Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The present research study formed part of a larger longitudinal project concerned with low-income South African women’s subjective experiences of depression (Lourens & Kruger, 2013). The present study specifically focussed on how depressed women experienced their relationships with their children. The study aimed to provide a descriptive overview of how one group of depressed South African mothers experience their relationships with their children, as well as to compare the findings with existing literature. Therefore, the scope of this study does not include in-depth analyses of findings. While numerous researchers have examined and identified the important negative effects of depression in mothers on children during the past decade, a very limited number of studies have been focussed on the opposite direction of the depressed mother-child relationship. Very few studies have explored how relationships with their children may influence the development and subjective experience of depression and emotional distress in mothers, as well as, on the other hand, may protect against depression and emotional distress (Dix & Meunier, 2009; Greig & Howe, 2001; Leung & Slep, 2006; Rishel, 2012; Turney, 2012). The present study attempted to address this gap in the literature. The feminist social constructionist perspective was utilised as theoretical framework (De Vos, Strydom, Fouché, & Delport, 2011). Consistent with social constructionism, the study was conducted within the qualitative research paradigm (De Vos et al., 2011). Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants most suitable for the aims of the study (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2007). Data were collected by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews. A semistructured interview schedule was utilised as data collection instrument. Each interview was recorded by video camera, as well as by voice recorder, in order to ensure back-up recordings. The interviews were then transcribed. Social constructionist grounded theory was used to analyse the data (Charmaz, 1995). The results indicated that the depressed women and children in this study seem to be different from the stereotype of the depressed mothers and children in the literature. Depressed mothers are typically portrayed in the literature as not able to form a close and secure bond with their children, while the children of depressed mothers are almost always portrayed in the literature as showing behavioural and emotional problems, as well as being “parentified” (Coyne & Thompson, 2011; Dix & Meunier, 2009; Turney, 2012). Although the depressed women in the present study did report child factors which contributed to their depression, they - to the contrary - also emphasised that their children are an important protective factor against their experience of depression. The participants also highlighted that they have the ability to be protective, supportive and caring towards their children, despite their depressive symptoms. The majority of depressed women also described a “very good” mother-child relationship. As such, the participants in the present study showed us a brighter picture of the depressed mother-child relationship. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingstudie het deel gevorm van ‘n groter longitudinale projek wat op lae-inkomste Suid-Afrikaanse vroue se subjektiewe ervarings van depressie gerig was (Lourens & Kruger, 2013). Die huidige studie was spesifiek gerig op hoe depressiewe vroue hul verhoudings met hul kinders ervaar. Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om ‘n beskrywende oorsig te voorsien van hoe een groep depressiewe Suid-Afrikaanse vroue hul verhoudings met hul kinders ervaar, asook om die bevindinge te vergelyk met bestaande literatuur. Om hierdie rede sluit die omvang van hierdie studie nie ‘n diepgaande analise van bevindinge in nie. Terwyl talle navorsers die belangrike newe-effekte van moeders se depressie in terme van hul kinders gedurende die laaste dekade ondersoek het, is ‘n baie beperkte aantal studies op die teenoorgestelde rigting van die depressiewe moeder-kind verhouding gerig. Slegs ‘n paar studies het hoe verhoudings met hul kinders die ontwikkeling en subjektiewe ervaring van depressie in moeders kan beïnvloed, ondersoek, of daarteenoor, hoe dit die moeder kan beskerm teen depressie (Dix & Meunier, 2009; Greig & Howe, 2001; Leung & Slep, 2006; Rishel, 2012; Turney, 2012). Die huidige studie het gepoog om hierdie gaping in die literatuur aan te spreek. Die sosiaal konstruksionistiese feministiese perspektief is as teoretiese raamwerk gebruik (De Vos, Strydom, Fouché, & Delport, 2011). In ooreenstemming met sosiale konstruksionisme, is hierdie studie binne die kwalitatiewe navorsingsparadigma uitgevoer (De Vos et al., 2011). Gerieflikheid steekproeftrekking is gebruik om die mees gepaste deelnemers vir die doelstellings van hierdie studie te werf (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2007). Data is deur middel van in-diepte semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude ingesamel. ‘n Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudskedule is as data-insamelingsinstrument gebruik. Elke onderhoud is op videokamera, sowel as op band opgeneem, ten einde meer as een opname van elke onderhoud te verseker. Die onderhoude is getranskribeer. Data-analise het plaasgevind deur van sosiale konstruksionistiese gegronde teorie gebruik te maak (Charmaz, 1995). Die resultate het aangedui dat die depressiewe vroue en hul kinders in hierdie studie verskil van die stereotipe van depressiewe moeders en hul kinders in die literatuur. Depressiewe moeders word in die literatuur tipies voorgestel asof hulle nie in staat is om ‘n naby en veilige binding met hul kinders te vorm nie, terwyl die kinders van depressiewe moeders amper altyd in literatuur met gedrags- en emosionele probleme voorgestel word (Coyne & Thompson, 2011; Dix & Meunier, 2009; Turney, 2012). In teendeel – alhoewel die depressiewe vroue in die huidige studie wel gerapporteer het dat hul kinders bydra tot hul depressie – het hulle ook klem geplaas op die feit dat hul kinders ‘n belangrike beskermende faktor is teen hul ervaring van depressie. Die depressiewe vroue het ook beklemtoon dat hulle die vermoë het om beskermend en ondersteunend teenoor hul kinders te wees, ten spyte van hul depressiewe simptome. Die meerderheid deelnemers het ook ‘n “baie goeie” verhouding met hul kinders beskryf. As sodanig, het die depressiewe vroue in die huidige studie vir ons ‘n helderder prentjie van die depressiewe moeder-kind verhouding getoon.

Text in English with abstracts in English, Venda and Sepedi / Background: Suitable complementary feeding practices in young children can ensure optimal nutrition status and reduce under 5 mortality rates (Jones et al., 2014). Inadequate dietary diversity (DD) of the complementary diet both in quality and quantity is one of the major problems affecting infants and young children worldwide (Ntila et al., 2017). Adequate and appropriate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is vital for the growth and development of every child to reach full human potential (PAHO, 2003; WHO, 2008a; UNICEF, 2016). Nutritional vulnerability increases when other factors are also involved, such as poor breast and complementary feeding practices combined with high rates of infectious diseases (Solomons & Vossenaar, 2013; Ntila et al., 2017). There are pockets of information available on complementary feeding practices and its social determinants from specific areas in South Africa, regarding infant and young child feeding practices beyond six months of age and requires further investigation (Issaka et al., 2015; Seonandan & McKerrow, 2016). Aim: To explore the association between mothers’ socio-cultural environment and the dietary diversity of their children between the ages of 6 and 24 months, who attend the health care clinic in Olievenhoutbosch Township, Gauteng. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional explorative study was implemented. Data collection was conducted at Olievenhoutbosch clinic in Gauteng during February and March 2019. Mothers of children aged between 6 and 24 months were included and interviewed. Consecutive sampling was applied. The data collection instruments were a set of structured questions to obtain socio-demographic, nutritional knowledge, maternal attitude and feeding practices data. The infant and young child minimum dietary diversity (IYCMDD) questionnaire adapted from the WHO questionnaire was used to determine the DD of each child. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) at the University of South Africa. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied using SPSS version 25 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The sample of mothers (n=103) were educated (75% completed matric and 18% completed post-school education), unemployed (73%) and mostly single (53%) which are all factors playing a role in child nutrition. The majority (58%) of children were between the ages of 6 and 11 months while 42% were between the ages of 12 and 24 months. The milk feeding practices differed significantly between the younger and older groups of children with 35% of the younger children receiving breastmilk (in addition to complementary foods), compared to 21% of the older group. Almost half (44%) of the total group reported that maize meal porridge was the first food introduced to their children. Less than half of the mothers (45%) initiated the first foods at the recommended age of 6 months but started as early as one month of age (13%). All children (100%) consumed foods from the “grains, roots and tubers” food group the previous day. Significantly less children from the younger age group were reported to have consumed dairy (38% vs 77%, p<0.001) (other than breast or formula milk), animal flesh foods (31% vs 59%, p=0.014) and legumes (8% vs 24%, p=0.034), compared to the older age group. Significantly more children from the older group met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD) of four food groups compared to the younger group (67% vs 38%, p=0.019). No association was found between most socio-cultural factors (maternal age, marital status, education and employment status) and DD. However, there was an association between maternal ethnicity and DD (𝑥2=16.62, p=0.002). Also, maternal nutrition knowledge and the child’s DD had a significant, positive linear relationship (p=0.026). Lastly, maternal attitude towards feeling confident in not overfeeding the child were associated with meeting the MDD. Conclusion: The diets of young children residing in Olievenhoutbosch, do not meet the criteria for a minimally acceptable diet with only 50% meeting the MDD. Legumes and animal source foods are not consumed in sufficient quantities for complementary feeding. Maternal ethnicity and nutritional knowledge were associated with the child’s DD. More emphasis should be placed on DD for young children. / Vhubvo: Maitele o teaho a thikhedzo ya kuṋetshedzele kwa zwiḽiwa kha vhana vhaṱuku a nga khwaṱhisedza vhuimo ha gumofulu ha pfush na u fhungudza phimo ya dzimpfu dza vhana vha fhasi ha miṅwaha ya fhasi ha 5 (Jones na vhaṅwe, 2014). U sa lingana ha u fhambana ha kuḽele (DD) ha nndyo thikhedzi kha ndeme na tshivhalo ndi dziṅwe dza thaidzo khulwane dzi kwamaho dzitshetshe na vhana vhaṱuku u mona na shango (Ntila na vhaṅwe, 2017). Mufusho wo linganaho na wo teaho musi vhe dzitshetshe na kha vhuhana thangeli ndi dza ndeme kha nyaluwo na nyaluso ya ṅwana muṅwe na muṅwe uri a vhe na vhukoni hoṱhe (PAHO, 2003; WHO, 2008a; UNICEF, 2016). U vha khomboni ha mufusho zwi a ṋaṋa musi hu na zwiṅwe zwithu zwi dzhenelelaho, sa maitele a sa fushi a u mamisa na u tikedza zwo ṱangana na phimo ya nṱha ya malwadze a phirela (Solomons & Vossenaar, 2013; Ntila na vhaṅwe., 2017). Haya ndi mafhungo u ya nga zwipiḓa are hone kha maitele a u ḽisa ha thikhedzo na zwivhangi zwa matshilisano u bva kha vhuṅwe vhupo ha Afrika Tshipembe, maelana na u ḽisa dzitshetshe na vhana vho no fhirisaho miṅwedzi ya rathi, naho ṱhoho iyi i tshi ṱoḓa u senguluswa hafhu (Issaka na vhaṅwe, 2015; Seonandan & McKerrow, 2016). Ndivho: U itela u lavhelesa u elana ha vhupo ha zwa matshilisano na ikonomi ha mme na DD ya vhana vhavho vha vhukati ha miṅwedzi ya 6 na 24, vhane vha ya kiḽiniki ya ndondola mutakalo ngei kha Tshikolobulasi tsha Olievenhoutbosch, Gauteng. Ngona: Ngudo dza vhubuḓasia dza ndingedzo dzo shumiswa. Data yo kuvhanganywa ngei kha kiḽiniki ya Olievenhoutbosch kha ḽa Gauteng nga Luhuhi na Ṱhafamuhwe 2019. Vhomme a vhana vha miṅwedzi ya vhukati ha 6 na 24 vho dzheniswa vha vhudziswa. Vhukhethatsumbonanguludzwa ha thevhekano ho shumiswa. Sethe ya mbudziso dzo dzudzanywaho yo shumiswa u wana u phambano dza matshilisano, nḓivho ya mufusho, kusedzele kwa vhomme na data ya phatheni dza kuḽele. Mbudzisombekanywa ya phambano ya gumofulu ya kuḽele kwa dzitshetshe na vhana vhaṱuku (IYCMDD) u bva kha WHO yo shumiswa u vhona DD ya ṅwana muṅwe na muṅwe. Ṱhanziela dza vhuḓifari dzo wanala u bva kha Komiti ya zwa Vhuḓifari ya Khoḽidzhi ya zwa Vhulimi na Saintsi dza zwa Mupo (CAES) kha Yunivesithi ya Afrika Tshipembe. Mbalombalo dza ṱhalutshedzo na dza u sumbedzisa dzo shumiswa nga u shumisa vesheni ya SPSS 25. Mvelelo: Tsumbonanguludzwa dza vhomme (n = 103) vho funzwaho (75% vho fhedza maṱiriki na 18% yo bvelaphanḓa ya fhedza pfunzo ya nṱha ha tshikolo, vha sa shumi ndi (73%) nahone vhanzhi ndi vha tshilaho vhe vhoṱhe (53%), zwi re zwivhumbi zwoṱhe zwine zwa dzhenelela kha mufusho wa ṅwana. Vhunzhi (60%) ya vhana vho vha vhe vhukati ha miṅwedzi ya 6 u ya kha ya 11, 40% vhe vhukati ha ya 12 u ya kha 24. Kumamisele kwo fhambana vhukuma vhukati ha zwigwada zwa vhaswa na zwa vhahulwane, hune 35% ya vhana vhaṱuku vha vha vha khou wana mikando ya vhomme avho (nṱhani ha zwiḽiwa zwa u tikedza), hu tshi vhambedzwa na 21% ya tshigwada tsha vhahulwane. U ṱoḓa u swika kha hafu (44%) ya tshigwada tshoṱhe vho amba uri mukapu wa mugayo ndi zwone zwiḽiwa zwo thomaho u ḓivhadzwa vhana vhavho. Vhomme vha re fhasi ha hafu (45%) vho them zwiḽiwa zwa u thoma kha miṅwedzi yo themendelwaho ya 6 fhedzi vhaṅwe vha thoma u ṱavhanya vhe kha ṅwedzi muthihi (13%). Vhana vhoṱhe (100%) vho vha vho no ḽa ḽiwa zwi fanaho na thoro, midzi na khufhi sa zwigwada zwa zwiḽiwa ḓuvha ḽo fhiraho. Vha si gathi vhukuma kha vhana vha tshigwada tsha vhaṱuku vho pfi vho ḽa zwiḽiwa zwa mafhi (38% i tshi vhambedzwa na 77%, p < 0.001) (zwi si mafhi a mikando kana a boḓelo), zwiḽiwa zwa ṋama ya phukha (31% i tshi vhambedzwa na 59%, p = 0.014) ḽingaṋawa (8% vha tshi vhambedzwa na 24%, p = 0.034), vha tshi vhambedzwa na zwigwada zwa vhahulwane. Vhunzhi ha vhana vha bvaho kha tshigwada tsha vhahulwane vho swikelela phambano ya gumoṱuku ya nndyo (MDD) ya zwigwada zwiṋa zwi tshi vhambedzwa na tshigwada tsha vhaṱuku (67% i tshi vhambedzwa na 38%, p = 0.019). Ahuna u elana ho wanalaho vhukati ha zwivhumbi zwa mvelele na matshilisano (vhukale ha vhomme, vhuimo ha mbingano, pfunzo na vhuimo ha mushumo) na DD. Fhedzi, ho vha na u elana vhukati ha murafho wa vhomme na DD (𝑥2 = 16.62, p = 0.002). Zwiṅwe hafhu, nḓivho ya mufusho ya vhomme na DD ya ṅwana zwo vha na vhushaka, ha ndeme hu elanaho huvhuya (p = 0.026). Tsha u fhedzisela, kusedzele kwa vhomme kha u ḓipfa vhe na vhuḓifulufheli na u sa ḽisa ṅwana u fhira tshikalo zwo elana na u swikelela MDD. Khunyeledzo: Nndyo ya vhana vhaṱuku vha dzulaho ngei Olievenhoutbosch a i swikeleli maga a gumoṱuku a ṱanganedzwaho a nndyo; ho swikelelwa fhedzi 50% ye ya swikelela MDD. Ḽingaṋawa na tshiko tsha zwiḽiwa zwa zwipuka a zwi khou ḽiwa lwo linganaho kha thikhedzo ya kuḽele. Murafho wa vhomme na nḓivho ya mufusho zwo elana na DD ya ṅwana. Ho vha na khwaṱhisedzo hafhu kha DD ya vhana vhaṱuku. / Tšweletšo ya taba: ditiro tša maleba tša phepo ya tlaleletšo mo go bana ba bannyane di ka netefatša maemo a godimo a phepo le go fokotša kelo ya mahu mo go bana ba ka fase ga mengwaga ye 5 (Jones et al., 2014). Go fapafapana ga dijo fao go sa lekanago (DD) ga dijo tša tlaleletšo go bobedi boleng le bontši ke ye nngwe ya mathata a magolo ao a amago masea le bana ba bannyane lefase ka bophara (Ntila et al., 2017). Phepo ye e lekanego gape ya maleba nako ya bosea le bonnyane e bohlokwa go kgolo le tlhabollo ya ngwana yo mongwe le yo mongwe go fihlelela bogolo bjo bo feletšego (PAHO, 2003; WHO, 2008a; UNICEF, 2016). Kgolo ya hlaelela ya dijo ge dintlha tše dingwe le tšona di amega, go swana le ditshepedišo tša go fokola le phepo ya tlaleletšo go hlakanywa le malwetši a mantši a go fetela (Solomons & Vossenaar, 2013; Ntila et al., 2017). Go na le dipotla tša tshedimošo tšeo di lego gona go ditiro tša phepo ya tlaleletšo le dikelo tša leago go tšwa mafelong a go ikgetha mo Afrika Borwa, mabapi le masea le bana ba bannyane ka morago ga dikgwedi tše tshela, mme hlogo ye e nyaka dinyakišišo (Issaka et al., 2015; Seonandan & McKerrow, 2016). Nepo: go nyakišiša dikamano gare ga bomme le tikologo ya leago le setšo le DD ya bana ba gare ga dikgwedi tše 6 le tše 24, bao ba tsenetšego kliniki ya tša maphelo ya Olievenhoutbosch Township, Gauteng. Mekgwatshepetšo: thuto ya diphatišišo tša go hlakanela ga dikgao e phethagaditšwe. Kgoboketšo ya tshedimošo e dirilwe kliniking ya Olievenhoutbosch mo Gauteng nakong ya Febereware le Matšhe 2019. Bommago bana ba dikgwedi tša gare ga tše 6 le 24 di akareditšwe le go botšišwa. Sehlopha sa go latelana se šomišitšwe. Sete ya dipotšišo tšeo di hlamilwego di šomišitšwe go hwetša tsebo ya dimokrafi ya leago, dijo, maikemišetšo a bomme le tshedimošo ka ga mekgwa ya go fepa. Masea le mehuta ya go fapana ya dijo tša bana (IYCMDD) letlakalapotšišo go tšwa go WHO le šomišitšwe go ela DD ya ngwana yo mongwe le yo mongwe. Hlakišo ya maitshwaro e hweditšwe go Komiti ya Maitshwaro ya Kholetšhe ya Temo le Disaense tša Tikologo (CAES) mo Yunibesithing ya Afrika Borwa. Dipalopalo tša tlhaloso le taetšo di šomišitšwe ge go diragatšwa mohuta wa SPSS 25. Dipoelo: Sekgao sa bomme (n = 103) ba be go ba rutegile (75% ba phethile mphato wa marematlou le 18% ba tšwetšepele go phetha dithuto tša ka morago ga mphato wa marematlou), ga ba šome (73%) le bontši ga se ba nyalwe (53%), tšeo ka moka e lego dintlha tša go raloka karolo ye kgolo go phepo ya bana. Bontši (60%) bja bana ba magareng ga mengwaga ye 6 le ye 11, le 40% e be e le magareng a dikgwedi tše 12 le tše 24. Ditiro tša go nyantšha di fapana kudu gare ga bana ba bannyane le dihlopha tša bana ba bagolwane, ka 35% tša bana ba bannyane bao ba amogelago maswi a letswele (go tlaleletša dijo tša tlaleletšo), ge go bapetšwa le 21% tša batho ba bagolwane. Go nyaka go ba seripagare (44%) sa palomoka seo se begilego gore bogobe bja mabele ke dijo tša mathomo tšeo di tšweleditšwego go bana ba bona. Ka fase ga seripagare sa bomma (45%) ba thomile dijo tša bona tša mathomo ka mengwaga ye e digetšwego ya dikgwedi tše 6 efela di thomile ka kgwedi ya mathomo (13%). Bana ka moka (100%) ba jele dijo go tšwa go dithoro, medu le sehlopha sa dijo tša digwere mo letšatšing le le fetilego. Palo ye ntši ya bana ba bannyane go tšwa go mengwaga ye mennyane ba begilwe ba jele dijo tša maswi (38% vs 77%, p < 0.001) (ntle le maswi a letswele goba a go rekwa), dijo tša nama ya phoofolo (31% vs 59%, p = 0.014) le dinawa (8% vs 24%, p = 0.034), ge go bapetšwa le batho ba mengwaga ya bagolo. Bontši bja bana go tšwa go sehlopha sa ba bagolo ba kgotsofaditše dinyakwa tša go fapana tša dijo (MDD) ya dihlopha tše nne ge go bapetšwa le dihlopha tše dinnyane (67% vs 38%, p = 0.019). Ga go dikamano tšeo di humanwego gare ga dintlha tše dintši tša leago le setšo (mengwaga ya tswalo, maemo a lenyalo, thuto le maemo a mošomo DD. Le ge go le bjalo, go bile le dikamano gare setšo le DD (𝑥2 = 16.62, p = 0.002). Le, tsebo ya dijo le DD ya bana, tswalano ya maleba ya tatelano (p = 0.026). Sa mafelelo, mmono wa bomme go ikwa ba na le boitshepo ka go se fepe ngwana go feta tekanyo tšeo di amanago le go kopana le MDD. Thumo: Dijo tša bana ba bannyane ba go dula Olievenhoutbosch ga ba kgotsofatše dinyakwa tša dijo tše di amogelegago; fela 50% e kopane le MDD. Dinawa le dijo tša mothopo ya diphoofolo ga di lewe ka bontši bja go lekana go dira dijo tša tlaleletšo. Mohlobo le tsebo ya dijo di be di amane le DD ya ngwana. Kgatelelo ye kgolo e swanetše go bewa go DD go bana ba bannyane. / Department of Life and Consumer Science / M.A. (Consumer Science)

Child sexual abuse and its potentially traumatizing consequences, over both the short- and longer term, has been increasingly recognized in the literature as a possible pathway to the development of intra- and interpersonal maladjustment, affecting the mental well-being of those affected. There is a paucity of local research investigating the systemic impact of a child's sexual abuse upon the caregiving and family systems in which the child is integrally embedded. The current research was conducted primarily in response to this, with the intention of illuminating the experiences of caregivers and families managing their child's experience of sexual abuse. More specifically, the research was interested in the experiences and perceptions of caregivers of children who had been sexually abused by an extrafamilial person. The phenomenological approach informed the planning, implementation, analysis and interpretation phases of the research. The sample included six mothers / female caregivers who had discovered their child's sexual abuse no less than three months and no longer than twelve months prior to the research being conducted. Maternal caregivers were the primary source of information regarding their own experiences, as well as spokespersons for the caregiving family unit and its members. Two semistructured interviews were planned for each respondent, the first interview aimed at eliciting their experiences and perceptions, and the second interview aimed primarily at providing debriefing and feedback. In view of the highly sensitive nature of the interview topic, the second interview was structured primarily out of ethical concerns for the respondent's well-being as a consequence of the interviewing. Results of the interviews suggest that these caregivers were faced with a host of complex experiences related to three broad thematic areas, namely: their involvement with the criminal justice system; managing the child's and family's distress; and themes around coping and support. A number of sub-themes were identified within and across these three broad thematic areas, representing a complex interaction between dominant experiences. Caregivers were typically faced with a series of dilemmas and decisions in their interactions with their child, family, and the criminal justice system. Based upon the findings, a number of suggestions have been made in terms of policy and protocol development for intervening with such families and their children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Research to date in South Africa has explored the coming out narratives of lesbian and gay people. Most of this research suggests these people experience their parents’ reactions as largely negative. This negativity is attributed to the patriarchal culture and religious beliefs which insist on compulsory heterosexuality that dominate African discourse in South Africa. However, thus far, little work has been done focusing specifically on the perceptions of the parents of lesbian, gay or bisexual offspring, and on the parents’ own coming out about their children’s alternative sexual orientation. In this qualitative study, I explored the lived experiences of black mothers of lesbian, gay or bisexual children from diverse backgrounds with the aim of capturing their own voices and gaining an understanding of their journeys, from the moment that each discovered that her child belongs to a sexual minority to her acceptance of the child’s alternative sexuality. I conducted semi-structured interviews with six black South African mothers of lesbian, gay or bisexual offspring in order to learn about these mothers’ experiences. I analysed the interview transcripts using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. I identified three main themes, namely the mothers’ journeys; responses to the study’s research questions, and other concerns the black mothers still have regarding their lesbian, gay or bisexual offspring. Each main theme was comprised of several sub-themes. In a nutshell, the study shows that in contrast to the assumption that South African black urban communities are hostile spaces with no visible familial support for lesbian, gay or bisexual youth, in reality, there are examples in urban African communities of parental support for members of sexual minorities. Although all the mothers in this study held Christian beliefs, none subscribed to a ‘same-sex attraction is a sin’ discourse. Instead, most of these mothers regarded their children as special gifts from God, and some saw their children’s alternative sexuality as God’s way of teaching them as mothers about unconditional love. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology: Research Consultation)

PhD (Health Sciences) / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Background: Family-centred approaches to Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) interventions present an important direction for sustainability and prevention of pediatric infections while improving overall family health. Despite numerous opportunities to sustain and expand the existing PMTCT interventions, Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) still occurs. This is evidenced by the number of under-five children who are admitted in hospital being infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) between the ages of 6 weeks to 18 months, whereas the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results was non-reactive at six weeks. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a strategy to enhance family-centered interventions for PMTCT sustainability in the selected districts of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Phase 1: The study was conducted in phases. In Phase 1, which was empirical, the following objectives: to explore the risks that contribute to MTCT between the ages of 6 weeks and 18 months; to explore the perceptions of family members regarding family support in PMTCT interventions; and to explore the factors that affect the provision of family support in PMTCT interventions. Phase 2: was development of the strategy and validation of the strategy. Methods: The exploratory sequential mixed method was used to conduct the study, where qualitative data were collected and analyzed first; followed by collecting, analyzing and interpreting the quantitative data. The population comprised the following groups: mothers of babies between 6 weeks and 18 months who are living with HIV/AIDS, family members were represented by male partners, grandmothers or mother’s in_-law and health care professionals working at the PHC Heath Centers v or clinics rendering PMTCT services. In the qualitative design, participants were selected by non-probability purposive sampling and data were collected through one-to-one interview and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed utilizing the open-coding method. In the quantitative design, participants were selected by using simple random sampling and data were collected by means of self-administered survey questionnaires with structured close-and open-ended questions. The population were midwives from Capricorn, Mopani and Vhembe districts PHC clinic. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 22 and descriptive statistics. In Phase 2, findings from the data were used to develop an intervention strategy. The strategy was developed through the use of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The developed strategy was validated by using a quantitative design. / NRF

Female-headed families have become a major component of society, globally and locally. South Africa has also witnessed an increase in the number of female-headed families. Children raised in female-headed families have been reported to be disadvantaged in several ways. Many are said to be performing poorly at school, having low self-esteem, experiencing early sexual activity, and displaying adverse behaviour. Hence, the views of adult children who grew up in female-headed families were explored to inform social work practice. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual study was undertaken with 12 participants whose ages ranged from 25 to 35 years. The goal of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of adult children who grew up in female-headed families. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysed following Tesch’s (in Creswell, 2009) framework. Data was verified using Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness. The major findings highlighted first, a deep-seated need to understand reasons for being abandoned by their fathers. Second, the resources inherent within female-headed families, often overlooked, revealed the strengths that these families possess. Third, spirituality as the foundation of their resilience during difficult times dominated the participants’ accounts of being raised in female-headed families. Fourth, various support structures emerged as fundamental components, requisite for the optimal functioning of female-headed families. The implications for social work and recommendations for future research are presented. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)