The purpose of this study was to analyse the support systems for refugees in Southern Africa with specific reference to the Republic of Botswana. Qualitative framework as described by Lofland and Lofland (1984), Schensus and Schensus (1992) was used to conduct the investigation. Interviews were conducted with thirty refugees who currently living in Botswana as a refugee or asylum seeker. Focus group discussion was also held with twenty-six refugee workers. Interview findings were derived using Glaser and Straus' (1976) and Van Maanen, (1979) constant comparative method of qualitative analysis and were grouped into four major categories. Among the most significant findings were that the subjects agreed that on paper and by design, there are structures for providing the different services to refugees but refugees are not provided with adequate services. The second finding is that the support systems for refugees in Botswana are more focused on the provision of material support with little attention given to the psychosocial needs of the refugees. The third finding is that the Botswana government withheld some of the Articles of the 1951 UN refugee Convention, which deal with the socio-economic rights of refugees in Botswana. The fourth finding is that refugee workers need specialised training to enable them to address a wide rage of psychosocial issues affecting refugees. Last major finding is that there is no established clear system of service delivery in the participating agencies. The researcher concluded that because of trauma and stress experienced by refugees and refugee workers, there is a need to improve on the psychosocial support provided to refugees and refugee workers in Botswana by improving the knowledge and skills of refugee workers and promoting refugee participation. The researcher recommends two urgent actions that should be taken. First, the refugee management in Botswana need to improve on its service quality control mechanism, including evaluating its legal and operational framework. Second, psychosocial components need to be integrated into every aspect of the refugee programmes. This will support recovery for the many traumatised refugees and refugee workers in Botswana. / Social work / DPHIL (SOCIAL WORK)

The purpose of this study was to analyse the support systems for refugees in Southern Africa with specific reference to the Republic of Botswana. Qualitative framework as described by Lofland and Lofland (1984), Schensus and Schensus (1992) was used to conduct the investigation. Interviews were conducted with thirty refugees who currently living in Botswana as a refugee or asylum seeker. Focus group discussion was also held with twenty-six refugee workers. Interview findings were derived using Glaser and Straus' (1976) and Van Maanen, (1979) constant comparative method of qualitative analysis and were grouped into four major categories. Among the most significant findings were that the subjects agreed that on paper and by design, there are structures for providing the different services to refugees but refugees are not provided with adequate services. The second finding is that the support systems for refugees in Botswana are more focused on the provision of material support with little attention given to the psychosocial needs of the refugees. The third finding is that the Botswana government withheld some of the Articles of the 1951 UN refugee Convention, which deal with the socio-economic rights of refugees in Botswana. The fourth finding is that refugee workers need specialised training to enable them to address a wide rage of psychosocial issues affecting refugees. Last major finding is that there is no established clear system of service delivery in the participating agencies. The researcher concluded that because of trauma and stress experienced by refugees and refugee workers, there is a need to improve on the psychosocial support provided to refugees and refugee workers in Botswana by improving the knowledge and skills of refugee workers and promoting refugee participation. The researcher recommends two urgent actions that should be taken. First, the refugee management in Botswana need to improve on its service quality control mechanism, including evaluating its legal and operational framework. Second, psychosocial components need to be integrated into every aspect of the refugee programmes. This will support recovery for the many traumatised refugees and refugee workers in Botswana. / Social work / DPHIL (SOCIAL WORK)

This study attempts to understand prostitution from their definition of the situation. It differs in its method from other studies on prostitution in that the investigation was based on the prostitutes' own perspectives as interpreted by the researcher using the interpretative epistemological tradition. A comparative analysis of prostitution in two economically stable African Countries, namely Nigeria and Botswana was made. This study investigated society's perception of prostitutes and how it impacts upon their empowerment and emancipation as vulnerable members of the society and their participation in prevention and control of sexually transmitted infection including HIV/AIDS. Also the role of governments and individuals in creating and sustaining prostitution, an extensive insight to the modus operandi of prostitution and suggestions on how best to address prostitution in society, were discussed. A triangulated methodology of three hundred and twenty five sexworkers (325) that includes a quantitative study of two hundred and five sex workers complimented with a qualitative study of one hundred and twenty sex workers participating in focus group discussion and case studies informed the study. The findings of the research suggest that in the prostitutes' own definition of the situation; prostitutes contribute to the maintenance of societal equilibrium, the society creates and sustains prostitution. Economic need rather than lack of morals creates prostitutes and their situation of vulnerability as women is being reinforced by their status as prostitutes. Violence from partners that includes the police and the inability to reprimand their clients, are some hazards of prostitution and these result in their mobility and creates a challenge in adequately addressing the issue of prostitution in society, including their limited participation in the control of STDs. Respondents in Botswana had a very good knowledge of STI's /HIV/AIDS and had no difficulties in going to hospital in the event of any STD's as compared with Nigerian respondents. The Nigerian respondents' indulged in self-medication with antibiotics and traditional herbs mixed in local gin before and after a sexual act, rather than go to hospitals. The research findings should assist the government and international community's policies and programmes aimed at addressing prostitution and STDs/HIV/AIDS. / Sociology / D.Litt. et Phil.(Sociology)

This study attempts to understand prostitution from their definition of the situation. It differs in its method from other studies on prostitution in that the investigation was based on the prostitutes' own perspectives as interpreted by the researcher using the interpretative epistemological tradition. A comparative analysis of prostitution in two economically stable African Countries, namely Nigeria and Botswana was made. This study investigated society's perception of prostitutes and how it impacts upon their empowerment and emancipation as vulnerable members of the society and their participation in prevention and control of sexually transmitted infection including HIV/AIDS. Also the role of governments and individuals in creating and sustaining prostitution, an extensive insight to the modus operandi of prostitution and suggestions on how best to address prostitution in society, were discussed. A triangulated methodology of three hundred and twenty five sexworkers (325) that includes a quantitative study of two hundred and five sex workers complimented with a qualitative study of one hundred and twenty sex workers participating in focus group discussion and case studies informed the study. The findings of the research suggest that in the prostitutes' own definition of the situation; prostitutes contribute to the maintenance of societal equilibrium, the society creates and sustains prostitution. Economic need rather than lack of morals creates prostitutes and their situation of vulnerability as women is being reinforced by their status as prostitutes. Violence from partners that includes the police and the inability to reprimand their clients, are some hazards of prostitution and these result in their mobility and creates a challenge in adequately addressing the issue of prostitution in society, including their limited participation in the control of STDs. Respondents in Botswana had a very good knowledge of STI's /HIV/AIDS and had no difficulties in going to hospital in the event of any STD's as compared with Nigerian respondents. The Nigerian respondents' indulged in self-medication with antibiotics and traditional herbs mixed in local gin before and after a sexual act, rather than go to hospitals. The research findings should assist the government and international community's policies and programmes aimed at addressing prostitution and STDs/HIV/AIDS. / Sociology / D.Litt. et Phil.(Sociology)