Part Three
MASOSOYI HOME BASED CARE: A QUALITATIVE DESCRIPTION
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PROJECT BACKGROUND

3.1 UNDERSTANDING THE LIVELIHOODS OF THE
     COMMUNITY
The locality of Masoyi is at Nsikazi, in Mpumalanga in South Africa. The total population of Masoyi is estimated at 150 000. A large proportion of the population in Masoyi is rural and unemployed. Many people e.g. women in particular, are forced to leave home for Gauteng to for a living while men and the children remain at home with little to occupy themselves. This results in boredom and frustration coupled with a high incidence of rape, child abuse, alcohol consumption and HIV infections.

Sustainable livelihoods approach was used to provide an overview of the community livelihoods strategies, livelihoods assets, threats and shocks that they experience or may experience over a certain period. Refer to Table 3.1. for Livelihoods Analysis of Masoyi.
It can be concluded that Masoyi is a poor resource based community and as such also vulnerable to high incidence of diseases including HIV/AIDS. This is deduced from the fact that their livelihood strategies neither result in prospects for more income, better security and increased well-being nor decreased livelihood vulnerability.
For other issues on the subject refer to the section on Focus Groups and Sustainable Livelihoods on page ----

 
Table 3.1. Livelihoods analysis of Masoyi Project Area
Lively hoods assets (capital) Vulnerability context Livelihood strategies Transforming institutions

Financial Capital
Low income.
67 -72% of the employed have a monthly income of R500 or less . Not many people own livestock.

Natural Capital
Land for cultivation is scarce. Water supply is not reliable Livestock ownership

Physical Capital
Roads and secondary schools needed.

Social Capital
The community is cohesive. Christianity dominates in the area

Human Capital
The literacy rate is more than 70% which is a good asset for the community.

Trends
High prevalence of HIV/AIDSLack of employment opportunitiesLack of technical skills High Alcohol abuse by teenagers High unemployment rate (35 - 50%) High crime rate.High poverty levels.Migration of women to localities where they engage themselves as sex workers.

Seasonality issues
Most difficult months are January and February due to school requirements Food is plenty in January-April

Shocks
High death rates as a result of HIV/AIDS.Violence especially against women.Floods.

 Rely remittances from relatives for income Child grant but only few benefit churches local government community based organisations
(This was conducted through focus group discussions with community members using participatory techniques)
 

3.1.2. The community's health status
The community health status is worrisome. Many people presents with Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS-related diseases as a result the main causes of death in Masoyi is thought to be due to T.B. and HIV/AIDS related diseases. The following points depicts the health status and attitudes towards health and HIV/AIDS in particular:
  • Though ill, many people prefer to stay at home and not go for testing or treatment at Hospital for the fear of knowing their HIV status.

  • If they decide to present themselves for treatment they generally go to the clinic for treatment in the late stages of the illness.

  • Most of the patients do not go on their own to the clinic for treatment but are coerced by relatives or other community members

  • Other diseases prevalent include other sexually transmitted diseases and malnutrition.

  • Most people associate HIV/AIDS with witchcraft. In many cases where the husband has died as a result of HIV/AIDS-related diseases the wife is blamed for the death.

  • Teenagers become sexually active at an early age of 14. Both boys and girls go to the clinic for family planning. The girls prefer the pill method to the use of condoms running a risk of contracting the HI Virus.

  • Men are resistant to the use of condoms. While the clinic staff reported that there is an increase in the use of family planning methods by the teenagers. It is being noticed that adults no longer go for family planning.

  • Girls in particular like going out with older men including truck drivers. In some cases girls become sex workers as they are seen to leave the community area to places like Nelspruit- Aero-park, Ngodwana, the Steelwork in Machado dorp and Witbank.
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