Pre-school children often spend the most part of the day at a pre-primary school or a day care centre. Pre-school children sometimes make the first statement of sexual abuse to a pre-school teacher. Due to this phenomenon it is important that pre-school personnel are knowledgeable about basic information in connection with sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting of the abuse. A positive attitude toward the protection of children against sexual abuse and the willingness to get involved in the reporting of sexual abuse or the suspicion there of, will guarantee that the best interest of the pre-school child is served. Die purpose of the research was to ascertain the knowledge and attitude of pre-school personnel toward sexual abuse of pre-school children and the reporting there of, to determine whether pre-school personnel act in the best interest of pre-school children. The research followed a quantitative approach. 13 Pre-primary schools took part in the research and 70 pre-school personnel completed the questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed in the participants own time. The findings clearly showed that pre-school personnel who were involved in the research did not have sufficient knowledge, nor a desirable attitude toward sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting thereof. A need for training in this field can be concluded from the findings. / Thesis (MSW (Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Pre-school children often spend the most part of the day at a pre-primary school or a day care centre. Pre-school children sometimes make the first statement of sexual abuse to a pre-school teacher. Due to this phenomenon it is important that pre-school personnel are knowledgeable about basic information in connection with sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting of the abuse. A positive attitude toward the protection of children against sexual abuse and the willingness to get involved in the reporting of sexual abuse or the suspicion there of, will guarantee that the best interest of the pre-school child is served. Die purpose of the research was to ascertain the knowledge and attitude of pre-school personnel toward sexual abuse of pre-school children and the reporting there of, to determine whether pre-school personnel act in the best interest of pre-school children. The research followed a quantitative approach. 13 Pre-primary schools took part in the research and 70 pre-school personnel completed the questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed in the participants own time. The findings clearly showed that pre-school personnel who were involved in the research did not have sufficient knowledge, nor a desirable attitude toward sexual abuse of the pre-school child and the reporting thereof. A need for training in this field can be concluded from the findings. / Thesis (MSW (Forensic))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

As a social worker working for the Department of Social Development, the researcher is rendering services to the Polokwane surrounding areas in Ga-maraba village in Limpopo Province. The beneficiaries of these services are mostly Pedi-speaking people under the leadership of Chief Maraba. Ga-maraba area is located approximately 40 km away from Polokwane city. When rendering services to the Pedi families, the researcher has observed that a number of child sexual abuse cases occur, which are not reported due to what Pedi culture validates as being sexual abuse. Most of the children in these cases are being sexually abused both by family members and non-family members, and such incidents are not reported. After these observations, the researcher was triggered to investigate what might be the cause, unfortunately no study has been conducted in this specific geographic area of Ga-maraba. The aim of the research was to explore the perceptions of Pedi-speaking caregivers concerning the disclosure of child sexual abuse in order to gain insight into the possible contributory factors and the knowledge of these caregivers about what constitutes child sexual abuse as well as to empower them to disclose child sexual abuse. Purposive sampling was conducted among the Pedi-speaking caregivers. This research reveals that Pedi culture regards rape as child sexual abuse and the other sexual offences according to criminal law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act 32/2007) are regarded as minor things and taboos. These findings clearly indicate that Pedi-speaking care-givers do not possess adequate knowledge of child sexual abuse. As a result, there is a need for the establishment of proper programmes that address child sexual abuse in the area of Ga-maraba and the areas around Polokwane. The findings also indicate that when such cases arise in the Pedi community, they are not disclosed to the outside world, the families affected prefer to resolve these problems among themselves, and traditional courts intervene if the families disagree. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

As a social worker working for the Department of Social Development, the researcher is rendering services to the Polokwane surrounding areas in Ga-maraba village in Limpopo Province. The beneficiaries of these services are mostly Pedi-speaking people under the leadership of Chief Maraba. Ga-maraba area is located approximately 40 km away from Polokwane city. When rendering services to the Pedi families, the researcher has observed that a number of child sexual abuse cases occur, which are not reported due to what Pedi culture validates as being sexual abuse. Most of the children in these cases are being sexually abused both by family members and non-family members, and such incidents are not reported. After these observations, the researcher was triggered to investigate what might be the cause, unfortunately no study has been conducted in this specific geographic area of Ga-maraba. The aim of the research was to explore the perceptions of Pedi-speaking caregivers concerning the disclosure of child sexual abuse in order to gain insight into the possible contributory factors and the knowledge of these caregivers about what constitutes child sexual abuse as well as to empower them to disclose child sexual abuse. Purposive sampling was conducted among the Pedi-speaking caregivers. This research reveals that Pedi culture regards rape as child sexual abuse and the other sexual offences according to criminal law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act 32/2007) are regarded as minor things and taboos. These findings clearly indicate that Pedi-speaking care-givers do not possess adequate knowledge of child sexual abuse. As a result, there is a need for the establishment of proper programmes that address child sexual abuse in the area of Ga-maraba and the areas around Polokwane. The findings also indicate that when such cases arise in the Pedi community, they are not disclosed to the outside world, the families affected prefer to resolve these problems among themselves, and traditional courts intervene if the families disagree. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The general objectives of the study were to evaluate a social work support group programme with informal caregivers that aimed to enhance the quality of care provided to older persons in an urban and rural community setting in Namibia. In order to achieve the general objectives of the study, the following specific objectives were formulated: * To explore how informal caregiving situations in urban and rural communities lead to elder abuse and neglect. * To describe existing literature on the various factors that contribute to elder abuse and neglect within community settings. * To develop a support group programme for informal caregivers of older persons in urban and rural community settings that aimed at preventing elder abuse and neglect. * To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the support group programme for informal caregivers that aimed at preventing elder abuse and neglect. The thesis consists of 5 sections: Section A consists of the problem statement, research objectives, central theoretical argument and the theoretical approaches that underpin the study. Furthermore, the research methodology, the definition of key concepts and the limitation of the study are presented. Section B contains four articles that together formed part of the research outcomes. Each article can function independently with it’s own objectives and distinctive content. However, each article is also a sub-project of the umbrella research study. Therefore, some of the data have to be repeated in different sections. The four articles are: Article 1: Informal caregiving, elder abuse and neglect in urban and rural areas of the Khomas region in Namibia: A needs assessment A needs assessment on informal caregiving situations and how it may lead to elder abuse and neglect of older persons from an urban and rural constituency in the Khomas region was explored. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with professional and community leaders. In addition, focus group discussions were held with older persons and informal caregivers in the urban and rural constituency. Article 2: Factors contributing to elder abuse and neglect in community settings In this article, a comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to the risk and protective factors to elder abuse and neglect was done. The ecological theory was worthwhile to describe the risk factors to elder abuse and neglect. Article 3: Designing a social work support group programme with informal caregivers of older people in Namibia A social work support group programme was developed for informal caregivers of older persons in community settings. The eight-week support group programme was developed based on a needs assessment and a comprehensive literature review, and included the following topics; the normal processes of aging, handling of difficult caregiving situations, caregiver stress, self-care of the caregiver, elder abuse and neglect and caregiver grief and loss. The planning model for group work was also utilised to design the group. Article 4: Evaluation of the effectiveness of a support group programme with informal caregivers to prevent elder abuse and neglect An eight-week support group programme with ten female informal caregivers from an urban group and twelve informal caregivers from a rural group setting was implemented and evaluated. Standardized measuring instruments that assessed the outcome of the group at pre-test, post-test and postponed post-test were the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Potentially Harmful Behaviour (PHB) scale and the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE). The Group Engagement Measure (GEM) assessed the group processes at the fourth, sixth and eight group sessions. In addition, open-ended questions were used to collect qualitative data. The quantitative and qualitative evaluations indicated that both the urban and rural groups gained knowledge on aging and caregiving, and caregivers acquired vital qualities such as patience, compassion and communication skills. The process evaluation showed that caregivers from the urban group were more engaged in the group process than the rural group. Elder abuse was underreported in the study, while personal stress of caregivers reduced significantly because of the intervention. Section C consists of the summary of the most important findings and conclusions to the research study. In addition recommendations are provided. Section D consists of the annexures to the research report, such as the measuring instruments and interview schedules used for data collection. Section E contains a consolidated list of references. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The general objectives of the study were to evaluate a social work support group programme with informal caregivers that aimed to enhance the quality of care provided to older persons in an urban and rural community setting in Namibia. In order to achieve the general objectives of the study, the following specific objectives were formulated: * To explore how informal caregiving situations in urban and rural communities lead to elder abuse and neglect. * To describe existing literature on the various factors that contribute to elder abuse and neglect within community settings. * To develop a support group programme for informal caregivers of older persons in urban and rural community settings that aimed at preventing elder abuse and neglect. * To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the support group programme for informal caregivers that aimed at preventing elder abuse and neglect. The thesis consists of 5 sections: Section A consists of the problem statement, research objectives, central theoretical argument and the theoretical approaches that underpin the study. Furthermore, the research methodology, the definition of key concepts and the limitation of the study are presented. Section B contains four articles that together formed part of the research outcomes. Each article can function independently with it’s own objectives and distinctive content. However, each article is also a sub-project of the umbrella research study. Therefore, some of the data have to be repeated in different sections. The four articles are: Article 1: Informal caregiving, elder abuse and neglect in urban and rural areas of the Khomas region in Namibia: A needs assessment A needs assessment on informal caregiving situations and how it may lead to elder abuse and neglect of older persons from an urban and rural constituency in the Khomas region was explored. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with professional and community leaders. In addition, focus group discussions were held with older persons and informal caregivers in the urban and rural constituency. Article 2: Factors contributing to elder abuse and neglect in community settings In this article, a comprehensive review of the literature pertaining to the risk and protective factors to elder abuse and neglect was done. The ecological theory was worthwhile to describe the risk factors to elder abuse and neglect. Article 3: Designing a social work support group programme with informal caregivers of older people in Namibia A social work support group programme was developed for informal caregivers of older persons in community settings. The eight-week support group programme was developed based on a needs assessment and a comprehensive literature review, and included the following topics; the normal processes of aging, handling of difficult caregiving situations, caregiver stress, self-care of the caregiver, elder abuse and neglect and caregiver grief and loss. The planning model for group work was also utilised to design the group. Article 4: Evaluation of the effectiveness of a support group programme with informal caregivers to prevent elder abuse and neglect An eight-week support group programme with ten female informal caregivers from an urban group and twelve informal caregivers from a rural group setting was implemented and evaluated. Standardized measuring instruments that assessed the outcome of the group at pre-test, post-test and postponed post-test were the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Potentially Harmful Behaviour (PHB) scale and the Caregiver Abuse Screen (CASE). The Group Engagement Measure (GEM) assessed the group processes at the fourth, sixth and eight group sessions. In addition, open-ended questions were used to collect qualitative data. The quantitative and qualitative evaluations indicated that both the urban and rural groups gained knowledge on aging and caregiving, and caregivers acquired vital qualities such as patience, compassion and communication skills. The process evaluation showed that caregivers from the urban group were more engaged in the group process than the rural group. Elder abuse was underreported in the study, while personal stress of caregivers reduced significantly because of the intervention. Section C consists of the summary of the most important findings and conclusions to the research study. In addition recommendations are provided. Section D consists of the annexures to the research report, such as the measuring instruments and interview schedules used for data collection. Section E contains a consolidated list of references. / PhD (Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

To belong somewhere is a basic human need. It is necessary for the psychological well-being of children to feel that they belong to a family, group and community and that they are loved and appreciated for who they are. A lack of a sense of belonging may cause children to find acceptance and belonging in destructive behaviour or groups. Children from fractured families who live in disadvantaged communities face more challenges than children who have easy access to education, health services and emotional support systems. Caregivers in these circumstances have a daily battle to survive and to keep their children safe. They do not always have the necessary knowledge to be aware of the children’s emotional needs, or the ability and means to fulfil in these needs. Social workers who render services to these families do not always have the time or aids to assist the children to enhance their sense of belonging or to enable the caregivers to strengthen the bond between them and the children. The overall goal of this study was to determine how bibliotherapeutic techniques can be utilised by caregivers and social workers to enhance a sense of belonging in children in their middle childhood years from fractured families in disadvantaged communities. In order to reach this goal, the way in which children from fractured families in disadvantaged communities experienced their sense of belonging was explored, as well as how the children, their caregivers and social workers perceived the social capital in the community. The content of a strategy that focuses on the uses of bibliotherapeutic techniques for children in fractured families from disadvantaged communities in order to enhance their sense of belonging was also determined, as well as ways in which such a strategy could be implemented by the social workers and the caregivers. The research findings suggested that children did not always have a sense of belonging with their primary caregivers and that the caregivers were unaware of the emotional needs of the children. The children expressed a need for playful interactions, nurturing and to listen to stories with their caregivers. Due to the caregivers’ lack of insight in the emotional needs of the children and illiteracy in some cases, a training programme that focussed on the importance of a sense of belonging and practical ways in which they can interact with the children to strengthen the emotional bond between them, was created and tested. The caregivers and children were able to identify schools, neighbours and churches as potential social capital in the community. Ways in which the social capital in the community could be utilised were suggested. Bibliotherapeutic techniques for the use of social workers to enhance a sense of belonging in the children were compiled and then tested by social workers. Both the training program and the bibliotherapeutic techniques proved to be useful and effective and will be disseminated for the use of social workers in their services with children and caregivers in disadvantaged communities. / Thesis (PhD (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

To belong somewhere is a basic human need. It is necessary for the psychological well-being of children to feel that they belong to a family, group and community and that they are loved and appreciated for who they are. A lack of a sense of belonging may cause children to find acceptance and belonging in destructive behaviour or groups. Children from fractured families who live in disadvantaged communities face more challenges than children who have easy access to education, health services and emotional support systems. Caregivers in these circumstances have a daily battle to survive and to keep their children safe. They do not always have the necessary knowledge to be aware of the children’s emotional needs, or the ability and means to fulfil in these needs. Social workers who render services to these families do not always have the time or aids to assist the children to enhance their sense of belonging or to enable the caregivers to strengthen the bond between them and the children. The overall goal of this study was to determine how bibliotherapeutic techniques can be utilised by caregivers and social workers to enhance a sense of belonging in children in their middle childhood years from fractured families in disadvantaged communities. In order to reach this goal, the way in which children from fractured families in disadvantaged communities experienced their sense of belonging was explored, as well as how the children, their caregivers and social workers perceived the social capital in the community. The content of a strategy that focuses on the uses of bibliotherapeutic techniques for children in fractured families from disadvantaged communities in order to enhance their sense of belonging was also determined, as well as ways in which such a strategy could be implemented by the social workers and the caregivers. The research findings suggested that children did not always have a sense of belonging with their primary caregivers and that the caregivers were unaware of the emotional needs of the children. The children expressed a need for playful interactions, nurturing and to listen to stories with their caregivers. Due to the caregivers’ lack of insight in the emotional needs of the children and illiteracy in some cases, a training programme that focussed on the importance of a sense of belonging and practical ways in which they can interact with the children to strengthen the emotional bond between them, was created and tested. The caregivers and children were able to identify schools, neighbours and churches as potential social capital in the community. Ways in which the social capital in the community could be utilised were suggested. Bibliotherapeutic techniques for the use of social workers to enhance a sense of belonging in the children were compiled and then tested by social workers. Both the training program and the bibliotherapeutic techniques proved to be useful and effective and will be disseminated for the use of social workers in their services with children and caregivers in disadvantaged communities. / Thesis (PhD (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Fighting sexual violence against women and children in South Africa is regarded as a priority. The aim of this study is to explore the reasons for the reluctance to disclose sexual abuse by middle childhood children. Some of the factors that were highlighted that cause the reluctance to disclose sexual abuse by middle childhood children were: threats made by the perpetrator, the relationship with the perpetrator, stigmatization and talking about sexual related matters were seen as a taboo. The study reveals that there is lack of parental support especially when the perpetrator is a family member as they want to avoid embarrassment. It was also discovered that it is difficult for those parents who have unresolved issues of sexual abuse to handle their children’s disclosure. The study further shows that people do not understand the justice process especially the bail conditions. They lose faith in the system especially when they see the perpetrator outside and they do not understand that the investigation is still in process. It was discovered that FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit) and FSW (Forensic Social Work) offices/environment should be better equipped and child friendly to put sexually abused children at ease. It was indicated that parents should supervise their children at all times. Children should be assured that it is not their fault and they do not deserve to be sexually abused. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Fighting sexual violence against women and children in South Africa is regarded as a priority. The aim of this study is to explore the reasons for the reluctance to disclose sexual abuse by middle childhood children. Some of the factors that were highlighted that cause the reluctance to disclose sexual abuse by middle childhood children were: threats made by the perpetrator, the relationship with the perpetrator, stigmatization and talking about sexual related matters were seen as a taboo. The study reveals that there is lack of parental support especially when the perpetrator is a family member as they want to avoid embarrassment. It was also discovered that it is difficult for those parents who have unresolved issues of sexual abuse to handle their children’s disclosure. The study further shows that people do not understand the justice process especially the bail conditions. They lose faith in the system especially when they see the perpetrator outside and they do not understand that the investigation is still in process. It was discovered that FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit) and FSW (Forensic Social Work) offices/environment should be better equipped and child friendly to put sexually abused children at ease. It was indicated that parents should supervise their children at all times. Children should be assured that it is not their fault and they do not deserve to be sexually abused. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014