Table 1 a.
Distribution of Social and Demographic Characteristics for Total HIV/AIDS Sample by gender
| Personal Characteristics | Female 68(70.1%) |
Male 29(29.9%) |
Total 97(100%) |
| Age (yr) | |||
| Median | 35 | 43 | 37 |
| IQR | 11.5 | 12.5 | 12.0 |
| Education level | |||
| No schooling | 7(10.3) | 9(31.0) | 16(16.5) |
| Less than high school | 52(76.5) | 19(65.5) | 71(73.2) |
| Metric and higher education | 9(13.2) | 1(3.4) | 10(10.3) |
| Where do you live? | |||
| Urban (WC) | 39(57.4) | 11(37.9) | 50(51.5) |
| Rural (KZN) | 29(42.6) | 18(62.1) | 47(48.5) |
| Marital status | |||
| Never married | 57(83.8) | 14(48.3) | 71(73.2) |
| Married or cohabitating | 7(10.3) | 9(31.0) | 16(16.5) |
| Divorced or widowed | 4(5.9) | 6(20.7) | 10(10.3) |
| Employment Status | |||
| Employed | 15(22.1) | 5(17.2) | 20(20.6) |
| Unemployed | 53(77.9) | 24(82.8) | 77(79.4) |
| What is your source of income? | |||
| None | 30(44.1) | 7(24.1) | 37(38.1) |
| Monthly salary (formal employment) | 10(14.7) | 2(6.9) | 12(12.4) |
| Informal employment | 8(11.8) | 2(6.9) | 10(10.3) |
| Grant | 20(29.4) | 18(62.1) | 38(39.2) |
| Do you have health insurance? | |||
| Yes | 6(8.8) | 1(3.4) | 7(7.2) |
| No | 62(91.2) | 28(96.6) | 90(92.8) |
| Do you have children? | |||
| Yes | 56(82.4) | 25(86.2) | 81(83.5) |
| No | 12(17.6) | 4(13.8) | 16(16.5) |
| When were you diagnosed HIV positive? | |||
| Less than a year | 11(16.2) | 9(31.0) | 20(20.6) |
| 1–5 years | 45(66.2) | 16(55.2) | 61(62.9) |
| More than five years | 12(17.6) | 4(13.8) | 16(16.5) |
| Which WHO HIV stage have you been told you are in? | |||
| Stage I | 34(50.0) | 18(62.1) | 52(53.6) |
| Stage II | 21(30.9) | 4(13.8) | 25(25.8) |
| Stage III | 11(16.2) | 4(13.8) | 15(15.5) |
| Stage IV (AIDS stage) | 1(1.5) | 1(3.4) | 2(2.1) |
| Not indicated/unknown | 1(1.5) | 2(6.9) | 3(3.1) |
| Which medication currently taking? | |||
| Only Prophylaxis | 4(5.9) | 4(13.8) | 8(8.2) |
| Only ART | 36(52.9) | 8(27.6) | 44(45.4) |
| Prophylaxis and ART | 16(23.5) | 6(20.7) | 22(22.7) |
| Traditional Medicine and other | 4(5.9) | 3(10.3) | 7(7.2) |
| Other | 8(11.8) | 8(27.6) | 16(16.5) |
| In general, how are you self-managing the symptoms? | |||
| Conventional medicine | 24(35.8) | 15(51.7) | 39(40.6) |
| Conventional medicine and TM | 3(4.5) | 3(10.3) | 6(6.3) |
| Conventional medicine and other | 10(14.9) | 2(6.9) | 12(12.5) |
| Traditional medicine and other | 3(4.5) | 1(3.4) | 4(4.2) |
| Assistance of family, Spiritual care & Prayers | 26(38.8) | 7(24.1) | 33(34.4) |
| Other | 1(1.5) | 1(3.4) | 2(2.1) |
| Are you using any Traditional Medicine? | |||
| Yes | 11(16.2) | 4(13.8) | 15(15.5) |
| No | 57(83.8) | 25(86.2) | 82(84.5) |
| Is anyone monitoring your CD4 count/ viral load? | |||
| Yes | 68(100) | 29(100) | 97(100) |
| In addition to HIV, do you have other medical conditions? | |||
| Yes | 17(25.0) | 9(31.0) | 26(26.8) |
| No | 51(75.0) | 20(69.0) | 71(73.2) |