Browsing by Author "Nota, Phiwe Babalo."

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A comparative study of students' attitudes, preferences and acceptance levels towards microbicide products : the tenofovir gel and the dapivirine ring at UKZN.
Nota, Phiwe Babalo.; Govender, Eliza Melissa.
Despite vast efforts to curb HIV and AIDS, the global epidemic has evolved over the past three decades, with Southern Africa1 proving to be the epicentre of the epidemic. Unlike women in other parts of the world, statistics show that African women are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV infection, with women between the ages of 15 to 24 twice more likely to be infected then men in Southern Africa. Female vulnerability to HIV infection is exacerbated by various factors including social, cultural, economic and biological factors. Microbicides are biomedical technologies that are designed to give women some degree of control in prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Microbicides refer to antiretroviral-based substances: they are biomedical tools which could empower women who cannot negotiate safe sex practices and as such, they have the potential to change the landscape of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. However, there are no microbicide products that have been licenced and made available for women to use as they are still undergoing clinical trials. There is a dearth of research of female perceptions, attitudes and possible acceptance levels of microbicides as HIV prevention methods. This dissertation provides a small-scale comparative study of two microbicide products; the tenofovir gel and dapivirine ring. This study investigates UKZN female students’ perceptions, attitudes and acceptance levels towards microbicides as HIV prevention methods. By employing a culture-centred approach, this dissertation seeks to reach a holistic understanding of female students’ preferences towards HIV prevention methods for the purpose of knowing what potential users of microbicides desire and need. A mixed method approach formed the methodological basis of this research study: two focus group discussions with UKZN female students were conducted, and 100 self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to develop themes that emerged from the data collected. Key findings from the questionnaire revealed that a high percentage (62%) of female students asserted that they would use microbicides if they were available as HIV prevention methods; 66% of the female respondents stipulated that they would prefer using the tenofovir gel as opposed to the dapivirine ring. Female students indicated that microbicides must be available in other forms. It was concluded that the formulation in which microbicides are developed is important: product characteristic will influence acceptability of the products as well as adherence. Cultural issues will impact the acceptance and uptake of microbicides. It was also discovered that male involvement in microbicide development might foster better acceptance and uptake of these biomedical tools.
An exploration of the social-cultural factors that influence oral pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake and integration into sexual and reproductive healthcare services for young women in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2019) Nota, Phiwe Babalo.; Govender, Eliza Melissa.
In the past, HIV prevention efforts have disappointingly focused on reducing individual risk, with insufficient attention to socio-cultural, economic, structural, and other contextual factors that increase vulnerability to HIV. However, public health efforts towards HIV prevention now focus on combination strategies. This strategy recognizes that the integration of biomedical, social and structural interventions in mitigating the HIV and AIDS epidemic will translate to population-level impact. In Southern Africa, young women are disproportionately vulnerable to HIV infection, with women between the ages of 15 to 24 twice more likely to be infected than men. However, the licensure of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the South African National Department of Health policy on the integration of oral PrEP in sexual reproductive health (SRH) services creates renewed hope for young women who are often unable to negotiate safe sex practices. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of biomedical technologies is influenced by socio-cultural, structural and economic factors. This underscores the need to understand; (a) Populations that will consider using oral PrEP, (b) The likely socio-cultural challenges or opportunities that will influence acceptance, uptake and adherence of oral PrEP, and (c) How to integrate oral PrEP in already existing SRH services in a manner that ensures optimal adherence to oral PrEP to key population groups. This study sought to find effective ways in which oral PrEP can be integrated into SRH services in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). To attain an in-depth understanding of this topic, participatory visual methodologies in the form of journey mapping workshops and one-on-one interviews with 15 young women taking oral PrEP were facilitated. The participatory approach to this inquiry created an enabling space for young women to engage in dialogue about oral PrEP. Young women need to be placed at the centre of the response to HIV and AIDS in a meaningful way that will facilitate sustainable interventions in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Two nurses from both research sites were also interviewed to yield healthcare providers perspectives into the study inquiry. The study has the potential to inform policymakers on how existing SRH services can be improved to multi-dimensional systems that support oral PrEP uptake and adherence by young women at high risk of HIV. Findings of this study support the conclusion that oral PrEP needs to be integrated into already existing SRH services in ways that are context-specific and culturally relevant for communities. The young women in this study explicitly shared the various social and cultural factors that will influence them accessing oral PrEP in SRH services within their local clinics. Issues related to the structure, services offered and healthcare provider’s attitudes will affect acceptance, uptake and adherence of oral PrEP by young women in rural and urban KZN communities.