Infection control practices are a critical element in home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS. It involves principles and procedures used to minimize the risk of spreading infections in home-based care. Infection control practices help to prevent morbidity, mortality rates and improve health for the volunteer caregivers and the patients. However, most previous studies on home-based care have focused on burdens of care, perceptions of rewards, quality of care and challenges faced by caregivers. Therefore, it is not clear how and to what extent infection control practices are carried out in home-based care. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of home-based care coordinators and volunteer caregivers regarding infection control practices in home-based care. Qualitative interviews were conducted with ten home-based care coordinators/project managers and ten focus group discussions were conducted with volunteer caregivers. An interview guide and a focus group schedule with open ended questions were used. Volunteer caregivers in home-based care organizations were faced with practical challenges regarding infection control practices that posed a threat to their work and health. The received insufficient infection control material resources such as gloves, masks and sanitizers. They also mentioned to have received poor quality gloves that easily broke, poor quality aprons that were not tight; easily blown by the wind and also thin masks that could not filter the bad odour. Other challenges that they faced included, insufficient water supply; insufficient knowledge on infection control and lack of cooperation from some patients and some family members regarding the use of protective clothing especially gloves and masks. Most volunteer caregivers were ridiculed by some family, community members and friends. Sometimes they could not access some patient due to HIV related stigma and discrimination. However, volunteers developed various strategies of dealing with these challenges such as replacing the torn gloves with plastics, carrying 2.5 litres of water, educating patients and family members about the importance of wearing gloves and practicing infection control. These findings require the government, NGOs, funders and donors to form a forum with volunteer caregivers to discuss the supply of materials. They need to establish a central administration that will be responsible for allocating adequate and quality materials for infection control practices. This central administration should also be responsible for supervising HBCOs including monitoring and evaluating infection control practices. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Background Hypertension is a global health burden affecting developed and developing countries, and South Africa is no exception (Seedat, Croasdale, Milne, Opie, Atkinson, Rayner and Veriava, 2006). In 2003, hypertension was estimated to have caused 7.1 million premature deaths and accounted for 4.5% of the disease burden worldwide (Lippincott and Wilkins, 2003). In 2001, non-communicable diseases accounted for almost 60% of the 56 million deaths annually and 47% of the global burden of disease. In countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, the prevalence of chronic diseases is increasing, while the threat of communicable and poverty-related diseases (infant mortality, cholera and malnutrition) still exists (Belue, Okotor, Iwelunmor, Taylor, Degboe, Agyemang and Ogedegbe, 2009). Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the compliance of hypertensive clients to lifestyle modification practices within a selected community in Durban, and to make recommendations for a structured programme of health promotion, through lifestyle modification. Method A quantitative approach was adopted to explore the compliance to lifestyle modification amongst hypertensive clients, and purposive sampling was used. Data collection was through a structured, self-administered questionnaire. A total of 205 participants completed the questionnaires. The questionnaire was divided into nine sections: Section A was on biographic data, Section B referred to compliance with lifestyle modification, and Sections C- I dealt with health belief model constructs. A four-point Likert scale was used to assess the health belief model constructs. Results Results revealed that 90% of the respondents in the study had a good understanding of the benefits of complying with their doctor’s treatment and the recommended lifestyle modification practices. They also possessed good knowledge and understanding about their condition, a factor which made them more compliant with lifestyle modification practices. The majority of respondents viewed health information shared through TV and radio programmes as motivators that helped them to comply with lifestyle modifications, and cited long waiting periods in the clinic and insufficient time to engage in physical activities as barriers to their lifestyle modification. Recommendations Health education campaigns and structured programmes of health promotion concerning lifestyle modification practices should be emphasized, especially with regard to diet and exercise. Foods containing high amounts of animal fats and fast foods should be avoided, and the importance of doing physical activities for 30 minutes at least three times a week should be emphasized. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1990.

AIM The aim of the study was to conduct a process evaluation of the implementation of the HIV/AIDS counselling and treatment program (HCT) for employees to ensure the delivery of standardised, high quality and ethical HIV counselling and testing services at a selected Regional Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. METHOD A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive evaluative design was used to conduct the study. The study consisted of a two (2) questionnaire survey of a sample of 140 participants; One for the staff working in the HCT clinic (n=8) to evaluate the implementation of the HCT activities and the other for the staff that are employed at the selected public hospital (n=132) to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and practise towards the HCT program. A checklist of the venue was also completed to evaluate the resources available at the HCT clinic. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. SPSS version 19 was used for data analysis. RESULTS The study revealed that the implementation practises of the HCT program were not according to the National Policy for HIV Counselling and Testing Guidelines (Department of Health, 2009) with regards to the availability of resources at the HCT clinic such as HIV test kits, chairs, gloves and sharps containers were available. Privacy was maintained while resources including condoms; directions such as posters to the clinic; pamphlets and reading material were unavailable. Nurse’s knowledge and attitude was neutral. There were no correlations between nurses that attended a HIV course and those that did not. The distribution of knowledge was the same across all categories of experience and level of education. The majority of nurses had an HIV test voluntarily and found out the results. The finding of the study does not indicate whether or not the HIV test was done at the staff HCT clinic or elsewhere. A small minority reported that they tested for employer and insurance purposes. A significant proportion of participants did not test because they were afraid that a person they know may test them and tell others and also because they did not think that the medical and nursing staff kept their testing information confidential. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS For the HCT program to be successfully implemented, resources and supplies must be available at the HCT clinic should an employee wish to use its services. It is recommended that funds be made available and budgeted for to increase the supplies of HIV test kits; provide condoms, books, pamphlets and reading material at the clinic. The researcher also recommends courses be offered to nurses that are interested; include HIV/AIDS courses in the curriculum of nurses attending the college; provide in-service education/training for employees regarding the HCT program, its resources and activities; provide anti-retro viral treatment (ART) to employees at the HCT clinic in order to decrease untimely AIDS deaths. / Thesis (M.N.)-Unversity of KwaZulu-Natal.