PHDRDV / Institute for Rural Development / Institute for Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation

This study sought to determine if ANC and PMTCT services are utilized within the first trimester of pregnancy by the women in East Ekurhuleni sub-district. Quantitative descriptive research was conducted on 390 eligible pregnant women and data collection was done using structured questionnaires. The results indicated that women start ANC late despite their knowledge of first trimester as the best time to start ANC. Actions that would motivate them to start ANC early were explored and barriers were identified. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

High prevalence of mental illness in South African and limited Mental Health Care (MHC) resources call for ways to supplement the overburdened system to meet the rehabilitative and supportive needs of service users as stipulated in the MHC Act no. 17 of 2002. Various psychological, social, and financial difficulties plaguing MHC users require holistic treatment intervention to help them cope with their conditions. This study explored the meaning of a Tshwane District community-based support group for MHC out-patients to help illuminate the value the group had for the members. A Social Constructionist epistemology informed the qualitative research approach. Data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews and employing a collage-making method. The main themes illuminated by thematic analysis suggest that the group provided the members with a sense of belonging, mental and physical mobilisation and stimulation, a source of support, multiple learning experiences, and contributed to personal transformation and growth. / Psychology / M.A. (Social Science (Research Consultation))

High prevalence of mental illness in South African and limited Mental Health Care (MHC) resources call for ways to supplement the overburdened system to meet the rehabilitative and supportive needs of service users as stipulated in the MHC Act no. 17 of 2002. Various psychological, social, and financial difficulties plaguing MHC users require holistic treatment intervention to help them cope with their conditions. This study explored the meaning of a Tshwane District community-based support group for MHC out-patients to help illuminate the value the group had for the members. A Social Constructionist epistemology informed the qualitative research approach. Data were collected by conducting semi-structured interviews and employing a collage-making method. The main themes illuminated by thematic analysis suggest that the group provided the members with a sense of belonging, mental and physical mobilisation and stimulation, a source of support, multiple learning experiences, and contributed to personal transformation and growth. / Psychology / M.A. (S.S. (Research Consultation))

Puberty rites are practised in many countries including South Africa. In South Africa the puberty rites have different names and different practices. This study focused on vukhomba among the Manchangana/Vatsonga. Vukhomba is conducted exclusively for girls who have reached menarche. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of utilising vukhomba for the improvement of the health status of women. The study design is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive contextual research study conducted in the Northern region of the Northern Province among Vatsonga\Manchangana in four selected areas. The ethnographic strategy was used to gain access to the vukhomba to view and describe the rite from an emic perspective. The sample included all girls who were initiates during January 1998 and December 1999 in the four selected areas, as well as Vadzabi, varileri, initiated girls, initiated women and vukhomba elders who attended the initaitions. The techniques for data collection included participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and feedback workshops. The findings indicate that vukhomba is conducted during the school holidays in order to cater for girls who are still attending school. The sexuality education in this rite is mainly about encouraging initiates to maintain their virginity for their future husbands. Vukhomba therefore teaches girls attending the initiation the facts of life. It was however, found that girls often attend the initiation for material gain and respect for elders. The content of sexuality education information given to girls during the rite is inadequate. Initiated women and girls wanted to gain more knowledge about their bodies, their health, menstruation, child bearing and pregnancy, contraceptives and pregnancy. After reviewing the findings of the research an intervention programme was developed and discussed with the initiated women and initiated girls. Vukhomba elders accepted the intervention programme, however, certain topics were not approved e.g. contraception. The intervention programme is expected to form part of the initiation programme in the future. Initiated community members will be trained to facilitate the activities of this programme. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil.

This study investigated the health needs of immigrant women from the African Great Lakes living in South Africa in the province of Gauteng, Tshwane Metropolitan city. It described their challenges and related factors compromising their holistic wellness, and identifies their context specific health needs as a gender group. A qualitative approach was utilised concurrently with participatory action research method. Data collection involved triangulation of instruments. A literature study was conducted to select relevant information usable as basis for this study. Data analysis and interpretation revealed factors that make it difficult for immigrant women from the African Great Lakes region to gain access to health care services in South Africa, identifying their specific women’s health needs. Recommendations proposed that policy makers and implementing professionals rendering women’s health care services should consider utilising a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to meet these basic needs. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public health)

A descriptive survey to identify factors influencing relapse of psychiatric outpatients in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape was undertaken. A questionnaire was used to collect data from family caregivers who were relatives of psychiatric patients receiving their monthly medications from two rural clinics. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. A total number of 92 family caregivers participated. Respondents reported side effects of psychotropic drugs, poor family role, poor referral system, lack of home visits, non-compliance and stigmatization as major factors contributing to relapse of psychiatric outpatients. Active involvement of caregivers in follow up care of their relatives is effective in fostering collaboration between the psychiatric hospitals and patients with the common goal of relapse avoidance. It is recommended that adequate provision of resources in conjunction with health education is effective in enhancing collaboration towards prevention of relapse in psychiatric patients. This would promote team work among patients, caregivers and health care providers. / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

Text in Afrikaans / Drug dependent adolescents do not display a clear understanding regarding the value of social work intervention during the process of rehabilation, causing them to not utilize the profession of social work effectively during drug rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore and describe the nature and contribution of social work service delivery to drug dependent adolescents from their own perspective. A qualitative research approach, an explorative research design, and a snowball sampling technique were implemented. The sample consisted of drug dependent adolescents from the Western Cape. Semi-structured interviews were executed determining the participant’s perception of the nature and contribution of social work service delivery. Amongst others, the findings indicate that: • social workers are not sufficiently prepared, trained or committed to render effective, professional services to drug dependent adolescents; • social workers need to continuously revisit their knowledge, skill and attitude regarding this specialised field of service rendering. / Social Work / M.A. (Maatskaplike Werk)

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) has been rapidly on the ascendency in the recent years globally due to its co-infection with HIV/AIDS. TB case finding is one of the technical pillars of the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) TB strategy and there has been advocacy for early TB case detection to be the new focus of TB control efforts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this non-experimental study was to assess the determinants of TB case finding among pulmonary TB patients registered for treatment in Makana Municipality METHOD: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional descriptive study among PTB patients registered for treatment at the primary health care clinics in Makana Municipality was done. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires while sampling was by systematic sampling of PTB patients at five systematically selected clinics. RESULTS: Patient–related delay contributed more to total delay, in this study sample, than health system-related delay. Health system delay was found to be significantly associated with poorer finances, passive smoking history, seeking care from multiple health providers, initially visiting a non- NTCP health provider, TB stigma , overcrowding in the household and having difficulty with breathing as an initial symptom (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a significant delay in TB case finding among PTB patients in this local municipality and patient related determinants contributed more than health system related determinants to this delay. There is need for the municipal TB programme to embark on an aggressive health education programme to furnish the populace with accurate information about TB, improve their health seeking behaviour and help address the issue of stigma associated with TB. / Health Studies

The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of general nurses working at Standerton hospital medical wards which also admit psychiatric patients. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach was used for the study. The study population consisted of seven general nurses working in medical wards at Standerton hospital. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who met the inclusion criteria. Researcher used in-depth face to face interviews to collect data until data saturation was achieved. Tesch’s method of qualitative data analysis was utilised to identify themes. Three themes and five sub-themes emerged from the study: theme1: perceived danger due to aggression sub-themes stress for medical patients, stress for medical patients’ families and stress for nurses. Theme 2: lack of skills in dealing with psychiatric patients’ sub- theme use of restrains. Theme 3: self fulfilling prophecy subtheme reported incidences. The study findings demonstrate the plight of general nurses who are not trained to work with psychiatric patients but continue to do so. Findings further accentuate what is already known about the labelling that goes with psychiatric patients and aggression as a resultant effect. Recommendations were made for future research, policy makers, nursing education and practice. / M.A. (Health Studies)