Thesis (MPhil--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The incidence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana is one of the largest in the world taking its toll on many lives and posing developmental challenges to the nation. Nearly 25% of the population is living with HIV and 14% are newly infected; AIDS is acknowledged as the major cause of death. Most HIV and AIDS studies have been dominated by surveillance, biomedical and ethical methodologies. These approaches failed to stem the tide of HIV infection because they did not follow-up with the tracking of risky behaviours and the underlying causes of the behaviours. This research scrutinized socio-economic factors in relation to the spread of the epidemic. Available literature showed that little or no attention has been paid to the socio-economic backgrounds in which individuals exist in connection with understanding HIV and AIDS. This study used an economic model of risky sexual behaviour to explore the link between socio-economic status and the practice of HIV self-protective/preventive behaviours in Maruapula, Gaborone, Botswana. The research is vital as it goes beyond surveillance in an effort to establish why the community of the study is susceptible to HIV infection. This research l used both collected data and that from BAIS II. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is oor die verhouding tussen sosio-ekonomiese status en die praktyk van MIV self-protective/preventive gedrag binne Maruapula distrik. Die doel van die studie is om vas te stel of daar 'n verband tussen sosio-ekonomiese status en die praktyk van MIV-voorkomende gedrag onder die inwoners, van Maruapula, Gaborone, Botswana. Data is ingesamel deur die gebruik van vraelyste en die ontleding van die statistiek het getoon dat die is geen verwantskap tussen sosio-ekonomiese status en die praktyk van MIV self-protective/preventive gedrag onder die inwoners. Aanbevelings gebaseer op die bevindinge is gemaak met betrekking tot MIV-voorkoming in die woongebied in die besonder en in die land in die algemeen.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of peer educators and university students, on whether the Peer Education-HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme has made an impact on the behavioural change of the recipients of the module as compared to the non-recipients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using stratified sampling design among peer educators and students to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of peer educators and students. Participants were selected from Tshwane University of Technology campuses in Pretoria, Soshanguve and Ga-rankuwa. The study was conducted among 300 participants; 150 peer educators and 150 students. Informed consent was provided with each structured questionnaire. Findings and Discussion: Three quarters of the respondents in this study were females. This is consistent with many other studies of HIV/AIDS among students. The response rate in this study was 68% and was higher than the 45% of the Namibian Polytechnic students who participated in the KAP surveys of HIV/AIDS (De Beer et al., 2012). Mean knowledge levels of HIV/AIDS in this study were slightly higher among peer educators (92%) than among students (90%). Peer educators had more positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS than students in knowing someone who is HIV+ (78% vs. 67%) and sharing a desk with a PLHIV (97% vs. 95%). On whether HIV+ children should mix with others, attitude levels were the same (92% vs. 92%). Better practices were observed on peer educators vs. students - more peer educators (87%) than students (75%) said they always used a condom when they have sex. Conclusion and Recommendations: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of HIV/AIDS are high among peer educators and students at Tshwane University of Technology and it is recommended that the Peer Education-HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme at TUT should continue giving attention to changing attitudes and practices among peer educators and other learners. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Die doel van die studie is om die kennis, houding en praktyke van Portuur Voorligters te assesseer, oor die vraag of die eweknie-opvoedkundige MIV/VIGS Voorkoming program 'n impak het op die gedrags verandering van die ontvangers van die module in vergelyking met die nie-ontvangers Metodes: 'n Deursnee-opname is uitgevoer deur gebruik te maak van gestratifiseerde steekproefneming ontwerp onder eweknie-opvoeders en studente om die kennis, houding en praktyke van eweknie-opvoeders en studente te assesseer. Deelnemers is gekies uit die Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie kampusse in Pretoria, Soshanguve en Ga-Rankuwa. Die studie is gedoen onder 300 deelnemers, 150 portuuropvoeders en 150 studente. Ingeligte toestemming is voorsien met elke gestruktureerde vraelys. Bevindings en bespreking: Driekwart van die respondente in hierdie studie was vroulik. Dit is in ooreenstemming met baie ander studies van MIV/VIGS onder studente. Die reaksie in hierdie studie was 68% en hoër as die 45% van die Namibiese Polytechnic studente wat deelgeneem het aan die KAP opnames van MIV/VIGS (De Beer et al, 2012). Middel kennis vlakke van MIV/VIGS in hierdie studie was effens hoër onder eweknie-opvoeders (92%) as onder studente (90%). Eweknie-opvoeders in hierdie studie het meer positiewe houdings teenoor MIV/VIGS as studente in die kennis van iemand wat MIV + is (78% vs. 67%), die deel van 'n lessenaar met 'n PLHIV (97% vs. 95%) en of HIV + kinders moet meng met ander (92% vs. 92%). Beter praktyke is waargeneem op portuuropvoeders teen oor studente, meer portuuropvoeders (87%) as studente (75%) het gesê hulle het altyd 'n kondoom gebruik wanneer jy seks het. Gevolgtrekking en aanbevelings: Bewustheid, kennis, positiewe houdings en praktyke van MIV/VIGS is hoog onder eweknie-opvoeders en studente by die Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie en aanbevelings sal aangespreek word aan die einde van die studie.

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.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research study looked at the factors that affect HCT in provision of PMTCT services. It explored the socio cultural and personal factors that affect HCT. It also established the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS and PMTCT among pregnant women in Kabwe. The transmission of HIV from mother to child contributes largely to HIV prevalence among children. Efforts to reduce this mode of transmission include increasing number of women who know their HIV status and increasing the number of HIV positive women who when pregnant take instructions and act on them to protect their children from the possibility of infection (Bartlett et al. 2004). Individuals can only know their HIV status once they are tested for HIV. However, there are socio cultural and personal factors among other factors that affect the access of HCT. The aim of this study was to identify socio cultural and personal factors that affect HIV counseling and testing in provision of PMTCT services among pregnant women in Kabwe, in order to make recommendations for the development of an intervention program to help improve uptake of HIV counseling and testing for PMTCT services. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used to conduct this study. Focus Group Discussions were conducted with groups of pregnant women that have never been tested for HIV before and Key Informant Interviews with health care workers (midwives or nurses) to ask them about factors affecting HCT in provision of PMTCT services among pregnant women were used. A retrospective statistical report review was also used to ascertain the accessibility rate for the HIV counseling and testing for PMTCT services. In this light, statistical report review was used to collect the number of pregnant women attending ANC and number of pregnant women receiving HIV testing. The findings of this study revealed that the pregnant women had excellent knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the update of HCT was as good as 91% among pregnant women. The research also revealed domestic violence, accusation of promiscuity by partner, abandonment by partner, and stigma & discrimination as socio factors that affect HCT in provision of PMTCT. Religion, fear disbelief of test results was revealed as personal factors affecting HCT in provision of PMTCT. The research revealed decision making, tradition medicines, and practices as cultural factors affecting HCT in provision of PMTCT. The conclusion was made that fear of abandonment by partner, fear of being accused of being promiscuous by partner, and fear of domestic violence were the main factors why some pregnant women did not accept to take an HIV test during their pregnancies. It is also concluded that most men make decisions for their families. Women in homes have no powers to make decisions, so if the husband refuses her to take a test, the wife just has to comply. It is also concluded that a person’s ability to access health related services is shaped by socio cultural and personal factors among others factors. These findings fit well with the Anderson behavioral model which describes the individual factors as having three elements that relate to the individual’s ability to access and utilize health care services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingstudie het gekyk na die faktore wat 'n invloed HCT in die voorsiening van VMTKO dienste. Dit ondersoek die sosio-kulturele en persoonlike faktore wat HCT. Dit het ook die kennis oor MIV / VIGS en VMNKO onder swanger vroue in Kabwe. Die oordrag van MIV van moeder na kind dra grootliks by tot die voorkoms van MIV onder kinders (Bartlett et al. 2004). Pogings om hierdie wyse van oordrag te verminder sluit in toenemende aantal vroue wat hul MIV-status ken en die verhoging van die aantal MIV-positiewe vroue wat toe swanger neem instruksies en reageer op hulle om hul kinders te beskerm teen die moontlikheid van infeksie. Individue kan slegs weet wat hul MIV-status wanneer hulle getoets word vir MIV. Egter, is daar sosiaal-kulturele en persoonlike faktore onder ander faktore wees wat die toegang van HCT. Die doel van hierdie studie was om sosiaal-kulturele en persoonlike faktore wat die MIV-berading en toetsing in die voorsiening van VMTKO dienste onder swanger vroue in Kabwe te identifiseer, ten einde aanbevelings te maak vir die ontwikkeling van 'n intervensie program te help opname van MIV-berading en toetsing vir VMNKO dienste te verbeter. Beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe metodes is gebruik om hierdie studie uit te voer. Fokusgroepbesprekings is gevoer met groepe van swanger vroue wat nog nooit vir MIV getoets is voor en onderhoude met sleutelinformante met gesondheidsorgwerkersVroedvroue of verpleegsters) is gebruik om hulle te vra oor die faktore wat HCT in voorsiening van PMTCT dienste onder swanger vroue. 'n Retrospektiewe statistiese verslag review is ook gebruik om die toeganklikheid koers vir die MIV-berading en om vas te stel toetsing vir VMNKO dienste. In hierdie lig, is statistiese verslag hersiening gebruik word om die aantal swanger vroue wat die ANC en die aantal swanger vroue MIV-toetsing in te samel. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie het aan die lig gebring dat die swanger vroue het uitstekende kennis oor MIV / VIGS en die update van HCT was so goed as 91% onder swanger vroue. Die navorsing het ook aan die lig gebring huishoudelike geweld, beskuldiging van losbandigheid deur vennoot, verlating deur vennoot, en stigma diskriminasie as sosio faktore wat 'n invloed HCT in die bepaling van die PMTCT. Godsdiens, vrees ongeloof van toetsresultate is geopenbaar as persoonlike faktore wat HCT in die voorsiening van PMTCT. Die navorsing het aan die lig gebring besluitneming, tradisie medisyne, en praktyke as kulturele faktore wat HCT in die voorsiening van PMTCT. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat vrees vir verlating deur vennoot, vrees daarvan beskuldig dat hy van promisku deur vennoot, en die vrees van huishoudelike geweld was die belangrikste faktore waarom sommige swanger vroue nie aanvaar het nie 'n MIV-toets te neem tydens hul swangerskappe. Dit is ook die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die meeste mense besluite neem vir hul families. Vroue in huise het geen magte om besluite te neem, so as die man weier om vir haar 'n toets te neem, die vrou net om daaraan te voldoen. Dit is ook die gevolgtrekking gekom dat 'n persoon se vermoë om gesondheid verwante dienste om toegang te verkry tot gevorm word deur die sosiaal-kulturele en persoonlike faktore onder andere faktore. Hierdie bevindings pas goed met die Anderson gedrags-model wat die individuele faktore beskryf met drie elemente wat betrekking het op die individu se vermoë om toegang te verkry tot en gebruik van gesondheidsorgdienste.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Please refer to full text to view abstract.

Thesis (Mphil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Political instability involving civil wars which had been prevailing mostly within the African Great Lakes Region caused great numbers since the 1990s of civilian populations to move to and fro within the borders and sometimes beyond its frontiers in search of both safer homes and better living conditions. Socio-economic hardships experienced by these people constrained them to engage in various migration movements, thus making them more vulnerable to a variety of diseases and pandemics, among which Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Sub–Saharan Africa has been bearing the brunt of HIV pandemic, and South Africa is believed to have the highest HIV prevalence. The present study was a quantitative survey exploring personal perception of HIV infection risk among African émigré communities of the Cape Metropolitan area. Only thirty four heterosexual active participants, who had joined their partners in South Africa after a certain period of temporary separation, were considered for final analysis using descriptive statistics. A relatively high perception of HIV infection risk was found among both males and females. However, the perceived risk did not necessarily determine sexual behaviour. No significant reciprocal relationship was found between the perceived risk and one important sexual risk behaviour. HIV and AIDS related stigma was found to be relatively high and the use of condoms prejudiced by tendencies of personal moralistic values. The present study has made relevant recommendations as to promote more preventive behaviours among the present African émigré community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Politieke onstabiliteit wat burgeroorloë meebring kom sedert die 1990’s meestal in die Groot Mere-streek van Afrika voor en het veroorsaak dat groot groepe van burgerlike bevolkings heen en weer tussen grense beweeg en soms grense oorsteek op soek na beter en veiliger tuistes en beter lewensomstandighede. Die sosio-ekonomiese ontberings wat deur hierdie mense ervaar is het hulle verplig om by verskeie migrasiebewegings betrokke te raak. Dit het hulle kwesbaar gemaak vir ’n verskeidenheid siektes en pandemies, waaronder die menslike immuniteitsgebreksvirus (MIV) en verworwe immuniteitsgebreksindroom (Vigs). Sub-Sahara-Afrika het die ergste van die MIV-pandemie getrotseer en Suid-Afrika het na bewering die hoogste MIV-voorkoms. Hierdie studie is ’n kwantatiewe opname wat die persoonlike persepsie van die risiko van MIV-infeksie onder Afrika-uitgeweke gemeenskappe in die Kaapse Metropoolgebied ondersoek het. Slegs 34 heteroseksuele, seksueel aktiewe deelnemers wat na ’n tydperk van tydelike skeiding by hul (lewens) maats in Suid-Afrika aangesluit het, is vir die finale analise oorweeg met behulp van beskrywende statistiek. Onder mans sowel as vroue is ’n relatief hoë persepsie van infeksierisiko gevind. Die waargenome risiko het egter nie noodwendig seksuele gedrag bepaal nie. Geen beduidende omgekeerde verhouding is tussen die waargenome risiko en een belangrike seksuele risikogedragsaspek gevind nie. Daar is bevind dat MIV en Vigsverwante stigma relatief hoog is en dat daar weens tendense van persoonlike moralistiese waardes vooroordeel teen die gebruik van kondome bestaan. Hierdie studie het relevante aanbevelings gedoen om meer voorkomende gedragspatrone onder die huidige Afrika-uitgeweke gemeenskap te bevorder.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to identify HIV/AIDS knowledge gaps and the factors which influence the perceptions of the risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS, in relation to the sexual behavior of high school learners in Port St Johns Municipality. In order to do this, a close ended questionnaire was administered to 116 learners from three senior secondary schools in Port St Johns Municipality. Frequency table counts and percentages were used to describe HIV/AIDS knowledge, the perceptions of the risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS and the risky sexual behaviors by learners. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used in the inferential analysis. From the data, it was clear that a significant proportion of learners had gaps in their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Female senior secondary school learners were slightly more knowledgeable than their male counterparts, in that 60% of the female learners were correct in their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, compared to 57 % of males. According to the data, 58 % of male high school learners correctly interpreted the perceptions of the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS, compared to 56% of their female counterparts. These low percentages suggest that the high school learners have inadequate skills in interpreting the perceptions of the risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS. Another finding was that 74 % of female learners do not engage in risky sexual behaviors which might lead to a contraction of HIV/AIDS, compared to 67 % of male learners. Male learners, as well as the female learners, had a Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient: r=0.522 for males and r= -0.268 for females, in terms of perceptions of risks of contracting of HIV/AIDS and engaging in risky sexual behavior. In other words, the results indicate that if males perceive the risks more acutely, they will not take such risks, whereas females are not easily influenced by the perceptions of risks and the way in which they behave. The study recommends that stakeholders of the schools craft HIV/AIDS programmes and policies that bridge the knowledge gaps and reduce or eliminate inaccurate perceptions of the risks of contracting HIV/AIDS, so as to enable learners to adopt safer sexual behaviors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om gapings in MIV/Vigs kennis te identifiseer en die faktore wat die persepsies van die risiko's van die kontraktering van MIV, met betrekking tot die seksuele gedrag van hoërskoolleerders in Port St Johns Munisipaliteit beïnvloed. Ten einde dit te doen, is 'n vraelys geadministreer onder 116 leerders van drie senior sekondêre skole in Port St Johns Munisipaliteit. Frekwensietabel-tellings en persentasies is gebruik om MIV/Vigs kennis te beskryf, die persepsies van die risiko's van die kontraktering van MIV en die riskante seksuele gedrag deur leerders. Die Pearson Produk Oomblik korrelasie is gebruik in die inferensiële analise. Die data toon dat ‘n aansienlike persentasie van die leerders ‘n tekort aan kennis het rakende MIV/Vigs. Vroulike senior sekondêre leerders toon effens meer kennis as hul manlike eweknieë, 60% van die vroulike leerders korrek was in hul kennis van MIV/Vigs, in vergelyking met 57% van die mans. 58% van die manlike hoërskoolleerders het die persepsies van die risiko's van MIV/Vigs korrek geïnterpreteer, in vergelyking met 56% van hul vroulike eweknieë. Hierdie lae persentasies dui daarop dat die hoërskoolleerders onvoldoende vaardighede het in die interpretasie van die persepsies van die risiko's van die kontraktering van MIV. Nog 'n bevinding was dat 74% van vroulike leerders nie betrokke is in riskante seksuele gedrag wat kan lei tot MIV-infeksie nie, in vergelyking met 67% van die manlike leerders. Manlike leerders, sowel as die vroulike leerders, het 'n Pearson Produk korrelasiekoëffisiënt: r = 0,522 vir mans en r = -0,268 vir vroue, in terme van die persepsies van risiko's van kontraktering van MIV/Vigs en betrokke te raak in riskante seksuele gedrag. Die studie beveel aan dat belanghebbendes van skole MIV/Vigs-programme en beleide ontwikkel wat die kennisgapings oorbrug en onakkurate persepsies verminder rakende die risiko van MIV-infeksie, met die doel dat leerder veiliger seksuele gerag sal toon.

Thesis (MA(Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Organisations have come to exist for a definite purpose, which is to combine and transform scarce factors of production into products and services with maximum economic utility. They strive to attain the highest possible output of need satisfying products and/or services with the lowest possible input of production factors. In order to achieve the level of growth and development required to enable it to compete in a climate of fierce international competition from other developed countries, post – apartheid South Africa needs a focused, motivated and skilled workforce. Yet, the current reality is often that of South African companies’ being handicapped by an under-skilled and, frequently, under-performing workforce. In addition, tertiary institutions experience low pass rates and high attrition rates among previously disadvantaged students, despite efforts to provide extra academic support and enrichment programmes. In this study, it is believed that one aspect of the difficult that many disadvantaged students have to achieve either in tertiary study or in the workplace, can be attributed to the lack of career maturity of such learners to make optimal career choices. The main objective of this study was to perform an audit of levels of career maturity of a sample of disadvantaged learners from the Western Cape. Another goal of the research was to attempt to investigate some envisaged determinants of career maturity in an effort to isolate those that presented as having the strongest influence on career maturity levels. A model was developed to illustrate these determinants and their envisaged effect which was tested among previously disadvantaged learners in the Western Cape.

Thesis (MA (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / The survival of an organisation in a global competitive business environment depends on its survival skills (e.g. adaptability, flexibility and innovativeness), which is situated within its human resources. Hence, the recruitment function’s role is critical, since it is responsible for the procurement of key intellectual capital that could equip the organisation with a competitive advantage. However, against the accelerated growth of the Internet combined with global competition, traditional recruitment methods are increasingly failing to rise to the challenge of securing key intellectual capital, due to being too time consuming and expensive. Consequently, organisations are progressively turning to online recruitment (which does not refer to one specific technique, but rather several different Internet tools that can be employed as a recruitment method, such as organisational websites, specialised job sites, media websites or newsgroups). However, the presence of an organisational website that advertises vacancies is not sufficient to guarantee its success as a recruitment method. Hence, it is vital to gain an understanding of website recruitment, as well as how to maximise the website’s effectiveness and ability to facilitate successful online applicant behaviour (SOAB), in order to harness its full potential as a recruitment method, able to secure key intellectual capital. For the purpose of this study, SOAB refers to potential applicants (i.e. job seekers entering an organisational website in search of employment opportunities) being able to browse the website without any difficulty and obtain relevant and sufficient information concerning the organisation and its listed vacancies. In addition to enabling potential applicants to assess whether he/she will be able to fit, perform and accelerate in the work climate and culture of the organisation (i.e. decide whether he/she would like to work for the organisation), a website that facilitates SOAB, should also enable potential applicants to contact the organisation to address additional information needs. In essence, this study comprises of three phases and centres on the identification of website content- and usability design benchmarks that should contribute to a website’s ability to facilitate SOAB. By means of a comprehensive literature review, it is argued that the content- and usability design are vital contributing factors to a website’s ability to facilitate SOAB. It is also proposed that the effectiveness of the website as a recruitment method is, to a certain degree, linked to the effectiveness of the alignment of an organisation’s online recruitment strategy with the five stages of potential applicants’ job decision-making process (i.e. the recognition of an employment need, search for career related information, evaluation of career alternatives, identification and acceptance of employment and post-choice evaluation). Phase one, entails the identification of website content- and usability design benchmarks and culminates with the development of the Website Benchmarks Checklist. Phase two, which constitutes the overall purpose of this study, entails an audit of the sample of the ‘best’ SA employers’ (drawn from a survey conducted by the Corporate Research Foundation, 2005) websites. The primary aim is to determine the extent to which the sample’s website design incorporates the identified benchmarks. However, the quality of potential applicants’ interaction with a website (i.e. informative content being communicated in an effective, efficient and satisfactory manner), greatly influences their perception of the organisation’s image, its attractiveness as an employer, as well as their intention to pursue employment within the organisation. Hence, the third phase of the study entails the subjective evaluation of three websites (selected from the audited sample), by a sample of potential applicants. Throughout the study, the empirical tests conducted were descriptive in nature and utilised survey research methods to acquire the required data, related to the specified goals and objectives that encapsulate the aim and purpose of this study. The results obtained provided valuable insight into website design benchmarks that should assist potential applicants in their job decision-making process, increase a website’s ability to facilitate SOAB and maximise its effectiveness as a recruitment method responsible for securing key intellectual capital. In addition to revealing that the majority of the sample employs its website as a recruitment method, the audit results also indicated that although a high level of adherence existed concerning the sample’s incorporation of the usability design benchmarks. However, a notable difference that ranged from very little to relatively high existed with regards to the extent to which the sample’s website design adhered to the content design benchmarks. The subjective evaluation of the three websites by potential applicants revealed that in addition to being critical contributors to the quality of their interaction with a website, the content- and usability design also had a profound impact on their assessment of the websites. Finally, the results also showed that a similarity existed between potential applicants’ subjective evaluation and the extent to which the design of the three websites adhered to the recommended benchmarks (audit results).

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.