The theoretical discussion then focuses specifically on the impact of the epidemic in the context of South Africa and the country's response to the virus. This chapter provides a summary of the main discussion points in the thesis on HIV/AIDS and the impact of the epidemic on the Durban clothing industry.
METHODOLOGY
Garment companies were selected from the Durban area specifically because the researcher wanted to identify the effects of HIV/AIDS in the Durban garment industry in particular. Managers were often reluctant to allow time off work for key informants to speak with the researcher.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON IS INFECTED?
This number represents 70% of the global number of people living with HIV/AIDS, and yet this is a region inhabited by about 10%. Maintaining stable, lasting and trusting relationships is at the heart of controlling the epidemic.
THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN SOUTH AFRICA ~
On 19 April 2000, the Minister of Health released the results of the tenth HIV seroprevalence survey of women attending public antenatal clinics in South Africa. Finally, the survey does not provide any information about the socio-economic status of the participants (including such basic information as whether they are employed or unemployed) (Heywood, 2000: 3).
Non-AIDS·
WEST 21.3 23.0 08.0
- THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA'S RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE 1
- DURING 1995-1998
- HIV/AIDS IN KWAZULU-NATAL (KZN) )Z
- THE CLOTHING SECTOR IN DURBAN
- INTRODUCTION
- THE IMPACT ON THE WORKFORCE
- THE IMPACT ON EMPLOYERS AND THEIR ORGANISATION
- DEVELOPMENT OF A HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND POLICY PROGRAM To meet the threat and challenge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the work context, it is of
- SPECIAL MEASURES BY HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS
Almost since the emergence of HIVAIDS in South Africa, the impact of the epidemic on the workplace has been a source of concern and often contention among. The impact of truck routes on the spread of HIV has been documented across Africa and may be linked to the early onset of the epidemic in the province (Smith Heywood veLife, 2001: 5). I In the early years of the pandemic, HIV/AIDS was largely treated as a medical crisis rather than a crisis with potentially serious socio-economic consequences (Heinzen, 1995; ILO, 2000).
Labor force projections also provide some indication of the decline in the average age of the labor force due to the impact of HIVIAIDS. First, discrimination increases the impact of the disease on people living with HIV/AIDS and those presumed to have the virus, as well as on their families and associates. The very concept of RDP in the long run will do its best to minimize the impact of the epidemic in the workplace.
Officials often lack information to assess the relevance of the MIVIADS threat and are therefore reluctant to initiate effective HIV/AIDS programs. The MIVIADS committee must examine the needs of the organization in relation to HIV/AIDS and STDs. The HIV/AIDS committee uses the policy to develop the implementation phase of the strategy.
There should be ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the program to determine its effectiveness. Influences such as the belief in witchcraft played an important role in the perception of the virus.
THEMES
EXPLORATION OF THE IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS IN THE FIRM CONTEXT VIA A NEEDS ANALYSIS APPROACH
The role of tradition and culture was deeply rooted in the attitudes and behavior of employees, which imitated their way of interpretation and. UNAIDS (1998) states that establishing a workplace HIV/AIDS program and policy is a cost-effective solution and will help reduce the spread and impact of the disease. In addition, the purpose of the needs analysis is to emphasize to management the seriousness of the virus and the need for companies to organize for the current and especially future effects of HIVAIDS on employee health.
An important role that a needs analysis can play, especially in the clothing sector where the majority of. Six of the eight companies did not conduct a needs assessment of the effects and implications of HIVIAIDS on their operations. In addition, five of the eight companies' management support for education and prevention programs was negative.
Two of the eight companies conducted a needs assessment into the effects of HIV/AIDS on their work environment. Company F is doing even worse because there are ten employees (nine women and one man) who are sick with the virus and in the year 2000 eight female employees died of HIV/AIDS, that is, these companies already felt the impact of the. A company can establish effective workplace programs at a fraction of the current rising financial costs of AIDS to the company.
HIV/AIDS IMPACTS AT THE FIRM, EMPLOYEE AND MANAGEMENT LEVEL
- FIRM LEVEL IMPACTS
- EMPLOYEE LEVEL IMPACTS
- MANAGEMENT LEVEL IMPACTS
The informant interviewed stated that the firm was feeling the impact, not of the HIV/AIDS virus, but rather by paying death benefits to the family of the deceased. Interestingly enough, this is one of the six companies that have been unwilling to work side by side with unions to implement prevention and education programs. Another comment that was made by five of the eight firm informants was that although the firms were.
Firm A had begun to feel the negative effects of the virus and had included an HIVIAIDS educational package in their formal. Management eventually realized the threat of the epidemic and allowed an hour off each day for the education of the workforce. On the one hand, management has generally not understood the full extent of the effects of the virus on the work environment, while on the other hand;.
Interestingly, firstly, none of the informants knew of any member of their management team who was said to be HIV positive. The importance of leadership as part of the HIV/AIDS prevention team is important in the following ways (Davies et al. At the time of the research, the company was in the process of purchasing a television set and a video device so that their employees could "view the material and be further educated about the virus.
POOR COMMITMENT TO HIV/AIDS PREVENTION
They implemented the programs with the full and educated knowledge that HIV/AIDS will impact their organization, now and certainly in the future. One of the research questions looked at whether the HIV/AIDS program was part of a long-term initiative to deal with HIV and AIDS. An analysis of the findings in Theme 3 shows that there is a lack of commitment to these programs.
The management team of five of the eight companies showed poor commitment to HIVAIDS, while the management of three of the eight companies had initiated programs. So it was purely a union initiative and management did not take any proactive approaches to work hand in hand with the union in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This is especially worrying when we consider the long-term effects of the virus and the devastating consequences of HIVAIDS on the socio-economic development of businesses and employees.
Roberts states that many programs have failed in the past due to lack of management involvement or over-reliance on externally provided prevention activity. A contrasting view of the companies' commitment to prevention programs was that three of the eight companies were committed to supporting the prevention programs in the long term. Thus, the role of management in the success of these programs has been critical to maintaining commitment to the current and future effects of the epidemic. It is unfortunate that such a small percentage of companies actually realize the overall impact this epidemic has on each individual.
THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL NORMS AND VALUES ON EMPLOYEES' PERCEPTIONS OF HIV I AIDS
- CONDOM DISTRIBUTION AND PRACTICE
- HIVIAIDS TESTING
- CULTURE
- WITCHCRAFT AND MYTHS
- DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
The majority of employees were afraid to go for voluntary testing, even those employees who showed symptoms of the virus. Furthermore, the education imparted has resulted in a positive understanding of the virus and these employees actually want to know their HIV status. The African population in South Africa is generally more steeped in their cultural and traditional ways due to a greater number of African people still living in the rural homelands, which was a consequence of the apartheid regime.
The informant from company B stated that their workforce composition is also predominantly African. Company D's informant indicated that most of the employees were African and female. Individuals who have been accused of deliberately spreading this virus are spreading it further out of anger.
69 workers, as well as the deaths of co-workers and family members and yet there are still doubts about the reality and impacts of the virus. Moreover, misunderstandings of the origin of the virus are evident in most of the firms surveyed, but it is surprisingly so in Firm F and table 9 shows this clearly in relation to the response of Firm F. There are problems encountered because men ( about 50 of them) do not want to accept the existence of the virus.
FIRM SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY HIV/AIDS OUTREACH ACTIVITIES The analysis showed that there was a general lack of information and facts
Ultimately, every person is responsible for his or her own life and they are responsible for reducing and preventing the virus. Some of the responses to the HIVIAIDS pandemic adopted by employers and their organizations are encouraging. 80 is committed to ensuring success in reducing the spread of the disease and the deaths of valued employees.
This framework assumed that the spread of the virus could only be contained if individuals changed their behavior. In addition, the theory of KZN and the impact of the epidemic on the sector has been explored and discussed in detail due to research being carried out in the Durban garment industry. Thus, the development and implementation of HIVAIDS prevention programs and policies is an important strategic tool that can help contain the spread of the virus and challenge the underlying effects of HIVAIDS.
The surveyed companies were not aware of the consequences of the devastating and lasting effects of the virus. It takes everything to bring the threat of the virus to the fore and give it the respect and attention it deserves. The social nature of the virus and its associated cultural and political dimensions result in low management commitment to HIV/AIDS programs, as well as worker apathy/ignorance.
1997). The AIDS crisis: a natural product of modernity's sexual revolution, Islamic Medical Association of South Africa, Qualbert, South Africa. Americans rated the best cheaters, 28 Nov 2001. www.valt.helsinki.f1/hyperse/8number.htm) .Number of sexual partners.
