This case study investigated the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada's crisis communication tactics employed in response to the Hepatitis C outbreak springing from the clinic in 2008. The research sought to evaluate the success of the clinic's crisis PR strategy, as it followed the advice of its lawyers and declined to take responsibility for the patients' exposure or offer an apology. The aim of this study is to illuminate public relations alternatives to apology in instances of corporate transgressions resulting in major harm, to salvage reputation and preserve company viability. Content analysis was used to extract public opinion from reader feedback comments on online news stories regarding the clinic. Benoit's (1995) Image Restoration theory and Coombs and Holladay's (2002) Situational Crisis Communication theory were used to develop the content analysis instrument and evaluate the clinic's crisis communication strategies. Agenda-setting theory was also explored between the news stories and the reader feedback. Analysis yielded overwhelmingly negative public response to the clinic's communications, and revealed some possible reasons for the negativity. A list of five crisis communications "best practices" was developed from these discoveries, highlighting five public relations principles to consider when the lawyers say apology is not an option: 1. Have a rapid initial response; 2. Maintain consistent message strategy, especially when employing Situational Crisis Communication tactis; 3. Compensate victims; 4. Give 'em a "pound of flesh," and 5. Get the situation squared away quickly. Evidence showed agenda-setting effects for the public influencing the "tone" of reporting (positive, neutral or negative), and both the news outlet and the public contributed to determining focal issues of the crisis. This finding underscores the importance of following "best practices" guidelines to devise effective communication strategies for shaping reputation in times of crisis.

Schistosomiaisis, commonly referred to as bilharzia is a neglected tropical parasitic water borne disease prevalent in developing countries and is endemic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to eliminate bilharzia as a public health problem by the year 2020 and as a measure to work towards this goal, the South African Department of Health (DoH) Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal commenced a Mass Treatment Campaign (MTC) targeted at rural schools to decrease bilharzia infection intensity and prevalence levels. The DOH MTC utilises communication materials to communicate with stakeholders and the public to create awareness of the campaign and bilharzia. This study specifically explored the perceptions of learners towards the communication materials used by the DOH MTC to communicate with the learners in order to generate improvements for the current communication strategy. The ability of an individual to receive information is commonly impacted by the community, social networks and the environment and infrastructural settings of the community. The Social Ecological Model of Communication and Health Behaviour (SEMCHB) acknowledges that such factors may have an impact on how the individual receives information. The study utilises the broader social ecological perspective, and particularly the SEMCHB as a framework for understanding and exploring the perceptions of learners. The study made use qualitative data through focus group discussions, semi- structured interviews and participant observations to gain insights from learners. The study discovered that many incorrect perceptions about bilharzia still surround the learners. The perceived messages communicated through the DoH MTC still need to be communicated with learners, since some learners face challenges in understanding the preferred message. The encoding of the communicated messages through the poster, pamphlet and consent forms is influenced by the individuals social networks hence this study recommends that future communication message are designed with reference to the SEMCHB. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 343-380.

Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome communication remains one of the most significant tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS given the absence of the cure to fight the growth and spread of the global pandemic. Through the use of information, HIV/AIDS communication seeks to empower recipients or societies with skills that will help reduce their risk of infection. South Africa has seen a high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication programmes or campaigns aimed at empowering different audiences, whilst paying particular emphasis on the most vulnerable. Young people, in particular young women, have a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This has prompted the development of many youth focused communication campaigns which have sought to address factors that increase young people`s vulnerability to HIV infection. However, despite the high visibility of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns targeting young people, high risk behaviours are still being seen among young women. Important to note are the high teenage pregnancy rates, growing abuse of substances and even the premature engagement of sexual activities among female youths. This, therefore, raises questions on the effect of HIV/AIDS communication programmes in encouraging protective behaviour against risky behavioural practices amongst young women. Using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to this study, an investigation was conducted into whether current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns have been limited (in terms of effectiveness) when it comes to communicating with young women on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. Awareness of HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS communication programmes, relevance of HIV/AIDS communication programmes, the factors that influence the use and understanding of HIV/AIDS messages and the impact of HIV/AIDS communication on attitude and behaviour change amongst female youths is measured. A total of 350 questionnaire copies were self-administered to 350 participants, with a 100 percent response rate. From the 350 participants, seventy five took part in focus group discussions. Data obtained was analysed using SPSS (for descriptive statistics), and the grounded theory. The results of the study indicate that all participants were aware of HIV/AIDS with at least 60% of the participants aware of at least three HIV/AIDS communication campaigns. When measuring the relevance of HIV/AIDS communication campaigns, participants (58%) indicate that issues discussed in most HIV/AIDS communication campaigns increased the relevance of HIV/AIDS messages to young women although such relevance was, for some respondents, affected by limited access to communication campaigns. Results also show that levels of knowledge and understanding of factors that expose young women to HIV infections differed amongst participants in as much as the factors that hinder the use of advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages also differed. Sixty-nine percent of the participants have knowledge and a better understanding of factors that expose young females to HIV infections. Twenty-five percent of the participants identified peer pressure, whilst 23% identified limited access to HIV/AIDS communication campaigns and another 18% identified a disregard of HIV/AIDS messages as significant factors that limit the ability of individuals to implement advice contained in HIV/AIDS messages. The results also indicate that although HIV/AIDS communication campaigns seem to have played a role in empowering some participants, there is still a significant minority whom communication has not effectively communicated with. Based on these findings, the study suggests, amongst other things, the need to intensify current HIV/AIDS communication campaigns through the provision of consistent messages on appropriate condom use, the identification of easily accessible communication channels and the development of thought provoking and attention grabbing campaigns as well as the need to continue to directly involve young women in the processes of their own development.

Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Hubbly Bubbly smoking is a visibly growing trend among young people globally. However, health promotion about the risks that result from hubbly bubbly smoking has not been vigilant so far. The study attempts to determine youth’s knowledge and perceptions towards the health risks incurred from smoking the HB. The study triangulates three theories namely: The Extended Parallel Process Model, Peer Cluster Theory and Hofstede’s Cultural Theory using a mixed method approach among University of Limpopo students. A sample of 350 students was used, made up of n=175 HB users and n=175 non-users. In the quantitive part of the study, a 2 x 2 between and within respondents design was followed. Most HB users 74% (129) and non-users 80% (140) identified lung cancer as the health risk of HB smoking. Participants perceived HB smoking health risks as exaggerated, and that HB is less addictive and less harmful. The majority of participants (75%) had not heard or seen any health communication awareness campaigns about HB risks. Focus group interviews revealed that participants perceived HB as less harmful, less expensive with no visible health warning and not addictive to every user. Findings suggest that there is inadequacy in terms of knowledge as well as negative perceptions towards HB and its health risks. There should be more health communication campaigns that will engage the youth and the public, and the media should speak more about HB and its health risks. The study contributes to the body of knowledge about health communication campaigns about existing problems. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

The thrust of this dissertation is concerned with investigating beneficiary communities‟ participation in HIV/AIDS communication through community radio stations. The aim is to understand the presence and access of targeted community voices in the dialogue against HIV/AIDS. The research focused on a single case study of a community radio station that is based in Platfontein, Kimberley in the Republic of South Africa. X-K FM is a community radio station under the auspices of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and its primary target audiences are !Xun and Khwe communities of Platfontein. It is the only formal communication channel that targets these San community members in their respective mother tongues. The study approaches communication at a nuance level in that it evaluates participation possibilities between communicators and the communicated. In its third decade, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is one of many challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa and the Republic of South Africa is no exception. This dissertation attempts to understand participation and access of civil voices in the strategies of prevention, care, support and treatment of HIV/AIDS. On a broader level, the dissertation seeks to understand the possibilities of bottom-up approaches in communicating about HIV/AIDS. In analysing the beneficiary community participation at X-K FM, the research was underpinned by the theory of Jurgen Habermas: The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere – An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society. The data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, as well as simple and partial participant observation. The study concludes that the radio station has provided some avenues to facilitate the process of beneficiary community participation in HIV/AIDS communication content. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed October 10, 2007). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 291-305).

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the Masters Degree of Technology (Public Relations Management), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / The growing number of HIV/AIDS infections amongst the youth is a cause for concern, particularly with prevention messages being communicated through various media platforms. This signals gaps between the senders and receivers of these messages. Therefore, people are either not learning the message about the dangers of HIV, or are unable or unwilling to act on it. Mthatha is in the centre of the old Transkei region of the Eastern Cape. It falls under the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality and the OR Tambo District Municipality. Teenage pregnancy is a major challenge in this area, which indicates that most teenagers do not use protection during sexual intercourse. This suggests that the HIV infection rate may be too high. With there being no cure for this disease, communication has been identified as an ideal method of helping to curb the spread of this disease. The purpose of the study was to assess communication tools used to educate high school learners about HIV/AIDS in the Mthatha area. Data was collected through questionnaires administered to 341 high school learners. Three out of the eight high schools from the Mthatha Central Business District (CBD) in the Eastern Cape were identified for the study. The selection of these high schools was based on the demographics of the learners, which are age, gender and background. The findings have revealed that there are numerous methods used to educate learners about the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Learners identified mostly with three sources as the accurate tools of communication in HIV/AIDS education; Health education/curriculum, Entertainment-education and Peer Education.

This study sought to examine linguistic and discursive strategies used to construct messages reflective of the implementation of the HIV and AIDS policy for Zimbabwe of 1999 by government and private newspapers. Such analysis was perceived to be important since media content has a bearing on Zimbabweans‘ perception and attitudes regarding HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and control. The study was aimed at comparing messages from newspapers with views by the people of Zimbabwe regarding the implementation of the policy. Findings reveal that empowerment programmes particularly those targeting women and children are lagging behind as Zimbabweans, literature and newspaper data sources testify. In addition, information sources concur that cultural (For example, stigmatisation, polygamy, religious practices, spouse inheritance) and structural (For example, patriarchy, masculinity, bureaucracy, politics) are stumbling blocks that negatively affect the implementation of the policy. Further, even though private and government newspapers do not fully agree on the portrayal of human agents, there is a general consensus between newspaper reports and Zimbabweans that people still face socio-economic and econo-political challenges that militate against the smooth implementation of the HIV and AIDS policy. Government newspapers tend to downplay aspects which reveal inadequacies of government activities. The study notes this as betrayal of use of ideological squares both by government and private newspapers whereby certain aspects regarding the implementation of the policy are either downplayed or highlighted to influence perception. The study reveals that newspaper reports used nominalisation, quantification, positive politeness, thematisation, rhematisation, intertextuality, euphemism, proverbs, idioms, action verbs, metaphors and citation of experts as linguistic and discursive strategies both for agenda setting and building purposes regarding the implementation of the HIV and AIDS policy. Other devices used particularly in the encoding of Operation Murambatsvina are, claptraps, deictic referencing, personal pronouns, adjectives and direct speech. The study attributes problems regarding the Zimbabwean HIV and AIDS intervention model to the top – down approach inherent in the policy. Hence, the call for an adoption of an unhu/hunhu/ubuntu inspired bottom – up HIV and AIDS intervention model in Zimbabwe. This would inculcate pro-family, pro-village, pro-nation/people and ―servant leadership‖ (Mangena and Chitando, 2011) values in the fight against the pandemic through the embracing of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). Unfortunately, such values largely continue to elude the radar of the current top – down HIV and AIDS intervention model cuurently in use in Zimbabwe. / African Languages / D. Litt et Phil. (African Languages)

The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of nurses regarding communication with nurse managers in the workplace. The design of the study was a generic qualitative. The methodology of choice was qualitative, explorative method. The sample was non-probability and the approach or technique used was purposive sampling method. It comprised of thirty nurses, ten of each category. The category was a component of professional nurses, enrolled nurses and enrolled nursing auxiliary nurses. The data collection method used in the study was in-depth interviews using a self-designed interview guide. Face to face interviews was conducted in a quiet room within the hospital ward as a natural setting. Data was collected using a voice recorder for the sake of protecting the missing of information which may be important. The data analysis was with the help of employing transcribing and coding of voice recorded data and observation noted during the collection of data. The data collection method used in the study was in-depth interviews using a self-designed interview guide. Face to face interviews was conducted in a quiet room within the hospital ward as a natural setting. Data was collected using a voice recorder for the sake of protecting the missing of information which may be important. The data analysis was with the help of employing transcribing and coding of voice recorded data and observation noted during the collection of data. The findings showed that there were dynamics in communication from all nurse categories and that also indicated that there was a need to conduct a research so that the root cause may be identified and suggestions to be put in place to curb the challenges. In conclusion it showed that communication is the key problem of all and it is a worldwide problem. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)