Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Men might benefit from opportunities specific to their needs in improving access to HIV care. This is a group vulnerable to higher morbidity and mortality than their female counterparts, due not only to poor or delayed health seeking behaviour and the culture of blame for the transmission of HIV, but probably due to neglect, inadequate or poor support by the current policies, by a gender biased research agenda, by the international research community and global health funders. Objectives: The objectives of this current study were: - to explore the reasons for poor health seeking behaviour amongst African men seeking HIV care in KZN; - to establish the health care practitioners’ views about the reasons for the perceived poor health seeking behaviour amongst African men accessing HIV services in KZN; - to inform guidelines in improving access to HIV services by African men Methodology In-depth interviews were employed as the method of obtaining lived experiences, perspectives and opinions of men living with HIV and that of their health care practitioners. Results It was found that men still feared the diagnosis of being HIV positive, even with the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) and the advances in managing this disease. Several reasons for this fear emerged with the common theme being the doom of impending death, social stigma and fear of abandonment as well as social marginalization. Conclusions We cannot expect to attract men to predominantly female orientated settings within health faculties. Special attempts need to be made to reach out to men in places they are comfortable being in. Messages should be clear and concise about the effectiveness of low cost, available treatment for HIV; and that early diagnosis improves health outcomes. Cultural sensitive interventions are needed that are suitable, in generating a clearer understanding of health management options and motives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mans kan voordeel trek uit geleenthede wat spesifiek op hul behoeftes in die verbetering van toegang tot MIV-sorg. Dit is 'n groep kwesbaar vir hoër morbiditeit en mortaliteit as hul vroulike eweknieë, nie net die gevolg swak of vertraagde gesondheid gedrag en die kultuur van die blaam vir die oordrag van MIV, maar waarskynlik as gevolg van verwaarlosing, onvoldoende of swak ondersteuning deur die huidige beleid , deur 'n geslag bevooroordeeld navorsing agenda, deur die internasionale navorsing gemeenskap en globale gesondheid-befondsers. Doelstellings: Die doelwitte van die huidige studie was: - die gesondheidsorg-praktisyns se siening oor die redes vir die waargenome swak gesondheid gedrag onder-Afrikaanse mans toegang tot MIV-dienste in KZN tot stand te bring; - die redes vir swak gesondheid gedrag onder-Afrikaanse mans wat MIV-sorg in KZN te verken en - riglyne te stel in die verbetering van toegang tot MIV-dienste deur swart mans Metodes In-diepte onderhoude is gebruik as die metode van die verkryging van geleefde ervarings, perspektiewe en menings van mense wat met MIV en dié van hul gesondheidsorg praktisyns. Bevindings Daar is bevind dat mans nog bang was vir die diagnose van MIV-positief is, selfs met die koms van hoogs aktiewe antiretrovirale terapie (HAART) en die vooruitgang in die bestuur van hierdie siekte. Verskeie redes vir hierdie vrees na vore gekom met die gemeenskaplike tema synde die straf van die naderende dood, sosiale stigma en vrees vir verlating, sowel as sosiale negatief. Gevolgtrekkings Ons kan nie verwag om mense te lok om oorwegend vroulike georiënteerde instellings in gesondheid fakulteite. Spesiale pogings moet aangewend word om uit te reik na die mans in plekke waar hulle gemaklik is. Boodskappe moet duidelik en bondig oor die doeltreffendheid van lae koste, beskikbare behandeling vir MIV, en dat die vroeë diagnose verbeter gesondheid uitkomste. Kulturele sensitiewe intervensies word benodig wat geskik is, in die skep van 'n beter begrip van gesondheid opsies en motiewe.