This dissertation explores the experiences and perspectives of unaccompanied migrant children in Johannesburg South Africa. The children are between the ages of thirteen to nineteen and are all from Zimbabwe. The research focuses on how the young immigrants undertook their journey managing to find ways around the spaces and people they met along the way. The research demonstrates how the vulnerability which research participants feel was not constant. It oscillated depending primarily on spaces and social relationships which children encountered. Through ethnography and the life history approach, the daily experiences of the young people are looked at to provide an understanding of the way they dealt and are still dealing with their vulnerability. The intention being to show that vulnerability is always shifting and being shifted by young people.

A thesis submitted to the Wits School of Education, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2017 / Background: With 17 babies born with hearing loss every day in South Africa, there is a pressing need for systematic Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) services. Progress is being made in the area of newborn hearing screening with studies to document the screening fora and processes appropriate for a developing country context. A systematic review of EHDI services in South Africa highlighted the need for comprehensive studies on diagnostic protocols and procedures in diagnosing paediatric hearing loss. There has also been a recognition of the ethical obligation to ensure equitable access to efficient and timely diagnostic and intervention services for children identified with hearing loss, regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic status. Objective: The aim of this study was to document the current practice of audiologists in South Africa, with reference to paediatric audiology diagnosis, reporting of testing results, record keeping and data management in a closed sample set in 3 provinces of SA. Method: This study utilised a retrospective record review process as well as a survey to identify the processes and procedures followed by audiologists in the diagnosis of paediatric hearing loss, across both the public and private sectors. The children who were part of the Home Intervention Hearing and language Opportunities Parent Education Services (HI HOPES) programme were selected using convenience sampling. The files of 230 children, who had diagnostic audiology records as part of the HI HOPES programme data were included as part of the sample for this study. Audiology reports and records were reviewed so as to gain an understanding of the diagnostic procedures used. Data were then compared to the HPCSA recommended guideline document to determine how diagnostic testing compared to testing procedures outlined in the guideline document. Finally, a survey to identify data management procedures followed by audiologists was sent to 40 public (n=21) and private (n=19) sector audiologists Results: Data reflected in diagnostic audiology reports indicate differences in tests employed with paediatric clients across the regions of Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal and Western Cape, as well as across the public and private sectors. There is an increased use of electrophysiology measures across all the age ranges of paediatric clients. The extensive use of electrophysiology on older children means there is an increased need for the use of sedation. The analysis of sedation information included in the diagnostic audiology reports indicated a need for evaluation of safety during sedation for diagnostic testing, as well as a need for development of sedation guidelines for auditory electrophysiology testing in South Africa. The logging of diagnostic audiology data as well as sedation information in audiology reports also indicated that data is not always comprehensive. The survey showed that there is a need for efficient audiology data management and tracking systems to allow for evaluation of EHDI services, and for sharing of diagnostic information amongst professionals. Challenges with the implementation of online/electronic data management systems include those that are common to a developed world context (time and staff for data entry), as well as challenges unique to a developing country context (electricity access and internet connection). Conclusion: Accuracy in paediatric diagnostic audiology is important as this step in the EHDI pathway is necessary for appropriate provision of amplification, communication methodology options and the influence on future education options and success. Paediatric diagnostic audiology in South Africa shows a lack of agreement with South African diagnostic guidelines in terms of tests employed, across the provinces of Gauteng, KZN and WC as well as across the public and private healthcare sectors. The incomplete sedation information on audiology reports indicates the deficiencies in accurate and comprehensive data recording. . Extensive studies across all provinces relating to all aspects of EHDI services (screening, diagnosis, intervention and data management) are necessary. Further studies on diagnostic practice and resources in South Africa will provide information on factors that are preventing adherence to South African guidelines as well as international best practice guidelines for paediatric diagnostic audiology, as well as information and resources that are needed for advancement and improvement of the field. / XL2018

Includes bibliography. / This study described the racial attitude development of South African primary school children in three racial groups. The sample consisted of black, white and coloured children from the Cape Town area. The study aimed to examine developmental patterns of own-group preference and out-group prejudice, as well as the efficacy of the Katz- Zalk Projective Prejudice Test (Katz and Zalk, 1976) in the South African context. Children of both sexes were included. Five age-groups were represented; 6 - 7 year olds, 7 - 8 year olds, 9 - 10 year olds, 10 - 11 year olds and 11 - 12 year olds. The instrument, (Katz-Zalk Projective Prejudice Test, Katz and Zalk, 1976) included slides showing black and white children in ambiguous school situations, and a corresponding questionnaire in which the subject indicated which child was the recipient or initiator of the action depicted in the slides. The test was administered to groups of approximately 30 children by a female test administrator of the same race as the subjects. The results from 416 subjects were analysed using a multivariate analysis of variance followed by univariate analyses of variance and Student Newman- Keuls follow up tests. These findings indicated the developmental pattern of own- group preference and out-group prejudice in the sample. Results from the white group showed a distinct trend, characterised by high own-group preference and high out- group prejudice. Both the preference and prejudice declined with age.

Thesis (DSc (Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Fears are a normal part of development but excessive fears may interfere with daily functioning and may reflect serious anxiety problems. In order to determine whether fears are excessive or not, as well as to implement prevention programmes, an assessment instrument is needed that is socially and scientifically relevant to the context in which the child lives. Furthermore, normative data is necessary in order to understand the concept of fear. The primary aim of the study was to develop a measuring instrument that is scientifically and socially relevant within the South African context. This entailed a qualitative stage where semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 middle childhood children attending four local primary schools in the Stellenbosch area. These interviews were transcribed and analysed for emerging themes. The emerging themes were then added to the existing Fear Survey Schedule for Children-Revised (FSSC-R). Reliability analyses were conducted on the data obtained by the adapted FSSC-R. Item-total correlations and exploration of the item construct resulted in 23 items being deleted. The remaining items on the scale demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0,97). The factor structure of the remaining items was explored by means of principal factor analysis with varimax rotation. Various factor solutions were explored and the five-factor solution was found to be the best conceptual fit for the data. The five factors are: Factor I-Fear of Danger and Death, Factor II-Fear of the Unknown, Factor III-Worries, Factor IV-Fear of Animals, Factor V-Situational Fears. The adapted scale is a South African version of Ollendick’s FSSC-R and is referred to as the FSSC-SA. The secondary aim was to determine the content, number, level and pattern of fear of a selected group of middle childhood South African children, living in the Western Cape, based on the results of the South African Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSSC-SA). This entailed a quantitative stage. The adapted FSSC-R was completed by 646 middle childhood children between the ages of 7 and 12 years, attending four primary schools in the Stellenbosch area in the Western Cape Province. The participants were also requested to complete a biographical questionnaire before they completed the adapted FSSC-R. Culture was defined with respect to the main representative cultural communities in the Stellenbosch area, namely black, coloured and white. The results of the South African fear instrument indicate that the most feared item for the South African children is ‘getting HIV’. The ten most common fears indicate that fears are to a certain extent universal but that some fears also reflect the context in which a child lives. Furthermore the added items also featured among the most fear eliciting items suggest that these items reflect the societal concerns, issues and fears of South African children. Black South African children displayed the highest number as well as level of fear, followed by the coloured South African children and then the white South African children. This was also applicable to the pattern of fear. Gender differences are apparent with respect to number, level and pattern of fears with girls consistently expressing more fears than boys. This applies to all cultural groups. In conclusion, implications of the present study’s results in the South African context as well as shortcomings and recommendations for future studies are discussed.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Childhood fears and anxiety are considered to be common and part of typical child development. In some cases, however, these fears can be regarded as a serious psychiatric problem which may have a major influence on children‘s functioning. Anxiety disorders are classified as the most common psychiatric disorders among adults and children in the international as well as the South African context. Although research on anxiety in adults and older children has received much attention, research regarding anxiety among young children has been neglected. Anxiety symptoms in young children often go unnoticed and therefore these children are not referred for treatment in time, causing the anxiety to have a major impact on their lives. In order to reduce the possible effect of anxiety on children‘s lives, children who are vulnerable to the development of anxiety have to be identified at a young age so that early intervention and prevention programmes can be implemented. Behavioural inhibition or shyness in early childhood has been identified as a risk factor for the development of anxiety symptoms. These symptoms may persist into adolescence and adulthood if not addressed timeously. The association between anxiety and behavioural inhibition has been widely researched internationally. However, as far as could be ascertained, no studies in this regard have been conducted within the South African context. With this in mind, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition in a sample of young South African children. A cross-sectional research design was employed and data were collected quantitatively. The data for the research were obtained from parents and teachers who reported on the anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition in a group of 107 young South African children, divided into two age groups—2- to 3-year-olds and 4- to 6-year-olds—by means of two questionnaires, the Revised Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS-R) and the Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire (BIQ). Results of the PAS-R and BIQ scores indicated that there was a positive relationship between anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition in young South African children, as reported by both the parents and the teachers. Teacher reports, more so than parent reports indicated a strong relationship between anxiety symptoms and behavioural inhibition. No significant gender differences were found with regard to either anxiety symptoms or behavioural inhibition. Parent reports did not indicate significant age differences regarding anxiety symptoms but teacher reports did. Teachers reported the older group of 4- to 6-year-old children to have higher scores on the Generalized anxiety subscale than the younger group of 2- to 3-year-olds. Lastly, no significant age differences were found with regard to behavioural inhibition according to either the parents or the teachers. In conclusion, this study makes an important contribution to the current literature and also for future studies that would be conducted in this regard. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Angs en vrese tydens die kinderjare word beskou as algemeen en deel van enige kind se ontwikkeling. In sommige gevalle kan hierdie vrese egter ʼn psigiatriese probleem wees wat ʼn groot invloed op ʼn kind se funksionering kan hê. Angsversteurings word geklassifiseer as die mees algemene psigiatriese versteurings onder volwassenes en kinders, sowel internasionaal as in Suid-Afrika. Navorsing oor angssimptome by volwassenes en ouer kinders is meer algemeen en het reeds heelwat aandag geniet, maar wêreldwyd is weinig navorsing in verband met angs onder jonger kinders gedoen. Omdat angssimptome by jong kinders dikwels nie raakgesien word nie, word hulle ook nie betyds verwys vir behandeling nie en dan kan die angssimptome ʼn groot impak op die lewens van hierdie kinders hê. Om die effek van angs op kinders se lewens te verminder, is dit noodsaaklik om kinders wat vatbaar is vir die ontwikkeling van angssimptome reeds op ʼn jong ouderdom te identifiseer sodat vroeë intervensie kan plaasvind en voorkomingsprogramme geïmplimenteer kan word. Daar is bevind dat gedragsinhibisie of skaamheid in die vroeë kinderjare ʼn risikofaktor vir die ontwikkeling van angssimptome kan wees wat dan kan voortduur tot adolessensie en selfs tot in volwassenheid as dit nie betyds aangespreek word nie. Die verband tussen angs en gedragsinhibisie is wyd nagevors in die internasionale konteks, maar sover as wat vasgestel kon word, is geen studies in hierdie verband in Suid-Afrika gedoen nie. Teen hierdie agtergrond is met die huidige studie gepoog om die verband tussen angssimptome en gedragsinhibisie by ʼn groep jong Suid Afrikaanse kinders te ondersoek. ʼn Deursnee-ontwerp is gebruik en data is kwantitatief ingesamel deurdat die ouers en onderwysers van die kinders twee vraelyste moes voltooi oor die angssimptome en gedragsinhibisies van die betrokke kinders. Die twee vraelyste wat vir die doel gebruik is, was die Voorskoolse Angsskaal (PAS-R) en die Gedragsinhibisie Vraelys (BIQ). Die groep het bestaan uit 107 Suid-Afrikaanse kinders wat in twee groepe verdeel is volgens hul ouderdomme, naamlik 2- tot 3-jariges en 4- to 6-jariges. Die resultate van die PAS-R en die BIQ het aangedui dat daar ʼn positiewe verband is tussen angssimptome en gedragsinhibisie by jong Suid-Afrikaanse kinders volgens die ouer- en onderwyserverslae. Tog het die verslae van die onderwysers ʼn sterker verband tussen angssimptome en gedragsinhibisie aangetoon as die van die ouers. Volgens beide ouer- en onderwyserverslae is geen beduidende geslagsverskille gevind met betrekking tot angssimptome en gedragsinhibisie nie. Daar is ook geen beduidende ouderdomsverskille gevind vir angssimptome volgens ouerverslae nie. Daar is egter ʼn beduidende oudersdomsverskil gevind ten opsigte van angssimptome volgens die onderwysers se verslae. Die onderwysers se verslae het getoon dat die ouer groep kinders, die 4- tot 6-jariges, hoër tellings op die subskaal Veralgemeende angs as die jonger kinders ervaar het. Volgens die verslae van beide die ouers en onderwysers was daar geen beduidende ouderdomsverskille ten opsigte van gedragsinhibisie nie. Ten slotte, hierdie studie maak 'n belangrike bydrae tot die huidige literatuur asook tot toekomstige studies wat uitgevoer sal word in hierdie verband.

Children have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of chronic exposure to noise and also aircraft noise. Children attending schools in the vicinity of airports have shown cognitive impairments in reading comprehension, different aspects of memory and attention. This cross-sectional study forms part of a larger longitudinal study conducted at schools in the vicinity of an airport in Durban, South Africa, that was decommissioned and moved. The aim was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to aircraft noise on children’s memory and attention before the moving of the airport. A purposive sample of 834 grade 5 and 6 learners from 5 schools in noisy and quiet areas near the airport were assessed on aspects of episodic memory, working memory, prospective memory and attention with standardised tests in a classroom context. Performance on working memory and one aspect of episodic memory was significantly better in the group exposed to noise. Prospective memory functioning was significantly better in the quiet group. These results, which to some extent unexpected, may prove important in understanding the effects of chronic noise on different aspects of memory functioning. The results and their implications are discussed in relation to previous studies and theories on the effects of noise on memory functioning.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

MPM / Department of Public and Development Administration / See the attached abstract below

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology) / A substance abuse problem among street children has been acknowledged and treatment has not proved beneficial. The general aim of this study was to investigate their drugging habits and attitudes to drugging and treatment, in order to elucidate reasons for this failure and provide direction for an effective treatment approach. An exploratory study utilizing a non-probability sample (N=16) of male street children, aged 12 to 16, from a Johannesburg shelter, was carried out. An unconventional approach to gathering information was developed, within the framework of one-hour group discussions heId over seven weeks. Questions devised by the researcher were presented as stimuli for group discussion, story telling, and drawings. Data were also collected through a voting procedure. Results confirm regular substance abuse and dependency which merits attention. Maintaining factors were the suppression of emotional ...., low self esteem, and socialmotivators, i.e., to gain confidence and maintain networks. Risks and actual negative effects of substance abuse were vaguely perceived. These findings must be regarded as tentative, due to the small sample. More research, utilizing subjects not living in shelters and those in other shelters, should be done to find out if these findings are replicated . .A suggested treatment modality is group therapy and the changing of group norms, Groups would be conscientising. Specific aims could be formulated hy the group members, but could include general life skills and the development of alternative reinforcing activities. Peer mentoring could be considered. / Andrew Chakane 2018