Thesis (MCur (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Nursing Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS is considered as a global problem with the number of people living with HIV
infection continuing to increase. At the end of 2007 HIV/AIDS had already claimed 25
million lives. Of all new HIV infections 71% were diagnosed in the Sub-Saharan region in
2008, remaining the worst affected region globally. UNAIDS (2008:43) indicated that
heterosexual intercourse remained the main origin for HIV infection in the Sub-Saharan
region. Therefore the researcher is of the opinion that prevention strategies should focus
mainly on sexual transmission of the disease.
HIV/AIDS affects mainly people between the ages 15-24 years, notably the age group of
most of the learners in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Lesotho, a country in the Sub-
Saharan region, presents with the third highest HIV adult prevalence (23.2%) in the world
and in the region.
In an attempt to address the prevailing situation, Lesotho has a number of programmes geared
towards addressing HIV/AIDS in the country. However, all these attempts exclude the
learners in HEIs, yet the majority of learners are found within the most affected age group. It
is also to be noted that Higher Education provides the bedrock for socio-economic and
political development in Africa.
Some studies have identified insufficient knowledge as being at the root of the increasing
HIV infections among youth. However, other studies have shown that there is adequate
knowledge among the young people, but still a challenge remains and that is to facilitate
changes in behavioural patterns as a component to be linked to the knowledge.
Studies conducted in other African countries have shown that there are anti-AIDS
programmes and clubs for learners in HEIs where learners are involved in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. No publication indicating the same for Lesotho’s HEIs could be found, except for
the National University of Lesotho (NUL) that only launched its HIV/AIDS policy for
learners in 2009. The researcher is of the opinion that HEIs in Lesotho are not doing enough
to combat HIV/AIDS and hence intends to focus on HEIs in Lesotho. This study had two objectives namely:
To determine the knowledge of learners in a specific HEI in Lesotho regarding
HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
To explore the needs of learners in a specific HEI in Lesotho regarding HIV/AIDS
prevention and care.
This mixed method study was conducted, comprising of both quantitative and qualitative
designs. Quantitative phase used a questionnaire for determining the knowledge of learners.
The questionnaire was adopted from a study that was performed to determine knowledge of
South African educators in public schools with some modifications. The qualitative phase
was used to explore the needs of the learners through the focus group discussions with the
leaders of the learners. Sample was drawn from the entire population using stratified random
sampling for the quantitative phase. The qualitative phase used the purposive sampling to
obtain in-depth information concerning learners’ needs. Quantitative data was analysed
through the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data was
analysed using the thematic analysis and open-coding. All ethical principles were adhered to
especially the principle of respect for persons.
The findings from the quantitative phase of the study showed that learners had adequate
knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and care and the findings from the qualitative
phase showed the various needs of the learners with regards to prevention and care of
HIV/AIDS in a specific HEI in Lesotho. Recommendations have been proposed based on the
findings from the two phases of the study. Limitations observed by the researcher have also
been identified. In conclusion the objectives of the study were met and the research questions
had been answered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: MIV/Vigs word as ‘n internasionale probleem erken, siende dat daar ‘n verhoging in die toename van MIVgeïnfekteerde
indiwidue tans is . Einde 2007 het MIV/Vigs het reeds 25 miljoen lewens ge-eis . In 2008 is 71%
van al die nuwe MIV-infeksies in die Sub-Sahara streek gediagnoseer, wat aandui dat die streek die mees
geaffekteerde streek tans is. UNAIDS (2008:43) het aangedui dat heteroseksuele omgang die hoofoorsaak van
MIV-oordrag in die Sub-Sahara-streek is. Laasgenoemde het daartoe gelei dat die navorser van mening is dat
voorkomende strategieë meestal op seksuele oordrag van die siekte moet fokus.
MIV/Vigs affekteer meestal mense in die ouderdomsgroep 15-24, opmerklik is dit die ouderdomsgroep waarby
meesste leerders in Hoëronderwysinstellings (HOI) is. Lesotho, ‘n land in die Sub-Sahara-streek, het tans die
derde-hoogste MIV-voorkoms (23.2%) in die wêreld en in die streek.
Lesotho het verskeie programme ontlont om MIV/Vigs te bekamp in ‘n poging om die huidige situasie te
beredder . Nieteenstaande sluit al die programme leerders in HOI uit, alhoewel die leerders in die
ouderdomsgroep van die mees-geaffekteerde groep val. Dit is ook duidelik dat Hoëronderwys die fondasie vir
sosio-ekonomiese- en politieke ontwikkeling in Afrika verskaf.
Sommige studies het onvoldoende kennis as die wortel van die verhoging van MIV-infeksies onder die jeug
geïdentifiseer. Ander studies, daarenteen, wys dat kennis voldoende is onder jeug, alhoewel veranderinge in
gedragspatrone om by die kennis aan te sluit ‘n uitdaging bly.
Studies uit ander Afrikalande dui daarop dat daar anti-Vigs programme en klubs is waarby HO leerders betrokke
is om teen die verspreiding van MIV/Vigs te veg. Geen publikasies in hierdie verband word in Lesotho
aangetref nie, behalwe ‘n MIV/Vigs-beleid wat in 2009 deur “National University of Lesotho’ (NUL)
gepubliseer is. Dus is die navorser van mening dat HOI nie genoeg doen om MIV/Vigs te beveg nie, daarom
fokus sy op HOI in Lesotho.
Hierdie studie het twee doelstellings ten doel gehad, naamlik om die leerders in ‘n sekere HOI in Lesotho se
kennis aangaande MIV/Vigs voorkoming en sorg te bepaal en die behoeftes van die leerders aangaande
MIV/Vigs voorkoming en sorg te verken. ‘n Studie met beide kwantitatiewe- en kwalitatiewe metodes is
gebruik om die doelstellings te verwesenlik. In die kwantitatiewe fase is ‘n vraelys gebruik om leerders se
kennis te bepaal. Die vraelys is verkry uit ‘n vorige studie wat in RSA gedoen is, maar aangepas om in die
Lesotho-konteks te gebruik. Gedurende die kwalitatiewe fase is fokusgroep besprekings met die leiers van die
leerders gehou om die behoeftes indiepte te verken. Die steekproef was uit die totale populasie getrek deur van
gestratifiseerde streekproefneming gebruik te maak in die kwantitatiewe fase en ‘n doelgerigte
steekproefneming is in die kwalitatiewe fase te gebruik. Die navorser het ‘n kwantitatiewe data-analise
sagteware (SPSS)gebruik om kwantitatiewe data te ontleed en tematiese- oopkodering is gedurende die
kwalitatiewe fase gebruik. Etiese kode is ten volle gerespekteer, veral die respek vir mense gedurende
navorsing.
Bevindinge van die kwantitatiewe fase het bewys dat leerders voldoende kennis aangaande die voorkoming en
sorg van MIV/Vigs besit en die kwalitatiewe bevindinge het die behoeftes van leerders met betrekking tot die
voorkoming en sorg van MIV/Vigs in ‘n spesifieke HOI in Lesotho geopenbaar. Die aanbevelings is gemaak,
gebaseer op die bevindinge uit die twee fases. Beperkinge in die studie is uitgelig. Ter afsluiting is die
doelstellings in die studie bereik en die navorsingsvrae beantwoord.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5307 |
Date | 12 1900 |
Creators | Mphana, Mateboho Patricia |
Contributors | Pienaar, Abel J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Nursing Science. |
Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
Language | en_ZA |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis |
Format | xv, 135 p. : ill. |
Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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