Voluntary counselling and domestic violence on career success among female workers living with HIV/AIDS in Kampala Central Division
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Date
2011-08
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Publisher
Kampala International University. College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)/ World Health Organisation
(WHO) statistics estimate that 33 million people worldwide are infected with HIV.
Women face the greatest risk of acquiring HIV due to substantial mucosal exposure to
seminal fluids, prevalence of non-consensual sex and sex without condom use. Studies
by WHO (2006), there is a positive relationship between sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) and domestic violence. The studies indicate that there is a reciprocal
relationship between sexual violence and HIV/AIDS, pointing out that sexual violence
exemplifies a smaller aspect of domestic violence. Through sexual exploitation of
women, they are exposed to one of the most common forms of gender violence which
is a factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS. A research study by Wandera (2008) in one of the districts of Uganda showed that 35 volunteer couples were invited for voluntary counselling and were oriented on couple dialogue techniques to avert gender based violence, and subsequently were
counselled. The research revealed that couples that received HIV counselling were
more likely not to experience domestic violence. Wandera’s study however, did not
address the effects of voluntary counselling and domestic violence on career success
among female workers living with HIV/AIDS, a gap that this study seeks to address.
The study was majorly guided by three research questions and these were as
Follows; What are the effects of voluntary counselling on career success of female
workers in Kampala Central Division? How does domestic violence influence female employees’ career success in Kampala Central Division? How do the effects of voluntary counselling and domestic violence impact on female employees in Kampala Central Division? A descriptive survey research design that adopts an ex post facto research type was used. Questionnaires were administered among 150 respondents. They included; 40 (26.7percent) non client women with HIV/AIDS, 100 (66.7percent) client women with HIV/AIDS, 05 (3.3percent) community leaders, 05 (3.3percent) counsellors. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis, whereby the coded data was presented in frequencies percentage tables and pie charts for easy interpretation. Findings showed that female workers living with HIV/AIDS are not highly valued
at work, have missed the benefits of HIV/AIDS counselling. Domestic violence is rife for
female workers living with HIV/AIDS, and their careers have been threatened by loss of
job. And that foregoing HIV/AIDS counselling and the existence of domestic violence
have had a negative impact on career success of female workers living with HIV/AIDS
in Kampala central division. Based on the findings the research study recommended that; Employers to people living with HIV/AIDS should extend empathy to them. They can be helped to undergo counselling as this would improve their attitude towards people living with
HIV/AIDS. Community and local leaders should be sensitised on the long term benefits of
empathy and counselling to HIV/AIDS clients. Cases of domestic violence should be handled by the police to determine deterrent action, and this action should be emphasized because affected women are subjected to double jeopardy as victims of HIV/AIDS and domestic violence.
Description
A Thesis Presented to the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research Kampala International University Kampala, Uganda in Partial Fulfillment Requirements for the award of Degree of Master of Arts in counselling psychology
Keywords
Voluntary counselling, Domestic Violence