Employee perceptions towards outsourcing of HIV/AIDS services

• Main Author: Makwara, Tendai
• Other Authors: Thomson, Elza
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2015
• Subjects: UCTD; AIDS (Disease) > Patients > Services for; HIV positive persons > Services for; Employee assistance programs; Occupational health services; Retail trade > Employees > Attitudes; Contracting out
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/98016

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the employee perceptions towards outsourcing of HIV/AIDS services in a retail working environment. Thirty participants were included using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed attitudinal disposition through questions aimed testing knowledge, preferences and environmental factors influencing perception towards alternative HTC service centres. Results show employees have positive perceptions towards the utilisation of external HTC and welfare services compared to those offered on-site. On-site employer initiated HTC services through mobile testing facilities are perceived as failing to offer privacy, anonymity and security of continued employment as testing outside the employer’s premises would provide. Outsourced services such as public hospitals or clinics are seen to offer better testing environment because of their natural health settings and non-association with the employer whose motives for providing testing services in the workplace are held in suspicion. Ninety four per cent of the employees expressed desire to have HTC services provided in the workplace. Potential utilisation level of such services dropped to 33% among these employees with 50% indicating a desire to use external health services providers. This disparity is explained by the negative environmental and social factors prevailing in the workplace which make access to HTC difficult. Recommendations for improving employee attitudes towards on-site HTC services include implementing educational programs to reduce peer stigma, scepticism to employer motives for initiating health intervention programs and demonstrating fair employment practices which do not associate HIV status with different treatment in the workplace. There is also a need for companies to plan around facilitating employee use of public health facilities even when they have on-site services to promote a perception of holistic care towards employees. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nie beskikbaar.