BSW3702
PORTFOLIO October/November 2026
Unique number:
Due date: October 2026
INTRODUCTION
This assignment applies social group work knowledge to the Taung case study
involving men who are hesitant to use lenacapavir because of fears about sexual
health and strong trust in unverified traditional mixtures. The examination requires
both shorter applied answers and a detailed group work proposal, so the discussion
first addresses the suitability of group work, group type, confidentiality, culture,
emotional bonds, composition, systems theory, session content and icebreakers
before developing the full proposal. The approach used throughout is practical and
linked to South African realities, because a group that only provides health facts
without understanding local beliefs, masculinity, family influence and community trust
is unlikely to change behaviour in a lasting way. South Africa's current HIV strategy
also supports people centred and community based responses that reduce barriers
to prevention and treatment, which makes a carefully planned men's group relevant
, INTRODUCTION
This assignment applies social group work knowledge to the Taung case study
involving men who are hesitant to use lenacapavir because of fears about sexual
health and strong trust in unverified traditional mixtures. The examination requires
both shorter applied answers and a detailed group work proposal, so the discussion
first addresses the suitability of group work, group type, confidentiality, culture,
emotional bonds, composition, systems theory, session content and icebreakers
before developing the full proposal. The approach used throughout is practical and
linked to South African realities, because a group that only provides health facts
without understanding local beliefs, masculinity, family influence and community trust
is unlikely to change behaviour in a lasting way. South Africa's current HIV strategy
also supports people centred and community based responses that reduce barriers
to prevention and treatment, which makes a carefully planned men's group relevant
to this case (South African National AIDS Council, 2023).
The case study places the intervention within the wider introduction of twice yearly
lenacapavir as an HIV prevention option, while more recent national information
shows that South Africa expanded implementation during 2026 through selected
public health facilities. Lenacapavir is important because it offers long acting
protection and reduces the burden of remembering a daily prevention tablet,
although access still depends on accurate information, trust and continued
engagement with health services (World Health Organization, 2025). By September
2026, the National Department of Health reported that more than fifty five thousand
people had started lenacapavir across participating public facilities, which shows that
the intervention is no longer only a scientific idea but a real prevention option within
the South African health system (National Department of Health, 2026).
QUESTION 1
1.1 Suitability of group work
Group work is suitable because the concern in Taung is not only a lack of individual
knowledge, since the men are also influenced by shared rumours, community beliefs
and ideas about what men should do when they feel at risk. A well facilitated group
PORTFOLIO October/November 2026
Unique number:
Due date: October 2026
INTRODUCTION
This assignment applies social group work knowledge to the Taung case study
involving men who are hesitant to use lenacapavir because of fears about sexual
health and strong trust in unverified traditional mixtures. The examination requires
both shorter applied answers and a detailed group work proposal, so the discussion
first addresses the suitability of group work, group type, confidentiality, culture,
emotional bonds, composition, systems theory, session content and icebreakers
before developing the full proposal. The approach used throughout is practical and
linked to South African realities, because a group that only provides health facts
without understanding local beliefs, masculinity, family influence and community trust
is unlikely to change behaviour in a lasting way. South Africa's current HIV strategy
also supports people centred and community based responses that reduce barriers
to prevention and treatment, which makes a carefully planned men's group relevant
, INTRODUCTION
This assignment applies social group work knowledge to the Taung case study
involving men who are hesitant to use lenacapavir because of fears about sexual
health and strong trust in unverified traditional mixtures. The examination requires
both shorter applied answers and a detailed group work proposal, so the discussion
first addresses the suitability of group work, group type, confidentiality, culture,
emotional bonds, composition, systems theory, session content and icebreakers
before developing the full proposal. The approach used throughout is practical and
linked to South African realities, because a group that only provides health facts
without understanding local beliefs, masculinity, family influence and community trust
is unlikely to change behaviour in a lasting way. South Africa's current HIV strategy
also supports people centred and community based responses that reduce barriers
to prevention and treatment, which makes a carefully planned men's group relevant
to this case (South African National AIDS Council, 2023).
The case study places the intervention within the wider introduction of twice yearly
lenacapavir as an HIV prevention option, while more recent national information
shows that South Africa expanded implementation during 2026 through selected
public health facilities. Lenacapavir is important because it offers long acting
protection and reduces the burden of remembering a daily prevention tablet,
although access still depends on accurate information, trust and continued
engagement with health services (World Health Organization, 2025). By September
2026, the National Department of Health reported that more than fifty five thousand
people had started lenacapavir across participating public facilities, which shows that
the intervention is no longer only a scientific idea but a real prevention option within
the South African health system (National Department of Health, 2026).
QUESTION 1
1.1 Suitability of group work
Group work is suitable because the concern in Taung is not only a lack of individual
knowledge, since the men are also influenced by shared rumours, community beliefs
and ideas about what men should do when they feel at risk. A well facilitated group
