This study was done to assess the quality of life (QOL) of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Swaziland who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART). No study has been done on QOL of PLWHA in Swaziland who are on ART since it started to be administered in Swaziland in 2001. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design was used to assess QOL of PLWHA in Swaziland who are on ART. Twenty-four PLWHA were purposely selected to participate in the study. Methods of data collection used were semi-structured individual in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observations. The data (tape-recorded interviews and discussions, and field notes) were transcribed verbatim for data analysis. Data analysed was done using Tesch’s framework of data analysis as described in Creswell (2002:256-283). The research findings are reflected, with the six domains of QOL identified through a literature review and validated by nurses’ expertise. These domains are the physiological, psychological, spiritual, socio-economic, cognitive, and environmental domains.The study revealed that PLWHA in Swaziland are faced with many challenges concerning ART, namely: inability to meet their nutrition needs, non-adherence to ART, experience of disfiguring side effects of ARVs, inconsistent condom use, experience of stigma and discrimination, depression, difficulty in accepting and coping with ARVs, lowered self-esteem, a negative influence of some religions on ART, a lack of financial support, poor support systems, poor understanding of ARVs, negative thoughts about HIV and AIDS and ART, an unsatisfactory health care delivery system, a negative influence of culture on ART, and violation of the rights of PLWHA. These challenges negatively influence the QOL of PLWHA and hence the study concluded that PLWHA in Swaziland who are on ART have a poor QOL. Conclusions drawn from the data analysis reveal that PLWHA in Swaziland are powerless to deal with the above challenges and improve their QOL. The researcher, therefore, developed guidelines to empower PLWHA to deal with these challenges and adhere to ART, thus improving their QOL. Recommendations were made with regard to nursing practice, nursing education, and further nursing research. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

M.A. (Public Health) / Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) adherence is a crucial component of the patient management framework for people living with Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). Trait emotional intelligence is “the constellation of behavioural-dispositions and self-perceived abilities to recognise, process, and utilise emotion-laden information”. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there was a correlation between ART adherence behaviour and behavioural-dispositions related to trait emotional intelligence among HIV/AIDS infected people receiving ART at the regional public hospitals in Addis Ababa. The study used observational, analytical, and cross-sectional research design. The participants were selected through a proportionally stratified systematic random sampling method. Data collection was through a structured self-report questionnaire format. The findings showed that 79.1% had optimal ART adherence behaviour; 84.4% had average trait emotional intelligence. The research finding showed a statistically significant positive correlation between ART adherence behaviour and behavioural-dispositions related to trait emotional intelligence at (r =0.417, n=392, P<0.001). / Health Studies

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

Women and children are often the most affected by pandemics which have swept through the world, and in this regard the HIV/AIDS pandemics is not an exception. The most common route of HIV infection in HIV positive children under 5 years of age is through Mother-To-Child Transmission (MTCT). In spite of the seriousness of this pandemic, the Constitutional Court has found that the measures taken by the South African government with regard to the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) has fallen short of what the Constitution requires. This dissertation critically reviews the management of the South African PMTCT programme, and discusses the relevant Court decisions. The study finally clarifies the obligations of the South Africa government in the context of PMTCT under the 1996 Constitution and in terms of international law. / Constitutional,International and Indigenous Law / LL.M. (Legal aspects of HIV/AIDS)

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiretroviral therapy program in primary health care settings in Lesotho. Mixed methods research using a convergent parallel mixed methods design was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data which were analysed during the same phase of the research process. Two groups of participants participated in the study, the registered nurse group was composed of registered nurses/midwives/nurse clinicians involved in ART service provision and the second group was composed of adults aged 18 years and older who were HIV/AIDS positive. Quantitative data had a compliance rate of 92% and it were analysed using SPSS (23). Qualitative data were analysed using constant comparison analysis and seven themes, fourteen categories and twenty two sub-categories emerged from the data analysis. Findings of the study revealed that the majority of PHC facilities were staffed by registered nurse midwives and nurse clinicians who were qualified, confident, knowledgeable and competent in the execution of duties. Generally there were a large number of patients that sought ART services which were offered on a weekly basis although there was variation in the actual number of days the services were provided. The time patients spent seeking ART services varied across the facilities and ARVs and other drugs were usually available. Challenges in the delivery of ART services included unsatisfactory staffing resulting in the provision of inadequate services and work overload, lack of knowledge of some patients, use of incentives by some partners and too many partners being involved in ART, inadequate documentary evidence and stigma pertaining to the HIV status of individuals. Furthermore, ARVs were reported to make patients feel hungry hence resulting in lack of satisfaction in ART services, ART services were inadequate due to dysfunctional equipment and some patients had been lost due to inability to screen for cancer and there was incomplete monitoring and evaluation of the ART program. However, participants in this study generally showed their acknowledgement of the ART services as they generally improved their health status despite the many challenges that were being faced. / Health Studies / D.Litt.et Phil. (Health Studies)

As the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence rises, uninfected Basotho face an increased risk of exposure. This necessitates strengthening of strategies that prevent exposure, and where exposure has occurred, measures that prevent infection. One such measure is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Awareness and knowledge of HIV PEP is therefore of paramount importance. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and utilisation of HIV PEP among adults in Roma, Lesotho. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 adult outpatients at St Joseph’s Hospital. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results were presented using charts and tables. Awareness of HIV PEP among the respondents was found to be very low and for most respondents’ knowledge of HIV PEP was either non-existent or very poor. Utilisation was also found to be very low. Attitudes towards HIV PEP were, however, found to be favourable. More studies should be conducted throughout the country to further explore Basotho’s knowledge, attitude and use of HIV PEP. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The aim of the study was to explore the accessibility of antiretroviral treatment amongst people living with HIV and AIDS at Public Health Care Facilities in Gert-Sibande Region in Mpumalanga. The study was conducted at a selected Public Health Care facility in Gert Sibande Region at Msukaligwa Municipality in Mpumalanga. The study focused primarily on people attending wellness programmes that are living with HIV and AIDS, receiving antiretroviral treatment in Public Health Care facilities. Research design of the study was exploratory which fundamentally used to explore a new topic or to learn more about issues where little is known. The research approach was purely qualitative methodology which allowed the researcher to explore deeply the perceptions of people living with HIV and AIDS and the capabilities in the provision of antiretroviral treatment at public health care facilities in Msukaligwa municipality of Gert-Sibande Region in Mpumalanga. Qualitative interview is the method that has been used to gather data from 23 participants who took part in the study. Questions of the interview were semi-structured in-depth one-on-one interviews and were used to explore understanding in relation to the accessibility of antiretroviral treatment amongst people living with HIV and AIDS at Public Health Care Facilities in Gert- Sibande Region in Mpumalanga. The findings of the study revealed that, there is good accessibility of antiretroviral treatment at public health care facilities in Msukaligwa Municipality of Gert-Sibande Region in Mpumalanga. There is also an existence of negative staff attitude towards patients and a probable poor service delivery at the referral local clinics. It can be concluded that there is a need to re-look into the current Hospital’s reception filing system and the turnaround time at certain areas of the Hospital and the capacitation of staff at the wellness centre. There is also a need to intensify the established programmes and the encouragement of people on treatment to take their antiretroviral treatment consistently. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social behaviour Studies in HIV & AIDS)

The study analysed and compared data from patients' medical and pharmacy refill records to identify correlations between CD4 cell counts and adherence to antiretroviral drugs at Katutura Intermediate Hospital (KIH) in Windhoek, Namibia. The study investigated whether the pharmacy refill adherence measurement methodology could predict immunological recovery through increased CD4 cell counts. There was a positive but weak relationship between adherence and CD4 cell counts. Although the pharmacy refill records could predict immunological response it was not sensitive enough and should be used in combination with other adherence measurement tools. / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

Uganda has experienced 1.6 million deaths to HIV/AIDS related illness. Introduction of free-ART in rural hospitals that bear the burden od AIDS reduces adults morbidity and mortality. The study design was a quantitative, retrospective and descriptive design through data mining of medical records. In the six years, hospital admissions decreased by 16.7% and the median age at death increased by seven years. Hospital admissions decreased from three to seven deaths per 100 admissions per month. Male and female mortality was 1:1.6 and females in the 15-34 age group had a 37% higher likeliness of dying in hospital compared to males. Deaths from sub-countries with an ART site reduced by 4% to 8.6%. The data revealed that despite ART coverage of 60%, mortality rates showed a rising trend. Free access to ART's over three years did not make any observable changes to overall mortality. Therefore, ART access contributed to a decline in overall hospital admissions, an increase in median age at time of death and a reduction in deaths from sub-counties with an ART site. There was no reduction in overall hospital mortality rate. / M.A. (Public Health) / Health Studies