Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Optimal adherence to antiretroviral medication is essential for effective treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and ensuring high levels of adherence has proven to be a major challenge in the fight against HIV. As funding for antiretroviral treatment (ART) programs is limited, ensuring optimal adherence is critical, not only to decrease patient mortality and improve quality of life, but also to make these ART programs financially sustainable. In recent years a small but growing body of literature on the associations between social support, common mental disorders and adherence to ART has emerged. This thesis builds on the burgeoning body of studies by seeking to test the associations between level of perceived social support, symptoms of common mental disorders, and adherence to ART among a South African sample of ART users. The study investigated a convenience sample of 101 patients living with HIV, and receiving ART from a state funded HIV clinic in the Overberg region of the Western Cape, South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was used to gather self-report data on the level of perceived social support, severity of symptoms of common mental disorders, and adherence to ART. Bivariate correlations demonstrated significant negative associations between perceived social support and severity of symptoms of common mental disorders, specifically symptoms of depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Biserial correlations and logistic regression analysis indicated an inverse relationship between severity of symptoms of depression and self-reported ART adherence. However, when symptoms of anxiety and PTSD were included as predictors, the association between symptoms of depression and self-reported ART adherence was no longer significant. Furthermore, no significant relationships were found between self-reported ART adherence and symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. Follow-up research is recommended to gain a better understanding of these relationships. A longitudinal experimental research design is recommended to determine the direction of causality with regard to the association between symptoms of depression and adherence to ART. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Optimale nakoming van antiretrovirale medikasie is noodsaaklik vir effektiewe behandeling van die menslike immuniteitsgebreks virus (MIV), en een van die groot uitdagings in die stryd teen MIV is om hoë vlakke van nakoming te verseker. Aangesien die beskikbare fondse vir antiretrovirale behandeling (ARB) beperk is, is dit van kritiese belang om optimale nakoming te verseker, nie net om sterftes te verminder en lewenskwaliteit te verbeter nie, maar ook om ARB programme finansieël volhoubaar te maak. In die afgelope jare, het daar 'n klein maar groeiende liggaam van literatuur oor die assosiasies tussen sosiale ondersteuning, algemene geestesversteurings, en nakoming van ARB na vore gekom. Hierdie proefskrif bou voort op die groeiende liggaam van studies deur om die verhoudings tussen waargenome sosiale ondersteuning, simptome van algemene geestesversteurings, en nakoming van ARB onder 'n Suid-Afrikaanse steekproef van ARB gebruikers te toets. Die studie het ondersoek gedoen op 'n gerieflikheidsteekproef van 101 pasiënte wat MIV positief is, en ARB ontvang by 'n staats befondse MIV-kliniek in die Overberg-streek van die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. 'n Deursnee-opname ontwerp is gebruik om self-verslag data te kry oor die vlak van waargenome sosiale ondersteuning, simptome van algemene geestesversteurings, en nakoming van ARB. Tweeveranderlike korrelasies het gedui op 'n beduidende negatiewe verhouding tussen waargenome sosiale ondersteuning and simptome van algemene geestesversteurings, spesifiek simptome van depressie, angs en post-traumatiese stresversteuring (PTSS). Biseriale korrelasies and logistieke regressie-analise het 'n beduidende inverse verhouding tussen simptome van depressie and self-gerapporteerde ARB nakoming getoon. Die verhouding tussen simptome van depressie and self-gerapporteerde ARB nakoming was egter nie meer beduidend na die symptome van angs en PTSS as voorspellers ingesluit was nie. Verder was daar geen beduidende verhoudings gevind tussen self-gerapporteerde ARB nakoming en simptome van angs en PTSS nie. Verdere navorsing word aanbeveel om 'n beter begrip van hierdie verhoudings te verkry. 'n Longitudinale eksperimentele ontwerp word aanbeveel om vas te stel wat die rigting van oorsaaklikheid is ten opsigte van die verhouding tussen simptome van depressie en nakoming van ARB.

The literature indicates that treatment by means of elimination methods is extremely challenging for patients, bringing a fundamental change to their lives. The aim of the thesis was to identify and describe the challenges of treatment in patients with renal failure and how a given method of treatment affects the patient's quality of life and needs, as well as to understand the subjective difficulties and problems. A data collection method in the form of non-standardized semi-structured interviews was selected for qualitative research. The surveyed sample consisted of six patients of a dialysis centre. The respondents taking part in the qualitative research were informed in advance of the course, circumstances and ethical aspects of the research. The obtained data was analyzed, colour-coded and then sorted into subcategories. The results were interpreted using the "showdown" technique. The interviewed sample of respondents was subjected to multiple elimination methods in the treatment of their disease. Kidney transplant patients subjectively evaluated the quality of their lives as very high, talking about "a life of a normal man". Peritoneal dialysis patients also evaluated their quality of life as relatively high, highlighting a certain feeling of independence. Haemodialysis patients describe...

En la tesis doctoral La biopolítica en la España franquista, el autor ha analizado la configuración, desarrollos, objetivos y particularidades de la biopolítica desarrollada en España durante el régimen del General Franco, desde su instauración en 1939 hasta su final en 1975. Dicha exploración se ha basado en el análisis de toda una serie de dispositivos biopolíticos -disciplinarios y reguladores-, encargados fundamentalmente de hacer aumentar las fuerzas de la nación y de disminuir la capacidad contestataria de los individuos. Todo ello ha mostrado al tiempo las características de aquello que podríamos llamar la gubernamentalidad franquista, articulada en base a unas formas determinadas de conducción de conductas capaces de elaborar a su vez ciertos modelos de subjetividad que habrían conformado, no sin resistencias, al sujeto idiosincrásico de la España franquista: a saber, el homo patiens. / In my Ph.D The Biopolitics in the Spanish Francoism, I analyzed the configuration, developements and specific objectives of the biopolitics developed in Spain during the Franco Regime, since its inception in 1939 until its end in 1975. This exploration is based in the analysis of some biopolitics dispositives -disciplinary and regulatory-, that is primarly responsable to increase the strength of the nation and to decrease the non-conformist ability of individuals. The conclusion of this research also shows the features of the Francoism's guvernmentality, that are articulated on the basics of certain shapes of driving behavior that is able at the same time to create certain models of subjectivity with its resistentes, and to build a characteristic subjectivity of Franco's Spain: the homo patiens.