Pertinent Challenges Inherent in Support Structures for People Living with HIV/Aids (PLWHA) in Southern African Universities

The aim of this paper is to explore the challenges confronting support structures for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Southern African Universities. The paper has employed a qualitative research methodology and followed a case study design. An interview guide was used to facilitate the collection of data from the research participants. The following were the study’s findings: support structures are invisible and insignificant; lack of knowledge about support structures; poor dissemination of information; apathy towards service delivery; undue attention attributed to the HIV/AIDS pandemic; inadequate service delivery; unethical practices taking place in the support structures; fear of the breach of confidentiality; the importance of support structures in addressing stigma and discrimination, and the need to adopt a comprehensive care package. The paper concludes that very little is being done policy wise to make the support structures responsive to People Living with HIV and AIDS at Universities. The paper recommends the following: HIV/AIDS structures to be made visible; an independent organization to manage support structures for PLWHA; mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in the institutions’ curriculum; gender mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS services; making support structures youth friendly; and drawing up short and long term goals to aid fighting HIV/AIDS; and educating and training HIV/AIDS service providers.Key Words: CounsellingYouth FriendlyTraining Service ProvidersStigmaDiscrimination Invisibility of Support StructuresDisclosure

Business · Confidentiality · Family medicine · Invisibility · Mainstreaming · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Psychiatry · Public relations · Qualitative research · Service delivery framework · Service provider · Social science · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Computer Science · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology

• The health and health system of South Africa

  Open Access•Hoosen Coovadia, Rachel Jewkes et al.•The Lancet•2009

  Añadir item

• Gender-based violence, relationship power, and risk of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa

  Open Access•Kristin Dunkle, Kristin L Dunkle et al.•The Lancet•2004

  Añadir item

• Exploring Feminization of HIV/Aids and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) with Examples from Botswana and South Africa

  Open Access•M Kang’ethe, S M Kang’ethe•Journal of Human Ecology•2015

  Añadir item

• Ten Years of Democracy in South Africa

  Diane Cooper, Chelsea Morroni et al.•Reproductive Health Matters•2004

  Añadir item