The recent and past history of South Africa make this an ideal setting for the study of attitudes of children towards themselves, their own race group and other groups. This research examines self-esteem, perceived social stratification, racial identification and preference attributions. The study followed a cross-sectional design with a sample of 228 grade 1 and grade 4 school pupils. These children were selected from three different types of schools in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region ensuring representation from three of the traditionally classified race groups - Black, Indian and White. Three assessment instruments were administered: the Culture-Free Self-esteem Inventory of Battle (1992); the Social Status Technique which assessed Perceived social stratification, .racial identification and preference attributions; and an adaptation of the Social Distance Scale of Bogardus (1925) which was administered to a proportion of the sample and correlated with the Social Status Technique preference scores as a measure of validity for this scale. Analysis of the results included provision of reliability and validity data of the Social Status Technique. Results both confirm and contradict some of the various findings of recent local and international research. With respect to self-esteem, it was found that the younger black children showed significantly lower scores than the Indian and white children of the sample. The younger black children also showed less distinct scores on racial identification, as well as evidence of out-group preference attributions. Older black children showed clearer ingroup identification and preference. The younger Indian children identified mostly with their own group, but not significantly more than with the 'Nhite group. They identified significantly less with the black group. Older Indian children showed clearer own-group identification. Preference attributions were made for the Indian and white groups by the Indian subjects. White children of both age groups showed more distinct scores on in-group identification, and a greater degree of in-group preference attributions than the other two groups. All subjects showed recognition of social stratification, rating the white group as more advantaged than the Indian, and particularly the black group, which was rated lowest. Theoretical implications are discussed, and recommendations for future research in this area are made. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

Thesis (M.Occ.Ther.((Faculty of Health Science))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

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

A research report submitted to the school of public health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of science in biostatistics. / Background: Globally malnutrition is an underlying cause of death and accounts for over 45% of under-5 mortality mainly resulting from diarrhoea and pneumonia. The post-2015 era has seen, more than 25% of Kenya’s population being food insecure, with considerable geographicandtemporaldisparities. Ourprimaryaimwastounderstandthedeterminants ofmalnutritionrelatedmorbidityandmortalityintheruralKilifiHDSS,withaspecialfocus on children admitted in Kilifi County Hospital (KCH) during 2002-2015. Methodology: Our study participants were all the children between the ages of 6 months to 15 years who were admitted two times or more at the KCH. The outcomes were derived from malnutrition-related admissions based on wasting (WHZ<-2) and oedema and the discharge outcome whether alive or died. There were 3114 children with a total of 7620 admissions for children with more than one admission. In the exploratory data analysis, temporality and seasonality were determined using SARIMA time series models. Morans I index was used to investigate for the presence of spatial autocorrelation. SatScan was used to identify the spatial clusters of malnutrition related admissions and mortality. To understand mortality patterns, geo-additive logistic models were fitted to the KCH data. Mixed effects negative binomial models with separate space and temporal random effects were fit using the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Estimation procedures. The Bayesian methods were used to estimate the spatial parameters using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) assisted with either Metropolis Hastings or Integrated Nested Laplace Approximations (INLA). iii ABSTRACT Results: Therewere17,740childrenobservedovertheperiodofstudyand4.01%ofthosedied. A total of 23,347 admission events were observed of which 7,128 were malnutrition related. Outofthe17,740childrenadmitted, 3,114hadoneormoreadmissionevent. A seasonal hike in the May to July month was identified for malnutrition admission. Children with morethanoneadmission,(7620admissions)~24%(n=1858)hadamalnutritioneventand 6.24%ofthemdied. SpatialhotspotsclusterswereidentifiedintheNorthandSouthofthe creek and areas near Kilifi Town was identified as cold spots. Children with two or more severe diseases are more likely to have a malnutrition admission event and females are less likely to be admitted with malnutrition. There was a protective effect as the children grewolderandalsoastheirbodyweightsincreased.Themaleshadahigherriskofdeath compared to the females and a year increase in age reduced the risk of death by 15%. Conclusion: Abetterunderstandingofthefactorsthatcontributetomalnutritionattributableadmission and mortality can be used to advocate for and develop earlier and more appropriate responses. Additionally, this can provide an indication of future trends and the potential impact of interventions.Importantly, including spatial and temporal random effects biostatistical modelling can help reduce bias reporting and help understand better the patterns of morbidity and mortality. Campaigns providing food and/or vitamin or other supplements can contribute to reducing morbidity and ultimately deaths in Kenyan childrenandbuildingmorehealthfacilitiestoreducethedistanceoftraveltocareishighly recommendable. / GR2018

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

With 10% of the population being infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), South Africa has the highest number of infections in the world (StatsSA, 2013). HIV results in cognitive and motor deficits in children as the severe compromise of the immune system leads to neurodevelopmental dysfunction peri-natally (Ruel, Boivin, Boal, Bangirana, Charlebois, & Havlir, 2011). Neurocognitive deficits affect overall general intellectual abilities and include difficulties with attention and speed of information processing, verbal language, executive –abstraction, complex-perceptual motor function, memory and motor and sensory function (Dawes & Grant, 2007). Developmentally, it is evident that working memory provides a crucial interface between perception, attention, memory and action (Baddeley, 1996; Baddeley 2003). Therefore the purpose of the study was to investigate the working memory profiles of both an HIV positive children and a control sample, on cognitive tasks (Automated Working Memory Assessment), general intellect tasks (Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices) and language competence tasks (Sentence Repetition Test). The current study compared 26 HIV positive children (mean age = 6.58 years) to 26 matched controls (mean age = 6.73 years). It was found that both non-verbal IQ and language proficiency were correlated to HIV status and thus were used as covariates in the study. MANCOVA’s were conducted on the data and produced findings that showed that there were only significant differences in visuo-spatial short-term memory between the two groups. Furthermore, it was also found that there were significant differences between the groups on nonverbal IQ and language proficiency. Therefore, the results showed that HIV may have an overall effect on non-verbal ability and language proficiency and a few aspects of working memory such as visuo-spatial short-term memory. Together with future studies focused on larger sample sizes and children who are not currently on HAART, early developmental interventions can be formulated to assist South African HIV-infected children so that the neurocognitive effects are lessened and their overall lifestyle is improved.

The transition from home to preschool is a very emotional and sometimes distressing period for both parent and child. The teacher plays a significant role, in that they are entrusted with the distressed and separation anxious child, and assist in helping both parent and child to adjust to the change. Research in the field of early childhood separation anxiety has suggested that, when the child has difficulty managing their anxiety, maladjustment can potentially predispose them to various other forms of pathology later in life. Thus, the potential implications of maladjustment simultaneously imply the importance of understanding and helping anxious and struggling preschoolers to adjust to developmental demands. This study qualitatively explored the perspectives and experiences of teachers, and how they have come to make sense of and respond to separation anxiety in children. Four private preschools in the Johannesburg area participated in the study and a sample of thirteen teachers were interviewed. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews which were audio-recorded. A thematic content analysis of the collected data revealed two core themes concerning teachers’ views on separation anxiety. The first theme addressed the ‘challenges encountered’ during the transitional period, which focused primarily on the presentation, impacts and predisposing factors of separation anxiety. The second major theme addressed ‘helpful qualities in the caregiver role’, which discussed useful qualities to be considered when engaging with a separation anxious child. Collectively, these findings presented an understanding of the various ways in which teachers make sense of and respond to separation anxiety during the transitional process. These qualitative insights also add to the existing body of literature, highlight areas for future research and attempt to offer thoughts on how separation anxiety can be managed, as to avoid further exacerbation and implications on later development.

Given the focus on cognitive-developmental trends in how children understand rich and poor, many researchers have developed a concern that research has ignored the influences of children's contexts. For this reason this study aimed to build on previous research (particularly that by Leahy, 1981, and by Bonn et al.,1999) by combining the cognitive-developmental model with the need to recognize contextual influences inherent in children's understandings of social constructs, while relating this to a theoretical framework which can provide a more thorough picture of the way in which children understand rich and poor. This was done using a qualitative interpretive design. Specifically this involved a combination of focus groups and drawing activities with a group of 20 South African children from a local government, former model C, primary school located in a relatively lower socioeconomic area in Pietermaritzburg, in which their perspectives and understandings of socioeconomic status were explored. In applying the sociocultural approach in data analysis, Rogoff's (1995, 1998) notion of the sociocultural three planes of analysis were used to examine how the children's accounts reflect the personal, interpersonal, and contextual factors. Within each of these planes, the principles and methods of a sociocultural discourse analysis using interpretive repertoires was applied, with a focus on the respective level. Results revealed that while the trends in the children's ideas were consistent with Leahy's (1981) cognitive developmental trends, the particular ideas expressed by the children were embedded and predominantly informed by the social and cultural context of the interpersonal group, their everyday lives, and South African society. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) largely remains an unknown form of neurodevelopment disorder, despite the global trend of increasing prevalence. South Africans, in general, have little awareness and knowledge about this relatively rare form of neuro-developmental disorder which could so easily be misunderstood due to the major areas of difficulty experienced by children with ASD. The aim of this study is to explore African parents’ experiences in relation to having an atypically developing child who is eventually diagnosed with ASD. A qualitative approach was adopted in this study, so that the researcher could gain a “rich” description of the participants’ experiences of raising a child with ASD. The pathways and steps taken to arrive at this diagnosis and their reactions to the diagnosis were a central aspect of this research. Eight black South African parents (mothers and fathers) of children who have been diagnosed with ASD, were interviewed to ascertain their understanding of their both typical developmental patterns and their child’s atypical development, the experience of getting the diagnosis and the experience of how raising a child with ASD has been and is for them as African parents. The data obtained was analysed using thematic analysis. The results suggested that African parents experience and understanding of ASD is largely influenced by their frames of reference. Further, the parents turned to their traditional beliefs when faced with challenges. However, other interventions such as religion and finally the western practices were explored by the parents. This study therefore concludes that the African parents understanding and experiences of raising a child with ASD is initially influenced by the parents cultural frame of reference and later by western exposure. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Thesis (MTech (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / Epidemiological reports have shown that South Africa, whilst a developing country, irs overweight and obesity prevalence rates in children is fast approaching those seen in the developed world. This country's population is unique in that it is made up of different ethnic groups with different socia-economic status, partly due to the past and present political environments in the country. South Africa, in particular, is faced with a rapid increasing childhood obesity of 10% among children under the age of two and 5-20% among those less than six years of age. The prevalence of obesity is increasing in children of all ages and represents the complex integration of genetic, behavioural and environmental influences. The Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase Phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) gene is located on chromosome 6q22-q23; a locus linked to obesity and diabetes, spans 83 kb of genomic DNA and contains 25 exons. Studies in humans have shown a correlation between overexpression of ENPP1 and insulin resistance, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. ENPP1 has been implicated in up to 20% of Caucasian and 50% of Black communities suffering from obesity. The overall objective of the proposed study is to assess whether ENPP1 polymorphisms contribute to childhood obesity/overweight, and their association with components of metabolic syndrome in a South African Coloured population. Subjects for this study were identified through a screening program that aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity in learners between the ages of 8 - 18 years from the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The first phase of the project was to clearly differentiate between obese subjects and controls. The cut-off points for obesity established by Cole and co-workers in 2000, and adopted by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), were used to classify the obese subjects.