Investigation into the perceptions of employees about people living with HIV in their workplace : a case study of the National Planning Commission, Namibia

Date
2014-04
Authors
Shikongo, Nahenda Saima
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research study investigates the perceptions of employees about people living with HIV at the workplace; a case study of the National Planning Commission (NPC) in Windhoek. The impact of employees living with HIV at the NPC is that there is potentially a high risk of being stigmatised and discriminated against within the workplace because there is no information about HIV and AIDS nor stigma awareness among the employees. Stigma and discrimination can affect an employee’s performance leading to poor services delivery. A descriptive research method was used to analyse the reasons behind the perceptions of employees about people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the workplace at NPC. The questions were answered using face- to- face interviews and questionnaires and analysed. The findings showed that employees perceive HIV and AIDS stigma and discrimination as an issue that affect people living with HIV in the workplace. It was also noted that there are no forums or information sessions about HIV and AIDS taking place at the NPC therefore it is rare to find staff members discussing about HIV and AIDS at workplace. Therefore, NPC should appoint a HIV and AIDS Counsellor or coordinator who will be dealing with problems related to HIV and AIDS, have a HIV and AIDS policy and programme, budget allocation, and have leadership and management supports for the policy and programme implementation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsingstudie ondersoek die persepsies van mense oor mense wat met MIV leef in die werkplek, 'n gevallestudie van die Nasionale Beplanningskommissie (NPC) in Windhoek, Namibië. Die impak van die werknemers wat met MIV leef in die NPC is dat daar potensieel 'n hoë risiko om gestigmatiseer en teen gediskrimineer binne die werkplek, want daar is geen inligting oor MIV en vigs of stigma-bewustheid onder die werknemers nie. Stigma en diskriminasie kan 'n werknemer se prestasie laat lei tot swak dienslewering. 'n Beskrywende navorsingsmetode is gebruik om die redes agter die persepsies van mense oor mense wat met MIV leef in die werkplek by NPC te ontleed. Die data is versamel deur middel van onderhoude en vraelyste. Die bevindinge het getoon dat werknemers om MIV en vigs stigma en diskriminasie as 'n kwessie dat mense wat met MIV leef in die werkplek beïnvloed. Dit is ook opgemerk dat daar geen forums is of inligtingsessies oor MIV en vigs wat by die NPC daarom is dit skaars om te vind personeel bespreek oor MIV en Vigs by die werkplek. Daarom moet NPC 'n MIV- en vigsberader of koördineerder aanstel wat probleme sal hanteer.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
Keywords
Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, HIV infections -- Namibia -- Windhoek, Stigma (Social psychology), HIV positive persons -- Employment -- Namibia -- Windhoek, UCTD
Citation