Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study sought to establish the level of knowledge of people on the medical benefits of male circumcision, especially the protective effect against HIV, with the aim of gathering baseline information on the subject for future health promotion programmes. A cross-section survey was conducted at Border Timbers Limited forest management units with 220 respondents that were conveniently selected into the study, and of these 49% were males and the reminder females. The data were collected using two questionnaires; one for females and the other for males. The data was analyzed using an Epi Info programme. The findings showed that, there was little knowledge on the benefits of male circumcision as they scored an average score of three out of eight, and 66% scored less than 50%. Striking was that that females were more knowledgeable than their male counterparts. Less than 20% knew of the protective effect of male circumcision against HIV. Fifty eight percent of the respondents had negative perceptions of the procedure, and 55% of the respondents were of the opinion that, male circumcision should be stopped with as little as twenty percent of the uncircumcised men willing to be circumcised. Under a third of the total respondents (26.7%) expressed their willingness to circumcise their male children. Medically conducted circumcision was preferred by 95% of the respondents over traditionally conducted circumcision. Based on the above; the study concluded that, raising people's knowledge on benefits of male circumcision would help in changing people's perceptions and increase the acceptability of the procedure. It is recommended that the government together with the private sector urgently need to carry awareness campaigns to raise workplace on how male circumcision can reduce chances of getting HIV. Furthermore, traditional circumcision practice should be encouraged and the practitioners trained to carry the procedure in a safe way. Further studies are recommended to assess the impact of stigma on the already circumcised in order to effectively plan and overcome societal barriers for the recommended strategies to make an impact. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om die vlak van kennis van mense rakende die mediese voordele van manlike besnyding te vestig, veral die voorkomende effek teen MIV met die doel om basislyn inligting oor die onderwerp van toekomstige gesondheidsbevoordelings programme te bevorder. 'n Proefopname is uitgevoer by die Border Timbers Beperk bosbestuur eenhede met 220 respondente wat gerieflik gekies is, waarvan 49% mans en die res vroue is. Data is ingesamel met behulp van twee vraelyste vir vrouens en mans onderskeidelik. Die data was ontleed deur gebruik te maak van die Epi Info program. Die bevindinge het getoon dat daar min kennis oor die voordele van manlike besnyding is, aangesien 'n gemiddelde telling van drie uit agt behaal is en 66% respondente het minder as 50% behaal. Wat opvallend was, is dat vroue meer kennis as hul manlike eweknieë oor die onderwerp gehad het. Minder as 20% het geweet van die beskermende effek van manlike besnyding teen MIV. Agt en vyftig persent van die respondente het negatiewe persepsies oor die proses en 55% van die respondente was van mening dat manlike besnyding gestop moet word en so min as twintig persent van die onbesnyde mans is bereid om besny te word. Minder as 'n derde van die totale respondente (26,7%) was bereid om hul manlike kinders te besny. Medies uitgevoerde besnyding was verkies deur 95% van die respondente teenoor tradisionele besnyding. Gegrond op bogenoemde, het hierdie studie bevind dat die verhoging van mense se kennis oor die voordele van manlike besnyding sal help om mense se persepsies asook die verhoging van aanvaarbaarheid van die proses te verander. Daar word aanbeveel dat die regering, tesame met die privaatsektor dringend bewusmakingsveldtogte moet uitvoer om die werksplek op te voed oor hoe manlike besnyding die kanse om MIV te verminder. Verder moet tradisionele besnydingspraktyke aangemoedig word en praktisyne moet opgelei word om die prosedure op „n veilige manier uit te voer. Verdere studies word aanbeveel om die impak van stigma op die reeds besnydes te assesseer om doeltreffend te beplan en om maatskaplike hindernisse te oorkom vir die aanbevole strategieë om 'n impak te maak.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study was carried out for the purpose of establishing how young working adults perceive the effect of billboards on HIV and AIDS awareness in Zimbabwe. The study sample was taken from the Directorate of Pharmacy Services, a department within the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare of Zimbabwe, located in the capital city of Harare. A representative number of women (40%) out of the 15 participants were interviewed as certain responses were required based on a participants gender. In-depth interviews were carried, the sections covered positioning and appearance of billboards, billboard content and general aspects. 47% of the participants regarded the billboards as well located, 40% felt that there are adequate numbers of billboards, 47% perceived them as attractive and not needing any improvements while 67% described them as well laid out. The language used on them was said to be fine by 73%, and gender-sensitive by only 33% (of which the majority were men). All the women felt that the billboard contents are sensitising the public to HIV and AIDS as well as most of the men (67% participants in total). However all the participants see billboards as not the best method to bring about HIV and AIDS awareness, but would want a multi-media approach so that they compliment other methods. Billboard usage for HIV and AIDS awareness is making a significant impact but there is room for improvement, and many recommendations were derived from this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is onderneem met die doel om te bepaal hoe jong werkende volwassenes die effek van advertensieborde rakende MIV en VIGS-bewustheid in Zimbabwe ondervind. Die studie is onderneem in die Direktoraat vir Apterkersdienste, 'n afdeling binne die Ministerie van Gesondheid en Kinderwelsyn van Zimbabwe, wat in die hoofstad, Harare, geleë is. Daar is onderhoude gevoer met ‘n verteenwoordigende aantal vroue (40%) vanuit die 15 deelnemers, aangesien sekere response benodig was op grond van geslag. In-diepte onderhoude is gevoer en die afdelings het die volgende gedek: posisionering en die voorkoms van advertensieborde, inhoud van advertensieborde sowel as algemene aspekte daar rondom. 47% van die deelnemers het gevoel dat die advertensieborde goed geleë is, 40% het gevoel dat daar voldoende getalle advertensieborde is, 47% het gevoel dat die borde aantreklik is en nie verbeteringe benodig nie, terwyl 67% voel dat hul goed uitgelê is. 73% van die deelnemers het gevoel dat die taal wat op die borde gebruik word goed is. Slegs 33% het gevoel dat die borde geslagsensitief is (waarvan die meerderheid mans was). Al die vroue het gevoel dat die inhoud van die reklameborde die publiek sensitiseer tot MIV en VIGS, so ook meeste van die mans (67%). Al die deelnemers voel dat advertensieborde nie die beste metode is om MIV en VIGS-bewustheid te bring nie, maar stel ‘n multi-media benadering voor om ander metodes te komplimenteer. Die gebruik van advertensieborde het ‘n beduidende impak op MIV en VIGS-bewustheid, maar daar is ruimte vir verbetering en baie aanbevelings is afgelei uit hierdie studie.