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May 29, 2006Article Details
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Main Article Content
Treatment for HIV / AIDS at South Africa's largest employers: myth and reality
Abstract
Design.: All 64 private-sector and parastatal companies with more than 6 000 employees in South Africa were identified and contacted. Those that agreed to participate were interviewed by telephone using a structured questionnaire.
Results.: Fifty-two companies agreed to participate. Among these companies, 63% of employees had access to employersponsored care and treatment for HIV/AIDS. However, access varied widely by sector. Approximately 27% of suspected HIV-positive employees were enrolled in disease management programmes, or 4.4% of the workforce overall. Fewer than 4 000 employees in the entire sample were receiving ART. In-house (employer) disease management programmes and independent disease management programmes achieved higher uptake of services than did medical aid schemes.
Conclusions.: Publicity by large employers about their treatment programmes should be interpreted cautiously. While there is a high level of access to treatment, uptake of services is low and only a small fraction of employees medically eligible for ART are receiving it.
South African Medical Journal Vol. 96(2) 2006: 128-133
