Investigating the awareness of refugees and asylum seekers towards HIV-related social and support services available in Cape Town, South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the level of awareness of refugees and asylum seekers towards HIV-related social and support services available to them in Cape Town in order to provide guidelines that will help improve their optimal utilization of such services which will improve their quality of life.Data was collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire from 51 refugees and asylum seekers who are resident in Cape Town.The findings revealed that a very high percentage of participants have never tested for HIV in South Africa. Reasons given ranged from lack of HIV/AIDS information in a familiar language they understood to a lack of interest on the part of authorities in getting refugees to be integrated into the country's health policies. The majority of participants responded that they have also not visited the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Cape Town and this UN organ has an important mandate which includes to protect, support and assist refugees in their voluntary repatriation, local integration of refugees and resettlement to a third country. The results of the study show a dearth of knowledge and their lack of awareness of such services. Services such as support groups for HIV positive persons are hardly mentioned in medical facilities where they attend and for the few who are aware of such services, their friends and family are the primary sources of such information.It is hoped that the results of this study could help the relevant bodies and authorities dealing with refugee`s welfare to reorganize and streamline their activities to ensure that refugees are aware of certain critical social support services that could enhance their quality of life in South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University