Thesis (MTech (Environmental Health))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010 / This study aimed to evaluate the "Antiretroviral Programme" in two informal townships, Du Noon and Doombacht, in the Westem Cape, South Africa. It evaluated how AIDS patients access Antiretroviral Therapy (ART'), their knowledge of ART's efficacy, their adherence to ART as well as their experiences of the quality of service at the Du Noon Clinic. Employing a questionnaire survey among 124 (12%) respondents on ART of the registered 1, 050 clients at the Du Noon Clinic, a systematic sampling of every 9th client (of the 1,050) was done. To generate findings of a qualitative nature, the study also used focus group discussions with a total of 36 AIDS patients on ART (18 of this number were also part of the survey), 11 community health/home-based workers and in-depth interviews with 2 nurses in charge of the rollout programme at the Clinic. Based on the survey results, the study determined that 93% (n=115) of AIDS patients access ART at the Du Noon Clinic, 75% (n=93) of respondents reported to ART adherence and 75% (n=93) displayed an understanding of ART's efficacy. It also revealed that 77% (n=95) of AIDS patients made good comments regarding the quality of service at the Du Noon Clinic. However, 25% (n=31) of AIDS patients were not adhering to ART. A Mann Whitney U test confirmed a significant relationship between the respondents' length of time on ART and the increase in CD4 count (p=0.01). However, AIDS patients who adhered to ART with the same length of time on ART have a higher CD4 count difference (p=0.04). The focus group discussions revealed AIDS patients' experiences of lack of confidentiality at the Du Noon Clinic. In addition, in five of the six focus group discussions, respondents expressed concern over disability grants not being awarded to patients with CD4 counts 200 cells lML and below². Notably, more than half of the respondents have been on treatment for more than one year. The study concluded that ART access is humanizing in the Western Cape and controversial AIDS treatment discourse has not significantly influenced the perceptions of AIDS patients regarding ART's efficacy. A high percentage (75%) of AIDS patients were adhering to ART in Du Noon and Doombacht. Addressing concerns over lack of confidentiality when accessing ART at the Du Noon Clinic, as well as the quest for disability grants within the context of AIDS treatment, could have further improved ART adherence in these communities. The study recommends that monitoring and evaluation (M&E) should involve measuring factors that influence adherence alongside accessibility to ART. Secondly, there should be mechanisms in place to maintain confidentiality in accessing ART as it is with Voluntary