An investigation into the role and challenges faced by AIDS Councils in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities: the case of the Ehlanzeni AIDS Council

• Main Author: Zitha, Sipho Siphiwosethu
• Other Authors: Mbatha, B. (Blessing)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodefiency Virus; Human Immunodefiency Virus; AIDS Councils; Addressing HIV and AIDS in communities; Local AIDS Councils’ roles; Investigation; Engagement; Advocacy; Mobilization; HIV responses; HIV prevalence; 362.196979200968273; AIDS (Disease) > Prevention and control > South Africa > Ehlanzeni Region; AIDS (Disease) > Government policy > South Africa > Ehlanzeni Region; AIDS (Disease) > Social aspects > South Africa > Ehlanzeni Region; HIV-positive persons > Care > Government policy > South Africa > Ehlanzeni Region; HIV-positive persons > Care > South Africa > Ehlanzeni Region; Ehlanzeni AIDS Council
• Online Access: Zitha, Sipho Siphiwosethu (2014) An investigation into the role and challenges faced by AIDS Councils in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities: the case of the Ehlanzeni AIDS Council, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/20023>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/20023

Text in English === The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and challenges of AIDS Councils in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities with regard to community mobilization and advocacy within the broader advocacy function of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and within the framework of the HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic plan for South Africa 2007-2011(NSP). A qualitative research design was applied. Individual face to face interviews were conducted with the respondents who were purposively sampled across the five local municipalities comprising Ehlanzeni District Municipality. Similar studies conducted previously suggest that many AIDS Councils stakeholders and members had a limited understanding of their role, and encountered more challenges in addressing HIV and AIDS in their communities. This study revealed that stakeholders and members seem to have steadily progressed in understanding their role as well as in weathering the various challenges they are confronted with within the AIDS councils. Be that as it may, there still exists some gaps between what is envisaged in both the NSPs (NSP 2000-2005 and NSP 2006-2011) and the current situation in many LACs. Many questions still need to be answered if South Africans are prepared to triumph over the AIDS pandemic. === Sociology === M. A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV and AIDS))