HIV/AIDS in the South African construction industry: an empirical study

Bowen, Paul; Dorrington, Rob; Distiller, Greg; Lake, Harry; Besesar, Sarika

doi:10.1080/01446190802061225

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Most participants were male (91 %), and 62 % were permanent employees, as distinct from contract (employed on a project basis) (34 %) and occasional (casually hired) workers (4 %). Employment category was included given the relationship between category and HIV risk [ 7 ]. However, no information was available on employment (job) type.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The construction industry has been identified as one of the sectors most adversely affected by HIV/AIDS [ 4 – 6 ]. In a nation-wide study of 10243 construction workers, it was reported that 13.9 % of that sample was HIV+ [ 7 ]. The high proportion of HIV+ persons in the construction sector is attributed to, inter alia , the fragmented nature of the construction industry [ 8 ]; its predominance of small firms; a significantly migratory workforce [ 9 ]; and the diversity of construction work in terms of the nature of the work itself, the types of projects, and the locations of construction sites [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Validating survey measurement scales for AIDS-related knowledge and stigma among construction workers in South Africa

2015

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BackgroundConstruction workers in South Africa are regarded as a high-risk group in the context of HIV/AIDS. HIV testing is pivotal to controlling HIV transmission and providing palliative care and AIDS-related knowledge and stigma are key issues in addressing the likelihood of testing behaviour. In exploring these issues, various studies have employed an 11-item AIDS-related knowledge scale (Kalichman and Simbayi, AIDS Care 16:572-580, 2004) and a 9-item stigma scale (Kalichman et al., AIDS Behav 9:135-143, 2005), but little evidence exists confirming the psychometric properties of these scales.MethodsUsing survey data from 512 construction workers in the Western Cape, South Africa, this research examines the validity and reliability of the two scales through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency tests.ResultsFrom confirmatory factor analysis, a revised 10-item knowledge scale was developed (χ2 /df ratio = 1.675, CFI = 0.982, RMSEA = 0.038, and Hoelter (95 %) =393). A revised 8-item stigma scale was also developed (χ2 /df ratio = 1.929, CFI = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.045, and Hoelter (95 %) = 380). Both revised scales demonstrated good model fit and all factor loadings were significant (p < 0.01). Reliability analysis demonstrated excellent to good internal consistency, with alpha values of 0.80 and 0.74, respectively. Both revised scales also demonstrated satisfactory convergent and divergent validity. Limitations of the original survey from which the data was obtained include the failure to properly account for respondent selection of language for completion of the survey, use of ethnicity as a proxy for identifying the native language of participants, the limited geographical area from which the survey data was collected, and the limitations associated with the convenience sample. A limitation of the validation study was the lack of available data for a more robust examination of reliability beyond internal consistency, such as test-retest reliability.ConclusionsThe revised knowledge and stigma scales offered here hold considerable promise as measures of AIDS-related knowledge and stigma among South African construction workers.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validating survey measurement scales for AIDS-related knowledge and stigma among construction workers in South Africa

2015

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“…(2005a) and Haupt and Smallwood (2004) examined the relationship between age and worker perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviour towards infection. Smallwood (2003a, 2003b) studied the awareness of HIV/ AIDS among construction workers, and Bowen et al . (2008) analysed the degree of association between certain risk factors (e.g.…”

Section: Background To the Studymentioning

confidence: 98%

Perceptions of HIV/AIDS policies and treatment programmes by Western Cape construction firms

Bowen

Cattell

Edwards

et al. 2010

Construction Management and Economics

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The HIV/AIDS pandemic poses a substantial long-term threat to economic development in South Africa. A questionnaire survey explored the perceptions of a sample of construction firms in the Western Cape regarding HIV/AIDS policy and treatment programmes. The findings show that there is no universal view about the long-term threat of HIV/AIDS. Most organizations have awareness policies in place but prevention and treatment policies are less common. Treatment programmes are the least implemented of all intervention services due to insufficient resource capacity, the potential stigmatization of infected persons, and low take-up rates. Despite an acknowledgement of the benefits flowing from mounting treatment programmes, doubt exists as to their financial viability.HIV/AIDS, treatment programmes, construction organizations, South Africa,

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“…Bowen et al (2008) reports an HIV prevalence rate of 13.96% among construction employees and concludes that the industry has one of the highest prevalence rates of any economic sector. Bowen et al (2015) point out that the construction industry is the third highest hit by HIV/AIDS after mining and transport.…”

Section: 2the Context Of Hiv/aids In the Construction Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

HIV/AIDS and Construction Workers: Knowledge, Risk Sexual Behaviours and Attitude

Kikwasi¹,

Lukwale²

2017

GJHS

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Introduction: The construction industry depends mainly on labour to translate other resources into a physical object (i.e. building, road, airport etc.). The industry's workforce is always mobile and its activities are characterized by difficult working conditions. The mobile workforce of industry and their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS pandemic have been fairly researched. The objective of the study is to determine construction workers' HIV/AIDS knowledge, risk sexual behaviours and their attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Method:The study adopted a cross sectional research design and purposive sampling method was used to select respondents. The researched area included sites in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Dodoma cities. A sample size involved 20 construction sites and 5 respondents from each site. A hundred questionnaires were distributed out of which 58 were fairly filled.The study adapted standard questionnaires developed by UNAIDS, Family Health International (FHI) and Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The collected data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0. Results:The results show that most construction workers have low HIV knowledge, low risk sexual behaviours and positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, indicators of low knowledge were evident in awareness of PMTCT services, HIV can be spread through breastfeeding, HIV can be spread through sharing injection and HIV can be spread through unsafe sex. Conclusion:In conclusion risk sexual behaviours are low, attitude towards HIV/AIDS is generally positive but HIV knowledge is low. However, there are alarming concerns in some indicators of both risk sexual behaviours and attitude noted in the study.

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HIV/AIDS in the South African construction industry: an empirical study

Cited by 16 publications

References 8 publications

Validating survey measurement scales for AIDS-related knowledge and stigma among construction workers in South Africa

Validating survey measurement scales for AIDS-related knowledge and stigma among construction workers in South Africa

Perceptions of HIV/AIDS policies and treatment programmes by Western Cape construction firms

HIV/AIDS and Construction Workers: Knowledge, Risk Sexual Behaviours and Attitude

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