End User Computing Fundamental | 13915

DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF HIV/AIDS IN A WORKPLACE, AND ITS EFFECTS ON A BUSINESS SUB-SECTOR, OWN ORGANISATION AND A SPECIFIC WORKPLACE 

US 13915

NQF LEVEL: 3

CREDITS: 4

NOTIONAL HOURS: 40

SAQA UNIT STANDARD ALIGNMENT

Level 3 | Credit 4

UNIT STANDARD 13915 :

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of hiv/aids in a workplace, and its effects on a business sub-sector, own organisation and a specific workplace.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• The terms HIV and AIDS are known and explained at a basic level of understanding. (SO 1, AC 1)
• The way in which the immune system works is explained with reference to the role of antibodies in the immune system. (SO 1, AC 2)
• An indication is given as to how the HIV virus attacks the immune system.
• The concept of a window period is explained with reference to the Elisa test. (SO 1, AC 3)
• The concept that the Elisa Test tests for antibodies is known and an indication is given of the implications that this has in terms of the window period and the use of vaccinations.
• The fact that all babies born to HIV/AIDS mothers initially test positive for the HIV virus is known and reason are given to explain why these test results change over time. (SO 1, AC 4)
• The concept of Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) is explained with the reference to the role of the Rapid Test and confirmation by the Elisa Test. (SO 1, AC 5)
• The importance of pre and post test counselling is known and understood and the implications of HIV testing for an individual are discussed in terms of making a personal decision to take an AIDS test.
• The effects of HIV infection are explained including the ability of infected persons to perform work and the importance of lifestyle changes to boost the immune system and prevent reinfection. (SO 1, AC 6)
• The stages of the disease are outlined with an example of what happens at each stage from infection with HIV to full-blown AIDS and death. (SO 1, AC 7)
• The chances of a person surviving with AIDS are discussed with reference to the latest views on medication and the costs of the drugs. (SO 1, AC 8)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• The effect of body fluids on transmission of the HIV virus is outlined at a basic level of understanding. (SO 2, AC 1) 

• Sex is identified as the most common way in which the HIV virus is transmitted and other ways in which HIV is transmitted are listed with an indication of the conditions necessary for transmission.  

• The ways in which mother to child transmission can occur are listed and the implication of a pregnant woman/girl child having unprotected sex are indicated for both the mother and the unborn child. 

• Actions that an HIV positive mother can take to lower the risk of infection to the child and prolong the onset of AIDS in herself are presented in a poster to promote wellness. (SO 2, AC 2) 

• The dangers of drug abuse and behaviour that could result in HIV transmission are explained with suggestions for limiting transmission. SO 2, AC 3) 

• Precautions used in South Africa to ensure that blood products are HIV free are outlined at a basic level of understanding. (SO 2, AC 4)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• The relationship between human behaviour and HIV/AIDS is outlined at a basic level of understanding.  (SO 3, AC 1)
• Examples of behaviour that carry a risk of contracting HIV/AIDS are named and classified according to whether they carry a high, medium or low risk. 
• Ways in which the individual can avoid contracting or spreading HIV/AIDS are named with an indication of how own behaviour can reduce the risk of infection. (SO 3, AC 2)
• Situations that have a potential to spread HIV/AIDS in the workplace are discussed and rated in terms of high, medium and low risk. (SO 3, AC 3)
• The reasons are given why certain behaviours and activities carry a low risk of infection.
• Fears and common misunderstandings about the transmission of HIV/AIDS are described in the context of the workplace. (SO 4, AC 4)
• The role of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the transmission of the HIV virus is known and understood and an indication is given of how untreated STDs greatly increase the risk of transmission. (SO 4, AC 5)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• A company policy on HIV/AIDS or the National Department of Health’s document “Guidelines for developing a workplace policy and programme” is accessed and evidence of knowledge is provided in the form of a brief summary. (SO 4, AC 1)
• The possible problems that a worker with HIV/AIDS could encounter are listed with suggestions as to what the learner himself/herself could do to create a caring situation in the workplace. (SO 4, AC 2)
• The importance of employers playing a proactive role in addressing the AIDS pandemic are known and understood and ways in which a company can create a caring environment for workers with HIV/AIDS are suggested for a familiar context. (SO 4, AC 3)
• The availability of HIV/AIDS prevention and wellness programmes provided by medical schemes, organisations and other bodies is known and an explanation is given on how to access them. (SO 4, AC 4)
• The treatment options available to a person with HIV/AIDS are known and a table is compiled indicating which treatment is available locally. (SO 4, AC 5)
• The rights of all workers in respect of HIV/AIDS are known and their personal responsibilities are understood dealing with the pandemic. (SO4, AC 6)
• The Universal Precautions are known and applied in the work environment. (SO 4, AC 7) 
• A code of behaviour in the workplace is drafted. (SO 4, AC 8)
• A presentation is created to help address the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and the importance of employers playing a proactive role in dealing with HIV/AIDS. (SO 4, AC 9)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• The needs of AIDS orphans are outlined with reference, at a basic level of understanding, to the burden of a large number of orphans on society and the economy. (SO 5, AC 1)
• The effect of a population composed mainly of children and the aged on the economy and the State is outlined at a basic level of understanding. (SO 5, AC 2)
• The need for medical care for people with HIV/AIDS and the implications for employers and the State are discussed at a basic level of understanding. (SO 5,AC 3)
• The effect of HIV/AIDS on the workforce and family income is discussed at a basic level of understanding. (SO 5, AC 4)
• The effects of HIV/AIDS for an organisation are discussed at a basic level of understanding. (SO 5, AC 5)
• The implications of HIV/AIDS for a specific workplace are discussed at a basic level of understanding.
• The implications of HIV/AIDS for an industry sub-sector are discussed at a basic level of understanding. 

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
ICONS
TAKE NOTE
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
LEARNING ASSUMPTIONS
HOW YOU WILL LEARN
HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED

SECTION 1: HIV/AIDS AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM
THE TERMS HIV AND AIDS
THE WAY IN WHICH THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS
THE CONCEPT OF WINDOW PERIOD WITH REFERENCE TO ELISA TEST 
THE FACT THAT ALL BABIES BORN TO HIV/AIDS MOTHERS INITIALLY TEST HIV POSITIVE
VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING
EFFECTS OF HIV INFECTION
THE STAGES OF THE HIV/AIDS DISEASE
THE CHANCES OF A PERSON SURVIVING WITH AIDS

SECTION 2: HIV/AIDS TRANSMISSION
THE EFFECT OF BODY FLUIDS ON TRANSMISSION OF THE HIV VIRUS
ACTIONS THAT AN HIV POSITIVE MOTHER CAN TAKE TO LOWER THE RISK OF INFECTION
THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE AND BEHAVIOUR THAT COULD RESUT IN HIV TRANSMISSION
PRECAUTIONS USED IN SOUTH AFRICA TO ENSURE THAT BLOOD PRODUCTS ARE HIV FREE

SECTION 3: SAFE BEHAVIOUR AND BEHAVIOUR THAT CARRIES THE RISK OF HIV
TRANSMISSION
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND HIV/AIDS
WAYS IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL CAN AVOID CONTRACTING OR SPREADING HIV/AIDS
SITUATIONS THAT HAVE A POTENTIAL TO SPREAD HIV/AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE
FEARS AND COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV/AIDS
THE ROLE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN THE TRANSMISSION OF HIV VIRUS

SECTION 4: GUIDELINES AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT WORKERS WITH
HIV/AIDS
COMPANY POLICY ON HIV/AIDS
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT A WORKER WITH HIV/AIDS COULD ENCOUNTER
THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYERS PLAYING A PROACTIVE ROLE IN ADDRESSING AIDS
THE AVAILABILITY OF HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND WELLNESS PROGRAMME
THE TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO A PERSON WITH HIV/AIDS
RIGHTS OF ALL WORKERS IN RESPECT OF HIV/AIDS
UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS
A CODE OF BEHAVIOUR IN THE WORKPLACE
A PRESENTATION TO HELP ADDRESS THE STIGMA SURROUNDING HIV/AIDS

SECTION 5: IMPLICATIONS OF THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC 
THE NEEDS OF AIDS ORPHANS
THE EFFECT OF A POPULATION COMPOSED MAINLY OF CHILDREN AND THE AGED ON THE
ECONOMY AND THE STATE
THE NEED FOR MEDICAL CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR
EMPLOYERS AND THE STATE
THE EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS ON THE WORKFORCE AND FAMILY INCOME
THE EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS ON AN ORGANISATION
THE IMPLICATIONS OF HIV/AIDS FOR AN INDUSTRY SUB SECTOR

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This workbook belongs to you.  It is designed to serve as a guide for the duration of your training programme and as a resource for after the time.    It contains readings, activities, and application aids that will assist you in developing the knowledge and skills stipulated in the specific outcomes and assessment criteria.  Follow along in the guide as the facilitator takes you through the material, and feel free to make notes and diagrams that will help you to clarify or retain information.  Jot down things that work well or ideas that come from the group.  Also, note any points you would like to explore further.  Participate actively in the skill practice activities, as they will give you an opportunity to gain insights from other people’s experiences and to practice the skills.  Do not forget to share your own experiences so that others can learn from you too. 

ICONS

 For ease of reference, an icon will indicate different activities.  The following icons indicate different activities in the manual.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

PURPOSE

This unit standard provides a broad introduction to HIV/AIDS in the workplace. It introduces a broad case of knowledge about HIV/AIDS that will enable learners to be informed and caring workers in an industry. The focus is knowledge, skills, values and attitudes in relation to the learner`s own context and experience of the world of work. 

At the end of this training session you will be capable of:

• Understanding the effects of HIV/AIDS on the immune system. 
• Knowing how HIV/AIDS is transmitted. 
• Knowing what behaviour is safe and what behaviour caries the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. 
• Knowing what guidelines and assistance are available to support workers with HIV/AIDS and recognise own role in creating a caring work environment. 
• Understanding the implications of the HIV/AIDS pandemic for society, the economy, a business sub-sector, an organisation and a specific workplace.

LEARNING ASSUMPTIONS

There is open access to this unit standard. Learners should;

• Hold a GETC or equivalent qualification or
• Be competent in communication and mathematical literacy NQF level 2

HOW YOU WILL LEARN

The programme methodology includes facilitator presentations, readings, individual activities, group discussions, and skill application exercises.

HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED 

This programme has been aligned to registered unit standards. You will be assessed against the outcomes of the unit standards by completing a knowledge assignment that covers the essential embedded knowledge stipulated in the unit standards. When you are assessed as competent against the unit standards, you will receive a certificate of competence and be awarded 4 credits towards a National Qualification.