Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is considered an important component of the
South African government’s response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Despite of this, the
numbers of South Africans who have accessed VCT remains low. Pregnant women in
antenatal clinics remain the primary recipients of HIV testing since it is routinely offered
to them at antenatal clinics. Figures from antenatal clinics constitute the most important
source of HIV/AIDS statistics in South Africa. Targeting women at antenatal clinics
perpetuate the stereotypes that women are solely responsible for reproductive health
issues or, that they are to be blame for the mounting HIV infections. These beliefs
exacerbate the culminating violence against women.
According to observation, active involvement of male youth in reproductive health at the
Rosedale Clinic situated in Uitenhage, a town in the Eastern Cape, appears to be very
limited. This might be as a result of traditional beliefs declaring reproductive health a
primarily female domain. Active involvement of males in reproductive health is
considered to have positive health outcomes both for themselves, and their partners. The
purpose of this study is thus to encourage males served by the Rosedale clinic to become
more actively involved in one aspect of reproductive health, namely voluntary counseling
and testing (VCT). The study aims to find out which factors constitute barriers and
enablers to VCT acceptance by male youth.
Semi-structured, face-to- face interviews were conducted in September 2006 with
eighteen males, 18 to 25 years, to determine from their perspective what constitute
barriers and enablers to HIV test acceptance by males. These participants were recruited
from two well-known rugby clubs in Uitenhage, located in the Eastern Cape. In addition,
a focus group discussion was conducted with four males recruited at a graduate
development programme hosted in Uitenhage in order to explore common themes
emerging from interviews and the discussion. A pervasive, psychologically rooted fear; and possible low perception of risk emerge
from this study as main barriers to HIV testing. Negative perceptions regarding service
delivery in the public health sector constitute another barrier to HIV testing. The
possibility of teasing, a common phenomenon amongst rugby players but not exclusive to
them, exacerbates peer pressure thus possibly contributing to low levels of HIV test
acceptance among these males. Increased HIV test acceptance is associated with
increased opportunities of exposure to HIV testing opportunities, for example at
awareness campaigns. Access to medical aid and income is also associated with an
increased likelihood of HIV testing since most males prefer accessing HIV testing
services in the private sector. Convenience and ease of access to HIV testing services are
important when these males consider going for HIV testing. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vrywillige Berading en MIV Toetsing, een aspek van reproduktiewe gesondheid, word
beskou as ‘n belangrike komponent van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se strategie teen
MIV/VIGS. Ongeag van hierdie feit is ‘n groot aantal Suid-Afrikaners nog nie getoets vir
MIV nie. Swanger vrouens word op ‘n daaglikse basis hierdie toets aangebied as deel
van roetine ondersoeke. Syfers vanaf pre-natale klinieke vorm die hoofbron van Suid-
Afrika se HIV/VIGS statistieke. Die feit dat swanger vrouens die hoofteikengroep is vir
MIV toetsing dra by tot stereotipes wat daartoe lei dat vrouens primêr verantwoordelik is
vir die behoud van reproduktiewe gesondheid; en dat hulle beskou word as die
hoofverdagtes in die toenemende oordrag van MIV. Laasgenoemde beskuldiging vererger
geweld teen vrouens.
Volgens waarneming by Rosedale publieke kliniek geleë in Uitenhage, ‘n dorp in die
Oos-kaap, is veral jeugdige mans se betrokkenheid in reproduktiewe gesondheid uiters
minimaal. Dit kan moontlik wees omdat reproduktiewe gesondheid tradisioneel as ‘n
vroulike domein beskou word. Aktiewe betrokkenheid van beide mans en vrouens in
reproduktiewe gesondheid het positiewe gesondheidsuitkomste vir beide partye tot
gevolg. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om jongmans wie deur die Rosedale kliniek
bedien word aan te moedig om meer sigbaar te word in reproduktiewe
gesondheidskwessies; met die oog op een aspek daarvan naamlik, vrywillige berading en
MIV toetsing. Die studie poog dus om uit te vind watter struikelblokke jeugdige mans
weerhou van MIV toetsing en; watter faktore mans aanmoedig om vir die toets te gaan.
Semi-gestruktureerde, aangesig-tot- aangesig onderhoude is in September 2006 met 18
mans, vanaf die ouderdomme 18 tot 25 jaar, gevoer. Hierdie mans was tydens die studie
rugbyspelers vanuit twee welbekende rugbyklubs op die dorp. ‘n Addisionele fokus groep
is verder gevoer met manlike studente wie ten tye van die studie aan ‘n
ontwikkelingsprogram vir gradueerders deelgeneem het op die dorp. Hierdie fokusgroep
is geloods om soortgelyke temas vanuit die onderhoude en die bespreking te ondersoek. Die studie toon dat ‘n diepgewortelde, sielkundige vrees; en moontlike lae bewustheid
van persoonlike risiko die twee vernaamste struikelblokke is vir MIV toetsing.
Negatiewe sienings rakende die publieke gesondheidssektor kan moontlik bydrae tot
weerstand teen MIV toetsingsdienste. Tergery, ‘n bekende verskynsel onder rugbymans,
maar nie slegs beperk tot diè groep nie, dra by tot groepsdruk en weerhou moontlik
menige mans van MIV toetsing. Diegene in die studie wie alreeds vir MIV getoets is
geniet toenemende blootstelling aan MIV toetsingsgeleenthede; bv tydens
bewusmakingsveldtogte geloods òf by die werk òf tersiêre instellings. Toegang tot ‘n
mediese fonds; en ‘n inkomste is moontlike bepalende faktore sienende dat meeste
respondente gesondheidsdienste in die privaatsektor verkies. Gerieflike toegang tot MIV
toetsingsdienste word deur sommige mans as belangrike beskou wanneer hulle MIV
toetsing oorweeg.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/19894 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Williams, Leilanie |
| Contributors | Ewert, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 101 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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