIV/AIDS and homoeopathy in both children and adults. It is recommended that future studies include a control group with placebo for inter-group comparisons. HoGF treatment can be seen as a possible public health option for treating HIV/AIDS in South Africa.