People living with HIV/AIDS have the right to be employed as long as they are physically fit to do the work. The unfortunate situation now is that in many South African workplaces employees who disclose their HIV/AIDS status or who are suspected of living with the disease face backlashes from fellow employees and sometimes even from employers. No one should be discriminated against or be prevented from being employed or dismissed from employment purely on the basis of having HIV or AIDS. Any form of discrimination against employees living with HIV/AIDS constitutes a violation of their constitutional rights to among others human dignity, equality and fair labour practices. Discrimination may take the form of pre-employment HIV testing or a dismissal due to HIV positive status. This research looks at the protection given to employees living with HIV/AIDS in the South African workplaces and whether the protection is adequate or not. / Mercantile Law / LL. M.

English Summary - Error Analysis of Czech Written Expression of the Romani Pupils in the 9th Grade of the Secondary Practical Schools Based on the Corpora ROMi Zuzanna Bedřichová ÚČJTK FFUK Prague 2014 The study is focused on practice of error making in written expressions of the Romani pupils in the 9th grade of Secondary practical schools (schools for children with special educational needs). Here 130 written school works of these pupils, which are available through the database ROMi (database of written and spoken accounts in Czech language of children and youth of Romani origin), have been analysed. The author offers innovative concept of new and elaborate scheme of error analysis, and qualitatively - quantitative analyses of the pupils' written accounts. Beside the qualitatively - quantitative analyses, the study outlines current situation of issues such as education of Romani children in the Czech language, the Romani ethnolect of Czech language, and spoken language as a source of stigmatisation. Furthermore, details about the ROMi database, 130 original written accounts in full length and practical proposals of compensation in the practice of error making are provided.

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (no 92 of 1996) was implemented during 1997. This study attempted to investigate professional nurses' attitudes towards rendering these services in the Carletonville area of South Africa. The research results, obtained from questionnaires completed by professional nurses, indicated that most professional nurses would prefer:  women to be at least 16 years of age to access these services  not to allow repeated terminations of pregnancy to the same women  to administer pills rather than to use vacuum aspirations  to work in these services by choice only  to have better equipment, more resources and more staff members in units offering these services  more support from their families, friends, managers and communities Some professional nurses experienced guilt, depression, anxiety and religious conflicts as a result of the nature of their work. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study attempted to identify personal (patient-related) factors influencing anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional and analytical design was used. Structured interviews were conducted with 355 ART patients. The findings revealed that stigma, discrimination, depression and alcohol use negatively affected patients’ ART adherence levels. However, patients’ knowledge levels had no influence on their ART adherence levels, contrary to other researchers’ reports. Addressing stigma and discrimination at community levels might enhance patients’ abilities to take their medications in the presence of others. Healthcare professionals should be enabled to diagnose and treat depression among ART patients during the early stages. Non-adherent ART patients should be counseled about possible alcohol abuse. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health with specialisation in Medical Informatics)

Ma thèse doctorale vise à analyser la fibromyalgie en tant qu’entité prise en charge et traitée par des savoirs et des pratiques biomédicales contemporaines et localisées. Tout en prenant en considération une vision biomédicale transnationale du syndrome, mon terrain de recherche est situé dans le contexte italien. La première partie de la thèse est consacrée à l’analyse de la vision médicale de la douleur chronique sans lésion, également entendue comme la « douleur-maladie » ; elle propose aussi une analyse de la manière dont les formes douloureuses chroniques complexes sont encadrées au niveau législatif et politique dans le contexte national italien. La deuxième partie se concentre sur la fibromyalgie en tant que catégorie médicale. Un premier chapitre analyse comment en biomédecine le syndrome est encadré par un savoir scientifique transnational ; un deuxième chapitre se focalise sur les données collectées pendant la recherche ethnographique. La troisième partie de la thèse examine la construction médicale de la fibromyalgie en tant que syndrome féminin. Elle propose également, dans un deuxième chapitre, le témoignage de Marzia, une femme atteinte de fibromyalgie qui à travers son historie, en s’opposant à une interprétation purement biomédicale de la maladie, définit le syndrome en mode contrastif, changeant et imprévisible. / My PhD thesis aims to analyse the fibromyalgia syndrome understood as an entity defined by contemporary and located biomedical knowledge and practices. While a transnational biomedical vision of the syndrome is analysed, the ethnographic research field is located within the Italian context. The first chapter is focussed on biomedical theories which analyse chronic pain without organic lesions, also framed here by the concept of pain as a disease; it ends by analysing how complex chronic painful states are considered at one legislative and political level in the Italian national context. The second chapter analyses fibromyalgia syndrome seen as a biomedical category. A first section examines how the syndrome is framed by transnational biomedical scientific knowledge; the second section focuses on data collected during the ethnographic research. The third chapter is dedicated to an investigation of the medical reasons that outline fibromyalgia as a female syndrome. It also proposes, in its second section, the testimony of Marzia, a woman affected by fibromyalgia; beyond a purely biomedical interpretation of the disease, through Marzia’s story the syndrome emerges in contrastive, opposite and unpredictable ways. / La mia tesi di dottorato analizza la sindrome fibromialgica intesa come entità presa in carico e trattata da saperi e pratiche biomediche contemporanee e localizzate. Pur focalizzandomi sulla visione biomedica transnazionale della sindrome, il mio terreno di ricerca è situato all’interno del contesto nazionale italiano. La prima parte della tesi è centrata sull’analisi della visione biomedica del dolore cronico senza lesione, inquadrato qui anche nei termini di “dolore-malattia”. Essa propone anche una osservazione di come sono inquadrate nella contemporaneità forme dolorose croniche complesse a un livello più propriamente legislativo e politico all’interno del contesto italiano. La seconda parte della tesi si concentra sulla fibromialgia intesa nei termini di categoria medica. Un primo capitolo analizza come attualmente la sindrome è inquadrata attraverso un sapere scientifico transazionale; un secondo capitolo è focalizzato sui dati raccolti durante la ricerca etnografica. La terza parte della tesi esamina la costruzione medica della fibromialgia nei termini di una sindrome femminile. Propone infine la testimonianza di Marzia, una donna colpita da fibromialgia che, attraverso la sua storia e opponendosi a un’interpretazione puramente biomedica della malattia, definisce la sindrome in modo contrastante, mutevole e imprevedibile.

Cette thèse a été réalisée dans le cadre d'une formation doctorale en bioéthique au département de médecine sociale et préventive à l'École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal (ESPUM). Elle a été complétée grâce au soutien financier des Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS) et des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (IRSC). / L’épigénétique est un champ de recherche qui s’intéresse aux variations dans l'activité des gènes n’impliquant pas de modification de la séquence d'ADN et pouvant être transmises lors des divisions cellulaires. Les chercheurs dans ce domaine se penchent principalement sur le rôle de changements très précis dans la structure 3D de l’ADN, qui sont imposés par la méthylation de l’ADN et d'autres réactions biochimiques et qui ont pour effet de contraindre ou de faciliter la lecture des gènes en fonction du besoin des cellules. De nombreuses maladies ont été associées à une perturbation des mécanismes épigénétiques, comme les cancers, les maladies cardiovasculaires, les désordres hormonaux et métaboliques, les maladies inflammatoires chroniques et les troubles neuropsychologiques. Au cours des quinze dernières années, l’épigénétique a connu un essor fulgurant. Elle fut particulièrement propulsée par la recherche en épigénétique environnementale, une spécialité qui s’intéresse aux causes externes de l’altération des mécanismes épigénétiques. Cette branche de la recherche a récemment suscité une vive attention de la part des médias et des chercheurs en sciences sociales et humaines, parce qu’elle met en évidence, au niveau moléculaire, l’influence critique de l’environnement physico-chimique et psychosocial des personnes sur leur santé. Elle apporte ainsi un éclairage supplémentaire sur la relation étroite qui existe entre les inégalités sociales et les inégalités de santé. L’épigénétique environnementale pourrait donc nous encourager, non seulement à imaginer des technologies biomédicales capables de renverser les perturbations acquises, mais aussi à élaborer des stratégies de santé publique préventives, soucieuses des considérations de justice sociale qui affectent la santé des personnes et des populations. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons une exploration des implications éthiques, légales et sociales de l’épigénétique (EpigELS). Nous présentons d’abord une revue exhaustive des différentes observations, interprétations et spéculations exprimées dans la littérature en sciences sociales et humaines au sujet des conséquences épistémologiques et normatives de ce jeune champ de recherche. Nous procédons ensuite à une analyse en trois temps de l’application des connaissances. Une première approche, que nous appelons la perspective rhétorique, fait la promotion de l’épigénétique environnementale comme plaidoyer en faveur de politiques de santé préventives et de l’expansion de la bioéthique nord-américaine pour y inclure les préoccupations environnementales et les enjeux relatifs aux déterminants sociaux de la santé (article 1). Une seconde approche, que nous appelons la perspective dialectique, offre un regard critique sur l’attribution de responsabilités morales fondée sur les découvertes en épigénétique. Elle démontre toute la complexité de cette entreprise en faisant la lumière sur les incertitudes scientifiques et les contradictions internes apparentes de ce champ d’étude, spécialement autour des concepts de norme épigénétique et de plasticité épigénétique (article 2). Une troisième approche, que nous appelons la perspective réflexive, se penche sur l’influence potentielle du paysage biopolitique contemporain – molécularisation de la santé et biomédicalisation de la vie – sur l’application des connaissances. Dans ce ‘régime de vérité’ néolibéral, qui favorise les processus d’internalisation, d’isolement, de marchandisation et de technologisation, il est probable que l’application clinique des découvertes en épigénétique soit injustement privilégiée, par défaut, au détriment de leur application en politiques de santé préventives (article 3). Nous terminons par une ouverture sur l’avenir du domaine EpigELS et une brève discussion sur la nature en partie interprétative du processus de passage des connaissances à la pratique. / Epigenetics is a field of research focusing on variations in gene activity that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence and that can be transmitted during cell divisions. Researchers in this field are studying the role of very precise changes in the 3D structure of DNA, imposed by DNA methylation and other biochemical reactions, that impede or facilitate the reading of genes depending on the need of the cells. Many diseases are associated with a disruption of epigenetic mechanisms, such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, hormonal and metabolic disorders, chronic inflammatory diseases and neuropsychological disorders. Over the past fifteen years, epigenetics has grown rapidly. It was particularly propelled by research in environmental epigenetics, which is interested in the external causes of the alteration of epigenetic mechanisms. This branch of research has recently attracted considerable attention from the media and researchers in social sciences and humanities because it highlights, at the molecular level, the critical influence of the physico-chemical and psycho-social environment on people’s health. It also sheds additional light on the close relationship between social inequalities and health inequalities. Thus, environmental epigenetics could encourage us not only to conceive biomedical technologies capable of reversing the acquired detrimental variations, but also to develop preventive public health strategies that take into account social justice considerations affecting the health of individuals and populations. In this thesis, we propose an exploration of the ethical, legal and social implications of epigenetics. We begin by presenting a comprehensive review of the various observations, interpretations and speculations expressed in the social sciences and humanities literature about the epistemological and normative consequences of this young field of research. We then proceed to a three-step analysis of knowledge translation. A first approach, that we call the rhetorical perspective, promotes environmental epigenetics as an advocacy tool for preventive health policies and the expansion of North American bioethics towards a view that includes environmental concerns and social determinants of health (Article 1). A second approach, that we call the dialectical perspective, offers a critical look at the assignment of moral responsibilities based on epigenetic discoveries. It demonstrates the complexity of this endeavor by shedding light on the scientific uncertainties and apparent internal contradictions of this field of study, especially with regards to the notions of epigenetic normality and epigenetic plasticity (Article 2). A third approach, that we call the reflexive perspective, examines the potential influence of the contemporary biopolitical landscape – molecularization of health and biomedicalization of life – on knowledge translation. In this neoliberal ‘regime of truth’, which favors the processes of internalization, isolation, commodification and technologization, it is likely that the clinical translation of epigenetics will be unduly privileged, by default, impeding its translation into important preventive health policies (Article 3). We conclude with a view towards the future of the field of EpigELS and a brief discussion on the partly interpretive nature of the knowledge-to-practice process.

L'exclusion sociale est considérée comme l'une des situations les plus douloureuses pour les êtres humains. Les travaux dans ce domaine montrent que même de brefs épisodes d’ostracisme (paradigme du Cyberball) ont des effets importants aux niveaux neurophysiologique, émotionnel et comportemental, l’impact de cet ostracisme au niveau cognitif néanmoins n'a pas reçu beaucoup d'attention. Des résultats récents mettent en évidence une influence négative de l'ostracisme sur les marqueurs électrophysiologiques du contrôle cognitif, il n'y a cependant à ce jour aucune preuve directe d’une réduction de contrôle cognitif sous l’effet d’une exclusion sociale. Dans nos travaux nous avons étudié l'impact de l'ostracisme (Cyberball) sur le contrôle cognitif avec la tâche standard de Simon couplée à des analyses distributionnelles des temps de réaction auprès de populations caractérisées ou non par des expériences chroniques d’ostracisme (i.e., des étudiants ordinaires dans l’Étude 1, des personnes illettrées dans l'Étude 2 et des chômeurs de longue durée dans l'Étude 3). Dans les trois études, de brefs épisodes d'exclusion sociale suffisent à dégrader le niveau de satisfaction exprimé par les participants à l’égard des besoins fondamentaux (appartenance sociale, existence significative, estime de soi, contrôle des événements). Ces effets, cependant, s’avèrent réduits dans les populations chroniquement frappées d'ostracisme, suggérant leur moindre sensibilité à l'exclusion sociale en jeu dans le Cyberball. Plus important encore, cet ostracisme provoque chez les participants non stigmatisés une diminution du contrôle cognitif (Étude 1), mise en évidence dans nos travaux par un effet Simon stable (plutôt que réduit) sur les temps de réaction les plus longs pourtant les plus sensibles à l’expression d’un processus d'inhibition. Cependant, nos résultats ne montrent aucune différence de sensibilité entre les participants chroniquement ostracisés et leurs groupes contrôle (les Études 2 et 3), suggérant une certaine faiblesse du paradigme Cyberball auprès des personnes en situation d'exclusion sociale dans leur vie quotidienne. Nos résultats remettent donc en question la prédominance de ce paradigme pour la compréhension des effets cognitifs de l’exclusion sociale, au moins chez les individus caractérisés par un ostracisme chronique. / Impact on cognitive control, emotions and fundamental needsRésumé : Social exclusion is considered as one of the most painful situations for human beings. Past research showed that even brief episodes of ostracism (the Cyberball paradigm) have strong effects at the neurophysiological, emotional, and behavioral levels, its impact at the cognitive level however did not receive much attention. Recent findings revealed a negative influence of ostracism on electrophysiological markers of cognitive control, yet there is no direct evidence that being socially excluded reduces cognitive control. Here, we investigated the impact of ostracism (using the Cyberball) on cognitive control using a standard Simon task and distributional reaction time analyses with non-chronically-ostracized and chronically-ostracized populations (regular students in Study 1, illiterate people in Study 2, and long-term unemployed people in Study 3). In the three studies, brief episodes of social exclusion had negative effects on participants’ self-reports of fundamental needs' satisfaction (belonging, meaningful existence, self-esteem, and control). These effects, however, were substantially reduced in chronically-ostracized populations, suggesting that ostracism based on the Cyberball is a bit less meaningful for those populations. More importantly, this ostracism caused a transitory reduction in cognitive control in the non-chronically-ostracized participants (Study 1), as indicated by a stable (rather than decreased) Simon effect on longer reaction times where inhibition yet is more likely. However, we found no evidence of a differential sensitivity between the chronically-ostracized participants and their control groups (Study 2 and Study 3), suggesting that the Cyberball paradigm is not powerful enough with people experiencing social exclusion in their ordinary life. Our findings therefore call into question the predominance of the Cyberball paradigm for our understanding of the cognitive effects of ostracism, at least in chronically ostracized-individuals.

The purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting non-adherence to Anti-retroviral therapy among AIDS patients. A cross sectional quantitative survey, was used. Structured interviews were conducted with 300 ART patients. Data were analysed using SPSS version 13 and presented in charts, graphs and frequency tables. Motivators of good adherence were identified as disclosure of HIV positive status to more than one person, frequent adherence counselling, self-efficacy to adhere to ART, positive interactions between patients and healthcare providers; and using an adherence partner. Barriers to adherence were forgetfulness, transportation costs to and from the clinic, time away from work and side effects. There was a strong positive correlation between adherence, CD4 counts and viral load. Adherence was closely tied to immunologic and virologic improvements. Respondents with poor adherence were likely to have unsuppressed viral loads (OR 12.98, 95%, CI 4.9-34). / Health Studies / Masters of Public Health

HIV/Aids is a worldwide pandemic and as South Africans we are at the epicentre of this global health crisis. The harrowing statistics are useful as a means to quantify a horrific situation; however, what these facts do not do is provide connection amidst the uncertainty surrounding the disease. This research aims to bridge the disconnection and break the silence that weaves a net around the illness and those infected by it. This is done by deconstructing one man’s story of his journey with HIV; by looking at his personal epistemology; and by contextualising his story within his family and within the society in which he lives, South Africa. Finally, it is my reflections and interpretations that form the bridge between a construct of HIV/Aids and a life lived with the disease. / Psychology / M. A. (Clinical Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Vigs is 'n "sluipende moordenaar "_ Dit toon geen respek vir kultuur, status,ouderdom of geslag nie. Vigs veroorsaak 'n onnnatuurlike dood wat vriende en familie bedreig en vervreem, lank na die dood van die vigsslagoffer. Die navorsingsdoel van hierdie studie was om riglyne daar te stel vir die psigoterapeutiese hantering van die vigslyer en sy gesin. Die navorsing het getoon dat 'n stigma en skuldgevoelens rondom die vigslyer en sy gesin ontstaan het, en dat hulle direk verantwoordelik gehou word vir die siekte bloot omdat hulle betrokke is by mekaar. 'n Vraelys wat aspekte (soos dit uit die literatuurstudie geblyk het) inkorporeer, is opgestel en aan die vigslyer en sy gesin gegee om te voltooi. Van die belangrikste elemente wat na vore gekom het, is die vrees vir die onbekende, die stigma verbonde aan die siekte en die pad wat die siekte loop ten opsigte van naiwiteit en valse gerugte ten opsigte van die siekte. 'n Verdere hoofstuk fokus op die literatuur om die hoofaspekte van die probleem vas le stel, en sodoende riglyne vir 'n terapieprogram daar te stel om die vrese te onderskep en die familie te help om die siekte beter te begryp_ Die doel is om die samelewing te laat begryp dat vigs nie 'n kulturele of "klas" siekte is nie, maar dat dit alle lae van die samelewing kan tref. 'n Afdeling is gewy aan 'n wye verskeidenheid terapeutiese tegnieke wat geimplimenteer kan word tydens hulpverlening aan die vigslyer en sy gesinslede. Verder verskaf hierdie studie ook riglyne om ondersteuning en hulp aan die vigslyer en sy gesin te bied, om sodoende hulle selfkonsep te verbeter. / Aids is a "stalking killer''. It has no respect for culture, breeding, age or sex. It is an unnatural death which offends and alienates many friends and family, even after the victim has died. A questionnaire incorporating important aspects of the cause and effect of aids was compiled and given to the aids sufferers and family to complete. From the responses it was clearly evident that the fears of the unknown, the stigma attached to the victim's close associates and family, was a problem, and the route course of incredible naive and false rumours. A chapter of the research focused on literature to establish what was the major aspects of the problem expressed by the media. Guidelines were provided whereby therapy could address and allay these fears to assist the family to better understand the illness and it's effects. This chapter has in mind to provide the Psychologist with guidelines to provide therapy to both the victim and the family in this regard. This study confirms that the survivors are the actual victims. / Educational studies / M.Ed. (Voorligting)