HIV Prevalence Study and Costing Analysis undertaken for the development of an HIV/AIDS Workplace Strategy for Buffalo City Municipality
Year: 2005
Type: report
Abstract: In contrast to most private sector employers in South Africa, local government has been slow \nto put in place HIV workplace strategies. While general workplace policies are available, there \nis an absence of specific guidelines for local authorities in their response as employers and as \nservice delivery agencies to HIV/AIDS. The Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) embarked upon an \ninnovative approach involving research and an inclusive process to develop a response to \nHIV/AIDS. This response is advocated as good practice. The report outlines the steps taken \ntowards the development and adoption of a Buffalo City Municipality HIV strategy in late \n2004. Lessons learned are documented for the benefit of other local authorities in the \ndevelopment of their own HIV strategies. \nThe success in the development of the Buffalo City Municipality HIV/AIDS strategy is based on \ntwo important legs. Firstly, the process adopted and secondly the research initiative to provide \nthe data to inform the HIV strategy. \nThe process: BCM is to be commended for its innovative and proactive stance. Key to the \nsuccess has been the leadership of the initiative where political councillors, departmental \nheads, and all levels of managers have supported the process. The outcome of the political \nsupport has been shown in the high rate of HIV testing in the sampled group, the enthusiastic \ntake-up of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) by the employees, and the commitment to \nthe resultant BCM HIV/AIDS Cross-cutting Strategy. Further, the involvement of staff from \nhuman resources and engineering through to finance and planning in the development of the \nBCM strategy again attests to the recognition that addressing HIV in the workforce and the \nbroader community must be treated as an inter-sectoral and cross-cutting issue. \nThe success of the process added considerably to the value and accomplishment of the \nresearch. The SA Medical Research Council (MRC) (an external group) was commissioned to \nundertake an HIV prevalence study, as they were seen to be independent and authoritive, as \nwell as to carry out a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice study (KAP) and to facilitate a VCT \nprocess. In addition, a health economist was requested to assess the cost implications of HIV \nfor BCM as an employer. A team of external researchers worked closely with a BCM staff \nteam in the design and setting up of the studies. The fieldwork took place in June 2004 and \nthe overall BCM strategy was completed within two months, in August 2004. \nFrom a sample of 20% of the employees, the study found that 10.3% were HIV infected. Key \nfindings are that temporary employees had a higher prevalence (7.7%) than permanent staff \n(9.3%). Women had a higher prevalence rate than men (10,2 and 9% respectively). The \nhighest prevalence was in the 20-29 year age group. All job bands were infected but levels of \ninfection were highest amongst the lower skill levels (11.7%) and black Africans (12.6%). \nThere was no difference in infection level between employees with different educational levels.
Authors: EP Thomas, Mark Colvin, SB Rosen, C Zuccarini, S Petzer
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2166056940