This study explored factors associated with the reluctance of people living with HIV (PLWH) to disclose their (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) statuses to their sexual partners at Galeshewe Day Hospital in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The study was an in-depth interview based qualitative research; and purposive sampling technique was utilised to select 13 PLWH aged between 18 and 45. Among males, factors contributing to the reluctance of disclosure to sexual partners are ignorance, fear of rejection, not knowing where to start when disclosing and secrecy. Despite the complexity of disclosure, all participants understood the importance of disclosing to sexual partners as this will prevent new infections. There is a need for HIV prevention strategies to focus on males particularly, to strengthen disclosure counselling services provided to PLWH and to advocate strongly for partner testing / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (MPhil) Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In an increasingly complex world where food security remains a challenge in many areas and especially Africa; it is essential to educate children about food – from production to consumption; and to ensure they eat enough as this is a crucial factor for concentration and learning abilities. How can we teach children about food in a sustainable way? This study focuses on schools in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, which have a school feeding programme, school garden and nutrition curriculum. The question studied is: To what extent do two primary schools in central- and east Tigray (North Ethiopia) integrate the feeding scheme, school garden and nutrition curriculum? The methodology chosen is a case study and the empirical data was collected through interviews, surveys and observations. Principals of 14 schools were interviewed about the school gardens, curricula and school gardens. Two schools were then selected for a further in-depth research. The school gardens, mostly initiated by the staff, serve the purpose of creating income for the school and teaching students the skills of gardening. The curriculum is standard for Tigray and focuses on different food types and creating a balanced diet. The school food in most schools is provided by the World Food Programme (WFP), but some exceptions exist. This research shows that integration between the three objectives will be beneficial. Obstacles include getting the staff ‘on board’ as a priority and controlling the unification of the three, for example schools feel that they have less ownership over the feeding scheme because it is organised by an external NGO. This study suggests stakeholders view school gardens, nutrition education and school feeding schemes under one umbrella for the ultimate benefit of creating a sustainable model to teach about food. The case study provides an insight to the specific challenges in Tigray, Ethiopia but important conclusions can also be generalised. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In ’n toenemend komplekse wêreld waar voedsel sekuriteit in baie gebiede, veral in Afrika ’n uitdaging bly, is dit baie belangrik om kinders oor voedsel op te voed - vanaf produksie tot by die verbruik daarvan, en ook om seker te maak dat hulle genoeg eet, wat baie belangrik is vir konsentrasie en die vermoë om te leer. Hoe kan ons kinders op ’n volhoubare manier leer oor voeding? Hierdie studie fokus op twee skole in Tigray, in Ethiopië wat skoolvoedingskemas, skooltuine en voedingkurrikula het. Die vraag wat gevra is, is: Tot watter mate integreer hierdie twee skole in Tigray die voedingskemas, die skooltuine en die voedingkurrikula? Die gekose metodologie is ’n gevallestudie. Empiriese data is ook deur middel van onderhoude, oorsigte en observasies versamel. Onderhoude oor skooltuine, voedingskemas en die kurrikula is gevoer met die skoolhoofde van 14 skole. Twee skole is toe gekies vir in-diepte navorsing. Die skooltuine bring geld in vir die skool en word ook gebruik om vir die leerling tuinmaakvaardighede aan te leer. Die kurrikulum is standaard vir die hele Tigray en word deur die Wêreld Voedsel Program verskaf. Daar is egter ’n paar uitsonderings. In hierdie navorsing is daar bewys dat die integrasie van die skooltuin, die voedingskema en die kurrikula, goeie gevolge kan hê. Dit is egter belangrik dat die skool personeel moet saamwerk en dat die vereniging van die drie beheer moet word. Skole voel bv. Tans dat hulle nie eienaarskap oor die voedingskema het nie, want dit word deur eksterne NROs beheer. Hierdie navorser stel voor dat die skooltuine, skoolvoedingskema en die voedingkurrikulum onder een sambreel beskou moet word met die doel om ’n volhoudbare model vir die onderrig van voeding te skep. Die gevallestudie verskaf insig in die spesifieke uitdagings in Tigray, Ethiopië, maar belangrike slotsomme kan ook veralgemeen word.

The school environment is often the focus of healthy eating and physical activity policies intended to address childhood obesity. However, students are usually excluded from the development and implementation of such policies. The purpose of this study was to explore grade nine student perspectives regarding: supports and barriers to healthy eating and physical activity at school; strategies for improving the school nutrition and physical activity environments; and potential student contribution to the development, implementation, and evaluation of school-based policies. A qualitative approach utilizing focus groups and photovoice with 30 students from two schools in southern Alberta was used to collect data. Major themes included: access to healthy food choices; teacher influences; peer influences; access to physical activity opportunities; impact of marketing; and conflicting messages. Students can provide valuable insights to policy development, implementation and evaluation. Implications for future research and policy development are reviewed. / xi, 179 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

This study explored factors associated with the reluctance of people living with HIV (PLWH) to disclose their (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) statuses to their sexual partners at Galeshewe Day Hospital in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. The study was an in-depth interview based qualitative research; and purposive sampling technique was utilised to select 13 PLWH aged between 18 and 45. Among males, factors contributing to the reluctance of disclosure to sexual partners are ignorance, fear of rejection, not knowing where to start when disclosing and secrecy. Despite the complexity of disclosure, all participants understood the importance of disclosing to sexual partners as this will prevent new infections. There is a need for HIV prevention strategies to focus on males particularly, to strengthen disclosure counselling services provided to PLWH and to advocate strongly for partner testing / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Master of Applied Science in Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background: The occurrence of absenteeism observed at the Coastal KZN FET College is very large. However, absenteeism of this magnitude is not inconsistent with observations from other educational institutions and work places around the world. Generally, absenteeism is coupled to the absence of good health, the presence of one or more non-communicable disease and the paucity of physical exercise undertaken by the personnel. Absenteeism in the work place results in avoidable financial costs to the employer, the employee, and the country as a whole. The wealth of literature shows that health concerns concerning adults are diet related. Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) are increasing at an alarming rate, daily. A double-burden plagues South Africa: on the one hand there is over-nutrition (an excessive consumption of nutrients); while on the other there is under-nutrition (an insufficient intake of nutrients by certain groups of individuals). Factors such as urbanisation, globalisation, physical inactivity and consumer financial buying power have a significant influence on these health concerns. Aim: The data gathered in this study will be used to develop nutrition wellness education material as a component of a wellness programme for staff members at the Swinton Campus of the KZN Coastal FET College in Mobeni. Methodology: A needs analysis was undertaken to determine whether nutrition wellness education material as a component of a wellness programme for the institution was appropriate. Three 24-hour recall questionnaires gathered from the staff, data on eating habits and nutrient intake were undertaken/collected. A food frequency questionnaire collected data on the frequency and variety of foods eaten. A health questionnaire gathered data on self-reported illnesses, consumption of alcohol, and smoking habits. The demographics of the group, living conditions, and amount of money earned and spent on food was assessed through a socio-demographic questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements assessed included blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI and Waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR). Results: The sample consisted of 138 participants of which 44% (n=61) were men and 56% (n=77) were women. Less than 50% of the respondents were food secure: only 65 persons (47.1%) in the sample always had money to purchase food. In this group 63.93% of the men and 71.43% of the woman were obese. Subsequently 86% of the women exceeded the waist cut-off point of 88cm while 16.39% of the men were above the 102cm cut-off point. Findings revealed that 42.62% of the men and 25.9% of the women had pre-hypertension while 8.20% of the men and 5.90% of the women were hypertensive. This study indicated that this group was nutrient deficient. The fruit and vegetable intake was between 134.44g - 175.69g per day for men and 124.00g - 183.30g per day for women. Energy, dietary fibre, vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and iodine were below the nutrient adequacy ratio. There were positive correlations between age and systolic blood pressure, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure, waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure and waist-to-height ratio and BMI. Conclusion: Central obesity and to a lesser extent hypertension as well as deficiencies in nutrients and minerals were present in this group. Although the participants indicated a good variety of food, the quality and quantities consumed were not adequate. A link between diet, physical activity and diseases of lifestyle has been demonstrated. A need for nutrition education as a component of the wellness programme is indicated. Nutrition education is important both within and outside the workplace. To make lifestyle changes it is essential that education and knowledge is made available. Behavioural habits including eating habits are principally learnt. If bad behaviour habits can be learnt, good behaviour habits can also be instilled. The proposed intervention is aimed at reducing the incidence of absenteeism and decreasing the presence of non-communicable diseases. It is important for staff members at a FET college to be present in the classroom so that education of quality can be conveyed to learners. Further, the good health of staff members facilitates the ability of teachers to perform their important task of educating young minds at all educational institutions. / M

MPH / Department of Public Health / South African youth, like many young people the world over, experience obstacles related to accessing age-specific health care services. School-based health centres, therefore, represent a mode of delivery of youth-friendly services tailored to meeting the healthcare needs of young people, such as university students. The aim of the study was to investigate the barriers faced by University of Venda (UNIVEN) students in accessing the institution’s health services.The objectives of the study were to assess the level of awareness of the respondents regarding the UNIVEN campus health services and to determine the availability and acceptability barriers experienced by students in accessing the campus health services.The study is quantitative using a self-administered questionnaire, informed by literature review, to collect data from the respondents. The study population consisted of all the students who were resident on campus. The sample size were five hundred and thirty four (534) respondents drawn from all the residences on the university campus and comprising of students from all the schools and levels. Questionnaires were administered face-to-face to respondents in the respondents’ rooms. The validity and reliability of the study were ensured. Ethical considerations, such as informed consent, right to privacy, and no-harm to participants, were observed and addressed in this study. Data was entered and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 23. For continuous variables such as age, descriptive variable was calculated. For categorical variables, frequencies and percentages are presented.The results indicated that the average age of the study population was 21.85 years with almost all of the respondents (95%) being aware of the existence of a health clinic on the Univen campus. However, only 63% had gone for consultation at the clinic. Awareness of the clinic’s services appears to be poor, with HIV Counselling & Testing being the most known service, while minor illnesses’ management was the most utilised service (48%). Barriers experienced by the respondents were related to waiting times and opening hours of the clinic, with only 33% and 39% respectively, describing them as ideal.The study provides evidence that although university health services may be provided at no cost students still experience barriers in accessing them. Effective measures are needed to increase students’ awareness of the clinic’s services and to shorten waiting times and improve clinic opening hours.

The aim of this study was to firstly examine via a literature study, the response of the South African Department of Education (DoE) to HIV/AIDS. This required contextualizing this response in national as well as global terms. South African policies that impact on HIV/AIDS and the role of stakeholders in Education were focussed on. The various models of health behaviours were also examined. The efficacy of the Department of Education's response was then evaluated by conducting an empirical study at selected schools. Areas focussed on were: educators' and learners' knowledge of HIV/AIDS-related issues, their attitudes to HIV/AIDS and persons with HIV/AIDS, as well as their health behaviours. Research findings indicated that HIV/AIDS-related policies in Education were in place since 1999. The DoE, however, had not communicated these policies effectively to educators and learners, who were therefore unaware of the Universal Precautions related to safer behaviour practices in respect of HIV/AIDS. The DoE had not been effective in its response to HIV/AIDS in changing educator' and learners' risk behaviours. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The aim of this study was to firstly examine via a literature study, the response of the South African Department of Education (DoE) to HIV/AIDS. This required contextualizing this response in national as well as global terms. South African policies that impact on HIV/AIDS and the role of stakeholders in Education were focussed on. The various models of health behaviours were also examined. The efficacy of the Department of Education's response was then evaluated by conducting an empirical study at selected schools. Areas focussed on were: educators' and learners' knowledge of HIV/AIDS-related issues, their attitudes to HIV/AIDS and persons with HIV/AIDS, as well as their health behaviours. Research findings indicated that HIV/AIDS-related policies in Education were in place since 1999. The DoE, however, had not communicated these policies effectively to educators and learners, who were therefore unaware of the Universal Precautions related to safer behaviour practices in respect of HIV/AIDS. The DoE had not been effective in its response to HIV/AIDS in changing educator' and learners' risk behaviours. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Nursing Sciences)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Please refer to full text to view abstract.