Bowen, P; Dorrington, R; Distiller, G; Lake, H and Besesar, S (2008) HIV/AIDS in the South African construction industry: An empirical study. Construction Management and Economics, 26(8), pp. 827-839. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
South Africa has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, with 11% of South Africans currently estimated to be HIV positive. The construction industry has one of the highest prevalence rates of any economic sector. To indicate the nature and extent of HIV/AIDS in the SA construction industry and to establish the degree of association between certain risk factors and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, the results of HIV tests on 10 243 construction employees drawn from 55 companies nationwide are reported. In addition to the HIV test, a test for tuberculosis (TB) was conducted but proved inconclusive. Permanently employed, semi-skilled operators and drivers, as well as skilled employees, have the highest prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS; even greater than casual labourers. The group displaying the next highest prevalence is temporarily employed general labourers. With regard to age, middle-aged employees were shown to be the most at risk. Geographically, KwaZulu-Natal exhibits the highest HIV prevalence rate, with the Western Cape the lowest. It is recommended that a compulsory, industry-wide initiative be adopted, funded via levies, involving education, testing and treatment programmes supported via formal certification as part of the completion of work certification process.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; construction worker; hiv/aids; South Africa |
| Index terms: | risk factor, empirical study, construction industry, testing, construction worker, construction employee, HIV/AIDS, South Africa, certification, programme |
| Subjects: | research methods, Geography, project controls, health conditions and diseases, administrative processes, industry analysis, environmental hazards, practitioner, professional practice |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Health and Safety, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Time Control, Contract Administration |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here