Evaluation of an HIV and AIDS management system at a coal manufacturing company in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa : a case study

Abstract

In South Africa, HIV and AIDS workplace programmes have been implemented for more than two decades without any audited and certifiable standards. In 2007, the South African National Standard (SANS 16001, 2007) was launched to assist, encourage and support companies to implement the minimum standards for the HIV and AIDS Management System (HAMS). Consequently, companies were expected to establish workplace HAMS in line with the set standard, as specified in SANS 16001, assisting companies to establish, implement, maintain and improve their HAMS. A single case study, using a quantitative design was used to evaluate the implementation of the HAMS in a coal-manufacturing company operating in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The sample comprised all consenting participants who were selected from key drivers of workplace HIV and AIDS programmes, in accordance with the requirements of SANS 16001, and the general workers. Two different sets of questionnaires were used to collect data. One questionnaire was used to collect data from the managers because they were key role players in HAMS. The second questionnaire was used to collect data from the general workers. A statistician used both Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPPS) version 19 to process and analyse the data. Tables and bar graphs were used to present the results. The results revealed that the company complied with most general requirements as specified by SANS 16601 for HAMS. However, more should to done in terms of training and documentation to ensure compliance with the HAMS.