In Canada, the natural birth rate is declining in part because of delayed childbirth (Canada 2016). As a result of their decision to postpone parenthood and their increasing age, more couples are turning to assisted reproductive treatment (ART) including in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive. The risk of IVF failure, the detrimental mental health outcomes (i.e. depression) associated with infertility, and the strain on physical, financial, spiritual, and emotional resources contribute to heightened stress for IVF patients, and compel them to identify and leverage psychosocial supports. Since the quality of social support individuals receive depends on the nature of communication they share with the receiver, it is important to consider how disclosure builds social support. Common social support channels such as spouses, family, friends, counsellors, and support groups and their associated communication patterns have already been explored in the fertility literature whereas processes integral to peer relationships, a support that women have signaled as promising, remain uncovered. It remains important to understand the nature of peer relationships in the context of infertility. This dissertation explores how in-vitro fertilization (IVF) users approached their decision to disclose to a peer and carried out their communication. Guided by the Disclosure-Decision Making Model (DD-MM) it starts by showing how IVF patients assess their support needs, and peers as recipients before communication takes place. It then delineates how these women execute their communication with specific focus on the modalities of their process and the scope of the disclosures of fertility-related and non-fertility related information between them. A sample population of 23 first-time and recurring IVF patients were interviewed. Results show that prior to disclosing to a peer, women reflect on information about their condition and their personal support needs on the basis of the adequacy of their social circles and perceptions of stigma, the benefits and drawbacks of secrecy versus transparency, and their personal motivation to leverage peer support. They also assess their peers, considering diverse pathways of connection as well as desirable peer traits which include IVF experience, other common ground and transparency. Relating to their communication, patients showed a distinct capacity to communicate with their peers and meet their support needs. The IVF patient-peer communication process is characterized through immediate disclosure transitions and backwards introductions, a solid mutual understanding when it comes to engagement and disengagement boundaries, a preference for digital communication via texting and instant messaging, and the coverage of a broad range of fertility topics in reciprocal conversations. The findings also show however that the majority of women choose to distance themselves and limit their conversations during the post embryo transfer waiting period and refrain from discussing pregnancy testing as a form of self- preservation. IVF patients share a natural relationship with peers. This dissertation points to opportunities to facilitate patient-peer relationships and enhance the fertility-care experience overall by embracing: the transparency of patients, better coping resources for men, safe places to personally connect in clinic and support group settings, and roles for all IVF patients in social support regardless of their outcome. It also suggests that patient-peer support is a pragmatic and flexible support channel that when managed properly can respond to patients’ personal disclosure and communication needs and preferences.

Whilst previous research has explored women's experiences of disclosing symptoms of postnatal depression (PND) to health professionals, very little qualitative research exists on women's experiences of disclosing to people in their personal support networks. Research has shown that some mothers with PND find it difficult to disclose to professionals and prefer to seek support from partners, family and friends. Aim: The current study aimed to explore the overall process mothers go through to disclose PND - to people with whom they have personal relationships, as well as health professionals. Method: Five women who experienced and disclosed PND participated in semi-structured interviews. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: The analysis produced four super-ordinate themes: 'Trying to cope whilst making sense of experiences', 'Deciding whether to disclose: Facilitative and inhibiting factors', 'The two-way interpersonal nature of disclosure', 'Disclosure as part of a transformative process'. Conclusions: This study highlighted the influence of internalised expectations of motherhood and stigma surrounding PND on how mothers try to cope with their initial symptoms and on their decisions about whether or not to disclose. The participants described a cautious approach to disclosure in which they had to deal with setbacks. Consequences of disclosing were considered alongside how the disclosure process was influenced by recovery from PND.

Magister Commercii - MCom / There is an increase in the number of people with disabilities entering, and in the workplace. Industrialised countries are encountering a workforce that is ageing, which makes the prevalence of disability, due to chronic illness amongst employees, more evident. However, even with legislation and policies that support people in the workplace, such as the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003 and the Code of Good Practice on Disability in the Workplace, many people still choose not to disclose their disabilities. Therefore, the main purpose of the study is to identify the perceived factors that could possibly prevent the disclosure of disability in the workplace. The study was conducted at one of the universities in the Western Cape. The study was qualitative in nature and made use of semi-structured interviews. Ten participants took part in the study and comprised of two academic staff members from each of the faculties on the main campus. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data where various themes and subthemes emerged.