The Republic of Botswana (2011a) recognises behaviour change as the only long term solution to the HIV and AIDS epidemic that has become a leading health and development challenge for the country. The study aimed to examine how Talk Back, an interactive HIV and AIDS educational programme on Botswana television, capacitates the school community to deal with challenges brought about by the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The study was based on recordings of 2014 Term One theme— ‘Paediatric care and support: challenges and implications in the teaching and learning environment. The study conducted a content analysis of Talk Back to determine behaviour change communication categories employed in producing the programme. All aspects of the Talk Back programme were also analysed to establish communication strategies employed in the presentation of content. Talk Back employed communication approaches such as panel discussions of matters related to HIV and AIDS by various specialists, video clips to present content, and viewers phoning in to interact with the panellists. A number of the callers identified challenges; the most common identified challenge was that parents tended not to disclose their children’s HIV status to the children due to the negative social stigma attached to HIV and AIDS. Although Talk Back provides a forum for interactive behaviour change communication, some listeners questioned the use of technical language.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Safe Male circumcision (SMC) divides people for or against it, depending upon their attitudes. The Ministry of health (MOH) has built capacity in the country for rapid scale up of the program since 2009. However, despite the efforts, the number of men circumcised is lagging behind set targets. We do not know to what extent attitudes of the managers at national and district levels do influence this underperformance? The effectiveness of the managers at workplace at large will depend on their attitudes towards SMC. Managers with positive attitudes bring at workplace energy, creativity and momentum to fulfill the work objectives and goals. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to; 1) establish the current situation of SMC implementation in Botswana, 2) establish the required attitudes for managers towards SMC program, 3) establish the attitudes of SMC managers at all levels toward SMC program, 4) determine the gap between the required attitudes and SMC managers’ current attitudes toward SMC, and 5) Provide recommendation for reinforcing positive attitudes toward SMC program. Methods: The study used an explorative qualitative design. It was carried out at the Ministry of health headquarters and in ten districts in Botswana. A total of 26 SMC program managers were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Results: The study found that the managers were confirming to positive attitudes toward the program as prescribed by the MOH’s standards. Data revealed a positive trend in scaling up of the program albeit lagging behind set targets. Conclusion: This study looked at the desired attitudes of SMC managers should posses and the level of attitudes currently have towards the program. It was not easy to link attitude and performance of individuals. High turnover rate of SMC officers was a worrisome finding that calls for further study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Na gelang van hul houdings, is die meeste mense hetsy sterk ten gunste van of heftig gekant teen veilige manlike besnydenis (VMB). Die Ministerie van Gesondheid is reeds sedert 2009 besig met vermoëbou-inisiatie we om die VMB-program vinnig uit te brei. Ondanks hierdie pogings, is die aantal mans wat ingevolge dié program besny word egter veel minder as die vasgestelde teikens. Dit is nie bekend in watter mate die houdings van VMB-programbestuurders op nasionale en distriksvlak hierdie onderprestasie beïnvloed nie. Die algehele doeltreffendheid waarmee dié bestuurders die program in werking stel, sal immers grootliks afhang van hul houdings jeens VMB. Bestuurders met ’n positiewe houding sal energie, kreatiwiteit en stukrag aan die werkplek verleen ten einde die programoogmerke en -doelwitte te verwesenlik. Oogmerke: Die oogmerke van die studie was: 1) om die huidige stand van VMB-inwerkingstelling in Botswana te bepaal; 2) om te bepaal watter houdings bestuurders behóórt te hê jeens die VMB-program; 3) om te bepaal watter houdings bestuurders op alle vlakke wél het jeens die VMB-program; 4) om vas te stel in watter mate bestuurders se vereiste houdings en huidige houdings jeens VMB verskil; en 5) om aanbevelings te doen vir die versterking van positiewe houdings jeens die VMB-program. Metode: Die studie het van ’n verkennende kwalitatiewe ontwerp gebruik gemaak. Dit is by die hoofkantoor van die Ministerie van Gesondheid sowel as in tien gesondheidsdistrikte in Botswana onderneem. Onderhoude aan die hand van ’n semigestruktureerde onderhoudsgids is met altesaam 26 VMB-programbestuurders gevoer. Resultate: Die studie bevind dat die bestuurders wél positiewe houdings jeens die program toon soos wat die standaarde van die Ministerie van Gesondheid vereis. Data dui op ’n positiewe tendens in die uitbreiding van die program, al word die vasgestelde teikens nie bereik nie.

Quantitative, descriptive research, using self-completion questionnaires, was conducted to determine the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge of the learners in Sefhare. The sample, comprising 92 learners, was selected from forms 1-3. Of the learners, 53.4% knew what HIV/AIDS stand for, but only 13.6% said AIDS is caused by HIV and only 4.5% said AIDS is an incurable disease. The ABC of protecting oneself against HIV (abstain from sex, be faithful to one sex partner, use condoms) was mentioned by merely 57.6% of the learners. The learners’ lack of knowledge should be addressed by school HIV/AIDS programmes offered at schools in Botswana. As 81.5% of the learners were willing to be tested for HIV, this service should be made available with simultaneous confidential personal HIV/AIDS education, irrespective of the HIV test results. Teachers’ and parents’ HIV/AIDS knowledge should also be updated regularly. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Research studies have revealed that male circumcision (MC) reduces the transmission of HIV infection from infected women to circumcised men by up to 60% (UNAIDS 2007:2), hence the adoption of MC as an HIV-infection prevention strategy by the United Nations (WHO 2007:2). Botswana, a sub-Saharan African (SSA) country, has HIV as a leading health and developmental challenge. The government adopted male circumcision as one of the strategies to combat the infection. Apparently, not all tribes in Botswana practise male circumcision as part of their culture. The purpose of this study was to develop and describe a model for HIV-infection prevention using MC. Three theory-generating research objectives were used to develop the model, namely to explore and describe perceptions of men regarding the use of MC, to develop and describe a model for MC service delivery, and to develop and describe guidelines for service providers to facilitate delivery of MC. A theory-generating research design which is qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual was used to develop the model in three phases. Phase 1 involved concept identification, concept definition, and concept classification. Data was collected using focus group discussions and individual in-depth interviews among 38 men aged 18-49 years and analysed according to recommendations made by Tesch (1990), as cited in Creswell (2009:186). Four themes emerged in the study, namely perceived effects on values, perceived source and provision of information, perceived knowledge of benefits of male circumcision, and perceived risks of male circumcision. The concept of “culture congruence” was derived from the themes as the main concept for the development of a “culture-congruent MC model for HIV prevention”. Phase 2 involved a description of the structure and the process of the model, by organising the concepts in relation to one another. The model was also evaluated. Phase 3 of the model involved the development of guidelines to support health service providers to provide MC services in a culture-congruent way in preventing HIV infection. Recommendations made were incorporation of transcultural health care instruction in nursing and medicine curricula, research on secondary audiences, such as women, and application of a culture-congruent MC model among diverse cultures. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Research studies have revealed that male circumcision (MC) reduces the transmission of HIV infection from infected women to circumcised men by up to 60% (UNAIDS 2007:2), hence the adoption of MC as an HIV-infection prevention strategy by the United Nations (WHO 2007:2). Botswana, a sub-Saharan African (SSA) country, has HIV as a leading health and developmental challenge. The government adopted male circumcision as one of the strategies to combat the infection. Apparently, not all tribes in Botswana practise male circumcision as part of their culture. The purpose of this study was to develop and describe a model for HIV-infection prevention using MC. Three theory-generating research objectives were used to develop the model, namely to explore and describe perceptions of men regarding the use of MC, to develop and describe a model for MC service delivery, and to develop and describe guidelines for service providers to facilitate delivery of MC. A theory-generating research design which is qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual was used to develop the model in three phases. Phase 1 involved concept identification, concept definition, and concept classification. Data was collected using focus group discussions and individual in-depth interviews among 38 men aged 18-49 years and analysed according to recommendations made by Tesch (1990), as cited in Creswell (2009:186). Four themes emerged in the study, namely perceived effects on values, perceived source and provision of information, perceived knowledge of benefits of male circumcision, and perceived risks of male circumcision. The concept of “culture congruence” was derived from the themes as the main concept for the development of a “culture-congruent MC model for HIV prevention”. Phase 2 involved a description of the structure and the process of the model, by organising the concepts in relation to one another. The model was also evaluated. Phase 3 of the model involved the development of guidelines to support health service providers to provide MC services in a culture-congruent way in preventing HIV infection. Recommendations made were incorporation of transcultural health care instruction in nursing and medicine curricula, research on secondary audiences, such as women, and application of a culture-congruent MC model among diverse cultures. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Quantitative, descriptive research, using self-completion questionnaires, was conducted to determine the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge of the learners in Sefhare. The sample, comprising 92 learners, was selected from forms 1-3. Of the learners, 53.4% knew what HIV/AIDS stand for, but only 13.6% said AIDS is caused by HIV and only 4.5% said AIDS is an incurable disease. The ABC of protecting oneself against HIV (abstain from sex, be faithful to one sex partner, use condoms) was mentioned by merely 57.6% of the learners. The learners’ lack of knowledge should be addressed by school HIV/AIDS programmes offered at schools in Botswana. As 81.5% of the learners were willing to be tested for HIV, this service should be made available with simultaneous confidential personal HIV/AIDS education, irrespective of the HIV test results. Teachers’ and parents’ HIV/AIDS knowledge should also be updated regularly. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)