The vulnerability of the visually impaired to HIV and AIDS : a study of the HIV and AIDS outreach efforts for visually impaired people
Date
2013-03
Authors
Booi, Nokuphumla
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study argues that visually impaired people are vulnerable to HIV due to insufficient HIV and AIDS intervention programmes that are not modified for their diverse needs, also to lack of support from health care workers, sexual assault and risky sexual behaviour. The study is aimed at establishing the factors that expose the visually impaired to be vulnerable to HIV and suggest strategies for HIV prevention programmes for the visually impaired.
The researcher chose only totally blind people from the Johannesburg Society for the Blind, Ubuntu Workshop for the Blind and Blind SA which are all in Johannesburg, South Africa, to participate in the study. The researcher chose those organisations because they promote the abilities and potential of people with visual impairment by publicizing their achievements and their special needs. They also educate the community about visual impairment, including its treatment and prevention and they have a vast number of the visually impaired unlike searching for them in their scattered locations.
The researcher used a qualitative research approach where she interviewed the participants as a method of data collection where the visually impaired perceived themselves to be at higher risk of HIV infection due to the nature of their disability regardless of their awareness levels. Basically people with visual impairment are vulnerable to HIV because of lack of HIV programmes which are modified for their needs and social exclusion due to stigma attached to disability. The study concluded that the government has failed to recognize the visually impaired as a high risk group and therefore the visually impaired are not fully included in the existing HIV and AIDS intervention programmes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie beweer dat gesiggestremde persone kwesbaar is vir MIV as gevolg van onvoldoende MIV en Vigs-voorkomingsprogramme wat nie vir hul spesifieke behoeftes aangepas is nie, ook as gevolg van ‘n gebrek aan ondersteuning van gesondheidswerkers, seksuele misdrywe en onveilige seksuele gedrag. Die doel van die studie is om faktore te bepaal wat gesiggestremdes kwesbaar maak vir MIV en stel ook riglyne voor vir aanpasbare voorkomingsprogramme spesifiek vir hierdie persone. Die navorser gebruik slegs mense wat totaal blind is van Johannesburg Society for the Blind, Ubuntu Workshop for the Blind and Blind SA wat in Johannesburg, Suid-Afrika, geleë is. Die navorser het ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering gebruik deur onderhoude met die deelnemers te voer om data in te samel. Die deelnemers voel dat hul ‘n hoë risiko vir MIV infeksie is as gevolg van die aard van hul gestremdheid, ongeag hul bewustheid rakende MIV en Vigs. Die studie sluit af deur te verwys na die regering se voorkomingsprogramme wat nie gesiggestremde persone in ag geneem het nie en dat hierdie persone dus nie nut kry uit bestaande MIV voorkomingsprogramme nie.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie beweer dat gesiggestremde persone kwesbaar is vir MIV as gevolg van onvoldoende MIV en Vigs-voorkomingsprogramme wat nie vir hul spesifieke behoeftes aangepas is nie, ook as gevolg van ‘n gebrek aan ondersteuning van gesondheidswerkers, seksuele misdrywe en onveilige seksuele gedrag. Die doel van die studie is om faktore te bepaal wat gesiggestremdes kwesbaar maak vir MIV en stel ook riglyne voor vir aanpasbare voorkomingsprogramme spesifiek vir hierdie persone. Die navorser gebruik slegs mense wat totaal blind is van Johannesburg Society for the Blind, Ubuntu Workshop for the Blind and Blind SA wat in Johannesburg, Suid-Afrika, geleë is. Die navorser het ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering gebruik deur onderhoude met die deelnemers te voer om data in te samel. Die deelnemers voel dat hul ‘n hoë risiko vir MIV infeksie is as gevolg van die aard van hul gestremdheid, ongeag hul bewustheid rakende MIV en Vigs. Die studie sluit af deur te verwys na die regering se voorkomingsprogramme wat nie gesiggestremde persone in ag geneem het nie en dat hierdie persone dus nie nut kry uit bestaande MIV voorkomingsprogramme nie.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management, People with visual disabilities -- South Africa -- Johannesburg, People with visual disabilities -- Services for -- South Africa -- Johannesburg, HIV infections -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Prevention, AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Johannesburg -- Prevention