M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Education in the Department of Educational Psychology & Special Education at the University of Zululand, 2007. / The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cannibas use on the adolescent's development. This was achieved by means of a literature study and an emprical investigation. The literature study found that the use of cannabis by the adolescent affects his physical, psychological (cognitive and affective), social and normative development.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the field of Demography and Population Studies, 2016 / Background: Risky behaviours are notably the most important factors contributing to negative health outcomes among adolescents. A number of diseases and deaths have been linked to risky and harmful behaviours. Research has shown that being involved in one risky behaviour increases the likelihood of involvement in additional risky behaviours. Adolescents have been identified at the centre of sustainable development, particularly in achieving goals related to bringing poverty to an end, promoting health and well-being, attaining equitable and quality primary and secondary education as well as achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Objectives: The objective of this study was firstly to examine the levels of social association membership and risky behaviour among adolescents. Secondly, to identify the determinants of risky behaviour among South African adolescents and lastly, to examine the relationship between social association membership and risky behaviour among adolescents. Methods: Data were drawn from the South African Youth Life Style Survey of 2008. A sample of 3335 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years was analysed. Four binary and one multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. The four binary dependent variables were for risky sexual behaviours, risky substance use behaviours, other risky behaviours and engaging in at least one type of behaviour. For each of these binary dependent variables the response category was yes or no. The dependent variable for the multinomial logistic regression model was any adolescent risky behaviour which was categorised as; no behaviour, any one category of behaviour, any two categories of behaviour and all three categories of behaviour. The key independent variables were firstly an index variable generated by merging all the different social associations into one variable that had the response yes or no to being a member of any social association. There were also five key independent variables that were the individual social associations namely; sports, religious groups, choir, drama and other associations. Results: The two most common social associations that adolescents engaged in were sports groups (515 per 1000 adolescents) and religious groups (342 per 1000 adolescents). Risky vii behaviours with the highest number adolescents engaging in them were driving without a seatbelt (32%), consuming alcohol (32%), being a passenger in a car driven by someone under the influence of alcohol (28%), tobacco use (21%) and lack of condom use (9%). Adolescents who were not members of social associations were found to have decreased the risk of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviours. Not being a member of religious groups increased the risk of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviour. Adolescents who were not members of sports groups were found to have lower risks of engaging in one, two and all three categories of risky behaviour, as well as decreased odds of engaging in at least one type of risky behaviour. Conclusion: The study found that there was a statistically significant relationship between social association membership and risky behaviours among adolescents in South Africa. More particularly, religious associations were found to be protective factors to risky behaviours and sports, drama and other associations were found to be platforms that could potentially increase the likelihood of risky behaviour among adolescents. / GR2017

Substance abuse remains one of the critical challenges facing South Africa. Research studies conducted locally and internationally, reflect a sharp increase in the number of young people that are falling prey to substance abuse (with the age of onset decreasing rapidly). These rising statistics, as well as the guidelines for evidence based practice suggest that drug prevention interventions need to be tailored to the needs of specific recipients of the service. The aim of the present study was therefore to understand the needs of a specific group of adolescents from a designated community in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth. This community has been riddled by gang violence, high levels of unemployment, teenage pregnancies, school dropout and in particular, large numbers of adolescent drug users. The goal of the study was therefore to enhance an understanding of the risk and protective factors associated with substance abuse amongst adolescents from this specific neighbourhood in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth. The study was imbedded in a socio-cultural and systemic theoretical framework. A qualitative research approach was adopted, employing an exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design to address the primary research question. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit eight non users and a snowball sampling technique was used (with the assistance of two gatekeepers) to identify eight substance users from the identified neighbourhood in the Northern Areas. An in-depth, semi-structured individual interview was used as the method of data collection with each of the 16 research participants. The data was analysed according to the steps for qualitative data analysis, as proposed by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:155). The trustworthiness was enhanced by employing the four criteria proposed by Guba (in Krefting, 1991:214-222). The findings of the study indicate that the dominant risk factors for substance use are located at a family and community level. These included the absence of family structure, poor parental discipline and supervision, the presence of parental substance abuse, neglect of children and family disharmony. At a community level the risk factors included: the prevalence of drug outlets, normalization of substance use in the community, prevalence of gangsterism as a way life and source of income and apathy of community members in protecting their community. Protective factors were mutually exclusive and additional protective factors were discussed at length in the report. The findings which point to the adoption of an integrated community based approach to effect meaningful drug prevention strategies for substance abuse amongst adolescents in the studied community, are disseminated here in the form of a written report and will be prepared for submission to a journal for publication.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Masters of Arts in Demography and Population Studies, 2017 / Background: Risky behaviours among adolescents are notably the most important factors contributing to negative health outcomes of this population group. Adolescents in South Africa are at risk of the HIV infection, unintended pregnancies, unintentional injuries (motor vehicle accidents) and substance and drug abuse. South Africa is regarded as one of the countries with nearly half adolescents living with HIV, as a result of unprotected sex. It is also regarded as one of the countries with motor accidents cases and as a result of reckless driving and substance use. To understand this, there is substantial research on the demographic and socio-demographic determinants of risky behaviour amongst adolescents but little research on the household and community factors. The main aim of this study is to determine the contextual determinants of adolescent risky behaviours in South Africa. Method: This study used data from the South African Youth Life Style Survey of 2008. The study sample size is 3336 adolescents aged 12 to 19 across all nine provinces in South Africa. Risky behaviours are organized using an ecological framework into individual, household, and community levels. Binary- multilevel logistic regression was employed to analyze the data. Results: The results indicated that age, sex, education, race, living arrangements, number of income earners, were significant, however, the relationship between risky behaviours and community level variables were negatively significant. . 3336 adolescents participated in the study, 934 (28.0%) had sexual intercourse and 158 (4.74%) had two or more sexual partners, and 234 (7.01) did not use a condom during their last sex. In terms of substance use, 34.24 % ever used alcohol and about 24.45% ever been a passenger with a driver under the influence. Adolescents who were living with their grandparents (OR=1.07), living in a household with seven or more members (OR=1.06), while residing in had a higher likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours. Findings demonstrated that community level factors were not associated with reports of risky behaviour among adolescents but were influential in shaping the risky behaviour of adolescents. Conclusion: Firstly, results from this research will provide a better understanding of the contextual factors that relate to risky behaviours. Secondly, results from this research will help inform polices such as the National Youth Policy in reducing risky behaviours. Lastly, interventions aimed at reducing risky behaviours among adolescents in South Africa should not only focus on individual level but also on the household and community engagement. / XL2018

Substance abuse amongst children is a major problem in South Africa and world-wide. The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has increased in South Africa. Currently in South Africa, there is a new drug on the market known as “nyaope” being abused mostly by adolescents in the Townships. The negative consequences of substance abuse affect not only individuals who abuse substances but also their parents and significant others. The researcher observed that most literature in the field of substance abuse focuses on the children addressing issues such as causes, effects, psychological impact and others. Very little is documented on parents‟ experiences and coping capabilities as well as the support they need or receive. This further contributed to the researcher‟s purpose of conduct this study to explore parents‟ experience and support needs with regard to their children‟s addiction to nyaope. / MA (Social Work)

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of peer, community and religious influences on alcohol and tobacco use among high school adolescents from three different dominant groups of South Africa i.e. African, coloured and white adolescents. The investigations were based on two perceived major factors such as their familiy structure and their family's socio-economic status, which may either increase or decrease the likelihood of adolescent substance use.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of peer, community and religious influences on alcohol and tobacco use among high school adolescents from three different dominant groups of South Africa i.e. African, coloured and white adolescents. The investigations were based on two perceived major factors such as their familiy structure and their family's socio-economic status, which may either increase or decrease the likelihood of adolescent substance use.

Substance abuse amongst children is a major problem in South Africa and world-wide. The trend of new drugs entering the drug market has increased in South Africa. Currently in South Africa, there is a new drug on the market known as “nyaope” being abused mostly by adolescents in the Townships. The negative consequences of substance abuse affect not only individuals who abuse substances but also their parents and significant others. The researcher observed that most literature in the field of substance abuse focuses on the children addressing issues such as causes, effects, psychological impact and others. Very little is documented on parents‟ experiences and coping capabilities as well as the support they need or receive. This further contributed to the researcher‟s purpose of conduct this study to explore parents‟ experience and support needs with regard to their children‟s addiction to nyaope. / MA (Social Work)

Magister Artium - MA / The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of peer, community and religious influences on alcohol and tobacco use among high school adolescents from three different dominant groups of South Africa i.e. African, coloured and white adolescents. The investigations were based on two perceived major factors such as their familiy structure and their family's socio-economic status, which may either increase or decrease the likelihood of adolescent substance use. / South Africa