Abstract

Rhoda Cynthia Bakuwa

HIV/AIDS continues to be a major development challenge particularly for countries in the Sub Saharan Africa region. Due to its magnitude, concerted efforts from various stakeholders including private sector companies are required to address this epidemic. However, there is increasing evidence around the world that companies are yet to acknowledge and respond to HIV/AIDS as a workplace issue. Hence a number of studies have examined the factors that facilitate company action on HIV/AIDS from the perspective of those companies that have responded. But, to fully comprehend the drivers of company action on HIV/AIDS, this study systematically investigated from the perspective of private sector companies in Malawi that have not yet adopted HIV/AIDS workplace policies, the factors that hinder them from adopting such policies. The results of this study revealed that the perception that HIV/AIDS was not a priority business issue was the major factor hindering the adoption of HIV/AIDS workplace policies. These results substantiate albeit from a different perspective the view that company priorities significantly determine policy adoption decisions.