Factors influencing the uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HCT) service : the case of the employees of the Namibian Correctional Service at Elizabeth Nepemba Correctional Facility

Date
2013-03
Authors
Velikoshi, Tangeni Immanuel Ndawedwa Oyehetupe
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explored the factors influencing the HIV counselling and testing (HCT) uptake amongst correctional officers deployed at Elizabeth Nepemba Correctional Facility in Rundu, Namibia. Factors investigated in this study included correctional officers’ level of satisfaction with HCT service delivery, their experiences and expectations related to HCT and identify their needs and motives behind HCT utilization. A sample of 50 participants was targeted to participate in this survey through the completion of self-administered questionnaires. A total number of 31 questionnaires were returned. It was found that the majority of the respondents (74%) accessed HCT services in the past twelve months, of which 31% indicated having tested at Elizabeth Nepemba HIV Counselling and Testing Facility. The study further revealed that the majority of respondents valued HIV counseling and testing as an important component of their general health and wellbeing. Factors such as confidentiality and privacy issues, the condition of service and staff competency along with accessibility, fear of rejection from families and friends, information provision, education, future planning and risky behaviour were identified as having an influence on HIV counseling and testing uptake. The study concluded that there is a need for more awareness campaigns, information dissemination and involvement of stakeholders to address HIV-related health issues for correctional officers at Elizabeth Nepemba Correctional Facility.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dié studie het die faktore bekyk wat die mate van gebruik van MIV-berading en toetsing (HCT) onder korrektiewe amptenare by die Elizabeth Nepemba Korrektiewe Fasiliteit in Rundu, Namibië, beïnvloed. Faktore wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is, het die bevredigingsvlak onder korrektiewe amptenare met HCT-dienslewering ingesluit, asook hulle ondervindings en verwagtinge in hierdie verband en die identifisering van hulle behoeftes en motiewe wat die gebruik van HCT tot gevolg het. Deur middel van die voltooing van selfgeadministreerde vraelyste is ‘n monster van 50 deelnemers geteiken om by die opname betrek te word. ‘n Totaal van 31 vraelyste is voltooi en teruggestuur. Daar is vasgestel dat die meerderheid (74%) van die respondente in die voorafgaande 12 maande HCT-dienste benut het – 31% van hulle het aangedui dat hulle by die Elizabeth Nepemba MIV-Beradings en Toetsfasiliteit getoets is. Die studie het voorts getoon dat die meerderheid respondente MIV-berading en toetsing as ‘n belangrike onderdeel van hulle algemene gesondheid en welstand bejeën. Faktore soos vertroulike en private aangeleenthede, die stand van diens- en personeelbevoegdheid tesame met toeganklikheid, vrees vir verwerping deur gesinslede en vriende, inligtingsvoorsiening, onderwys, toekomstige beplanning en riskante gedrag, is geïdentifiseer as sou hulle die gebruiksmakingfrekwentheid van berading en toetsing beïnvloed. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat daar ‘n behoefte bestaan vir meer bewusmakingsveldtogte, inligting-verspreiding en betrokkenheid van belanghebbendes om die MIV-verwante gesondheidsaangeleenthede vir korrektiewe beamptes by die Elizabeth Nepemba Korrektiewe Fasiliteit aan te spreek.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management, Namibia. Department of Prisons and Correctional Services -- Employees -- Health and hygiene, HIV infections -- Diagnosis -- Namibia -- Rundu, HIV-positive persons -- Counseling of -- Namibia -- Rundu
Citation