Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to develop a theoretical framework for social workers in nongovernmental organisations with regards to the nature and scope of social casework intervention with aggressive adolescents. The research was done based on an extensive literature study, which focussed on theories of aggression and factors which contribute to aggressive behaviour in adolescents, as well as the nature and scope of social casework intervention with aggressive adolescents. A combined qualitative and quantitative research method and an explorative and describing research design have been used in this study, since this combination resulted in reaching the goal of the study. The empirical research investigated the nature and scope of social casework intervention with aggressive adolescents. The universe consisted of all nongovernmental organisations in the Boland-district. Semi-structured questionnaires were used as an interview instrument with a purposive sample of 20 social workers. In light of the findings derived from the literature study and empirical research, appropriate conclusions and related recommendations were made. The main conclusion for this study is that various factors, such as the caseload of social workers and involvement of significant others during intervention, influence participants’ ability to utilise case work effectively during intervention with aggressive adolescents. The main recommendation of this study is that the delivery of social services be prioritized to avoid social work tasks or situations hindering or prohibiting intervention with aggressive adolescents. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om ‘n teoretiese raamwerk vir maatskaplike werkers in nieregeringsorganisies te bied vir die aard en omvang van maatskaplike gevallewerkintervensie aan adolessente met aggressiewe gedrag. Die ondersoek is gedoen aan die hand van ‘n uitgebreide literatuurstudie, wat gefokus het op teorieë oor aggressie en faktore wat tot aggressiewe gedrag by adolessente aanleiding gee, sowel as die aard en omvang van maatskaplike gevallewerkintervensie aan adolessente met aggressiewe gedrag. ‘n Gekombineerde kwalitatiewe- en kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering en ‘n verkennendeen beskrywende navorsingsontwerp is in hierdie studie benut, aangesien hierdie kombinasies die gestelde doelwitte van die studie die beste kon bereik. Die empiriese ondersoek het die aard en omvang van maatskaplike gevallewerkintervensie aan aggressiewe adolessente verken. Die universum het bestaan uit alle nie-regeringsorganisasies in die Boland-distrik. Semi-gestruktureerde vraelyste is as ‘n onderhoudskedule benut. ‘n Doelbewuste-steekproef het uit 20 maatskaplike werkers bestaan. Op grond van die bevindings, voortspruitend uit die literatuurstudie en empiriese ondersoek, kon toepaslike gevolgtrekkings en verbandhoudende aanbevelings gemaak word. Die hoofbevinding van hierdie studie is dat verskeie faktore soos die grootte van maatskaplike wekers se gevalleladings en die betrokkenheid van betekenisvolle ander tydens intervensie, respondente se vermoë beïnvloed om gevallewerkintervensie te benut. Die kernaanbeveling van hierdie studie is dat dienslewering geprioritiseer moet word dat intervensie met betrekking tot aggressiewe adolessente nie ten koste van ander maatskaplikewerk-take en situasies, benadeel word nie.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition which occurs when women drink alcohol during pregnancy. The use of alcohol during pregnancy has permanent and serious consquences which manifests in developmental delays and causes harmful effects to the central nervous system. FAS is seen as completely preventable and irreversable which lasts into adulthood. The prevalence rate of FAS in the Western Cape is the highest in the world. FAS is not just a health problem but also a social welfare problem, since the care for adolescents with FAS brings about exceptional demands for the carer. For this reason it became vital to explore the educational roles of the carers of adolescents with FAS. This research study firstly describes the characteristics of FAS within the physical, cognitive and social development of the adolescents with FAS. Secondly, the study describes and explores the educational roles of the carers of adolescents with FAS. The study combines both quantitative and qualitative research. The exploratory and descriptive research designs were used and a purposive sampling method was used. The participants were interviewed individually with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings of the empirical investigation show that the carers of FAS adolescents according to their perceptions and experiences know what is expected of them within their respective educational roles and they do make an effort to fulfil this role to the best of their ability. Further findings show that due to aspects like poverty and illiteracy of the participants, the carers need the support of the social worker in order for them to fulfil their educational roles. Recommendations resulting from the empirical investigation indicated that social workers need to support the carers of adolescents with FAS in parenting programmes which is simple and practical for the carers to understand and to implement. Further recommendations focus on awareness programmes and actions where the carers also take part in educating the community in terms of FAS. Through these actions the carers of adolescents with FAS can build a support system for themselves whithin the community. Therefore the community can be utilized by the carers of adolescents with FAS as a valuable resource in the fulfilment of their educational roles. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Fetale-alkoholsindroom (FAS) is ‘n toestand wat veroorsaak word wanneer vroue alkohol drink tydens swangerskap. Alkoholgebruik tydens swangerskap het blywende en ernstige nagevolge wat manifesteer in ontwikkelingsagterstande en skade in die senuweestelsel. FAS word dus beskou as heeltemal voorkombaar, maar is onomkeerbaar en duur voort tot in volwassenheid. Die voorkomsyfer van FAS is wêreldwyd die hoogste in veral die Wes-Kaap. FAS is nie net ‘n gesondheidsprobleem nie, maar ook ‘n maatskaplike probleem aangesien die versorging van adolessente met FAS besondere eise aan versorgers stel. Om hierdie rede is dit noodsaaklik om die opvoedingsrolle waaroor versorgers van FAS-adolessente moet oor beskik te ondersoek. Hierdie navorsingstudie beskryf eerstens die kenmerke van FAS binne die fisiese-, kognitiewe- en sosiale ontwikkeling van die adolessent met FAS. Tweedens beskryf studie die opvoedingsrolle waaroor versorgers van FAS-adolessente moet oor beskik. Die studie kombineer beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsing. Die verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp is gebruik en daar is ‘n doelbewuste steekproef gedoen. Individuele onderhoude is met die deelnemers gevoer met behulp van gestruktureerde vraelyste. Die bevindinge van die empiriese ondersoek toon dat die versorgers van FAS-adolessente volgens hulle persepsie en belewenisse, weet wat van hulle verwag word in die verskillende opvoedingsrolle en dat hulle wel pogings aanwend om hierdie rolle te probeer vervul. Verdere bevindings toon dat as gevolg van aspekte soos armoede en ongeletterdheid van die deelnemers die maatskaplike werker ondersteuning sal moet bied aan die versorgers van FAS-adolessente in die vervulling van hul opvoedingsrolle. Aanbevelings vanuit die empiriese ondersoek dui daarop dat die versorgers van FASadolessente deur veral die maatskaplike werker ondersteun moet word deur ouerleidingsprogramme wat eenvoudig en prakties aangebied behoort te word sodat die versorgers die inhoud maklik kan verstaan en kan toepas. Verdere aanbevelings fokus op bewusmakingsprogramme en -aksies waarin die versorgers ‘n rol kan speel om sodoende die gemeenskap ook op te voed ten opsigte van FAS. Hierdeur kan die versorgers van FASadolessente vir hulleself ‘n ondersteuningsnet binne die gemeenskap bou en die gemeenskap as ‘n waardevolle hulpbron benut in die vervulling van hul opvoedingsrolle.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mental health is a fundamental aspect of social functioning which affects a significant portion of the population. The movement toward deinstitutionalization became the core focus of mental health policies such as the White Paper (1997) and the Mental Health Care Act (17 of 2002) post-apartheid. However, this process was implemented at a rapid rate, with poor corresponding development of necessary outpatient and community-based facilities and services. Social, cultural, and economic conditions have significant and measurable effects on both individual health status and the delivery of health care. As a result, there is a growing recognition of the need for social work services within the mental health outpatient and community-based care context. Research regarding the role of the social worker within mental health care, particularly within a South African context is poor and therefore a research gap with regard to examining the views of social workers on their role in mental health outpatient and community-based services exists. The overall objective of the study was to, in light of the above, examine the views of social workers on their role in mental health outpatient and community-based care. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches was employed for the study, with a stronger emphasis on the use of qualitative data. A combination of exploratory and descriptive research designs was utilized as the framework for the implementation of the research approach. This was appropriate for the utilization of both quantitative and qualitative design elements. A purposive sample of twenty social workers was compiled, and data was collected through the means of semi-structured interviews; a pilot study was implemented to test the measurement instrument with two social work participants. Two literature chapters are presented, focusing on the topic of mental health and its related policy, as well as expanding on mental health care and service rendering according to an ecological perspective. These chapters served to achieve established objectives of the study. Chapter four is a presentation of the empirical study. Data which was collected was both relayed and analyzed, in accordance also with the literature study. Data was analyzed, through both quantitative and qualitative analysis and was presented according to identified themes, sub-themes and categories. Relevant tables, figures and participant narratives were used to further substantiate the analysis of data. Chapter five gives an overview of relevant conclusions and recommendations, in terms specifically of the role of the social worker in mental health outpatient and community-based care, in light of the empirical study and data analysis. Five specific roles were identified as being significant for the social worker in mental health care, with regard to their role in therapeutic intervention, working with clients and families in a one-on-one, counseling capacity; supportive services, through linking of clients to necessary resources; advocacy, through fighting for, and protecting the rights of clients and related vulnerable groups within mental health; relational role, recognizing the importance of social and interpersonal aspects on the functioning of mentally ill clients; and finally their role as a holistic worker within a multidisciplinary team, incorporating key aspects of the ecological perspective into assessments and interventions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geestesgesondheid is ʼn fundamentele aspek van maatskaplikefunksionering wat ʼn beduidende gedeelte van die bevolking affekteer. Die beweging na deïnstitusionalisering het die kern fokus van verwysings na geestesgesondheidsbeleide soos vervat in die Witskrif (1997) en die Wet op Geestesgesondheidsorg (17 van 2002) geword. Hierdie proses is teen ʼn vinnige tempo geïmplementeer, wat die ooreenstemmende ontwikkeling tussen dienste aan buitepasiënte en gemeenskapsgebaseerde fasiliteite en dienste benadeel het. Maatskaplike, kulturele en ekonomiese toestande het ʼn groot en meetbare uitwerking op beide individue se gesondheidstatus en die lewering van gesondheidsorg. As gevolg hiervan, is daar ʼn groeiende erkenning van die behoefte aan maatskaplike dienste in die geestesgesondheidsorg van buitepasiënte en binne ʼn gemeenskapsgebaseerde konteks. Navorsing oor die rol van die maatskaplike werker in die geestesgesondheidsorg, veral binne ʼn Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is onvoldoende. ʼn Gaping bestaan veral in navorsing oormaatskaplike werkers se rol in geestesgesondheidsorg met betrekking tot buitepasiënte en die gemeenskapsgebaseerde dienste. Die oorkoepelende doel van die studie was om, in die lig van die bogenoemde, ondersoek te doen oor die sienings van maatskaplike werkers met betrekking tot hul rol in geestesgesondheidsorg van buitepasiënte en gemeenskapsgebaseerde dienste. ʼn Kombinasie van beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenaderings is gebruik vir die studie, met ʼn sterker klem op kwalitatiewe navorsing. ʼn Kombinasie van verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerpe is gebruik as ʼn raamwerk vir die implementering van die navorsing benadering. 'n Doelgerigte steekproef, bestaande uit twintig maatskaplike werkers is saamgestel, en data is ingesamel deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met behulp van ʼn onderhoudskedule. Loodsonderhoude met twee deelnemende maatskaplike werkers is gevoer ten einde die onderhoudskedule te toets. Twee literatuurhoofstukke word aangebied, wat fokus op die onderwerp van geestesgesondheid en verwante beleide, sowel as geestesgesondheidsorg en -dienslewering volgens ʼn ekologiese perspektief. Hierdie hoofstukke dien as fondasie om die doelwitte van die studie te bereik. Hoofstuk vier dien as ʼn verslag oor die empiriese studie. Die data wat ingesamel is, is op grond van die literatuurstudie ontleed. Data is geanaliseer deur middel van beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe analise en is aangebied volgens geïdentifiseerde temas, sub-temas en kategorieë. Toepaslike tabelle, figure en narratiewe is gebruik om die analisering van data te substansieer. Hoofstuk vyf bied relevante gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings aan in terme van spesifiek die rol van die maatskaplike werker in geestesgesondheidsorg met betrekking tot buitepasiënte en gemeenskapsgebaseerde dienste. Vyf spesifieke rolle is geïdentifiseer as belangrik vir die maatskaplike werker in geestesgesondheidsorg: maatskaplike werkers se rol in die terapeutiese intervensie met betrekking totberading van individue en gesinne; ʼn ondersteunende rol wat kliënte met die nodige hulpbronne in verbinding bring; ʼn voorspraakrol, deur te beding vir die beskerming van die regte van kliënte en verwante kwesbare groepe in geestesgesondheidsorg; ʼn verhoudingsrol in die erkenning van die belangrikheid van sosiale en interpersoonlike aspekte in die funksionering van geestesgesondheidskliënte; en die rol as ʼn holistiese werker binne ʼn multidissiplinêre span, waarin belangrike aspekte van die ekologiese perspektief in assessering en intervensie geïnkorporeer word.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the earliest times the church or faith communities had been involved in charity work and as a result of the increasing social problems, demands and challenges that the church was confronted with, faith-based organisations such as the Diaconal Services within the context of the URCSA (Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa) and Religious Social Services within the context of the DRC (Dutch Reformed Church) came into existence. These organisations serve as the compassionate components of the faith-based communities and they emerged as a result of the belief that it is important for the church to address the needs of the communities in which it is based. Faith-based organisations are confronted with many challenges and it is important that these organisations are managed effectively to cope with the current challenges. Faith-based organisations as welfare organisations form part of the so called third sector organisations or non profit organisations and various authors (Lewis, 2007; Goel and Kumar, 2004; Keys and Ginsberg, 1988) also confirm the importance of the management element in respect of these organisations. Weinbach (2008:3) also emphasises that the emergence of recent changes regarding service delivery to people, suggests that there is a need for greater focus on the issue of management within welfare organisations as well as for the study of relevant theory. Social workers can play an effective management role within any organisation, including a faith-based organisation. Managers need to have a variety of skills in order to perform management functions or tasks effectively. A social worker as part of the management team of a faith-based organisation needs to have the necessary management skills to ensure effective management. The aim of the study is to develop an understanding of the management skills that social workers need to have as managers of faith-based organisations. A qualitative as well as a quantitative approach was used in this study. Elements of a qualitative approach were employed to develop a better understanding of a strange or complex situation and therefore the study is also explorative in nature (Leedy and Ormond, 2005:94-95; Struwig and Stead, 2002:12, 19; Mouton and Marais, 1990:45). Furthermore the study was also descriptive in nature. Mouton en Marais (1990:47) are of the opinion that the most important consideration with regard to descriptive studies is the gathering of accurate information or data. After completion of the literature study, empirical research was undertaken with the aim to develop a better understanding of the functioning of the social worker as manager within a faith-based organisation. The statistical population of this study is the social work managers who operate within faith-based organisations and especially within the Religious Social Services and Dutch Reformed Welfare in the Northern Cape and Dutch Reformed Welfare in North-West and Gauteng. Deliberate selection classified as non-probability test sampling was used (Struwig and Stead, 2001:124; Blaxter Hughes and Tight, 2001:163; Huysamen, 1993:46). According to Singleton et al (1988) in De Vos (1988:198-199), a purposeful test sample depend totally on the judgement of the researcher. The researcher was able to select participants who complied with the criteria of inclusion. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions was compiled after the completion of the literature study and the self-administrated questionnaires were distributed to the respondents to complete. Twenty respondents participated in the empirical study. The results of the empirical research were used as a basis for the conclusions and the recommendations that were made. The results of the study show that faith-based organisations as non profit organisations register and adhere to the regulations and requirements of the Nonprofit Organizations Act, 71 of 1997. The latter ensures that faith-based organisations have an equal change with other non profit organisations for funding from government as well as other national and international donors. It is evident from the research that social work managers need to have a variety of management skills and have to perform certain management functions in order to ensure effective management of faith-based organisations. It is also evident that social work managers are not formally trained as managers. The outcome of the study can be used by management boards of faith-based, as well as non governmental organisations to appoint social work managers as well as for performance appraisals of social work managers. It can also be used by current social work managers with regard to the management skills that social workers as managers of faith-based organisations need for effective functioning as managers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Reeds van die vroegste tye af was die kerk of geloofsgemeenskappe betrokke by barmhartigheid en juis vanweë die toenemende sosiale probleme en die eise en uitdagings wat dit aan kerke gestel het, het geloofsgebaseerde organisasies soos, onder andere, Diakonale Dienste binne die VGK-konteks (Verenigende Gereformeerde Kerk-konteks) en Kerklike Maatskaplike Dienste binne die NG Kerk-konteks (Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk-konteks) die lig gesien. Die organisasies dien as barmhartigheidsbeen van die geloofsgemeenskappe en het tot stand gekom vanuit die geloofsoortuiging om die nood te help verlig in die gemeenskappe waar die kerk geleë is. Geloofsgebaseerde organisasies word gekonfronteer met baie uitdagings en moet effektief bestuur word ten einde die hedendaagse uitdagings te kan hanteer. Geloofsgebaseerde organisasies as welsynsorganisasies vorm deel van die sogenaamde derdesektor-organisasies of nie-winsgewende organisasies en verskeie skrywers (Lewis, 2007; Goel en Kumar, 2004; Keys en Ginsberg, 1988) onderskryf ook die belangrikheid van die bestuurselement t.o.v. hierdie organisasies. Weinbach (2008:3) benadruk ook dat die veranderinge wat onlangs in die dienslewering aan mense begin kop uitsteek het, daarop dui dat daar ʼn behoefte is aan ʼn groter fokus op die kwessie van bestuur binne welsynsorganisasies, sowel as vir die bestudering van relevante teorie. Maatskaplike werkers kan ʼn effektiewe bestuursrol binne enige organisasie insluitende ʼn geloofsgebaseerde organisasie vervul. Bestuurders van enige organisasie moet oor ʼn verskeidenheid vaardighede beskik ten einde die bestuursfunksies of take effektief uit te voer. ʼn Maatskaplike werker as deel van die bestuurspan van ʼn geloofsgebaseerde organisasie moet oor die nodige bestuursvaardighede beskik om effektiewe bestuur te verseker. Die doel van die studie is om ʼn begrip te ontwikkel vir die bestuursvaardighede wat maatskaplike werkers as bestuurders van geloofsgebaseerde organisasies benodig. In hierdie studie is ʼn kwalitatiewe benadering sowel as ʼn kwantitatiewe benadering gevolg. Elemente van ʼn kwalitatiewe benadering is gevolg om ʼn beter begrip te kry van ʼn onbekende of komplekse situasie en die studie was verkennend van aard (Leedy en Ormond, 2005:94-95; Struwig en Stead, 2002:12,19; Mouton en Marais, 1990:45). Die studie was verder ook beskrywend van aard. Mouton en Marais (1990:47) is van mening dat die verkryging van akkurate inligting/data oor die domeinverskynsel onder bestudering, die belangrikste oorweging is in beskrywende studies. Na die afhandeling van die literatuurstudie, is ’n empiriese ondersoek gedoen met die doel om ʼn beter begrip van die funksionering van die maatskaplike werker as bestuurder binne ʼn geloofsgebaseerde organisasie te verkry. Die universum van hierdie studie is alle maatskaplike werk bestuurders wat binne geloofsgemeenskappe funksioneer, en spesifiek binne die Kerklike Maatskaplike Diens en NG Welsyn in Suid-Afrika. Dit was egter beperk tot die Kerklike Maatskaplike Diens in die Vrystaat, NG Welsyn in die Noordkaap en NG Welsyn Noordwes en Gauteng. Daar is gebruik gemaak van doelbewuste seleksie wat as nie-waarskynlikheidsteekproewe (Struwig en Stead, 2001:124; Blaxter Hughes en Tight, 2001:163; Huysamen, 1993:46) geklassifiseer word. Volgens Singleton et al (1988) in De Vos (1988:198-199), berus ʼn doelbewuste steekproef heeltemal op die oordeel van die navorser. In die geval van hierdie studie kon die navorser die deelnemers kies wat aan die kriteria vir insluiting voldoen het. ’n Semi-gestruktureerde vraelys wat bestaan het uit oop en geslote vrae is na die voltooiing van die literatuurstudie opgestel en die self-geadministreerde vraelyste is aan die respondente verskaf om te voltooi. Twintig respondente het aan die empiriese studie deelgeneem. Die resultate van die empiriese ondersoek is as basis gebruik vir die gevolgtrekkings en die aanbevelings wat in hierdie studie gemaak is. Die resultate van die studie toon dat geloofsgebaseerde organisasies as nie-winsgewende organisasies registreer en by die voorskrifte en vereistes van Die Wet op Organisasies Sonder Winsoogmerk, 71 van 1997 hou. Laasgenoemde verseker dat hulle ʼn gelyke kans het net soos ander nie-winsgewende organisasies vir befondsing van die staat en ander nasionale of internasionale donateurs. Uit die studie blyk dit dat die maatskaplike werk bestuurders van geloofsgebaseerde organisasies oor ʼn verskeidenheid van bestuursvaardighede moet beskik en sekere bestuursfunksies moet verrig ten einde effektiewe bestuur van geloofsgebaseerde organisasies te verseker. Dit blyk ook verder dat maatskaplike werk bestuurders van geloofsgebaseerde organisasies nie formeel as bestuurders opgelei is nie. Die uitkoms van die studie sal deur die besture van geloofsgebaseerde en nie-regeringsorganisasies gebruik kan word vir die aanstelling van maatskaplike werk bestuurders en prestasie-evaluasies van maatskaplike werk bestuurders. Dit kan ook deur bestaande maatskaplike werk bestuurders benut word met betrekking tot die bestuursvaardighede wat maatskaplike werkers as bestuurders van geloofsgebaseerde organisasies benodig vir effektiewe funksionering as bestuurders.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Thousands of children are being abandoned in South Africa each year, consequently entering the child-care and protection system. The Children’s Act 38 of 2005, which governs all practices involving children in South Africa, clearly advocates for adoption as the superior form of intervention in cases of abandonment. Yet adoption continues to be one of the most under-utilised childcare practices in South Africa, especially by the black, majority population. This is unfortunately despite the fact that most of the adoptable children are from the black population group. This study therefore aimed to investigate the views of adoption social workers regarding the practice of trans-racial adoptions of abandoned children. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed for this study. A combination of exploratory and descriptive research designs was utilised as the framework for the research approach. Data was collected by means of a semi-structured interview schedule, which was conducted during personal interviews with social work professionals. The findings of the empirical investigation revealed that according to the views of the social workers under-graduate social work training was largely inadequate in preparing social workers to work in the field of adoption. It was also found that social workers felt that the importance of permanency planning in all work with children was not comprehensively explored during under-graduate studies. Findings further indicated that trans-racial adoption is viewed positively amongst adoption social workers, and is regarded as the far superior alternative to foster-care or institutional care for children who have been abandoned. It was however found that in cases of abandonment, adoption might be an under-utilised option amongst child-protection workers. Children available for adoption were reported as being predominantly from the black population group, while it was indicated that the majority of parents wanting to adopt are from the white community. In line with this, it was noted that there are not many prospective adoptive parents from the black community. Of significance was therefore the finding that very few adoption organisations have active recruitment programmes focused on recruiting black adoptive parents, inevitably bringing trans-racial adoption to the fore. One of the most important recommendations of this study is therefore that adoption organisations should develop and implement recruitment programmes, which specifically target prospective black adopters in an effort to increase the potential pool of black adopters. In addition, the recommendations emphasised the importance of adequate education of social workers in order to ensure that the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 is adequately understood and implemented in cases of abandonment. Ensuring that social workers move towards adoption as fast as possible in cases of abandonment can not only increase the chances of the child being adopted, but can also help to prevent developmental problems associated with institutional care. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Duisende kinders word jaarliks in Suid-Afrika deur hulle ouers verlaat (“abandon”), en betree gevolglik die kindersorg en beskermingsisteem. Die Kinderwet 38 van 2005, wat alle praktyke rakende kinders in Suid Afrika reguleer, promoveer duidelik aanneming as die beste vorm van intervensie in gevalle van kinderverlating. Steeds bly aanneming egter een van die mees onderbenutte kindersorg praktyke in Suid-Afrika, veral onder die swart meerderheidsbevolking. Dit ten spyte van die feit dat meeste aanneembare kinders uit die swart bevolkingsgroep kom. Hierdie studie was daarop gemik om die menings van aannemings-maatskaplike werkers rakende die praktyk van inter-ras aannemings van kinders wat deur hulle ouers verlaat is te ondersoek. Beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe benaderings is toegepas vir hierdie studie. ‘n Kombinasie van ondersoekende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerpe is gebruik as die raamwerk vir die navorsingsbenadering. Data is versamel deur middel van ‘n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud skedule wat uitgevoer is tydens persoonlike onderhoude met maatskaplike werkers. Die empiriese ondersoek het bevind dat die maatskaplike werkers van mening was dat voorgraadse opleiding in maatskaplike werk grootliks onvoldoende was om maatskaplike werkers voor te berei vir werk op die gebied van aanneming. Daar is ook bevind dat maatskaplike werkers die standpunt huldig dat die belangrikheid van permanensie-beplanning in alle werk met kinders nie omvattend verken is tydens voorgraadse studies nie. Verdere bevinding dui daarop dat inter-ras aanneming positief beskou word deur aannemings-maatskaplike werkers en dat dit by verre as die beste alternatief tot pleegsorg of institisionele sorg vir kinders wat deur hulle ouers verlaat is, beskou word. Daar is egter bevind dat in gevalle van kinderverlating die opsie van aanneming onderbenut mag wees deur kinderbeskermings werkers. Daar is aangedui dat kinders wat beskikbaar is vir aanneming grootliks uit die swart meerderheids bevolkingsgroep kom, terwyl daar ook aangedui is dat die meerderheid van ouers wat kinders wil aanneem uit die wit gemeenskap kom. Daar is aangedui dat min van die prospektiewe aannemings ouers uit die swart gemeenskap kom. ‘n Betekenisvolle bevinding was gevolglik dat baie min aannemings-organisasies aktiewe werwingsprogramme het wat daarop fokus om swart aannemingsouers te werf, wat noodwendig inter-ras aanneming na vore bring. Een van die belangrikste aanbevelings van hierdie studie is dus dat aannemings-organisasies werwingsprogramme moet ontwikkel en implementeer wat spesifiek prospektiewe swart aannemers teiken in ‘n poging om die poel van swart aannemers te vergroot. Verder beklemtoon die aanbevelings die belangrikheid van voldoende opleiding van maatskaplike werkers ten einde te verseker dat die Kinderwet 38 van 2005 voldoende verstaan word en geïmplementeer word in gevalle van kinderverlating. Deur toe te sien dat maatskaplike werkers so gou moontlik beweeg na aanneming in gevalle van kinderverlating verbeter nie slegs die kind se kans om aangeneem te word nie, maar dit kan ook help om die ontwikkelingsprobleme geassosieer met institusionele versorging te voorkom.

Legislation in South Africa pertaining to the care and protection of children is presently being revised and changed. Should alternative care be necessary for a vulnerable child, the Children's Act 38/2005 prioritises a foster care placement over a child and youth care centre of which a Children's Home is a part. Given the steady decline in traditional family living due to, amongst other things HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment in South Africa, the dominant view of family care being prioritised may not always be feasible in reality. The study researched this view by hearing the voices of children and their caregivers, in both foster care and in Children's Homes by conducting a qualitative study based on the exploratory and descriptive designs A purposive sampling strategy was used as there were clear criteria for the selection of participants. There were two sample groups. One consisted of child participants and the other consisted of caregivers viz. foster parents and child-care workers. Caregivers were included for the purposes of enhancing reliability, validity and trustworthiness of the study. Data was collected by means of semi-structured in depth interviews with the child participants. Two focus groups were held with the caregivers; one with the foster parents and the other with the child-care workers. Both the in depth interviews as well as the focus group discussions were guided by similar themes that were linked to the main objectives of the study. The findings revealed that children's voices were largely absent in decisions pertaining to their well being; that they preferred to live with families of origin as opposed to alternative care and should they be placed in alternative care, foster care was preferred to Children's Homes. The findings further emphasized the need for infrastructural support such as family preservation programmes, financial and social work support for all poverty stricken families and strengthened human resources for Children's Homes. Recommendations therefore centred around ways in which to capacitate families of origin; ways of including children in decision making and the necessary infrastructural support to ensure optimum care for vulnerable children. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007

The study aimed to explore indigenous methods used to prevent teenage pregnancy from the perspective of traditional healers and traditional leaders. Furthermore, it aimed to explore with traditional healers and traditional leaders whether these methods have relevance today as form part of teenage pregnancy intervention. The data were collected through conducting semistructured interviews with ten traditional healers and five traditional leaders from the rural area of Umhlathuzane, Eshowe. The interviews were guided by an interview schedule which allowed the researcher to keep in touch with the purpose of the study while having face to face conversation with participants. All interviews were tape recorded and transcribed. The findings of the study revealed that traditional healers and traditional leaders are concerned by high rate of teenage pregnancy within the community. They felt strongly that ignoring indigenous cultural practices due to modernity has led to major non-resolvable social issues such as teenage pregnancy, spread of HIV/AIDS related diseases, poverty, drugs and alcohol misuse. The study findings also revealed that there is a high demand for re-instituting elders' and family roles in addressing the erosion of cultural practices and traditional methods. Traditional practices such as virginity testing, ukusoma (non-penetrative thigh sex), ukushikila (physical maturity examination) as well as traditional ceremonies were identified as indigenous methods previously used to groom girls and to prevent teenage pregnancy. Furthermore, traditional healers and traditional leader were totally against contemporary teenage pregnancy interventions and policies around this issue, and have mixed views towards the idea of combining modern and traditional methods for teenage pregnancy prevention. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made regard to collaboration between South African government and indigenous experts so that to deal effectively with teenage pregnancy. Recommendations for further research were also made. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

This study adopted a case study design to understand women and contraceptive use in the Diepsloot community, an impoverished urban informal settlement, north of Johannesburg. It was guided by feminist and critical theory, and made use of the qualitative research paradigm. The history of the provision of reproductive health services in South Africa has been discussed as a process that has both marginalised the participation of previously disadvantaged communities and also limited the opportunities for effective contraceptive use in the post-apartheid era. The main objectives were to understand reproductive health experiences of women and their knowledge of modern contraception in relation to the ecological environment in which they are embedded. I used the non-probability purposive and theoretical sampling methods. The sample size was theory driven and largely determined by the type of data acquired after a series of interviews with twenty women over a five month period. Data collection ceased when data saturation was reached. Individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with twenty primary respondents. For triangulation purposes, primary health care service providers from the two local clinics were interviewed. Also one focus group discussion was done with a group of eight men; two traditional healers and the manager at the local Marie Stopes clinic were also interviewed for the same purpose. I used thematic analysis as the method of analysing the data. Thematic analysis moves beyond merely describing the data but identifies both the unspoken and obvious ideas within data. It was the intersectionality of contraceptive use and the unique lived experiences of disadvantaged women that had inspired the study and all methods employed were aimed at a deeper understanding of the effects of the cultural, social and economic environment on the reproductive health choices of the women. The data were analysed according to the seven themes that emerged from the study and these were: empowerment and reproductive health decision making, level of education as a determining factor in contraceptive use, contraceptive knowledge, contraceptive dialogue as a contributing factor to contraceptive use and choice, opinions on the prevention of pregnancy, spacing versus limiting the number of births and the availability and accessibility of modern contraceptive methods. The inextricable link between education, poverty and gender inequality highlighted the need to empower women in marginalised communities. Due to poverty and lack of education, most women were powerless and not independent to make favourable reproductive health decisions. Knowledge of modern contraceptive methods was limited and the most popularly used method was the contraceptive injection. The circumstances of the women in this study and those of the Diepsloot community speak to the broader economic issues of the country and reflect the need to prioritise women’s education; to create economic opportunities for women and to enhance the participation of the poor and marginalised communities. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

After the death of their parents many youth resume full parental responsibility in taking care of their orphaned siblings. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and challenges of youth fostering their siblings and heading households in Port Shepstone. This study was guided by the ecological systems theory and used a qualitative research approach to undertake the study. A sample of ten participants was used with whom face to face interviews were conducted. The study revealed that the youth heading households resumed parental responsibilities at a young age. They shoulder new responsibilities such as domestic chores and child care duties. In addition, the youth heading households experience financial challenges due to lack of employment. As a result, the foster care grant was the only source of income which was not enough to meet all the needs of their siblings. The participants further indicated that they and their siblings are still dealing with the death of their parent(s). Both the participants and their siblings had never received counseling after the deaths of their parents. In addition, the participants revealed that they were experiencing challenges regarding disciplining their siblings who were presenting with behavioral problems. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the social workers spend more time on foster care placement (statutory work) rather than focusing on early prevention programmes. Lastly, the youth heading households wanted more social work support, as social workers rarely visited the youth headed households to check on the progress of the placements. To overcome all these challenges, I support the recommendation made by the Department of Social Development as it recently announced an intention to create a kinship grant (Jamieson et al., 2012). This will decrease the workload of social workers so that they can attend to other therapeutic services. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The number of women accessing Termination of Pregnancy Services has increased in South Africa over the last 15 years. Lieberman and Davis (1992), hold that a woman’s right to choose is embedded in the principles of social work that is self-determination, empowerment and dignity. It is a social workers responsibility to ensure that the options are available to the clients. If a client is unable to choose from an array of alternatives it is because social workers have failed to provide them with the necessary information, therefore there can be no self-determination. Women who receive health care from public facilities usually cannot afford health care from a private physician and the ability of women to make informed decisions is based on the degree of information that is made available to them. In this study the researcher looks at the road travelled in order to make the decision to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. The process of data collection was a comprehensive, intensive process. Underpinned by the ecosystems theory, the qualitative exploratory research design was used for this research.Data was obtained through interviews from a purposeful sample of sixteen young women that attended the TOP (Termination of Pregnancy) Clinic at the research site, ranging from the ages of 18 to 35 years. This approach allowed the researcher to understand the processes and persons involved in making this decision. The assumption underlying this study was that the decision to terminate a pregnancy is a difficult one and often made with little or no support, education or guidance. The outcome of this study confirmed this assumption. The findings revealed that young woman accessing TOP services often choose TOP in isolation with limited knowledge and support from significant others. Some women requesting TOP may not want counselling but do need it. The need for counselling is stronger for those with strong religious beliefs and those that have little or no support systems. Based on the outcome of the analysis, recommendations were made with regard to the need for holistic counselling to be an integral component in health services rendered to women, with unintended pregnancies. Counseling whilst optional should be made compulsory such that a person can cope with the physical and psychological effects of an unwanted pregnancy should they decide to terminate or keep the pregnancy. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.