Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The vulnerability of female adolescents to HIV/AIDS has been widely documented with little effort being made to investigate the obstacles that these female adolescents actually face in translating HIV knowledge and attitudes into HIV preventive behaviours. The researcher randomly selected 120 school going female adolescents aged between 14-19, from six secondary schools in the Gweru District in an effort to assess their levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and their attitudes towards HIV prevention. The study aimed to uncover the obstacles the female adolescents face in practicing HIV preventive sexual behaviours. Inferences drawn from the study point to the fact that although female adolescents may have high levels of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and positive attitudes towards HIV prevention, there are cultural and religious values that promote male dominance in patriarchal societies and female docility thereby leaving little or no room for females to negotiate HIV prevention in sexual relationships. Poverty- driven economic dependency on men, orphan hood, peer pressure, lack of support from parents and guardians on issues to do with their sex and sexuality, lack of skills to be assertive and negative attitudes of health service providers were some of the barriers the female adolescents face as they try to pave their way in to safe motherhood. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kwesbaarheid van vroulike adolessente aan MIV/vigs is wyd gedokumenteer met min moeite wat gemaak word die struikelblokke te ondersoek dat hierdie vroulike adolessente werklik gesig in die vertaling van MIV kennis en gesindhede in MIV voorkomende gedrag. Die navorser lukraak gekies 120 skoolgaande vroulike adolessente tussen die ouderdomme van 14-19, van ses sekondêre skole in die Gweru-distrik in 'n poging om hulle vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en hul houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming te evalueer. Die studie is daarop gerig om die struikelblokke ontbloot die vroulike adolessente gesig in die beoefening van MIV voorkomende seksuele gedrag. Gevolgtrekkings waartoe die studie verwys na die feit dat alhoewel vroulike adolessente kan 'n hoë vlakke van kennis oor MIV / vigs en 'n positiewe houding teenoor MIV-voorkoming, is daar kulturele en godsdienstige waardes wat die bevordering van manlike oorheersing in patriargale samelewings en vroulike handelbaarheid daardeur sodat daar min of geen ruimte vir vrouens MIV-voorkoming in seksuele verhoudings te onderhandel. Armoede-gedrewe ekonomiese afhanklikheid van mans, wees kap, groepsdruk, gebrek aan ondersteuning van ouers en voogde op die kwessies te doen het met hul seks en seksualiteit, gebrek aan vaardighede om selfgeldend en negatiewe houdings van gesondheid diensverskaffers is 'n paar van die hindernisse die vroulike adolessente gesig soos hulle probeer om hul weg te baan in 'n veilige moederskap.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The researcher conducted an explorative, qualitative study to identify the perceptions and experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV and AIDS in order to establish strategies within ARV Clinic to deal with the situation and eliminate this as a barrier to access the services. The study population included 5 men and 5 women who access health services at Oshakati ARV Clinic and have been on ARVs for more than one year, aged 20-60 years old. The study participants were selected using a purposive sampling approach and interviewed in the ARV clinic. The study found that participants have experienced enacted and internal stigma and discrimination related to their HIV status within their community and families. They however did not perceive or report any experiences of stigma and discrimination in the ARV clinic. Possibility exists that the participants might not be well empowered to detect acts of stigma and discrimination in the health care environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorser het 'n verkennende, kwalitatiewe studie uitgevoer om die waarnemings en ervarings van stigma en diskriminasie tussen mense wat met MIV en VIGS leef, vas te stel met die doel om strategieë te bepaal binne die ARV kliniek om die situasie te hanteer en die hindernes om dienste te bekom te verwyder. Die studiepopulasie het bestaan uit 5 mans en 5 vroue wat die gesondheidsdienste van die Oshakati ARV kliniek gebruik en wat ARV’S vir meer as een jaar gebruik en tussen die ouderdomme van 20-60 jaar is. Die deelnemers is gekies met 'n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking-benadering en onderhoude is gevoer in die ARV-kliniek. Die studie het bevind dat die deelnemers interne stigma en diskriminasie wat verband hou met hul MIV-status binne hul gemeenskap en families ondervind het. Hulle het egter nie aangedui dat hulle stigma en diskriminasie ervaar het by die ARV-kliniek nie. Die moontlikheid bestaan dat die deelnemers nie goed bemagtig is om dade van stigma en diskriminasie in gesondheidsdienste te kan identifiseer nie.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study sought to answer the question, what are the reasons for low utilization of long acting contraceptives among HIV positive women attending the Harare Post-test support services clinic. The study was conducted at Harare Post-test support services clinic from September to December 2012. Data was collected using respondent administered questionnaires. A sample of 30 respondents was used for the study. After data collection, data was grouped, analysed and presented in the form of tables, figures, charts and descriptive statistics. The major findings from the study were that the majority of the women who attend the Harare Post-test support services clinic are within the age groups 35-49yaers. Most of the women are not using and modern contraceptive method. Condoms are used by 17% of the respondents and the long acting contraceptives, Jadelle and IUCD and used by a very low number of women attending the clinic. Fear of side effects is one of the reasons why the women are not suing long acting contraception. Most of the women know that the Jadelle and IUCD are long acting methods of contraception which prevents unintended pregnancy for up to five years for Jadelle and up to ten years for the IUCD. The long acting contraceptives are not available at the post test-support services clinic since the set-up of the clinic is not ideal for the provision of these services, women who need the methods are refereed outside the clinic were the cost to access the services is not affordable for most of the respondents. The conclusion drawn from the study is that women living with HIV have limited knowledge and access the long acting contraceptives at Harare Post-test support services clinic hence are not utilizing the methods. The researcher recommends that all women attending the clinic should be educated on the benefits of using dual protection to protect against unintended pregnancy as well as HIV transmission. A proper referral system should be established so that women referred to other service providers do not pay extra fees to access family planning services at the referral centres. Any IEC material should address the myths and fears related to use of long acting contraception by HIV positive women. The young age group below 35years should also be encouraged to access family planning services through the Post-test support services clinic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal wat die redes is vir die lae gebruik van langwerkende voorbehoeding onder MIV positiewe vroue wat die Harare Post-test ondersteuningsdienste kliniek besoek. Data is deur middel van vraelyste onder 30 deelnemers ingesamel. Die resultate het getoon dat die meerderheid van vroue wat die kliniek besoek het tussen die ouderdomme van 35 en 49 was. Meeste van hulle gebruik nie moderne voorbehoeding nie, slegs 17% het aangedui dat hul kondome gebruik. Die langwerkende voorbehoeding Jadelle en IUCD word deur min die van vroue gebruik. ‘n Vrees vir die nadelige uitwerking daarvan is een van die redes waarom hul nie die voorbehoeding gebruik nie. Meeste van die vroue is bewus dat Jadelle en IUCd langwerkede metodes is wat swangerskap voorkom en dat Jadell tot 5 jaar werk en IUCD tot 10 jaar effektief kan wees. Die langwerkende metodes is egter nie by die kliniek beskikbaar nie en vroue wat die metodes verkies word na ander diensverskaffers verwys waar wat vir meeste van die vroue nie bekostigbaar is nie. Daar kan dus van die studie afgelei word dat MIV positiewe vroue beperkte kennis en toegang rakende die langwerkende voorbehoeding het en daarom nie die metodes ten volle benut nie. Die navorser beveel aan dat alle vroue wie die klinkiek besoek ingelig moet word oor die voordele van die tweeledige vorm van beskerming, nie net teen swangerskap nie maar ook teen MIV-infeksie. ‘n Verwysingstelsel moet in plek gestel word sodat die vroue wat na ander diensverskaffers verwys word nie nodig het om ekstra daarvoor te betaal nie. Daar word verder ook voorgestel dat die klinkiek meer inligtig rakende die langwerkende voorbehoeding beskikbaar stel en ook gesinsbeplanningsdienste aanbied.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An estimated 34 million people worldwide are infected with HIV with 52% of them being women (UNAIDS, 2011), of this figure, an estimated 3.4 million are said to be children below the age of 15years. Sub Saharan Africa accounts for up to 90% of this burden in children. Nigeria, the most populous nation is Saharan African still contributes up to 30% of the global burden of mother to child transmission of HIV which is a major source of infection in children. According to the Federal ministry of health 2010 ANC survey report, the country has a prevalence of 4.1%. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where Karu village is located ranked 5th among the 36 states and Federal capital territory in Nigeria with a prevalence of 8.7%. Urban prevalence is 8.6% while the rural prevalence is 8.2%. An exploratory descriptive study was conducted among women of child bearing age (18 to 49years) living in Karu village, Abuja, FCT, North central Nigeria. A semi structured questionnaire designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV was administered by the researcher on 120 women of child bearing age living in Karu village after obtaining their consent. The study received an ethical review and approval from FCT human research ethics committee at the Health Department of the Federal capital development agency and Stellenbosch University, ethic committee. Findings from the 120 women who gave consent to participate showed that 28.33% had sufficient knowledge of how MTCT can occur with 77% having insufficient knowledge of how MTCT occur, 51.67% of them have sufficient knowledge of how PMTCT can be achieved while 48.33% do not. Of the participant surveyed, 89.17% of them have ever been pregnant while 24.17% were pregnant at the time of the survey, the bulk of the participants were between the ages of 18 to 34 with only 22.5% of them within the age of 35 – 49 years. From this study, women in Karu village were identified to have high level of general knowledge regarding MTCT and PMTCT of HIV but in-depth knowledge of both is still insufficient among a large group of women. Health workers and mass media were identified as key sources of information regarding MTCT and PMTCT of HIV and majority of women have favourable attitude towards PMTCT interventions but practices of these interventions is still relatively low. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ongeveer 34 miljoen mense is wêreldwyd aangetas deur MIV, waarvan 52% vroue is (UNAIDS, 2011). Hiervan is ongeveer 3.4 miljoen na bewering kinders onder die ouderdom van 15 jaar. Tot 90% van hierdie infeksie by kinders kom in sub-Sahara-Afrika voor. Nigerië, die digsbevolkte staat in sub-Sahara-Afrika, dra tot 30% van die globale las van moeder-tot-kind-oordrag van MIV, wat ’n groot bron van infeksie onder kinders is. Volgens die Federale Ministerie van Gesondheid 2010 ANC-opnameverslag het die land ’n voorkomssyfer van 4.1%. Die Federal Capital Territory (FCT), waar die dorp Karu geleë is, is as 5de van die 36 state in Nigerië geklassifiseer met ’n voorkomssyfer van 8.7%. Die stedelike voorkomssyfer is 8.6% teenoor die landelike voorkomssyfer van 8.2%. ’n Ondersoekende, beskrywende studie is uitgevoer onder vroue van vrugbare leeftyd (18 tot 49 jaar) wat in die dorp Karu, Abuja, FCT, Noord-sentrale Nigerië, woon. ’n Halfgestruktureerde vraelys is ontwerp om die kennis, houdings en voorkomingspraktyke van moeder-tot-kind-oordrag (MTCT) van MIV te beoordeel. Dit is deur die navorser toegepas op 120 vroue van vrugbare leeftyd wat in die dorp Karu woon nadat hul toestemming daartoe verkry is. Die studie het ’n etiese oorsig en goedkeuring van die FCT mensenavorsing-etiekkomitee by die Departement van Gesondheid van die federale hoofstad se ontwikkelingsagentskap en die Universiteit Stellenbosch se etiekkomitee ontvang. Bevindings van die 120 vroue wat ingestem het om deel te neem het getoon dat 28.33% toereikende kennis gehad het van hoe MTCT kan voorkom, met 77% wat onvoldoende kennis gehad het van hoe MTCT voorkom. Van hulle het 51.67% genoegsame kennis gehad van hoe PMTCT verkry kan word, terwyl 48.33% nie oor hierdie kennis beskik het nie. Van die deelnemers wat waargeneem is, was 89.17% al swanger, terwyl 24.17% tydens die opname swanger was. Die meerderheid van die deelnemers was tussen 18 en 34 jaar oud, met slegs 22.5% wat in die ouderdomsgroep 35 – 49 jaar geval het. Uit hierdie studie het geblyk dat vroue van die dorp Karu geïdentifiseer is as mense wat ’n hoë vlak van algemene kennis omtrent MTCT en PMTCT van MIV gehad het, maar dieptekennis van albei sake is steeds ontoereikend by ’n groot groep vroue. Gesondheidswerkers en die massamedia is geïdentifiseer as sleutelbronne van kennis oor MTCT en PMTCT van MIV en die meeste vroue het ’n gunstige houding teenoor PMTCT-intervensies, maar die toepassing van hierdie intervensies is nog betreklik laag.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The existing studies have shown that HIV is highly prevalent among the students at the institutions of higher learning. However, none of the studies has established the perceptions of risky behaviour that could lead to HIV infections among students. The chief aim of this study was is to establish the perceptions of the students at the Polytechnic of Namibia towards the risky behaviour which could make them vulnerable to HIV and ADIS in order to improve the life skill programmes and HIV and AIDS awareness programme. The objectives of the study were to establish the knowledge of the students about HIV infection, to evaluate what the students perceive as risky behaviour and identify risks that expose students to contracting HIV, to determine the perceptions of the students about risky behaviour that makes them vulnerable to HIV and AIDS, to identify the students’ attitudes towards a person living with HIV and AIDS, and to suggest strategies that can be implemented to improve HIV and AIDS awareness among the students and enhance life skills programme, and HIV and AIDS education. The objectives were met through a quantitative approach conducted to gather data from 500 full time students at PoN, the second largest institution of higher learning in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, in July 2013. The data was collected by using a self-administered questionnaire which exclusively consisted of close-ended questions. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University. The permission to conduct the study was requested and given from the registrar at the PoN. The participants were given a consent form to sign as an indication that they consent to take part in the study. Data collected was analysed using Epi-Info software and presented by means of pie charts, frequency tables, and bar graphs. It was found the students have efficient general knowledge on HIV and AIDS. The perceptions of risky behaviour were generally acceptable, however some students lack information on the epidemic. It was recommended that HIV and AIDS education and awareness programmes be expanded. Elimination of perceptions, and negative beliefs and reduction of alcohol and drug abuse among students are further recommended.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite the seriousness of HIV and AIDS affecting productivity at workplaces, little attention is being paid to the special needs of the infected people in the world of work and the ultimate reality this will have on the companies’ financial health. HIV/AIDS retards economic development and business growth. The epidemic influences the workforce and markets in which business operates. Business must play a leading part in the internal response to HIV/AIDS pandemic. This is both an ethical imperative and the key to business success. Most research conducted on the subject mainly concentrated on the effects of HIV and AIDS on productivity, emphasizing absenteeism as the direct cause of low productivity. The costs of HIV and AIDS will be felt beyond the direct effect of the disease. The indirect costs include the following: The increased costs of recruiting and training, given the extra deaths and disabilities expected. The negative effect on staff morale Loss of time as a result of management and labor meetings to discuss the AIDS crisis as it develops, this resulting in loss of turnover and profits. With the rising prevalence of HIV/AIDS, businesses should be increasingly concerned about the impact of the disease on their organizations-concerns that should be well founded. At the broadest level, businesses are dependent on the strength and vitality of the economies in which they operate. HIV/AIDS raises the costs of doing business, reduces productivity and lowers overall demand for goods and services. The research process in this article focused particularly on workplace issues, which are a key dimension of the relationship between corporations and HIV/AIDS. Data collection was by both structured questionnaires and unstructured interviews, interviews with both management and workers’ representatives and structured questionnaires with the general workforce. The questions asked were open-ended: “Is HIV/AIDS a problem for your company now or in the future?” and “If HIV/AIDS impacted on your company’ financial performance would you act and why?” The research group consisted of four companies in different areas of operations: retail, service and manufacturing and the participants were chosen on the basis of certain inclusive criteria: The number of employees employed. Length of service operation. Willingness to share certain financial information. A qualitative method of data analysis was used in the study and is described in detail. The qualitative research method looks at the subjective meanings attached, descriptions, metaphors, symbols and descriptions of specific cases. It was found that despite the differences from one company to the other, the potential impact of HIV/AIDS on companies’ financials went beyond the direct costs of productivity. As the debate over the availability of cheaper generic anti-retroviral drugs rages in the background, business is faced with the dilemma of significant investment to keep their labour force healthy and alive. This has to be weighed up against the high costs involved in rehiring, retraining and re-incentivising their replacements. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ten spyte van tekens dat MIV en VIGS produktiwiteit in die werkplek affekteer, word daar nog baie min te doen aan die behoeftes van die werkers wat deur die epidemie getref word. Verder, word min aandag geskenk aan die potensiële uitwerking van die epidemie op die finansiële gesondheid van maatskappye. MIV/VIGS vertraag ekonomiese ontwikkeling en besigheidsgroei. Die epidemie het ‘n negatiewe impak op die arbeidsmag en die market waarin besigheid plaasvind. Besigheid moet dus die leiding neem in die interne respons op die MIV/VIGS pandemie. Dit is eties belangrik en die sleutel tot die sukses van besigheid. Die meeste navorsing oor die onderwerp het tot dusver gekonsentreer op die effek van MIV en VIGS op produktiwiteit met die klem op afwesigheid as ‘n direkte oorsaak van lae produktiwiteit. Die koste van MIV en VIGS behels egter veel meer as net die direkte gevolge van die siekte. Die indirekte koste sluit die volgende in: Die koste verbonde aan opleiding en die soeke na nuwe personeel weens sterftes en siekte van personeel. Die negatiewe effek op die moraal van personeel. Verlore tyd as gevolg van bestuurs- en arbeidsvergaderings om die VIGS-krisis te bespreek namate dit ontwikkel en winste negatief beïnvloed. Besigheid behoort meer bekommerd te wees oor die toename in MIV/VIGS gevalle en die impak wat dit op organisasies sal hê. MIV/VIGS verhoog die kostes van besigheid doen, verminder produktiwiteit en verlaag die algemene vraag na goedere en dienste. Die navorsingsbenadering in die artikel fokus op daardie werkplek-aangeleenthede wat ‘n sleuteldimensie is van die verhouding tussen organisasies en MIV/VIGS. Data is ingewin deur middel van gestruktureerde vraelyste en ongestruktureerde onderhoude. Onderhoude is met beide bestuurslui en verteenwoordigers van werkers gevoer, en gestruktureerde vrae met die werkers. Die vrae gestel was oop vrae soos “Is MIV/VIGS `n problem vir u onderneming huidiglik of in die toekoms? En “Indien MIV/VIGS ‘n negatiewe impak het op die onderming se prestasie sal jy optree en waarom?” Die navorsingsgroep het bestaan uit vier ondernemings in die kleinhandels-, dienslewerings-, en vervaardigingssektor. Die deelnemers is gekies op die basis van inklusiwiteit met die volgende criteria: Die getal werkers in diens. Hoe lank is onderneming in besigheid? Die bereidwilligheid om inligting te deel. `n Kwalitatiewe metode van data analise is gebruik wat breedvoerig verduidelik en beskryf word. Die navorsingsmetode kyk veral na subjektiewe betekenisse, omskrywings, metafore, simbole en omskrywings van spesifieke gevalle. Navorsing het getoon dat MIV/VIGS ‘n impak het op ondernemings se finansiële omstandighede en produktiwiteit. Terwyl die debat oor goedkoper generiese anti-retrovirale middele aan die gang is, word ondernemings of besighede konfronteer met die keuse tussen beduidende investering om die arbeidsmag gesond en lewendig te hou of die hoë koste van herindiensneming, heropleiding en insentiewe.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study sought to establish the level of knowledge of people on the medical benefits of male circumcision, especially the protective effect against HIV, with the aim of gathering baseline information on the subject for future health promotion programmes. A cross-section survey was conducted at Border Timbers Limited forest management units with 220 respondents that were conveniently selected into the study, and of these 49% were males and the reminder females. The data were collected using two questionnaires; one for females and the other for males. The data was analyzed using an Epi Info programme. The findings showed that, there was little knowledge on the benefits of male circumcision as they scored an average score of three out of eight, and 66% scored less than 50%. Striking was that that females were more knowledgeable than their male counterparts. Less than 20% knew of the protective effect of male circumcision against HIV. Fifty eight percent of the respondents had negative perceptions of the procedure, and 55% of the respondents were of the opinion that, male circumcision should be stopped with as little as twenty percent of the uncircumcised men willing to be circumcised. Under a third of the total respondents (26.7%) expressed their willingness to circumcise their male children. Medically conducted circumcision was preferred by 95% of the respondents over traditionally conducted circumcision. Based on the above; the study concluded that, raising people's knowledge on benefits of male circumcision would help in changing people's perceptions and increase the acceptability of the procedure. It is recommended that the government together with the private sector urgently need to carry awareness campaigns to raise workplace on how male circumcision can reduce chances of getting HIV. Furthermore, traditional circumcision practice should be encouraged and the practitioners trained to carry the procedure in a safe way. Further studies are recommended to assess the impact of stigma on the already circumcised in order to effectively plan and overcome societal barriers for the recommended strategies to make an impact. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om die vlak van kennis van mense rakende die mediese voordele van manlike besnyding te vestig, veral die voorkomende effek teen MIV met die doel om basislyn inligting oor die onderwerp van toekomstige gesondheidsbevoordelings programme te bevorder. 'n Proefopname is uitgevoer by die Border Timbers Beperk bosbestuur eenhede met 220 respondente wat gerieflik gekies is, waarvan 49% mans en die res vroue is. Data is ingesamel met behulp van twee vraelyste vir vrouens en mans onderskeidelik. Die data was ontleed deur gebruik te maak van die Epi Info program. Die bevindinge het getoon dat daar min kennis oor die voordele van manlike besnyding is, aangesien 'n gemiddelde telling van drie uit agt behaal is en 66% respondente het minder as 50% behaal. Wat opvallend was, is dat vroue meer kennis as hul manlike eweknieë oor die onderwerp gehad het. Minder as 20% het geweet van die beskermende effek van manlike besnyding teen MIV. Agt en vyftig persent van die respondente het negatiewe persepsies oor die proses en 55% van die respondente was van mening dat manlike besnyding gestop moet word en so min as twintig persent van die onbesnyde mans is bereid om besny te word. Minder as 'n derde van die totale respondente (26,7%) was bereid om hul manlike kinders te besny. Medies uitgevoerde besnyding was verkies deur 95% van die respondente teenoor tradisionele besnyding. Gegrond op bogenoemde, het hierdie studie bevind dat die verhoging van mense se kennis oor die voordele van manlike besnyding sal help om mense se persepsies asook die verhoging van aanvaarbaarheid van die proses te verander. Daar word aanbeveel dat die regering, tesame met die privaatsektor dringend bewusmakingsveldtogte moet uitvoer om die werksplek op te voed oor hoe manlike besnyding die kanse om MIV te verminder. Verder moet tradisionele besnydingspraktyke aangemoedig word en praktisyne moet opgelei word om die prosedure op „n veilige manier uit te voer. Verdere studies word aanbeveel om die impak van stigma op die reeds besnydes te assesseer om doeltreffend te beplan en om maatskaplike hindernisse te oorkom vir die aanbevole strategieë om 'n impak te maak.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / 103 Leaves printed on single pages, preliminary pages i- viii and numbered pages 1-132. Includes bibliography, list of tables and figures. Digitized at 600 dpi grayscale to pdf format (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 Konica Minolta Scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research explored the role of interpersonal justice perceptions in an organisation undergoing change. Interpersonal justice was operationalised by dividing it into two components namely, social sensitivity and informational justice. The study falls within the qualitative and quantitative paradigm. The research was conducted at a South African financial institution undergoing change due to a merger and acquisition, and comprised of in-depth interviews as well as an exploratory survey. The sample consisted of 159 employees. The results confirm those of previous research studies regarding the relationship between interpersonal justice and job satisfaction. The results also showed that a difference in the interpersonal justice perceptions of employees at different job grades exists. Interpersonal justice perceptions are likely when employees believe that they personally are treated fairly and are being adequately informed of the changes in their organisation. This is of utmost importance if one is to create a just and efficient workforce during organisational change processes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing het die rol van interpersoonlike geregtigheid persepsies in 'n organisasie wat verandering ondergaan ondersoek. Interpersoonlike geregtigheid was geoperasioneel deur dit te verdeel in twee komponente naamlik, sosiale sensitiwiteit en inligtings geregtigheid. Die studie val onder die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe paradigma. Die navorsing was onderneem by 'n Suid-Afrikaanse finansiele instelling wat deur organisatoriese verandering gegaan het as gevolg van 'n samesmelting. Die navorsing het bestaan uit in diepte onderhoude asook 'n ondersoek opmeetinstrument. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 159 werknemers. Die resultate van die studie ondersteun die van vorige navorsing wat betref die verhouding tussen interpersoonlike geregtigheid en werkstevredenheid. Die resultate het ook getoon dat 'n verskil in die interpersoonlike geregtigheid persepsies van werknemers op verskillende posvlakke bestaan. Interpersoonlike geregtigheid persepsies is moontlik wanneer werknemers glo dat hulle met respek en regverdigheid behandel word. Werknemers moet ook genoegsaam ingelig word van die veranderinge in die organisasie om persepsies van interpersoonlike geregtigheid te ondervind. Dit is van uiterste belang gedurende organisatoriese veranderinge om 'n doeltreffende mannekrag waar geregtigheid geld te skep.

Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations in open market economic systems aspire to optimally utilize the scarce resources at their disposal so as to maximize profits. To achieve this goal, the human resources function is tasked with the responsibility to acquire and maintain a competent and motivated workforce in a manner that would add value to the bottom-line. Selection thereby becomes a critical human resources management intervention in any organisation in as far as it regulates human capital movement into and through the organisation. To be able to make informed selection decisions, industrial-organisational psychologists and human resources practitioners need valid and reliable information on predictor constructs to allow them to make accurate predictions of the criterion construct. This provides the essential justification for the primary objective of this study which was to undertake a factor analytic investigation of the first-order factor structure of the Fifteen Factor Questionnaire Plus (15FQ+) on a sample of Black South African managers. The data used in this study was drawn from the database of Psymetric (Pty) Ltd with the permission of Psytech SA. The sample comprised 241 Black managers assessed by Psymetric (Pty) Ltd between 2002 and 2006. Item- and dimensionality analyses were performed on the 15FQ+ subscales to assess the success with which they represented the underlying personality constructs. The outcome of both the item and dimensionality analyses showed that although the items in each of the subscales seemed to be representing the underlying personality construct, they were not without problems. A spectrum of goodness-of-fit statistics was used to assess the measurement model fit. The model‟s overall fit was found to be good. The model parameter estimates, however, gave some reason for concern. The results of the confirmatory factor analyses suggest that the claim made by the 15FQ+ authors that the items included in each subscale reflect specific personality dimensions is tenable. The magnitude of the estimated model parameters, however, suggests that the items generally do not reflect the latent personality dimensions they were designated to reflect with a great degree of success. The items are reasonably noisy measures of the latent variables they represent. Based on these findings, this instrument should be used with caution, particularly on groups different from the UK samples on which it was originally developed and standardised. This study expands our understanding of this measure. Its findings should guide future research on a larger, more representative sample from the same target population to give credence to, or to refute these findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies in „n vrye-mark ekonomiese stelsel streef daarna om die skaars hulpbronne tot hul beskikking optimal aan te wend ten einde wins te maksimeer. Om hierdie doel te bereik word die menslike hulpbronfunksie getaak met die verantwoordelikheid om ‟n bevoegde en gemotiveerde werksmag te verkry en in stand te hou op ‟n wyse wat waarde tot die onderneming voeg. Keuring word daardeur ‟n kritieke menslike hulpbronintervensie in enige organisasie in so verre dit die beweging van menskapitaal in en deur die organisasie reguleer. Ten einde ingeligte keuringsbesluite te kan neem, benodig bedryfsielkundiges en menslike hulpbronpraktisyns betroubare en geldige inligting oor voorspellerkonstrukte om hul in staat te stel om akkurate voorspellings van die kriteriumkonstruk te maak. Dit bied wesenlik die regverdiging vir die primêre oogmerk van hierdie studie, naamlik om „n faktoranalitiese ondersoek van die eerste-orde faktorstruktuur van die Fifteen Factor Questionnaire Plus (15FQ+) op „n steekproef swart Suid Afrikaanse bestuurders te onderneem. Die data wat in die studie gebruik is, is verkry uit die databasis van Psymetric (Pty) Ltd met die toestemming van Psytech SA. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 241 swart bestuurders wat tussen 2002 en 2006 deur Psymetric (Pty) Ltd getoets is. Item- en dimensionaliteitontledings is op die 15FQ+ subskale uitgevoer ten einde die sukses vas te stel waarmee hul die onderliggende persoonlikheidskonstrukte verteenwoordig. Die resultate van beide die item- en die dimensionaliteitontledings het aangedui dat ofskoon die items van elke subskaal die onderliggende persoonlikheidskonstruk skyn te verteenwoordig, was hulle nogtans nie sonder probleme nie. ‟n Spektrum passingsmaatstawwe is gebruik om die pasgehalte van die metingsmodel te beoordeel. Die model se algehele passing was goed. Die skattings van die model parameters het egter wel rede tot kommer gegee. Die resultate van die bevestigende faktorontleding dui daarop dat die aanspraak van die ontwikkelaars van die 15FQ+ dat die items wat in elke subskaal ingesluit is spesifieke persoonlikheidsdimensies reflekteer, wel houbaar is. Die grootte-orde van die geskatte modelparameters dui egter daarop dat die items oor die algemeen nie die persoonlikheidsdimensies wat hul ontwerp is om te reflekteer met groot sukses reflekteer nie. Die items is redelik raserige metings van die latente veranderlikes wat hul verteenwoordig. Gebaseer op hierdie bevindinge behoort hierdie instrument met omsigtigheid gebruik te word, veral op groepe wat verskil van die VK steekproewe waarop die instrument ontwikkel en gestandaardiseer is. Die study dra by tot ons begrip van die instrument. Die bevindinge van die studie behoort toekomstige navorsingop 'n groter, meer verteenwoordigende steekproef uit dieselfde teikenpopulasie te rig ten einde die onderhawige bevindinge te steun of te weerlê.

Thesis (MComm (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Teachers in the post-apartheid South Africa experience multiple, complex and constantly changing requirements within the teaching context, which contributes to high levels of stress. They are often faced with different challenges than those in more developed countries. For example, a lack of sufficient resources is a common occurrence in schools in South Africa. Furthermore, teachers regularly engage in multiple roles (e.g. that of the educator, social worker, nurse, etc.) Hence, some researchers identify teaching as a particularly stressful occupation, and suggest that teachers experience disproportionately high levels of stress, when compared to other occupations. Some reasons provided for the occurrence of this include long working hours, high workloads, lack of discipline and respect from learners, and the new South African curriculum, enforcing learner-centred or cooperative teaching methods. Consequences of teachers experiencing high levels of stress have ultimately resulted in the South African government admitting that they are facing a shortage in skilled teachers. Therefore, promoting the well-being of teachers is crucial. There is a need to invest in teacher well-being, in order to reduce the occurrence and consequences of stress in the workplace. The central role that emotions play in the stress process is increasingly recognised. It is said that an individual will experience stress and strain, if they perceive the situation as negative or stressful. For this reason, emotional intelligence (EI) has led to a new focus on the role of emotions in the workplace. More specifically, EI involves expressing, recognising, understanding and managing emotions. Research has proven that EI serves a buffering role against stress, and those individuals with higher EI experience better overall health. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In ‘n post-apartheid era kom Suid Afrikaanse onderwysers te staan teen ‘n stel vereistes wat voortdurend verander, asook kompleks en veelvoudig van aard is. Binne die opvoedkunde konteks dra hierdie faktore by tot hoë vlakke van stres. In kontras met ontwikkelde lande, staar Suid Afrikaanse onderwysers verskillende uitdagings in die gesig. Een voorbeeld behels die gebrek aan genoegsame hulpbronne, `n algemene verskynsel in Suid Afrikaanse skole. Voorts vervul onderwysers ook voortdurend verskeie rolle (bv. opvoeder, maatskaplike werker, verpleegster ens.). In vergeleke met ander beroepe, het sommige navorsers al uitgewys dat onderwysers aan buitengewone hoë stresvlakke blootgestel word. Hierdie hoë voorkoms van stres kan toe geskryf word aan lang werksure, hoë werkslading, gebrek aan dissipline en respek van leerders, asook die nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse kurrikulum wat leerder-gefokusde en uitkomsgebaseerde metodes afdwing. Gevolglik het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering onlangs erken dat daar tans ‘n gebrek aan opgeleide onderwysers bestaan. Daar is `n behoefte om in onderwysers se welstand te belê, ten einde die voorkoms en gevolge van stres in die werksplek te verminder. Die sentrale rol wat emosies speel in die stres-proses ontvang toenemend meer erkenning. Daar word aangevoer dat individue stres en spanning sal ondervind, indien hulle die situasie as negatief evalueer. Emosionele intelligensie (EI) het dus gelei tot ‘n nuwe bewustheid van die rol wat emosies in die werksplek speel. EI behels die uitdrukking, erkenning, begrip en bestuur van emosies. Navorsing toon dat EI ‘n buffer teen stres vorm, en diegene met hoër vlakke van EI ervaar beter algehele gesondheid. Tot op hede, is daar egter min navorsing gedoen ten opsigte van die rol wat EI vertolk in die stres-proses soos wat dit spesifiek deur onderwysers ervaar word. Hierdie tesis het die verwantskap tussen EI en beroepsverwante stres, spanning (fisiese- en sielkundige welstand), en die uitkomste van stres (werksatisfaksie, organisatoriese toewyding en werk-familie konflik) ondersoek.