The Perceptions of a Farming Community in the Limpopo Province on HIV and Aids By NTOMBIFIKILE KLAAS Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of a degree Magister Curationis In Nursing Science In the FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES At the UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA APRIL 2013 Supervisor: Dr MD Peu Co-supervisor: Dr TR Netangaheni © University of Pretoria DECLARATION Student number: 23307430 I declare that the dissertation: THE PERCEPTIONS OF A FARMING COMMUNITY IN THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE ON HIV AND AIDS is my own original work, it does not contain material that has been previously submitted for the purposes of any degree or diploma at any university. Where use has been made of the work of others, it has duly been acknowledged and referenced in the text and bibliography. ……………………….. ……………………… NTOMBIFIKILE KLAAS DATE ii © University of Pretoria DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation to the following people who supported and encouraged me to complete my studies: My late brother Themba Ngubeni, who use to encourage me to excel in everything I do by saying ―Imfundo iyisikhali, futhi ayikhulelwa‖. My loving husband Andile Klaas who supported me through thick and thin and always says ―Nyamezela mama u Klaas‖. My beloved daughters Sinothando and Thembelihle who granted me permission to break the house rules by working until late. My sisters; Beauty, Thembi, Sibongile and Phindile for babysitting when I needed them. The management and staff of the Masakona, Ravele and Tshakhuma farming communities for their willingness to participate in this study. iii © University of Pretoria ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to the following individuals without whom the completion of this dissertation would not have been possible: To the Almighty God who has given me strength, courage, determination and the wisdom. My supervisor Dr Dorricah Peu for her guidance, and being a role model, her informed and excellent advice, motivation, patience and guidance throughout the study. My co - supervisor Dr Thinavhuyo Robert Netangaheni for his support and being an excellent organiser during my data collection. To Dimakatso Margaret Netangaheni for assisting me with data collection To the management and staff of Masakona, Ravele and Tshakhuma farming community in Limpopo. To the Officer Commanding of 1Military Hospital General N.P. Maphaha for approving my study leave. To my late parents Enoch and Maria Ngubeni for moulding me to the person I am today. And finally, to my loving husband Andile and my daughters Sinothando and Thembelihle, who supported me when I wanted to give up. iv © University of Pretoria ABSTRACT THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE FARMING COMMUNITY IN THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE ON HIV AND AIDS STUDENT: NTOMBIFIKILE KLAAS DEGREE: MCUR SUPERVISOR: DR M.D. PEU CO-SUPERVISOR: DR T.R. NETANGAHENI South Africa has been seriously affected by the HIV and Aids pandemic, with the agricultural sector being no exception (Zvomuya, 2005: 33). The Department of Health (DOH, 2007: 4) identified that inadequate health care capacity particularly in rural areas is one of the factors contributing to the disproportionate provision of good quality care and targeted development. Therefore, in South Africa, the farming community is one of the sectors with disproportionate provision of health care especially in HIV management. Among the farming communities in general, awareness, treatment and prevention has been utilized as components of a strategy intended to empower the farm employers and employees (Zvomuya, 2005: 33). The objective of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of the farming community on HIV and Aids. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research design was followed to explore and describe the perceptions of the farming community on HIV and Aids in the Limpopo Province. The study the population consisted of the farm owner, farm managers and farm employees both males and females above the age of eighteen (18) years in the Limpopo Province. A purposive sampling method and a convenient sampling were used in this study. The researcher used in- depth one on one interviews to collect data so as to explore and describe the perceptions of the farming community on HIV and Aids and field notes were taken. Data was analysed according to Tesch‘s analysis method. Categories, sub categories and themes were identified and verified by means of literature control. The following seven categories were identified and described: Emotions linked to HIV and Aids, individual characteristics and experiences, behavior cognition and v © University of Pretoria affect, human resource issues, lack of recreational facilities, health care needs, and support as a health promotion strategy. The researcher recommended that educational programmes such as effective risk reducing programmes and awareness, as well as support structures, should be made available to all farming community. Due to the scarcity of information on HIV and Aids in the farming community, a variety of methods like audio visual media in a form of radio and television and printed media in a form of posters, charts, pamphlets and booklets can be used to disseminate the knowledge. However, this knowledge is not limited to hosting educational sessions, training workshops, community meetings, focus groups, and wellness programs by peer educators and community leaders. Based on the above recommendations, further research in other areas to explore the perceptions of the farming community on HIV and Aids in depth is relevant. In conclusion, regular training on HIV and Aids is therefore crucial given that the findings of this study showed that, despite the HIV awareness campaigns going on in South Africa, some segments of the population do not get the message, specifically the farming community. The universal access of health care services which most of us take for granted are not accessible in the farming community due to their long working hours and the fact that the mobile clinics which use to provide basic PHC (primary health care) services were no longer coming. Key terms: HIV, Aids, Farms, Farm employees, Farming community, Perceptions and Regional migration. vi © University of Pretoria Table of Contents DEDICATION ............................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... xii LIST OF ANNEXURES ............................................................................................ xiii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................... - 1 - ORIENTATION TO THE STUDY............................................................................ - 1 - 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ....................................................... - 1 - 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT ............................................................................. - 8 - 1.3 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ......................................................... - 9 - 1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY ....................................................................... - 10 - 1.5 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY..................................................................... - 10 - 1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................................ - 10 - 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS ............................................................................ - 11 - 1.7.1 AIDS ..................................................................................................... - 11 - 1.7.3 FARM EMPLOYEES/ WORKERS ....................................................... - 11 - 1.7.4 FARMING COMMUNITY ...................................................................... - 11 - 1.7.5 HIV ....................................................................................................... - 11 - 1.7.6 PERCEPTIONS ................................................................................... - 12 - 1.7.7 REGIONAL MIGRATION ..................................................................... - 12 - vii © University of Pretoria 1.8 PARADIGMATIC PERSPECTIVE .............................................................. - 12 - 1.8.1 THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE RESEARCH STUDY ........................... - 13 - 1.8.1.1 INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS AND EXPERIENCES ................ - 14 - 1.8.1. 2 BEHAVIOR SPECIFIC COGNITION AND AFFECT ........................ - 14 - 1.8.1.3 BEHAVIOURAL OUTCOMES ........................................................... - 15 - 1.9 OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................ - 15 - 1.10 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................. - 16 - 1.10.1 RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY .................................................... - 16 - 1.10.2 PRINCIPLE OF BENEFICENCE ........................................................ - 18 - 1.10.3 PRINCIPLE OF JUSTICE .................................................................. - 18 - 1.11 RISKS OF THE STUDY ...........................................................................