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This qualitative study aims to assess health education practice in sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in South Africa with a view to develop improved health education programs in such clinics. Health workers' knowledge of and attitudes towards health education practice, their perceived health education skills, the content of health education in STI clinics and the organizational structure as context for health education were investigated. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 health care workers practicing in the area of STI control. A lack in knowledge and skills required for effective health education practice was reported. The constraints posed by health workers' current knowledge and skills around health education and the organizational structure in terms of the absence of policy and protocols to govern health education, limited time, space and resources, impede on the actual practice of health education. It seems that these obstacles to health education facilitate a biomedical approach to STI management. This approach is further portrayed in the power dynamics between the health workers as well as between health workers and patients. The data suggest that a health education intervention needs to be directed at an individual level namely at health workers and at the organizational level, i.e. the clinic that provides the context for health education. The newly adopted district health system which equally embraces medical care and health promotion augers well for a holistic management of STIs in South Africa. This would ensure the recognition of all categories of health workers' contributions to health education within their own functions, strengths and time limitations. Key words - health education, health workers, STI clinics, South Africa

The English form of the Cancer Locus of Control Scale was administered to an heterogeneous sample of 68 cancer patients. A principal components analysis confirmed the three subscales described in the original Dutch form, however, with five items excluded. Correlations with other measures indicated that high internal control over the course of the illness was associated with a tendency to adopt an attitude toward cancer of 'fighting spirit' whereas high internal control over the cause of the illness was associated with an 'anxious preoccupation' about cancer. No specific relationship was found between scale scores and either depression and anxiety or the tendency to be emotionally controlled. It was concluded that the scale provides a valid measure of perceptions of control of cancer patients and is a useful method of assessing these important psychological responses.

Objectives: Over the past few years, older people have become the main caregivers for their sick adult children and orphaned grandchildren due to HIV/AIDS in South Africa. This article aims to investigate the scope of care provided by older people, with a specific focus on the experience of grief due to multiple losses and its correlates. Methods: Quantitative interviews were conducted among 820 isiXhosa speaking caregivers of 60 years and older in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Results: Older persons are involved in a wide range of care activities with several dependents to care for. Grief among older adults is most strongly predicted by perceived stigma around HIV and AIDS and worries about providing the care. Discussion: This study provides insight into correlates of grief among older caregivers and results in useful information to inform the development of interventions to assist older persons in coping with their responsibilities as caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing HIV and AIDS epidemic in South Africa poses a substantial burden to older people, in particular older women who mainly provide care for sick adult children and their grandchildren who have become orphaned and rendered vulnerable by the death or illness of their parents. In this study, 202 isiXhosa speaking older caregivers from Motherwell in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were trained to provide care for grandchildren and adult children living with HIV or AIDS. Based on a community needs assessment, a health education intervention comprising four modules was designed to improve skills and knowledge which would be used to assist older people in their care-giving tasks. Some topics were HIV and AIDS knowledge, effective intergenerational communication, providing home-based basic nursing care, accessing social services and grants, and relaxation techniques. Structured one-on-one interviews measured differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention scores among those who attended all four modules vs. those that missed one or more of the sessions. The results demonstrated that older people who participated in all four workshops perceived themselves more able and in control to provide nursing care. The participants also showed a more positive attitude towards people living with HIV or AIDS and reported an increased level of HIV and AIDS knowledge. The results provided valuable information upon which the development of future interventions may be based and psychosocial and structural needs of the older caregivers may be addressed by relevant stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa leads the world with the number of people infected with HIV. Even with all attempts that have been made to curb HIV, it is still evident that new infections are on the rise. Condom use remains one of the best tools against this challenge yet a small number of sexually active men use them. This study investigates the psychosocial correlates of the intention to use condoms among young men in KwaZulu-Natal province. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a framework, hierarchical linear regression models were used to determine the unique contribution of the study measures in explaining the overall variance of intention to consistently use condoms. Subjective norms and perceived behavioural control towards consistent condom use explained 46% of the variance in the intention to use a condom, suggesting that health behaviour interventions should focus on targeting the normative beliefs as well as control beliefs of the target population. Furthermore, subjective norms and intentions towards reducing alcohol and marijuana use explained an additional 7% to the final model in intentions to condom use, implying that substance use and condom usage may influence each other. No significant contributions were found for beliefs underlying cultural aspects of responsible manhood.

The psychological states of Dominican women with chronic lymphedema and elephantiasis of the leg and the coping strategies they used to ameliorate the negative psychological effects of this condition were explored using modified precepts of grounded theory method. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviewing and focus group discussions held in the Dominican Republic. Thematic results found that compounding their physical disfigurement, functional limitations, and social losses were feelings of depression, embarrassment, social isolation, and despair. Adaptive problem solving and emotion-focused coping strategies that emerged during analysis also are discussed. It is recommended that management of psychological distress should be a significant component of lymphedema management programs in developing countries.