ABSTRACT
South Africa; like the rest of Southern Africa; is ravaged by AIDS. Higher education in South Africa has a significant role to play in the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. This article reports the factors contributing to the spread of HIV and AIDS in three selected public universities in South Africa. To achieve the stated aim; the study answered the following research question: What are the factors contributing to the spread of HIV and AIDS in South African public universities? The problem in this study stems from South Africa's HIV and AIDS infection rate; one of the highest in the world; especially in KwaZulu-Natal. A qualitative approach was adopted by conducting focus group interviews with the students. The data were analysed using axial coding and open coding; where dominant themes from the discussions were identified and discussed in detail. The findings show that barriers to HIV and AIDS prevention; care and treatment exist in the tertiary institutions under study. Social and economic interventions are needed to stem the spread of HIV and AIDS at tertiary institutions. A range of recommendations for halting the spread of HIV and AIDS in these institutions is provided
Subject(s)
Focus Groups , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Health Services Needs and Demand , South Africa , UniversitiesABSTRACT
Background: Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) is essential in the treatment of HIV/AIDS; however; a holistic approach to HIV/AIDS management is important. This study was done to confirm the findings of two studies done previously in the eThekwini Metro of KwaZulu-Natal on private sector doctors' management of HIV-infected patients and to obtain morein in depth information about their nonpharmacological management of HIV-infected patients. Methods: Two focus group discussions were conducted amongst private sector doctors in the eThekwini Metro; after obtaining their consent. The focus group sessions were scripted; audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Prevalent themes were identified and reported. Results: Eight doctors participated. Of the total patient population seen annually by the majority of the doctors; an average of 43.8 was HIV infected. Doctors in this study managed their patients both pharmacologically and nonpharmacologically. Seventy-five per cent of doctors indicated that the taste of medicine played an important role in nonadherence to treatment; but all agreed that cultural beliefs also influenced the patient's adherence to medication. Theft of medicines and the outof-stock situation prevented antiretroviral drug access; which impacted negatively on adherence. Five doctors mentioned that depressed patients abused alcohol; resulting in nonadherence. One doctor reported that he used the biopsychosocial approach to improve adherence in his patients. Doctors indicated that the disability grant given by the South African Government caused patients not to adhere to treatment in order to maintain a CD4 count of 200 or less so as to qualify for the grant. Conclusions: The study confirmed the previous study findings in that it showed that private sector doctors manage their HIV-infected patients both pharmacologically and nonpharmacologically. It further provided new and interesting information with regard to the nonpharmacological methods employed in HIV/AIDS management; that is the incorporation of cultural beliefs in the management of HIV-infected patients to improve adherence to treatment; and the role of the disability grant and pharmaceutical formulations in contributing to nonadherence by HIV-infected patients
Subject(s)
HIV , Anti-HIV Agents , Carrier State , Focus Groups , HIV Infections , Medication Adherence , Medication Therapy Management , Patient Care Management , Physicians , Private SectorABSTRACT
Mental health literacy refers to knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management and prevention. This is a non-systematic review of published articles on mental health literacy in the general population and among primary healthcare workers, in particular, in developing countries, sourced from Medline, PsychInfo and African Healthline databases (1990-2006). Our review of the literature suggests that public knowledge about mental disorders as medical conditions, and their evidence based treatment strategies, in developing countries may be generally poorly or inaccurately understood. The review also reveals that improving the mental health literacy among primary health care professionals is imperative. Poor mental health literacy can be an obstacle to providing treatment for those in need; and is of particular concern in low and middle-income countries where mental health services are already scarce. It is likely that strategies for improvement will need to be comprehensive and innovative, taking advantage of opportunities and meeting challenges faced in the developing world