This study explores, through digital storytelling, the experiences of HIV- and AIDS-related stigma of rural community secondary school learners. HIV- and AIDS-related stigma is seen as an impediment to a proficient response to HIV and AIDS in communities, also rural communities, and requires addressing. The rural community in which the research is undertaken is particularly hard hit by HIV and AIDS. Learners’ experiences of HIV- and AIDS related stigma could therefore inform how school and community could engage with HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and how they could address it in a constructive way. The study attempts to respond to two research questions: What can digital storytelling reveal about secondary school learners’ experiences of HIV- and AIDS-related stigma in schools in a rural community? How can digital storytelling enable secondary school learners in school in a rural community to take action to address stigma? This qualitative study is positioned within a critical paradigm, and employs a community-based participatory research strategy. Twelve Grade 8 and 9 male and female learners aged 15 to 18 years, from two secondary schools in rural Vulindlela district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, who experienced, witnessed or heard about HIV- and AIDS-related stigma participated. Digital storytelling, a visual participatory method, was used to generate the data, and this was complemented by group discussion and written pieces completed by the participants in reflection sessions. The thematic analysis of the data made use of participatory analysis: the analysis of the digital stories was done by the participants while the overarching analysis was done by the researcher. This study, located in the field of the Psychology of Education, is informed by the theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism. In terms of the experienced stigma, it was found that living with HIV and AIDS and the related stigma is perceived as a ‘hardship’. The stigma is experienced on many levels: in the family, at school, and from friends and members of the community. It has an impact on the individual on an intrapersonal and interpersonal level. The young person is caught up in a vicious cycle of silent suffering since there are no reliable and trustworthy people with whom he or she can share these challenges. Some so-called traditional beliefs and customs such as not talking about sex, and practices like virginity testing, also fuel HIV- and AIDS-related stigma. The use of derogatory terms and the severe criticism of early sexual debut along with the gossiping which is used to spread the stigmatising statements further complicate the hardship experienced by young people. Digital storytelling was found to not only enable the learners’ voices to be heard but also to enable their taking charge of the stigma and thus create the space for critical participation in this research. The implications for the study are that the pervasive stigma that young people experience should be addressed at every level of the community. The stakeholders such as the families, school, educators, the King (Inkosi) and Chiefs (Indunas) of the area, relevant departments with that of Education taking the lead, must work hand-in-hand with the affected young people. Such collaboration may allow for the identification of the problem, for reflection on it, and also for the addressing of it. HIV- and AIDS-related stigma, while it has changed since the emergence of HIV, still is an issue that many HIV-positive individuals have to contend with. This stigma is, however, contextual and how the individual is stigmatised fits in with the language, meaning and thought that a community constructs around stigma. While digital storytelling enables the uncovering of particular stories of stigma that learners experience in the context of a school in a rural community, the digital storytelling in and of itself enables a change in the language, meaning and thought around stigma in its drawing on the specifics of the stigma as experienced in the community. Also, digital storytelling is about sharing stories about, and experiences of HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and how these stories can be used as part of the solution. If such stories can be told, people can spread them just as gossip is spread, but in this case such spreading would work towards positive social change. I claim that in order to confront the challenges raised by the perpetuation of stigma, efforts must involve the communities and must tap into their own experiences of perpetuating or enduring stigmatisation. Suggestions by the very same people from the community who are at the front line of perpetuating and /or suffering the stigma must be considered. This may also become one way of instantly communicating the research findings back to the community involved in the research. Using digital storytelling can ensure getting self-tailored, contextual, specific views on how HIV- and AIDS-related stigma is experienced but also how it could be addressed.

Maternal HIV-disclosure to an adolescent is a controversial issue especially when considering the suitable time and context in which disclosure should take place. Furthermore there have been other considerations such as the adolescent’s emotional maturity as well as gender issues which have played a role in regards to determining whether the adolescent would be able to understand and cope effectively post-disclosure. These considerations formed the basis of this study’s aim and objectives which primarily focused on taking into account the developmental aspects apparent in the adolescent phase. These include adolescent’s relations with their mother, their peers and the meaning attached to having an education and career in their lives. For purposes of this study it was deemed important to actually explore with the adolescent’s the meaning they uphold pertaining to maternal HIVdisclosure. This differs from previous research which has focused predominantly on accessing adolescent’s experiences via their parents and in particular, their mothers. Data of only three participants was included following in-depth interviews being conducted. Data was analysed via Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which enabled an enhanced understanding and meaningful interpretation of the adolescent’s experiences following maternal HIV-disclosure. From the findings it became apparent that most concerns had already been addressed and were similar when compared to previous research that had been conducted. However one notable different finding was that instead of adolescent’s acting in ways that would lead to them self-sabotaging their lives they instead portrayed themselves to be living in a responsible manner. It became apparent rather that it was the adolescent’s mother rather that became more inclined to engage in self-sabotaging behaviours.

BACKGROUND:In Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), adolescent girls’ and young women’s (AGYW, aged 15-24 years) disproportionate HIV risk is fueled by age-disparate sex (partners >5 years older). Older men typically acquire HIV from same-aged partners; they then transmit HIV to AGYW, who then transmit HIV to older men as they age, creating a cycle of transmission. Adolescent boys and young men (ABYM, aged 15-24 years) have lower HIV incidence rates, and their risk starts increasing around age 20 due to same-aged partners and age-disparate sex. Developing ABYM’s preventative behaviors may proximally and distally reduce their and AGYW’s HIV risk. HIV risk perception (HIV RP) is a theoretical motivator for initiating and using risk-reduction strategies. However, this relationship remains temporally and empirically equivocal in AGYW and ABYM, who are in a developmentally and socially dynamic stage of life. To increase and improve HIV risk-reduction strategies among AGYW and ABYM in ESA, this dissertation aimed to elucidate temporal trends, determinants, and effects of HIV RP. METHODS:This dissertation employed three aims to examine 1) longitudinal HIV RP literature, 2) HIV RP trajectories and predictors, and 3) HIV RP’s association with health outcomes. Secondary analyses used data collected (2010 [T1], 2011 [T2], 2012 [T3]) from the control arm (714 AGYW, 635 ABYM) of a school-based trial in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Aim 1 evaluated longitudinal quantitative studies examining HIV RP among AGYW and ABYM in ESA. A scoping review synthesized data from peer-reviewed articles published between 1995-2022 to elucidate studies’ geo-spatial distributions, temporal data patterns, sample characteristics, and HIV RP definitions, analytic findings, and theoretical underpinnings. A proposed HIV RP conceptual framework was created by synthesizing findings and theories. Aim 2 described gender-specific patterns and determined predictors of HIV RP in AGYW and ABYM. Trajectories were created based on cumulative reports of high HIV RP. After, these trajectories were characterized using sociodemographic, knowledge, attitudinal/perceptual, biological, experiential, and behavioral factors. Using models stratified by ever-sex status, overall predictive analyses explored factors prospectively associated with high HIV RP. Aim 3 tested the hypothesis that high HIV RP increased chances of HIV testing and decreased cumulative acquisition of HIV/HSV-2. Directed acyclic graphs identified potential confounders using current literature. Predictive analyses estimated high HIV RP’s gender-specific confounder-adjusted association with HIV testing and HIV/HSV-2 incidence over 1-year periods. RESULTS:In Aim 1, synthesis of 38 longitudinal studies offered limited insights on AGYW’s and ABYM’s HIV RP due to geographic homogeneity, abundance of intervention-related studies, and minimal reporting of RP definitions and HIV status. Most (~75%) studies analyzed data collected before 2015, highlighting the evidence gap of HIV RP in current epidemic conditions or prevention options. Studies assessed AGYW when their risk is peaking and provided little detail on pre-risk periods; ABYM were rarely included in analyses. Elevated HIV RP was mostly positively associated with AGYW’s self-initiated outcomes, but HIV RP’s formulation was understudied. Aim 2 found HIV RP was temporally dynamic, as most (60% AGYW, 65% ABYM) changed their level of HIV RP at least once. AGYW’s and ABYM’s Persistent (high HIV RP at all timepoints) trajectories were primarily differentiated by negative prevention attitudes. While sexual risk behaviors were relatively high in AGYW’s and ABYM’s Persistent trajectories, HSV-2 and becoming/getting others pregnant increased in lower RP trajectories, implying potential contradictions between actual and perceived risk. Analyses showed sociodemographic factors (grade repetition, mother-led households) mostly predicted high HIV RP in AGYW, while prevention attitudes differentially (i.e., attitudes and associations largely shifted from negative to positive over time) affected ABYM’s high HIV RP. Behaviors (transactional sex, not knowing partners’ status, older partners, alcohol use [ABYM only]) predicted high HIV RP in both groups. Aim 3 highlighted that age, grade, financial insecurity, HIV/pregnancy-related knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, experiences, and service-seeking and risk-taking behaviors potentially confounded relationships between HIV RP and outcomes (HIV testing, HIV/HSV-2 acquisition). AGYW with high HIV RP at T1 were more likely to HIV test (aRR=1.48 [1.12-1.95]) and acquire HIV/HSV-2 (aRR=1.83 [1.03-3.25]) by T2, associations that did not persist in T2-T3’s analyses. There were no significant associations between any factor and HIV RP in ABYM. CONCLUSION:This dissertation highlights the temporal and associative complexities of HIV RP among AGYW and ABYM in ESA. HIV RP in these groups was variable and primarily predicted by sociodemographic (AGYW), attitudinal (ABYM), and behavioral factors, elucidating need and opportunities for multi-level, age- and risk-appropriate interventions. Structural insecurities and age- and gender-driven power differentials may inhibit AGYW’s prevention behaviors. For both groups, earlier intervention would reach AGYW before their risk escalates and reinforce and/or instill ABYM with potentially lasting assets. Additional high-quality, detailed studies are needed to combat the current evidentiary dearth, optimize prevention interventions, and increase the likelihood of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Tourism and Hospitality management)) -- Central university of Technology, Free State, 2012 / South Africa is the country with the largest population of HIV and AIDS sufferers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since AIDS is an incurable disease that mostly affects individuals in their productive years, it could have a disruptive impact on the productivity and financial sustainability of organisations, which is especially true in the hospitality industry where long and strenuous working hours are often expected from staff. With this in mind, the study aimed to evaluate the level of implementation of HIV and AIDS policies in the hospitality industry, by focusing on a major South African hotel group. This particular hotel group operates a number of individual hotels throughout South Africa. To ensure that all geographical areas were covered, major cities in three different provinces were identified as suitable locations for individual hotels to be identified for the study. The city of Durban, representing the Kwazulu-Natal Province, was selected on the basis of being the worst-affected area, with Bloemfontein (Free State Province) and Cape Town (Western Cape Province) as the medium-affected and least-affected area respectively. The data, which was gathered by means of a questionnaire, was interpreted both qualitatively and quantitatively. The findings show that the respondents were not always aware of the existence of HIV and AIDS policies and that these were not being adequately communicated to staff. The findings also indicate that the respondents do not fully comprehend the disruptive nature of the disease or the fact that it could negatively affect productivity and profit.

This study investigated the impact of HIV/AIDS on education management and the self-actualization of teachers and learners in the context of HIV/AIDS and the role of the principal in dealing with this. The impact of HIV/AIDS on various key management structures including curriculum coverage, academic outcomes and control of stock and attendance registers, and importantly also the role principals should play, is probed. South Africa has the largest number of HIV infected people in the world, and also the largest number of AIDS orphans. In 2004 more than 4000 teachers died of HIV/AIDS complications and 12.5% of the teacher workforce is reported to be HIV-positive. A quarter of these are between 30 and 40 years of age, pointing to future teacher shortages. Learner absenteeism impact negatively on school management, as learners who are affected by HIV/AIDS are not able to attend school regularly. Many drop out of school due to the impact of AIDS, unplanned pregnancies and drug abuse. Absenteeism of learners and teachers, impact negatively on management structures in the school. The role of principals to provide quality education in worst affected schools is becoming increasingly complex. Sexual and substance abuse is a huge problem in many South African schools, and an aggravating factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS. In a third of sexual abuse cases teachers are implicated. Moreover, the large numbers of increasing orphans in the school system threatens to become a serious disciplinary problem. Many of these learners become disruptive and often turn to substance abuse to relieve their distress. The managerial costs of HIV/AIDS in education include costs due to absenteeism, lost productivity, hospitalization, and replacing administrative workers and teachers. These factors impact negatively on school management, academic performance and self-actualization. The most profound affects of HIV/AIDS are concentrated in education where the presentation of quality education is threatened. Principals in South Africa face the daunting task of providing quality education with an increasingly ill, absent and demoralised teacher corps, to increasingly ill, absent and disrupted learners of whom many are AIDS orphans. / Educational Studies / D.Ed.

School principals have a key role to play in managing educators with HIV/AIDS because it poses a serious threat to the quality of education provision. The aim of this study was to identify needs and challenges facing school principals in managing educators with HIV/AIDS and to provide school principals with in-depth information on how to manage educators with HIV/AIDS. A literature study was conducted to determine the impact of HIV/AIDS on the education sector. In order to obtain a better understanding of the problem, a qualitative research strategy was used. Data collection was done through individual interviews with school principals and focus group interviews with educators. Data analysis was done using Colaizzi‟s phenomenological approach. The findings of the research confirmed that HIV/AIDS has a disruptive effect on education provision. Finally, recommendations were made to address the identified problems. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Education Management)

A quantitative, explorative, descriptive research approach was used to investigate why HIV positive people have a problem with disclosing their status. The HIV infection spread is increasing globally, nationally and locally and disclosing would help reduce the spread of infection through preventive measures. Interviews were conducted with 106 respondents at Kagiso primary health care clinics in the West Rand Health Region. Reasons given by the respondents for non-disclosure of the HIV status were: discrimination, stigma to the HIV positive person and the family by the community, isolation and rejection by the family members, discrimination and possible dismissal at the workplace, fear of losing a partner. The findings illustrate that a large percentage of the population know about HIV and its spread and know that by disclosing, one can get support from health resources and family, but people will not make their status public unless stigmatisation is addressed / Health Studies

Background: Non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner threatens to reverse gains made in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in resource limited settings. Determining the association between non-disclosure and infant HIV acquisition is important to justify focussing on disclosure as a strategy in PMTCT programmes. Objective: To determine the association between non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Methods: Using a matched case-control design, we compared 34 HIV positive infants to 146 HIV negative infants and evaluated whether the mothers had disclosed their HIV status to their partner. Results: Non-disclosure was more frequent among cases (overall, 16.7%; cases, 52.8%; controls 7.6%), p<0.001 and significantly associated with MTCT (aOR 8.9 (3.0-26.3); p<0.0001), with male partner involvement partially mediating the effect of non-disclosure on MTCT. Conclusions: There is a need for PMTCT programs to focus on strategies to improve male partner involvement and partner disclosure without compromising the woman’s safety. / Health Studies / M. (Public Health)

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to a lack of research, which, in turn, resulted in a shortage of applicable literature that focused on the experiences and socio-emotional needs of family members as carers of AIDS-patients, the researcher decided to undertake this research project. The aim of this was to investigate the experiences and socio-emotional needs of family members as AIDS care givers. To lead the research, the researcher made use of a qualitative research approach. Attention was also given to the description of HIV/AIDS, as well as the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The impact of HIV/AIDS was also given attention, and it was done from an ecological perspective. Within the qualitative research paradigm a phenomenological, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised. The boundaries for data collection were delineated to the George area. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family members who acted as primary care givers of AIDS-patients who were recruited by means of purposive sampling and the snowball sampling technique. The data collected were analysed according to the steps for qualitative data analysis as proposed by Tesch (in Cresswell, 1994). To ensure the trustworthiness of the research findings, data verification was executed according to Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991). The following twelve themes emanated from the process of data analysis: - Knowledge of the disease - Caring for people with AIDS - Risky behaviour - Other people’s reactions - Care givers’ feelings and reactions - Support that was received with the care giving - Effect of the care giving on the relationship between the care giver and the patient - Changes in the care givers’ life because of the care giving of AIDS patients - Experiences regarding the dying process - Needs regarding the caring of the patient - Services that are needed - Advice from the participants to other family members as AIDS care givers. The following recommendations were made based on the conclusions derived from the research findings: Information sessions by Social Workers in collaboration with the different clinics on certain days; a community based project to recruit volunteers to support family care givers on a regular basis; look at facilities, like old age homes and hospices, that can give respite for a week to three weeks; connect family care givers to support groups in the community; make use of the media to give information regarding HIV/AIDS to the broader community; a centralized food and clothes bank from which care givers can draw affordable food and clothes. An application for funding can be done at the Department of Social Development or the Department of Health. Another recommendation that is made is to investigate the possibility of a community based project that provides cleaning and washing services to family members as care givers, as well as the patients. This can even become a job creation project. Other recommendations are: to investigate an alternative form of transport that is wheelchair accessible and patient friendly; to train home based carers to help family members as AIDS care givers; to train home based carers to be of assistance with counseling of patients with regard to their medication; to train home based carers as AIDS care givers to help family members to reach out to other support services or groups; that care givers should be careful about expectations of other people and that they should be confident enough to verbalize their expectations; that Social Workers should investigate if the family member, as AIDS care giver, as well as the patient, gets the necessary support on all levels of the ecological perspective, and if not, he/she must look at ancillary sources and mobilize it to give support to the family care giver as well as to the patient; that professionals need to keep in mind the advice the participants was given to other family members as care givers when they are working with these families. A recommendation was also made to do a follow-up research on the same topic in the White, Indian and Black communities and especially that further emphasis should be placed on their needs, as participation by this population groups were scarce or could not be obtained at all. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weens ‘n gebrek aan navorsing, en gevolglik ook aan literatuur rakende die belewenisse en sosio-emosionele behoeftes van familielede as primêre VIGS-versorgers, het die navorser besluit om hierdie navorsingsprojek te onderneem. Die doel hiermee was om die belewenisse en sosio-emosionele behoeftes van familielede as primêre VIGS-versorgers te verken en te beskryf. Om die navorsing te rig, is ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering vir die doel gebruik. Aandag is ook gegee aan die beskrywing en voorkoms van MIV/VIGS, asook die voorkoming en behandeling van MIV/VIGS. Die impak van MIV/VIGS is ook breedvoerig bespreek en is dit vanuit ‘n ekologiese perspektief gedoen. Binne die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is daar van ‘n fenomenologiese, verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele navorsingsontwerp gebruik gemaak. Die grense vir data-insameling het binne die George-area geval. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met familielede wat as primêre VIGS-versorgers optree, en wat deur middel van ‘n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking en die sneeubaltegniek vir deelname aan die navorsing gewerf is. Die ingesamelde data is ontleed aan die hand van die agt stappe van kwalitatiewe data-ontleding van Tesch soos uiteengesit in Creswell (1994). Guba se model soos dit in Krefting (1991:214-221) uiteengesit is, is gebruik om die vertrouenswaardigheid van die navorsingsdata te verifieer. Twaalf temas het na aanleiding van die prosesse van data-ontleding na vore gekom, naamlik: - Kennis van die siektetoestand - Versorging van VIGS-lyers - Risiko-gedrag - Ander mense se reaksie - Versorger se gevoelens en reaksies - Ondersteuning wat ontvang is met die versorging - Effek van pasiënt se versorging op die verhouding tussen versorger en pasiënt - Verandering van versorger se lewe as gevolg van die versorging van die VIGS-lyer - Belewenisse ten op sigte van die sterwensproses - Behoeftes ten opsigte van die versorging van die pasiënt - Dienste wat benodig word - Raad deur deelnemers aan ander familielede as VIGS-versorgers. Voortspruitend uit die navorsingsbevindinge, is tot sekere gevolgtrekkings gekom waaruit die volgende aanbevelings gemaak is: dat inligtingsessies deur maatskaplike werkers in samewerking met die verskillende klinieke op sekere dae gehou sal word; dat ‘n gemeenskapsprojek van stapel gestuur word om vrywilligers te werf wat op ‘n gereelde basis aan VIGS-versorgers ondersteuning bied; dat daar gekyk word na respite by ouetehuise of ‘n hospice vir ‘n tydperk van ongeveer drie weke om aan versorgers ‘n ruskans te gee; dat versorgers betrek word by ondersteuningsgroepe in die gemeenskap; dat die media gebruik word om inligting oor VIGS aan die breë gemeenskap deur te gee; dat aandag gegee word aan ‘n gesentraliseerde voedsel- en klerebank waarvandaan versorgers voorraad kan onttrek. Aansoek vir befondsing kan gedoen word by Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling of Departement Gesondheid. Verdere aanbevelings wat gemaak kan word, is: dat ‘n gemeenskapsprojek van stapel gestuur word om skoonmaakdienste en hulp met wasgoed was tot die beskikking van die VIGS-versorger te stel wat selfs as ‘n werkskeppingsprojek begin kan word; dat ‘n alternatiewe vorm van vervoer wat deur die familielid en pasiënt benut kan word, en wat geskik is vir pasiënt vervoer, ondersoek sal word; dat opleiding van tuisversorgers as hulp vir familielede as VIGS-versorgers aandag sal kry; dat opleiding van tuisversorgers om behulpsaam te wees met berading van pasiënte rakende hulle medikasie dringende aandag sal geniet; dat familielede as VIGS-versorgers uitreik na ander ondersteuningsbronne vir hulp; dat versorgers versigtig sal wees ten opsigte van verwagtinge van ander, maar dat hulle ook vrymoedigheid sal neem om hulle verwagtinge te verbaliseer; dat die maatskaplike werker sal ondersoek instel of die familielid as primêre VIGS-versorger, sowel as die pasiënt, vanuit al die vlakke van die ekologiese perspektief die nodige ondersteuning geniet, en indien nie, moet daar gekyk word na hulpbronne en dit moet gemobiliseer word ten einde hierdie noodsaaklike ondersteuning te bied; dat die raad wat deur die deelnemers aan die navorsing aan ander familielede as VIGS-versorgers voorsien is, in gedagte gehou sal word wanneer met hierdie families gewerk word. ‘n Aanbeveling is ook gemaak dat opvolg navorsing oor dieselfde onderwerp gedoen word onder die Wit, Indiër en Swart gemeenskappe, en dat veral klem gelê word op hulle behoeftes, aangesien deelname vanuit hierdie bevolkingsgroepe skraal was, of glad nie bekom kon word nie.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African government has laws and policies that forbid discrimination against individuals. These policies protect people from being discriminated against in the workplace due to sickness, race and many other factors. Discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS has caused many people who suffer from this disease not to come forward with their illness because they fear being discriminated against and stigmatised; some even lose their jobs because they are infected with HIV. People infected with HIV are discriminated against not only in the workplace but also in their communities and families. This implies that people living with HIV/AIDS need support from all levels of society in order to live positive lives, which may lead infected people to live longer. This study explored HIV/AIDS as terminal illness and the stressors experienced by people infected with the virus. This was done by examining the support available to people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as identifying the support needed by these people. By adopting an ecological approach to the study, the need for support could be investigated on multiple levels. A combination of a quantitative and qualitative research design was used in the study. Data were gathered by means of a semi-structured interview schedule that was administered during individual interviews with service providers. This allowed for data that were both measurable as well as rich in description to be collected. The questions in the semi-structured questionnaire were based on the information retrieved from the literature review. The findings from the empirical investigation revealed that people living with HIV/AIDS receive limited support from their families, the South African government and society at large. The findings further indicated that informal sources of support such as family, friends and partners are relatively supportive of people living with HIV/AIDS. However, the relationships between people living with HIV/AIDS and their families and partners are often strained, especially when a person first discovers his or her status as HIV positive. Furthermore, people living with HIV/AIDS are stigmatised on multiple levels because of their status. There is stigmatisation from family, friends, in the workplace and in the community. The most important recommendations resulting from the study are that services such as counselling are needed for people living with HIV/AIDS together with their families. This is of particular significance to the South African government, especially the health sector, which needs to improve the health care system. In addition, recommendations emphasise the importance of promoting education and awareness, which could have great value for people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and communities. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS would empower people at all levels to support those who live with the disease and would also be of great value in helping those living with the disease to contribute something of value towards their health condition. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering beskik oor wette en beleide wat diskriminasie teen individue verbied. Hierdie wette en beleide beskerm mense teen diskriminasie in die werkplek, diskriminasie op grond van siekte, gestremdheid, ras en vele ander redes. Diskriminasie teen mense wat met MIV/vigs leef, laat baie van hulle hul MIV/vigs-status geheim hou omdat hulle diskriminasie en stigmatisasie vrees. Sommige verloor selfs hulle werk wanneer dit rugbaar word dat hulle aan MIV/vigs ly. Diegene met MIV/vigs ervaar egter nie net in die werkplek diskriminasie nie, maar ook in hul gemeenskappe en families. Dít impliseer dat mense met MIV/vigs op alle vlakke ondersteuning nodig het om ’n positiewe lewe te lei en daarmee hul lewensverwagting so ver moontlik te verleng. Hierdie studie het die stresfaktore van terminale MIV/vigs-lyers ondersoek. Daar is voorts ondersoek ingestel na die ondersteuning wat mense met MIV/vigs ontvang, sowel as die ondersteuning wat hulle nodig het. MIV/vigs-lyers se ondersteuningsbehoeftes op etlike vlakke is deur middel van ’n ekologiese navorsingsbenadering bepaal. ’n Kombinasie van ’n kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie is vir die studie gebruik. Data is met behulp van ’n semigestruktureerde vraelys ingesamel, wat gedurende individuele onderhoude met diensverskaffers afgeneem is. Sodoende kon meetbare sowel as hoogs beskrywende data ingesamel word. Die vrae in die semigestruktureerde vraelys was gegrond op die inligting uit die literatuuroorsig. Die bevindinge van die empiriese ondersoek toon dat mense wat met MIV/vigs leef beperkte ondersteuning van hul familie, die Suid-Afrikaanse regering en die groter samelewing ontvang. Die bevindinge dui voorts daarop dat informele ondersteuningsbronne, soos familie, vriende en lewensmaats, betreklik ondersteunend is teenoor diegene met MIV/vigs. Tog is die verhouding tussen MIV/vigs-lyers en hul families en lewensmaats ook dikwels onder druk, veral net nadat die persoon ontdek dat hy/sy MIV-positief is. Daarbenewens word mense met MIV/vigs op verskeie vlakke gestigmatiseer – deur hul familie, vriende, in die werkplek en die gemeenskap. Die belangrikste aanbeveling uit die studie handel oor die behoefte aan dienste soos berading vir mense wat met die virus leef, sowel as vir hul familie. Die aanbeveling behoort veral van belang te wees vir die Suid-Afrikaanse regering, en in die besonder die gesondheidsektor, wat hierdie behoefte in gedagte moet hou om die gesondheidsorgstelsel te verbeter. Ander aanbevelings beklemtoon die belang van meer opvoeding en bewusmaking, aangesien dit uiters waardevol kan wees vir mense met MIV/vigs, hul familie en gemeenskappe. Kennis oor MIV/vigs sal mense op alle vlakke bemagtig om diegene met die virus te ondersteun, terwyl dit MIV/vigs-lyers self ook sal help om hul eie gesondheidstoestand beter te bestuur.