Psychosocial and Behavioural Correlates of Attitudes Towards Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in a Sample of South African Mineworkers

Despite being one of the worst affected sectors in South Africa; the mining sector has proven to be one of the most active in intervention efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS (Ellis; 2007). Owing to low uptake rates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in mining companies in recent years (Connelly et Rosen; 2006) and the positive relationship between attitudes towards ART and ART uptake (Cooper et al.; 2002; Horne; Cooper; Gellaitry; Leake; et Fisher; 2007); this study sought to describe and investigate the psychosocial and behavioural correlates of attitudes towards ART in a sample of South African mineworkers. A total of 806 mineworkers from a large South African mine participated in this quantitative study. Despite a high rate of HIV testing behaviour (83.0) as well as favourable attitudes towards ART; analysis indicated that temporary employees and contractors were more vulnerable in terms of HIV risk; HIV testing behaviours and ART knowledge and attitudes. Employees who had more positive attitudes towards ART were more knowledgeable of ART and; importantly; had a more favourable attitude towards the mine's HIV/AIDS treatment programme. These findings are discussed in relation to the low ART uptake rates in this context and recommendations for the improvement of ART uptake amongst employees at this mining site

Bullying Boys:The Traumatic Effects of Bullying in Male Adolescent Learners

Objective:This study investigated the nature and extent of the relationship between bullying and trauma among male adolescent learners. Trauma was operationalised through the multiple constructs of post-traumatic stress; anxiety; depression; dissociation and anger. Method: In this quantitative study; two objective measures were administered (viz. the Olweus Bullying/Victimisation Scale and the Trauma Symptom Checklist for children) to a sample of male adolescent learners between the ages of 12 and 17; from a South African male-only high school (n = 486). Results and Discussion: Statistical analysis (correlational analysis and MANOVA) produced evidence to suggest that there was a statistically significant relationship between bullying and trauma; and this was strongest for the victim role. The relationship between bullying and trauma was dependent on the frequency of bullying; as the frequency of being bullied increased so too did the mean scores of all the five trauma subscales. In general; the findings indicated that learners presented with elevated levels of internalising trauma outcomes. Depression demonstrated the highest correlation with the victim role; followed by Posttraumatic stress. In addition; 22.4of learners could be clinically and sub-clinically diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and 21.0with dissociation. Overall; the findings corroborate the argument that repetitive stressful events (such as bullying) are related to symptomclusters of ongoing trauma

Bridging the Gap between VCT and HIV/AIDS Treatment Uptake: Perspectives from a Mining-Sector Workplace in South Africa

This qualitative study sought to understand users' perceptions of the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and HIV-treatment services offered by a mining company in South Africa; with the intention of making recommendations to improve the rates of uptake. A purposive sample of 75 employees was interviewed and three focus groups were conducted with VCT users as well as with HIV-positive employees currently enrolled in the company's treatment programme. The relatively high uptake of VCT at the workplace appeared to be a function of the convenience afforded by rapid testing and the on-site nature of the company's annual campaign; the group nature of the campaign; and increased HIV awareness facilitated by pre-test counselling. Notwithstanding this; the study revealed barriers to uptake of VCT in the workplace; including: perceived violations of confidentiality by healthcare staff and doubts about the voluntary basis of HIV testing; organisational factors; including the visible group nature of the VCT campaign; and fear of a HIV-positive result and discrimination in that event. In contrast to VCT uptake; there was a relatively low rate of enrolment in the treatment programme: a significant proportion of HIV-positive employees identified in the VCT campaign did not present to the company's clinic for treatment. Impediments to treatment uptake included fears of being identified in the workplace as HIV-positive; which arose from perceived confidentiality violations on the part of the healthcare staff as well as organisational factors they believed allowed easy identification of the programme's users; limited time to attend the clinic; poor quality of post-test counselling and follow-up; difficulties in coping with the diagnosis; and traditional explanatory models of illness; which precluded medical care. A combination of the current annual; opt-in VCT campaign and a provider-initiated opt-out approach to VCT should be carefully considered in order to bridge the gap between the current levels of VCT and HIV-treatment uptake by employees at the company