3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Knowledge, attitudes and practices of men concerning prostate cancer in Muldersdrift, South Africa(2018) Baaitse, BontshwanetseBackground: Prostate cancer is one of the top diseases that are killing men world over and is the second common cancer that affects men. According to the 2012 Globocan statistics, approximately 1.1 million males were found to have prostate cancer globally, which was found to be at 15% compared to other cancers seen in males. The incidence and mortality rate of the disease in the Southern African Development Community region is 40.5 per 100 000 and 22.5 per 100 000 of the population per year, respectively. However, the National Cancer Registry of South Africa (2012) has indicated that in South Africa, 31.36 per 100,000 men were found to have this cancer. Aim: The study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of men living in Muldersdrift, South Africa, concerning prostate cancer. Method: The setting was Ward 23, commonly known as Video, a resource poor area, in Muldersdrift. A door-to-door survey was conducted. The convenience sampling method was used on a sample size of n=183. Data were collected by means of structured interviews and a questionnaire served as the data collection instrument. The data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics and the Fisher’s Exact Test was used to calculate statistical significant differences between the variables. Results: The sample (n=183) about half were above the age of 70 years (48.1%; n=88), mean 52.4, SD ±9.5 and median 50.Over a third of respondents were from the Tswana cultural group (36.6%; n=67) and the highest percentage never went to school (30.1%; n=55).The majority of respondents (90.2%; n=165) had never heard of prostate cancer and only 9.8% (n=18) had ever heard of the disease. When calculating the overall knowledge about prostate cancer, all respondents (n=183) scored between 0 and 49% (equates with low).The majority of the respondents (72.0%; n=132) had a positive attitude towards prostate cancer. Out of the 10 answers considered to be positive practices, approximately two-thirds of the respondents (60.7%; n=111) responded positively to two questions only. Conclusion: The study provided evidence that the men living in the study setting had limited knowledge of prostate cancer. However, they presented with a positive attitude regarding prostate cancer, and high percentages were ready to perform prostate cancer screening and to learn about the disease.Item Adult men's experiences of long term HIV care and treatment services in Johannesburg, South Africa(2017) Phiri, BrightBackground Extant research in South Africa and elsewhere has shown that men tend to shy away from health care services. For men living with HIV, this may lead to poor ART adherence. Literature on men and masculinities suggests that social definitions of what it means to be a „man‟ affect and influence men‟s decisions to either seek or not seek health care. Some authors have argued that these definitions of manhood often discourage men from using public health facilities. Another body of scholarship suggests that South African men‟s poor health seeking behaviours and adherence to ART is also influenced partly by their experience with the healthcare system and the attitude of healthcare providers. Aim This study explored health seeking behaviours of men living with HIV with a focus on their long-term experiences with HIV care and treatment services, as well as their experiences with the new single, fixed-dose combination tablet and how it influences adherence to ART in South Africa. Methods This study used an exploratory qualitative study design, using in-depth interviews (IDIs) to collect data. The IDIs were conducted with 14 adult HIV positive men living who had been on ART for five or more years and were receiving care and treatment at Stretford Community Health Centre (CHC) in Orange Farm, Johannesburg. Findings The men shared in-depth individual experiences of what it means to live with HIV and subsequently being on treatment for a long time (five or more years). They gave insights on the psychosocial challenges that they have endured living with HIV. Furthermore, they shared their subsequent resolve to live healthy lifestyles despite the challenges they have encountered related to living with HIV. Regarding health care systems, the men were generally impressed with the services received at the health facility. Further, all but one man, were not bothered about the gender of the nurse attending to them at the health facility. The experiences of the men collectively, reflect and provide some insights of how self-determination can transcend societal definitions of what it means to be a man, and how notions of masculinities may influence how men cope and adjust to living with HIV, and their adherence to ART over a long period of time. Conclusions This study concludes that men are capable of modifying their masculine positions to cope with life-long adherence to HIV treatment regimens. The men‟s self-determination to adjust from destructive notions of masculinities in order to accommodate treatment is an area for further research to inform men‟s programming. Social support systems are key to men‟s ART adherence programmes. Stigma and discrimination remains a challenge within communities, and as such community sensitisation programmes should be strengthened to combat the vice. Programmes targeting men should promote behaviours perceived to be beneficial in prolonging men‟s lives. The introduction of the fixed dose combination pill provides a great opportunity to strengthen men‟s abilities to consistently adhere to ART as it was taken once a day.Item Reviewing the situation: men and antiretroviral treatment in Soweto, South Africa(2015-04-07) Struthers, Helen ElizabethThere have been great strides in increasing access to antiretroviral treatment for HIV-positive people in South Africa. However it has been observed that men are not accessing treatment to the same extent as women. In Soweto only 30% of the people accessing treatment are men, where the expected rate would be around 45%. Whilst there have been some studies observing treatment uptake, they do not explain the behavioural component.Item The perceptions of men involved in a gender-based violence prevention programme at Sonke Gender Justice.(2013-08-02) Kaeflein, MaryGender-based violence (GBV) is particularly widespread in South Africa and it is reaching alarming proportions. Violence in South Africa is considered normative. Cognizance needs to be taken of the negative consequences thereof for the lives of men, women and children. Highly publicized acts of violence by men have captured the concern of the country, yet traditional intervention responses continue to focus more on women as victims. This research explored perceptions of non-perpetrating men involved in a GBV gender-based violence prevention programme at Sonke Gender Justice, Johannesburg. A qualitative research approach was used. Purposive sampling was applied when study participants were selected. Twelve participants were accessed from “One Man Can” – a prevention programme at Sonke Gender Justice. All the participants were male and had been involved in the prevention programme since its inception. Semi-structured interviews were used to conduct in-depth interviews. To enhance trustworthiness and rigour, data was triangulated, and in-depth interviews were also conducted with three key informants. The interviews were audio-recorded with the participants’ consent and transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze all data collected, resulting in the identification of themes, sub-themes and categories. The data was subjected to literature control against the existing body of knowledge. The research report indicated that there was awareness by participants in the GBV prevention programme of the multiple forms of GBV as well as the interrelatedness of the different forms. Substance abuse was found to both cause and exacerbate GBV. Prevention programmes were acknowledged to be beneficial to participants in terms of the knowledge and skills that were gained. The research study will make a valuable contribution to social work’s understanding of GBV and the positive role men can play in prevention interventions. Subsequently the recommendations indicate that men can be positively involved as partners in raising awareness and development of GBV programmes.Item Men, masculinities and sexual and reproductive health in Botswana.(2011-04-12) Rakgoasi, Serai DanielThis thesis investigates the role of masculinities on men’s sexual and reproductive health in Botswana. Botswana is currently in the throes of a severe heterosexually driven HIV/AIDS epidemic that has eroded some of the developmental gains the country had achieved since independence. A unique feature of Botswana’s HIV epidemic is the rapid and phenomenal increase in infection and prevalence rates in the face of good levels of knowledge of HIV prevention and an early and comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that guaranteed access to free HIV prevention and treatment services, including ARV treatment. The lack of effectiveness of the country’s HIV efforts and subsequent increase in infection rates have been blamed on men’s risky sexual behavior and lack of support of their partners’ decisions to utilize these services. In fact, quantitative studies on men’s sexual behavior and HIV such as the Botswana AIDS Impact Surveys show that men are less likely to use VCT services and more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior that increases risk of HIV infection to themselves and their partners. While studies provide the evidence that implicates men in the rapid growth Botswana’s HIV epidemic, the studies provide little or no explanation of factors that motivate men’s behavior in reproductive health. This lack of insights on factors that motivate men’s behavior leads to stereotypes about male promiscuity and may contribute to the lack of effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies. The current HIV epidemic has thus thrust heterosexual masculinities at the centre of HIV prevention efforts and provides an opportunity for research to interrogate the role of heterosexual masculinities in reproductive health, especially HIV transmission and prevention. The thesis employs qualitative data to provide in-depth appreciation of the prevalent masculine norms and beliefs and to highlight contextual factors and processes that shape and give rise to various masculinities. It further uses quantitative data to provide measures of levels of men’s masculine and gender role beliefs that may influence HIV prevention and transmission and to test the association between masculinities and men’s sexual and reproductive health attitudes and practices. The results show that men’s sense of identity is socially constructed, and revolves around the notion of superiority to women, independence and having and being in control of the family. However, men face many challenges to the realization of this masculine ideal. Men’s perceived difficulty or failure to live up to socially constructed Men, Masculinities and Sexual and Reproductive Health in Botswana vii notions of masculinities affects their experience of sexual and reproductive health programs, especially women’s empowerment and HIV prevention programs. By their nature, these programs tend to challenge men’s dominance of women’s decision on sexuality, and are therefore experienced as a threat to some men’s sense of identity. Quantitative results indicate an association between masculinities and sexual and reproductive health. While men’s sense of masculinities is not the overriding factor determining their sexual and reproductive health attitudes and practices, the results show a strong association traditional masculine beliefs and negative sexual and reproductive health beliefs and practices. However, there is also strong evidence that men and masculinities are responding to contextual factors, such as the HIV epidemic, which has become a specific stress on the local construction of masculinities. In focus group discussions, many men challenged traditional masculine norms, beliefs and practices that increase their vulnerability to HIV infection and those that either encourage or condone violence within intimate relationships. Significantly high proportions of men had positive attitudes towards HIV prevention programs. It is evident that now more than ever (and thanks to the HIV/AIDS epidemic) many men are ready to question the predominant masculine norms, beliefs and practices that increase their vulnerability to infection and disease. These voices of change represent a window of opportunity for research and programs can meaningfully engage with men and masculinities on issues of sexuality, gender roles, sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention and transmission. There is need for future research and interventions to move away from focusing exclusively on individual models of preventive health behaviors to more multilevel, cultural and contextual explanations. Taking account of multilevel, cultural and contextual factors that shape masculinities and men’s sense of identity will ensure increased effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health programs, especially HIV/AIDS prevention programs. On the other hand, failure to account for cultural and contextual factors that shape individuals’ behavior will only ensure that the shortcomings of such intervention program will continue to be blamed on the individual.Item Professional men's expressions of their masculine identity.(2009-06-18T08:50:13Z) Jooste, JulianThis research explored how white professional men talk about masculinities and their own masculine construction. The study was qualitative in nature and the data was collected via 10 semi-structured individual interviews. Qualitative content analysis was utilized whereby key themes were identified and discussed. Men in relation to self identity, women, emotions, the work environment, and the changing social context reflected the key themes that were evident in the study. These themes explored men in relation to a variety of issues and thus highlighted the multitude of influences which are thought to impact on masculine identity. Various responses from the participants based on defensive, accommodating, and progressive discourses were evident throughout and this further illustrated the diverse and complex nature of masculinities. One of the most relevant conclusions to stem from this study was that although masculine representation seems to be changing in particular spheres, certain hegemonic aspects of masculinity seem to permeate professional men’s discourses. This research highlights and explores the multiplicity of masculine and refutes the notion of masculinity being a singularly fixed concept. The social construction of masculinity is thus affirmed. Various contesting viewpoints are elicited that indicate the complex and, at times, contradictory nature of masculine construction.Item Performing manhood and fatherhood : A case study of men/fathers as symbolic mediums(2008-10-20T12:07:54Z) Sigamoney, Veronica LaviniaThe aim of this research is to consider family as a kin network of exchange and to show that manhood and fatherhood is a cultural value transacted within this network. It attempts to also show that such value is variably negotiated as identity is performed in relation to ideological constructs of space. To do this, the physical and ideological space to which kin belong is explored as a cultural borderland, suggesting that men/fathers are able to exceed bounded constructs of identity while also being subject to them. In particular, I try to illuminate some of the dynamics that impact on men’s/fathers’ negotiation of discursive codes of intra-cultural sameness and difference to be valued not only as men/fathers, but as good at being men/fathers. Within this context, some of the symbols of identity that enable a man/father to be good at being a man/father are considered. The ethnography highlights the ways in which men/fathers are able to access and mediate symbolic resources, showing how these processes impact on their positioning on a continuum of self and worth. In this regard, performances of providing in relation to performances of the social and genetic imbrications of kinship constitute a key focus.