The practical project of this thesis is to create a critical account of the experiences of women in the AIDS crisis in the United States. The theoretical project is to refine a concept of invisibility of various kinds of problems and obstacles women have been confronted with. The question that both parts of this project seek to answer is roughly the following: "What is it that we can learn about improving the lives of women by looking at the AIDS crisis as a lens into American social conditions at the end of the Twentieth Century?" Feminist theories provide a basis for this inquiry as well as the theoretical work on a concept of invisibility.

The objective of the proposed research study was to answer the following research questions: Do clients in their respectful stages of diagnosis place more emphasis on certain psychological issues than others? And if so, can we identify the specific psychological issues that were considered to be most significant and unique across the stages of the HIV/AIDS continuum? To test these research questions, 37 homosexual men falling in three specific stages of the infection were surveyed. These three stages included: (1) HIV+ asymptomatic, (2) HIV+ chronic symptomatic, and (3) AIDS diagnosis. The HIV/AIDS Client Concern (HACC) questionnaire was developed to assess the significance clients placed on certain psychological issues and, was administered to all the subjects. The statistical analyses revealed that clients' level of diagnosis influenced how much emphasis they placed on what they considered to be significant psychological issues. More specifically, clients in the asymptotic group reported a higher concern with issues surrounding confidentiality of their HIV/AIDS status than the AIDS diagnosis group. The chronic symptomatic group, on the other hand, was significantly more concerned with issues regarding feelings of guilt/shame, shock, depression, fear, loneliness, and anxiety of infecting other people through casual contact than the other groups. In addition, the AIDS diagnosis group was most concerned with issues surrounding the planning of their future care in comparison with the asymptomatic group. A more detailed analysis of each questions' content and its significance as well as the implications such results have for both researchers and practitioners alike will be discussed.

HIV is among the highly infectious and pathogenic diseases with a high mortality rate. The spread of HIV is in uenced by several individual based epidemiological factors such as age, gender, mobility, sexual partner pro le and the presence of sexually transmitted infections (STI). CD4+ count over time provided the rst surrogate marker of HIV disease progression and is currently used for clinical management of HIV-positive patients. The CD4+ count as a key disease marker is repeatedly measured among those individuals who test HIV positive to monitor the progression of the disease since it is known that HIV/AIDS is a long wave event. This gives rise to what is commonly known as longitudinal data. The aim of this project is to determine if the patients' weight, baseline age, sex, viral load and clinic site, in uences the rate of change in CD4+ count over time. We will use data of patients who commenced highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) from the Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) in the AIDS Treatment Project (CAT) between June 2004 and September 2006, including two years of follow-up for each patient. Analysis was done using linear mixed models methods for longitudinal data. The results showed that larger increase in CD4+ count over time was observed in females and individuals who were younger. However, upon tting baseline log viral load in the model instead of the log viral at all visits was that, larger increase in CD4+ count was observed in females, individuals who were younger, had higher baseline log viral load and lower weight. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

This study examines the involvement of youth leadership particularly at the University of Durban Westville, in promoting public awareness about HIV/AIDS and in HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives. The aim of the study was to investigate the contributions of the student leaders in initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS. Accordingly, interviews were conducted with leaders of various student organisations at the university. The aim was to test the student leadership's general understanding of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, types of HIV/AIDS programmes and their involvement in them. The study is based on a random sample of 15 of 35 student's clubs and societies and the Student Representative Council at UDW. In addition, five organisations from the university structures were interviewed for the purpose of this study. These included: the Student Counsellor from the Wellness Centre, the Academic Registrar from the University Management, Deputy President of the Combined Staff Association, President of the Academic Staff Association and the Director of the Centre for Educational Research, Evaluation and Policy at University of Durban-Westville. The general finding of the study is that the role of the student leadership and its involvement on HIV/AIDS initiatives has been minimal and unorganised. In response this study presents a number of recommendations to address this problem. The key recommendation revolves around the need for the student leaders and the university management to collectively design a framework from which all HIV/AIDS initiatives will be administered. This includes policy formulation and discussions on AIDS. In the final analysis, it is imperative to note that this study was not done only for the benefit of the UDW community, but other institutions such as the government departments, particularly the Education Department, NGO's, Youth Commission and other youth organisations. / Thesis (M.A)-University of Durban-Westville, 2003.

Beginning with the assumption that HIV and AIDS is a “gendered pandemic,” and that the church is central to the lives of many people in Africa, particularly Tanzania, this study sought to assess the HIV and AIDS intervention programmes of the church. The study used the HIV and AIDS programmes and policy of the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania as a case study, and the central question of this study was: “To what extent have the theological beliefs which under-gird the HIV and AIDS policy and programmes encouraged these programmes to adequately respond to the gender challenges posed by the pandemic?” The hypothesis of this study was that the HIV and AIDS programmes of the ELCT Northern Diocese have not responded adequately to the gender challenges posed by the pandemic among its church members, and that therefore a more gender-sensitive theological response is needed. As such the objectives of this study were: To describe and analyze the HIV and AIDS policy and programmes of the ELCT Northern Diocese; To investigate whether the HIV and AIDS programmes are gender sensitive; To examine to what extent the theological beliefs under-girding the HIV and AIDS programmes and policy encourage gender sensitivity in these programmes; To develop theologies that encourage a more gender sensitive response to HIV and AIDS. The data for the study was collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, case studies and documentary sources such as primary health education programme annual reports and policy document. From sketching the context of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Tanzania in general, the study proceeds to describe and analyze the prevailing HIV and AIDS programmes of the ELCT Northern Diocese, which range from HIV and AIDS education awareness, to the provision of medical care, physical and spiritual care. It then assesses the theological beliefs underpinning the diocese‟s HIV and AIDS programmes/policy, and examines how the Lutheran Church understands and involves itself in the mission of God, pointing to a way forward in this regard by underlining Luther‟s practical response to the bubonic plague in relation to HIV and AIDS programmes. Three theoretical frameworks of analysis were used to assist in the analysis of the data collected. These were: a) the gendered conceptual framework for assessing HIV and AIDS interventions as pioneered by Geeta Rao Gupta; b) Luther‟s theologies of suffering, healing and gender; c) African feminist cultural hermeneutics as pioneered by Musimbi Kanyoro. The study concludes that as long as the church does not consider the gender nature of HIV and AIDS, its efforts to overcome the pandemic will bear little fruit. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

Introduction Nearly half of all new HIV infections worldwide occur in young people aged 15-24 years. Risky sexual behaviours may lead to the development of lifelong negative habits like having multiple partners, thereby placing young people at risk of a broad range of health problems, including HIV/AIDS. Prevention is therefore critical and includes changing behaviours that are risky, such as the early age of sexual initiation, having many sexual partners and non-use of condoms. The study aimed to evaluate whether a theory based HIV/AIDS intervention, 'Be A Responsible Teenager' (B.A.R.T.), could produce behaviour change among high school learners in South Africa. Methods A pre-test /multiple post-test intervention study was undertaken. All Grade 10 learners (n = 805) from all three public high schools in Wentworth were included in the study. Eleven teachers were interviewed from these schools. Learners completed a questionnaire at baseline (Tl), immediately post intervention 1 (T2), post intervention 2 (T3) and after a period of seven months (T4). The B.A.R.T.intervention was implemented in the intervention schools while the control group did not receive any intervention. Qualitative data was analyzed according to themes, while quantitative data was analyzed cross sectionally and longitudinally. Results Teachers reported many obstacles in implementing the HIV/AIDS Life Skills' curriculum, including the poor quality of training and inadequate resources in schools. Further, learners practised high-risk sexual behaviours. Gender differences in sexual behaviour were reported with males predominately practising higher risk behaviours than females.The B.A.R.T. intervention did show changes in behaviour for alcohol use at last sex and for the determinants knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, self-efficacy and intentions to practise safer sex respectively, over time. However, the intervention didnot positively impact abstinence behaviours, condom use and the reduction in partners. Further, subjective norms did not change. Conclusion The major obstacles to AIDS prevention include the current practices of risky sexual behaviours including age mixing, early sexual initiation, multiple partners, forced sex and receiving money or gifts for sex among others. Social norms as potrayed by parents, peers and religious groups play a pivotal role in promoting protective sexual behaviours. The role of gender and the gaps in LHAP (Life Skills' HIV/AIDS programme) also require urgent attention. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

Not only does South Africa have the largest number of people with HIV/AIDS in the world, it continues to have a high mortality rate associated with AIDS due to the limited availability of antiretroviral treatment in this country. While a body of empirical research has developed in the West on the issue of AIDS-related bereavement, it has limited applicability to the South African context where the daily lives of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS are markedly different to those in more developed countries in the West, in terms of the extent of HIV-related morbidity and mortality, poverty, stigma, availability of social support, gender inequality, medical treatment, welfare services and government policies. An exploratory, descriptive study was therefore undertaken to examine AIDS-related bereavement experiences among adults in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. Qualitative face-face interviews were conducted with 18 adults who had lost one or more significant others to AIDS. Qualitative face-face interviews were also conducted with eight professionals working in non-governmental organizations in KwaZulu-Natal that served people affected by HIV/AIDS to obtain their perspectives on the issue of AIDS-related bereavement among clients and how they were addressing this issue within their organizations. A social ecological framework was used to understand participants' experiences with AIDS-related bereavement. Two major themes emerged: participants had to keep their grief to themselves and more urgent life stresses took priority in their lives. A conspiracy of silence existed as a result of the high level of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and a perceived lack of both informal and formal support for those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Grief was treated as a "luxury" in a sense and energies had to be focused on daily survival needs. Participants tended to suppress their emotions and relied on inner resources, in particular finding meaning in their loss and relying on their religious faith. Interviews with professionals confirmed these themes. Recommendations are made at both the local and national levels to address AIDS-related bereavement. It is suggested that while individual and group interventions should be developed for those at risk for complicated grief as a result of an AIDS-related loss, the focus needs to be on structural changes such as reducing HIV-related stigma, combating poverty, encouraging men to play a more active role in the care and support of those who are ill with HIV/AIDS or bereaved by the disease, and improving the status and capability of the social work profession to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the South African welfare policy framework. Further research needs to be conducted on AIDS-related bereavement in the South African context, considering the magnitude of AIDS-related loss and bereavement and the scarcity of indigenous information about this issue. Collaborations between researchers, practitioners and the bereaved are encouraged both in South Africa and internationally to highlight the unique nature of AIDS-related bereavement in the South African context and to test the efficacy of indigenous strategies and interventions to address AIDS-related bereavement. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

The AIDS epidemic in Africa has reached dramatic proportions. Of the 42 million people infected with HIV worldwide, 30 million are in Africa. Current available therapies have begun to transform this fatal disease into a chronic condition but there are still major obstacles that have resulted in a great demand for new and better drugs. The aim of this study was to synthesize novel and effective HIV protease inhibitors. This work describes the first account of pentacycloundecane (PCU)-peptide and peptoid based protease inhibitors. These inhibitors are proposed to bind the wild type C-South African HIV protease (C-SA) catalytic site via the norstatine or dihydroxylethelene type functional group of the PCU. The desired compounds were synthesized by the coupling of the peptides and peptoids to the PCU cage which resulted in a series of promising and structurally diverse HIV-1 protease inhibitors. The inhibitors were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and evaluated against the wild type C-SA enzyme for its ability to inhibit 50 % of the enzyme’s activity (IC50). Two of the compounds reported herein, inhibited the enzyme activity at concentrations less than 80 nM. NMR investigations indicated that the activity was related to the chirality of the PCU moiety and its ability to induce conformations of the coupled peptide side chain. Employing the new Efficient Adiabatic Symmetrized Rotating Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (EASY-ROESY) technique enabled us to obtain vital information about the 3D structure of these small linear peptides and peptoids in solution. This technique is the first example describing the successful through space correlations of such small peptides. Furthermore, docking and a combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) molecular dynamics MD simulation at the AM1 semi empirical level mirrored the observed NMR results and the experimental IC50 activity profile of the considered inhibitors. The combination of these experimental and theoretical methods provided a powerful insight into the interaction mode of these cage peptide and peptoid inhibitors with the enzyme. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Introduction: Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) is a child survival strategy that has been adopted in South Africa (SA) as the standard of care for managing sick children in the primary health care setting. IMCI includes guidelines for management of paediatric HIV. This study aimed to investigate effectiveness of IMCI as a vehicle to deliver essential child survival interventions, particularly HIV interventions, in routine practise in a high HIV prevalence setting, and to investigate barriers and enabling factors for IMCI implementation. Methods: The study was conducted in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, SA. In the qualitative component, focus group discussions were conducted with IMCI trained health workers and carers of children under 5 years, to explore experiences of IMCI implementation, particularly the HIV component, from the perspective of both target groups. A comparative survey was then conducted. Randomly selected IMCI trained nurses were observed for up to 20 consultations with sick children presenting consecutively to the facility, and their findings compared to those of an IMCI expert who subsequently assessed the child. Observed children were tested for HIV. Results: IMCI trained nurses found IMCI training informative and empowering, and there was agreement among nurses that their skills in managing sick children improved after training. Barriers to IMCI implementation included increased time required for IMCI consultations and lack of support from colleagues. IMCI trained nurses expressed reluctance to implement the HIV component of IMCI, believing it to be unnecessary, unacceptable to mothers and that they lacked the skills to implement HIV care. In total, 77 IMCI trained nurses were observed for a total of 1357 consultations between May 2006 and January 2007; nurses were observed for a mean of 17.7 consultations. Components of the IMCI assessment were frequently omitted; 14/77(18%) nurses asked about all main symptoms in every child. IMCI classifications were often incorrect; 52/112 (46.4%) children with a general danger sign were correctly classified. The HIV component was poorly implemented, 342/1357 (25.2%) children were correctly classified for HIV, although the HIV algorithm performed well when implemented by IMCI experts. Conclusion: IMCI implementation is fragmented and incomplete. Interventions are urgently needed to achieve and maintain high quality health worker performance in implementing IMCI. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

HIV and AIDS have historically been associated with homosexuality and promiscuity (especially among blacks), evoking blame and stigma. The implication of sex in the spread of HIV and AIDS complicates matters as traditional ideas of pollution and contamination are evoked. These attitudes translate into a lack of support for people infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS. Moreover, such attitudes result in the stigmatisation of those people, leaving them with a poor self-image. Stigmatisation also leads to secrecy and non-disclosure of the disease allowing it to spread rapidly. This thesis deals with the issue of stigmatisation due to HIV and AIDS, looking specifically at the two congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) in KwaZulu-Natal province. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.