The study investigated the lived experiences of women suffering from Multiple Sclerosis in Johannesburg and the East Rand. The study aimed at describing how these experiences affect their lives, and how these women cope after being diagnosed. A qualitative approach was utilised following an exploratory, descriptive, phenomenological, contextual research design. An in-depth literature study was conducted for information used as a basis for the study. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and a focus group. Data-analysis revealed a lack of understanding for the emotional, physical and social problems encountered. Recommendations proposed that the community be sensitised to the reality of MS and disabled persons, and that comprehensive support structures be put in place to attend to the needs of women suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of older caregivers of adult AIDS ill children in Umlazi Township in the province of Kwa- Zulu Natal. A qualitative research design which was exploratory was executed with a sample of purposively selected participants who are the members of the organization that provides support to the older caregivers. Data saturation occurred after focus group and in depth individual interview with ten participants. The findings revealed that older caregivers experience lot of challenges which ranges from emotional, physical, financial, psychological, social and time constraints when caring for their adult AIDS ill children .The study further revealed that older caregivers developed a wide range of coping strategies to face their challenging caregiving task and most of the older caregivers utilized positive coping strategies. Recommendations that are described focus on the inclusion and consultation of older caregivers in all decisions and programmes about them. / Appendix C (Interview guide) in English as well as in Zulu / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

This study highlights the personal and descriptive stories, narratives, and accounts that detail the lived experiences of Black, female school principals in predominantly white school districts. Based on the personal experiences of these four Black, female school principals, recommendations are made to predominantly white school districts seeking to meet the needs of Black women serving as leaders within their school districts, organizations, and institutions.

This qualitative case study research endeavour is a direct result of limited research on female fraud research in South Africa. The research questions that guided this research are: What are the different pathways and lived experiences of the females incarcerated for fraud?; What are the causes, contributory factors and motives of the sample-specific female fraud offenders? and Can the criminal behaviour of each female offender be explained by means of criminological theories?. Seven adult female offenders voluntarily participated in this research project and their unique narratives, pathways and lived experiences were depicted and analysed to determine the causes, contributory factors and motives related to their offending behaviour. Criminological theories and the gendered theory of female offending were applied to explain their fraud-related behaviours. The findings suggest that overlapping causes (i.e. lack of self-control), contributory factors (i.e. rationalisation of behaviour) and motives (i.e. greed) played a prominent role in the female offenders’ fraud-related behaviours. / Lolu cwaningo lwe-case study yengqikithi ngumphumela oqonde ngqo wocwaningo olufishane lwenkwabaniso eyenziwa ngabesimame eNingizimu Afrika. Imibuzo yocwaningo eyaba ngumkhombandlela walolu cwaningo yilena elandelayo: Ngabe yini imigudu nezipiliyoni zempilo abahlangabezana nayo abesimame ababoshelwe inkwabaniso?; Ngabe yini izimbangela zenkwabaniso, yini izinto ezinomthelela kanye nezinto ezigqugquzele abesimame abenza amacala enkwabaniso kulabo ababeyisampuli yabesimame abenza inkwabaniso? kanti futhi, Ngabe ukuziphatha kobugebengu kwabesimame abanamacala kungachazwa ngamathiyori emfundo ngobubegengu? Abesimame abayisikhombisa abanamacala enkwabaniso bangenela ucwaningo ngokuzithandela kuleprojekthi yocwaningo, kanti izipiliyoni zempilo yabo kwachazwa futhi kwahlaziyiwa ukuthola izimbangela, izinto ezibe nomthelela kanye nezinto ezigqugquzele ukuziphatha kwabo kobugebengu. Amathiyori emfundo ngobugebengu kanye namathiyori ngabesimame abenza amacala nawo asetshenziswa ukuchaza ukuziphatha kwabo kwenkwabaniso. Imiphumela yocwaningo ithole ukuxhumana kwezimbangela (isib. ukwehluleka ukuzilawula, ezinye izinto ezibe nomthelela (ukuzichaza impatho yabo ngezindlela ezithile), okubagqugquzelile (isib. umhobholo) konke lokhu kwaba nendima enkulu kwabesimame abenze amacala enkwabaniso nokuziphatha kwabo. / Patlisiso eno e e lebelelang mabaka mo kgetseng e e rileng ke ditlamorago ka tlhamalalo tsa dipatlisiso tse di lekanyeditsweng tsa patlisiso ya boferefere jo bo dirwang ke basadi mo Aforikaborwa. Dipotsopatlisiso tse di kaetseng patlisiso eno ke: Dikgato tse di farologaneng gongwe maitemogelo a basadi ba ba tshwaretsweng boferefere ke afe?; Mabaka, dintlha tse di tshwaelang le maitlhomo a batlolamolao ba boferefere ba basadi ba ba dirisitsweng jaaka sampole ke eng? le A maitsholo a bosenyi a motlolamolao mongwe le mongwe wa mosadi a ka tlhalosiwa ka ditiori tsa bosenyi? Batlolamolao ba basadi ba le supa ba ithaopile go nna le seabe mo porojekeng eno ya patlisiso mme dikgang tsa bona tse di kgethegileng, dikgato le maitemogelo a ba a tshetseng di tlhagisitswe le go sekasekwa go swetsa gore mabaka, dintlha tse di tshwaelang le maitlhomo a a amanang le mokgwa wa bona wa tlolomolao ke afe. Ditiori tsa bosenyi le tiori e e amanang le bong ya tlolomolao ya basadi di dirisitswe go tlhalosa mekgwa ya bona e e amanang le boferefere. Diphitlhelelo di supa gore mabaka (go tewa go tlhoka go itaola), dintlha tse di tshwaelang (go tewa go leka go tlhalosa mabaka a maitsholo) le maitlhomo (go tewa bogagapa) a nnile le seabe se segolo mo maitsholong a amanang le boferefere a batlolamolao ba basadi. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Criminology)

The phenomenon of stigmatisation in the transmission of HIV/AIDS was highlighted in this study, and considered from a social constructionist perspective. The lived experiences of 20 participants were explored in the context of a stigma reduction programme. Perceived meanings attached to stigma, and its influence on participant behaviour was revealed through narratives. The influence of the programme on participant meaning making and perceptions was also revealed, and found that the meaning of stigma remained unchanged, and therefore stigma was not reduced. Not discounting the therapeutic platform of the programme in enabling co-construction of new perspectives which enabled coping mechanisms for participants in dealing with their circumstances. It is recommended that studies such as this be used to assist future stigma reduction programmes to identify their roles in meaning making regarding stigma, with the premise in mind that if meaning shifts, experiences will shift. / Psychology / M.A (Psychology)

The phenomenon of stigmatisation in the transmission of HIV/AIDS was highlighted in this study, and considered from a social constructionist perspective. The lived experiences of 20 participants were explored in the context of a stigma reduction programme. Perceived meanings attached to stigma, and its influence on participant behaviour was revealed through narratives. The influence of the programme on participant meaning making and perceptions was also revealed, and found that the meaning of stigma remained unchanged, and therefore stigma was not reduced. Not discounting the therapeutic platform of the programme in enabling co-construction of new perspectives which enabled coping mechanisms for participants in dealing with their circumstances. It is recommended that studies such as this be used to assist future stigma reduction programmes to identify their roles in meaning making regarding stigma, with the premise in mind that if meaning shifts, experiences will shift. / Psychology / M.A (Psychology)