Women face a greater risk of HIV infection worldwide than men. This study explored socio-economic, cultural and environmental factors influencing young women’s vulnerability to HIV. A quantitative explorative study was conducted among young women in Sunnyside, Pretoria. A sample of 158 young women in the age group 18 to 24 years from all language groups was randomly selected to participate in this study. The findings showed that poverty, peer pressure and multiple sexual partners were the main factors that influenced young women in Sunnyside’s vulnerability to HIV. Behavioural change and social change were recommended as long-term processes, which need to be taken into consideration. Findings from the Sexual Relationship Power Scales show that young women between 18 and 21 years experience physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and forced sex in their relationships. The study concluded with specific recommendations for the successful implementation of policy makers and planners to protect women. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Antiretroviral therapy is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. Implementation of such therapy depends on the identification of HIV-infected pregnant women. This study investigated how the biographical characteristics of the pregnant women (16-45 years) influenced their health decision-making in Bulawayo clinics. The study was guided by the theories of health behaviour. The study assumed that the respondents’ demographic characteristics will influence their attitudes towards PMTCT programme. Using a structured questionnaire, forty pregnant women who visited the Bulawayo clinics to have prenatal checkups were interviewed. The majority of respondents came from a poor, high-density township. Most of the respondents were married, but about a third were not married at the time data collection and 5% were separated. The survey items were demographic characteristics, knowledge of PMTCT, HIV risk perceptions and service utilisation. The levels of literacy among the respondents were high; more than 80% had completed primary education. Overall the respondents’ demographic characteristics influenced their attitudes towards PMTCT. Majority of the women knew that a mother with HIV can pass the virus to her child, during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The pregnant women’s health-seeking behaviour and their attitudes toward reproductive health services are influenced by their demographic situation. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV/AIDS))

The phenomenon of stigmatisation in the transmission of HIV/AIDS was highlighted in this study, and considered from a social constructionist perspective. The lived experiences of 20 participants were explored in the context of a stigma reduction programme. Perceived meanings attached to stigma, and its influence on participant behaviour was revealed through narratives. The influence of the programme on participant meaning making and perceptions was also revealed, and found that the meaning of stigma remained unchanged, and therefore stigma was not reduced. Not discounting the therapeutic platform of the programme in enabling co-construction of new perspectives which enabled coping mechanisms for participants in dealing with their circumstances. It is recommended that studies such as this be used to assist future stigma reduction programmes to identify their roles in meaning making regarding stigma, with the premise in mind that if meaning shifts, experiences will shift. / Psychology / M.A (Psychology)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age worldwide. It is also a major contributor to infant mortality. The effective application of prevention of mother-to-child transmission strategies effectively reduces the risk of mother-to-child transmission. The intent of this study was to determine the availability and accessibility of the PMTCT programme in one district of the North West Province of South Africa. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was utilised to gain better understanding of the experiences of both the HIV positive pregnant women and the Health Care Workers regarding the availability and access to the PMTCT programme. The study population consisted of HIV positive pregnant women between 18 and 49 years of age and Health Care Workers aged between 21 to 60 years of age. The non-probability purposive sampling technique was utilised to identify potential research participants. Data were collected by means of individual semi-structured interviews with HIV positive pregnant women and focus group discussions with the Health Care Workers. Adherence to Tesch’s eight descriptive methods was utilised as the primary form of data analysis, organisation and interpretation. The findings of the study revealed that availability and accessibility of PMTCT services are still problematic. Distance, waiting periods, and long queues were among the few mentioned as problematic. There were also few positives such as communication, counseling and health education. Strategies for facilitation of the availability and accessibility of the PMTCT programme were developed based on the findings. Themes emerged from the HIV positive pregnant women’s data included: acceptance of one’s sero positive status, maternal concerns, stressors about HIV status, as well as lack and shortage of resources and support by health care professionals and family; while emerging themes from the Health Care Workers included: fear of disclosure by HIV positive pregnant women, child feeding, formal trainings and workshops on PMTCT programme, as well as lack and shortage of resources and loss to follow-up activities / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Embora a velhice seja uma realidade biológica, os significados que lhe são atribuídos são construções sociais e históricas. O aumento de casos de HIV/Aids entre pessoas acima de 60 anos tem sido reportado por pesquisadores, pois os dados mostram o crescimento de casos proporcionais de HIV/Aids entre idosos comparado com outras faixas de idade. Entre as razões para essa progressão está a desinformação desse público no que se refere ao autocuidado, a maior oferta de fármacos contra disfunção erétil, o baixo uso de preservativos nessa geração e o atraso no diagnóstico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi compreender as repercussões biopsicossociais de conviver com HIV/Aids para idosos na cidade do Recife. Participaram nove idosos (quatro do sexo feminino e cinco do sexo masculino), na faixa etária compreendida entre 60 e 76 anos, residentes na cidade do Recife, que estavam em tratamento e/ou acompanhamento no SAE (Serviço de Assistência Especializada em HIV/Aids) da Policlínica Lessa de Andrade. Foi realizada uma entrevista conduzida de forma semidirigida e organizada a partir de um roteiro previamente estabelecido, que foi gravada e transcrita. As informações colhidas foram analisadas com base na Técnica de Análise de Conteúdo Temática. Os resultados mais expressivos apontaram: o impacto do diagnóstico de HIV/Aids no paciente, acompanhado de sentimentos de tristeza, revolta, culpa, desespero, aprisionamento e medo; preconceito e abandono por parte de alguns familiares, amigos e vizinhos que fazem parte do cotidiano desses idosos; uma dimensão ontológica da sexualidade, rompendo com o estereótipo da velhice marcada pela assexualidade, recolhimento e passividade; as construções de gênero e a representação social da Aids associadas como a doença do outro como fatores determinantes para a percepção da invulnerabilidade ao HIV/Aids entre pessoas desse grupo etário; a espiritualidade como sustentação, dimensão que serve para apaziguar a dor e o sofrimento diante da sorologia positiva para o HIV; saúde física dos idosos comprometida em virtude da destruição progressiva e gradativa das células de defesa do organismo associada às doenças inerentes à velhice; o despreparo por parte da equipe de saúde para lidar com o HIV/Aids nessa faixa etária, ocasionando o diagnóstico tardio. Este trabalho teve, portanto, o intuito de contribuir para iluminar o campo de saberes e práticas que têm como horizonte de preocupações éticas e políticas a diminuição da vulnerabilidade dos idosos ao HIV/Aids.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:29:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 juliana_monteiro_costa.pdf: 1047734 bytes, checksum: a0044f49f967088f428e10384b5ed817 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-04-26 / Although aging is a biological reality, the meanings attributed to it are social and historical constructions. The increase in cases of HIV/Aids among people over sixty years has been reported by researchers because the data show an increase in cases proportion of HIV/Aids among older adults compared with other age groups. Among the reason for this increase is the misinformation of this public regarding the self-care, greater avaliability of drugs for erectile dysfunction, low use of condoms in this generation and delayed diagnosis. The objective of this study was to understand the meaning and implications of the biopsychosocial experience of living with HIV/Aids for the elderly in the city of Recife. Participated in nine elders (four females and five males), an age comprised between 60 and 76 years, living in Recife who were in treatment and/or monitoring the SAE (Service Specializing in Assisting HIV/Aids) of Polyclinic Lessa de Andrade. The survey was conducted in a semi-directed, organized from a script previously drafted, which were recorded and transcribed. The most significant results showed: the impact of the diagnosis of HIV/Aids accompanied by feelings of anger, guilt, embarrassment, fear, prejudice and abandonment by family, friends and neighbors that are part of everyday life of the elderly; an ontological dimension of sexuality, breaking the stereotype of old age marked by assexuality, gathering and passivity, the constructions of gender and social representation of Aids associated as the disease of the older as determining factors for the perceived invulnerability to HIV/Aids among people in this age group; spirituality as support, something that came to appease the pain and suffering in the face of positive sorology for HIV; compromised physical health of the elderly due to the gradual and progressive destruction of the body's defense cells associated with old age; lack of preparation on the part of the healthcare team to deal with HIV / AIDS in this age group, resulting in late diagnosis. This work had therefore the aim of contributing to illiminate the field knowledge and practices whose horizon of ethical concerns and policies to reduce vulnerability of the elderly to HIV/Aids. / Embora a velhice seja uma realidade biológica, os significados que lhe são atribuídos são construções sociais e históricas. O aumento de casos de HIV/Aids entre pessoas acima de 60 anos tem sido reportado por pesquisadores, pois os dados mostram o crescimento de casos proporcionais de HIV/Aids entre idosos comparado com outras faixas de idade. Entre as razões para essa progressão está a desinformação desse público no que se refere ao autocuidado, a maior oferta de fármacos contra disfunção erétil, o baixo uso de preservativos nessa geração e o atraso no diagnóstico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi compreender as repercussões biopsicossociais de conviver com HIV/Aids para idosos na cidade do Recife. Participaram nove idosos (quatro do sexo feminino e cinco do sexo masculino), na faixa etária compreendida entre 60 e 76 anos, residentes na cidade do Recife, que estavam em tratamento e/ou acompanhamento no SAE (Serviço de Assistência Especializada em HIV/Aids) da Policlínica Lessa de Andrade. Foi realizada uma entrevista conduzida de forma semidirigida e organizada a partir de um roteiro previamente estabelecido, que foi gravada e transcrita. As informações colhidas foram analisadas com base na Técnica de Análise de Conteúdo Temática. Os resultados mais expressivos apontaram: o impacto do diagnóstico de HIV/Aids no paciente, acompanhado de sentimentos de tristeza, revolta, culpa, desespero, aprisionamento e medo; preconceito e abandono por parte de alguns familiares, amigos e vizinhos que fazem parte do cotidiano desses idosos; uma dimensão ontológica da sexualidade, rompendo com o estereótipo da velhice marcada pela assexualidade, recolhimento e passividade; as construções de gênero e a representação social da Aids associadas como a doença do outro como fatores determinantes para a percepção da invulnerabilidade ao HIV/Aids entre pessoas desse grupo etário; a espiritualidade como sustentação, dimensão que serve para apaziguar a dor e o sofrimento diante da sorologia positiva para o HIV; saúde física dos idosos comprometida em virtude da destruição progressiva e gradativa das células de defesa do organismo associada às doenças inerentes à velhice; o despreparo por parte da equipe de saúde para lidar com o HIV/Aids nessa faixa etária, ocasionando o diagnóstico tardio. Este trabalho teve, portanto, o intuito de contribuir para iluminar o campo de saberes e práticas que têm como horizonte de preocupações éticas e políticas a diminuição da vulnerabilidade dos idosos ao HIV/Aids.

Text in English / Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS among adolescent girls. It is estimated that there are 5,24 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). These estimates would mean that about 2.36 million people living with HIV/AIDS would be young women and girls aged 15-24 years. The latest household survey conducted by the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) revealed that the prevalence of HIV is three to seven fold in girls and young women aged 15-24 than boys and young men (HSRC 2014) This resurgence in HIV incidence is occurring at a time when it is believed the epidemic has reached a plateau following aggressive behavioural, biomedical and structural interventions by the Department of Health, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and civil society in general. A probability sampling method, involving a random selection of elements was used to select 130 young women and girls aged 18-24 presenting at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital by simple random sampling. Data were collected by self-administering questionnaires. High unemployment and greater age-disparity in the relationships were found to have a direct correlation with HIV incidence in the population under study. This study also shows that inconsistent condom use, low rate of medical male circumcision of male partners, coupled with lower HIV counselling and testing than the national average, was associated with new HIV infections, in spite of high level of condom availability, knowledge of HIV issues and an exposure to an array of behavioural change communication interventions. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)