Impact of work-based HIV/AIDS interventions on knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of workers in a local municipality

Date
2009-12
Authors
Motsukunyane, Moipone Maureen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is without a doubt that in the workplace, HIV/AIDS presents various challenges for both management and employees. Prevention programs that are in place have failed to have the desired effects mainly because they have not sought to challenge the attitudes and perceptions of those people they are targeting. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The research study is designed to be qualitative in nature and a questionnaire was developed for this purpose. The researcher used semi-structured personal interviews to collect the data. Once all data was collected, open coding was used in order to categorise data that has been collected. Data was then analysed according to the categories identified in the coding process. MAJOR FINDINGS There were several key findings of the study and they can be summarised as follows: Knowledge about HIV/AIDS did not necessarily mean that those who are exposed information will make appropriate behaviour modification. There seems to be confusion about whether or not HIV is curable. There is a perception amongst the majority of the participants that HIV is curable by traditional doctors and there was also a group of participants who believe that HIV is not curable. Condom use is very rarely an individual choice; it is based on many factors such as social pressures, socially constructed sexual identities, and sexual power relations and to some extent cultural influences. There is still stigma and discrimination following those who are infected with HIV/AIDS since the disease became public two decades ago. Lastly, offering training in the workplace is one area that is lacking and this is one of the things that the participants alluded to.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: INLEIDING Dit is sonder twyfel dat MIV/VIGS verskeie uitdagings bied vir beide werkgewers en werknemers. Voorkomingsprogramme het nie geslaag om die verwagte resultate te behaal nie, hoofsaaklik omdat hierdie programme nie fokus op die houdings en persepsies van die persone wat geteiken word nie. NAVORSINGSBEVINDINGS Die empiriese studie is ontwerp om kwalitatief van aard te wees en „n vraelys is vir die doel ontwikkel. Die navorser het semi-gestruktureerde persoonlike onderhoude gebruik om die data te dokumenteer. Nadat die date ingesamel is, is dit gekodifiseer asook gekategoriseer. Die data is gevolglik ontleed na gelang die kategorieë wat gebruik is in die kodifiseringsproses. BELANGRIKSTE BEVINDINGS Daar is sekere kern-bevindings wat soos volg opgesom kan word: Kennis rakende MIV/VIGS beteken nie dat die persone wat blootgestel is daaraan die regte gedrag aangeleer het nie Dit blyk dat daar verwarring heers of MIV genees kan word. Daar bestaan „n persepsie onder die meerderheid van die respondente dat MIV genees kan word deur tradisionele genesers en daar was ook „n groep respondente wat glo dat MIV nie genees kan word nie. Kondoom-gebruik is bykans nooit „n individuele keuse nie; dit is gebaseer op verskeie faktore soos byvoorbeeld sosiale druk, sosiaal-gestruktureerde seksuele identiteite, seksuele mag-verhoudings en tot „n sekere mate kulturele invloede. Stigmatisering en diskrimininasie ontstaan teenoor die persone wat besmet is met die MIV/VIGS-virus sedert dit openbaar gemaak is twee dekades gelede. Laastens, deur opleiding in die werksplek aan te bied is die een gebied wat as „n leemte uitgewys is deur die respondente.
Description
Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
Keywords
HIV/AIDS, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology
Citation