Social work / M.A. (Social Work)

This study sought to explore gender issues affecting management promotions in Malawi's health care services, utilising both qualitative and quantitative techniques in data collection and analysis. Promotion patterns were compared and contrasted for male and female managers. The study was based on the assumptions that • both men and women were aware of experiences that affected their promotion opportunities • promotion patterns showed fewer variations than did cultural, social and gender factors • male prejudices were maintained which oppressed women's promotions • increased decision-making power lowered stress about professional growth and development The findings supported the first two assumptions, but not the last two. The findings suggested that males and females encountered similar experiences concerning managerial promotions in Malawi's health care services. Factors that enhanced management successes for both males and females included management orientation and mentorship. Unclear promotion policies and procedures hindered management promotions. Information derived from this research could enable policy-makers to establish an environment that increases supportive networks and interactions between male and female managers in Malawi. Furthermore, to ensure equal opportunities in the health care services management, monitoring strategies by Malawi's Ministry of Gender, the Department of Human Resources Management and Development, and the Ministry of Health and Population need to be established and implemented. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)

This study disaggregates and evaluates conventional community psychology as reflected in both the Community Mental Health and Social Action Models. In so doing, it provides evidence in support of its plea for a radical paradigm shift towards ecosystemic theorising in the field of community psycho logy. It further illustrates that an ecosystemic point of departure would have significant implications for the reformulation of conventional notions of community. It concludes by teasing out some alternative praxis related community psychological formulations. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of community participation employed by the City of Tshwane in the implementation of the Indigent Exit Strategy (IES) as a poverty alleviation measure in Olievenhoutbosch. A total of twenty two respondents participated in the research. The first group was ten beneficiaries and the second was ten that was exited from the database. Lastly, two Social Workers coordinating the programme were interviewed as well. The research findings reflect that the IES was not sufficiently rolled out as outlined in the policy and strategy. Capacity building and skills development, assistance to emerging entrepreneurships and other forms of economic development support did not reach out to the broader community as outlined in the IES. The study recommends that: the Indigent Exit Strategy interventions should be made accessible to the registered indigent households so that they can clearly know what is expected of them. / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)

Thesis (MA)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The role and influence of interest groups and non-state actors in the foreign policy process remains an interesting topic for debate. This study explores the role of three South African trade union organisations, COSATU, FEDUSA and Solidariteit, in the foreign policy process of South Africa. It asks what role these trade union organisations played between 1999 and 2012 in the South African foreign policy process and what factors had a bearing on that role. The core argument of this study is that trade union organisations participate in creating public awareness of foreign policy issues among its members and the broader population. Through this role they, in turn, get involved in the foreign policy debate by promoting the participation of the masses. The dual approach of quantitative and qualitative content analysis of online news articles, statements and policy documents produced interesting results about the factors that motivate trade union interests in the South African foreign policy process. The main findings show that South African trade union organisations attempt to influence or engage in the economic and foreign policy processes when it affects their members. Their economic focus is on the extent to which economic factors have a bearing on how the macro-economic policy of the state favours the wealth and development of its citizens over the financial gain of international investors. Interesting findings are presented by the political factors that have a bearing on trade union organisations‟ roles in the foreign policy process of South Africa. The results show that trade union organisations have an inherent interest in the strengthening of democratic values, governance and the protection of human rights. Similar to the analysis of economic factors, it was found that South African trade unions show a greater interest in foreign policy events or issues that affect trade unions or workers domestically or in other states. This can be attributed to the strong sense of solidarity among trade union organisations for greater representation in political and policy processes. The findings of this study imply that South African trade union organisations are part of a growing trend among non-state actors and domestic interest groups that take an interest in issues and events beyond national borders. The results of this study correspond with arguments made in existing literature that South Africa trade union organisations play a minimal role in the making of foreign policy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die rol en invloed van belangegroepe en niestaatsrolspelers in die vorming van buitelandse beleid bly 'n interessante onderwerp vir bespreking. Hierdie studie verken die rol van drie Suid-Afrikaanse vakbondorganisasies – Cosatu, Fedusa en Solidariteit – in die ontwikkeling van die land se buitelandse beleid. Dit ondersoek die rol wat hierdie organisasies tussen 1999 en 2012 in buitelandse beleid gespeel het, en die faktore wat daardie rol beïnvloed het. Die kernargument van hierdie studie is dat vakbondorganisasies hul lede sowel as die groter publiek van kwessies met betrekking tot buitelandse beleid help bewus maak. Deurdat hulle massadeelname aanmoedig, word die organisasies op hulle beurt by die debat oor buitelandse beleid betrek. Die dubbele benadering van kwantitatiewe én kwalitatiewe inhoudsontleding van aanlyn nuusberigte, verklarings en beleidsdokumente bring interessante resultate oor die redes vir vakbondbelangstelling in Suid-Afrikaanse buitelandse beleid aan die lig. Die hoofbevindinge toon dat Suid-Afrikaanse vakbondorganisasies die vorming van ekonomiese en buitelandse beleid probeer beïnvloed of daaraan deelneem wanneer dit hul lede raak. Ekonomies konsentreer hulle veral op die mate waarin die makro-ekonomiese beleid van die staat die welvaart en ontwikkeling van sy burgers bo finansiële gewin vir internasionale beleggers stel. Dit is egter veral die politieke beweegredes vir vakbonddeelname aan die land se buitelandse beleid wat insiggewende resultate oplewer. Die studie bevind dat vakbonde 'n inherente belang het by die versterking van demokratiese waardes en bestuur, en die beskerming van menseregte. Soos met die ekonomiese faktore, dui die ontleding van die politieke faktore ook daarop dat Suid-Afrikaanse vakbonde 'n groter belangstelling toon in gebeure of kwessies insake buitelandse beleid wat vakbonde of hul lede binnelands sowel as in ander state raak. Dít kan toegeskryf word aan die sterk samehorigheidsgevoel onder vakbondorganisasies om gesamentlik beter verteenwoordiging in politieke en beleidsprosesse te bekom. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie impliseer dat Suid-Afrikaanse vakbondorganisasies deel uitmaak van 'n toenemende tendens onder niestaatsrolspelers en binnelandse belangegroepe om al hoe meer in kwessies en gebeure buite landsgrense belang te stel. Die resultate van die studie ooreenstem met die argumente gestel in bestaande literatuur dat Suid-Afrikaanse vakbond organisasies ʼn beperkte rol binne buitelandse-beleidsmaking speel.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Public Management, Department of Public Management & Economics, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / In order to eradicate the legacy of the apartheid past, the South African democratic government adopted a development approach to local government. This necessitated a commitment on the part of local government, through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), to facilitating community participation by finding ways to meet economic, social and material needs, as well as improving quality of life. The IDP can only be well received and implemented if there is an effective public participation process to ensure that the needs and aspirations of the people are met. This research focused primarily on evaluating community participation in the IDP process through the use of the case study of Umzumbe Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province. Furthermore, the research answers the following questions: to what extent do communities participate in the IDP process?; what were the challenges facing communities with regard to participation in the IDP process?; and what was the role of ward councillors and ward committees in promoting community participation in the IDP process? In order to answer these questions, an empirical study was conducted using quantitative research methodology. The case study approach was used in this study in order to obtain detailed views of respondents and issues relating to the objectives of the study. Using the quantitative research methodology, the study employed a questionnaire to collect information linked to community participation. Three hundred and ninety respondents from ten wards in the local municipality were randomly sampled. In addition, ten ward councillors were requested to participate in the study in order to explore the factors influencing community participation in the study area. The questionnaires were developed and approved by the Durban University of Technology’s ethics committee before the commencement of the study. Data was then collected. The results of the study, conclusions and recommendations are provided in a way that will enable the reader to draw his or her own conclusions on the value of this study. The study was worth undertaking since the challenges of community participation for local economic development and the IDP enhance service delivery. The results of the study should expand the knowledge base of rural community participation in the IDP process in Umzumbe Municipality. The findings of this study should benefit the municipality by highlighting the challenges of community involvement in the IDP process. The envisaged outcome of this study is the development of a theoretical framework for rural community participation in the IDP process in local government. Findings from the study point to the profusion of poor or non-participation of the community in the IDP process. The study shows sour relationship between ward councillors, ward committee members and community members. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations have been made: upgrade levels of education/capacity development for ward councillors, ward committee members and community members; poverty alleviation and economic development to create employment; encourage youth and adults to engage in public forums; encourage the involvement of all stakeholders in the identification of development initiatives; co-ordination and information sharing sessions; and systems of monitoring and evaluation should be put in place to monitor community participation in the IDP process, with guidelines for the implementation of community participation initiatives. / M

This study disaggregates and evaluates conventional community psychology as reflected in both the Community Mental Health and Social Action Models. In so doing, it provides evidence in support of its plea for a radical paradigm shift towards ecosystemic theorising in the field of community psycho logy. It further illustrates that an ecosystemic point of departure would have significant implications for the reformulation of conventional notions of community. It concludes by teasing out some alternative praxis related community psychological formulations. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Les systèmes de santé des pays en développement font face à de nombreux enjeux organisationnels pour améliorer l’état de santé de leur population. Au nombre de ces enjeux, il est fréquemment mentionné la présence d’organisations internationales ayant des objectifs et caractéristiques peu convergents et qui interviennent de façon non nécessairement coordonnée. Cette thèse explore la thématique de l’introduction du changement dans ces systèmes de santé en mettant un accent spécifique sur l’enjeu lié à la présence de ces organisations internationales. La méthodologie utilisée est une analyse de concept. Cette approche méthodologique consiste à effectuer des revues critiques de la littérature sur des concepts, à mobiliser de nouvelles approches théoriques pour clarifier ces concepts et à réaliser des études de cas pour leur mise à l’épreuve empirique. En nous appuyant sur la théorie de l’action sociale de Parsons, la théorie de la complexité ainsi que les expériences d’introduction du changement dans différents systèmes de santé, nous avons développé un cadre théorique d’analyse de l’introduction du changement dans les systèmes de santé des pays en développement (1er concept). Ce cadre théorique, qui suggère de concevoir le processus d’introduction du changement comme un système d’action sociale complexe et émergent, a été appliqué à l’analyse de l’introduction d’un système de surveillance épidémiologique en Haïti. Plus précisément, nous avons analysé une étape ainsi que certains aspects du mécanisme sous-jacent au processus d’introduction du changement. Ce faisant, nous avons analysé, dans les deux premiers articles de la thèse, l’étape d’adoption du système de surveillance épidémiologique (2ème concept) ainsi que les déterminants de la collaboration entre les organisations impliquées dans le processus d’introduction du changement (3ème concept). Les résultats de ces analyses nous ont permis d’objectiver de faibles niveaux d’adoption, ainsi qu’une faible articulation des déterminants de la collaboration entre les différentes organisations impliquées dans le processus d’introduction du changement. Partant de ces constats, nous avons pu mettre en évidence, dans le troisième article, une phase de « chaos » dans le fonctionnement du système de santé d’Haïti. Cette phase de « chaos », qui pourrait expliquer les difficultés liées à l’introduction du changement dans les systèmes de santé des pays en développement en général et plus particulièrement en Haïti, était caractérisée par la présence d’un ordre sous-jacent au désordre apparent dans le fonctionnement de certaines composantes du système de santé d’Haïti, l’existence d’une instabilité, d’une imprédictibilité ainsi que d’une invariance structurelle aux différents niveaux de gouvernance. Par ailleurs, cette recherche a également permis de démontrer que les caractéristiques du « chaos » sont entretenues par la présence de trois groupes de systèmes d’action sociale bien articulés et bien cohérents à tous les échelons de la pyramide sanitaire en Haïti. Il s’agissait des systèmes d’action liés aux agences de coopération bilatérale, ceux liés aux initiatives ou fondations internationales de lutte contre le sida et finalement ceux associés aux organisations onusiennes. Ces systèmes d’action sociale sont en outre associés à d’autres systèmes d’action plus complexes qui sont situés à l’extérieur du système de santé d’Haïti. Au regard de ces résultats, nous avons proposé une nouvelle approche permettant de mieux appréhender l’introduction du changement dans les systèmes de santé des pays en développement et qui s’inscrit dans une logique permettant de favoriser une plus grande variété et une plus grande diversification. Cette variété et cette diversification étant soutenue par la création et la mise en place de plusieurs interconnections entre tous les systèmes d’action en présence dans les systèmes de santé qu’ils soient d’appartenance nationale, internationale ou qu’ils agissent au niveau central, départemental ou local. La finalité de ce processus étant l’émergence de propriétés systémiques issues non seulement des propriétés des groupes de systèmes d’action individuels qui interviennent dans la constitution du système émergent, mais aussi d’autres propriétés résultant de leur mise en commun. / In an attempt to improve the health status of their population, health care systems in developing countries face several organizational issues. These issues include the presence of international organizations with different goals and characteristics, as well as little convergence and poor coordination. While focussing on this specific issue, the objective of this dissertation is to deeply explore the issues related to the process of introducing change in health care systems of developing countries. The research method for this study is a concept analysis that requires a literature review, the use of new theories to clarify these concepts as well as the use of case studies to empirically validate these concepts. Using Parsons’s social action theory and the complexity theory, a new theory of change (1st concept) was developed and applied to the process of introduction of an epidemiological surveillance system in Haiti. More specifically, in the first two articles, we have analysed the process of adopting the epidemiological surveillance system (2nd concept) and the determinants of collaboration among the different organizations involved in the change process (3rd concept). The results from these two articles enabled us to highlights the low level of adoption as well as the weak articulation of the determinants of collaborations between the various organizations involved in the change process. From these analyses, we were able to highlights the dynamics of chaos operating in Haiti’s health care system in the third article. This chaos stage which could enable us to show the difficulties associated with the introduction of change in health systems in developing countries in general, and Haiti in particular, was characterized by a hidden order underlying an apparent disorder in the operation of certain components of the Haitian’s health system, the existence of instability, unpredictability as well as structural invariance at various levels of governance. Moreover, this research also enabled us to show that these characteristics are maintained by the presence of three well articulated and coherent social action systems at all levels of the health pyramid. They are those related to bilateral cooperation agencies, those related to international foundations and global initiatives fighting against AIDS, and finally those associated with the United Nations Organizations. These social action systems are also associated with other more complex systems outside the Haiti’s health system. On the basis of these results, we proposed a new approach to understand the process of introducing change in health care systems of developing countries that would fit into the logic that supports the setting up a larger interconnections and diversification among various organizations involved.

Submitted by SBI Biblioteca Digital (sbi.bibliotecadigital@puc-campinas.edu.br) on 2017-08-30T13:52:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 NOEMIE NELLY NAHUM.pdf: 14077034 bytes, checksum: a3277c9c8afeb7275c61c84726af0d28 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-30T13:52:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 NOEMIE NELLY NAHUM.pdf: 14077034 bytes, checksum: a3277c9c8afeb7275c61c84726af0d28 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-30 / Pontif?cia Universidade Cat?lica de Campinas ? PUC Campinas / It is proposed to reflect the research from the point of view of theory and practice, considering them inseparably related to the process of methodological reconstruction in the applied social sciences, especially in the area of architecture and urbanism. The discussion involves the development of an urban projectc in the Village neighborhood in Campinas, S?o Paulo, understanding it as a political and technical vehicle for dialogue among the social agents involved in it. Urban regeneration of public spaces is privileged, taking into account that, under dialogical conditions, the collective subject can guide the treatment of daily territory. / Prop?e-se refletir a pesquisa do ponto de vista da teoria e da pr?tica, considerando-as indissociavelmente relacionadas ao processo de reconstru??o metodol?gica nas ci?ncias sociais aplicadas, especialmente na ?rea de arquitetura e urbanismo. A discuss?o envolve o desenvolvimento de um projeto urbano no bairro Village em Campinas, S?o Paulo, compreendendo-o como ve?culo pol?tico e t?cnico de di?logo entre os agentes sociais nele envolvidos. Privilegia-se a requalifica??o urbana dos espa?os livres p?blicos, levando em conta que, sob condi??es dial?gicas, o sujeito coletivo possa orientar o tratamento do territ?rio cotidiano.

ABSTRACT Background: A language is an individual tool for stimulating and organizing concepts and thinking. Through a language, the individual is also given opportunities to understand the outside world and himself. Not having access to a functional language and means to communicate results in a potential loss of opportunities for development and limitations in all aspects of life. For individuals with language-, speech- and communication difficulties, there are Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). AAC is a collective term for various tools and methods that aim to improve and facilitate communication and interaction between the individual and the persons surrounding them. One type of AAC is Pragmatic Organized Dynamic Display (PODD). Aim: This study aims to investigate what happens during interaction with PODD in conversations between two people using the methodology of Conversation Analysis (CA). Method: A qualitative case study was conducted during a day at a training school where an AAC user ("Adam") and his communication partner ("Elin) interacted with PODD in different everyday activities. The observation was documented with two video cameras. Result: The recorded material totaled three hours. From this amount of video material, a couple of sequences were selected for analysis. The analysis of the material shows that the interaction with PODD is built up sequentially through cooperation between the participants. Participants used different approaches to initiate, maintain and terminate communicative projects with PODD. The analysis also shows that PODD was used to perform various social actions within several different activity types. The results also indicate that it is the partner’s ability to pay attention to, interpret, support and guide the AAC user's communicative initiative, which gives the AAC user the opportunity to participate in the joint communicative projects. / SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund: Ett språk är ett individuellt redskap för att stimulera och organisera begrepp och tänkande. Genom språket ges individen också möjligheter att förstå omvärlden och sig själv. Att inte ha tillgång till ett funktionellt språk och kommunikationssätt innebär att individen riskerar att gå miste om många utvecklingsmöjligheter och bli starkt begränsad i livets samtliga aspekter. För individer med språk, tal och kommunikationssvårigheter finns Alternativ och Kompletterande Kommunikation (AKK). AKK är ett samlingsbegrepp för olika redskap och metoder som avser att förbättra och underlätta kommunikation och interaktion mellan individen och personerna i dennes omgivning. En form av AKK är Pragmatisk Organiserad Dynamisk Display (PODD). Syfte: Denna studie syftar till att med metodologin för Conversation Analysis (CA) undersöka vad som sker i interaktion med PODD under samtal mellan två personer. Metod: En kvalitativ fallstudie som genomfördes under en dag på en träningsskola då en AKK-användare (”Adam”) och hans kommunikationspartner (”Elin) interagerade med PODD i vardagliga aktiviteter. Observationen dokumenterades med två videokameror. Resultat: Det inspelade materialet uppgick till totalt tre timmar. Utifrån denna mängd valdes ett par sekvenser ut för analys. Analysen av materialet visar att interaktionen med PODD byggs upp sekventiellt genom ömsesidigt samarbete mellan deltagarna. Deltagarna använde sig av olika tillvägagångssätt för att initiera, upprätthålla och avsluta kommunikativa projekt med PODD. Analysen visar även att PODD användes för att utföra olika sociala handlingar inom flera olika aktivitetstyper. Resultaten tyder också på att det är kommunikationspartnerns förmåga att uppmärksamma, tolka, stötta och vägleda AKK-användarens kommunikativa initiativ som ger AKK-användaren möjlighet att delta i det gemensamma kommunikativa projektet.