The attitudes of staff members at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology towards the start of an HIV/AIDS workplace peer education programme

Date
2011-03
Authors
Hoffman, Lorraine Elizabeth
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The growing number of HIV-positive people in South Africa demands that organisations take action in mitigating the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on their workforces. Since a cure for HIV/AIDS is still to be found, organisations can in the interim do much to manage the disease effectively. Organisations are in a favourable position to empower their employees by means of HIV/AIDS practices, policies, prevention and intervention programmes, such as peer education programmes. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of the staff members at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) towards the start of an HIV/AIDS workplace peer education programme. The study was prompted by the lack of interest displayed by staff members as perceived by the researcher over a period of a year. Numerous attempts by the HIV/AIDS unit at the CPUT to start an HIV/AIDS workplace peer education programme failed. This study intended to determine the underpinning reasons why staff members display apathy towards such a programme. A sample of 50 staff members were invited to participate in the study. 34 out of 50 staff members (response rate = 68%) completed and returned the self-administered survey questionnaire. Overall, an analysis of the responses revealed that the respondents' attitudes were more in favour of the introduction of an HIV/AIDS workplace peer education programme than against it. Respondents displayed neutrality when prompted to indicate their level of knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS workplace peer education programmes. Most respondents displayed an unawareness of the call for HIV/AIDS workplace peer educators by the CPUT. It was also found that the internal communication channels used to recruit HIV/AIDS workplace peer educators failed to reach staff members. This was the first study conducted at the CPUT to determine the attitudes of staff members towards an HIV/AIDS workplace peer education programme and therefore some recommendations are made with regard to the implementation of such a programme.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groeiende aantal MIV-positiewe mense in Suid-Afrika noodsaak organisasies om voorsorg te tref om die vernietigende effek van MIV/VIGS op hul arbeidsmag te verminder. In die huidige afwesigheid van 'n geneesmiddel vir MIV/VIGS is daar baie wat organisasies in die tussentyd kan doen om die siekte effektief te bestuur. Organisasies is in 'n gunstige posisie om werknemers te bemagtig met behulp van MIV/VIGS-praktyke, beleide, voorkomings- en intervensie-programme, soos portuur-opvoedingsprogramme. Hierdie studie het ten doel om die houdinge van werknemers verbonde aan die Kaapse Skiereilandse Universiteit van Tegnologie (KSUT) met die aanvang van 'n MIV/VIGS werkplek portuur-opvoedingsprogram, te ondersoek. Die studie is aangespoor deur 'n gebrek aan belangstelling deur werknemers soos waargeneem deur die navorser oor 'n tydperk van 'n jaar. Die MIV/VIGS-eenheid van die KSUT het al vele pogings aangewend om 'n MIV/VIGS werkplek portuur-opvoedingsprogram te begin, maar sonder sukses. Hierdie studie poog om die onderliggende redes te bepaal waarom werknemers 'n traagheid teenoor die program toon. 'n Steekproef van 50 werknemers was genader om aan hierdie studie deel te neem. 34 uit die 50 werknemers (responskoers = 68%) het die selfgeadministreerde vraelys voltooi en teruggestuur. Oor die algemeen toon die data analise dat die respondente se houdinge meer gunstig is ten opsigte van die aanvang van 'n MIV/VIGS werkplek portuur-opvoedingsprogram as daarteen. Die respondente toon 'n neutraliteit ten opsigte van die vlak van hul kennis en begrip van MIV/VIGS werkplek portuur-opvoedingsprogramme. Die meerderheid respondente het ook aangedui dat hulle nie bewus was van 'n uitnodiging vir MIV/VIGS portuur-voorligters nie. Bevindinge toon ook dat die interne kommunikasiekanale wat gebruik was om werkplek portuur-opvoeders te werf, gefaal het. Hierdie was die eerste navorsingstudie wat onderneem is aan die KSUT om die houdinge van werknemers te bepaal teenoor 'n MIV/VIGS werkplek portuur-opvoedingsprogram en daarom word sekere aanbevelings gemaak met betrekking tot die implementering van so 'n program.
Description
Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management, Cape Peninsula University of Technology -- Employees -- Attitudes, Workplace peer education programme -- Public opinion
Citation