Experiences of general workers on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome management policies and programmes at Technikon Laboratories, Johannesburg.

Abstract

South Africa still maintains the highest number of individuals who are HIV carriers in the world at the moment. HIV knowledge remains integral to the epidemic’s control from prevention and management perspectives. Despite the efforts by the government and international organisations to educate and enforce companies to offer educational programmes about the pandemic, there is still a need for more involvement of researchers to investigate several factors in factory environments, including understanding and ascertaining the perceptions of employees’ in factory environments, as well as investigating their experiences with these policies and programmes. In this qualitative study, the mini dissertation is divided in the following three parts. A research protocol (Part A) focuses on understanding general workers’ knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of HIV/AIDS management policies and programmes at Technikon Laboratories in Johannesburg, South Africa. A literature review (Part B) identifies the literature on: the knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of HIV/AIDS management policies and programmes of general workers in factory environments; the perceived benefits of HIV/AIDS policies and programmes; and the gaps in the current literature. Lastly, a qualitative ‘journal-ready’ manuscript (Part C) focuses on workers' understanding, experiences, and perceptions of HIV/AIDS management policies and programmes in the Technikon Laboratories factory, Johannesburg. Desirably, the mini dissertation will inform health interventions that are specific to factory employees’ health needs, while also aiming to focus on policies and programmes that are inclusive of People Living with HIV. Its further aims are to grow the body of knowledge on HIV/AIDS management in the workplace and provide useful information for improving support networks and policies in industrial environments such as Technikon Laboratories. This study will in part address the core issues that factory workers encounter when living with HIV/AIDS in factory environments.