Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. Directed by Paul G. Farnham. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 127).

Thesis (M.A. (Health Social Science))--Mahidol University, 2007. / LICL has E-Thesis 0024 ; please contact computer services.

Thesis (M.A. (African Language Studies)) - Rhodes University, 2009.

Thesis (D Phil (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to present and understand the experiences of HIV-positive lay counsellors working in Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) settings. Specifically exploring and understanding the utilisation of personal experiences within counselling encounters, the practice of peer counselling within VCT, and the challenges experienced by HIV-positive lay counsellors within VCT settings. This study, employing a qualitative interpretative phenomenological methodology required a small sample of practicing HIV-positive lay counsellors, who were selected and interviewed on their experiences utilising semi-structured interviewing. Data was analysed for meaning units, which were interpreted inductively and hermeneutically, and categorised into super-ordinate themes. Three superordinate themes within the participants’ experiences of providing VCT services were determined, namely: ‘diagnosis and disclosure experiences’, ‘peer counselling’, and ‘challenges’. This research found that the experiences of providing peer counselling depended upon identification with their client’s negative appraisal of their diagnosis experiences. Whether through empathic connections generated through the shared experience of discovering a seropositive status, or through countertransferential reactions induced through their client’s yearning for care and support. This required the counsellor to selfdisclose within counselling encounters in order to provide personal experiences of living with HIV/AIDS. Successful implementation of peer counselling provided recently diagnosed individuals with knowledge surrounding HIV/AIDS, coping skills to manage the daily physiological and psychological challenges, facilitation and adherence to treatment, social assistance, ongoing relationships, inspiring hope, and the creation of positive appraisals. However the informal utilisation of task-shifting within lay healthcare cadres, and the lack of governmental recognition for the emotional labour provided within VCT indicated that HIVpositive lay counsellors require ongoing training, support and remuneration to limit potential occupational stress, resignation, and burnout.

This qualitative study explored the use of Reiki in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH). A purposive sample of seven participants consented to the study. Reiki attunement, self healing and data collection were done over a six-month period. An idiographic approach was used. The participants were interviewed, then underwent Reiki attunement, performed self healing for 21-30 days and were interviewed again. Responses suggest that Reiki therapy had positive outcomes. Illnessspecific symptom relief, increased levels of energy, improved sleeping patterns, decreased anxiety and depression, spiritual awakening and a better ability to handle stressful situations were reported. Reiki therapy enabled the participants to reappraise living with HIV, deal with anger, depression and self-blame. These positive changes led to some of them seeking employment, leaving destructive personal relationships and reconnecting with family members. The researcher strongly recommends further research in this area. / Sociology / (M.A. (Social Behavioural Studies HIV/AIDS))

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global estimates show that sub-Saharan Africa has the largest portion of HIV cases with South Africa having more people living with HIV than any other country in the world. Moreover, studies have shown a high incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among people living with HIV. IPV has been shown to be associated with mental health problems. Considerable empirical studies have demonstrated that HIV is a highly stigmatized disease. In addition, HIV-related stigma has also been shown to be a risk factor for mental health problems among persons living with HIV. However, no empirical studies have examined the combined effect of IPV and HIV-related stigma on mental health. This thesis builds on the existing body of research by examining to what extent the linear combination of IPV (timing and frequency) and HIV related stigma explained variation in symptoms of common mental health disorders in both men and women living with HIV. In addition, theoretical and empirical studies have suggested that social support may serve as a protective factor in the relationship between IPV, HIV-related stigma, and mental health. Yet, despite the increasing attention, no known studies have focused on the mediating or moderating role of social support in the relationship between IPV or HIV-related stigma, and mental health. This thesis examined the extent to which social support played a mediating or moderating role in these relationships. The study used a cross-sectional research design to study a convenience sample of 210 people living with HIV in three peri-urban areas in the Western Cape, South Africa. Participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires that assessed IPV (timing and frequency), HIV-related stigma, social support, and symptoms of common mental health. The results from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the linear combination of psychological aggression frequency and HIV related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of depression. Likewise, both physical assault timing and psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of variance in symptoms of depression. Psychological aggression timing combined with HIV-related stigma significantly explained variance in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results from the product-term regression analyses indicated that social support played a mediating role in the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of PTSD, but not depression. Social support did not moderate the relationship between HIV-related stigma and symptoms of common mental health disorders. In conclusion, the combination of IPV (physical assault and psychological aggression) and HIV-related stigma explained a significant portion of the variance in symptoms of common mental health disorders. Future research is needed for a better understanding of these relationships. A longitudinal experimental design is recommended in order to explore the direction of these relationships and to examine the context in which the IPV, HIV-related stigma, and social support is experienced. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wêreldwye beramings toon dat sub-Sahara Afrika die grootste gedeelte van HIV gevalle te wêreld het, terwyl Suid-Afrika meer mense het wat met MIV leef as enige ander land in die wêreld. Verder het studies getoon dat daar 'n hoë voorkoms van intiemepaargeweld (IPV) is onder mense wat met MIV leef. Daar is al getoon dat IPV verband hou met geestelike probleme. Aansienlike empiriese studies het getoon dat MIV 'n hoogs gestigmatiseer siekte is. Daarbenewens, is daar getoon dat MIV-verwante stigma 'n risiko faktor is vir geestelike probleme onder persone wat leef met MIV. Daar is egter geen empiriese studies wat die gekombineerde effek van IPV en MIV-verwante stigma op geestesgesondheid ondersoek nie. Hierdie tesis bou voort op die bestaande navorsing deur te ondersoek tot watter mate die lineêre kombinasie van IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie) en MIV-verwante stigma variasie in die simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid afwykings verduidelik in beide mans en vroue wat met MIV leef. Daarbenewens, het teoretiese en empiriese studies voorgestel dat sosiale ondersteuning kan dien as 'n beskermende faktor in die verhouding tussen IPV, MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Tog, ten spyte van die toenemende aandag, het daar al geen studies gefokus op die bemiddelende of modererende rol van sosiale ondersteuning in die verhouding tussen IPV of MIV-verwante stigma, en geestesgesondheid. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die mate waarin sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende of modererende rol speel in hierdie verhoudings. Die studie het 'n deursnee-navorsing ontwerp gebruik om 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef van 210 mense wat met MIV leef in drie peri-stedelike gebiede in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika te bestudeer. Deelnemers het 'n battery van self-verslag vraelyste voltooi wat IPV (tydsberekening en frekwensie), MIV-verwante stigma, sosiale ondersteuning, en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid geassesseer het. Die resultate van die hiërargiese meervoudige regressie-analise het getoon dat die lineêre kombinasie van sielkundige aggressie frekwensie en MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Net so, het beide fisiese aanranding tydsberekening en sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van depressie verduidelik. Sielkundige aggressie tydsberekening gekombineer met MIV-verwante stigma het „n beduidende variansie in simptome van post-traumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV) verduidelik. Die resultate van die produk-term regressie-analises het aangedui dat sosiale ondersteuning 'n bemiddelende rol speel in die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van PTSV, maar nie depressie nie. Sosiale ondersteuning het nie die verhouding tussen MIV-verwante stigma en simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings modereer nie. Ten slotte, die kombinasie van IPV (fisiese aanranding en sielkundige aggressie) en MIV-verwante stigma het 'n beduidende deel van die variansie in simptome van algemene geestesgesondheid versteurings verduidelik. Toekomstige navorsing is nodig vir 'n beter begrip van hierdie verhoudings. 'n Longitudinale eksperimentele ontwerp word aanbeveel om die rigting van hierdie verhoudings te verken en die konteks waarin die IPV, MIV-verwante stigma en sosiale ondersteuning ervaar is te ondersoek.

"As a partial requirement for Master of Arts (Animation & Interactive Media) by Research Project 25th March 2002, studied at Centre for Animation and Interactive Media, School of Creative Media, Faculty of Art, Design and Communication" Typescript (photocopy) Bibliography: leaves 66-67. Internet access at: http://www.hivaids.webcentral.com.au/

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Psychology, Committee on Human Development, June 1999. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-93).