published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Legislation in South Africa pertaining to the care and protection of children is presently being revised and changed. Should alternative care be necessary for a vulnerable child, the Children's Act 38/2005 prioritises a foster care placement over a child and youth care centre of which a Children's Home is a part. Given the steady decline in traditional family living due to, amongst other things HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment in South Africa, the dominant view of family care being prioritised may not always be feasible in reality. The study researched this view by hearing the voices of children and their caregivers, in both foster care and in Children's Homes by conducting a qualitative study based on the exploratory and descriptive designs A purposive sampling strategy was used as there were clear criteria for the selection of participants. There were two sample groups. One consisted of child participants and the other consisted of caregivers viz. foster parents and child-care workers. Caregivers were included for the purposes of enhancing reliability, validity and trustworthiness of the study. Data was collected by means of semi-structured in depth interviews with the child participants. Two focus groups were held with the caregivers; one with the foster parents and the other with the child-care workers. Both the in depth interviews as well as the focus group discussions were guided by similar themes that were linked to the main objectives of the study. The findings revealed that children's voices were largely absent in decisions pertaining to their well being; that they preferred to live with families of origin as opposed to alternative care and should they be placed in alternative care, foster care was preferred to Children's Homes. The findings further emphasized the need for infrastructural support such as family preservation programmes, financial and social work support for all poverty stricken families and strengthened human resources for Children's Homes. Recommendations therefore centred around ways in which to capacitate families of origin; ways of including children in decision making and the necessary infrastructural support to ensure optimum care for vulnerable children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007

The problem of this study was to specify personality changes of children during their first five months of residence in an institutional home and school, as measured by the California Test of Personality.

This study investigates (1) whether infants cared for by a single caregiver exhibit more attachment behaviors than do infants cared for by multiple caregivers and (2) whether sex differences are found in these behaviors. Twenty-six Black infants, nine to twenty-three months of age, in a day-care center, were observed during one brief low-stress separation from a caregiver. Data were taken using six indices of attachment: maintaining proximity, visual regard, touching, protesting, seeking proximity, and greeting. Where subjected to a two-way analysis of variance, the obtained results showed no significant differences in the effects of the two types of care. However, visual regard and greeting behaviors were observed significantly more frequently in females than in males.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Not available / text

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

The present study aims to explore the experiences of caregivers working with children living with HIV/AIDS in the context of a children's home. While there has been research conducted on family members as well as community based caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS, there has been a paucity of research on caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS in Children's homes. There is a strong need to address this area of deficit in order to identify and tackle areas of difficulty as well as rewarding aspects to enhance the caregiving experience This pilot study adopted the interpretive research paradigm, is qualitative in nature and utilized in depth interviews as a means of data collection. Four women working as caregivers at the children's home were interviewed and the data obtained was analysed using thematic content analysis. The present study highlights the positive as well as the negative aspects of caregiving from the perspective of the caregivers. While caregivers identify the difficulties that they face as a result of caregiving, they also acknowledge the rewards that they attain from their line of work. Furthermore the present study emphasises the coping strategies employed by the caregivers on a personal and an organisational level as well as the resources that aid coping and the constraints against utilising the coping resources. In addition issues of attachment and detachment associated with caring for children, that are particularly pertinent to these non -familial caregivers have been explored. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.

The study sought to obtain an insightful understanding of the life-world of youth who have not only experienced long-term separation from their biological parents and families but who have also simultaneously experienced prolonged institutional life in a children'e home. Using a descriptive praxis in the context of an existential phenomenological perspective, the study elicited from participants written descriptions of their personal experiences of the phenomenon of self-fulfilment. The data were structurally analysed, expressed in the form of extended descriptions and utilised as the basis for an exposition/appreciation of the life-world relationships of institutional youth. The target group of teenagers was drawn from a specific children's home. However, in order to enhance the findings of the study, data from a comparative group of youth from intact families in the community were also utilised. The study yielded some useful comparative insights which not only formed the basis for certain recommendations but also served as directions for future research. Hopefully, these recommendations and research proposals will be of some immediate interest and comfort to both reeearchers and practitioners in the field of residential child and youth care

The purpose of the present study is to obtain an understanding of the primary school child's life world while resident at a Boys' Town. The study presents an extensive review of the literature on developmental phases of the primary school child, relationships with himself, his family and peer group while resident in an institution. The study employed the use of quantitative and qualitative measures to elicit information from the child. To enhance the findings of the study, information from a comparative group of primary school children with intact families from the wider community was utilized. The target subjects in the study included all primary school children resident at a Boy's Town in Tongaat. The results yielded useful insights in the life world of the primary school child. These insights into the life world of the primary school child formed the basis for recommendation and served the direction for future research. These insights into the life world of the primary school child formed the basis for recommendation and served the direction for future research. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)