In 1998 the Faculty of Community and Development Disciplines (CADD) embarked on a project to prevent and reduce crime involving school children. A needs assessment was conducted in the three schools where the project was to have its main focus. One of the problems that came out of the Rossburgh High School was the conflict that appeared to exist between male and female learners at the school. Male learners were observed to 'bully' their female counterparts. Given the high statistic of violence against women in South Africa, this seemingly 'small' problem could have relevance later on in the lives of these adolescents. In order to intervene successfully it was first necessary to understand the problem that existed. By means of focus groups male and female adolescents provided information around the phenomenon. From data obtained, it appeared that fighting was predominantly due to boyfriend/girlfriend relationships. The problem was explored in depth and recommendations were made with regards to intervention programmes and future research. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, 2000.

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the lived experiences of critical care nurses with Muslim traditional practices. Methodology: A phenomenological approach was used in the study to gain the critical care nurses' perspectives of Muslim traditional illness practices. The realised sample was six participants, from intensive care units within one provincial and one private hospital. The researcher applied the principle of theoretical saturation, which was achieved at the verifying interviews of the participants. Two semi- structured interviews were conducted with each participant an initial and a verifying interview, each of which lasted 20 - 30 minutes. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Manual data analysis was used to identify categories and themes. Findings: The participants were open-minded to the Muslim clients' belief system on healing and agreed that the clients' cultural beliefs took precedence over their own beliefs. The participants believed that Muslims relied on traditional illness practices as these provided them with hope and faith in times of despair as well as provided them with emotional and spiritual contentment. A number of methods were used by the participants to acquire knowledge about Muslim traditional illness practices. There was great support for the delivery of culturally sensitive care amongst the critical care nurses. Recommendations were suggested for nursing education, nursing practice and further research to facilitate the creation of a culturally sensitive climate in health care delivery. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Background Instillation of nonnal saline before suctioning is a common nursing intervention although little research supports the practice. Objectives To detennine when and how often saline is used during suctioning and to assess the knowledge of nurses and respiratory therapists of the advantages and dangers of using saline during endotracheal suctioning. Methods A survey of nurses and respiratory therapists working in adult and neonatal intensive care units was conducted in three large teaching hospitals in the UAE. Results Of the 81 respondents, 38 (47%) rarely instil saline before suctioning, whereas 20 (25%) frequently use saline. Seventy-four percent use saline to enhance retrieval of secretions, and 72% use it to stimulate cough. Nurses and respiratory therapists differ in their use and understanding of saline instillation. Most nurses (56%) rarely use saline before suctioning, whereas most respiratory therapists (37%) frequently use saline. Respiratory therapists (93%) were more aware than were nurses (61%) of the benefit of using nonnal saline to stimulate a cough. Respiratory therapists considered oxygen desaturation as a major adverse effect of saline instillation in comparison to nurses who stressed on pulmonary infection as a major side effect. Conclusion The results of the survey indicates that the practice of these professionals are not in line with most recent research results in the area and indicate a need for in-service education. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal,Durban, 2002.

This study was conducted using a qualitative descriptive approach. It was based on an analysis that was done to determine awareness and attitude of patients in end of life issues. The semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection. A sample of ten patients, five inpatient and five outpatient, was purposively chosen. Permission was obtained from the hospital superintendent and heads of departments, and also consent from patients, for the study. Data was analyzed, using the NVIVO program, a computer software, for data coding, and a conceptual model for categorization. From the findings, the researcher concluded that poor communication causes lack of knowledge in patients, which in turn limits the capacity for decision making in patients. The researcher also noted that participants were not aware of their autonomy in decision-making. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The purpose of the study was to do a task analysis.of PHC nurse practice by identifying the skills required by nurses working at the primary health care clinic in order to plan staff development programmes. The objectives were: to compile ; an extensive list of possible tasks; engage Primary Health Care Nurses in identifying the frequency of tasks executed; and engage Primary Health Care Nurses in determining how important are the tasks in their practice. This was a descriptive survey. A mail survey was used to collect data. Two stratified random samples of nurses were drawn from the sample frame of Uthukela Health District. The sample consisted of 84 Primary Health Care Nurses; 59 registered nurses, 17 enrolled nurses, and 8 enrolled nursing auxiliaries. The questionnaire was developed based on PHC core package, other literature and services provided at PHC clinics. It had three sections; section one and dealt with demographic data, section two consisted of the list of activities that describe the nursing practice and the respondents had to indicate the frequency of performing the activity and importance of the activity and section three dealt with the activities that the respondent perform but were not included in the list provided. The response from mailed questionnaires was 72%. The results show that . I eleven items were rated very frequent by 70% of the nurses, forty-four items rated frequent by more than 50% of the nurses. Twenty-seven tasks were rated as important by 50% or more of the nurses. In frequency and importance, nineteen items score above 1 standard deviation on this index. In the clinical tasks, promotive and preventive service predominated. A high percentage of these tasks were done very frequently and were seen as important. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The global change in the provision of mental health care services from long-term institutionalization to community-based care brought changes in the care giving responsibilities. This approach shifted the responsibility for the care of individuals with serious mental illness from psychiatric hospitals where health professionals were the primary care-givers, to community health care services where the family members are now the primary care-givers and the major sources of psychosocial support for the individuals with serious mental illness (Chamber, et al., 2001; Seloilwe, 2006). The aim of this study was therefore to explore the care giving burden as perceived by family members of individuals with serious mental illness and the association between their coping strategies and the perceived burden. Methodology: An exploratory-descriptive, non- experimental quantitative study was adopted to describe and explore perceptions of care giving burden by family members, and the association between the perceived burden and the family coping strategies. The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) was used to collect data on perceived family burden and the Carers Assessment of Management Index (CAMI) to collect data on coping strategies. The questionnaire was self- administered to 120 family members of the individuals with serious mental illness who accompanied their relatives at the clinic and who met the sample inclusion criteria. Findings: The findings revealed that family members in the uThukela District were experiencing great burden while caring for their relative with serious mental illness. The most influencing factors were the worsened condition of a relative with unmanageable behaviour, poverty, lack of resources including knowledge, rehabilitation centres. Over dependency of a relative with serious mental illness on family members was one of the greatest worries of the participants. The situation negatively affects on the social lives of the family members and on their well being. In terms of coping strategies, family members were found to be using both problem-focused and emotional-focused strategies to balance their coping abilities. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

AIM. The aim of this study was to describe the utilization of family planning methods by the nursing students in the selected nursing education institution. METHODOLOGY. A non-experimental descriptive survey design with a quantitative approach was used to describe the utilization of family planning methods by the nursing students. For the study, the quota sampling technique where 106 nursing students were selected. A self-developed questionnaire based on a conceptual framework, study objectives, and existing questionnaires was used as a data collection instrument. FINDINGS. The results yielded by the study showed that 63.9% (n = 62) used family planning methods before coming to college which was the majority of the respondents. Of the total number of participants, 35.1% (n = 34) who never used family planning methods before were still not using any method. The majority of students using family planning methods perceive this as beneficial. The perceived self-efficacy by the users is also high. A recommendation for future practice is that there should be health information available to students during orientation. The name used for these services may also need to be looked at. The qualitative study on the topic may yield different or similar results. / Thesis (M.N.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

This study was undertaken to explore the extent of cultural sensitivity among the nursing students of Kwa Zulu - Natal Province. A qualitative. ethnographic, explorative design was utilized. A quantitative approach was also used. Subjects were second, third and fourth year students registered for the four year Comprehensive Diploma in Nursing leading to registration as a Nurse (General, Psychiatry, Community Health) and Midwife. To ensure measures of trustworthiness, Guba's model in (Krefting 1991) was implemented. Narrative statements in the form of scenarios and questionnaires were employed to explore, to examine and to describe the extent to which the nursing students are sensitive towards cultures of groups that are different from theirs. The data was analyzed based on the developmental stages of cultural sensitivity by (Bennett 1986). Tesch's method was used to analyze the qualitative data and the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) was used to analyze the quantitative data. Based on the findings. the following conclusions were drawn:- Some students were unable to acknowledge variations that exist among cultures. Problems emanating from cultural differences still exist between nurses and patients due to the ethnocentric views held by some nurses. The study revealed that the students were at varying stages of levels of development of cul tural sensitivity, which means that they ranged from lack of cultural sensitivity to cultural sensitivity. Nursing students, therefore. need more preparation by their program in order to provide culturally congruent nursing care to all. / Thesis (M.Cur.)- University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

A comparative analysis was undertaken using descriptive survey and cross-sectional design to explore the effects of two curricular approaches ( Problem-based learning and traditional) used in Comprehensive basic nursing programme on the development of, clinical reasoning abilities of nursing students was undertaken, Triple Jump Exercise as the data collection instrument was used to evaluate students' abilities, in clinical reasoning, Using quota sampling technique, a convenience sample of 87 subjects was selected from two nursing institutions using these two approaches, These were student nurses in their 1st, 2nd and 4th year levels of study, Using individual interviews, subjects were required to think aloud and verbalize their clinical reasoning after being presented with a clinical scenario, Subjects' verbalizations were quantified, based on the criteria specified in the evaluation form of the data collecting instrument, and total scores were obtained, Analysis using computer software package (SAS) was done to provide for descriptive and statistical summarisation, Though descriptive analysis through mean scores of clinical reasoning showed slight differences resulting from the curricular approaches used. this was not confirmed statistically as the two factor ANOVA and Tukey's method revealed no significant differences by approaches nor their interaction with level of study, Only levels of study had significant differences at p=O,OOO I, with senior levels outperforming their juniors, These findings therefore conclude that PBL and the traditional approach perfonn on a similar level in clinical reasoning. Nurse educators are therefore challenged to identify effective strategies to enhance and nurture clinical reasoning, One strategy, which this study recommends, is the use of case-based approaches in CBNP. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

The understanding of the pathways that clients take prior to admission to a mental health institution, is a vital factor in planning to reduce delays in seeking treatment. Studying the pathways may also help in the identification of sources of delays in the receiving of care and suggest possible improvements. Although western medicine plays an important role in the control of disease, traditional medicine continues to play an important role in the health care of black African communities. They, therefore possess unique attitudes, values and beliefs, about health and illness, which integrally infiuence their health behaviour. This study aims to increase the understanding by health professionals of pathways to care taken by clients before they are admitted to a mental health institution, so as to enhance heath service planning. It also aims to determine the socio-cultural and economic factors, as well as satisfaction with different service providers. The sample in this study consisted of 15 clients, who were between the ages of ten and fifty-nine years. These clients were males and females who were admitted for the first time in a mental health institution (MHI) (TownHill Hospital, Pietermaritzburg). The interview questionnaire, was administered, by the researcher.This study has demonstrated that, Africans still believe in traditional and faith healers as their first port of call when they are mentally ill. Their help seeking behaviour is determined by their cultural beliefs and values. The study also demonstrated the high involvement of the South African Police Services (SAPS) in the pathway to mental health institution by intervening to protect family or public and also transporting the client to a mental health institution. The Primary Health Care (PHC) is very seldom used Economic factors like unemployment strongly infiuence the mental health of people and also affect their social functioning, as it is shown by the high levels of unemployment in the sample. Some of these clients resort to living on the streets, because they cannot find employment and are homeless. The study has also shown the importance of education and training of health professionals in PHC, in identifying the first signs of mental illness when clients present themselves and making available the psychotropic drugs at the PHCC as this is the first port of call for clients. Psycho education of traditional healers, spiritual healers, SAPS and community should be implemented on when and how to refer clients, how to handle mentally ill clients. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.