https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/14524 2026-06-19T17:18:37Z 2026-06-19T17:18:37Z Sosibo, Nothando Bridget https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32578 2026-06-03T12:05:29Z 2026-01-31T00:00:00Z

Life after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS : exploring the experiences of young women aged 18-35 diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Mtubatuba Municipality, Kwazulu-Natal province Sosibo, Nothando Bridget In rural South Africa, young women face multiple challenges after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. This study explored the lived experiences of young women aged 18 to 35 who had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the Mtubatuba Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, using the health belief model (HBM) and Goffman’s stigma theory to frame their psychosocial journeys. The study was guided by the interpretivist paradigm, where a qualitative research design was employed, using purposive sampling to access 15 participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis was utilised for data analysis. The findings indicate that initial reactions to the diagnosis are marked by profound shock, fear of death, anger, and self-blame, which highlight the enduring perception of HIV as a fatal and morally stigmatised condition in rural communities. However, there was a gradual move towards acceptance, which is largely facilitated by counselling, health education, and supportive family networks. Health workers are pivotal in reframing HIV as a manageable condition, although inconsistencies in counselling quality highlight structural gaps in care. While family and peer support provide emotional stability, disclosure is fraught with fear of rejection, gossip, and community judgement. The absence of formalised external support groups and economic empowerment initiatives further exacerbated the participants’ psychosocial vulnerabilities. Coping strategies included strict adherence to antiretroviral treatment through alarms, calendars, and reminders; reliance on prayer and spirituality for resilience; lifestyle modifications such as reduced alcohol intake; and cautious navigation of romantic and sexual relationships. The study concludes that while biomedical interventions have transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition, psychosocial and structural challenges remain significant barriers to holistic well-being. The study recommends strengthening community-based counselling, stigma reduction campaigns, and socio-economic support structures, alongside integrating spiritual care and safe disclosure protocols.

2026-01-31T00:00:00Z Gama, Dalisu Dumisani Thanduxolo https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32423 2026-05-05T08:50:49Z 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z

"Raw is law": exploring sexual behaviours of gay men who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Gauteng, South Africa Gama, Dalisu Dumisani Thanduxolo This study explored the sexual behaviours of gay men who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Gauteng, South Africa, through the perspectives of Erving Goffman’s stigma theory and Berger and Luckmann’s social constructionism theory. Employing these two theories, the study examined how sexual identities and the stigma associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and PrEP influence the sexual behaviours and decision-making processes of gay men. Consequently, the study explored the stigma and related barriers to accessing PrEP and its influence on sexual behaviours of gay men. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 gay men in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The key findings are presented through three major themes. The first theme highlights the prevalence of risky sexual behaviours among most gay men who take PrEP, including condomless sex and multiple sexual partners, both before and after initiating PrEP. The second theme underscores that PrEP does not solely dictate sexual behaviour; rather, many participants continued to use it alongside other HIV-prevention strategies, such as condoms. The third theme addresses the stigma related to PrEP and uncovers the ongoing experiences of shame and negative labelling by friends, family, partners, healthcare professionals, and society as a whole. Overall, the study reveals a complex interaction between PrEP uptake, sexual behaviours, and stigma. While PrEP serves as an important method of HIV prevention, its impact varies among the gay men who use it. The persistent stigma surrounding PrEP highlights the urgent need for targeted education and awareness, continuous screening for sexually transmitted infections, and stigma-reduction initiatives to support and encourage informed and safe sexual health practices by gay men. The limited data available suggest that research focusing exclusively in gay men who take PrEP has not been sufficiently explored in South Africa. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on how PrEP affects various aspects of the lives of men who identify as gay and thus contributes by enhancing existing HIV-prevention methods. In addition to the wider prevention strategies, the research proposes how the methods can be better tailored for gay men. Additionally, the study also proposes a number of strategies to address various stigmas and social challenges faced by gay men who take PrEP. Based on the findings, recommendations were developed to inform strategies for HIV prevention, advance awareness and education in communities, reform healthcare practices, and influence health policy in inclusive and affirming ways.

2025-11-01T00:00:00Z Mashiloane, Nomlinda https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31796 2024-10-22T12:54:40Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Exploring the dynamics of caring for adolescent foster children: developing post-placement guidelines for social work intervention Mashiloane, Nomlinda The study examined the challenges of caring for adolescent foster children post-foster placement with the intention to develop guidelines for social work intervention. The research approach of the study was qualitative and various research designs, namely: explorative, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological research designs were used. Non-probability purposive, methods were used to obtain twenty-five participants from various parts of Sedibeng District in Gauteng Province comprises of Emfuleni local Municipality (from areas such as Lakeside, Ironside, Sebokeng and Evaton), and Midvaal Local Municipality from areas such as Sicelo Shiceka, Silahluwe and Meyerton Farms). The study made use of both face-to-face semi-structured interviews and focus group as data collection methods. This study emphasized the challenges encountered by foster parents when raising adolescent foster children. These challenges include lack of parenting skill and training, drug dependence, dynamics of adolescent stage, traumatic events, insufficient supervision by social workers, breakdown of the relationship between foster parent and foster child, and children’s behavioural problems. Amongst these challenges, the findings reveal that parenting incapacity is the main reason for the challenges faced by foster parents. The findings revealed that social workers failed to conduct supervision and monitoring foster care placement due to lack of resources, limited time allocated for each case, excessive caseloads that they experience in the foster care system. Participants pointed out that most children display behavioural problems due to lack of support by the social workers after placement. The findings showed that social workers should provide support to foster parents in the form of parenting training to strengthen their knowledge in managing the behavioural problems encountered when caring for adolescent foster children. Furthermore, they should coordinate the services offered by diverse role-players to foster a collaborative approach to promote positive change within foster families. The other key finding of the study was that the community does have a key role in influencing the behaviour of both foster parents and the children placed in their care.; Ndzavisiso lowu wu kambele swihlawulekisi swa ku hlayisiwa ka vana lava wundliwaka va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi endzhaku ka ku vekiwa eka ndhawu ya vuwundli hi xikongomelo xa ku hluvukisa swiletelo swa mphalalo wa tisoxaliweka. Endlelo ra ndzavisiso a ri ra risima naswona ku tirhisiwile tidizayini ta ndzavisiso to hambanahambana ku nga, tidizayini ra ndzavisiso wo valanga, to hlamusela hi ku hlawulekisa, ta ximbangu na ntivavukona. Maendlelo yo sampula, lama nga na xikongomelo ma mipimo leyi nga riki ya muhulahula, lama vanhu va avanyisiwaka hi mitlawa leyitsongo na ku va yo kongomisa eka mutivi un'wana ma tirhisiwile ku kuma vatekaxiave va makumentlhanu kusuka eka swiphemu swo hambanahambana swa Xifundzatsongo xa Sedibeng lexi nga eka Xifundzakulu xa Gauteng lexi vumbiwaka hi Masipala wa Miganga wa Emfuleni (kusuka eka tindhawu to tanihi Lakeside, Ironside, Sebokeng na Evaton), na Masipala wa Miganga wa Midvaal kusuka eka tindhawu to tanihi Sicelo Shiceka, Silahluwe na Mapurasi ya Meyerton). Tiinthavhiyu leti nga na xivumbekohafuto to va mi langutanile na ntlawankongomo swi tirhisiwile tanihi maendlelo ya nhlengeleto wa switiviwa. Ndzavisiso lowu wu tshikelele mitlhontlho leyi ku hlanganiweke na yona hi vatswari vo wundla loko ku kurisiwa vana vo wundliwa va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi. Mitlhontlho leyi yi katsa mpfumaleko wa xikili xo hletela tanihi mutswari na vuleteri, vutshemberi eka swidzidziharisi, swihlawulekisi swa xiteji xa vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi, swiendleko swa xihluku, vulanguteri lebyi nga ringanelangiki bya tisoxaliweka, ku fa ka vuxaka exikarhi ka vatswari vo wundla na n'wana wo wundliwa, na swiphiqo swa matikhomelo swa vana. Exikarhi ka mitlhontlho leyi, swikumiwa leswi swi paluxa leswaku nkavuswikoti wo hletela tanihi mutswari hi wona xivangelokulu xa mitlhontlho leyi ku langutaniwaka na yona hi vatswari vo wundla. Swikumiwa swi paluxe leswaku tisoxaliweka ti hluleke ku endla vulanguteri na ku vekiwa eka ndhawu ya nhlayiso wa vuwundli hikwalaho ka mpfumaleko wa swipfuno, nkarhi wo tsongahala lowu averiweke kheyisi yin'wana na yin'wana, na tilodi ta kheyisi to tala kutlula mpimo leti va hlanganaka na tona eka sisiteme ya nhlayiso wa vuwundli. Vatekaxiave va kombise leswaku vana vanyingi va kombisa swiphiqo swa matikhomelo hikwalaho ka mpfumaleko wa nseketelo hi tisoxaliweka endzhaku ka ku vekiwa eka ndhawu leyi. vii Swikumiwa swi kombe leswaku tisoxaliweka ti fanele ku nyika nseketelo wa vatswari vo wundla hi xivumbeko xa vuleteri byo hletela tanihi mutswari ku tiyisa vutivi bya vona eka ku lawula swiphiqo swa matikhomelo leswi ku hlanganiwaka na swona loko ku hayisiwa vana vo wundliwa va vakondlo-a-ndzi-dyi. Ku yisa emahlweni, va fanele ku kondletela vukorhokeri lebyi nyikiwaka vatlangaxiave vo hambana ku kondlela endlelo ro tirhisana ku kondletela ku cinca lokunene endzeni ka mindyangu ya vuwundli.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z Mgudlwa, Zoliswa Sylvia https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31748 2024-10-15T15:07:18Z 2023-09-15T00:00:00Z

An investigation into young people’s perceptions on the role of gangsterism in the spread of HIV/AIDS : case of Duncan village in the Buffalo City Metro Municipality Mgudlwa, Zoliswa Sylvia Introduction: Globally and in South Africa, young people are predisposed to contracting the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) due to several social challenges. These social challenges include poverty and gangsterism. In South Africa, there is a high prevalence of HIV amid a rising level of gangsterism among youths which exacerbates the spread of HIV and this negates efforts to prevent the spread of this virus among this demographic group. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate young people’s perceptions on the role of gangsterism in the spread of HIV/AIDS in Duncan Village. Setting: The study was conducted in Duncan Village, which is a township in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality located in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Study population: The study population will be young people between the ages of 18-35 years residing in Duncan village. Sampling: Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants who were selected based on the participants’ ages. The sample size of 20 participants were reached. No data saturation was reached. Data collection and analysis: Data was collected using in-depth interviews and a semi-structured interview guide. The data collected was analysed using Braun and Clark’s six steps of thematic analysis. Results: A total of 20 participants were selected, most of the participants' ages ranged from 18-35 years. Young people understood gangsterism as a group of young people involved in delinquent behaviour like drug abuse and multiple sexual partnering. These gang-related activities increased the spread of HIV. Gangsterism fostered sexual violence and affected the sexual rights of women putting them at risk of contracting HIV. Conclusion: From these findings, it was concluded that gangsterism is an enabler of the spread of HIV in Duncan Village.

2023-09-15T00:00:00Z