A research report presented to the school of Human and Community Development Faculty of Humanities University of Witwatersrand in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Arts in Social Work November 2016. / Globally, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is number six in the top ten disease burdens. This epidemic was viewed as an obstacle to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Number 1 which deals with poverty eradication. The HIV/AIDS epidemic undermines economic development and exacerbates poverty (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2012). The Republic of South Africa has adopted the implementation of the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) and Support Programme, as a strategy to address this epidemic. This qualitative research study sought to explore the psychosocial circumstances of community caregivers working in Tshwane Region. Individual interviews were conducted with 14 community care workers using a semi-structured interview schedule. The participants were sampled by using purposive sampling and they represented three different communities, namely urban, rural and from informal settlements. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse data collected. Six themes summarised the findings of the research. Both negative and positive effects of the psychosocial circumstances that affect work performance, home and personal lives of community caregivers working in Tshwane Region were discovered through the research. For most caregivers the circumstances are so dire that they have compromised their marriages, family relationships as well as their health conditions. However, a few caregivers are benefiting much better from the services. These are those that were trained and accredited as Child and Youth Care Workers. They earn a living wage and have learned better skills to deal with work situations. However, poor communication and withholding information from staff have led to other caregivers being disillusioned and jealous of those that have progressed, as they feel unfairly treated and discriminated against either due to their age or level of education. Low stipends contribute to more dissatisfaction, as the caregivers cannot afford their living expenses while they are also vulnerable to the same conditions as their beneficiaries. This goes together with lack of support and supervision and being left to fend for themselves in service rendering and acquiring resources. The available care for the carer’s programme seems ineffective and least appreciated. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the knowledge base on the psychosocial circumstances of community caregivers in Tshwane and provide useful information to influence and improve the existing Framework for Home and Community Based Care and Support Programmes in Tshwane. / GR2017

HIV/AIDS is a global challenge and its impact is evident. This places a burden on hospitals and health professionals. To ease this burden there are home-based care programmes which, through home-based caregivers, provide patients living with HIV/AIDS with physical and palliative care. However, these HBCGs face various challenges such as poverty, discrimination and stigma when caring for PALHIV, and their own emotional strain, which becomes burdensome without sufficient support from the home-based care centre. The qualitative study undertaken investigates the challenges and coping mechanisms of the HBCGs. Thirteen research participants were drawn from a centre in Mamelodi. Data was gathered through interviews and observations, categorised into themes and analysed. Major findings revealed that social challenges faced by HBCGs include poverty, stigmatisation and discrimination. Emotions experienced by HBCGs include guilt, anger, hopelessness, but they have spiritual reliance through prayer as one of their coping mechanisms. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the level of HIV and AIDS knowledge, attitudes, as well as practices amongst caregivers of HIV infected children in Pretoria, using Kalafong hospital as a case study. The study uses a questionnaire as survey instrument. A total of 30 respondents participated in the study, which took place in October of 2013. The respondents were selected via simple random sampling and the results were analyzed. The results showed a remarkably high level of HIV and AIDS knowledge amongst the respondents, from which it was evident, that: A significant number of caregivers were aware of and able to take care of existing medical conditions arising from HIV in children. Most of the home-based care of children living with HIV was carried out by women in a very disproportionate ratio to men. In this regard, the study offers a range of suggestions and recommendations as well as existing best practices, such as the UNAIDS booklet on caregiving within the context of HIV and AIDS. The study was undertaken with the realization that generalizations cannot be made through extrapolation to the larger society because of limitations, such as the sample size of this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Hierdie studie ondersoek die vlak van MIV/VIGS kennis, houdings teenoor dieselfde, sowel as praktyke onder versorgers van MIV-besmette kinders in Pretoria, met behulp van Kalafonghospitaal as 'n gevallestudie. Die studie maak gebruik van 'n vraelys as opname instrument. 'n Totaal van 30 respondente het deelgeneem aan die studie, wat in Oktober 2013 plaasgevind het. Die respondente is gekies deur 'n eenvoudige ewekansige steekproefneming en die resultate is ontleed. Die resultate toon 'n merkwaardig hoë vlak van MIV en VIGS kennis onder die respondente. Hierdie kennis, houdings en praktyke opgedoen was voldoende om daarop te let: • 'n beduidende aantal van die versorgers is bewus van en in staat om bestaande toestande in MIV-sorg in kinders te versorg. • Die meeste van die tuisversorging van kinders wat met MIV leef is uitgevoer deur vroue in 'n baie oneweredige verhouding met mans. In hierdie verband bied die studie 'n verskeidenheid van voorstelle en aanbevelings sowel as die bestaande beste praktyke soos die UNAIDS boekie oor versorging binne die konteks van MIV en VIGS. Die studie is gedoen onder die besef dat veralgemenings nie gemaak kan word deur ekstrapolasie na die groter samelewing nie, as gevolg van beperkings soos die monster grootte van hierdie studie

HIV/AIDS is a global challenge and its impact is evident. This places a burden on hospitals and health professionals. To ease this burden there are home-based care programmes which, through home-based caregivers, provide patients living with HIV/AIDS with physical and palliative care. However, these HBCGs face various challenges such as poverty, discrimination and stigma when caring for PALHIV, and their own emotional strain, which becomes burdensome without sufficient support from the home-based care centre. The qualitative study undertaken investigates the challenges and coping mechanisms of the HBCGs. Thirteen research participants were drawn from a centre in Mamelodi. Data was gathered through interviews and observations, categorised into themes and analysed. Major findings revealed that social challenges faced by HBCGs include poverty, stigmatisation and discrimination. Emotions experienced by HBCGs include guilt, anger, hopelessness, but they have spiritual reliance through prayer as one of their coping mechanisms. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The study was about assessing the dropout rate of children who are heads of households at Mandela Village in Tshwane Municipality, Gauteng Province. Given the number of orphans who are escalating in each year as a result of HIV/AIDS pandemic especially in the Sub Saharan region, the author’s intention was to analyse what are the causes for these children to drop out from school, and what can be done to minimize the dropout rate of these children. All the participants were the children who are heads of households and residents of Mandela Village, East of Mamelodi Township, and Pretoria. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with thirty-one children who are heads of households, as well as with two educators in schools where these children are attending school or were attending school. This was followed by two focus groups with the same children. The intention of using the focus group was to investigate the issues raised during the interviews and to establish an understanding of how the children who are heads of households want to improve their own circumstances. The study findings observed that there were no strong linkages in assisting children who are heads of households between the Department of Social Development and Department of Education in the North Rand Region, Gauteng. Other findings were that the schools have no support programmes or teachers assigned to assist these children to cope with schoolwork. Due to multiplicity of responsibilities they are faced with, they are not copying with their studies.

This study focuses on the psycho-social challenges faced by HIV/AIDS lay counsellors at a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) site in Tshwane, South Africa. A qualitative approach was employed by using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions to obtain information from four lay counsellors, who provide pre- and post-test counselling at a VCT site. The results indicate that the management of clients’ emotions and needs pose enormous challenges to HIV/AIDS lay counsellors who do not receive any formal psycho-social support at VCT sites. The research participants in this study resort to their own coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges – with varying degrees of success. The recommendation is made that a formal support programme should be put in place at VCT sites, which will allow HIV/AIDS lay counsellors to respond to the many demands placed on them. Such a programme can help prevent burnout and a high turnover in lay counsellors. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

This study focuses on the psycho-social challenges faced by HIV/AIDS lay counsellors at a Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) site in Tshwane, South Africa. A qualitative approach was employed by using semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions to obtain information from four lay counsellors, who provide pre- and post-test counselling at a VCT site. The results indicate that the management of clients’ emotions and needs pose enormous challenges to HIV/AIDS lay counsellors who do not receive any formal psycho-social support at VCT sites. The research participants in this study resort to their own coping mechanisms to deal with the challenges – with varying degrees of success. The recommendation is made that a formal support programme should be put in place at VCT sites, which will allow HIV/AIDS lay counsellors to respond to the many demands placed on them. Such a programme can help prevent burnout and a high turnover in lay counsellors. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)