An Analysis on the Effectiveness of an HIV and AIDS Workplace Programme at David Whitehead Textiles, Chegutu Depot in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the HIV and AIDS workplace programme at David Whitehead Textiles. The effectiveness was measured against the following indicators (i) awareness of the workers over existence of HIV/ AIDS related activities being carried at their workplace (ii) whether the workers and the company were benefiting from any existing HIV/AIDS programmes (iii) their attitudes towards the HIV/AIDS Workplace programmes at their workplace. The study used the descriptive survey design to solicit information from 100 David Whitehead Textiles workers (70 male and 30 female) on the effectiveness of HIV and AIDS workplace programmes currently being used at their workplace. A stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain the study’s sample. Findings revealed that the company is running the following programmes; the HIV/AIDS herbal garden within the company premises, HIV/AIDS testing, counselling and treatment at the company clinic. The research also established that workers were benefiting because the programme involved all levels of workers in HIV/AIDS related activities at the company. The workers achieved benefits such as improved health; stigmatisation and discrimination had also dramatically reduced due to the programme. The following recommendations were made among others; expansion of the herbal garden and equipping fully the local clinic, employment of a full time resident Doctor, offer of free HIV/AIDS treatment services and establishment of HIV/AIDS peer education teams within the company.