Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research has sought to critically discuss and analyse how the introduction of a HIV and AIDS policy in the workplace reduces stigma and discrimination within the workplace, increases VCT and reduces the risk of infection. This research, sought to further discuss and analyse how the ideas, beliefs and values embedded within a HIV and AIDS policy can be further extended into the community. This research focused on the literature of key theorists such as Donnely, S. (2002). A New Form of Discrimination in the Workplace (www.iol.co.za April 29th 2002), Hereck, G.M. (1990). Illness Stigma and AIDS. Psychological Aspects of Serious Illness. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association. Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Noted on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New Jersey: Prentice Hall as a means of validating the research. This research has further made use of both qualitative and quantitative methods through the use of biographical questionnaires and structured one-on-one interviews. In so doing the research has found that the implementation of a HIV and AIDS workplace policy would assist in eradicating stigma and discrimination in the workplace. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal tot watter mate die implementering van 'n MIV/Vigsbeleid stigma en diskriminasie in die werksplek kan verminder, vrywillige toetsing kan aanmoedig en infeksie kan voorkom. Die navorsing poog verder om te bepaal op welke wyse die idees, waardes en gelowe, soos vervat in 'n MIV/Vigsbeleid, uitgebrei kan word na die wyer gemeenskap. Die navorsing focus op die teoretiese werk van Donnely, S. (2002), A New Form of Discrimination in the Workplace (www.iol.co.za April 29th 2002); Hereck, G.M. (1990). Illness Stigma and AIDS. Psychological Aspects of Serious Illness. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association en Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Noted on the Management of Spoiled Identity. New Jersey: Prentice Hall ten einde die geldigheid van die navorsing te bepaal. 'n Gestruktureerde vraelys en onderhoude is vir dataversameling gebruik en die bevinding van die studie is dat 'n goed-geformuleerde MIV/Vigsbeleid wel stigma en die diskriminasie in die werksplek kan voorkom.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH SUMMARY: The study sought to investigate adherence for people living with HIV who are on ART. Since high levels of adherence of more than 95% are required to achieve the durable suppression of the viral load, the researcher finds it very important to find out whether the people are doing what is expected of them. While the rollout of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy has brought much excitement and hope to both patients and practitioners in South Africa, it has also brought many new questions and challenges, including adherence. Adherence is therefore very crucial to the success of ART. The research sought to investigate adherence in resource-poor settings. The research was conducted on patients attending Ithembalabantu clinic in Umlazi, Durban, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Respondents were recruited as they come to the clinic to collect their medication. Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative research was used to collect data in the study. The quantitative data involved 90 questionnaires. The qualitative data involved 15 semi structured interviews. The results indicated that adherence to ART is very high and satisfactory among the sample population with 79% who never skipped or missed their medication and 64% who indicated that they followed their specific schedule all the time; and 88% of the respondents were aware of the dangers of sleeping without a condom more especially while on ART. The results showed that there is a very high level of condom usage among the sample population. The respondents from the in-depth interviews indicated that participants are not affected by the factors that lead to poor adherence. The only problem that needs urgent attention is the importance of the knowledge of viral load and CD4 count. The participants seemed to be confused by the two and most of them did not know why they are measured. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het gepoog om vlakke van getrouheid aan volgehoue deelneming te ondersoek onder MIV positiewe persone wie antiretrovirale terapie (ART) ontvang. Omdat hoë vlakke van getrouheid van meer as 95% nodig is om duursame suppressie van die virale lading to bereik, voel die navorser dat dit baie belangrek is om uit te vind of persone doen wat van hulle verwag word. Terwyl die uitrol van ART opgewondenheid en hoop vir beide pasiënte en praktisyne in Suid-Afrika gebring het, het dit ook baie nuwe vrae en uitdagings gebring, getrouheid ingesluit. Getrouheid is dus beslissend vir die sukses van ART. Die navorsing het gepoog om getrouheid in hulpbron-swak areas te ondersoek. Die navorsing is uitgevoer op pasiënte wat die Ithembalabantu kliniek in Umlazi, Durban, Kwazulu Natal, Suid-Afrika bywoon. Respondente is gewerf soos hulle na die kliniek toe gekom het om hul medikasie te kry. Triangulasie van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsing is gebruik om data in te samel. Die kwantitatiewe data is deur vraelyste ingesamel en die kwalitatiewe data is deur 15 semigestruktureerde onderhoude ingesamel. Die resultate het gewys dat getrouheid aan ART hoog en voldoende onder die steekproek populasie is met 79% wie nooit hul medikasie gemis het, 64% wie aangedui het dat hulle hul spesifieke skedule heeltyd volg, en 88% van die respondente is bewus van die gevaar van seks sonder 'n kondoom, veral vir persone op ART. Die uitslae wys dat daar 'n hoë valk van kondoom gebruik onder die steekproef populasie is. Die respondente in die onderhoud groep is nie deur die faktore wat tot swak getrouheid lei geaffekteer nie. Die enigste probleem wat dringende aandag benodig is die belangrikheid van kennis van virale vrag en CD4 telling. Dit het voorgekom asof die deelnemers deur die twee verwar word en meeste van hulle het nie geweet waarom hulle gemeet word nie.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The AIDS epidemic presently engulfing South Africa is mostly based on heterosexual transmission. This paper discusses the male role in African culture in the HIV and AIDS context. Issues facing African women, domestic violence in particular, remain a pervasive problem. Women have not yet reached a level of equality and are still being dominated by their male partners. Women’s subordination can be directly linked to the increasing number of women becoming infected with HIV/AIDS, especially within the African cultural context. Culture plays a vital role in determining the level of health of the individual, the family and the community. This is particularly relevant in the context of Africa, where the values of extended family and community significantly influence the behaviour of the individual. The behaviour of the individual in relation to family and community is one major cultural factor that has implications for sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts. As the impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa remains unabated, a culture-centred approach to prevention, care and support is increasingly desirable as a critical strategy. The focus of prevention of the heterosexual AIDS epidemic has been on women. The role of men in sexual decision-making has not been emphasized enough in AIDS prevention approaches. As a result, the heterosexual epidemic for women continues unabated because of the lack of attention to the behaviour of male sex partners. Discussion focuses on the cultural and contemporary sexual culture as shaping factors in the enactment of high-risk sexual behaviour. There are numerous social, political, cultural and economic factors affecting the HIV pandemic in the SA region. The main ones are: low status of women and male dominance in sexual and economic relations; sexual abuse (of particularly young girls); historic and current separation of families resulting from the migrant labour system which resulted in multiple sexual partners; high use of sex workers due to single-sex quarters at the workplace; cultural resistance to the use of condoms; high rates of other STD’s; and high levels of poverty and other inequalities such as health access and education. Stigma about HIV is also a barrier to reaching the most vulnerable, including those already infected. The paper draws the conclusion that discrimination against women, coupled with male dominance in all aspects of social structures; polygamous marriages were prescribed and supervised by maledominated social structures has increased the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the African cultural context. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die HIV/Vigs pandemie wat tans Suid Afrika oorweldig is meestal die gevolg van heteroseksuele oordrag. Hierdie verhandeling bespreek die manlike rol in die Afrika kultuur in die konteks van MIV en Vigs. Aspekte wat die Afrika vroue in die gesig staar in terme van gesinsgeweld bly `n aanhoudende probleem. Vroue word steeds deur hul manlike maats gedomineer word en dus steeds nie `n vlak van gelykheid bereik het nie. Die onderdrukking van vroue kan direk gekoppel word aan die toenemende aantal vroue wat met MIV/Vigs geïnfekteer word – veral in die Afrika konteks. Kultuur speel ʼn kritieke rol in die bepaling van die gesondheidsvlak van die individu, gesin en gemeenskap. Dit is besonder relevant in die Afrika konteks, waar die waardes van `n uitgebreide gesin en gemeenskap ʼn enorme invloed het op die optrede van `n individu. Hierdie optrede in verhouding tot die gesin en gemeenskap is `n geweldige factor wat implikasies het op seksuele gedrag en op pogings tot voorkoming en beheer van MIV/Vigs. Terwyl die impak van MIV/Vigs in Suid Afrika ongesteurd voortstu, word `n kultuur gesentreerde benadering tot voorkoming, versorging en ondersteuning toenemend nodig as `n kritieke strategie. Die fokus op die voorkoming van die heteroseksuele Vigs pandemie was tot nou toe op vroue. Die rol van mans in seksuele besluitneming was tot dusvêr nie voldoende beklemtoon in Vigs voorkomende benaderings nie. Die gevolg is dat die heteroseksuele Vigs pandemie vir vroue ongesteurd voortduur weens die gebrek aan aandag op die gedrag van manlike seksmaats. Bespreking fokus op die kulturele en kontemporêre seksuele kultuur as vormende faktore in die uitvoer van hoë risiko seksuele gedrag. Daar is verskeie sosiale, politieke, kulturele en ekonomiese faktore wat die MIV/Vigs pandemie in die streek beïnvloed. Die belangrikstes is: lae status van vroue; manlike dominasie in seksuele en ekonomiese verhoudings; seksuele mishandeling – veral van jong meisies; historiese en huidige skeiding van gesinne voortspruitend uit die stelsel van trekarbeid – wat aanleiding gegee het tot `n verskeidenheid van seksuele maats; die hoë voorkoms van sekswerkers agv enkelgeslag woonkwartiere by die werksplek; kulturele weerstand teen die gebruik van kondome; hoë voorkoms van seksueel oordraagbare siektes; hoë vlakke van armoede en ander ongelykhede soos toegang tot gesondheidsdienste en onderwys. Die stigma van MIV/Vigs is ook `n hindernis in die bereiking van die mees kwesbare, insluitend die wat geïnfekteer is. Hierdie verhandeling maak die gevolgtrekking dat diskriminasie teen vroue, gekoppel met manlike dominasie in alle aspekte van sosiale strukture; poligamiese huwelike wat voorgeskryf word en onder toesig is van manlik gedomineerde sosiale strukture, die voorkoms van MIV/Vigs in die Afrika kulturele konteks verhoog het.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: “Treatment failure, defaulter rate, patients lost to follow up”. These are the words usually spoken by health care workers at the CCMT clinics in the country. These are words that they try at all times to come with solutions to, without much success. Much as both the health care workers and patients know the importance of taking medication, often medication is not taken as required. Adherence is defined as the degree to which a patient follows a treatment regimen which has been designed in the context of a consultative partnership between the client and the health care worker. This obligation is comprehensive as it tends to examine all factors that can affect adherence. It includes characteristics such as the treatment regimen, the provider behaviour, social and environmental factors that may hinder adherence on the patient. There are several factors that lead to non-adherence to treatment. The factors may be classified as Biomedical, Psychological and Social factors. The major tool that can be used to address such issues is adequate training of all staff members working at the CCMT clinics. The researcher explored training needs and gaps at a CCMT site that will assist to combat problems of non-adherence to treatment. Health care works at an identified site where questioned on the level of training they have received and on what they need to improve their management of patients and adherence. It was realised that some categories of staff at the clinic do not receive training as expected and that others do not receive adequate training that will assist them in adherence counselling. Recommendations made by staff members were that training should be readily available to all staff members and that it should also be rolled out to other departments and sections within the hospital so there is continuum of care of HIV positive patients. Non adherence to antiretroviral treatment is a challenge faced by health care providers as well as patients themselves. It results in treatment failure, a decrease in the quality of life of the patient and an increase in morbidity and mobility. Non-adherence means any reason where the patient is not taking recommended doses, not sticking to the recommended time or not taking it in the recommended way. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navolging word gedefinieer as die mate waarop die pasiënt die behandeling wat voorgeskryf is in samewerking tussen die pasiënt en die gesondheidsorgwerker, nakom. Hierdie vepligting is omvattend omdat dit geneig is om alle faktore wat die nakoming kan beinvloed, ondersoek. Dit sluit eienskappe in soos die behandeling regimen, die verskaffersgedrag, sosiale en omgewingsfaktore wat ‘n struikelblok kan wees vir die nakoming van die pasiënt. Daar is verskeie faktore wat kan lei tot nie-nakoming van behandeling. Die faktore kan geklassifiseer word as bio-mediese, sielkundige en sosiale faktore. Die belangrike instrument wat gebruik word om sulke sake aan te spreek, is voldoende opleiding van alle personeellede wat by CCMT klinieke werk. Die navorser ondersoek opvoedkundige behoeftes en leemtes by ‘n CCMT perseel, wat sal help om probleme van nie-nakoming van behandeling sal bestry. Gesondheidsorgwerkers by ‘n geïdentifiseerde perseel, was ondervra oor die vlak van opleiding wat hulle ontvang het en wat hulle nodig het vir beter bestuur van pasiënte en nakoming van behandeling deur pasiënte. Daar is gevind dat sommige kategorieë van personeel by die klinkiek nie die opleiding ontvang het wat nodig is nie en dat ander personeellede nie voldoende opleiding ontvang het wat hulle sal help met nakoming van berading nie. Personeellede het aanbeveel dat opleiding geredelik beskikbaar gemaak moet word aan alle personneel en dat dit na ander departemente en afdelings binne die hospitaal uitgebrei moet word om die voortsetting van sorg vir MIV/VIGS-positiewe pasiënte te verseker. Nie-nakoming van antiretrovirale behandeling is ‘n uitdaging vir beide gesondheidsorgwerkers en pasiënte. Dit lei tot die mislukking van behandeling, ‘n afname in die kwaliteit van die pasiënt se lewe en ‘n verhoging in morbiditeit en mobiliteit.

This study explored the relationship of migrants’ sociodemographic characteristics and social capital with HIV risk to contribute to our understanding of migration and HIV dynamics. The study was undertaken among Rajasthani migrants of age 18 and above in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The data were collected from 1598 migrants through survey method and 73 migrants through qualitative methods from January to June 2007. Having casual partners, sex with a sex worker and no or inconsistent condom use with sex worker were used as the measures for HIV risk. There were significant differences among migrants. Mumbai had more people in the higher age category, married and with longer duration of migration. Ahmedabad had more migrants who were younger, unmarried, with regular jobs and more workdays per month. Migrants in Mumbai and Ahmedabad differed in the nature and content of social capital. Bonding and linking social capital were higher in Ahmedabad than Mumbai while bridging social capital was higher in Mumbai than Ahmedabad. Migrants engaged in high risk behaviour in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad had more people reporting having casual partners (251; 31.6 percent vs. 134; 16.7 percent), sex with a sex worker (138; 17.4 percent vs. 80; 10 percent) and irregular or no condom use (96; 12.1 percent vs. 27; 3.4 percent) than Mumbai. Migrants at destination place had five times higher chances of having sex with a sex worker than villages. The nature of job, steady or fluctuating income and mode of salary receipt were the common significant variables in both Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Social capital was associated with the three HIV risk measures in overall, domain and component forms; however, the relationship was complex. HIV risk was mediated by ‘buddy’ and ‘daddy’ culture in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, respectively. Presence of senior community members in Mumbai lowered the risk in Mumbai while membership in buddy networks led to higher risk for migrants in Ahmedabad. In conclusion, migrant was not a homogenous category. The differences in sociodemographic characteristics and social capital informed the differential HIV risk in migrants. It is important to understand migrants’ lived experiences to plan effective HIV prevention programs.

No description available.

There is a well-documented evidence to confirm that the largest number of people living with the HI-virus is in Africa and especially in South Africa. The prospect of a significant breakthrough in treatment looks uncertain at present and for this reason the impact of HIV and AIDS in South Africa must be taken very seriously. In 1999 surveys estimated about 3,5 million people infected by HIV and 150 000 with AIDS. The figure was expected to rise to 5-7 million HIV-infected people over the next 5 years. Experts calculated that on average 1500 people get infected each day in South Africa! South Africa has one of the most rapidly spreading pandemics in the world. High school learners are a high-risk group. Prevention programmes are important to minimize the infection rate amongst adolescents and young adults. The researcher has therefore concentrated on the prevention of HIV/AIDS among learners at high school level in a rural area between the ages 16-18 years. A survey was undertaken with the purpose of preventing HIV/AIDS among learners from the Thejane Secondary school in a rural area in Thaba Nchu. The aim of this research was: 8 To evaluate the effectiveness of a group work programme for high school learners in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in a rural area. To reach this aim, a prevention programme was designed for these high school learners through which knowledge about the nature of HIV/AIDS as well as knowledge about values and attitudes were given to them. A small group of ten learners were chosen as the research group and ten learners as the control group. Group work as a method of social work was chosen to achieve the aim of the study. The group work programme was successfully presented in 9 sessions of one to one and a half hour each during school time. The programme was in particular suited, not only to improve the knowledge of the learners about the nature of HIV/AIDS, but also to broaden their insight with regard to the important role of a healthy lifestyle as well as the importance of being assertive. The programme was evaluated by measuring at two occasions. The results obtained by this evaluation showed that the group work programme brought about a significant difference in the knowledge, insight, attitudes and beliefs about HIV/AIDS as well as the important role of values. The single system design was used to measure the effect of the programme. The results of the measuring indicated that group work intervention was successful in implementing the desired change. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

HIV/AIDS infections are an increasingly alarming pandemic, therefore it will remain being a challenge and a priority. The efforts of all participating and active stakeholders are appreciated in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This research dissertation gives an overview of the HIVIAIDS status and impact on the affected children around Kagisano (Ganyesa) service point. This information has been collected in Pomfret, which is a village near Ganyesa. The survey was undertaken with the aim to investigate social work services for children affected by HIV/AIDS in the rural area in which Pomfret is situated. The objectives of this study were: To investigate the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS in a rural village called Pomfret through a literature study and empirical research. To investigate the role of the social worker in providing for the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS in Pomfret. These objectives were achieved by means of a study of the relevant literature and through empirical research. The available literature on the subject was consulted to determine whether any research has been conducted in this field and whether the subject was researchable. The empirical research was conducted to confirm the previous research findings. The literature study and the empirical research were vital in formulating recommendations. In this study the survey method was used as a systematic data gathering procedure. Data was gathered through a self-formulated schedule. The researcher administrated the schedules by holding personal interviews with the respondents. The research was conducted in the Pomfret district and 50 respondents were willing to be part of the research. The findings of this research reflect that social workers still have much to do in order to address the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS in rural areas. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The aim of this research was to determine the way in which informal caregivers of HIV/AIDS patients experience their task as caregivers as well as to identify factors, or general resistance resources, which exercise an influence on their psychological well-being, and more specifically on their sense of coherence. The stressors encountered by informal caregivers of HIVIAIDS patients have previously been investigated thoroughly in a number of studies. The tasks of informal caregivers very often encompass much more than what would be, for example, included in the nursing context and therefore exceed the limits applying to the formal sector. Stressors to which caregivers are exposed include physical, financial and emotional aspects. It has been proved that this state of affairs has a negative impact on their physical health conditions as well as their psychological well-being. Caregivers do, however, at times report a certain extent of growth experienced by them which can be related to the care giving situation. The salutogenic perspective allows for a study of the origin of health and has, for the purposes of this study, been applied to obtain an alternative description of the caregivers' experiences. According to this perspective health does not merely mean the absence of disease, but also refers to health being influenced by an individual's management of stressful events. When an individual, even if confronted with stressful circumstances, has adequate general resistance resources at his/her disposal, a strong sense of coherence can develop and this will have a positive influence on his/her psychological well-being. In the South African context little if any literature can be found on the salutogenic factors that may affect informal caregivers of HIV/AIDS patients. The investigation of this study was based on an availability sample consisting of 8 informal caregivers of HIVIAIDS patients. A one shot cross sectional design with triangulation of data assessment techniques was used. The researcher obtained data with regard to the caregivers' sense of coherence by means of the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC) (Antonovsky, 1987). Semistructured interviews were conducted with all the caregivers involved and a qualitative analysis followed. The results revealed that informal caregivers' sense of coherence was much lower than- that of a group of nurses (formal caregivers) as described by Cilliers (2003). One of the reasons for this significant difference could be the lack of a structured setting or environment in which caregivers still have to perform their duties and responsibilities. According to the results a variety of factors exercising a negative impact on informal caregivers' sense of coherence could be identified. These included (a) stress, (b) exposure to unfamiliar situations, and (c) a lack of counselling skills. Within the framework of the salutogenic perspective there were, however, different factors also known as general resistance resources, that exercised a positive impact on the caregivers' sense of coherence. Among these the following could be counted: (a) spirituality, (b) insight into interpersonal situations, (c) utilisation of social support systems, and (d) multi-disciplinary cooperation. It would therefore seem that informal caregivers do possess general resistance resources which enable them to persevere with their tasks as caregivers in spite of the stressors they encounter on a daily basis. One of the recommendations that can be posed after having carried out this study and after having analysed the results, is the compilation as well as the evaluation and implementation, of a psycho-education training programme for informal caregivers, with special emphasis on such general resistance resources. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

South Africa is characterized by large-scale unemployment and it has been severe among women, especially those in rural areas. Unemployment has increased the vulnerability of many households therefore most rural households rely mainly on state social grants of which the child support grant is most popular. Education is one of the most important factors determining employment and thus income. Illiteracy among Black people in rural areas is higher than the national average. The lack of education of the head of a household is closely correlated with poverty in households. HIV/AIDS on the other hand, is one of the most rapidly spreading pandemics in the world and there is well documented evidence that the largest number of people living with the HI-virus is found in Africa and especially in South Africa. The majority of people living with HIV in the North West Province are part of households living in unfavourable economic situations. The extent to which people can protect themselves from HIV infection depends on their knowledge of perceived risk and their capacity to apply that knowledge. Based on the above, it is clear that professional and structured intervention is necessary to address these socio-economic problems rural communities are facing. The aim of the research was to engage in an exploratory investigation to determine the need for social work intervention in a rural community with regard to unemployment and HIV/AIDS. The population studied in this research consisted of 230 households in the rural community called Heuningvlei which was randomly selected. The interview schedule was utilized and the head of household or the next in charge completed the interview schedule. The findings showed that unemployment and HIV/AIDS are dual problems that negatively affect the rural community and therefore needs to be addressed in a structured and professional manner. In conclusion it can be said that the research has proved that social work intervention is necessary to address unemployment and HIV/AIDS in a rural community / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.