Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

This ethnography was undertaken in an AIDS hospice with the objective of understanding the functioning of the Centre holistically, including the experiences of the patients and the role of the Centre in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Organisational anthropology in a clinical setting involved gaining entry and rapport with the staff and patients. The methodology included interviewing and observation. The personnel structure and leadership of the Centre were explored, revealing communication, power and management relations that shape the organisational culture. The staff’s attitude towards their jobs and their commitment to assisting those suffering from AIDS revealed the underpinnings of the organisation. The care that patients receive at the Centre was examined along with adoption of the children and the effects of stigmatisation surrounding HIV/AIDS and its impact on patients and their families. The meaning of illness for patients and their sick role as well as the impact of death from HIV/AIDS are exposed. / Anthropology and Archaeology / M.A. (Anthropology)

The aim of this diploma thesis was to map a current range of social services for users with multiple disabilities over 18 years from České Budějovice and the surrounding area and also to find an interest in individual types of social services from a perspective of their legal representatives. The theoretical part deals with a concept of the combined disability and its basic division. Further it devotes in detail to social services that are determined for clients with multiple disabilities over 18 years. A part of the theoretical there is also a list of organizations currently providing social services for this target group in České Budějovice and surroundings. A conclusion of the theoretical part devotes to a community planning, its history and present days in the South Bohemian region as well as directly in the town of České Budějovice. The practical part has been processed by a quantitative research method, specifically in a form of an anonymous questionnaire survey and it provides a comprehensive information on a fact, which social services are currently used by the legal representatives of the users with multiple disabilities over 18 years from České Budějovice, what services they are in future interested in and how they would imagine their functioning. This part also summarizes information how the legal representatives of users with combined disabilities over 18 years participate in an establishment of new social services and it maps their awareness of the community planning. The conclusions of the diploma thesis should serve as a feedback to organizations providing social services for users with multiple disabilities over 18 years. Furthermore, they could be used as a source for the community plan and to help for an extension of the offer of provided social services in České Budějovice.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyze cultural meanings associated with primary health center´s from customers’ point of view. Since 1972 the health center has been the most important place providing public health care. Nationally, customership development has been the main goal of primary health care. The purpose of this study was to determine the cultural meanings associated with the health center from customers’ point of view. The theoretical framework utilized in the study comprised the idea of new public service, the theory of organizational culture and a cultural model that allows understanding the health center, the cultural meanings conceptualized, and the interface between the customer and health care center. A three -phase empirical study was conducted using mixed methods. In the first phase, the cultural significance of the customer point of view was examined in document data (N=605), consisting of health care center -related writings in the Kaleva newspaper during the period 1972–1982. The second phase consisted of virtual anthropological data (N=338), i.e internet chat room writings from around 2010. The third phase was a questionnaire form, which formed part of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study. It included a multiple choice questionnaire (N=3237) and open questions (N=200). Qualitative data (the empirical part of phases I, II, and partly III) were analyzed by inductive and deductive content analysis and text analysis. The quantitative data (the partly empirical phase III) were statistically analyzed. In the study, four cultural models were formed pertaining to the visible and hidden cultural meanings related to health centers from customers’ point of view: 1. The Melting Pot of Health Problems Model, highlighting the meanings between the organization and the customer, such as staff incarnation and individual activity associated with meanings, which on the other hand appeared contradictory. 2. The Low-Threshold Model, where the meanings are associated with service. The health center was considered a “rush center”, where the level of care varies, but the service was felt to harmonize with the trust-related meanings and was compared to the bedrock. 3. The Guessing Centre Model, which consisted of the beliefs and meanings associated with a health center waiting room or was described as a lottery, but which was on the other hand regarded as the center of rumors. 4. The Expected Future Model, where the meanings related to expectations concerning the future of the health care center, describing a generative and functional local health care centre with a set of values based on holisticity. The theoretical results provide new insight that helps understand phenomena on the interface between health care services and customers. Health center customers appear to be a cultural phenomenon, organized as cultural models. In health care, the new information generated in the study can be used in customers-oriented planning and development, education, health and applied cultural research. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli analysoida terveyskeskukseen liittyviä kulttuurisia merkityksiä perusterveydenhuoltopalveluiden asiakkaan näkökulmasta. Terveyskeskus on ollut vuodesta 1972 tärkein julkinen terveydenhoitopaikka. Valtakunnallisesti perusterveydenhuollon päätavoitteeksi on nostettu asiakkuuden kehittäminen. Tutkimustehtävänä oli selvittää, millaisia kulttuurisia merkityksiä terveyskeskukseen liittyy asiakkaan näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksen teoreettisessa viitekehyksessä hyödynnettiin hallintoteoreettista näkökulmaa, teoriaa organisaatiokulttuurista sekä kulttuurimallia. Terveyskeskukseen liittyviä kulttuurisia merkityksiä käsitteellistettiin reifikaatioon peilaten terveyskeskuksen ja asiakkaan välisen rajapinnan ymmärtämiseksi. Tutkimus jakautuu teoreettiseen ja empiiriseen osaan. Kulttuurisia merkityksiä asiakkaan näkökulmasta tutkittiin mixed methods -menetelmälähtöisesti kolmivaiheisen empiirisen aineiston pohjalta. Ensimmäinen vaihe koostui dokumenttiaineistosta (N=605), joka muodostui sanomalehti Kalevan julkaisemista terveyskeskukseen liittyvistä kirjoituksista vuosina 1972–1982. Toinen vaihe koostui virtuaaliantropologisesta aineistosta (N=338), joka käsitti internetin keskustelupalstojen kirjoituksia 2010-luvun taitteessa. Kolmas vaihe kerättiin kyselylomakkeella, joka oli osaotos Pohjoissuomen syntymäkohortti 1966:n tutkimusta. Se sisälsi monivalintakyselyn (N=3237) sekä avoimen kysymyksen (N=200). Laadulliset aineistot (empiirisen osan vaiheet I, II, osin III) analysoitiin induktiivisella ja deduktiivisella sisällön- ja tekstianalyysillä. Määrällinen aineisto (osin empiirisen aineiston osa III) analysoitiin tilastollisesti. Tutkimuksessa muodostettiin terveyskeskukseen liittyvistä näkyvistä ja piilotetuista kulttuurisista merkityksistä asiakkaan näkökulmasta neljä kulttuurimallia: 1. Vaivojen sulatusuunimalli, jossa korostuivat organisaation ja asiakkaan väliset merkitykset. Niitä olivat henkilöstöinkarnaatio ja asiakasaktiivisuus, jotka toisaalta näyttäytyivät ristiriitaisina. 2. Matalan kynnyksen malli, jossa merkitykset liittyivät palveluun. Terveyskeskus miellettiin ruuhkakeskukseksi, jossa hoidon taso vaihtelee, mutta toisaalta palveluun luotettiin ja sitä verrattiin peruskallioon. 3. Arvauskeskusmalli, joka muodostui uskomuksiin liittyvistä merkityksistä. Terveyskeskusta kuvailtiin odotushuoneeksi tai lottoriviksi, mutta joka toisaalta käsitettiin huhupuheiden keskiöksi. 4. Tulevaisuuden odotemalli, jossa merkitykset liittyivät tulevaisuuden odotuksiin. Terveyskeskus haluttiin nähdä tulevaisuudessa generatiivisena ja toimivana lähiasemana, jonka toimintakulttuurin arvopohja perustuisi holistisuuteen. Tutkimuksen teoreettisilla tuloksilla on uutuusarvoa terveyspalveluiden ja sen asiakkaan rajapinnan ilmiöiden ymmärtämiseksi. Terveyskeskuksessa asiakas on edelleen palvelujen tuottamisen kohde. Asiakkaan roolia tulee kehittää aktiiviseksi ja osallistuvaksi. Terveyskeskus on asiakkaille tärkeä ja se tulisi olla joustavasti lähellä myös tulevaisuudessa. Tutkimuksen tuottamaa tietoa voidaan hyödyntää terveydenhuollon asiakaslähtöisessä suunnittelu- ja kehittämistyössä, koulutuksessa sekä terveydenhuollon ja kulttuurintutkimuksen soveltavassa tutkimuksessa.

The master‘s thesis deals with the constructive – technological project of day care centre in Ropice. The project includes a technical report, time and financial schedule, building site, quality and safety requirement, an operating regulativ for implementation of concrete cailing above the 1-st floor of a main building object. The work is based on the project for implementation.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Worldwide there are millions of children and adolescents with adisability. The United Nations Children’s Fund estimates the worldwide prevalence to be 150 million children under 18 years older, the World Health Organization also estimates that there are 93 million children with impairment. This study focused at describing the impact of rehabilitation programme for the young adult living with cerebral palsy admitted in a care centre Mopani District, South Africa. The study utilized a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional survey method. Data was collected using an observational check list. The target population is young adults’ aged 18- 35 yearswith cerebral palsy in a Care Centre. Sampling was not necessary in this study since the targeted population was small in number. Confidentiality of respondents’ information was maintained where study subjects wereidentifiedusing codes. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the results of the analysis are presented in the form of tables and charts to enhance clarity. The results are presented according to the objectives. The conclusion and recommendationswere made based on the findings. The study results show that there were more females than males (ratio 3:1) and the range of age distribution was 20 to 37 years. The study also finds out that cerebral palsy condition was accompanied by other complications such as blindness, mental retardation, epilepsy and hydrocephalus. The study indicated that rehabilitation can only have minimal effects but it can improve the quality of life of the patient. With regard to communication outcome of the rehabilitation programme it indicates progress following rehabilitation between 57% and 80% could use expressive language and follow basic instructions. The study also observed that patients made a steady improvement right through from those who spent 4 to 8 years to those who had been there for long, 15 years and above. Since cerebral palsy can affect motor development as well as social development, the rehabilitation seems beneficial to focus on intervention programme on the cognitive stimulation of children and young adults with cerebral palsy. / NRF

The aim of the presented work is to present problematic aspects of the work of peer consultants in the field of mental health care, i.e., in psychiatric hospitals, social services and leisure clubs. The theoretical part will present the context from which the position grows and comes- the concept of mental illness and stigmatization of mental illness, as well as the project of deinstituonalization of the mental health care system. The theoretical part of the work is then concluded with an introduction to the position of the peer consultant. In the practical part I deal with the problematic aspects themselves by the means of semi-structured interviews. Aspects such as the scope of work of the peer consultant, experience with colleagues and clients, requirements for the position, the topic of the future and the work procedure and finally also the issue of the legislative anchoring of this position. Key words: mental illness, stigmatization, peer support, peer mentor, social works, psychiatric care, Centre for mental health care development, deinstitutionalisation

The study aimed to explore and described the assessment of patient’s satisfaction with the quality of health care services rendered by the Crossroads Community Health Centre (CHCC). The target population comprised of adult male and female patients who have attended the clinic more than once. One hundred and twenty patients participated in the study. The convenience sampling method was used to select the respondents. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Validity and reliability were ensured. The Chronbach’s alpha reliability test was used to measure the internal consistency of the likert scale questionnaire items and was less than 0.4 for sections B-F, and 0.675 for section E. Descriptive and inferential data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 16.0 for Windows, release 16.0.1 with the assistance of a statistician. The findings indicated a positive perception of the quality of health care services rendered by the Crossroads CHCC. It was concluded that despite a positive perception of the health care services, there was a percentage of the respondents that rated the quality of the service as poor in relation to environmental cleanliness, staff attitudes, long waiting times, medications shortage, the complaints system reporting and health care service drainage to other CHCC where patient’s resided. The issue of quality improvement in these aspects was noted to be crucial and recommendations were made to improve the quality of the health care service at Crossroads CHCC. / Healh Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This study was interested in exploring the perceptions and experiences of social workers about the nature and contents of conducting risk assessments with child offenders. Considering the high level of crime and reoffending in South Africa, effective assessment is imperative. The goal of the research was to develop an in-depth understanding of how risk assessments of child offenders are conducted in practice. This was done by applying a qualitative research methodology. The study was conducted in the Western Cape. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was employed and data were analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch. The findings indicated that although prescribed instruments are used in the risk assessment of children in South Africa, they all have definite limitations. To enhance the quality of service rendered to child offenders, the development of a standardised risk assessment instrument is needed. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Work)

This study was interested in exploring the perceptions and experiences of social workers about the nature and contents of conducting risk assessments with child offenders. Considering the high level of crime and reoffending in South Africa, effective assessment is imperative. The goal of the research was to develop an in-depth understanding of how risk assessments of child offenders are conducted in practice. This was done by applying a qualitative research methodology. The study was conducted in the Western Cape. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was employed and data were analysed according to the framework provided by Tesch. The findings indicated that although prescribed instruments are used in the risk assessment of children in South Africa, they all have definite limitations. To enhance the quality of service rendered to child offenders, the development of a standardised risk assessment instrument is needed. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Work)