An exploratory, qualitative research design was used to explore the role, attitude, views and competence of the community nurse to integrate children with disabilities into the community of the Mafikeng district, in the North West Province. Barriers to the integration of children with disabilities into the community as well as strategies to address these barriers were identified. Focus group discussions were conducted to collect data from the community nurses and parents of children with disabilities. Interviews were also conducted to collect data from the clinic health managers. The findings of this study reveal that the community nurse is instrumental in integrating children with disabilities into the community. However, barriers related to the family, community and health system are challenges to the integration process. The recommendations of this study deal with addressing these barriers. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

An exploratory, qualitative research design was used to explore the role, attitude, views and competence of the community nurse to integrate children with disabilities into the community of the Mafikeng district, in the North West Province. Barriers to the integration of children with disabilities into the community as well as strategies to address these barriers were identified. Focus group discussions were conducted to collect data from the community nurses and parents of children with disabilities. Interviews were also conducted to collect data from the clinic health managers. The findings of this study reveal that the community nurse is instrumental in integrating children with disabilities into the community. However, barriers related to the family, community and health system are challenges to the integration process. The recommendations of this study deal with addressing these barriers. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

My dissertation is aimed at the following questions: System of children care, organization of health-care policy in the Czech Republic, competencies and abilities to children care, document Health for Everybody in 21st Century, community nursing, nurse interventions in particular age categories, and my own research proceedings. The research section of the work contains both quantitative and qualitative research procedures. The data were collected of a questionnaire and semi-structured interview. The examined set of a qualitative research consisted of 9 respondents {--} 5 nurses and 4 medical practitioners for children and youth. The quantitative data were collected with an interview method. The questionnaires were designed for the unprofessional public {--} parents of children who are up to 18. The examined set of the questionnaire research consisted of 73 respondents (100%). The research proceeded from mid June 2008 to the end of July 2008 and its results have been processed into category tables and graphs in the program of Microsoft Office Excel 2007. I especially try to find the opinion of children nurses and children medical practitioners on introduction of a community children nurse in the Czech Republic and specify the functions that a community children nurse can perform in the Czech Republic when working with children community. I also try to find locations at which the community children nurse could work, and obstacles hampering to establish this new working position within the Czech Republic. Last but not least, I am interested in the public interest in the nurse{\crq}s affect to health protection and care for children. So far, there has not been a community nurse position established as an independent community professional in health protection and care for children within the Czech Republic. However, in other countries, community nurses work in the state interest and they form a part of the public health-care system. They are rewarded for their work, which is highly appreciated, from the public budget. Development of the community health-care is a WHO priority, and it has already established its firm position in the Czech health-care conception. As the main advantage of introduction of a community nurse I consider the fact, that both children and parents would have a better chance to use a wider variety of health-care services at school, in their household or at the doctor{\crq}s consulting room. Community nurse{\crq}s activities could help to inform families and to improve the health-care edification level. They could also assist the families that need highly intensive health and social care. Because of independent work of community nurses, nurse{\crq}s profession would become more attractive and nurse{\crq}s social position would improve.