Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of HIV and Aids response programmes by service staff at the University of Venda

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is a KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions) survey that aims to identify and examines the level of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of the University of Venda service staff towards the university's HIV and AIDS response programmes. The study is a non-experimental, descriptive research that involves service staff only of the University of Venda in Limpopo. Consent to participant in the study was sought from all participants. A questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions was used to obtain data from the participants. The questionnaire had an English and Tsivenda version to enable participants to choose the language they are more comfortable with. The participants' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions were rated on a Likert scale. The responses were analysed using the SPSS programme and Microsoft Excel 2007.An interview was conducted with the Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit at the University of Venda to identify the ways in which the university is/has been responding to HIV and AIDS matters. The interview with the Head of the HIV/AIDS Unit was just a fact-finding mission to explore the HIV and AIDS related undertakings since the researcher is carrying the study as an outsider. No data analysis was done on the information obtained from this interview. The interview however, reveals that the University of Venda has prevention, treatment, care and support programmes that seek seeking to limit the impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic on the institutions, workers, their families and the surrounding community. Other endeavours include the employment of a Health Promoter, who is openly living with HIV, to interact more with workers and to de-stigmatise HIV and AIDS and the attempts to incorporate HIV and AIDS into the curriculum and the University's major events.The findings of the study show that many workers are knowledgeable and have a positive attitude and perceptions of the HIV and AIDS response programme that the University of Venda is undertaking. No significant relationship was found between the participants' educational level and their levels of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions. In addition, the participants‟ ages were found to be independent of their level of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University