Assessing the impact of HIVand AIDS on employee performance and service delivery in Cecilia Makiwane hospital Eastern |Cape: (2005-2007)

Abstract

The study aims at assessing the impact of HIV and AIDS on job performance of individual and thus service delivery. It is conducted in Cecilia Makiwane Hospital and focuses on HIV positive individuals with disclosed status of HIV during the period 2005 - 2007. The sample consists of twenty respondents chosen on the basis of their willingness to participate in the study. Management of the hospital, Employee Assistant Program Manager also participated in the study. Data was collected through focus group and individual interviews. Data analysis was done through the use of coding and thematic assessment, graphs and tables used to enhance analysis and interpretation. Findings revealed that there is correlation between the problem statement and findings of the study, that HIV and AIDS has a negative impact on job performance of HIV positive individual. This was confirmed in responses of 68.7% of respondents who agreed that HIV and AIDS have a negative impact on job performance of individual. Findings further suggest that the prevalence of HIV and AIDS at Makiwane hospital is high on females and shows no difference between single and married women it cuts across the same way. 93.7% of respondents viewed Employee Wellness programmes as contributing positively towards enhancing productivity levels of HIV and AIDS infected individuals, but more education still needed as means of strengthening the effectiveness of the Programme to cover the remaining 6.3% respondents who had different views about EAP. Findings further revealed increased levels of absenteeism of respondents after being diagnosed HIV positive. Absenteeism was seen as a major factor affecting productivity levels coupled with high workload to non infected colleagues. This was seen as straining relations between infected individual, colleagues and supervisors. This was further qualified by responses of Management, EAP and focus group.