Factors influencing university students' use of HIV voluntary counselling and testing services : an analysis using the health belief model
- Authors: Musemwa, Shingisai
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Health Belief Model , AIDS (Disease) , College students
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1448 , Health Belief Model , AIDS (Disease) , College students
- Description: Human Immune Virus (HI)V /Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has emerged as the most devastating epidemic that the world has experienced. Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) has proven to be an effective way of preventing and controlling HIV. South African universities provide free VCT services on their campuses; however, these facilities are underused. The study’s objectives were to use the components of the health belief model (HBM) to explore and describe the factors that influenced the decision made by university students who have gone for VCT. The sample consisted of five male students. Data was collected through one-on-one in depth interviews, which were recorded. Data was analysed using thematic analysis, and the components of the HBM were used as codes for the data. Themes were generated for each component. The results indicated that perceived severity, perceived benefits and cues to action played a role in influencing the participants’ decision to go for VCT. In addition, results show that perceived susceptibility had little influence on their decision to go for VCT. Even though participants acknowledged barriers to VCT, they reported that the perceived benefits for VCT outweighed the barriers, and the decision to go for VCT was made. Participants suggested that to increase uptake of VCT on their campus, the university could improve current VCT campaigns, introduce rewards for VCT and introduce couples VCT.
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- Date Issued: 2011
The effectiveness of social support mechanisms provided to HIV and AIDS opharns: the case of Tembisa child and family welfare society, Gauteng
- Authors: Khumalo, Princess Sengeziwe
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Child welfare -- South Africa -- Gauteng -- Case studies , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Gauteng , Children of AIDS patients -- Services for South Africa -- Gauteng , AIDS (Disease)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11761 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1005633 , Child welfare -- South Africa -- Gauteng -- Case studies , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Gauteng , Children of AIDS patients -- Services for South Africa -- Gauteng , AIDS (Disease)
- Description: The study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of social support mechanisms provided to HIV and AIDS orphans in Tembisa, Gauteng Province. An interview guide was designed and it guided the in-depth interviews with HIV and AIDS affected and infected orphans. In addition, a focus group was run with the social workers and the children‟s caregivers. Empirical findings gathered were based on the qualitative information from the participants. The findings indicated that social support systems were effective although there were various challenges facing their smooth running. Firstly social support provided to orphans is mainly provided by caregivers, social workers, schools and the government. Secondly for some, the support is not entirely enough to help them cope with life. The minority of the orphans indicated that they were not even aware that they were orphaned. The study therefore recommends that social workers and caregivers be trained on how to be effective social support systems for HIV and AIDS orphans. Furthermore psycho-social support groups need to be more informational and inclusive of HIV and AIDS orphans.
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- Date Issued: 2013