This study takes the concept of ubuntu, which means humanness and applies it to healthcare issues in general, and women's health, in particular. Ubuntu is based on the reality of interdependence and relatedness. It is a philosophy or way of life that finds its roots and meaning in humanity. The values espoused in ubuntu emphasize caring, sharing, reciprocity, co-operation, compassion and empathy in recognition that for human beings to develop, flourish and reach their full potential, they need to conduct their relationships in a manner that promotes the well-being of others. The values championed in ubuntu are what inform and shape African cultural, social, political and ethical thought and action. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

This study examines offender assessment from a criminological perspective. International and national research findings, as well as the Canadian (Level of Service Inventory - Revised, LSRI-R) and the British (Offender Assessment System, OASys) offender assessment structures, are used as guidelines to illustrate the practice of offender assessment. Offender needs and risk assessment targets are examined and highlighted for general (non-specific) as well as sex and other violent offenders. A qualitative research design, supported by explanatory, descriptive and exploratory goals, directs the methodology of this research project. Important assessment tools, such as interviewing, observation, document analysis and the application of theoretical explanations are used to assess and analyse four selected case studies (adult male offenders). These case studies are representative of the different dimensions of offender assessment, namely classification, intervention, risk management and pre-parole assessment. The offenders are individually assessed, analysed and evaluated to determine among other factors, the origin, onset, contributory factors, triggers, high-risk situations, and intervention indicators that can assist custodial therapists and the prison authorities with a more focused approach to the rehabilitation and management of offenders. Each case study is also supported by a theoretical explanation. This highlights the key role, function and contribution of criminologists in corrections, as well as the importance of a multi-fold perspective in the rehabilitation and correction of criminal behaviour. / Criminology and Security Science / Thesis (D. Litt. et Phil. (Criminology))

Dementia of Alzheimer‟s Type is a degenerative neurocognitive disease accounting for majority of Dementia‟s. It affects millions of people worldwide and thousands of people in South Africa. Apart from the economic burden this illness places on the country, it has detrimental effects for those who provide care for individuals with this illness, who are mostly spouses. The spousal caregivers bears great financial, social and emotional burden which worsens as the disease progresses. The aim of this study is to phenomenologically explore and describe the lived experiences of spousal caregivers in caring for the spouses with Dementia of Alzheimer‟s Type. This South African study was therefore qualitative in nature and was conducted in the province of KwaZulu- Natal, in the city of Pietermaritzburg. Eight participants were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The main findings of this study are the negative emotional affects that the caregiving role creates. Caregiver stress and strain is experienced as well as the experiences of various losses including lack of intimacy and ruined expectations for the future as the disease progresses. The caregiving role also created negative implications for the social lives of caregivers and coping mechanisms were seen to be very important. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual study was undertaken to explore and describe how clinic nurses practice their role regarding growth development monitoring and anthropometric measurement of children and interpretation of their values. An accessible population of twelve clinic nurses of all categories were purposively recruited to participate in the study. In depth individual interviews were conducted to generate data. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed by the researcher verbatim. The direct quotes of participants were coded and arranged into meaning units for analysis. Tech’s (1990:142-145) eight steps of analysis to analyse the textual qualitative data as cited by Creswell (2009:186) was used until themes, categories and subcategories were identified and developed. Data analysis was triangulated by using Atlas.ti computer software version 7.0 to organise text, audio data files coding, memos and findings into project files. An independent coder analysed data for validation using content analysis. Data analysis revealed that nurses had challenges in ways of doing practice evidenced by inconsistencies and discrepancies in GDM, APM of children and incorrect interpretation of their values. Non-compliance to protocols from both nurses and parents was a significant finding. Shortage of resources was reported as a major hindrance. Guidelines were formulated to guide clinic nurses. Recommendations were proposed that the matter be taken up by nurse managers, educators and leadership from the Department of Health / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The registered midwives are engaged in continuous health education lessons In antenatal visits, discouraging antenatal clients from using hannful traditional and cultural practices in an attempt to preserve pregnancy to tenn. Despite the registered midwives' efforts, the clients continue to use hannful cultural methods, which are life-threatening to both the mother and the foetus In utero. The prenatal clients perceive the registered midwives as not being sensitive to their culture. The results of this study revealed that health education in antenatal clinics should be collaborative: that is, the people who have influence over the clients' pregnancy, like me mother-in-law, the traditional practitioners, cUents and their family members, should be involved by the midwives during the preparation of pregnancy lessons and health education lessons on how to preserve pregnancy to term according to· scientifically proven methods. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The study comprehensively analysed the impact of primary prevention services for reproductive health in the environment within which the adolescents grow towards life skills ecquisition and positive behavior patterning. The availability, accessibility and the effectiveness of adolescents' accompaniment in Soshanguve Township by certain caregivers were assessed. Unstructured observations, review of documents, questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. The results revealed the least support by parents and churches to accompany the adolescents and the inaccessibility of specialised center to the disadvantaged. The continued lack of knowledge and life-skills perpetuated the onset of reproductive problems. The lack of programmes to equip care providers on how to improve communication during care provision was a major setback. There is a great need for the erection of special care centers for adolescents. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

This research was undertaken to establish the effect incarceration of individuals in the total institution called prison has on the incarcerated individuals. A literature study along with an empirical study, with 17 ex-inmates, was completed to explore the environment and circumstances of the institution called prison and the effect it has on the prisoners it incarcerates. Issues discussed include the prison environment, the prisonisation process, the inmate code and the process of incarceration. Also discussed are the presence, activities and influence of the gangs within the prison environment. It would appear that prison has a lasting effect on most prisoners and limited rehabilitative value, although there does appear to be some deterrence value. The subject begs further investigation, especially among a wider mix of inmate type, in order to deliver further recommendations to the South African Department of Correctional Services. / Social work / M.A.(Social Science)

The South African health care environment is a two-tier health care delivery system consisting of the public sector and the private sector. The focus of this study is on the private health care sector. Private health care is funded by medical schemes through employer and employee contributions. The private sector is also the most profitable sector for multinational pharmaceutical organisations to market and sell their products within the South African health care environment. The major cost saving initiative by employers and medical schemes in the private health care sector has also been the introduction of managed health care initiatives. The goal of managed health care is to establish a system which delivers value by giving people access to quality and cost-effective healthcare. The new reality of managed health care initiatives are changing the boundaries of the South African pharmaceutical industry. The managed health care wake is overturning the business processes which made the pharmaceutical industry so successful and are rendering obsolete the industry's conventional models of corporate strategy and management systems. In the context of these turbulent changes, pharmaceutical companies are being forced simultaneously to develop new strategic approaches for the future, design new business processes which will link them more firmly to their new customers, and implement the cultural changes neccessary to accomplish the transformation from yesterday's successful pharmaceutical company to tomorrow's customer-led, integrated health care supplier. The way forward lies in three organising concepts. The first is cutomer alignment. The effort of transformation must start with an understanding of how the customer defines the value of the services and/or products offered by the organisation. Everything that follows involves aligning internal processes with external contingencies. The second is sequencing. It is vital to understand not just what needs to happen first in the transformation process, but also what the subsequent steps is and in what order the steps need to be undertaken. The third organising concept is learning. The sequence of interventions that lead to organisational transformation must occur in such a way as to maximize the ability of the organisation to learn: from customers and the marketplace, and from itself. / Business Management / D.B.L.

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the perceptions of the registered nurses and the nurse managers regarding the role of the registered nurse in integrated primary health care. Quantitative, descriptive research was conducted to determine if there were any discrepancies between role perceptions and role expectations. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires. Two groups of respondents participated in the study. The registered nurse group (n=40) provided direct clinical care in integrated primary health care settings. The second group was composed of nurse managers (n=20) managing integrated primary health care services. The findings revealed that there are some areas where there is lack of congruence between the perceptions of registered nurses and nurse managers regarding the functions that registered nurses perform. These differences may result in confusion and role conflict among registered nurses, which can ultimately impede the attainment of integrated primary health care goals. / Advanced Nursing Sciences / M.A.(Nursing Science)

This work is concerned with healing practices that are created within a participatory framework in pastoral theology. It works in post-colonial and postapartheid times in South Africa following on from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The thesis looks to forms of participation with both victims and perpetrators of apartheid. It seeks to challenge singular identities of victims and perpetrators, whites and blacks, which are bound up in juridical practices that are embedded within binary forms of identity. It exposes some of the problems associated with the splitting of a subject from an object of enquiry. The research concerns a journey with a group of Mothers who lost their sons and husbands to the violence of the apartheid state. It is also a journey with some of the perpetrators who were responsible for the elimination of these men. It seeks to deconstruct identity in order to find alternate descriptions of people, both the victims and perpetrators that are not constructed within a binary oppositional form. This is worked with ideas from the social construction movement particularly ideas relating to relational responsibility. The research attempts to create a safe enough context for accountability, vulnerability and healing to take place within a participatory frame of pastoral care. It works with post-modern theology and some of the philosophy of Derrida, Foucault and Levinas. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Th.(Practical Theology with specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)