There has been a significant increase in the number of Down Syndrome (DS) births over the past 3 decades in South Africa. This means there are increasingly more mothers, children with DS and family members experiencing the stressors associated with the condition. However, the increase in DS births has led to the advancement of related medical and educational interventions, resulting in more families with a child with DS overcoming these stressors and discovering the positive aspects of having a child with DS. This study aimed to uncover these positive aspects by exploring the positive experiences of a sample of mothers of a child with DS, with the hope that the findings will help society to move away from its focus on the stressors of having a child with DS to instead concentrating on the many ways in which families can cope with these stressors. As part of the research process, face-to-face interviews were conducted as a qualitative approach to gain an in-depth understanding of this research topic. The interviews were all recorded by means of a tape recorder. There is only one hospital in the Western Cape Metropole area that specialises in this condition, and that hospital was consequently selected as the location for this research, since all mothers of children with DS are referred to this hospital. A purposive sampling method and the criterion sampling strategy were used for the selection of these five mothers with whom interviews were conducted in the hospital’s developmental clinic The main findings of the research include both the difficult and positive experiences of being a mother of a child with DS. Two of the major themes that arose in terms of the difficult experiences were: (1) having to make many adjustments to one’s life to accommodate unpredictable health implications, developmental delays, negative perceptions, and unprofessional conduct; and (2) the difficulty of dealing with emotions, emotions of: fear, aloneness, and grieving. The mothers’ positive experiences generally developed out of their attempts to find coping mechanisms for the above challenges, and these positives centre on support, resources, faith in God, accepting the condition, a positive attitude and bonding with their child with DS. The predominant finding in terms of participants’ own recommendations for new mothers of a child with DS was for them to learn to accept the condition. Other findings addressing ways of coping with the condition were as follows: persevering, being hopeful, taking it one day at a time, having awareness and understanding of the diagnosis, being around positive people, attending regular appointments, seeking out guidance and support for your child’s development, loving your child, enjoying your child, and being present in every moment. / Thesis (MSW (Forensic Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Bakgrund: En ökning av självskadebeteende som lett till sjukhusinläggning i Sverige har redovisats, vilket visar på ett behov av ökad medvetenhet och kunskap kring området. Beteendet är vanligast förekommande bland tonåringar och unga vuxna, och används som en strategi för att hantera emotionell smärta. Tidigare forskning visar att patientgruppen generellt inte är populär bland sjuksköterskor. Samtidigt poängteras vikten av en terapeutisk relation mellan patient och sjuksköterska för tillfrisknandet. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att belysa sjuksköterskors upplevelser av att vårda patienter som lider av självskadebeteende. Metod: En litteraturstudie gjordes där tio kvalitativa artiklar valdes ut för granskning, analys och resultatredovisning. Resultat: Efter analysen bildades sex huvudkategorier: Svårigheter i vårdandet av självskadande patienter, Att skapa terapeutiska relationer, Den emotionella påverkan, Synen på självskadande patienter, Brister i stöd och resurser samt Behov av mer utbildning och träning. Patienter med självskadebeteende ses som en svår patientgrupp att vårda, och det uppstår många olika känslor hos sjuksköterskan, främst negativa, i samband med omvårdnaden. Mer utbildning önskas av merparten av de sjuksköterskor som deltagit i de undersökta studierna. Slutsats: De negativa upplevelserna beror till stor del på okunskap och bristande färdigheter i omvårdnaden av patientgruppen. / Background: An increase in self -destructive behavior that led to hospitalization in Sweden has been reported, indicating a need for increased awareness and knowledge about the area. This behavior is most common among teenagers and young adults, and is used as a strategy to manage emotional pain. Previous research shows that the patient population is generally not popular among nurses. At the same time the importance of a therapeutic relationship between the patient and the nurse is emphasized for the recovery. Aim: The aim of this study is to illuminate nurses' experiences of caring for patients who suffer from self-injurious behavior. Method: A literature review was conducted where ten qualitative articles were selected for examination, analysis and presentation of results. Results: After analysis, six main categories were put together: Difficulties in the care of self-harming patients, Creating therapeutic relationships, Emotional impact, Perception of self-harming patients, Deficiencies in support and resources, and Need for more education and training. Patients with self-injurious behavior are seen as a difficult group of patients to care for and cause many different emotions, mostly negative, in the context of nursing care. More training is desired by the majority of the nurses who participated in the examined studies. Conclusion: The negative experiences depend largely on ignorance and lack of skills in the nursing care of the patient group.

The focus of the study is on restorative experiences and the relationship between these experiences and psychological well-being. The variety of experiences that people experience as restorative were explored, as well as how often these experiences occurred. A working definition were written since no generally accepted definition of restorative experiences exists. A checklist with 22 categories of restorative experiences has also been drawn up. Students completed psychological well-being questionnaires and the results were used to form two groups: one with higher and one with lower levels of psychological well-being. The two groups were compared in terms of the restorative experiences present in their lives. Nature emerged as the most popular restorative environment. Rest was the most popular category with subcategories for sleep and holidays. Interpersonal contact was also a popular category for both groups. The categories for eating and drinking and activities that are damaging to the body showed important differences between groups in terms of popularity and frequency. The group with the higher levels of psychological well-being shows signs of a healthier lifestyle and they have a greater capacity to postpone gratification. In addition, they show fewer signs of substance dependency, fewer symptoms of psychological disorders and less avoidance than the group with the lower levels of psychological well-being. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate pornography consumption and its relation to sexual experiences, lifestyles, health and perceptions of sexuality and pornography. One qualitative study (focus group discussions) and one prospective longitudinal quantitative study (baseline and follow-up questionnaires) are included. The core category emerging from the focus group discussions, among personnel working with adolescents, was “Conflicting messages about sexuality”. The participants’ stated that the message conveyed by pornography was contradictory to the message conveyed by national public health goals and laws. A professional approach was emphasized, and adequate methods and knowledge to improve sexuality and relationship education were requested (I). Participants at baseline in 2011 were 477 boys and 400 girls, aged 16 years. Almost all boys (96%) and 54% of the girls had watched pornography. The boys were categorized into frequent users (daily), average users (every week or a few times every month) and nonfrequent users (a few times a year, seldom or never) of pornography. A higher proportion of frequent users reported experience of sex with friends, the use of alcohol, a sedentary lifestyle, peer-relationship problems and obesity. One-third watched more pornography than they actually wanted to (II). There were few differences between pornography-consuming girls and boys regarding fantasies about sexual acts, attempted sexual acts inspired by pornography and perceptions of pornography. Predictors for being sexually experienced included: being a girl, attending a vocational high school programme, stating that boys and girls are equally interested in sex, and having a positive perception of pornography. Boys were generally more positive towards pornography than girls (III). Participants at follow-up in 2013 were 224 boys (47%) and 238 girls (60%). Being male, attending a vocational high school programme and being a frequent user of pornography at baseline predicted frequent use at follow-up. Frequent use of pornography at baseline predicted psychosomatic symptoms to a higher extent at follow-up than depressive symptoms (IV). In conclusion, pornography has become a part of everyday life for many adolescents. Frequent users of pornography were mainly boys, and there were minor differences in sexual experiences between the male consumption groups. Frequent use was associated with lifestyle problems, such as the use of alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle to a higher extent than with sexual experiences and physical symptoms. In the longitudinal analyses frequent use of pornography was more associated to psychosomatic symptoms compared with depressive symptoms. Access to pornography will presumably remain unrestrained. It is therefore important to offer adolescents arenas for discussing pornography in order to counterbalance the fictional world presented in pornography, increase awareness regarding the stereotyped gender roles in pornography and address unhealthy lifestyles and ill health among adolescents.

African refugees and immigrants are arriving in Manitoba in vastly increasing numbers and a review of the literature indicates that they are experiencing barriers to successful integration. The goals of this research are to understand the experiences of Sierra Leonean newcomers with seeking support and identify specific needs and services that might be helpful. Using qualitative methods, interviews were conducted with Sierra Leonean newcomers. The analysis of the data indicates that newcomers want financial independence and to fit into Canadian life. The process to get their foreign credentials accredited is difficult and affects their ability to gain economic security. They rely on informal networks with other Sierra Leoneans for assistance to acquire resources when they are unable to get help from service providers. As well, newcomers are concerned about their community image, feelings of isolation and sacrificing all of their dreams. Recommendations from this study include the need to recognize and support African community leaders in connecting with newcomers to share accurate and vital information. In addition, services for employment and the accreditation of foreign credentials should be appropriate, affordable and timely. Changes to policies and to the provision of settlement services are necessary to improve the accessibility and availability of resources required for the successful integration of African newcomers.

This study examines how people who have survived trauma have encountered healing following spiritual experiences. The significance of this research lies in its unique findings, contributing to the body of literature on trauma recovery. Qualitative methodology and thematic analysis were used to explore the research question that guided this study. Six individuals who had survived traumatic events participated in narrative interviews and were asked to tell the story of how their spiritual experiences impacted their healing from trauma. Findings show that these participants‘ spiritual experiences helped them to cultivate a foundation to return to in future moments of challenge, impacted the body‘s healing, and served as a guide. Further research in the field is suggested, including investigating how experiences with Kundalini energy impact trauma recovery, the relationship between spiritual experiences and physical healing, and how people from diverse cultural backgrounds experience trauma recovery in the wake of a spiritual experience. / Graduate

Background: About 250 000 children develops cancer every year. Most of them has a parent and a family who also is getting affected. During this time the parents go through a crisis and the nurse had a central role to help them through the hard time. Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate parent´s experiences of living with a child with a cancer diagnose during the illness. Method: A literature -based study, qualitative content analysis of 14 qualitative articles. Result: The results are presented in three main themes: "The emotional roller coaster", "The balance of the uncertain" and "The swinging of the support". Conclusion: The parents experienced a lot of feelings during the child's illness and they changed their view of life. A fear of the unknown and a feeling of losing the sense of normality were expressed by the parents. A shuttle between security and disappointment appeared during the entire duration of the illness. Therefore it was important for the parents to get continuous information, opportunities for participation and support from someone they could rely on to feel safe.

What certainty is there for personal survival after death? Five key authors, critically analysed in this thesis, think that OB/ND experiences offer such assurances. Most OB/ND events follow severe clinical crises profoundly embarrassing cerebral function. At the nadir of brain function, invariably resulting in unconsciousness, authors aver that the escape of soul (Sabom), mind, or free consciousness (Moody, Ring, Grey, Fenwick), in providing glimpses of heaven, offers proof of immortality. I disagree. The semantic content of early-phase ND experiences reveals dream-like bizarreness and illogicality, consistent with de-activation of critical cortical controls. Conversely, late-phase experiences, tinged with 'moral' compulsions about earthly responsibilities, herald the progressive intrusion of conscious-awareness into that subconscious mentation. These experiences, abruptly terminating as conscious-awareness erupts, are transient - as demonstrated by narrative word counts - indicating origins from reawakening, not moribund, brains. My argument is underpinned by these latter crucial observations. Pain, intruding into ND phenomenology, is another occurrence hardly consistent with an escape of mind or 'free consciousness' into the hereafter. "Tunnel" phenomenology, a rapid movement from darkness into heavenly brightness, involves a retrospective synthesis of vestibular-generated rotation/accelerations, and a progressively enlarging and engulfing light, signalling re-establishment of an effective circulation to associative visual centres. The content of ND experiences, as with dreams, involves the temporo-parietal cortex. OB experiences derive from central vestibular activity (superior and inferior parietal lobules) in dormant, recumbent patients. Allied aberrations of allocentric space create bodily reduplications and sensed invisible presences. Thus, OB do not warrant "mystical" interpretations. The spiritual overtones accorded OB/ND experiences by authors are inconsistent with classical (Judaeo-Christian) accounts of divine disclosure. The eschatology adumbrated in published texts implies immortality, and seriously fails to embrace a preferred resurrectional eschatology as professed credally. I therefore conclude that OB/ND phenomenology, rather than offering alleged glimpses of eternity, reflects living, not dead, brains re-awakening to full conscious-awareness from antecedent metabolic insults.

Background Migraine is a comprehensive endemic disease who is affecting both women and men, but with higher prevalence among women because of hormonal factors. Risk factors for the disease are female gender, hereditariness, depression and socio-economic factors. Migraine can be triggered by factors like stress, menstruation, irregular routines for sleep and unbalanced meals and diet. Migraine is a condition that causes a big suffering for the affected individuals. Aim The aim of this study was to describe individuals' experiences of how migraine is affecting the daily life, out of the aspects like working life, family life and social life. Method A literature overview was maintained, and eight qualitative studies and two quantitative studies between the years 2003- 2014 were analyzed. Results The analysis of the articles lead to one main theme; "Guilt, compensating and restrictions" and seven subthemes "Not being able to perform their best", "Met with incomprehension", "Not being able to take care of home and children", "Not enough", "Avoiding activities", "Always be prepared" and "Living with restrictions". Conclusion Migraine is affecting the daily life among these individuals in a great extent. The disease makes it hard to perform well at work. The individuals where met with incomprehension which made them feel questioned. It was though for the individuals to take care of their home and family. The restricted life that they had and not being able to participate in activities caused isolation. All of this caused feelings of guilt.

Background; Gynecological cancer is a common term for cancer in the female genitals and 2013 there were about 2800 women in Sweden that was diagnosed. This form of cancer and the treatment that is used, affects the sexuality and also the fertility of the women. Aim; The purpose with the essay was to illustrate the experience of the sexuality after the treatment of gynecological cancer. Method; The method used in the essay was a systematic translation of different literature. Of all the articles used there were eight that was qualitative, two quantitative and one was a combination of both methods. The analytic process was accomplish with the support of the Friberg (2006) analytic method. Results; The analysis resulted in two categories; Physical changes after the treatment and the treatments impact on the sexuality of the women. The physical changes that occurred because of the treatment was recurring and it showed that it was primarily surgery that hurt the woman body. It was also shown that the biggest impact that the treatment had on sexuality was pain and reduced desire for sex. And it also showed that sexuality got a new meaning for the women and they found new ways to express their feelings towards their partner. Conclusion; It was showed that the sexual experience primarily was affected by the physical consequences that the treatment had and not only because of the cancer itself. And it can because of this conclution be of significance that the nurse focus on the effects of the treatment, like vaginal anatomy and physical and psychological effects to be able to support the womans sexual well-being