The general health and life orientations of learners infected with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The aims of this research were to investigate the general health of learners infected with HIVIAIDS; assess how' learners infected with HIVIAIDS see life; and make suggestions for helping learners infected with HIVIAIDS to generally develop a positive outlook on life. From the literature study it emerged that HIVIAIDS wreaks havoc to both the physical and psychological well being domains of human beings and that such havoc causes a serious medical illness that causes shifts in a person's mood, energy and ability to function. The empirical research revealed that the majority of the learner participants who formed the sample of this research are feeling ill, have been feeling nervous and strung-up all the time, were not doing things well, were not capable of making decisions about things, have been thinking of themselves as worthless persons, felt that life is entirely hopeless, have the thought of the possibility that they might make away with themselves, the idea of taking their own lives kept coming into their heads, do not expect the best in uncertain times, it is not easy for them to relax, if something can go wrong for them it will not, are pessimistic about their future, do not enjoy their friends a lot, it is important for them to keep busy, they always expect things to go their way, feel that they become upset too easily, rarely count on good things happening to them, and expect more bad .things to happen to them. Recommendations for further research and suggestions for helping HIVIAIDS infected learners enhance their health and optimism were also made.