The study sought to explore and describe the risk behaviour regarding HIV transmission among youth in Bulawayo, their knowledge of HIV transmission and the sources of information on HIV transmission accessible to them. A quantitative, descriptive exploratory design was used and 238 youth from three secondary schools in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe were the respondents. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to facilitate and acquire insight into the risk behaviour among the youth. The inferences drawn from the study were that youth have inadequate knowledge about HIV transmission and therefore do not fully understand their risk of infection. Youth also find shyness and fear of rejection serious barriers to communicating openly about sexuality, sexual and HIV/AIDS issues. The findings of the study have implications for programmes to limit HIV transmission among youth and should assist policymakers and educators in developing and implementing such programmes in order to improve the health of youth in Zimbabwe. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study aimed to identify factors affecting women’s utilisation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, evaluate the quality of PMTCT services, describe health outcomes of mothers and infants and to identify factors that influence mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. Structured interviews were conducted with 384 women who had utilised PMTCT services. Information was also obtained from the health records of these women and of their infants. Better educated women, who had male partners and were self-employed were more likely to use PMTCT services. Being unmarried, poor and feeling stigmatised made it difficult for women to use these services. Respondents were satisfied with PMTCT services except that clinics sometimes had no medications. The health care workers followed the Ethiopian guidelines during HIV testing and counseling but not when prescribing treatment. Although the respondents’ CD4 cell counts improved, their clinical conditions did not improve. The MTCT rate was significantly higher if infants did not receive ARVs, had APGAR scores below seven, weighed less than 2.5kg at birth, were born prematurely, and if their mothers had nipple fissures. PMTCT services could be improved if more women used these services, health care workers followed the national guidelines when prescribing ARVs, clinics had adequate supplies of medicines, all infants received ARVs, and mothers’ nipple fissures could be prevented. Antenatal care should help to avoid premature births of infants weighing less than 2.5kg and having APGAR scores below 7. Future research should compare formula feeding versus breastfeeding of infants with HIV-positive mothers / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Appendix B (leaves 217-218), Appendix M (leaves 239-247) and Appendix O (leaves 253-259) in English and Amharic / The purpose of this research was to develop HIV testing Health Belief Scale (HTBS) that contains the constructs of Health Belief Model (HBM), and also to analyse HIV testing intention and behaviour among university students. The mixed method approach was used in phases. First, Literature review and in-depth interviews were conducted to develop item pool for HTBS, which was followed by content validity assessment by experts. In the second phase, a pilot survey was conducted on randomly selected 318 university students to refine the HTBS using item analysis and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Lastly, cross-sectional survey was conducted on representative sample of 612 students in order to further refine the HTBS using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and also analyse predictors of HIV testing intention and behaviour. A total of 61 items was written for the HTBS and 23 of these were generated from the in-depth interviews. Content validity assessment by three experts indicated that the average content validity index (CVI) for the 61 items was 91.2% which was more than the recommended cut off point of 90%. The HTBS, after experts review, contained 64 items. EFA indicated that a five factor model which was roughly consistent with HBM was identified and 44 items were retained based on factor loading and reliability analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha for all the six constructs of HBM and HIV testing intention in the HTBS were >0,70. (susceptibility, benefit, self-efficacy and HIV testing intention) fitted the sample data based on chi-square test. However, all the seven constructs demonstrated RMSEA value of less than 0.08 and GFI value of >0.90 indicating acceptable fit. The final HTBS was reduced to 39 items based on factor loading and reliability assessment. All the constructs demonstrated a Cronbach’s alpha value >0.70 except for perceived susceptibility and cues to action. Analysis of multiple linear regression indicated that class year, perceived benefit, perceived self-efficacy and cues to action were significant predictors of HIV testing intention. However, only marital status and cues to action were significant predictors of recent history of HIV testing through analysis of binary logistic regression. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The study sought to explore and describe the risk behaviour regarding HIV transmission among youth in Bulawayo, their knowledge of HIV transmission and the sources of information on HIV transmission accessible to them. A quantitative, descriptive exploratory design was used and 238 youth from three secondary schools in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe were the respondents. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to facilitate and acquire insight into the risk behaviour among the youth. The inferences drawn from the study were that youth have inadequate knowledge about HIV transmission and therefore do not fully understand their risk of infection. Youth also find shyness and fear of rejection serious barriers to communicating openly about sexuality, sexual and HIV/AIDS issues. The findings of the study have implications for programmes to limit HIV transmission among youth and should assist policymakers and educators in developing and implementing such programmes in order to improve the health of youth in Zimbabwe. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study aimed to identify factors affecting women’s utilisation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, evaluate the quality of PMTCT services, describe health outcomes of mothers and infants and to identify factors that influence mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. Structured interviews were conducted with 384 women who had utilised PMTCT services. Information was also obtained from the health records of these women and of their infants. Better educated women, who had male partners and were self-employed were more likely to use PMTCT services. Being unmarried, poor and feeling stigmatised made it difficult for women to use these services. Respondents were satisfied with PMTCT services except that clinics sometimes had no medications. The health care workers followed the Ethiopian guidelines during HIV testing and counseling but not when prescribing treatment. Although the respondents’ CD4 cell counts improved, their clinical conditions did not improve. The MTCT rate was significantly higher if infants did not receive ARVs, had APGAR scores below seven, weighed less than 2.5kg at birth, were born prematurely, and if their mothers had nipple fissures. PMTCT services could be improved if more women used these services, health care workers followed the national guidelines when prescribing ARVs, clinics had adequate supplies of medicines, all infants received ARVs, and mothers’ nipple fissures could be prevented. Antenatal care should help to avoid premature births of infants weighing less than 2.5kg and having APGAR scores below 7. Future research should compare formula feeding versus breastfeeding of infants with HIV-positive mothers / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Appendix B (leaves 217-218), Appendix M (leaves 239-247) and Appendix O (leaves 253-259) in English and Amharic / The purpose of this research was to develop HIV testing Health Belief Scale (HTBS) that contains the constructs of Health Belief Model (HBM), and also to analyse HIV testing intention and behaviour among university students. The mixed method approach was used in phases. First, Literature review and in-depth interviews were conducted to develop item pool for HTBS, which was followed by content validity assessment by experts. In the second phase, a pilot survey was conducted on randomly selected 318 university students to refine the HTBS using item analysis and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). Lastly, cross-sectional survey was conducted on representative sample of 612 students in order to further refine the HTBS using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and also analyse predictors of HIV testing intention and behaviour. A total of 61 items was written for the HTBS and 23 of these were generated from the in-depth interviews. Content validity assessment by three experts indicated that the average content validity index (CVI) for the 61 items was 91.2% which was more than the recommended cut off point of 90%. The HTBS, after experts review, contained 64 items. EFA indicated that a five factor model which was roughly consistent with HBM was identified and 44 items were retained based on factor loading and reliability analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha for all the six constructs of HBM and HIV testing intention in the HTBS were >0,70. (susceptibility, benefit, self-efficacy and HIV testing intention) fitted the sample data based on chi-square test. However, all the seven constructs demonstrated RMSEA value of less than 0.08 and GFI value of >0.90 indicating acceptable fit. The final HTBS was reduced to 39 items based on factor loading and reliability assessment. All the constructs demonstrated a Cronbach’s alpha value >0.70 except for perceived susceptibility and cues to action. Analysis of multiple linear regression indicated that class year, perceived benefit, perceived self-efficacy and cues to action were significant predictors of HIV testing intention. However, only marital status and cues to action were significant predictors of recent history of HIV testing through analysis of binary logistic regression. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)