Thesis (MA (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / South Africa has been a democratic country for more than ten years, and still transformation is not visible in many areas. Psychological services are inaccessible and unaffordable for the larger part of South-Africans. The B.Psych degree was specifically implemented to address this problem. The course aims to give graduates access to registration as counsellors at the HPCSA in order to bring psychological services to people more easily. This study thus explores the employment patterns of registered counsellors in South Africa. These counsellors have been trained to deliver services within the primary health care sector because most people use services within this sector. Only eight percent of registered counsellors in South Africa are working within this sector. Most registered counsellors are working in the education sector or the private sector. Counsellors that are working in the education sector are primarily delivering educational services and not psychological services. Counsellors that are working in the private sector are contributing to making services inaccessible and unaffordable to many people. The absence of workers in the primary healthcare sector is mainly because there is little employment for registered counsellors within this sector. The findings of this study are in accordance with the findings of Kotze (2005) that accessibility to psychological services did not significantly change with the implementation of the B.Psych course.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Unhealthy behaviour is a key modifiable factor that underlies much of the South African (SA) burden of disease and primary care morbidity. Chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, lung diseases and some cancers are linked to underlying behavioural issues such as tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating. Evidence shows that brief behaviour change counselling by primary care providers can be effective in helping patients to change risky lifestyle behaviours. However, the capacity of South African primary care providers to educate and counsel patients on lifestyle modification is generally poor. The need for primary care provider training in lifestyle counselling, is stated as a critical objective in ‘re-orientating’ the primary health care system to effectively address NCDs in the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs and their risk factors in SA. The overall aim of this research was to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a training intervention for primary care providers in the South African setting, which is based on teaching best practice, behaviour change counselling (BBCC) methods that can be used for patients with risky lifestyle behaviours associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). “Effectiveness” relates to the effect of the training on PCPs adoption of a patient centred approach, and skills acquisition after the training, and not the effectiveness in changing, or improving patient outcomes. The sequence of the abstracts of the four articles that were published from this research, gives an overview of the process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ongesonde lewenstyl kan gekoppel word aan die meeste chroniese siektes wereldwyd, en dra grootliks by tot die las van primere sorg morbiditeit, asook in Suid Afrika. Rook, ongesonde dieet, fisiese onaktiwiteit, en alkohol misbruik word beskou as die onderliggende risiko faktore wat verantwoordelik is vir die ontwikkeling van kardiovaskulere siektes, tipe 2 diabetes, respiratoriese siektes, sowel as sommige kankers. Navorsing het bewys dat primere gesondheidsorg werkers effektief kan wees om pasiente te help om hierdie gewoontes te bekamp. Nieteenstaande hierdie bewyse, is die huidige kapasiteit van primere sorg dokters en verpleegsters in Suid-Afrika nie voldoende om sodanige diens te verskaf nie. In die Nationale Strategiese Plan vir die beheer van chroniese siektes, word opleiding vir primere gesondheidsorg werkers geprioritiseer as n kritiese uitkomste vir die beheer van chroniese siektes, en die onderliggende risiko faktore. Dit is dus duidelik dat daar n behoefte is om sodanige opleidingprogramme te ontwikkel. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om n bewysgebaseerde opleidingsprogram te ontwikkel, te implementeer, en die effektiwiteit daarvan te evalueer in ons unieke primere gesondheidsorg sisteem in Suid-Afrika. Die opleidingsprogram moes ontwikkel word, vir beide primere sorg dokters en verpleegsters, sodat dit hulle in staat kan stel om pasiente te beraad oor enige van die vier risiko faktore.

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing) / In this research an attempt was made to identify manifestations of depression in black children and give mental health education to their mothers in an attempt to alleviate the state of depression in the children. A questionnaire was structured as a tool for collection data. The instrument was based on a standardized depression scale which was used cross-culturally by the World Health Organization during 1983. The non-probability sampling procedure was carried out utilising a purposive sampling method in compiling an experimental and a control group of mothers of depressed children in a quasi-experimental research design. A mental health education programme on depession was developed which was given to mothers in the experimental group. The individual method of teaching was utilised based on adult education principles. At the end of the mental health education session, each mother got a brochure in the language preferred by the mother. Mothers from the control group did not have any discussions on depression. The study was done over the period of three months from 6 August 1988 to 26 October 1988. The analysis of gathered data was computerised using the Mann-Whitney U-test of SPSSX for the independent group and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test for the dependent groups. The non-parametric statistics of the Z-va1ue and two-tailed probability was utilised. The findings on the comparison. between the experimental group pretest and the control group pretest revealed that there were not any statistical difference in eight of the ten variables of depression i.e. helplessness, anxiety, sleep disturbance, school problems, interpersonal relations, self concept, guilt feelings and the disturbance of perception. The other two variables, suicide and physical functioning, were not included because they showed significant statistical difference prior to experimentation. There was no significant statistical difference between the eight variables of the state of depression in the findings of the control group pretest with the control group post test. That means that if mothers of depressed children do not receive mental health education, the children's state of depression could remain the same. In conclusion, mental health education to mothers of depressed children seems to have a positive effect on a child's emotional stability. It can contribute substantially to diminishing the occurance of childhood depression.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV counseling and testing (HCT) is a cornerstone of both HIV prevention and care in South Africa, but only one in five South Africans who are aware of HCT services have been tested for HIV and hence the uptake is reportedly low. This study investigated factors that prevent the uptake of HCT programme in the workplace. Specific factors that were looked at include: fear of learning about one‟s HIV status, HIV-stigma and discrimination and knowledge of and attitudes towards HCT. The study employed descriptive survey design; anonymous questionnaires were randomly distributed irrespective of age, gender, marital status, race, educational level, work position and experience. Closed and open-ended easy- to- answer questions which were written in English were asked; and they required fewer instructions. Ethical issues were considered and university guidelines followed. The results of this study showed that a great proportion of participants (93.8%) tested for HIV as compared to (6.2%) who had never tested. Of these, 59.4 % tested because they wanted to know their HIV status and, 43.8% of participants preferred using the workplace HCT programme for convenience; while 50% used private facilities for privacy and confidentiality. The study further established that fear of knowing one‟s HIV status, workplace discrimination, knowledge of and attitudes towards HCT were not associated with workplace HCT programme uptake. The results did however show that both participants who had tested and those who had not tested (68.8%) demonstrated significantly greater AIDS-related stigma. Supportive and collaborative efforts are necessary to create and promote an enabling and conducive environment in order to dispel workplace HIV-related stigma. In addition, it is imperative to develop and implement workplace stigma mitigation strategy putting in place interventions that aim to reduce all forms of stigma, as well as emphasizing on the benefits of testing. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: MIV/Vigs-voorligting en toetsing is die hoeksteen vir beide die voorkoming en versorging van MIV-pasiënte in Suid-Afrika. Ongelukkig is net ongeveer een uit elke vyf mense bewus van hulle MIV-status. Die doel van hierdie studie is 'n poging om vas te stel waarom so min mense gebruik maak van gratis toetsingsdienste in die werksplek. 'n Beskrywende studie-ontwerp is in hierdie navorsing gebruik met anonieme vraelyste wat ewekansig versprei is onder 'n steekproef waarin geen onderskeid ten opsigte van ras, geslag. opvoedkundige vlak, posisie in die werk en ervaring gemaak is nie. Geslote en oop-einde vrae is gebruik en Engels is as kommunikasiemedium gebruik omdat al die proefpersone dit verstaan het. Resultate van die studie het aangetoon dat beduidend meer mense hulle wel laat toets het teenoor die wat hulle nie laat toets het nie. Die studie het verder bevind dat faktore soos die vrees om status te weet; diskriminasie in die werksplek, kennis van en houding teenoor MIV/Vigs nie geassosieer kan word met die lae opname van vrywillige toetsing in die werksplek nie. Die studie het wel bevind dat diegene wat hulle . laat toets het, beduidend meer stigma in die werksplek ondervind. Ondersteunende dienste is uiters nodig ten einde stigma suksesvol in die werksplek te bestuur. Daar word voorgestel dat daar 'n volledige opleidingsprogram ,in die werksplek van die organisasie wat in die studie gebruik is, ontwikkel moet word ten einde die invloed van stigma tot 'n minimum te beperk.

This study investigated social contextual factors influencing poor uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HCT) services by middle-aged black men in Ratanda, Heidelberg. A qualitative research approach was used in which ten men and two key informants were interviewed. Themes explored were the participants’ biographical characteristics; knowledge of HIV and AIDS; health-seeking behaviours; understanding of multiple sexual partnerships and male circumcision and challenges in utilising HCT services. Various social behaviour change theories formed the theoretical framework guiding this study. It was found that fear, stigma and cultural factors largely contributed to poor HCT uptake. Moreover despite the men’s high HIV risk perceptions, behaviour change lags behind. Greater efforts to establish a men’s forum to discuss sexual health matters in Ratanda is recommended. / Health Studies / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

This study investigated social contextual factors influencing poor uptake of HIV counselling and testing (HCT) services by middle-aged black men in Ratanda, Heidelberg. A qualitative research approach was used in which ten men and two key informants were interviewed. Themes explored were the participants’ biographical characteristics; knowledge of HIV and AIDS; health-seeking behaviours; understanding of multiple sexual partnerships and male circumcision and challenges in utilising HCT services. Various social behaviour change theories formed the theoretical framework guiding this study. It was found that fear, stigma and cultural factors largely contributed to poor HCT uptake. Moreover despite the men’s high HIV risk perceptions, behaviour change lags behind. Greater efforts to establish a men’s forum to discuss sexual health matters in Ratanda is recommended. / Health Studies / M. A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)