The aim of this study was to evaluate the problem solving proficiency of Physical Science learners in Highveld Ridge East circuits in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between proficiency in conceptual and algorithmic problem solving, to compare the percentage of algorithmic and conceptual problems that were correctly and incorrectly answered, problems not attempted at all and finally to categorize Physical Science learners according to their stoichiometry problem solving proficiencies. The target population for this study was Grade 12 Physical Science learners in Highveld Ridge East and West circuit in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. To achieve the aim of this study and its subsequent objectives random sampling was used to select the three schools and the sample after a stoichiometry achievement test was administered by Physical Science teachers, who were teaching the participants at their respective schools. The researcher scored the tests using a memorandum. The results of this study indicated that learners’ proficiency in both algorithmic and conceptual problem solving was low, there was a weak positive correlation between algorithmic and conceptual problem solving proficiency, the percentage of solutions that were correctly solved was the lowest compared to the percentage of incorrect solutions and problems not attempted. The other result of this study was that there were no grade 12 Physical Science learners with high algorithmic and high conceptual abilities, a few learners had high algorithmic and low conceptual abilities and the majority of the learners had low algorithmic and low conceptual problem solving abilities. This implies that Physical Science teachers in these circuits should focus on developing both algorithmic and conceptual problem solving strategies when teaching stoichiometry. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Dissertation submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Magister Technologie: Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Background: Assessing the nutritional status of adolescents could be a catalyst in addressing malnutrition at an early age and at a school level. Objectives: The study was conducted to examine the nutritional status and dietary pattern of adolescent girls attending school in Lindelani, KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: Adolescent girls were selected from a randomly selected high school. A total of 157 adolescent girls aged 13 to 18 years were surveyed for socio-demographic indicators, nutritional status and dietary intake. Data were collected by interviewing the adolescent girls and the parents using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaires. Weight and height were measured and socio-demographic data collected by means of a questionnaire. Dietary intake data were gathered by using two 24hr recall questionnaires and a QFFQ. Results: The findings indicated that adolescent girls in Lindelani face two distinct nutrition situations, underweight and overweight. The nutrient intake was compared with the dietary reference intake (DRI). The prevalence of undernutrition (7.6%) among the participants assessed as stunting (height-for-age) was based on the usual pattern of food intake. The results revealed that 92.4% of the girls were of normal height for age (>-1SD to +3SD), 10.8% were overweight (>+2SD to <+3SD) and 1.9% were obese (>+3SD). Consumption of high carbohydrates based food items was prevalent and carbohydrate intake correlated positively with the BMI-for-age Z-score. The income of the household was assessed, however, there was no statistically significant correlation (p=0.442) between BMI-for-age (Z- scores) and the caregivers level of income. For the intake of protein and dietary fibre, at least 40 and 144 participants, respectively, did not meet the dietary recommended intake measured by the 24hr recall. The study explains that not only is there under and over nutrition in this group but also inadequate micronutrient intake, especially of essential nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and calcium. A substantial proportion of the girls did not consume adequate folate. The households that reported to have had adequate food at all times were only 29.3%. Conclusion: The results show a lack of dietary variety, which may contribute to the nutrient deficiency. Both undernutrition and overnutrition was prevalent among the girls. The majority of the population had a lower energy intake than recommended. Intervention strategies are needed to improve the dietary intake of adolescent girls and overcome the crisis of malnutrition.

Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Adolescence is a trying developmental stage and the high levels of violence that many adolescents are exposed to in South Africa could negatively influence their well-being. Self-efficacy is reported to be an important protective factor for adolescent well-being. Hence, the first aim of this study was to determine the nature of the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and self-reported aggression in an adolescent sample. The second aim was to explore whether there are differences in perceived self-efficacy and self-reported aggression pertaining to gender, age and residential area respectively. Three high schools in the peri-urban area of Worcester from mid to low socio-economic communities were selected and 344 (13 – 19 years) Afrikaans speaking high school learners were randomly sampled. The Self-efficacy Questionnaire for Children and the Aggression Questionnaire were used to measure self-efficacy and aggression. The findings from this research indicate that there was a significant negative relationship between self-efficacy and aggression. However, a positive correlation was found between emotional self-efficacy, verbal aggression and hostility for the total group. Females and peri-urban adolescents scored significantly higher in the total self-efficacy scale and subscales, namely, academic, social and emotional self-efficacy than the males and rural adolescents. Males also reported significantly higher physical aggression scores than females, whereas females reported significantly higher hostility scores.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adolescents are regarded as a high risk group in South Africa with the highest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence occurring in this group. Prevention among adolescents is therefore a key in decreasing the HIV burden. This thesis aims to assist in the design of trials by simulating the potential outcomes of a combination prevention trial in adolescents. We develop a stochastic individual-based model stratified by sex and age. We then use this model to determine the impact of various prevention packages on HIV incidence among adolescents participating in a hypothetical trial over a three year period. The trial that is simulated involves an intervention arm, in which adolescents are offered a choice of a prevention methods (including medical male circumcision (MMC), oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral-based vaginal microbicides (ARV-VM)), and a control arm. We predict that the impact of a full prevention package on HIV incidence would be a 46% per personyear( PPY) (95% CI 45–47%) risk reduction. The combination of MMC and PrEP has a substantial impact on HIV incidence in males, with a 51% PPY (95% CI 49–53%) relative risk of HIV infection. Offering women the choice of PrEP, a microbicide gel or a microbicide in the form of a vaginal ring would be less effective, with a 57% PPY (95% CI 56–58%) relative risk of HIV acquisition. This is not substantially different from the relative risk estimated when the vaginal ring alone is offered, as the ring is assumed to be the most accept able of the three prevention methods. We determine a sample size requirement of approximately 1013 in each arm of a trial would achieve 80% power to detect a statistically significant reduction in HIV risk. We find that the relative risk is sensitive to the assumed degree of correlation between condom use and the acceptability of the prevention method. We also find that the most efficient trial design may be to offer both MMC and PrEP to males but to offer only a microbicide ring to females. Further work is required to better understand the processes by which adolescent prevention method choices are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Adolessente word beskou as ‘n hoe risiko groep in Suid Afrika, met die hoogste menslike immuniteitsgebrekvirus (MIV) insidensie in hierdie groep. Voorkoming van MIV onder adolessente is daarom noodsaaklik om die MIV las te verminder. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om te help met die ontwerp van studies deur die moontlike uitkomste van ‘n kombinasie-voorkoming studie in adolessente te simuleer. Ons het ‘n stogastiese individu-gebaseerde model, gestratifiseer met betrekking tot seks en ouderdom, ontwikkel. Ons het toe die model gebruik om die impak van ‘n verskeinheid van voorkomingspakette op MIV insidensie onder adolessente wat deelneem aan ‘n hipotetiese proef oor ‘n drie jaar periode, te bepaal. Die proef wat gesimuleer word behels a intervensie groep, waarin die jong volwassenes ‘n keuse van voorbehoedings metodes (insluitende mediese manlike besnydenis (MMB), pre-blootstelling profilakse (PrBP) en anti-retrovirale vaginale mikrobisiedes (ARV-VM)) aangebied word, en ‘n kontrole groep. Ons voorspel dat die impak van ‘n volle voorkomingspaket op MIV insidensie ‘n 46% per persoon-jaar (PPJ) (95% VI 47–47%) risiko vermindering sal wees. Die kombinasie van MMB en PrBP het ‘n substansiele impak op MIV insidensie onder mans, met ‘n relatiewe risiko van MIV infeksie van 51% PPJ (95% VI 49–53%). Om die keuse van PrBP, ‘n mikrobisiede gel of ‘n mikrobisiede in die vorm van ‘n vaginale ring aan vrouens te bied, is minder effektief, met ‘n relatiewe risiko van MIV infeksie van 57% PPJ (95% VI 56%–58%). Hierdie verskil nie substansieel van die beraamde relatiewe risiko in die geval waar slegs die vaginale ring gebied word nie, aangesien daar aanvaar word dat die ring die mees aanvaarde van die drie voorkomingsmetodes is. Ons het bepaal dat ‘n steekproef van ongeveer 1013 individue in elke arm van die proef nodig is om ‘n 80% kans te he om ‘n statisties betekenisvolle afname in MIV-risiko te bespeur. Ons vind dat die relatiewe risiko sensitief is tot die aanvaarde graad van die korrelasies tussen kondoom-gebruik en die aanvaarding van die voorkomings metodes. Ons het ook gevind dat dit mag wees dat die mees doeltreffende proef ontwerp is om beide MMB en PrBP vir mans en slegs ‘n mikrobisiede ring vir vrouens te bied. Verdere werk word benodig om die prosesse waarby jong volwassenes keuses maak oor voorkomingsmetodes te verstaan.

M.Ed. ( Educational Psychology) / This research study shows that young HIV sufferers undergo disturbances involving the mind, body and spirit causing a variety of future adjustment difficulties, problems and coping abilities. This is attributed to fear, loss, grief, guilt, denial, anger, anxiety, depression, stress, physiological changes, pain and hypochondria. This study indicates that they are particularly fearful about being isolated and rejected. They are overwhelmed by thoughts of loss of everything, accompanied by profound feelings of grief. Guilt and self-reproach affect their health further, having an effect on them both physically and mentally. The uncertainty of their future having contracted HIV intensifies anger with themselves as well as others. This also brings about anxiety due to lack of information and appropriate support systems in Soweto...

This study investigated the relationship between traditional masculine role norms, body image discrepancy, body appearance schemas, and sociocultural attitudes towards appearance in a sample of 495 Indian South African school going boys, between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. The main objective of this research study was to investigate the interrelationships between these variables in terms of how they relate to the experience of body image discrepancy for Indian males in the context of the regulatory norms and practices of traditional masculine ideology. Also examined were the traditional male role norms associated with the boys’ cognitive body appearance schemata. In addition this study attempted to identify the role played by the portrayal of Indian male somatoforms in Indian cinema on the personal and collective evaluation of masculine appearance for a sample of Indian school boys. The variables of interest were measured using the Masculine Role Norms Inventory (MRNI; Levant & Fisher, 1998), Lynch and Zellner’s Body Figure Drawings (1999), Appearance Schemas Inventory (ASI; Cash & Labarge, 1999), and the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Scale-3 (SATAQ-3; Thompson, van den Berg, Roehrig, Guarda, & Heinberg, 2004). The above constructs were considered in light of biographical questions which pertained to self-worth, the psycho-behavioural implications of pursuing an enhanced appearance, and Indian cinema. The findings of this study showed how a sample of South African Indian boys are defining and refining a localized masculine sense of self within the broader interplays of South African gender relations and masculinities. Analysis revealed the traditional masculine role norms of status-seeking, heterosexism, anti-femininity, and emotional stoicism, shared positive and significant correlations with body image discrepancy. Nontraditional masculine attitudes were similarly associated with body image discrepancy. Moreover it was shown that the influences of sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, and a more substantial investment in body appearance, were key ingredients for participants positioning an athletically muscular and toned male body as their ethnomorphological and masculine ideal. Finally, concerning trends in steroid and supplement use were illustrated as foremost risk behaviours associated with support for a muscularised, traditionally masculine subjective and normative agenda. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Child sexual abuse and its potential negative psychological effects exists the world over. In view of the unique history of South Africa, characterised by inequality and incumbent socio-economic ills, a history of CSA is likely to add to a tapestry of cultural, political, social and economic afflictions for a great number of affected adolescents. Additionally, HIV/AIDS estimates indicate that a growing number of children are infected and orphaned daily. The present research therefore investigated the prevalence of child sexual abuse and explored the relationship between a history of sexual abuse and psychological adjustment, in South African adolescents. The sample included 330 Grade 9 learners from two high schools in the rural, urban and peri-urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data related to experiences of abuse. To assess adjustment, the Reynolds Adolescent Adjustment Scale Inventory was also incorporated into the questionnaire. The current study showed a 57.6% prevalence rate of sexual abuse amongst the sample. There were no statistically significant differences between sexually abused adolescents and those without a history of abuse on the psychological adjustment scale. However, there was a significant association between gender, age at time of abuse, being abused by a step-parent, late disclosure, and interface with the police, in relation to psychological adjustment problems. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

AIDS is a syndrome that affects millions of South Africans. Adolescents have been regarded as a potential high-risk group with regard to HIV infection due to their increased sexual activity. Changing behaviour, even that of adolescents, who are just beginning to experience and experiment with their sexuality is perhaps the biggest challenge facing HIV / AIDS prevention in South Africa. There is an urgent need for more knowledge and information on adolescent sexuality, and their knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV / AIDS that can impact intervention programmes. The aim of this research was to examine knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding HIV / AIDS among adolescents at a rural Junior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methodology. The participants were grade 7 to 9 learners at the school; 46 males, and 74 females (n=120). The research instrument used was an anonymous self-report questionnaire. Data on behavior was gathered through 9 open-ended questions. Findings revealed that adolescents had higher-level knowledge about AIDS although there were also misconceptions. Their attitudes were both negative and positive. Data on reported behaviours revealed that most learners have changed their behaviours, 90% reported that they would use a condom to prevent the spread of the disease and, they indicated that a person should have one partner. It is recommended that a programme be developed to educate adolescents about sexuality in an objective and factual manner. Outsiders, not necessarily teachers should be used to implement such programmes, and the programmes should be adaptable to any circumstances, as not all schools have the facilities to their disposal like videos and films. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Summaries in Afrikaans and Engish / Hierdie studie handel oor 'n hulpverleningsprogram vir die begaafde seun wat onderpresteer in die sekondere skool. Navorsing toon dat aansienlik meer seuns as meisies met hierdie probleem worstel en gevolglik word hulle voile potensiaal nie verwesenlik nie. Dit het 'n doeltreffende hulpverleningsprogram in die brandpunt van die studie gestel. Literatuurstudie toon dat baie bestaande hulpverleningsprogramme gerig is op primereskoolleerders en dat Suid-Afiikaanse hulpverleningsprogramme beperk is. Die doelstelling van die studie fokus op hulpverlening deur 'n interdissiplinere spanbenadering aan die adolessente begaafde seun wat onderpresteer. Die twee vraelyste vergemaklik identifisering van die eiesoortige probleme en behoeftes van die kind en fokus op die funksioneringsbeeld van die kind-in-totaliteit. Hulpverleningsvoorstelle word in die Akkumulatiewe BINGO-Plantabel vervat. Hulpverlening geskied intensief op 'n een-tot-een-basis en moet ortodidakties en ortopedagogies verantwoordbaar wees. Volgehoue bemoeienis met die opvoedeling lei tot noukeurige evaluering van die leerder, asook van die hulpverleningsprogram / This study deals with a support programme for the gifted boy who underachieves in the secondary school Research shows that more boys than girls experience these problems and consequently their full potential is not realised. Hence the focus on an effective assistance and support programme. Literary studies show that many existing support programmes target the primary school pupils and that South Afiican support programmes are limited. The aim of the study focuses on assistance to the gifted adolescent boy who underachieves, through an interdisciplinary team approach. The two questionnaires facilitate identification of the unique problems and needs of the child and focus on his totality. The Accumulative BINGO Plan chart contains suggestions for assistance. Support is intensive on a one-to-one basis and must be according to orthodidactic and orthopedagogical principles. Continuous involvement with the educand leads to an accurate evaluation of the learner and the support programme. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthopedagogiek)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Text in Afrikaans / In hierdie studie is gepoog om te bepaal hoe adolessente adapteer wanneer hulle alleen (sonder hul gesin) in Suid-Afrika agterbly terwyl hul ouers langtermyn buitelandse <liensverng. Om te kon bepaal hoe adolessente adapteer, is daar eerstens 'n uitgebreide literatuurstudie onderneem. Die Veerkragtigheidsmodel van gesinstres, aanpassing en adaptasie van McCubbin is as teoretiese onderbou gebruik. Tweedens is 'n empiriese studie onderneem deur die gebruik van die "A-Cope" vraelys om te bepaal watter adaptasiegedragspatrone en adaptasiegedragstipes deur adolessente gebruik word in stresvolle situasies (soos byvoorbeeld wanneer hulle alleen in Suid-Afrika agterbly wanneer hulle ouers langtermyn buitelandse <liens verrig). Die empiriese studie het aangetoon dat die adaptasiegedragspatrone en -gedragstipes, wat die mees waarskynlikste is, die vermyding van probleme is. Die mees onwaarskynlike adaptasiegedragspatroon is die gebruik van professionele ondersteuning. Aanbevelings is gemaak in die belang van adolessente, hul ouers en die maatskaplike werker van die Departement van Buitelandse Sake. / This study endeavoured to determine how adolescents, cope when they are left behind in South Africa (without their families) while their parents do long term foreign service abroad. To determine how adolescents cope an expansive literature study was firstly undertaken. The Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation by McCubbin served as the theoretical basis. Secondly, an empirical study was undertaken. The A-Cope index was used to determine which coping patterns and coping behaviour adolescents apply when dealing with stressful situations such as when they stay alone in South Africa while their parents serve abroad. The empirical study revealed that the coping patterns and coping behaviours that adolescents respectively apply the most, are avoidance of problems. The most unlikely coping behaviour that adolescents will apply, is to seek professional assistance. Recommendations are made in the interest of adolescents, their parents and the social worker at the Department of Foreign Affairs. / Social Work / M.A.(Social Work)