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This study aimed at exploring the perceptions of teachers regarding HIV/AIDS in the Thohoyandou area. A survey design was employed to find out how teachers perceive HIV/AIDS. A group-administered questionnaire was used as a method of data collection. One Hundred and Fifty teachers were selected by using stratified random sampling technique. From each stratum the systematic random sampling method was used to select the sample. The respondents were selected from the population of teachers in the Thohoyandou, Thulamela area, in the Limpopo Province. HIV/AIDS in the workplace, with special emphasis on theoretical background, perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS prevention strategies has been provided. Theoretical background covered what HIV/AIDS is, factors promoting the AIDS epidemic, HIV/AIDS in the workplace and psychosocial impact of HIV/AIDS on employees. Perceptions regarding HIV/AIDS covered voluntary counseling and testing and issues around working with someone who is HIV positive. HIV/AIDS prevention strategies focused on prevention and wellness programme, abstinence from sex, being faithful to one sexual partner, condom usage, managing STI and HIV/AIDS in the workplace. The research findings were presented graphically and discussed. It was found that teachers perceive HIV/AIDS as a reality and they also know the ways to prevent it, although most of them do not utilize those methods. Generally, teachers in Thohoyandou area are still at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. The conclusion and recommendations derived from the study are provided lastly. / Dissertation (MSoc.Sci (EAP))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Denna studie undersökte kvinnors upplevelser när de fick ett HPV-positivt screeningresultat brevledes. Den svenska screeningen för förebyggande av livmoderhalscancer meddelar resultatet i ett kort, standardiserat brev. Efter att ha inkluderat humant papillomvirus (HPV) i analysen år 2014 verkade kvinnor bli mer oroliga för resultatet som kunde meddela en sexuellt överförd infektion (STI).En intervjustudie genomfördes med åtta kvinnor och empiriska data analyserades med receptionsteori. Resultaten visade vilka känslor kvinnor kämpade med, om de upplevde en negativ inverkan på deras sexualitet och om de var nöjda med ett brev som kommunikationssätt.Okunnighet om HPV och rädsla för cancer var centrala resultat. Kvinnor beskrev till och med en förändring i attityd till andra sexuella praktiker än vaginalt samlag. Resultatbrevet ansågs vara för kort och inte så informativt som nödvändigt. Detta fick samtliga kvinnor att söka efter mer information främst på internet för att hitta svar på deras frågor.Sammanfattningsvis finns det ett behov av grundlig och strukturerad information relaterad till HPV och påverkan på livmoderhalsen. Personal inom hälso- och sjukvårdssystemet bör vara lyhörda för kvinnors oro över deras screeningresultat. / This study explores women´s experiences when receiving their HPV-positive pap smear result as a letter. The Swedish screening programme for the prevention of cervical cancer notifies of the result in a short, standardised letter. After including human papilloma virus (HPV) in the analysis in 2014 women appeared to become more worried about the result showing a sexually transmitted infection (STI). An interview study was performed with eight women and the empirical data was analysed with reception theory. The study-results show which feelings women struggled with, whether they experienced a negative impact on their sexuality, and whether they were content with a letter as communication method for their results. Ignorance of HPV and fear of cancer were central findings. Women even described a change in attitude towards sexual practices other than vaginal intercourse. The result letter was considered to be too short and not as informative as needed. This caused all the women to look for more information foremost on the internet in order to find answers to their questions.In conclusion there is a need for thorough and structured information related to HPV and impact on the cervix. Healthcare system personnel should have a sensitive ear for women´s concerns about their pap smear results.

Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a serious global health challenge, which if left untreated, may threaten an individual’s health. The challenge regarding the prevention of STI transmission is the asymptomatic nature of STIs during their early stages. Hence, STI testing is vital in tackling the devastating impact of STIs. The Health Belief Model (HBM) provided a lens through which to understand the study as it provides a basis upon which to predict health behaviours. The study employed a qualitative research method. The study aimed to explore University of Limpopo students’ perceptions towards STI testing. The objectives of the study were (1) to establish the perceptions of second-year Psychology students at the University of Limpopo towards STI testing, and (2) to determine the importance of testing for STIs among second-year Psychology students at the University of Limpopo. The study purposively sampled 15 second-year Psychology students at the University of Limpopo. It was found that the participants were knowledgeable about STI testing. The study revealed psychological effects associated with STI testing ranging from anxiety-related attacks, stress, depression, and insomnia, among others. It further revealed important aspects learned about STI testing, i.e. that some STIs are curable, early detection facilitate early treatment, and STIs are not a myth. The importance of STI testing was also determined. It was also noted that it is important to know one’s health status to prevent mother-to-child transmission and health consequences. The study further established the experiences of STI testing, such as anxiety, stress, feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and overwhelmed. In addition, it was found that students are reluctant to test for STIs because of low-risk perception of contracting STIs, the fear of receiving positive test results, lack of knowledge, stigma, and the judgemental attitude of health professionals. The findings also revealed that students consider testing to be a good health behaviour, although the majority of them rarely consult for STI testing. Constructive counselling is highly recommended for those who consult for STI testing. It is further recommended that future research should be conducted in other universities with broader sample size.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The school environment presents a valuable opportunity for the identification, monitoring and support of children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS and poverty. Many children are caring for parents suffering from AIDS-related illnesses and/or they are the main breadwinner of the household. As a result of HIV/AIDS and poverty therefore, children might be dropping out of school, or their ability to perform adequately at school might be significantly reduced. The aim of this study was to use a case study approach to explore and describe support provision in a South African formal school, examining, in particular, the relative significance of leadership, organisational development and gender-related matters in addressing the needs of children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS and poverty. The availability and quality of this support is analysed within the context of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) transforming itself from a system focused on controlling schools to a system focused on supporting schools. The reflexive qualitative research approach was decided upon m order to describe and understand how, and to what extent, the teachers and the principal of a poverty-stricken primary school might benefit from the WCED's systemic change processes when addressing issues related to HIV/AIDS and poverty. The methodological rationale for this qualitative research approach forms part of a search for meaning within the cultural context(s) of the school in an effort to understand issues related to HIV/AIDS in schools. The research's second aim was to establish principles for an approach to educational support, which would be applicable in similar situations elsewhere. In the case study, the focus is on the WCED supporting the principal and teachers at a poverty-stricken primary school in carrying out their roles as leaders, teachers and caregivers. In order for the principal and teachers to provide quality support to the learners, they themselves need to receive appropriate forms of support from the education system. For this research to be contextually grounded, questions around HIV/AIDS and the growing number of orphans and vulnerable children in many communities were considered. One of the central questions was: How are the challenges of daily life in the running of a school met where issues related to poverty and health are dominant? Gender-based sexual violence and sexual abuse of children, as well as other social problems affecting learners in the school investigated for this thesis were included in the addressing of the main questions The complexity of the issues involved when exploring the research questions became increasingly more apparent during the research journey of this thesis. I experienced fully the potential of the case study to provide a 'thick' description and contribute significantly to an in-depth understanding of a complex phenomenon from a local and holistic perspective. I was able to focus on how the macro-narratives of support policy connected to the micro-narratives of teachers in primary schools. Based on the findings of the research, I concluded that the problems of HIV/AIDS-affected children, families and communities do not only overlap considerably with the problems related to poverty - a widely held view among researchers - but that poverty-related problems may, indeed, conceal the very existence of HIV/AIDS. The investigation shows that the wide-spread poverty affecting the case school learners, seems to have 'blinded' teachers in terms of 'seeing' the learner in a context of HIV/AIDS. This phenomenon in the case school was observed in spite of the HIV/AIDS Programme Coordinator claiming that the district's teachers had learned to 'see' the learner in ways which they had not prior to the introduction of the WCED's HIV/AIDS Life Skills Programme I trust that the different stakeholders within the field of education and HIV/AIDS will benefit from the findings and recommendations flowing from this investigation. First and foremost, I believe that the lessons learnt from the fieldwork, could be of use to South African stakeholders generally, and, in particular, to the Western Cape Education Department and those working as school support staff at district level (the EMDCs). The findings of the study may provide valuable feedback to the current practices of the school support structures, including the voluntary HIV/AIDS support structure, and form a basis for informed further action by the relevant government departments and other stakeholders in education. In this way, the thesis could contribute to improved formal school support provision in the context of HIV/AIDS, and therefore, serve to enhance the quality of education for all children.