Problems that could occur during this study were not expected since the methodology involves only the policy analysis of peer-reviewed documents or publications that have already been published regarding the subject matter. However, the possibilities of facing some challenges still existed. Some of these possible dilemmas pertained to the analysis of the vast information studied, in particular research publications and databases. At first, the documents that meet inclusion criteria were carefully verified, investigated and ensured that they are authentic, and accessible to the public for future reference.
These documents and references were studied carefully to ensure that the information they present is sufficient and reliable, as this is crucial in policy analysis. This was facilitated by meta-analysis and cross-referencing to sources that run in-house quality assurance of the data. It was taken into consideration, however, that reliability of the data cannot be fully assured, and similarly all surveys, whether local or national, are always an approximation. All the information that were utilised in this study/project was viewed in more than one angle and everything that is significant were published.
All the collected data were analysed critically for the study. The selection of the approaches, methods and steps were based on the requirements of the investigation and assessed on how well these supported the achievement of the purpose of the study. As such, the research methodology for the study was able to provide sufficient guidance in actual collection and analysis of data to support conclusions and recommendations. The aim of the study is to investigate policies and policymaking on HIV/AIDS in South Africa in the context of the millennium development goals by using policy analysis.
There are three specific methods of conducting policy analysis identified in the research methodology chapter. These three methods were the modes of analysing the content of official documents issued by the South African government and international institutions concerned with the monitoring of compliance with the millennium development goals. The results and discussion of findings have four sections, the three covering the three methods of doing policy analysis. The fourth section provides a synthesis of the results.
The last section concludes on the results and discussion of findings relative to the aims and purpose of the study and other implications. Based on the criteria identified in selecting the key policies, the policies with the strongest impact and representing major policy change are: 1. The intervention policy of the government to reduce the number of new HIV infections and reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals, families and communities reflected in the HIV/AIDS and STD Strategic Plan for South Africa developed in 2000 (Department of Health, 2000).
2. The comprehensive treatment policy of the government by targeting four areas simultaneously, the provision of public access to antiretroviral treatment, the establishment of one health care centre in every district, the expansion in the number and skills of health workers, and improved cooperation across sectors (Government Communications, 2003). The intervention policy had a strong impact because this represented the first proactive action of the South African government against HIV/AIDS.
There were other HIV/AIDS policies during the 1990s but the actual impact of these policies on people living with HIV/AIDS and the health condition of the general population were unfelt because of the greater impact of the political and social dilemma besieging the country during the period of transition from the years of apartheid. During the 1990s, society was in itself in conflict so that the problem of HIV/AIDS although a growing issues remains unanswered. The elected government in 1994 was also more concerned with keeping the peace during this time.
During the beginning of the twenty-first century, there were dramatic changes in the political and social environment. Political instability brought about by the greater control achieved by the government enabled South Africa to engage in international affairs. South Africa was one of the members of the general assembly that agreed to the United Nations Millennium Declaration that set the groundwork for the Millennium Development Goals. The declaration and the MDGs influenced the HIV/AIDS intervention policy of South Africa in 2000 in two ways.