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Early childhood development has a lifelong impact on the future of each human being. However, all South Africans do not have equal access to the same quality ECD opportunities and services. As a means to advance knowledge in this regard, this study explores parents' perceptions regarding early childhood development (ECD) and their involvement therein, particularly within the Langkloof farming communities. Furthermore, the objective is to formulate guidelines, which can be applied to promote parents‘ involvement in ECD at home and at the ECD partial care facility the children are enrolled at. For this reason an interpretive, descriptive research design was utilised as methodology, which enables the determination of practical applicability. The data for this study was gathered by means of five focus groups, consisting of not more than eight participants per group. Participants were sampled though a purposeful sampling strategy to ensure that the most informative participants were selected for the study. Gathered data were transcribed and analysed on the basis of the basic qualitative analysis process, incorporating the thematic analysis strategy. The findings of this study indicate that parents have a pertinent understanding of ECD and parental involvement in relation to existing literature on ECD. Participants‘ perceptions complement existing ECD-related literature, indicating that parental involvement in ECD includes a home-centred as well as a facility-centred approach. Participants made reference to their concerns and satisfactions with the ECD services that they are currently receiving. They furthermore made reference to the challenges that prohibit them from optimal parental involvement in the ECD of their children, both at home, as well as at the ECD partial care facilities their children are enrolled at. Participants made suggestions on how they could be supported to address their concerns and challenges in both home-centred and facility-centred approaches in order to enhance parental involvement in their community. In general findings suggest that parents have the skills and are aware of their rights and responsibilities with regard to ECD parental involvement. However, if their insights were to be additionally buttressed in particular ways, their children‘s development in the early years could be enhanced. Based on the findings therefore, this study recommends that governmental departments focus on determining the actual requirements of parents, based on their unique understanding of their circumstances and beliefs by means of practice-based research in less fortunate communities. Furthermore it is recommended that government departments, other role players involved in community-based ECD service delivery and farm owners should play a developmental, empowering and supportive role to assist parents to improve in respect of home-centred, as well as facility-centred parental involvement in ECD. In general the findings of this study therefore suggest that support services to parental involvement in ECD must be individualised based on research and theory and the requirements of parents and children in a specific context. / Thesis (MSW)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Early childhood development has a lifelong impact on the future of each human being. However, all South Africans do not have equal access to the same quality ECD opportunities and services. As a means to advance knowledge in this regard, this study explores parents' perceptions regarding early childhood development (ECD) and their involvement therein, particularly within the Langkloof farming communities. Furthermore, the objective is to formulate guidelines, which can be applied to promote parents‘ involvement in ECD at home and at the ECD partial care facility the children are enrolled at. For this reason an interpretive, descriptive research design was utilised as methodology, which enables the determination of practical applicability. The data for this study was gathered by means of five focus groups, consisting of not more than eight participants per group. Participants were sampled though a purposeful sampling strategy to ensure that the most informative participants were selected for the study. Gathered data were transcribed and analysed on the basis of the basic qualitative analysis process, incorporating the thematic analysis strategy. The findings of this study indicate that parents have a pertinent understanding of ECD and parental involvement in relation to existing literature on ECD. Participants‘ perceptions complement existing ECD-related literature, indicating that parental involvement in ECD includes a home-centred as well as a facility-centred approach. Participants made reference to their concerns and satisfactions with the ECD services that they are currently receiving. They furthermore made reference to the challenges that prohibit them from optimal parental involvement in the ECD of their children, both at home, as well as at the ECD partial care facilities their children are enrolled at. Participants made suggestions on how they could be supported to address their concerns and challenges in both home-centred and facility-centred approaches in order to enhance parental involvement in their community. In general findings suggest that parents have the skills and are aware of their rights and responsibilities with regard to ECD parental involvement. However, if their insights were to be additionally buttressed in particular ways, their children‘s development in the early years could be enhanced. Based on the findings therefore, this study recommends that governmental departments focus on determining the actual requirements of parents, based on their unique understanding of their circumstances and beliefs by means of practice-based research in less fortunate communities. Furthermore it is recommended that government departments, other role players involved in community-based ECD service delivery and farm owners should play a developmental, empowering and supportive role to assist parents to improve in respect of home-centred, as well as facility-centred parental involvement in ECD. In general the findings of this study therefore suggest that support services to parental involvement in ECD must be individualised based on research and theory and the requirements of parents and children in a specific context. / Thesis (MSW)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The older person’s component of the population has increased rapidly in recent years due to developments in medicine, technology and other areas of life. Growing older implies a gradual decline in the physical, mental and social functioning of an individual. Older people consequently have to rely on others for assistance, and, in some instances, they are looked after in residential care facilities. These facilities should be sensitive to older person’s culture, religion, ethnicity, privacy, dignity and independence. The aim of this study was to explore older person’s experiences in an economically deprived residential care facility in order to understand what their needs are and how these needs can be met so as to enhance older person’s subjective well–being. Socio–ecological theory and the BBB (Being, Belonging and Becoming) model were used to assess the extent to which the facility promoted the well–being of the residents of the facility. A qualitative research study was undertaken to determine the older person’s experiences of the residential care facility. A purposive sample of eight participants - three black and five white with ages ranging from 65 to 75 - was used in the focus group discussions. Another method, the Mmogo–methodTM, made use of a sample of 23 participants - eight black and 15 white with ages ranging from 65 to 75. The focus group discussions yielded insight into the older person’s experiences of the facility while in the Mmogo–methodTM, a visually projective method, the participants made visual representations of their experiences thereby revealing the deeper meanings of the experiences. The data, both textual and visual, obtained from the focus group discussions and the Mmogo–methodTM, were analysed using thematic content analysis. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured through crystallisation. The study revealed that the older persons in the facility experienced a lack of autonomy, isolation and discrimination. It also appeared that they wanted more contact with people outside the facility. Some of the older persons engaged actively with their environment while others adopted a more passive stance. The study suggests that older persons should be given the opportunity to take decisions regarding certain aspects of their lives. Also, interventions aimed at dealing with personal loss and relational deficiencies and at promoting respect for diversity should be planned and implemented in order to improve the subjective well–being of older persons in residential care facilities. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The older person’s component of the population has increased rapidly in recent years due to developments in medicine, technology and other areas of life. Growing older implies a gradual decline in the physical, mental and social functioning of an individual. Older people consequently have to rely on others for assistance, and, in some instances, they are looked after in residential care facilities. These facilities should be sensitive to older person’s culture, religion, ethnicity, privacy, dignity and independence. The aim of this study was to explore older person’s experiences in an economically deprived residential care facility in order to understand what their needs are and how these needs can be met so as to enhance older person’s subjective well–being. Socio–ecological theory and the BBB (Being, Belonging and Becoming) model were used to assess the extent to which the facility promoted the well–being of the residents of the facility. A qualitative research study was undertaken to determine the older person’s experiences of the residential care facility. A purposive sample of eight participants - three black and five white with ages ranging from 65 to 75 - was used in the focus group discussions. Another method, the Mmogo–methodTM, made use of a sample of 23 participants - eight black and 15 white with ages ranging from 65 to 75. The focus group discussions yielded insight into the older person’s experiences of the facility while in the Mmogo–methodTM, a visually projective method, the participants made visual representations of their experiences thereby revealing the deeper meanings of the experiences. The data, both textual and visual, obtained from the focus group discussions and the Mmogo–methodTM, were analysed using thematic content analysis. The trustworthiness of the study was ensured through crystallisation. The study revealed that the older persons in the facility experienced a lack of autonomy, isolation and discrimination. It also appeared that they wanted more contact with people outside the facility. Some of the older persons engaged actively with their environment while others adopted a more passive stance. The study suggests that older persons should be given the opportunity to take decisions regarding certain aspects of their lives. Also, interventions aimed at dealing with personal loss and relational deficiencies and at promoting respect for diversity should be planned and implemented in order to improve the subjective well–being of older persons in residential care facilities. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) of long term care facility (LTC) residents is being recognized as an important outcome of care by LTC providers, researchers, and policy makers. For residents, measurement of QoL is a valued opportunity to express their perception of the quality of their daily life in the LTC facility. For clinicians, self-reported QoL provides useful information in planning and implementing resident-centred care. Purpose: The purposes of this study were: (1) to examine the distributional and psychometric properties of the interRAI Self-Report Nursing Home Quality of Life Survey (interRAI_QoL Survey); and (2) to explore the relationship of selected socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of residents and LTC facility attributes with residents’ self-reported QoL. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional observational study. A convenience sample of 48 volunteer LTC facilities from six Canadian provinces was involved in this study. Nine hundred and twenty eight (928) residents agreed to participate in this study. Resident inclusion required an interRAI Cognitive Performance Scale score of 0 (intact) to 3 (moderate impairment). Residents’ self-reported QoL was measured by trained surveyors using the interRAI_QoL Survey instrument. Residents’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from the most recentResident Assessment Instrument –Minimum Data Set 2.0 prior to the QoL interviews. LTC facility attributes were measured by a survey form specifically designed for this purpose. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the participating LTC facilities, the sample of residents, and residents’ self-reported QoL. Psychometric tests for reliability (test-retest and internal consistency) and validity (content and convergent) were conducted. Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine the relatioships between QoL and resident and facility charateristics. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of residents’ QoL. Results: The study confirmed the feasibility of assessing LTC facility residents’ self-reported QoL. The findings showed positive ratings of some aspects of residents’ daily lives while negative ratings in other aspects. Psychometric tests showed that the interRAI_QoL Survey instrument had test-retest reliability, internal consistency, content validity and construct (convergent) validity. Several resident and facility characteristics were associated with self-reported QoL. Religiosity and highest education level attained were significantly and positively associated with QoL. Other resident characteristics such as age, gender and marital status were not. Mild cognitive impairment, depression, aggressive behaviour, hearing impairment, bowel and bladder incontinence, and extensive assistance in activities of daily living were significantly but negatively associated with QoL. LTC facility ownership showed significant association with QoL. Residents in municipal LTC facilities followed by private LTC facilities reported higer QoL in contrast to charitable LTC facilities. Profit status, accreditation and leadership stability were not associated with QoL. Residents in rural settings reported significantly higher QoL than those in urban settings. Facility size (measured in number of beds), registered nurse hours of care, nursing staff turnover, and ratios of registered to non-registered nursing staff did not have a significant association with QoL. However, higher management hours and total hours of care had significant and positive associations with residents’ overall QoL. Multiple linear regression showed that residents’ religiosity, degree of social engagement, post secondary education, dependence in activities of daily living, and positive global disposition, and LTC facilities situated in rural settings and ownership type together accounted for 24% (adjusted R2=0.24) of the variance in overall QoL (the dependent variable). In logistic regression, low QoL was used as the binary dependent variable. Residents who were religious, were socially engaged and had a positive global disposition were less likely to report low QoL. In contrast, residents with dependence in activities of daily living and post secondary education were more likely to report low QoL. Residents in LTC facilities located in rural settings and operated by municipal or private operators were less likely to report low QoL compared to charitable facilities. Strengths and Limitations: This study had several strengths, including a sample of 928 residents who self-reported on their QoL and the use of RAI-MDS 2.0 for objective, external indicators of QoL. This study had several limitations, including response bias due to method of sample selection, inability to draw causal inferences due to study design; limited generalizability due to use of a convenience sample, lack of monitoring of surveyors for the integrity of resident interviews, and exclusion of residents with cognitive performance scale scores of more than three or inability to communicate in English. Future research should address these limitations. As well, future research should conduct more stringent psychometric analyses such as factor analysis and use multi-level modeling procedures. Implications: The findings of this study have implications for improving residents’ QoL, LTC facility programming, future research, and social policy development. Conclusion: QoL can be measured from resident self-reports in LTC facilities. Self-reports from residents may be used by clinicians to plan and implement resident-centred care. There are significant associations of residents’ QoL with select resident socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and facility attributes. Some of these resident characteristics and facility attributes may serve as predictors of QoL.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Optimal management of Type 2 diabetes requires that patients have a convenient method of collecting chronic medication. In the Western Cape Province, Type 2 diabetes patients can collect chronic medication from primary health care facilities including community health centres. The Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU) was established to facilitate the dispensing of chronic medication by making medication collection more convenient for patients and was expected to improve medication collection. However, it has been observed that some Type 2 diabetes patients fail to collect pre-packed CDU parcels on the prescribed date and time which could result in poor treatment outcomes and secondary complications. This study therefore aims to explore the factors that influence collection of CDU chronic medication parcels by Type 2 diabetes patients from the Elsies River Community Health Centre (CHC), a primary health care facility in the Western Cape Province. Methodology: An exploratory qualitative research design was used to explore the personal-, social-, health system-related factors that affect collection of pre-packed CDU parcels. Semistructured interviews were conducted in English or Afrikaans with 18 purposefully selected Type 2 diabetes patients who are registered to collect pre-packed CDU parcels from the Elsies River CHC, and three key-informants from the Elsies River CHC. Data was recorded using a digital recorder. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using inductive content analysis. Results: The main factors that facilitate collection of pre-packed CDU parcels were support from family and social support. On the other hand, social factors that were reported as barriers to collection were the safety of the patients and collectors failing to collect on behalf of the patient. Patients' recognition of the value of their treatment and value of the service were the main personal factors which facilitated collection. Personal factors that were reported as a barrier to collection included forgetfulness, laziness and tiredness. Other personal factors that were reported by participants as barriers to collection were illness, transport problems, financial constraints and anticipating non-collection. Health service related factors reported as facilitating factors were reduced waiting time and mistrust of the off-site collection system. In addition, participation in the diabetes chronic club and pharmacy support were also reported as facilitating factors. Negative staff attitude and a limited collection time for pre-packed CDU parcels were reported as barriers to collection by Conclusion: Various personal-, social and health service related factors affect the collection of pre-packed CDU parcels by Type 2 diabetes patients from the Elsies River CHC. To improve collection among patients who fail to collect on their appointment date, the factors that have been found to facilitate collection should be extended to more patients. Recommendations: It is recommended that patients surround themselves with support structures including family, friends and community organisations to assist and motivate them in displaying adherent behaviour. Patients who make use of independent collectors should ensure that these individuals are reliable to avoid an undersupply of medication. Counselling and health promotion should be provided to patients by health service staff as a means of encouragement and empowerment. The diabetes club which serves as a source of information and support should be accessed by more patients. Open communications channels between health service staff and patients should be constructed to ensure that staff are aware of the barriers patients face.

My aim is to make a financial analysis of the private health care establishment: to assess whether the organisation finance its projects effectively and to identify its potential weaknesses. I would like to point out some measures of correction and submit them to the management of the assessed establishment.

Review of financial situation in the health-care facility Podřipská hospital with the policlinic Roudnice nad Labem, LLC, using selected methods of financial analysis.

Magister Artium (Child and Family Studies) - MA(CFS) / The field, institutional care and transitioning out of care, has been well-researched in different countries around the world. Recent research has begun to look more closely on how some post-institutionalized individuals overcome these challenges associated with institutional care and be able to adapt and integrate well in society. In other words, how post-institutionalized adults build their resilience.