Office of the Dean: Health Sciences

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Browsing Office of the Dean: Health Sciences by Subject "AIDS (Disease) -- Lesotho -- Epidemiology"

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    Investigating factors associated with HIV risk taking behaviours amongst people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Lesotho
    (University of the Free State, 2016-02) Mabathoana, Refiloe Stephania; Van Wyk, C.
    English: Preventive programmes addressing Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) should focus on, and specifically address people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). In Lesotho several successful preventive programmes have already been put in place, but nevertheless Lesotho still remains one of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with the highest HIV prevalence. The main focus of this study was to identify factors associated with HIV risk-taking behaviours, amongst PLWHA in Lesotho. The overall goal of the study was to provide baseline information on the factors associated with HIV risk-taking behaviours amongst PLWHA in Lesotho, as to ultimately use the information in educational materials about HIV transmission and also re-infection in PLWHA. A literature study was done to conceptualise and contextualize HIV risk taking behaviours amongst PLWHA. Semi-structured interviews were used to identify the HIV risk taking behaviours of PLWHA in Lesotho. The study revealed that the HIV risk taking behaviours of PLWHA are very similar to those already described in the literature. Within Lesotho specifically socioeconomic factors and cultural factors remain the most commonly associated with HIV re-infection and transmission. The study therefore highlighted areas where HIV preventive programmes could strategically serve the Lesotho population more decisively in the campaign against HIV and AIDS.