Refugees' perception of HIV and AIDS in Ba-Phalaborwa municipality, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The research aimed at exploring and describing the perceptions of the refugees at Humulani village in the Ba-Phalaborwa municipality about HIV and AIDS. The objectives including determining the gender perceptions about HIV and AIDS and also providing recommendations for ways to increase the refugees’ understanding of HIV and AIDS. The approach used for the research was a quantitative approach. The target population of the study was all the refugees at Humulani village. The sample was comprised of both males (78) and females (122) who participated by completing questionnaires. The sample of the refugees consisted of different ethnic groups from Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Zimbabwe. The questionnaires consisted of three sections, section A, B and C. The findings of the study revealed that the participants had low levels of knowledge regarding HIV and AIDS which could be attributed to their possession of false myths about HIV and AIDS. The outline of the dissertation was as follows: Chapter 1 introduced the study and discussed the research problems, aim of the study, objectives of the study, research question, significance of the study, motivation of the study and definition of concepts. Chapter 2 discussed the literature review conducted on the refugees’ perceptions of HIV and AIDS. Chapters 3 discussed the research methodology of the study and describe the research design population, sample, data -collection instrument, limitation of the study and ethical considerations adhered to during and after collecting data. Chapter 4 discussed the data analysis and interpretation with reference to literature review.In chapter 5 the evaluation of the study, objectives, conclusions, recommendations and suggestions for further research were presented. Based on the findings it was recommended that the health Profession’s awareness campaigns should be strengthened and designed to reach refugees by taking into account the cultural contexts of the refugees