Doctoral Degrees (History)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (History) by Subject "AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Western Cape"

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    An historical analysis of the HIV/AIDS training of health care workers in the Western Cape, 1989-2004
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007-03) Van Houten, Stephen; Swart, Sandra; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The conventional view is that HIV/AIDS training organisations simply provide training to health care workers, and have no other role in the genesis and ongoing HIV/AIDS narrative. Thus, researchers have given this area little attention. With the emergence of the epidemic, training organisations have become a central constituent of HIV I AIDS responses. While they are at the forefront of much of the innovative action research in the field, little of this experience is documented. Training organisations are thus significant new sources of information about the disease. The goal of this study is to conduct an historical examination of HIV/AIDS training of health care workers in the Western Cape from 1989-2004 in order to contribute to a better understanding of this unrecorded history. By analysing how HIV/AIDS training was constructed and conducted in terms of the shifts in training content and methodology and organizational issues, links to wider historical factors were established. This study is based on qualitative historical research methods, and utilizes primary sources, secondary sources, and oral history. This analysis showed that there were significant changes in the HIV/AIDS training narratives during the period under review. The changes accord roughly with the time periods: 1989-1994, 1995-1998, 1998, and 1999-2004. These changes are discussed and analysed in terms of the underlying historical, political, socio-economic, cultural, and gender factors. The HIV/AIDS training of health care workers was intricately linked to the massive historical changes in the country during this period. It is concluded that HIV/AIDS training organisations are significant new sources of information. The depth and breadth of the information and the dynamic exchange of information between patients, health care workers, and trainers opened up fresh historiographical questions. This study fills important historiographical lacunae. The need for continued historical research in this area is highlighted. This study surmises that the critical historical perspective is valuable for the development of ongoing HIV/AIDS training and management.