Thesis (MPhil(Rehabilitation))--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This is a descriptive, phenomenological, qualitative study which explores the experiences of and coping strategies employed by the parents/caregivers of disabled children in the management of their care, including rehabilitation and schooling. The study was conducted in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape outside Mthatha, where parents/caregivers of disabled children have historically had challenges finding suitable schooling for their intellectually impaired children. In 1999, Happy Home community rehabilitation centre for disabled children was established by Mrs. V.V. Duma, a parent of a disabled child. Study participants comprised of parents or care-givers of the disabled children residing at Happy Home. A total of 37 participants took part in the study, comprising of six focus group discussions of six parents/caregivers per group, and one individual interview. Study findings revealed that parents/caregivers used a variety of coping strategies to manage the care of their disabled children. Both positive and negative coping strategies were used. Negative coping strategies included abandoning the child, which was justified by, for instance, belief that the child had been bewitched by in-laws, or on the pretext that the mother's HIV positive status had been caused by the father, leading to the mother abandoning the child. In cases where both parents had abandoned the baby, or the death of a parent occurred, a caregiver, often a relative, would take responsibility for the child. Positive strategies can be characterized as willingness by parents/caregivers to do whatever it takes to help the children to survive and access better opportunities. The caregivers/parents who adopted positive coping strategies were mainly from Christian backgrounds and consequently believed that a disabled child is God‟s gift. These parents/caregivers seek assistance from a number of different sources to help the disabled child, including from faith healers, traditional healers, and western medical treatments. Cultural influences on the reactions of parents, extended family and the wider community as revealed in the study show that disability is seen in negative terms and that the abuse of women, including while pregnant, is supported as a cultural norm. It was found that stress, abuse, and poverty during pregnancy were perceived by parents to be some of the causes of disability in new born babies. Parents/caregivers experienced barriers to health and rehabilitation including; long distances to health and rehabilitation centres with prohibitive transport costs. It appeared that health care providers did not communicate about children‟s conditions or would not treat sick disabled children. There were also data that indicated that there were some health care providers who were helpful and that parents/caregivers used other resources such as radio programmes to educate them about disability. The study sought to understand the challenges that disabled children and their parents/caregivers experienced. The results of the study indicate that workshops with the health professionals to change their attitudes, and enhance their understanding of disability should be conducted. In addition, community awareness and education campaigns about causes, and signs and symptoms of disabilities; and the issue of cultural norms that impact on the abuse of women and negative attitudes towards disabled children need to be conducted among the communities from which the study participants originate. Furthermore, the study recommends that the Health Science curriculum include a generic module on disability studies to be completed by all health science students, to ensure that as health practitioners such as therapists and nurses, they can be more effective in responding to the needs of disabled children. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is ʼn beskrywende fenomenologiese navorsing, wat die ervaring van ouers/versorgers van gestremde kinders ondersoek; asook die strategiee wat deur hulle aangewent word om te help met die versorging, rehabilitasie en onderrig van gestremde kinders. Die studie het gebruik gemaak van kwalitatiewe data kolleksie metodes. Ouers/versorgers van gestremde kinders wat in Happy Home woon het aan die studie deelgeneem. Ses groepsbesprekings, met ses ouers in elke groep, sowel as individuele onderhoude met elke deelnemer was uitgevoer. In totaal was daar 37 deelnemers in die studie. Die studie was uitgevoer in die plattelandse gemeenskappe buite Mthatha, in die Oos Kaap. Ouers/versorgers van intelektueel gestremde kinders het probleme ondervind om geskikte onderwys te vind vir hulle kinders in hierdie area. Happy Home, `n gemeenskapsrehabilitasie sentrum vir gestremde kinders, is in 1999 deur Mev J.J.Duma, `n ouer van `n gestremde kind, gestig. Daar was bevind dat ouers/versorgers `n veskeidenheid hanterings meganismes, positief en negatief,gebruik om hulle gestremde kinders te versorg. Negatiewe stratigee soos om die kind te verlaat is ingesluit en is geregverdig deur, bevoorbeeld, die geloof dat die kind deur skoonouers betower was, of op die voorwendsel dat die moeder se HIV postief status, veroorsaak deur die vader, die oorsaak was dat die moeder gevolglik die kind verlaat het. In Ingevalle waar beide ouers die baba verlaat hetof waar `n ouer gesterf het, het `n versorger wat gewoonlik `n familielid was, verantwoordelikheid geneem vir die kind. Postiewe strategiee is kenmerkend van ouers/versorgers se gewilligheid om alles moontlik te doen, om die kinders te help om te oorleef en toegang te he tot beter geleenthede. Ouers/versorgers wie positiewe strategiee aangewent het was waarskynlik van Christelike agtergronde en het gevolglik geglo dat ʼn gestremde kind ʼn gesekenk van God is. Sulke ouers/versorgers soek bystand van ʼn verskydenheid hulpbronne, om die gestremde kind te help; insluitend die dienste van ʼn geloofsgeneser, tradisionele genesers, en westerse mediese behandelings. Die studie het gewys dat kulturele invloede op die reaksies van ouers, die familie en die wyer gemeenskap veroorsaak het dat gestremdheid in `n negatiewe lig gesien word en dat die mishandeling van vroue, insluitende swanger vroue, ondersteun word as `n kulturele norm. Daar was bevind dat spanning, mishandeling en armoede gesien word as oorsake van gestremdheid in pas gebore babas. Ouers/versorgers het struikelblokke teegekom met betrekking tot toegang tot gesondheids dienste en rehabilitasie. Dit het lang afstande na gesondheids- en rehabilitasie sentrums asook onbekostigbare vervoer uitgawes ingesluit. Dit het voorgekom asof gesondheidsorg voorsieners nie oor die kinders se toestande gekommunikeer het nie en nie siek gestremde kinders behandel het nie. Daar was data wat daarop gewys het dat sommige gesondheidsorg voorsieners behulpsaam was en dat ouers/versorgers ander hulpbronne soos radio programme gebruik het om hulself in te lig. Die studie het gepoog om die plattelandse konteks en die uitdagings wat gestremde kinders en hulle ouers/versorgers ondervind het te verstaan. Die studie resultate dui daarop dat werkswinkels met gesondheidsorg verskaffers gehou moet word om hulle begrip van gestremdheid te verbeter om sodoende hulle houding teenoor gestremdhied te verander. Daarbenewens moet opleidings en inligtings veldtogte oor die oorsake, tekens en simptome van gestremdheid, oor die impak wat kulturele norme het op die mishandeling van vroue, en oor die negatiewe houdings teenoor gestremde kinders, in die gemeenskappe waarvandaan die studie deelnemers kom gehou word ʼn Verdere aanbeveling is dat die kurrikulum vir Gesondheids Wetenskappe ʼn algemene module oor gestremdheid studies insluit; om voltooi te word deur all studente wie Gesondheids Wetenskappe studeer; sodat terapeute en verpleegsters grooter kennis sal dra van die behoeftes van gestremde kinders.

The main aim of the study was an examination of the dynamics of family systems on the lives of youth awaiting trial at the Excelsior Place of Safety that functions as a secure care programme. Secure care is a new concept in South Africa and serves as an alternative to the imprisonment of children awaiting trial. The study identifies the family as central in adolescent development and assumes that there are particular dynamics within family systems that may impact on the lives of youth resulting in deviancy and criminality. The study was based on the philosophy of secure care, Erikson's theory of Adolescent Development, Attachment theory, the Ecosystems and Ecological Strengths-Based Approaches. Twenty-five youth awaiting trial were interviewed at Excelsior. The study found that children who offend come from impoverished communities where the household income is less than the Poverty Datum Line (PDL.) High-risk youth come from women-headed households that lack male role models and have little or no source of income. In these instances where the family cannot provide for the youth's needs that the youth is prone to criminality to satisfy them. The study recommended strengthened intervention strategies to be utilised by all service providers in working with youth at risk and their families. It also recommends the strengthening of the secure care programme to address the needs of awaiting trial youth and to divert youth from the prison environment. The study further suggested that secure care centres that have trained personnel in adolescent development, should undertake more community outreach to also target children and youth in communities. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The primary task of this thesis is to explain the establishment of the 'correctional institution', the Ottery School of Industrues, in Cape Town in 1948 and the programmes of rehabilitation, correctional and vocational training and residential care that the institution developed in the period until 1968. This explanation is located in the wider context of debates about welfare and penal policy in South africa. The overall purpose is to show how modernist discourses in relation to social welfare, delinquency and education came to South Africa and was mediated through a racial lens unique to this country. In doing so the thesis uses a broad range of material and levels from the ethnographic to the documentary and historical. The work seeks to locate itself at the intersection of the fields of education, history, welfare, penalty and race in South Africa.

This research investigated the availability and nature of the rehabilitation service at primary health care level rendered by rehabilitation staff in the Metropole district health services. The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which selected elements of the rehabilitation components of the primary health care service package are currently being implemented. In doing so, the study aimed to identify obstacles within the district management as perceived by rehabilitation therapists that hinder the implementation of the rehabilitation programme, so as to make recommendations for future planning.

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)

A qualitative study was undertaken about social workers rendering rehabilitation services to male offenders in a maximum correctional centre.The study was exploratory and descriptive. This study was prompted by the need to look more deeply at the maximum offenders entrusted to the Department‟s of Correctional services care and to research the challenges faced by social workers in rendering rehabilitation services to these offenders. The goal of this study was to explore and describe the challenges facing social workers rendering rehabilitation services to male offenders in a maximum correctional centre and to explore and describe strategies to address the challenges. The researcher used the eight steps provided by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:155) to analyse the data systematically. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used in order to obtain relevant information from the correct participants. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science, Mental Health)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / This research project was undertaken to establish what influence the lack of discipline amongst prisoners and members of Correctional Services has on the rehabilitation of offenders. A complete literature study was done to investigate the current lack of discipline amongst prisoners and members. Discipline is also brought into relationship with community based sentences such as Correctional Supervision as well as the involvement of the community in the release of prisoners. Positive rehabilitation can lead to crime prevention but the Department of Correctional Services and the community will have to take hands to reach this common goal. This subject needs further research in order to make recommendations to promote rehabilitation of off enders and to uplift the standard of discipline within the Department of Correctional Services. / Hierdie ondersoek is onderneem om die invloed van gevangenes en personeeldissipline binne die Departement Korrektiewe Dienste in verband te bring met die invloed wat dit het op die rehabilitasie van oortreders. 'n Volledige literatuurstudie is gedoen om die huidige tendens van swak dissipline onder gevangenes sowel as lede te ondersoek. Die dissipline word ook in verband gebring met gemeenskapgebaseerde vonnisse soos byvoorbeeld Korrektiewe toesig sowel as die betrokkenheid van die gemeenskap by die vrylating van oortreders. Positiewe rehabilitasie kan lei tot misdaadvoorkoming, maar dan sal die Departement Korrektiewe Dienste en die gemeenskap moet hande vat om hierdie gemeenskaplike doel te bereik. Verdere navorsing in die verband word beoog om sodoende werkbare aanbevelings te kan doen ten opsigte van beter dissipline onder gevangenes en personeel van die Departement Korrektiewe Dienste. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

The inmates who are serving life imprisonment are provided with the treatment programmes throughout their incarceration period until they are released from custody. In addition, they are afforded with their primary and secondary needs in prisons. Before the lifers are released from prison, pre-release programmes are presented to them in order to facilitate their reintegration process into the community. After the lifers are released from prisons on parole, the community corrections offices further facilitate their reintegration process into the community. / Penology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Penology)

The aim of this research study was achieved by providing support for the effectiveness and the transportability of the Ehlers and Clark (2000) cognitive therapy model for the assessment and treatment of PTSD. Furthermore, the contextual factors which were important in this case were investigated and documented. However, research within the social sciences will inevitably produce various limitations due to the unique individuals and dynamic phenomena that are studied.

The goal of this research study was to explore and describe the experiences of parents whose children have completed the diversion programme in order to make recommendations to probation officers, social workers and people who facilitate the diversion programmes. The study focused on the Youth Empowerment Scheme programme (YES Programme) because it is the diversion programme mostly used in the Eastern Cape. The aim of the programme is to divert young people in trouble with the law away from the criminal justice system and to rehabilitate the young offenders by providing them with essential life skills that can address the offenders’ real problems. In the study the researcher made use of a qualitative research approach in an attempt to explore the experiences of parents whose children have completed the YES programme. The permission of the gatekeeper was sought before the study commenced. The researcher used purposive sampling to recruit participants. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. In analysing the data, the researcher used the steps for qualitative data analysis as stated in Creswell (2003:192). Three main themes along with sub-themes and categories were identified during the process of data analysis. The main findings that emanated from this study were: the seemingly upcoming culture of lack of respect for authority on the part of the youth of today. Another major finding of this study is that the traditional function of families, notably, socialisation of young people within the family structure is on the wane. The recommendations that emanated from this study are: that the YES programme needs to be adjusted to address the specific needs of children that are referred to the YES programme and those of their families and communities. Family life should be strengthened through community development programmes that seek to address family problems of any nature, namely, material, psycho-social, economic, to mention just a few. Community development programmes should address fragile families through community development approaches that are comprehensive and integrated.