An historical analysis of the HIV/AIDS training of health care workers in the Western Cape, 1989-2004

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The conventional view is that HIV/AIDS training organisations simply providetraining to health care workers, and have no other role in the genesis and ongoingHIV/AIDS narrative. Thus, researchers have given this area little attention. With theemergence of the epidemic, training organisations have become a central constituentof HIV I AIDS responses. While they are at the forefront of much of the innovativeaction research in the field, little of this experience is documented. Trainingorganisations are thus significant new sources of information about the disease. Thegoal of this study is to conduct an historical examination of HIV/AIDS training ofhealth care workers in the Western Cape from 1989-2004 in order to contribute to abetter understanding of this unrecorded history. By analysing how HIV/AIDS trainingwas constructed and conducted in terms of the shifts in training content andmethodology and organizational issues, links to wider historical factors wereestablished. This study is based on qualitative historical research methods, and utilizesprimary sources, secondary sources, and oral history. This analysis showed that therewere significant changes in the HIV/AIDS training narratives during the period underreview. The changes accord roughly with the time periods: 1989-1994, 1995-1998,1998, and 1999-2004. These changes are discussed and analysed in terms of theunderlying historical, political, socio-economic, cultural, and gender factors. TheHIV/AIDS training of health care workers was intricately linked to the massivehistorical changes in the country during this period. It is concluded that HIV/AIDStraining organisations are significant new sources of information. The depth andbreadth of the information and the dynamic exchange of information betweenpatients, health care workers, and trainers opened up fresh historiographical questions.This study fills important historiographical lacunae. The need for continued historicalresearch in this area is highlighted. This study surmises that the critical historicalperspective is valuable for the development of ongoing HIV/AIDS training andmanagement.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University