AIDS programmes at the workplace: a scoresheet for assessing the quality of services

Little data is available on the extent or comprehensiveness of AIDS prevention activities at South African workplaces. A cross-sectional postal survey was performed of all members of the local occupational health nursing association in the area of greater Cape Town in 1994 to assess the quality of such programmes. Use was made of an index to score services based on their comprehensiveness, using criteria based on recommendations previously identified in the South Africa literature on AIDS control. The presence of a workplace policy on AIDS was the strongest predictor of high quality AIDS prevention activities. Substantial numbers of companies reported sending staff for HIV-related training, and the presence of training was non-significantly associated with higher quality services with regard to HIV prevention. Treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) was reported in slightly over half of the sample. Given the central importance of STD treatment for the prevention and control of AIDS, improvements in STD management at the workplace may significantly assist attempts at the public health control of the HIV epidemic. In addition, worker involvement in the planning, management and implementation of AIDS prevention activities is also limited at present and needs attention. Recommendations for the use of a scoring system to promote evaluation of AIDS programmes in the workplace are made.