This study investigated social contextual factors influencing poor uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HCT) services by middle-aged black men in Ratanda, Heidelberg. A qualitative research approach was used in which ten men and two key informants were interviewed. Themes explored were the participants’ biographical characteristics; knowledge of HIV and AIDS; health-seeking behaviours; understanding of multiple sexual partnerships and male circumcision and challenges in utilising HCT services. Various social behaviour change theories formed the theoretical framework guiding this study. It was found that fear, stigma and cultural factors largely contributed to poor HCT uptake. Moreover despite the men’s high HIV risk perceptions, behaviour change lags behind. Greater efforts to establish a men’s forum to discuss sexual health matters in Ratanda is recommended. / Health Studies / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

With an estimated 500 infections everyday, the country is beset with a galloping HIV and AIDS epidemic. With these accelerating numbers, it is no longer possible to ignore people living with HIV and AIDS, as they will inevitably form a more and more significant volume of the workforce. A key aspect of this phenomenon, that needs dedicated attention, is the issue of their stigmatisation in the workplace. The intent is to present the voice of the stigmatised. The dissertation attempts to understand how a stigmatised identity affects a productive member of society. It tries to capture the perspective of sero-positive persons as productive members of society and not as `victims' or `threats'. The ultimate objective is to influence policy in the workplace in order to provide a nurturing and productive work environment. The key thought emerging from the research is: driven by the inescapable structural stigma of the workplace, the virus fundamentally influences the self-definition of the sero-positive person. / Sociology / M.A.

The escalating number of people infected by HIV and AIDS poses a challenge to current resources both at the hospital and household level. Community/Home based care is a viable option in response to the scourge of HIV/AIDS to compliment secondary and tertiary care as well as providing support to affected families in coping with the stress of caring for their terminally ill family members. This study explored the effectiveness of the implementation of Community/Home based care services by focusing on three sites at Bushbuckridge i.e. Cunningmore, Maviljan and Hluvukani. Findings revealed that family members were satisfied to have community caregivers entering their homes to provide care and support to their AIDS ill family members. Significant barriers were highlighted by families and community caregivers that hinder effective implementation of the programme, for instance, cultural sensitivity. The study proffered recommendations on how to deal with these issues. / SOCIAL WORK / MA(SS) (SOCIAL WORK)

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

MSc (Microbiology) / Department of Microbiology / Background: Diarrheal diseases constitute an important problem among children but also among HIV positive patients particularly in developing countries such as South Africa. Cryptosporidium infect humans and has been shown to be an important cause of infection among different types of animals. Because of its small size, Cryptosporidium can easily go through the water purification system and can easily become a cause of an epidemic. Previous studies have shown that Cryptosporidium is an important cause of diarrhea in Limpopo Province. However, very few studies have been conducted on the genetic diversity of these organisms in the region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect and identify the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium species from humans and animals in Giyani situated in the northern part of South Africa and Pretoria situated in the central part of the country. Methodology: A total of 560 samples were collected from human and animals and were all screened by microscopy using modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. All the samples were tested by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) using the Cryptosporidium II kits from Techlab, Virginia, USA. Positive samples from microscopy and ELISA were examined by different PCR protocols including conventional PCR for amplification of Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) region; Real-time PCR employing SYBR Green detection format for amplification of 18S rRNA region; Real-time PCR employing Hydrolysis probes detection format for amplification of SSU rRNA region; Real-time PCR specific for amplification of C. hominis region and C. parvum region. Positive samples from real-time PCR that gave clear bands on gel electrophoresis were sent for sequencing. The sequences were analysed using Staden package software to edit the nucleotides, Bioedit and MEGA6 software were used to align sequences and draw phylogenetic trees. The SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. xiii Results: The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium as detected by ELISA method from the samples collected from humans was 41.2% (239/580). The prevalence was higher from the rural area 73.0% (159/218) compared to the urban area 22.1% (80/362) and the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 145.1; p = 0.0001). Due to the limited amount of samples, only 134 ELISA-positive samples were tested using real-time PCR. Of these samples, 35.8% (48/134) tested positive. Of 48 real-time positive samples 25 were successfully sequenced and two different species (C. hominis and C. muris) were identified. Of all the sequences obtained, one (4.0%) was C. muris and 20 (80%) were C. hominis isolated from rural area, whereas 16.0% (4/25) were also C. hominis isolated from samples obtained from urban area. Cryptosporidium was not associated with diarrhea in the present study. A total of 85 samples were collected from animals (52 from cattle and 33 from goats) and of these 4 (4.7%) were positive by microscopy and ELISA. All these samples were non diarrheal. Conventional PCR also detected a similar number. Of these 4 positive samples, 1 was from a male goat, while the 3 others were obtained from female adult goats. Real-time PCR detected 56.5% (48/85) positive samples. Only 12 of the 85 animal samples were diarrheal and of these 4 were positive for Cryptosporidium. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection was higher 68.4% (13/19) in male animals compared to female animals 53.0% (35/66). The prevalence rates in cattle and goats were 55.8% (29/52) and 60.6% (20/33) respectively. Of 48 real-time positive samples from animals, 12 (25.0%) were successfully sequenced and two species (C. parvum and C. andersoni) were identified. Of these 6 were from cattle and the other 6 were from goats. Out of the 12 samples 10 (83%) were C. parvum while 2 (17%) were C. andersoni. Of the two C. andersoni, one was from a goat and one was from a cow. Of the 10 C. parvum, 5 were from goats and 5 were from cattle. xiv In conclusion, microscopy remains the low sensitive tool for the detection of Cryptosporidium while real time PCR appeared to be far much more sensitive by detecting more samples than all the three other methods combined. Closer to the real time PCR was ELISA that detected also more samples compared to conventional PCR and microscopy. The present study identified C. muris from humans’ samples in our area for the first time. However, C. hominis remains the dominant species that infects humans in our area. Cryptosporidium species was mostly found in samples from asymptomatic individuals. In animals, C. parvum was the most commonly isolated organism while C. andersoni was identified in our region for the first time as well and occurred in both goats and cattle. Populations in the affected areas need to be made aware of the infections so that care should be taken to avoid the spread of infection in water sources or in immunocompromised individuals.

Against the background of evidence that HIV-AIDS has had and continues to have an enormous impact on all South African schools, a need has arisen for HIV -AIDS policies and programmes to be effectively implemented in all schools. In this study, a qualitative methodology was used to evaluate policy implementation in the North West province. Data was gathered by means of field notes, observation and interviews with management and educators. The study found that although principals and educators are knowledgeable about HIV -AIDS, there is a tendency to discriminate against infected educators, particularly in terms of educator workload. This study also revealed that educators fear being accidentally exposed to HIV -AIDS infected blood, despite the guidelines given in the National HIV -AIDS policy and the availability of emergency first aid kits. The key thought emerging from this study is that not all schools are able to deal effectively with HIV -AIDS and that schools urgently need to plan or implement their own policies in this regard. School-based HIV-AIDS policies can only be successful if they take cognisance of local contextual issues and involve the three spheres of influence in the lives of educators and learners, namely, the sphere of the school, the sphere of family life and the sphere of the community. / Sociology / M.A.(Social and Behavioural Studies in HIV-AIDS)

Against the background of evidence that HIV-AIDS has had and continues to have an enormous impact on all South African schools, a need has arisen for HIV -AIDS policies and programmes to be effectively implemented in all schools. In this study, a qualitative methodology was used to evaluate policy implementation in the North West province. Data was gathered by means of field notes, observation and interviews with management and educators. The study found that although principals and educators are knowledgeable about HIV -AIDS, there is a tendency to discriminate against infected educators, particularly in terms of educator workload. This study also revealed that educators fear being accidentally exposed to HIV -AIDS infected blood, despite the guidelines given in the National HIV -AIDS policy and the availability of emergency first aid kits. The key thought emerging from this study is that not all schools are able to deal effectively with HIV -AIDS and that schools urgently need to plan or implement their own policies in this regard. School-based HIV-AIDS policies can only be successful if they take cognisance of local contextual issues and involve the three spheres of influence in the lives of educators and learners, namely, the sphere of the school, the sphere of family life and the sphere of the community. / Sociology / M.A.(Social and Behavioural Studies in HIV-AIDS)

Social Work / M. A. (Social Science)

Social Work / M. A. (Social Science)