Pierre Brouard from the Centre for the Study of AIDS, based at the University of Pretoria, gave an insightful presentation on the sociological aspects of HIV. Brouard, a psychologist by training said “AIDS has taught me to be more a sociologist than a psychologist” - referring to the importance of the social and political milieu in understanding trends in HIV/AIDS. “Prevention is about changing behaviour but the social and political world we live in has a powerful impact on behaviour,” he said.

Brouard emphasised the fact that a clearer understanding of gender and cultural diversity in the workplace is needed to make workplace programmes effective. “Workplace interventions don’t happen in a vacuum … there are personal, community and societal factors too.”

Brouard argued that too much focus is placed on the bio-medical side – getting people tested and into clinics. However, issues that are not taken into account include “the complex power relations between men and women and issues around human sexuality”, for example. The VCT approach “takes a social being out of his or context” and in focusing on the individual and trying to change his/her behaviour through counseling, fails to take into account this social context.

Some of the complex societal factors include: the history of mistrust in our society of transition; the existence of class and race divisions; different perceptions of masculinity – for example, in many societies multiple sexual partners are considered to be essential to a man’s being; the various sub-cultures that people belong to, informing their views on sex; beliefs that can determine people’s understanding of sickness and health and whether they as individuals have control over their own health.

Brouard described stigma as a difficult and persistent phenomenon that stands in the way of helping people to make positive choices.

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Sociological aspects of HIV 10/10/2007,20:36 61.00 Kb

Prof Elna McIntosh, a clinical sexologist, had participants doubled up with laughter over her frank presentation on the complex world of sexuality and sexual behaviour. McIntosh, who services people in the wealthier suburbs of Johannesburg, said HIV and other STIs were not confined to lower income groups. The end-of-year office party was a time when many people engage in impulsive, unsafe sex. McIntosh said it was important for doctors to learn how to discuss sexuality with their patients. She also stressed that it was vital that the empowerment of women is not seen as equal to the disempowerment of men. McIntosh’s key contribution to the workshop was to encourage the floor to open up in their discussions around sex and sexuality.

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Socio-sexual response cycle 10/10/2007,20:38 34.50 Kb

Venis - alternative approach to sexual pleasure 10/10/2007,20:53 41.50 Kb

To point the way forward, Kevin Joubert gave a presentation on the many behaviour change theories that seek to explain how and why behaviour changes. Joubert said that while we think of sex as a natural process it happens at so many levels. “There are a huge number of factors that influence it”, he added. He discussed the many different theories on behaviour change. Joubert said he battled to find success stories of behaviour change in the workplace. “There are very significant processes (contributing to a decline in HIV transmission) that are happening in society. The challenge is how do we do this in the workplace?”

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Behaviour change in hiv prevention in the workplace 10/10/2007,20:47 145.50 Kb