Psychosocial problems and needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS in selected Johannesburg inner city schools

Abstract

The impact of HIV and AIDS has threatened to destroy the education sector in South Africa. This qualitative study set out to investigate the psychosocial problems and needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS in Johannesburg Inner City schools. The study explores and describes the need to develop and implement a comprehensive and holistic treatment, care and support programme for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. This study also reviews HIV/AIDS policies and programmes implemented by the Department of Education to indicate that these interventions are not effective in addressing the problems and needs of these educators. Therefore, the study contends that the Department of Education should revise and reformulate these HIV/AIDS policies and programmes to cater for the needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. Ten educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS from two selected Johannesburg Inner City schools participated in this study. Phenomenological strategies and in-depth interviews were used to capture day-to-day personal life experiences of these educators. The findings of the study reveal that there is a need for an urgent response by the Department of Education to develop and implement treatment, care and support programmes for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS.