AFRIKAANS: In hierdie studie is daar gelet op MIV en VIGS en die geslagsrolle van die Noord-Sotho/Tswana-sprekende vrou in die Limpopo Provinsie. Daar is spesifiek gefokus op watter MIV- en VIGS-verbandhoudende risiko’s voorkom rondom die geslagsrolle van die Noord-Sotho/Tswana-sprekende vrou in die Limpopo Provinsie. Sewe relevante geslagsrolle van die vrou is geïdentifiseer vir ondersoek, en het die vrou as individuelewese, seksuelewese, huweliksmaat, moeder, versorger, enkelouer en broodwinner ingesluit. Verbandhoudende aspekte van hierdie rolle is ook ondersoek en het mishandeling van die vrou, die vrou se opvoeding, geloof, kultuur, gesondheid, geslag en spesifieke beradingsbehoeftes ingesluit. Waar geslag ‘n sosiale- en kulturelestruktuur is en ook kultuur-spesifiek is, was dit van belang om die vrou se geslagsrolle en die verbandhoudende aspekte daarvan binne die vrou se relevante kulturelekonteks te ondersoek. Die navorsingsmetodologie vir hierdie studie is duidelik omskryf en uiteengesit, waarna verskeie literatuurhoofstukke volg. Die literatuurhoofstukke fokus op MIV en VIGS as medieseverskynsel en die beradingsaspekte wat daarmee verband hou. In die literatuurhoofstukke is daar ook gelet op die Afrika-kultuur en geslagsrolvorming, waarna die sewe geslagsrolle van die vrou en die verbandhoudende aspekte daarvan bespreek is. Die literatuurhoofstukke voorsien die nodige agtergrond wat aanduidend is van spesifieke MIV-risiko’s wat deur Afrika-vroue in hul geslagsrolle beleef word. Navorsingsbevindings vir hierdie kwalitatiewe studie is met behulp van tabelle voorgestel wat volledig bespreek is, ten einde te bepaal watter spesifieke MIV-risiko’s deur Noord-Sotho/Tswana-sprekende vroue in die Limpopo Provinsie beleef word. Navorsingsbevindings vir hierdie kwalitatiewe studie is met behulp van tabelle voorgestel wat volledig bespreek is, ten einde te bepaal watter spesifieke MIV-risiko’s deur Noord-Sotho/Tswana-sprekende vroue in die Limpopo Provinsie beleef word. Hierdie bevindings het getoon dat Noord-Sotho/Tswana-sprekende vroue in die Limpopo Provinsie veral kwesbaar is vir MIV waar hierdie vroue ‘n tekort aan mag het om te onderhandel vir veilige seksuele-omgang en kondoomgebruik. ‘n Raamwerk vir kultuursensitiewe MIV- en VIGS-berading is ontwikkel, en bestaan uit inligting bekom vanuit die empiriese ondersoek, praktykervaring asook die navorser se kennis van relevante literatuur. Die raamwerk vir kultuursensitiewe MIV- en VIGS-berading is op wyses aangebied wat as gepas beskou word vir die spesifieke probleme of behoeftes van die vrou, en bestaan uit afmerklyste, kolomme en gevallestudies. Die raamwerk is ook saamgestel sodat dit deur die maatskaplike werker, MIV-berader en ander lede van die multidissiplinêrespan benut kan word tydens hulpverlening aan MIV-positiewe Noord-Sotho/Tswana-sprekende vroue. Ten slotte is ‘n algemene samevatting, gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gemaak na aanleiding van relevante bevindings vanuit die studie. Die navorsingsvraag vir hierdie studie in geheel is beantwoord deurdat die empiriese ondersoek sowel as die raamwerk vir kultuursensitiewe MIV- en VIGS-berading, die MIV- en VIGS-verbandhoudende risiko’s rondom die geslagsrolle van die Noord-Sotho/Tswanasprekende MIV-positiewe vrou in die Limpopo Provinsie duidelik geïdentifiseer en logies gegroepeer het, en gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gebied het. Hierdie studie het getoon dat elk van die vrou se sewe geslagsrolle, asook die verbandhoudende aspekte daarvan, verband hou met spesifieke MIV-risiko’s wat op fisiologiesesosiale-, psigologiese-, ekonomiese- en kulturele vlak beleef word deur Noord-Sotho/Tswana-sprekende vroue in die Limpopo Provinsie. ENGLISH: This study considered HIV and AIDS and the gender roles of Northern Sotho/Tswana speaking women in the Limpopo Province. Specific focus was placed on HIV and AIDS related risks surrounding the gender roles of Northern Sotho/Tswana speaking women in the Limpopo Province. Seven relevant gender roles were identified for investigation; these include women as individual beings, sexual beings, wives, mothers, caregivers, single parents and breadwinners. Related aspects of these roles were also investigated and include the abuse of women, education, religion, culture, health, gender and specific counselling needs. It was of importance to examine gender roles and the related aspects in the woman’s relevant cultural context since gender is seen as a social and cultural construct and is also culture-specific. The research methodology for this study was clearly defined and outlined. The literature chapters focussed on HIV and AIDS as medical phenomenon and related counselling aspects. The literature chapters also considered the African culture and gender role development, the seven gender roles of women and aspects related to these. The literature chapters provided the necessary background which is indicative of the specific HIV risks which are experienced by African women in their gender roles. Research findings for this qualitative study were presented using tables which were fully discussed in the study in order to determine the specific HIV risks experienced by Northern Sotho/Tswana speaking women in the Limpopo province. These findings showed that Northern Sotho/Tswana speaking women in the Limpopo Province are particularly vulnerable to HIV as these women experience a lack of power to negotiate for safe sex and condom use. A framework for culturally sensitive HIV and AIDS counselling was developed and consists of information obtained from the empirical investigation, practical experience and the researcher’s knowledge of relevant literature. The framework for culturally sensitive HIV and AIDS counselling was presented in a manner which is suited to the specific problems and needs of these women and consists of tick-mark lists, columns and case studies. The framework was also compiled in such a manner that it may be utilised by the social worker, HIV counsellor and other members of the multidisciplinary team during the counselling of HIV positive Northern Sotho/Tswana speaking women. A general summary, conclusions and recommendations were finally made following the relevant findings of the study. The research question for this study was fully answered in that the empirical investigation as well as the framework for culturally sensitive HIV and AIDS counselling identified, logically grouped and made conclusions and recommendations about the HIV and AIDS related risks surrounding the gender roles of Northern Sotho/Tswana speaking women in the Limpopo Province. This study showed that each of the seven gender roles of women as well as the related aspects of these roles are associated with specific HIV risks which are experienced on a physiological, social, psychological, economical and cultural level by Northern Sotho/Tswana speaking women in the Limpopo Province. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Social Work and Criminology / PhD / Unrestricted