Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The first objective of the study was to explore whether a correlation exists between anxiety symptoms and stressful life events within a sample of marginalised South African youths. The second objective was to examine the psychometric properties and cross-cultural validation of the Dominic-R when administered within the aforementioned sample. The participants consisted of a sample of 185 children aged between 10- and 15- years. Children completed three self-report questionnaires, namely the Dominic-R, the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS), and a modified version of the Major Life Events Checklist (MLEC-M). Results indicated that albeit rather weak, significant positive correlations were nonetheless obtained between the total Dominic-R and SCAS scores, and stressful life events experienced. Furthermore, the psychometric properties of both the Dominic-R and the SCAS were moderate (convergent validity) to acceptable (internal consistency) for the sample. The implications of these results provide tentative evidence for the utilisation of the Dominic-R within South African samples. The limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die eerste doelwit van die studie was om vas te stel of daar ‘n korrelasie bestaan tussen angssimptome en stresvolle lewensgebeure binne ‘n steekproef van gemarginaliseerde Suid-Afrikaanse jeugdiges. Die tweede was om ondersoek in te stel na die psigometriese eienskappe en kruiskulturele validering van die Dominic-R soos toegepas op voorafgenoemde steekproef. Die deelnemers het bestaan uit ‘n steekproef van 185 kinders tussen 10 en 15 jaar oud. Die kinders moes drie selfverslagvraelyste invul, naamlik die Dominic-R, die Spencekinderangsskaal (Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale – SCAS) en die aangepaste weergawe van die Kontrolelys vir Belangrike Lewensgebeure (Major Life Events Checklist – MLECM). Alhoewel redelik swak, het resultate tog getoon dat daar ‘n beduidend positiewe korrelasie was tussen die algehele Dominic-R- en SCAS-tellings. Verder was die psigometriese eienskappe van beide die Dominic-R en die SCAS gemiddeld (konvergente geldigheid) tot aanvaarbaar (interne konsekwentheid) vir die steekproef. Hierdie resultate bewys tentatief dat die Dominic-R bruikbaar is binne Suid-Afrikaanse steekproewe. Die beperkings van die studie en aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing word bespreek.

The case fatality rate for malnutrition at St Barnabas Hospital over the past years has been around 38%. The rates in other district hospitals in the Eastern Cape province were found to be in excess of 30%. In June 2000, the Eastern Cape Department of Health introduced a protocol for in-patient management of children with severe malnutrition, with the aim of reducing case fatality rate below 10%. St Barnabas Hospital introduced the Eastern Cape protocol in August 2003. An evaluation was done in November 2003 to assess the protocol's impact on the case fatality rate. The rate remained high, at 37.5%. This study descibed the current practices and attitudes of the nurses as St Barnabas Hospital paediatric ward, in the management of severely malnourished childen.

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. December 2017. / Unilateral hearing loss (UHL), commonly known as 'single-sided deafness,' constitutes an ignored and under-researched population group. The limited existing research has established that persons with UHL tend to experience challenges in various social, emotional, language and academic areas, and thus persons with UHL experience more problems than previously realised. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the socio-emotional experiences of three persons with UHL. In addition, the researcher’s personal narrative as a person with UHL is included to provide another perspective. The participants were interviewed which provided narratives The theoretical framework of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological model (1977-2009) and Vygotsky's (1962-1998) theories of language were used to interpret the influence of a child's surrounding social and cultural environments, and their interactions. The narrative data were analysed and interpreted using coding and categorising processes. Findings from the personal narratives revealed themes of anger, isolation, frustration as well as, indicated that children with UHL require assistance regarding disclosing their hearing loss. Additionally, topics such as ‘teasing’, ‘disturbing experiences during hearing loss diagnosis’ and ‘feelings of loneliness’ were also revealed. This study established that a child's surrounding social and cultural environments play a significant role in shaping their attitudes and perceptions of their unilateral hearing loss, and not all of the participants experienced disabling social challenges. Those who have intervention opportunities such as counselling, develop more effective communication and coping skills required for persons with UHL. In addition, links between interventions and coping skills were also revealed. Recommendations for future research include investigating the links between a child with UHL, intervention and coping skills, with a particular focus on their quality of life experiences. Significantly, there is a need for intervention programmes that address the social and emotional needs of children with UHL on an individual basis. Keywords Unilateral hearing loss; hearing related quality of life; Coping skills; Expressive Language; Stories; Autoethnography; Narrative Inquiry. / LG2018

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Thesis (M. A.( Clinical psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Refer to document

M. Tech. Biomedical Sciences. / Examines the physical fitness levels of school children in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is envisaged that the present study will help in identifying the physical fitness levels of South African children at risk of being overweight and obese. Such findings might inform public policy as a guide to the formation of possible intervention strategies that could help to promote physical fitness among children as well as prevent and manage the surging prevalence of excessive weight and obesity in South African children. Additionally, the results of this study will provide useful comparisons with results in developed and developing countries and thereby providing baseline data for future epidemiological studies of lifestyle on physical fitness and body composition of adolescent children in Limpopo, South Africa.

The case fatality rate for malnutrition at St Barnabas Hospital over the past years has been around 38%. The rates in other district hospitals in the Eastern Cape province were found to be in excess of 30%. In June 2000, the Eastern Cape Department of Health introduced a protocol for in-patient management of children with severe malnutrition, with the aim of reducing case fatality rate below 10%. St Barnabas Hospital introduced the Eastern Cape protocol in August 2003. An evaluation was done in November 2003 to assess the protocol's impact on the case fatality rate. The rate remained high, at 37.5%. This study descibed the current practices and attitudes of the nurses as St Barnabas Hospital paediatric ward, in the management of severely malnourished childen.

Thesis (MTech (Biomedical Technology))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2004 / Introduction and Background: The prevalence of obesity amongst both the adult and paediatric population has assumed almost epidemic proportions in many developed and developing countries. A recent study by the Medical Research Council found that a disturbing 20% of all South African children could be categorized as being obese. Limited data is currently available on the prevalence of obesity in South African children, particularly from the previously disadvantaged population. Given the global epidemic of paediatric obesity, hypertension and type-2-diabetes and the limited available data relating to obese South African children, further studies to enhance the understanding of the risk factors associated with the epidemic are imperative. Aims and Objectives of the Study: The objectives of the study were to: 1. Determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst leamers attending schools in the communities of Belhar, Delft and Mfuleni within the City of Cape Town, South Africa. 2. Determine the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension amongst learners attending school in the communities of Belhar, Delft and Mfuleni in the City of Cape Town. 3. To investigate the association of overweight and obesity with diabetes and hypertension in children and adolescents, and • To determine the risk factors associated with overweight, obesity, diabetes and hypertension Sample Population: Excluding learners that did not meet the inclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 338 learners aged 10 - 16 years attending the government funded primary and secondary schools and residing in the target communities.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The street child that is driven by circumstances to Jive outside the supportive structure of the family, is on his own. He doesn't have the educational developmental opportunities that children who grow up in families and societies do. He finds himself in a unique educational and living environment. From an educational psychologist point of view, this environment is abnormal. It is therefore a great challenge for the educational psychologist to try and avoid or resolve negative effects of the child's living environment. The aim of the study is to investigate and describe the experiences of the Hillbrow street child, as well as to determine guidelines for supporting these children. An exploratory-, descriptive-, contextual- and qualitative study was done, with the aim of gaining insight and understanding into the life of the street child in Hillbrow as well as his experiences of his situation. The phenomenological interview was used to gather data. The interviews were recorded on a tape recorder and later transcribed. The purposive sample consists of four street children who were selected specifically for the study. The data was processed according to a combination of the Giorgi's & Kerlinger's methods. The results obtained from the interviews were placed in four categories. These categories are: The street child's continuous struggle to survive, his need for a 'normal child life', his inability to accept responsibility and the presence of a normative awareness within the street child. Guidelines for supportive action towards street children by the educational psychologist are discussed in regard to the four categories. These categories are interdependent, as work in one category inevitably influences the other categories. For this reason the educational psychologist's supportive action needs to be holistic to include all four categories. In conclusion it is clear that the experiences of the street child are multi-faceted. In general it appears that the street child has many limitations and difficulties which he experiences, and that input by an educational psychologist can have meaningful influence in his life.

M.Ed. (Multicultural Education) / With the emphasis of segregation, alienation between population groups in South Africa has come into being. The school thus has a duty as regards the child's civic development and can play a roll in counteracting such alienation between population groups. Education means, amongst other things, to guide pupils towards social interaction and better intergroup relationships. To successfully incorporate social interaction and better intergroup relationships into our multi-cultural society, a better concept regarding individual and cultural differences is necessary. The lack of intergroup contact and the existence of prejudices and stereotypes, especially among juveniles necessitate pilot surveys to establish strategies for changing and counteracting negative and racist attitudes. A great deal of literature indicates that stereotypes and prejudices can be changed by refining information regarding the stereotypes and prejudices. As such, the contact hypothesis is one of the methods employed to bring about these changes. The information which is obtained from other groups and individuals, may be used to change stereotypes and prejudices. However, inter group contact alone is not sufficient to improve inter group relationships and stereotypes and counter prejudices permanently. Consequently, in this short study, research has been initiated as to the possibility of breaking down and counteracting prejudice and stereotypes by issuing direct and indirect instruction on maintained negative attitudes, usages and habits. Group discussions were held to provide more information on the cultural customs of two groups, and roll-play was employed to promote better mutual understanding. Intergroup contact was arranged between pupils of a black primary school and a white primary school. During the visits the pupils acted according to a preset programme. Before any contact or instruction took place, a pre-test in the form of a semantic differentiated scale was conducted to determine the groups' prejudices and stereotypes. At the conclusion of all activities, this assessment was once ageing made with both groups and any change of attitude could be determined. Although stereotypes offered resistance, a clear modification took constant place in the pupils' prejudices and stereotypes. The teaching strategies employed to bring about a greater knowledge and even appreciation of other groups, helped to produce these changes.