The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the efficacy of the novel Pheroid™ technology system in a semi-solid dosage form, for the topical delivery of acyclovir (5% w/w), an anti-viral agent and ketoconazole (2% w/w) an anti-fungal agent. The human immununodeficiency virus (HIV) had an immense impact on the spectrum of diagnosis of cutaneous diseases since its first manifestation in the late 1970's (Yen-More et al., 2000:432). The skin is the most commonly affected organ in HIV infected individuals with skin manifestations present in up to 92% of HIV-positive patients. According to Ramdial (2000:113) the skin may also be the first or the only organ affected throughout the course of the HIV/AIDS disease. HIV/AIDS patients are more susceptible to infections due to their compromised immune systems (Durden & Elewski, 1997:200) and an exceptionally wide range of infectious skin manifestations presents in HIV/AIDS infected individuals, some of which are viral and fungal. Acyclovir is an anti-viral active against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus and the cytomegalovirus (Hayden, 2001:1317). The anti-fungal drug, ketoconazole has activity against the majority of pathogenic fungi which include Candida species and Histoplasma capsulatum (Bennett, 2001:1301). It is appropriate to formulate a topical product containing both acyclovir and ketoconazole because viral and fungal cutaneous manifestations are regularly encountered in combination in HIV/AIDS infected individuals,. This combination topical product may be useful in the treatment of viral and fungal opportunistic skin manifestations. Curing these skin lesions may also assist to improve the state of mind and wellbeing of infected individuals. The skin, however, acts as a barrier against diffusion of substances through the underlying tissue. The main problem in transdermal and dermal delivery of actives is to overcome the stratum corneum, the skin's natural barrier (Menon, 2002:4). The Pheroid™ delivery system can promote the absorption and increase the efficacy of a selection of active ingredients in dermatological preparations (Grobler et al., 2008:284). The aim of this study was to formulate a stable semi-solid product containing Pheroid™ to determine whether Pheroid™ technology would enhance the flux and/or delivery of acyclovir and ketoconazole to the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin. In vitro studies and tape stripping were used to determine the effect that the Pheroid™ delivery system had on skin permeation of acyclovir and ketoconazole in semi-solid formulations. The formulae containing no Pheroid™ were used as a control against which the efficacy of the formulations containing Pheroid™ was measured. The stability of the formulated semi-solid products was examined over a period of 6 months according to the International Conference of Harmonisation (ICH) Tripartite Guidelines (2003) and the Medicines control council (MCC) of South Africa (2006). The formulated products were stored at three different temperatures. The stability tests included the assay of the actives and other attributes in the formulation, pH, viscosity, mass loss and particle size observation. These tests were conducted at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months. The results demonstrated that the transdermal flux, epidermal and dermal penetration of acyclovir was enhanced by the Pheroid™ cream formulation. Ketoconazole's transdermal flux as well as delivery to the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin was improved by the Pheroid™ emulgel formula. The topical delivery of ketoconazole and acyclovir was thus enhanced by Pheroid™ technology. The Pheroid™ formulations, however, did not meet the requirements for stability according to the ICH and MCC. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

This study focuses on investigating the psychological needs of orphans affected by HIV/AIDS and how these learners can be supported in order to cope effectively with the challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The study needed to understand the psychological well being of learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS, their general performance at school, the nature and extent of social support they get from their families, communities and societies and their physical well being. Suggestions for an ecosystemic theoretical framework to be infused in all psycho-social support programmes geared to strengthen the psycho-social well-being of AIDS orphans were made. Orphans are affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially. Affected learners have fewer opportunities for schooling and education, may suffer from malnutrition. They are themselves often highly vulnerable to HIV infection and are at higher risk of developing psychological problems. In this study, a case study design was followed. Interviews were conducted with a sample of participants including orphaned learners living in a child-headed household, class-educator, an aunt and a health worker in Soweto. The researcher recruited participants by means of snowball sampling. Results revealed that learners orphaned by HIV/AIDS suffer emotional trauma and grief, illness and stress. They have scholastic problems, suffer stigmatization and discrimination, miss out on educational opportunities and experience poverty. This is an indication of a need for social support. It is for this reason that an ecosystemic support programme which schools can adopt and adapt in order to develop the psychological and social resilience of learners affected and orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic is proposed. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

The negative impact of HIV/Aids, internationally and nationally; as well as on the education system of South Africa, is well-documented and cannot be ignored. The latest statistics indicate that South Africa currently has the highest occurrence of HIV/Aids in the world. Due to this high occurrence of HIV/Aids infected people, an unbelievably high percentage of the community is affected by the pandemic. Teachers, specifically life orientation teachers, are also affected by this phenomenon. All teachers, but specifically Life orientation teachers, are faced on a daily basis with various personal and professional challenges related to the HIV/Aids pandemic. These challenges threaten the well-being of teachers, so that researchers have been asked to empower teachers so that they can resist these challenges. A resilient teacher avails of the correct information on HIV/Aids and can therefore contribute to fighting the pandemic by providing correct information. This teacher will, amongst others, also have strong faith, the ability to discuss the pandemic openly and to obtain access to counselling. This resilient teacher realises the importance of a positive attitude despite the fact that she is realistic about the impact of the pandemic, has positive relationships and realises the value of support. The aim of my study was to determine the degree to which the programme Resilient Educators (REds) can support life orientation teachers who are affected by HIV/Aids, so that they will be equipped to resiliently withstand the challenges HIV/Aids set them. REds has been evaluated many times, but until the present, participants have not been life orientation teachers. In response to this aim, I followed a pre-experimental research design in the course of my study with twelve affected life orientation teachers in Sasolburg, as participants. Before beginning with the programme, a pretest (qualitative as well as quantitative data were collected) was done. Intervention took place over seven weeks by means of the REds programme. I wrote a reflection journal during the intervention and asked participants to report their impressions of the sessions in writing. After completing the programme, a post test was written (qualitative as well as quantitative data were collected) to determine the degree to which participants were able to withstand the challenges of HIV/Aids more resiliently. Thorough analysis of the pre and post test data, as well as the reflection data, creates the impression that participants were already resilient to some degree before joining the programme, but after completing the programme, their resilience can be described as more profound than before, and this fact can largely be ascribed to the effectiveness of the REds programme. / Thesis (M.Ed. (Educational Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

The objectives of this research were investigate the lived experiences of school-going learners who are HIV-positive; and develop ecosystemic management strategies to help learners who are HIV-positive. The literature research investigation revealed that HIV/AIDS is not just a health problem but also attacks the education system itself. Demand for education is dropping and changing, many educators are ill and dying, and the trauma of loss associated with HIV/AIDS is entrenched in South African classrooms. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has a traumatic impact on all educators and learners. The work of educators both those who are HIV positive and those who have developed full-blown AIDS will be compromised by periods of illness. The pandemic thrives on sexual violence, male domination and child abuse in South Africa. It is the ecosystemic paradigm that helps in seeing the connecting link between family-school-community-society-world or school and peers and this helps in providing a more useful synergistic focus than trying to work in isolation with discrete segments of a microsystem for example, with an individual in isolation. Management strategies for dealing with HIV/AIDS include the notion that achieving sustainability requires bringing together a variety of legitimate stakeholders, drawing on a variety of accepted bodies of knowledge, to negotiate a learning path based on a series of conflict resolutions within ecological constraints. Continual learning based on free flow of information and mutual respect, and investment in effective management of HIV/AIDS are keys to success. The empirical research investigation revealed that psychologically disturbed, emotional well-being, spiritual well-being, physical well-being, social life, their scholastic performance, daily routine, there is a change in their behaviour or health after the HIV- positive status has been revealed, they fear of death, their academic performance at school is affected by absenteeism and lack of concentration, there is absence of strategies to assist learners who are absent frequently because of illness, they loose valued level of functioning, lack assistance at school, fear being discriminated or ridiculed, there is absence v of measures to deal with discrimination at school, there is a lack of information on HIV/AIDS, learners fear disclosing to friends and teachers, there is a lack of communication between parents and infected learners about issues regarding HIV/AIDS. Educators are also affected emotionally, spiritually and physically. They become affected socially and they do not cope with the impact of HIV. The level of communicating the HIV/AIDS pandemic within the schools is low, the principals are not doing much as leaders to supplement this low level of communicating about HIV/AIDS, school policies on HIV/AIDS in these schools do not address issues of support for learners and educators who are incapacitated because of HIV/AIDS, there is no monitoring tool used in these schools to ensure HIV-policy adherence, principals in these schools do not ensure that educators teach learners about matters pertaining to HIV/AIDS, health programmes in these schools do not assist learners living with HIV/AIDS within the school and the level of accepting and accommodating infected learners and the personnel in these schools is low. The level of involvement of community members in matters pertaining to HIV/AIDS in these schools is low. An ecosysternic management system is proposed in this research vi / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2008.

This study focuses on investigating the psychological needs of orphans affected by HIV/AIDS and how these learners can be supported in order to cope effectively with the challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The study needed to understand the psychological well being of learners affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS, their general performance at school, the nature and extent of social support they get from their families, communities and societies and their physical well being. Suggestions for an ecosystemic theoretical framework to be infused in all psycho-social support programmes geared to strengthen the psycho-social well-being of AIDS orphans were made. Orphans are affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially. Affected learners have fewer opportunities for schooling and education, may suffer from malnutrition. They are themselves often highly vulnerable to HIV infection and are at higher risk of developing psychological problems. In this study, a case study design was followed. Interviews were conducted with a sample of participants including orphaned learners living in a child-headed household, class-educator, an aunt and a health worker in Soweto. The researcher recruited participants by means of snowball sampling. Results revealed that learners orphaned by HIV/AIDS suffer emotional trauma and grief, illness and stress. They have scholastic problems, suffer stigmatization and discrimination, miss out on educational opportunities and experience poverty. This is an indication of a need for social support. It is for this reason that an ecosystemic support programme which schools can adopt and adapt in order to develop the psychological and social resilience of learners affected and orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic is proposed. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.

The negative impact of HIV/Aids, internationally and nationally; as well as on the education system of South Africa, is well-documented and cannot be ignored. The latest statistics indicate that South Africa currently has the highest occurrence of HIV/Aids in the world. Due to this high occurrence of HIV/Aids infected people, an unbelievably high percentage of the community is affected by the pandemic. Teachers, specifically life orientation teachers, are also affected by this phenomenon. All teachers, but specifically Life orientation teachers, are faced on a daily basis with various personal and professional challenges related to the HIV/Aids pandemic. These challenges threaten the well-being of teachers, so that researchers have been asked to empower teachers so that they can resist these challenges. A resilient teacher avails of the correct information on HIV/Aids and can therefore contribute to fighting the pandemic by providing correct information. This teacher will, amongst others, also have strong faith, the ability to discuss the pandemic openly and to obtain access to counselling. This resilient teacher realises the importance of a positive attitude despite the fact that she is realistic about the impact of the pandemic, has positive relationships and realises the value of support. The aim of my study was to determine the degree to which the programme Resilient Educators (REds) can support life orientation teachers who are affected by HIV/Aids, so that they will be equipped to resiliently withstand the challenges HIV/Aids set them. REds has been evaluated many times, but until the present, participants have not been life orientation teachers. In response to this aim, I followed a pre-experimental research design in the course of my study with twelve affected life orientation teachers in Sasolburg, as participants. Before beginning with the programme, a pretest (qualitative as well as quantitative data were collected) was done. Intervention took place over seven weeks by means of the REds programme. I wrote a reflection journal during the intervention and asked participants to report their impressions of the sessions in writing. After completing the programme, a post test was written (qualitative as well as quantitative data were collected) to determine the degree to which participants were able to withstand the challenges of HIV/Aids more resiliently. Thorough analysis of the pre and post test data, as well as the reflection data, creates the impression that participants were already resilient to some degree before joining the programme, but after completing the programme, their resilience can be described as more profound than before, and this fact can largely be ascribed to the effectiveness of the REds programme. / Thesis (M.Ed. (Educational Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

Statement of problem: Ottawa Public Health has expressed the need for accurate and complete data/information on HIV in the Black community from Africa and the Caribbean (ACB) in Ottawa. Method of investigation: A mixed methods approach was done. The first phase was a descriptive analysis of HIV diagnoses in the ACB population in Ottawa between 2005-2010. The second phase used qualitative interviews with people living with, and not living with HIV in ACB communities in Ottawa. Results: HIV diagnosis rates were higher in ACB in comparison to the non-ACB population. The issues that emerged from interviews touched on HIV-related stigma, the exacerbating effect of HIV, essential gaps in current programs and HIV-related services for ACB communities. Conclusion: The HIV diagnosis rates in the ACB communities in Ottawa provide reason for concern. OPH’s approach to reducing HIV rates in ACB communities must attempt to incorporate understandings of the cultural context of HIV in the ACB communities for the betterment of HIV-prevention programming.

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.

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.

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the efficacy of the novel Pheroid™ technology system in a semi-solid dosage form, for the topical delivery of acyclovir (5% w/w), an anti-viral agent and ketoconazole (2% w/w) an anti-fungal agent. The human immununodeficiency virus (HIV) had an immense impact on the spectrum of diagnosis of cutaneous diseases since its first manifestation in the late 1970's (Yen-More et al., 2000:432). The skin is the most commonly affected organ in HIV infected individuals with skin manifestations present in up to 92% of HIV-positive patients. According to Ramdial (2000:113) the skin may also be the first or the only organ affected throughout the course of the HIV/AIDS disease. HIV/AIDS patients are more susceptible to infections due to their compromised immune systems (Durden & Elewski, 1997:200) and an exceptionally wide range of infectious skin manifestations presents in HIV/AIDS infected individuals, some of which are viral and fungal. Acyclovir is an anti-viral active against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus and the cytomegalovirus (Hayden, 2001:1317). The anti-fungal drug, ketoconazole has activity against the majority of pathogenic fungi which include Candida species and Histoplasma capsulatum (Bennett, 2001:1301). It is appropriate to formulate a topical product containing both acyclovir and ketoconazole because viral and fungal cutaneous manifestations are regularly encountered in combination in HIV/AIDS infected individuals,. This combination topical product may be useful in the treatment of viral and fungal opportunistic skin manifestations. Curing these skin lesions may also assist to improve the state of mind and wellbeing of infected individuals. The skin, however, acts as a barrier against diffusion of substances through the underlying tissue. The main problem in transdermal and dermal delivery of actives is to overcome the stratum corneum, the skin's natural barrier (Menon, 2002:4). The Pheroid™ delivery system can promote the absorption and increase the efficacy of a selection of active ingredients in dermatological preparations (Grobler et al., 2008:284). The aim of this study was to formulate a stable semi-solid product containing Pheroid™ to determine whether Pheroid™ technology would enhance the flux and/or delivery of acyclovir and ketoconazole to the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin. In vitro studies and tape stripping were used to determine the effect that the Pheroid™ delivery system had on skin permeation of acyclovir and ketoconazole in semi-solid formulations. The formulae containing no Pheroid™ were used as a control against which the efficacy of the formulations containing Pheroid™ was measured. The stability of the formulated semi-solid products was examined over a period of 6 months according to the International Conference of Harmonisation (ICH) Tripartite Guidelines (2003) and the Medicines control council (MCC) of South Africa (2006). The formulated products were stored at three different temperatures. The stability tests included the assay of the actives and other attributes in the formulation, pH, viscosity, mass loss and particle size observation. These tests were conducted at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months. The results demonstrated that the transdermal flux, epidermal and dermal penetration of acyclovir was enhanced by the Pheroid™ cream formulation. Ketoconazole's transdermal flux as well as delivery to the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin was improved by the Pheroid™ emulgel formula. The topical delivery of ketoconazole and acyclovir was thus enhanced by Pheroid™ technology. The Pheroid™ formulations, however, did not meet the requirements for stability according to the ICH and MCC. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.