Please read the abstract in the section 02back of this document / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted

AFRIKAANS: Die doel van hierdie studie was om te beskryf op welke wyse ek, in samewerking met die deelnemers aan my studie, ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan ontwikkel het. Die behoefte aan ‘n gestruktureerde MIV&VIGS-skoolplan het ontstaan tydens ‘n omvattende navorsingsprojek, waarvan hierdie studie deel uitmaak en waartydens laerskoolonderwysers die behoefte uitgespreek het om MIV&VIGS-geïnfekteerde en -geaffekteerde kinders beter te ondersteun. Ek het my studie vanuit ‘n interpretivistiese benadering onderneem en my navorsingsproses verdeel in drie fases, wat onderlê is deur deelnemende aksienavorsingsbeginsels. ‘n Gevallestudie is as navorsingsontwerp gebruik. Agt laerskoolonderwysers, in ‘n informele nedersettingsgemeenskap binne die Nelson Mandela Metropool, is by wyse van gerieflikheid geselekteer. Deur die verloop van hierdie studie het ek ‘n multi-metodiese benadering geïmplementeer. Gedurende Fase 1 het ek eerstens relevante verwante studies binne die omvattende navorsingsprojek tematies ge-analiseer, om deelnemers se idees en behoeftes betreffende ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan te identifiseer. Tweedens het ek gedurende ‘n eerste veldbesoek twee fokusgroepbesprekings gefasiliteer, om te bepaal wat deelnemers se bestaande kennis met betrekking tot die Departement van Onderwys se Nasionale MIV&VIGS-Beleid was; wat hulle onderliggende rasionaal vir die ontwikkeling van die MIV&VIGS-skoolplan was; wat die moontlike inhoud van ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan sou behels; asook hoe en deur wie die MIV&VIGS-skoolplan aangewend en benut sou kon word. Hierna het ek die rou data getranskribeer en op tematiese wyse ge-analiseer en geïnterpreteer. Ek het voortdurend gebruik gemaak van observasies, wat vasgelê is in die vorm van veldnotas, asook foto’s. Vir Fase 2 het ek tydens ‘n tweede veldbesoek ‘n deelnemende aksienavorsingswerkswinkel gefasiliteer. Gedurende hierdie werkswinkel is die inhoud van die MIV&VIGS-skoolplan verfyn en gefinaliseer. Vervolgens het Fase 3 die dokumentering van die MIV&VIGS-skoolplan behels, in die vorm van ‘n formele dokument en ‘n plakkaat. Tydens my derde veldbesoek, met die bekendstelling van die skool as Resource and Support Centre in die gemeenskap, is die MIV&VIGS-skoolplan in tweeledige vorm (plakkaat en formele dokument) aan die skoolhoof oorhandig. Die gebruik van ‘n navorsingsjoernaal het my in staat gestel om deurgaans my persoonlike opinies, reflektiewe gedagtes en indrukke van my navorsingstudie aan te teken. Tydens data-analise het ek drie temas geïdentifiseer. Eerstens is die onderliggende rasionaal vir ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan bepaal, waar verbandhoudende subtemas aangedui het dat onderwysers hulle kennis en vaardighede wou oordra na ander skole in die omgewing ter ondersteuning van die breër gemeenskap; dat die oordrag van kennis en vaardighede om geïnfekteerde en geaffekteerde kinders in die klaskamer meer effektief te ondersteun ’n behoefte was; en dat die behoefte verder bestaan het om kennis en vaardighede te dokumenteer in die vorm van ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan. Tweedens is die deelnemers se verwagtinge met betrekking tot ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan gepeil, waar moontlike fundamentele beginsels vir ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan en die implementering van ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan, as subtemas geïdentifiseer is. Derdens is die moontlike inhoud van ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan bepaal. Die subtemas wat voorgekom het, was die identifisering en verwysing van geïnfekteerde en geaffekteerde kinders, asook ondersteuning aan hierdie kinders. Op grond van die bevindinge van my studie kan die gevolgtrekking gemaak word dat deelnemende aksienavorsing ‘n moontlike wyse is waarop ‘n MIV&VIGS-skoolplan, in samewerking met onderwysers, ontwikkel kan word. ENGLISH: The purpose of this study was to describe the manner in which I, in collaboration with the participants of the study, developed an HIV&AIDS school plan. The need for a structured HIV&AIDS school plan stemmed from a broad research project of which this study forms part and during which the participating educators expressed the need to support HIV&AIDS infected and affected children more efficiently. I approached the study from an interpretivist perspective, underpinned by action research principles, and divided the research process into three phases. I implemented a case study as research design and selected eight primary school teachers in an informal settlement community in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, by means of convenience sampling. Throughout this study, I followed a multi-methodical approach. During Phase 1, I conducted an analysis of the transcripts of related studies within the broad research project, in order to identify the participants’ needs and ideas, concerning an HIV&AIDS school plan. Secondly, I facilitated two focus group discussions during a first field visit, in an attempt to determine the teachers’ existing knowledge concerning the Department of Education’s National HIV&AIDS Policy; what the underlying rational for the development of an HIV&AIDS school plan could be; what the possible content of such a plan could entail; and how and by whom such a plan would be utilised and used in the classroom. I transcribed the focus group discussions and thematically analysed and interpreted the raw data. Throughout, I made use of observations, captured in the form of field notes and photographs. For Phase 2, I facilitated a participatory action research workshop during a second field visit. During this workshop we finalised the content of the school’s HIV&AIDS plan. The third phase entailed the documentation of the HIV&AIDS school plan, in the form of a formal document and a poster. During my third field visit, at the launch of the school as a Resource and Support Centre in the community, I presented the schools’ principal with the HIV&AIDS school plan, in the form of the formal document and poster. I continuously relied on a research journal to document my personal opinions, reflective thoughts and impressions of the study. Subsequent to the data analysis I completed, three themes emerged. Firstly, the underlying rational for an HIV&AIDS school plan were determined, with sub-themes indicating that educators wanted to transfer their knowledge and skills to other schools in the area to support the wider community; that teachers wanted to transfer their knowledge and skills to support infected and affected children more effectively, and that the need existed for knowledge and skills to be documented in the form of an HIV&AIDS school plan. Secondly, the participants’ expectations of an HIV&AIDS school plan were determined, with the fundamental principles of an HIV&AIDS school plan and the implementation of the plan as related sub-themes. The third main theme indicated the possible content of an HIV&AIDS school plan. This theme comprises sub-themes relating to the identification, referral and support of infected and affected children. Based on the findings of my study, I can conclude that participatory action research might be used to develop an HIV&AIDS school plan, in collaboration with teachers. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major concern in the South African society. Although policies and legislation are directed at the protection of children, the high incidence of child sexual abuse is indicative of problems in society which cannot be addressed adequately with current service delivery. Individual interventions with children directly affected with CSA are still the norm, and even such services are inadequate to accommodate the high numbers of children affected by CSA. There is a polarity in terms of the shortage of social workers versus the need for intervention for this vulnerable group. Innovative and effective approaches to intervention for families affected by CSA were clearly needed. Based on practical experience in the field of CSA the researcher was interested in family play therapy as a possible approach to address CSA. Not only would more people be reached with limited services, but by involving family members in intervention it was envisaged that family systems would be strengthened, family members would be more attuned to each other and that the family would be more able to provide a safe space for the direct victim between sessions. Furthermore family members would be enabled to attend to their own processes of integration regarding the CSA. Intervention research guided this study aimed at developing tools for the helping profession. The research question focused on what the typical components would be of an integrated family play therapy approach. Participant groups included professionals working in the field of CSA. Focus groups and discussion groups with such professionals and also a literature review helped the researcher to identify functional elements to be included in a preliminary family play therapy model that was applied to four families who were affected by CSA. During the family play therapy sessions rich information was obtained on the experiences of families. Based on the data collection from the various participant groups an integrated family play therapy model was developed. Findings are reported in three articles. Article 1 outlines the views of professionals on family play therapy within the context of child sexual abuse in South Africa. The professional participants agreed that individual intervention in the context of CSA is not the ideal and that systemic, Gestalt-based family play therapy may offer avenues for trauma integration for family members. They also indicated that they do not have adequate knowledge and skills to engage in family play therapy. They made some suggestions for the incorporation of play in family play therapy interventions. The second article captured the experiences of family members as expressed in the family play therapy context and article 3 outlined an integrated family play therapy model based on the previous phases of the intervention research. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major concern in the South African society. Although policies and legislation are directed at the protection of children, the high incidence of child sexual abuse is indicative of problems in society which cannot be addressed adequately with current service delivery. Individual interventions with children directly affected with CSA are still the norm, and even such services are inadequate to accommodate the high numbers of children affected by CSA. There is a polarity in terms of the shortage of social workers versus the need for intervention for this vulnerable group. Innovative and effective approaches to intervention for families affected by CSA were clearly needed. Based on practical experience in the field of CSA the researcher was interested in family play therapy as a possible approach to address CSA. Not only would more people be reached with limited services, but by involving family members in intervention it was envisaged that family systems would be strengthened, family members would be more attuned to each other and that the family would be more able to provide a safe space for the direct victim between sessions. Furthermore family members would be enabled to attend to their own processes of integration regarding the CSA. Intervention research guided this study aimed at developing tools for the helping profession. The research question focused on what the typical components would be of an integrated family play therapy approach. Participant groups included professionals working in the field of CSA. Focus groups and discussion groups with such professionals and also a literature review helped the researcher to identify functional elements to be included in a preliminary family play therapy model that was applied to four families who were affected by CSA. During the family play therapy sessions rich information was obtained on the experiences of families. Based on the data collection from the various participant groups an integrated family play therapy model was developed. Findings are reported in three articles. Article 1 outlines the views of professionals on family play therapy within the context of child sexual abuse in South Africa. The professional participants agreed that individual intervention in the context of CSA is not the ideal and that systemic, Gestalt-based family play therapy may offer avenues for trauma integration for family members. They also indicated that they do not have adequate knowledge and skills to engage in family play therapy. They made some suggestions for the incorporation of play in family play therapy interventions. The second article captured the experiences of family members as expressed in the family play therapy context and article 3 outlined an integrated family play therapy model based on the previous phases of the intervention research. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Studies in both children and adults indicate that waist circumference (WC), a measure of abdominal obesity is closely related to cardiovascular risk factors. The accurate identification of abdominally obese children in health screening programmes for early intervention is of importance. There are, however, concerns about using international definitions for screening purposes because in most instances these have been derived from Western populations and, therefore, may have limited usefulness to children in other parts of the world. When these cut–off points are used in developing countries, they ignore the fact that the growth patterns of children and burdens of disease vary between countries. Due to lack of population specific cut–off points for children in the developing world it may be tempting and convenient to use the same cut–off points as for children in developed countries, but such a practice runs the risk of exporting failure. Ideally, a screening tool should have both high sensitivity and specificity, and these are important considerations in choosing the definition for the detection of childhood abdominal obesity. High sensitivity is necessary to avoid failure of identifying obese children and high specificity of the screening tool ensures that non–obese children are not misclassified as obese, which may otherwise lead to unnecessary treatment and psychosocial implications of stigmatisation. Failure to identify the abdominally obese child may have more serious consequences than misclassification, since it results in an increase in adult morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis was to examine fat distribution patterns of black South African (SA) children in relation to health risk. The specific objectives were to: compare the body composition of black stunted and non–stunted children from two rural communities in South Africa; to describe and compare the age and sex specific WC percentile distribution for black SA children from different study populations and compare the WC percentile distribution with those for African–American (A–A) children and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of waist–to–height ratio (WHtR) as a marker for high blood pressure, a cardiovascular risk factor in SA children. Findings of this study demonstrated increased total adiposity in non–stunted children, but trends of increased central adiposity, measured as WHtR in stunted children. This warrants further investigation on this relationship among children older than 13 years in the African context where many children are stunted. The differences observed between the different data sets and between SA and A–A children suggest that nationally representative data should be used to develop age, sex and ethnic specific WC percentiles for this population. The results indicate clearly that the median WC of children from SA studies is smaller than those of A–A children, with a medium to large effect size for the difference. Results also suggest concern with respect to high WC values (> 80 cm) among some children. The recommended universal WHtR cut–off value of 0.5 for assessment of cardiovascular risk is not suitable for black SA children because it had low sensitivity in predicting high blood pressure. The absence of locally developed cut–off values for WC and WHtR for children warrants research due to the associations between being overweight and obese and disease outcomes. It is fundamental to detect risk at an early stage so that appropriate intervention can be initiated timeously. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The statistics of child sexual abuse is alarmingly high. Even though this is the case, further statistics prove that a great percentage of parents do not ever report the sexual abuse of their child. This study focuses on describing and exploring nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse to ultimately formulate a proposed protocol for the empowerment of non–offending parents to report the abuse. This proposed protocol can be used by health professionals to empower parents to report and will contribute to the intervention strategies in forensic investigations. As research methodology, the qualitative approach was utilized to investigate nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse and to explore and describe a protocol of guidelines to empower nonoffending parents to report child sexual abuse. The case study method was used as a research strategy to accomplish these aims. Ten interviews and a focus group were conducted during which an interview schedule focussing on the parents' reactions, perceived support, and experiences of reporting was employed. The schedule was presented based on the following themes: Theme 1: Finding out about the sexual abuse Theme 2: Reactions of the parents Theme 3: Support Theme 4: Reporting the child's sexual abuse Theme 5: Parents' experiences of the reporting process Theme 6: Suggestions to make the reporting process easier Subthemes, as elicited by these themes, were explored and described in order to contribute towards the formulation of an appropriate protocol that would empower parents to report child sexual abuse. It became clear that parents experience a vast array of emotions upon finding out or having suspicions of their child's sexual abuse. The parents who participated in this study indicated the need for support on different levels– it was proposed that more support might subsequently increase reporting rates. The parents involved in this study were in agreement that the reporting process is extremely taxing and, based on this, various aspects that could help make the reporting of child sexual abuse easier for parents were explored. Further recommendations to empower parents to report child sexual abuse were also made. The data from the interviews was analyzed and a protocol to empower non–offending parents to report child sexual abuse was formulated. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Studies in both children and adults indicate that waist circumference (WC), a measure of abdominal obesity is closely related to cardiovascular risk factors. The accurate identification of abdominally obese children in health screening programmes for early intervention is of importance. There are, however, concerns about using international definitions for screening purposes because in most instances these have been derived from Western populations and, therefore, may have limited usefulness to children in other parts of the world. When these cut–off points are used in developing countries, they ignore the fact that the growth patterns of children and burdens of disease vary between countries. Due to lack of population specific cut–off points for children in the developing world it may be tempting and convenient to use the same cut–off points as for children in developed countries, but such a practice runs the risk of exporting failure. Ideally, a screening tool should have both high sensitivity and specificity, and these are important considerations in choosing the definition for the detection of childhood abdominal obesity. High sensitivity is necessary to avoid failure of identifying obese children and high specificity of the screening tool ensures that non–obese children are not misclassified as obese, which may otherwise lead to unnecessary treatment and psychosocial implications of stigmatisation. Failure to identify the abdominally obese child may have more serious consequences than misclassification, since it results in an increase in adult morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the main aim of this thesis was to examine fat distribution patterns of black South African (SA) children in relation to health risk. The specific objectives were to: compare the body composition of black stunted and non–stunted children from two rural communities in South Africa; to describe and compare the age and sex specific WC percentile distribution for black SA children from different study populations and compare the WC percentile distribution with those for African–American (A–A) children and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of waist–to–height ratio (WHtR) as a marker for high blood pressure, a cardiovascular risk factor in SA children. Findings of this study demonstrated increased total adiposity in non–stunted children, but trends of increased central adiposity, measured as WHtR in stunted children. This warrants further investigation on this relationship among children older than 13 years in the African context where many children are stunted. The differences observed between the different data sets and between SA and A–A children suggest that nationally representative data should be used to develop age, sex and ethnic specific WC percentiles for this population. The results indicate clearly that the median WC of children from SA studies is smaller than those of A–A children, with a medium to large effect size for the difference. Results also suggest concern with respect to high WC values (> 80 cm) among some children. The recommended universal WHtR cut–off value of 0.5 for assessment of cardiovascular risk is not suitable for black SA children because it had low sensitivity in predicting high blood pressure. The absence of locally developed cut–off values for WC and WHtR for children warrants research due to the associations between being overweight and obese and disease outcomes. It is fundamental to detect risk at an early stage so that appropriate intervention can be initiated timeously. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The statistics of child sexual abuse is alarmingly high. Even though this is the case, further statistics prove that a great percentage of parents do not ever report the sexual abuse of their child. This study focuses on describing and exploring nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse to ultimately formulate a proposed protocol for the empowerment of non–offending parents to report the abuse. This proposed protocol can be used by health professionals to empower parents to report and will contribute to the intervention strategies in forensic investigations. As research methodology, the qualitative approach was utilized to investigate nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse and to explore and describe a protocol of guidelines to empower nonoffending parents to report child sexual abuse. The case study method was used as a research strategy to accomplish these aims. Ten interviews and a focus group were conducted during which an interview schedule focussing on the parents' reactions, perceived support, and experiences of reporting was employed. The schedule was presented based on the following themes: Theme 1: Finding out about the sexual abuse Theme 2: Reactions of the parents Theme 3: Support Theme 4: Reporting the child's sexual abuse Theme 5: Parents' experiences of the reporting process Theme 6: Suggestions to make the reporting process easier Subthemes, as elicited by these themes, were explored and described in order to contribute towards the formulation of an appropriate protocol that would empower parents to report child sexual abuse. It became clear that parents experience a vast array of emotions upon finding out or having suspicions of their child's sexual abuse. The parents who participated in this study indicated the need for support on different levels– it was proposed that more support might subsequently increase reporting rates. The parents involved in this study were in agreement that the reporting process is extremely taxing and, based on this, various aspects that could help make the reporting of child sexual abuse easier for parents were explored. Further recommendations to empower parents to report child sexual abuse were also made. The data from the interviews was analyzed and a protocol to empower non–offending parents to report child sexual abuse was formulated. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Please read the abstract in the section, "back" (on p277), of this document / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Humanities Education / MEd / Unrestricted

Every year millions of children worldwide are forced into the labour pool. More than half of these children are involved in some of the worst forms of child labour, which include slavery, work under hazardous conditions and illegal activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution. Children involved in child labour are usually deprived of access to basics such as proper nutrition, adequate shelter, education, basic hygiene and healthcare, and recreation. Due to the increase in poverty across the world, the vulnerability of children in child labour, and their need for income to survive in a poverty-stricken environment, these children simply cannot escape from the exploitative practices and worst forms of labour. Despite the dangers associated with child labour, not all forms of work done by children are hazardous to them. The income earned by children in this way contributes substantially to their own survival and that of their families. Work can also help children acquire certain skills, which can contribute to their development. This dissertation investigates, in the light of the current socio-economic circumstances of South Africa, the possibility to allow children to work for their survival and simultaneously to protect them through regulatory measures from exploitative labour practices and the worst forms of child labour. The dissertation starts with a general overview of child labour, including the historical development of the regulation of child labour, problems encountered in defining child labour, advantages and disadvantages of child labour as well as the various current perspectives and approaches to child labour. Special attention is given to the importance of education and the current problems experienced in the education system (which needs to be adjusted for child labourers) as well as the situation regarding girls in the labour market. An exploration of the international legal framework applicable to child labour is coupled with a description of the current international conventions as well as international initiatives, which mainly seek to eliminate child labour. Emphasis is placed on the most important conventions that have a direct impact on child labour: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Labour Organisation's conventions and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Subsequently, the dissertation canvasses the approach to child labour in South Africa with an overview of the nature and extent of child labour in South Africa and an exploration of the nexus between international law and South African national law. The author expounds in detail on the current South African national legal framework applicable to children and child labour, as well as the variety of South-African programmes that seek to effectively regulate child labour. By way of comparison, the author investigates the approach to child labour in India, exploring the socio-economic and political circumstances as well as the extent of child labour in India, as also the federal law and child labour programmes that regulate child labour in India. India’s approach to child labour is compared with that of South Africa to gauge how the two differ and what South-Africa can adopt from India. The dissertation critically evaluates the South African approach to child labour and offers proposals to address the challenges in limiting, if not eradicating, the worst forms of child labour and its exploitative practices in South Africa. The author reviews and evaluates the measures and programmes implemented in India, with a view to improve the position of children involved in child labour in South Africa. The author closes by critically analysing the hypothesis posed at the outset of this study: that a judicious acceptance of child labour (excluding its worst forms), when considered in the context of its proper and effective regulation through legislation and enforcement, is the best approach to combat the perils associated with child labour in South Africa. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Private Law / unrestricted