Thesis (MPH.) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / Setting: The study was undertaken in St Rita’s Hospital, a district hospital for healthin Makhuduthamaga Municipality, Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province. The purpose of the study was to describe client experiences of HIV-positive post-disclosure tosexual partners at St Rita’s Hospital, Limpopo Province. A qualitative, descriptive and phenomenological design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select 15 HIV- positive clients to participate in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection until saturation was reached. Data analysis was done using Techs open-coding method. Research findings: The study found that most of the clients were shocked and worried after testing HIV-positive. Participants whose sexual partners were aware that they were sick, indicated their wish to test and to immediately disclose their HIV-positive status. The study identified that some women found it difficult to disclose their HIV-positive status to sexual partners and continued to have unprotected sex in spite of ongoing counselling and support provided at the clinic. Some women participants who disclosed to sexual partners were accepted and some were rejected by sexual partners. Some women who disclosed their HIV-positive status to sexual partners were unable to motivate sexual partners to be counselled together and have mutual disclosure. These participants therefore continued to have unprotected sex with sexual partners and some became pregnant as sexual partners indicated that they tested HIV-negative elsewhere and were not keen to use condoms. Female participants did not indicate the use of female condoms as part of their responsibility to prevent transmission of HIV. Implications, recommendations and conclusions: The barriers which female participants face to disclose their HIV-positive status to sexual partners and not being able to insist on the use condoms may contribute to a high rate of HIV transmission and disease incidence. There should be establishment of consortiums at community level to provide quality support and follow up to clients who face challenges or fear to disclose their HIV-positive status to sexual partners. KEYWORDS • Clients’ experiences • Disclosure • Experiences, • Sexual partner • HIV-positive

Magister Public Health - MPH / The threat that HIV/AIDS poses to most institutions, including the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, can potentially be decreased by reducing stigma and discrimination. Parliament’s Policy on HIV and AIDS provides protection for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) against stigma and discrimination. The purpose of this study was to explore employee perceptions of HIV/AIDS stigma in the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa in order to inform improved anti-stigma strategies and interventions. This exploratory qualitative crosssectional study used individual interviews and focus group discussions among Parliamentary employees to examine perceptions of: HIV/AIDS related stigma in the workplace, the effectiveness of Parliament’s HIV/AIDS response strategy, and how HIV/AIDS-related stigma might be effectively addressed. A total of 49 respondents participated in: a) 19 individual interviews across five employment grades (A-Band to E-Band). b) 4 focus group discussions of 6- 9 people each. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified, as well as additional sub-themes. The main themes were: the actual acts of discrimination (enacted stigma), concerns related to disclosure, assumptions and preconceptions about causes and signs of HIV infection, concerns about psychological impact and lack of knowledge and education. Discrimination was generally described as being treated differently, as well as prejudice and negative attitude to a person with HIV/AIDS. More specifically, it was understood as labelling those who are HIV positive negatively and ostracizing them. Gossip and lack of confidentiality were the main barriers to disclosure and testing while weight loss and long term sick leave were interpreted as classic signs of a person who is HIV positive in Parliament. Fear played a major role in these respondents’ accounts of HIV/AIDS related stigma, while the perceived widespread ignorance was attributed to lack of information, knowledge and education. Respondents perceived Parliament’s HIV/AIDS response strategy to be ineffective. They suggested more awareness and training, establishment of support groups, involvement of PLWHA and involvement of Senior Management in addressing HIV/AIDS related stigma in Parliament.

This quantitative study sought to identify and describe factors influencing HIV disclosure and sexual practices among 340 PLWHA on ART at Mbabane National Referral VCT/ART Centre, Swaziland. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. A high general HIV disclosure rate (94.1%; f=320; N=340) was observed of which 57.5% (f=184; n=320) was to sexual partners. X2 procedures indicate an association with gender, residential region, religion, and period of being on ART. The majority (70.2%; f=179; n=255) of the respondents used condoms all the time to avoid infecting their sexual partners (99.2%; f=243; n=245) and to avoid contracting STIs (99.2%; f=243; n=245). X2 procedures indicate an association with gender, residential region, marital status, number of sexual partners, knowledge of the HIV status of sexual partners and period of being on ART. The single leading reason for not using the condom was sexual partners’ refusal to use condoms (85.7%; f=54; n=63). / Health Studies / M.A.(Health Studies)

This quantitative study sought to identify and describe factors influencing HIV disclosure and sexual practices among 340 PLWHA on ART at Mbabane National Referral VCT/ART Centre, Swaziland. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. A high general HIV disclosure rate (94.1%; f=320; N=340) was observed of which 57.5% (f=184; n=320) was to sexual partners. X2 procedures indicate an association with gender, residential region, religion, and period of being on ART. The majority (70.2%; f=179; n=255) of the respondents used condoms all the time to avoid infecting their sexual partners (99.2%; f=243; n=245) and to avoid contracting STIs (99.2%; f=243; n=245). X2 procedures indicate an association with gender, residential region, marital status, number of sexual partners, knowledge of the HIV status of sexual partners and period of being on ART. The single leading reason for not using the condom was sexual partners’ refusal to use condoms (85.7%; f=54; n=63). / Health Studies / M.A.(Health Studies)

This research focused on the experiences of HIV disclosure to significant others amongst people living with HIV. The aim of the research was to explore how people living with HIV experience disclosure of their HIV positive status to their significant others. The social constructionist perspective was utilized to gain a deeper understanding of the experience of HIV positive status disclosure to significant others. The study’s sample comprised of five participants who were recruited using purposive sampling strategy. Data was collected with using face to face semi structured interviews. Themes were extracted and analysed using thematic content analysis. An analysis was made as to whom participants choose to disclose to, the reaction of the people they disclosed to, as well as their reasons for disclosing. Results were reported as the participants’ experiences and noted as is or unadulterated. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)