Thesis (MSc (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2012. / The aim of the study is to investigate the HIV and Aids knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and beliefs of University of Limpopo undergraduate students (Medunsa Campus) registered for modules in psychology. South African tertiary institutions have a high rate of HIV infection. Empirical evidence indicates that generally male students have multiple partners during their years at university. Various studies reveal that the use of condoms is relatively low amongst students. This investigation utilized a quasi-experimental survey design as it was deemed an appropriate method with which to answer the research question. The questions used in the survey were underpinned by the Health Belief Model (HBM) and the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). Several open-ended questions were added to lend a qualitative aspect to the study. Proportionate stratified sampling was used. Using this method a sample of students was randomly allocated in each educational level (first year, second year and third year) according to the true proportional number of students in each level. Quantitative data was analyses using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test to look for differences between the means of the male and female groups. Results underpinned other research in this arena For instance, the majority of participants indicated that they know that using a male condom or female condom can prevent the spread of Aids. This suggests that this percentage would take the positive health related action of using a condom. However, fifty one respondents (35.66%) indicated that they were very likely to believe that they would feel uncomfortable buying condoms and forty five respondents (31%) were likely to believe that they would feel uncomfortable buying condoms. This indicates that knowledge is not a good predictor of a positive health related action. Quantitative and qualitative results suggest that stigmatizations and racism exist in the samples attitudes towards aspect of HIV and Aids. The only significant result between the means of the two groups suggests that males are more likely to indulge in high risk sexual behaviours than females.

Thesis (MSc (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2012. / Recent literature on childbearing and HIV has indicated a plethora of evidence suggesting that many women living with HIV continue to desire children, become pregnant and give birth after knowing their HIV status. This desire to have children has been associated with the availability of HAART and PMTC interventions and its improvement in the quality of life for HIV-positive women. This study aimed at exploring the emotional experiences of HIV-positive married women wanting to bear children. A qualitative research design was used to explore the above mentioned aim. Through the use of semi-structured interviews a sample of 12 HIV-positive married women were purposefully selected. The participants were chosen from Tshepang clinic at Dr. George Mukhari Hospital situated in the township of Ga-Rankuwa using a purposive sampling design. Semi-structured interviews using interview guide were conducted to explore their unique and subjective emotional experiences of being HIV, married and in need of a child. The process of data analysis in the current study was guided by phenomenological approach in order to allow the inherent meaning of the data to emerge without being distorted. The findings of these study revealed that the experiences surrounding HIV positive diagnosis, marriage and childbearing proves to be associated with overwhelming emotional experiences for women in the current study. Most of the participants in this study viewed motherhood as a unique, subjective and a personal fulfilment for all women irrespective of their HIV status. Participants felt that children stabilise a marriage by giving it meaning. A decision to conceive for some participants is influenced by pressure as a result of their marital, social and situational context

Thesis (MPH) -- University of Limpopo, 2012. / Background: The HIV pandemic continues to be a major public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa where 22.5 million people were infected with HIV in 2009 and South Africa remains one amongst the countries with the highest HIV epidemic. The number of HIV-positive and AIDS patients is increasing annually and there are no specialised oral health institutions that provide oral health care to HIV/AIDS patients. HIV and AIDS continues to have profound impact on all health training and education (Medical, Dentistry, Nursing etc.) and clinical care, hence it is crucial for all the health care students to be educated about HIV/AIDS disease. Dental student’s knowledge about HIV/AIDS, attitudes towards HIV-positive patients and infection control practices are of importance as they are the future oral health care providers. The Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of third, fourth and fifth year dental students on HIV-positive and AIDS patients at the Medunsa Oral Health Centre (MOHC). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 139 dental students at MOHC using a self administered questionaire with 30 closedended questions. T-test, one-way Anova (analysis of variance), multiple regressions and Pearson’s correlation were applied by Stata IC/10 to assess, determine and describe the knowledge, attitude and infection control practices of third, fourth and fifth year dental students, respectively and also find an association between demographic variables, knowledge, attitudes and practices. Results: The response rate was 86% (120/139), 33 of third year, 47 of fourth year and 40 of fifth year dental students. Gender was statistically significant towards knowledge and females were more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS as compared to males (p=0.058). However, almost (98.3%) all dental students were not sure “HIV increases other infections, including oral infections as well”. More than half (53.1%) of third year dental students were not sure “persistent generalised lymphadenopathy vi is associated with stage 2 of HIV infection”. In this study, ethnic groups and level of study (BDS4 & BDS5) were found to be significant predictors of attitude regarding HIV-positive patients (p=0.001) (p=0.055) (p=0.001). Practice was found to be a significant predictor of knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS (p=0.046). Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed students with positive attitude scores had significantly excellent practice regarding HIV/AIDS (r=0.2912) (p=0.001). Good knowledge translates into excellent infection control practices, whilst positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients yield excellent infection control practices. Conclusion: The dental students at MOHC relatively have a good understanding of HIV/AIDS (particularly the mode of transmission) but to lesser extent, disease progress and oral manifestation. The lack of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and inconsistency regarding certain infection control procedures may be a reflection of insufficient HIV/AIDS teaching and clinical supervision of students in the wards. There is a need to improve the current dental curriculum by including HIV/AIDS module and incorporate a clinical component of dental screening at the ARV clinics.

Thesis (Family Medicine)) -- University of Limpopo, 2010. / Background. The study was aimed at showing the prevalence, clinical and demographic characteristics of HIV positive adolescents attending the Wellness clinic of the Bernice Samuel Hospital in Delmas. Design. The study was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Methods. A non-probability sampling (criterion sampling) was used. All patients between the ages of 11 years to 19 years who are registered at the Wellness clinic of Bernice Samuel Hospital in Delmas for the period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009 were taken. The variables studied included Prevalence, Demographic variables (gender, age group, population group, marital and employment status as well as Proximity to ART site) and Clinical variables(Viralload at presentation, CD4 count, Hemoglobin, associated sexually transmitted disease, associated health problems pre and post HAART, antiretroviral regimen, WHO staging). Results. The study showed a great disparity between the total number of adolescents picked up by VCT in the community and those registered for follow up care at the Hospital's Wellness clinic (Clinic prevalence 2.3% versus community prevalence 3.8%). Most of the patients were females, evenly distributed in early and late adolescence, were scholars presenting at an advanced stage of the disease despite an easy access to health care. Common health problems encountered in these patients were oral Candidiasis, malnutrition, pneumonia, and diarrheal illness. The commonest adverse reactions to HAAR T were gastrointestinal symptoms and hepatotoxicity. Retention on the ARV treatment program was good but there was an unacceptable delay in initiating HAART. Death was the commonest cause of loss to follow up. Conclusion. Adolescent HIV / AIDS remains a problem in the Delmas municipality even though prevalence appears to be low. The cause of late presentation in the wellness clinic despite good access will need to be investigated and rectified.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Mathematics and Statistics. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 32-34). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR29627

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Document formatted into pages. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2005 Aug. 16.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, San Francisco, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 105-116. Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-55).

Introduction: The HIV epidemic has had a significant impact on the existing inpatient and outpatient health systems. The cost of inpatient care for HIV positive people has been shown to be greater than for HIV negative people and HIV infection has been associated with a higher inpatient mortality. These dynamics, in the face of an established antiretroviral program, have not been studied at district hospital level previously. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical patterns and cost implications in medical admissions at Helderberg Hospital, with particular reference to HIV infection and treatment. It includes a comparative analysis of HIV positive and HIV negative admissions. Methodology: This was a descriptive, quantitative study in the form of a cross-sectional survey. All medical admissions over defined 24 hour periods were recorded and data extracted from the medical records retrospectively. Results: 165 records were analysed. HIV prevalence was 19% and overall mortality 7%. 23(72%) of the 32 HIV positive patients had not yet accessed HIV services. The median CD4 count was 87cells/microl. The comparative analysis showed the HIV positive admissions to have a longer length of stay (5.9 days versus 3.6 days, p<0.01), higher laboratory costs (R717.28 versus R327.23, p<0.01) and higher pharmacy costs (R40.69 versus R11.72, p<0.01) than the HIV negative admissions. Outcomes for the HIV positive and negative patients were similar (p=0.64). Conclusion: Inpatient cost of care for HIV positive patients in this district hospital is more expensive than for HIV negative patients. Mortality rates in both groups are comparable. Antiretroviral therapy may be contributing to a decreased inpatient HIV prevalence and mortality rate. HIV positive patients are not accessing treatment in time to avoid morbidity requiring costly hospital admission. Further efforts are needed to expand outpatient HIV services, to explore the reasons why people with HIV are not accessing treatment timeously and to encourage rigorous treatment of HIV infected inpatients to ensure optimal outcomes.