Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) is recognised as a difficult behaviour to work/deal with and Community Support Workers (CSW‟s) who work with this behaviour may not have any formal training in the field of SIB. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the needs of CSW‟s working in the field of self-injurious behaviour amongst adolescents. A qualitative approach was used, the study was of an explorative nature and the researcher made use of purposive non-probability sampling to select respondents who were willing to participate in one-on-one semi-structured interviews with the researcher. This data was then analysed by the researcher making use of Creswell‟s spiral of analysis. The data collected was sorted into themes, sub-themes and categories and interpreted according to literature. The study identified that there are specific needs amongst CSW‟s who work with adolescent SIB in the specific areas of support and education/training. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is one of the least studied HIV-related risk factors in Haiti although research in the United States and Europe has clearly established the link between childhood trauma and HIV risk behaviors. Understanding the role and impact of CSA on HIV-positive Haitian women is likely to strengthen future HIV prevention and treatment efforts aimed at this vulnerable group. The current study was a cross-sectional examination of baseline data collected during a randomized trial of a cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention in Haiti. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between CSA and sexual risk behaviors, alcohol use, and social support in a group of Haitian women, ages 17-55 (n=229), who are HIV-positive alcohol users living in Haiti. The outcomes investigated were the respondents’ level of exposure to CSA and their current HIV-related risk factors. The Theory of Gender and Power provided the theoretical framework for variable selection and associative exploration. Statistical tests included descriptive analyses, chi-square tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and correlations. Results showed that women who were exposed to some level of sexual abuse during childhood had less favorable attitudes towards condom use than women who reported no exposure to sexual abuse during childhood [F(2, 217) = 5.10, p = .007]. There were no differences between exposure groups for the remaining sexual risk behaviors: multiple partners, knowledge of HIV, and sexual self-efficacy. Women who were exposed to CSA also reported higher levels of alcohol use than reported by the women in the non-exposure group. Finally, there were no differences between exposure groups for social support. Group differences in attitudes towards condom use and levels of alcohol use among HIV-positive Haitian women demonstrate that HIV-positive individuals have different past and present experiences that affect their current beliefs and behaviors. Examining women at the beginning of their diagnosis for childhood trauma and providing targeted interventions for coping with that trauma presents a valuable research opportunity. The findings of the current study suggest that more research is required to understand the association between CSA and HIV-related risk factors in this subset of the HIV-positive population.

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Text in English / The rationale for the study was to investigate the symbiotic connection of trauma and addiction. The focus is on childhood trauma and the turn to addictive practices to quell the memories and experiences endured as children. Chapter One discusses the methodology regarding the approach of the study and includes an introductory literature review of the phenomena. Additional literature is included in the ensuing chapters. A personal account of the motivation behind the research is chronicled in Chapter Two. In this chapter, I share with the readers my personal experiences around trauma and addiction in my family of origin. The notion of the blending of trauma and addiction is the focus of Chapter Three. It includes the approach to treatment of trauma and addiction as well as addiction counsellor training in the South African context. The storied lives of the participants and their experiences of trauma and addiction are encapsulated in Chapter Four. Finally, Chapter Five rounds off the study with the analyses of the narratives of the unique individuals who contributed to this research undertaking. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)