MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

DEd / Department of Curriculum Studies and Educational Management

MA (Sociology) / Department of Sociology / The study aimed to explore on the oral narratives of selected female migrants in South Africa. It was a case study of Thohoyandou in the Limpopo Province. Female migrants are faced with integration challenges such as political and socio-economic challenges. The study focused on reflecting on stories of selected female migrants who reside in Thohoyandou. The study was qualitative in nature and utilised a qualitative exploratory research design because it was aimed at exploring perceptions on oral narratives of selected female migrants. The researcher made use of non-probability sampling in the form of purposive sampling method and snowball. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Data was then sorted, coded, organised and indexed in a manner that made it easier for the researcher to interpret, analyse and present in content analysis. Text was summarised by checking key themes, phrases or passages that were used in a more detailed analysis. The process was guided by the original aim of the study. Findings of the study postulated that most female migrants came for economic reasons and discrimination is perceived to be an important barrier to integration. Other significant integration barriers include linguistic, educational, and institutional factors. Internal factors (social, cultural, and religious norms, immigrants' own opinions about themselves, lack of motivation and intergenerational mobility) are also serious barriers to integration.

MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

MSc (Statistics) / Department of Statistics / See the attached abstract below

MA (Sociology) / Department of Sociology / Death and bereavement are sensitive issues experienced by all mortal species across the world. When death occurs, some individual are left bereaved. However, all societies have established cultural ways of mourning the dead as a way of healing the bereaved; although it seems the bereavement rituals are decided and performed without the bereaves consent. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of death and bereavement amongst the young Vhavenda widows. The primary objectives of the study were to identify the challenges experienced by young Vhavenda widows in Vhembe District during the time of death and bereavement; establish whether these women are treated with respect, dignity, and compassion during the process of death and bereavement; understand the coping strategies they employed in dealing with death and bereavement and understand their expectations regarding the role to be played by the family and the community. Finally, the study sought to ascertain the overall impact of the process of death and bereavement on widow’s future lives. A qualitative research method was used to collect indepth data through unstructured interviews. The interviews were conducted using a purposeful sampling method among 13 young widows at Tshikombani village in Nzhelele in Vhembe District. Mbigi’s five finger theory of Ubuntu was employed as the main theory aligning with the study. The research findings indicated that most young widows are coerced into performing bereavement rituals while elders made decisions for some. Only one young widow did not have bereavement rituals performed on her. The Findings also indicate that the participants are not fully aware of their rights as women, wives and citizens of South Africa. These raises need for government institutions to address issues concerning human, women and marital rights to the widows specifically in the rural areas of South Africa. / NRF

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Each year, an estimated 3.6 million infants die worldwide in the first four weeks of life due to complications of premature birth. One-third of Low Birth Weight (LBW) babies die within the first 12 hours after delivery. The main reasons premature babies are at greater risk of illness and death is that they lack the ability to control their body temperature meaning that they get cold or hypothermic very quickly. Kangaroo Mother Care reduces mortality and if widely applied it could reduce deaths in premature newborn babies. The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the lived experiences of mothers when providing Kangaroo Mother Care at the hospitals in Vhembe District of Limpopo province. Qualitative approach with explorative descriptive, contextual and phenomenological designs were employed to explore the experiences of mothers when providing Kangaroo Mother Care. The study population consisted of all mothers who were providing Kangaroo Mother Care. A non-probability convenience sampling method was used to determine the sample of the study. The size of the sample was determined by data saturation. In-depth individual interviews were conducted using a central question. The Tesch’s eight steps of open-coding model guided the process to analyse data. Trustworthiness was ensured throughout by employing the principles of credibility, dependability, conformability, and transferability. Ethical considerations were followed to protect the participants. Recommendations were made based on the research findings. The findings of the study revealed that mothers who provide Kangaroo Mother Care experience challenges. They received inconsistent information about the practice of Kangaroo Mother Care from nurses. The relationship between mothers and nurses was good. Recomendations were made based on the findings and relevant structures in order to ensure that mothers challenges are addressed. The study revealed ineffective support provided to mothers by nurses and family members. / NRF

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2016. / Gender inequality has been an area of concern internationally, regionally and nationally. Black South African women in general suffered triple oppression during the apartheid regime, based on race, gender and class oppression. Higher education mirrored the varied forms of marginalisation that existed in society and therefore the majority did not have the access to quality higher education afforded their white minority counterparts. The few black women who did have access were concentrated in historically disadvantaged institutions or studied through correspondence (Chisholm & September, 2005). The courses for which they were enrolled were aimed at perpetuating male dominance in the public sphere and domesticating them through women’s traditional roles of nurturing and caring. With the advent of democracy in 1994 the gates of higher education were opened to students who had previously been excluded. Effectively, black people in general and women in particular benefitted from race and gender categories of equity, according to the Department of Education, White Paper (1997). The equity clause that has been integrated in higher education policies encapsulates a clause that targets the redress of gender-related inequities and inequalities, aimed at ameliorating women’s access to higher education. Although race, gender and disability were identified, the National Plan (2001) notes that race equity had been given primacy in policies over gender equity. I argue that aggregated data emanating from recent studies in higher education indicate that 57% of the current female population are accessing public higher education. Although the figures from documentary evidence affirm a high presence, on examination of other factors this study found a more nuanced picture. Specifically, a change in equity deduced from the same data indicates that fewer women were enrolled in courses such as Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) or in postgraduate studies. Other areas of concern include high dropout rates, attrition and throughput (CHE, 2010; Draft Green Paper, 2012). This argument is made using theoretical and thematic exploration of post-apartheid South African gender equity reform agenda in higher education. In addition, higher education policy documents (National Council for Higher Education, 1996; White Paper, 1997; Higher Education Act, 1997; National Plan for Higher Education, 2001) and gender laws and frameworks have informed the study. It has aligned itself to one of the goals of White Paper (1997) that noted that in order for equity to be meaningful to the formerly disadvantaged; access and success have to run concurrently. Ultimately, the study has contended that by homogenising women the particular contexts of social justice have not been recognised (Young, 1990). The implication of the misrecognition of the particular and specific experiences of black women in higher education could be contributing to the enigmatic low throughput, high dropout rates and high levels of attrition currently being experienced in higher education. This thesis poses a challenge to policymakers and institutions of higher learning to shift their attention from viewing the attainment of gender equity and equality through notions of expanded access (global participation). To narrow the current gap it proposes a hybridisation of equity and equality policies (macro) with initiatives that target the particular and specific conditions (micro) of black women who access higher education. Key words: gender, equity, higher education, post-apartheid, policy, women.

Thesis (M. (Nursing)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Background: The referral system is an essential component of the health system. The system meant to complement the Primary Health Care (PHC) principle of treating patients close to their homes at the lowest level of care with the needed expertise. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to develop the strategies that will facilitate the referral system of high-risk pregnant women in between public sectors in the Bojanala district, North West Province, South Africa. Objectives of the study: To explore the referral system of high-risk pregnant women between public sectors within the Bojanala District, North West Province, South Africa. To develop strategies that will facilitate the referral system of high risk pregnant women in the Bojanala District, North West Province, South Africa. Methods: The researcher first obtained permission from the University of Limpopo Turfloop Research Ethics Committee (TREC), and further requested permission from the North West Department of Health, Bojanala District to conduct the study and was granted the permission. Qualitative, exploratory and descriptive designs were used to explore the referral system of high-risk pregnant women and to describe the strategies to facilitate the referral system of high-risk pregnant women in between public sectors in the Bojanala District, North West, South Africa. Non-Probability Purposive sampling method was used to select the midwives and obstetricians to participate in the study until data saturation was reached. Data were collected through one-on-one interviews using semi structured Interview Guide. The data were analysed using Tesch‘s eight steps of data analysis. Results: The results of this study revealed that the participants are knowledgeable about the referral system though they are many challenges that they encounter when managing high-risk women and having to refer them. They are aware of the current state of referral system and made their own suggestions on how to improve the referral system. Recommendations: Recommendations were made to facilitate the referral system of high-risk pregnant women in the North West Province, Bojanala District. The Department of Health must prioritise the provision of human and material resources to the district in order to achieve a better referral system and reducing the maternal and neonatal mortality as one of the millennium developmental goals. Conclusion: The referral system of high-risk pregnant women in the Bojanala District still has some challenges that need the intervention of the North West Department of Health to provide enough material and human resources to the Maternity Section in order to improve current status and to have an effective referral system

This thesis includes four studies investigating the experiences of abused women. According to ecological approaches different systems should be considered when conducting research into abused women and their experiences. The first study involved women who successfully left an abusive relationship. An ecological approach was used to investigate the experiences of the women in the different phases of their relationship, including the initial attraction to the partner, the development and sustaining of the abuse and her attempts to leave until her final decision to leave permanently. An important finding was the importance of considering and investigating all systems and levels when dealing with abused women, including those who have left and those who are contemplating leaving this relationship. The second study found that women who experienced physical abuse were often hurt in anatomical locations that were indicative of impulsive violence. The abuser used any object in the heat of the moment to attack the victim and no premeditated planning was evident in the type of injuries sustained. The women further reported that medical practitioners did not investigate the causes of injuries and that they were not referred to social services or organisations dealing with abused women, although they were recognised as suffering from abuse. The intersection of abuse of women and HIV was the topic of focus of the third study. A review of the records of abused women revealed that many abused women were subjected to risk factors for contracting HIV, with counsellors focussing only on abuse issues. Longitudinal case studies, of women exposed to both conditions, revealed that they lacked social support and were often secondarily victimised by the social welfare systems. An environmental scan found that social and health care services were not accessible to these women. The final study investigated intervention strategies to combat burnout in workers at an organisation dealing with abused women. The importance and effectiveness of creative exercises and art sessions were determined in combination with debriefing and supervision sessions. The studies all considered systems that are important in service delivery to abused women. A holistic and systemic investigation and treatment of abused women is shown to be essential, as is the importance of grass roots research. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)