HIV-positive adolescents are an increasingly numerous and challenging population in the South African HIV/AIDS epidemic. Their access to, and retention in, ART care has become a pressing public health concern. Comprised of four journal articles, this thesis explores the practice of antiretroviral treatment (ART) among a cohort of HIV-positive adolescents (age 10-19) in South Africa's Eastern Cape. By 'practice', I mean the volatile, situated and relational 'work' that goes into young people's everyday achievement of ART - into consuming daily medication, regularly attending health appointments, and participating in HIV programmes. Through an exploration of the ways in which some HIV-positive adolescents use, appropriate, or reject ART care; this thesis contributes to a much-needed evidence-base on the needs and survival strategies of adolescent ART users. Data for this study was gathered through eight months of multi-method ethnographic fieldwork with 23 HIV-positive youth, their families, and local health workers. The findings elucidate adolescent ART as a complex (and often volatile) form of social incorporation, through which young people negotiate survival, care and moral connection in contemporary South Africa. Enrolling in ART meant being encompassed into a (often hierarchical) set of social relationships, through which adolescents sought belonging, recognition and protection, amid profound insecurity. Through ART and its associated programmes, adolescents and their families attempted to strengthen familial ties, appeal to powerful patrons, petition for care, and access basic resources. Yet these pursuits were often deeply ambivalent, as discipline, blame, and resentment often came encased in the terms of care. At the crux of each article is an attempt to understand how adolescents, often alongside their families, negotiated both the social stakes and possibilities of ART. Through these discussions, we might better be able to grasp the fragility and complexity of young people's retention in ART.

This study examines the impact of children’s grants on household access to food, education and health care. In the face of increased poverty and socio-economic inequalities, social grants are a critical poverty alleviation intervention implemented by the government of South Africa. The children’s grants are offered as part of the social security system which is provided for in the Republic of South Africa Constitution of 1996 and the Social Assistance Act of 2004. The basic needs conceptual framework is the lens informing the focus of the study. Among other major findings, the study reveals that (a) childrens grants play a critical role in improvement of access to food, health care and education, (b) childrens grants are used as collateral, to access short term loans, and (c) social networks and home gardens play a significant role in aiding children’s grants to ensure household access to food, education and health care.

I have outlined some objections to soteriologies that presume that only some are given a chance of eternal life. Such soteriologies can include or exclude those mentally competent but lacking human evangelisation. Fundamental to evaluating soteriologies I have looked at both what sin is (being and doing) and what salvation consists in, as regards divine and human interaction. On the one side I have considered God's goodness - would such a being act unethically regarding man's eternity? On the other hand I have looked at whether, and if so in what way, man is required to respond - in what way or ways is chance (if at all) given. Finally I have considered views about those who die in infancy. Here I have tentatively suggested my own theory which seeks to presume that before death every human being may choose to accept of reject God, a choice integral (I suggest) to salvation. / Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Systematic Theology)

M.Sc. (Psychology) / Increasing attention has over the past decade been directed at sexual abuse in the form of media exposure and the formation of specialised units for the protection of children's rights. In this manner the South African Police Service have, since the first Child Protection Unit was formed in 1986, established units country wide in an attempt to erradicate this phenomenon. An overwiew of the literature makes it apparent that there are lots of conflicting opinions pertaining to sexual molestation. Not only do researchers differ in their definitions of sexual molestation but also on the incidence, typology and ethiology thereof. Flowing from the diverse and far reaching consequences suffered by the victim coupled to the accompanied legal and ethical aspects, child molestation presents as an extremely complex phenomenon to fully address. The Child Protection Unit of the South African Police Service thus appears to be the most appropriate place for the handling of child molestation because of the law inforcement context thereof. The goal of the study was thus to identify the needs of this unit in an effort to help the unit achieve the highest possible standards of effectiveness. To realise this study a phenomenological investigative method was used in the form of a need assessment questionnaire which was sent to the Johannesburg and Pretoria units. Data was collected in the form of completed questionnaires and was evaluated and interpreted in a qualitative manner. Needs determined, amongst others, were for more extensive training in specialised areas as well as a need for the direct involvement of a social worker and a psychologist at the Child Protection Unit. The above mentioned needs in conjunction with other identified needs and criticism voiced by the respondents, formed the basis for the recommendations proposed at the end of this thesis.

公共圖書館是兒童主要獲取資訊及知識的場所，對於兒童而言，圖書館兒童閱讀空間閱讀氛圍的營造與空間規劃設計又為影響到兒童對於圖書館使用意願的關鍵。理想的兒童閱讀空間應該不論在閱讀空間設計、家具及設備安排、分齡分眾功能劃分上，都應該能呼應兒童及家長等使用者的需求，以吸引他們到圖書館來親近使用，並幫助兒童在利用圖書館的過程中培養閱讀的樂趣。本研究旨在建構適合公共圖書館兒童閱讀空間的原則及構面指標，以作為國內公共圖書館未來規劃及建置兒童閱讀空間時的參考。 　　本研究研究目的有四點：（一）以兒童需求中心探討圖書館兒童閱讀空間設計原則；（二）探討兒童與父母對圖書館兒童閱讀空間設計原則的認知；（三）探討兒童與父母對圖書館兒童閱讀空間的使用與滿意度；（四）探討影響兒童與父母對圖書館兒童閱讀空間滿意度的影響因素，以作為公共圖書館未來在兒童閱讀空間上的規劃參考。 　　為獲得研究結果，本研究首先分析國內外有關公共圖書館兒童閱讀空間規劃案例，並透過文獻分析法與訪談法具體建構出三構面19項指標，以及「公共圖書館兒童閱讀空間需求及滿意度調查問卷」作為研究工具。研究問卷並針對臺北市立圖書館總館及所屬分館的兒童閱讀空間進行發放，獲得以下結論：（一）兒童閱讀空間經過空間改善後多能滿足使用者期待；（二）兒童對圖書館服務需求多元，並非僅限閱讀；（三）安全性、共讀空間、閱讀氛圍營造會影響兒童使用意願；（四）安全性、家具樣式及哺集乳室的設置最受使用者滿意；（五）使用者認為圖書館應關注不同年齡的兒童及家長需求，增加團體討論室，區隔討論區與閱讀區。 / A public library is a major place where children can have access to information and knowledge. For children, the creation of a reading atmosphere and the spatial planning and design in the children's reading space at the library are the key to their willingness to use libraries. An ideal children’s reading space should be able to respond to the needs of children and parents and other users, whether in reading space design, furniture and equipment arrangement, or facilities for different age groups, so as to attract them to the library and encourage them to read for pleasure in the process of using the library. This study aims to establish the principles and dimension indicators for the children's reading space at the public library, which can serve as a reference for future planning and construction of children's reading spaces at public libraries in Taiwan. 　　The purposes of this study are to explore (1) the design principles behind the children's reading space at the library from the perspective of children's needs; (2) children's and parents’ perceptions of the design principles behind the children's reading space at the library; (3) children’s and parents’ use of and satisfaction with the children's reading space at the library, and (4) factors in children’s and parents’ satisfaction with the children's reading space at the library, in order to provide a reference for future planning of children's reading spaces at public libraries. 　　In order to obtain research results, this study first analyzed the cases of children's reading space planning at public libraries at home and abroad, and developed three dimensions and 19 indicators through literature review and interviews, as well as used as a research tool the Public Library Children's Reading Space Requirements and Satisfaction Questionnaire. The questionnaire was also distributed to the children’s reading spaces at Taipei Main Public Library and its branches, thereby reaching the following conclusions: (1) most of children's reading spaces can meet users’ expectations after the improvement of space; (2) children's demand for library services is diversified and not limited to reading; (3) safety, the family reading area, and the reading atmosphere have influence on children's willingness to use; (4) most users are satisfied with safety, the furniture style, and the establishment of a lactation room, and (5) users believe that the library should focus on the needs of children and parents of different ages, and increase group discussion rooms, and separate discussion areas from reading areas.

The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the general and emotional development of a sample of South African children between the age of five and eight years in residential care. More specifically, the study aimed to explore and describe the general level of development of a sample of children in residential care; to explore and describe the development of a sample of children in residential care in six areas of development; and to describe the emotional wellbeing of children in residential care. A non-probability, purposive sampling method was applied as the participants were comprised of children between the ages of 5 and 8 years housed at the residential care facility. The sample consisted of 11 children. The multiple case study method was used to achieve the aim of the study, using both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data consisted of scores obtained from the administration of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales - Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). The qualitative data was obtained from the Human Figure Drawing (HFD), participants’ scholastic progress reports, case reports from the residential care facility and clinical observations during the assessment period. The data was analysed according to thematic analysis. The results highlighted the pervasiveness of delays in all domains of child development of children housed in residential care, specifically that of language, social and emotional development. An important finding of the study was that decrements in these domains of development underpinned delays in the other domains of development since they form the foundation of learning and relating to the world. The study served to emphasize the importance of consistent developmental assessment in order to ascertain whether these children present with developmental delays and, if so, to xv identify which areas of development are most affected. Information from the developmental assessments could assist in the early identification of developmental delays and allow for individually tailored interventions to overcome such delays.

There were different kinds of imbalances that were created by the past regime in which race and colour were determining factors in terms of access to state welfare. The State Maintance Grant was one of the state welfare interventions where African women did not even know how or where to access the grant. When the Child Support Grant was introduced in 1998 it gave hope to the vulnerable section of the society, the children. The CSG is one of the poverty alleviation programs introduced by the government to target the poverty stricken children of South Africa. This is a means tested program which not all children are to benefit but a certain portion of the society. There are special conditions attached to the grant which require to be fulfilled. These conditions require the child to be fed, clothed, immunized, school needs be paid, and have proper accommodation. This study made use of the Mdantsane Township which is 25 km away from East London city centre as a case study to determine whether the CSG has managed to achieve its objective of relieving poverty among children, given the conditions of poverty and unemployment in Mdantsane. The findings of this study indicate that the people of Mdantsane are still in poverty and the most affected sections remain the children. The respondents indicate that the people are unemployed as a result the CSG seems to be the source of livelihood in these households leaving the children at a disadvantage as the grant is intended for x their own needs. Therefore there is a need to investigate whether the CSG has any impact on the lives of these children. Also since Eastern Cape is known to be one of the poorest provinces, it is important to investigate whether the CSG has become the source of livelihood in some households.

M.A. (Sociology) / South Africa's child protection system is widely reported to be in disarray, delivering deficient and fragmented services, which facilitate the occurrence of 'secondary abuse, compounded by the lack of information on the prevailing scenario in the country. This research study formed part of a national development project, aimed at investigating and improving the delivery of integrated child protection services. The study focused on the current levels of service delivery and the need for services integration in a multi-disciplinary, intersectoral system. Employing a multi-methodology Intervention Research strategy, the conceptual framework for the investigation was based on an open systems perspective. The research findings, generated by a national situation analysis of provincial and sectoral service providers, confirmed the interrelated prevalence of both inefficient service delivery levels and the urgent need for the integration of services. The results facilitated the drafting of provincial strategies, aimed at the improvement of service delivery and the inductive construction of a generic provincial model, while a national conference of service providers generated a proposed national integration strategy, based on a process model. The research has not only contributed towards the integration of child protection services, but also to the current transformation of the child protection system in South Africa.

No description available.

No description available.