Disruptive behaviour problems in early childhood are found to be associated with many negative long-term outcomes, such as antisocial behaviour, adolescent delinquency, and substance abuse (Kellam, Werthamer-Larsson & Dolan (1991), as cited in Butler, 2005:1). Even after adolescence this arises, for, as Vogel (2008:16) states the 'frequency of behavioural problems or challenging behaviour among the youth of today often predicts the size of our future prison population'. These findings clearly highlight the importance of early identification of behavioural problems, adequate preventative intervention (Butler, 2005:1) and the necessity for early intervention to prevent their continuity, since behaviour problems are found to worsen without treatment (Loeber, 1982, cited in Butler, 2005:1). The goal of this study is to gain an understanding of disruptive behaviour in primary school learners. To achieve this goal, the objectives of this are to explore the nature of child disruptive behaviour problems; to explore parents and teachers' problem perception of child disruptive behaviour; to explore the problem threshold of parents and teachers toward child disruptive behaviour; and to explore their help-seeking behaviour. The study's aim, therefore, is to better understand and gain more insight in child disruptive behaviour problems before a threshold is reached by parents and teachers and help is sought from social service professionals. The study uses an exploratory qualitative research design to gain insight into child disruptive behaviour problems, problem perceptions and help-seeking behaviour in the Southern Cape Karoo District in the Western Cape. Child disruptive behaviour patterns were analysed along a three-point continuum (from less severe - 'preventative'; to moderate - 'early intervention'; and most severe - 'statutory') based, on problem perceptions of parents, teachers and social service professionals. In addition, the present study examines parents and teachers' problem thresholds to identify help-seeking behaviour and sources. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants according to appropriation and availability. Parents and teachers were contacted to participate voluntarily in the research from schools in the area - Acacia Primary School, Baartmansfontein Primary School, Buffelsriver Private Primary School and Matjiesfontein Primary School. The social service professionals who participated consisted of social workers, social auxiliary workers and police officials from the Department of Social Development, Child Welfare SA and the South African Police Service. The study consisted of a broad range of child ages and parental ages. Parent participants also included biological and foster parents. Data was gathered by means of a semi-structured interview schedule administered during 24 individual interviews. The schedule is based on information obtained from the literature review relevant to the models and theories selected. Previous research done by Jessica Hankinson in 2009 in America on child psychopathology, parental problem perception, and help-seeking behaviours was used as a reference for creating the data collection tool, since she also focused on child behavioural problems and used similar models in the theories. This tool was created in such a way as to be relevant to the South African context. The findings confirmed the serious nature of child disruptive behaviour amongst primary school learners, including abusive behaviour, assault, bullying, fighting, swearing, theft, criminal involvement, substance abuse, truancy and school dropouts. The participants were found to be able to perceive their child's problem behaviour and to perceive themselves to be competent parents in dealing with disruptive behaviour. Child disruptive behaviour was found to have a significant effect on classroom learning. Despite legislation banning this, the participants still resort to punitive corrective measures. Stigma related to professional services and the privacy of the family are found to be very relevant in help-seeking efforts. This lead to the conclusion that child disruptive behaviour may become a normal and acceptable phenomenon, and thus leads to late reporting - and social services being contacted only as a last resort. The most important recommendation resulting from the study indicates that there is a need for prevention and early intervention services for child disruptive behaviour. This should address the escalation of the behaviour that later results in the need for statutory services. The study further indicates that various sectors (social workers, teachers, community structures and the departments) need to collaborate and form partnerships in order to enhance the early reporting of children in need and the accessibility and availability of services rendered in rural areas. This could enhance the early identification, reporting and service delivery in order to find problem resolutions.

Bibliography: leaves 82-86.

Bibliography : leaves 101-104. / The study set out to explore why people who were not at risk of being retrenched at the time of organisational change presented to the employee assistance program with signs of depression and anxiety. The study examined the, 'unconscious aspects' of the relationship between the individual and work colleagues; the importance of the individual's relationship with the organisation, and how early unresolved feelings of loss can be evoked during organisational change. The study was informed by psychoanalytic object relations theory. The study presents a theoretical examination of infant development that focuses on the sources of early anxieties, the way in which the infant defends against these anxieties, and the mother's role in helping the infant to contain them. This examination suggests that although many of these primitive anxieties are resolved during infancy and childhood, they remain present in adulthood and therefore people continue to seek out places that can contain their primitive anxieties. The theoretical constructs are then used to examine three areas, those being, the employees relationship with the organisation, relationships with colleagues, and the loss of the organisation. Three case studies are presented to illustrate the theoretical constructs. The three participants, all of whom were not at risk of being retrenched, presented to the employee assistance programme with signs of anxiety and depression. The data presented was collected during ten therapy sessions. This data was then analyzed using psychoanalytical object relations theory. The study seemed to Show that: early maternal relationships play an important role in how the employee will relate to the organisation and work colleagues; that the organisation plays an important role in providing a forum for reparation for employees; that the employee organisation relationship plays an important role in containing employee's anxieties; that changes within the organisation may be experienced by members as a loss of an important containing relationship. It is helpful for social workers working with employees to understand these so as to help both employees and management during organisational change.

Bibliography: pages 87-98. / Ten primary nocturnal enuretic children and twenty- eight non-enuretic children between five and twelve years of age were subjects for a measurement of awakening response. A buzzer was sounded two hours after the child's bedtime ("lights-out") and the length of time it took the child to turn off the buzzer was recorded. If the child did not respond within 120 seconds (2 minutes) a non-awakening response was recorded. The subjects were tested three random nights by the parent(s) of the subjects. The parents were given verbal and written instructions for the use of the buzzer and stop-watch utilized for timing. Data (date, time child went to bed, time tested, duration of buzzer, and ability to remember testing) was recorded on a form supplied by the researcher. A letter stating the purpose of the study was given for explanation of the testing process. Information as to the frequency of enuretic episodes, history of enuresis in family and a case number was obtained for each subject. All of the subjects were volunteers from the general population Persistent Enuresis (e.g., schools, churches). None of the enuretic subjects were receiving treatment at the time of testing. Data was collected by the reseacher and a chi-square test was utilized to compare the awakening response of enuretic and non-enuretic children.

Within the formal child welfare system in South Africa, foster care is considered the preferred form of alternative care for children removed from their biological families and who are unavailable for adoption. This reflects the belief that the family is ideal environment best suited for optimal child survival and development. Although many South African children have benefitted from court-ordered foster care in the last two decades, however ineffective screening, training and preparation of foster carers have posed challenges to meeting the needs of children in need of alternative care. Utilizing general systems and attachment theories, the purpose of this study was to explore perceptions about developing an evidence-based tool for the screening of eligible foster mothers of children in cluster-foster care in South Africa. The study employed a qualitative research approach to data collection and analysis. A semistructured interview schedule was used to explore the perspectives of 12 social workers and four foster mothers about context-specific criteria for screening foster mothers within the clusterfoster care system in South Africa. Results indicate that a reliable and valid tool for screening eligible mothers in cluster foster care settings in South Africa should include a standardized assessment of parenting skills and psychological wellbeing of potential foster mothers in addition to the normative sociodemographic background assessments. Emotional and financial support were also shown to be crucial in ensuring the retention of foster mothers within the context of high attrition rates of foster parents in South Africa. The findings of this study underscore the importance of using an evidence-based screening tool to recruit potential foster mothers in South Africa and the need to assess the psychosocial wellbeing of potential foster mothers in addition to background checks.

Bibliography: leaves 88-98. / This study explores the factors that affect the involvement of parents with their mentally handicapped children after the children have been admitted to Lentegeur Care and Rehabilitation Centre in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town. The study was motivated by the concern of the researcher regarding the lack of parent-child contact and the failure of attempts by social work staff to increase parental involvement. For the purposes of the study involvement is defined as visits and telephone calls by parents to the institution and their subjective description of their emotional closeness to their children. The literature review explores the effect the presence of a mentally handicapped child may have on family functioning and the circumstances that may cause the family to consider placing the child in an institution. Other studies concerned with parent-child involvement after institutionalization are reviewed.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-69). / This study explored Cotlands Hospice staff's perceptions of challenges and stressors which they experience in the workplace, in caring for HIV infants. This aim of this study was to highlight some of the key struggles that healthcare workers are faced with in the HIV workplace in caring for HIV positive infants. The study also explored the participants' current coping strategies used to cope with stressors from within the workplace and supportive resources available to aid the participants were identified. Lastly unmet needs identified by participants were explored and discussed.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) offers many patients who are diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and aplastic anaemia the opportunity of increased survival. Chemotherapy is one of the most common forms of treatment for cancer patients en-route to BMT, which is often a concomitant stressor in the patient's life. Due to the side effects of chemotherapy, patients are often required to remain in a protective isolation unit for several weeks at a time. In most cases, BMT constitutes the final phase of the treatment process. This procedure is not without its risks and may create significant psychosocial stress for patients. Social work intervention in the Department of Haematology at Groote Schuur Hospital has focused primarily on newly diagnosed patients and those patients undergoing transplantation. However, with the increased success of BMT, it is important to address the needs of cancer survivors. An ongoing support group with BMT survivors, provided the opportunity for the researcher to conduct a qualitative exploratory study of how survivors conceptualise and describe their current lives. To this end, fifteen group sessions were tape recorded and the self-identified issues raised by the members were organised into themes. It was ascertained that adjustment post BMT was stressful for most of the survivors. In general, survivors experienced numerous losses in terms of intimate and social relationships, memory and sexual functioning. Anxiety was pervasive and was heightened by an underlying fear of relapse. However, survivors also acknowledged the positive benefits of having been diagnosed with cancer and undergoing a BMT, such as improved family relationships, renewed interest in religion and the changing of attitudes and values. Members utilised numerous coping skills including denial, avoidance, rationalisation, confrontation and problem solving in an attempt to master their situation. The group experience was viewed favourably by members who formed a strong bond as a result of their shared experiences. Some of the survivors were able to use the group to express fears that they felt uncomfortable to express elsewhere. BMT survivors enter a distinct phase of adjustment with the re-entry into their premorbid lifestyles. Preparation is essential if this phase is to mastered. Further research across race and cultural groupings is required in order to ensure that social work intervention is appropriate to all in South Africa.

Bibliography: pages 83-86. / This study attempts to identify the incidence of depression in patients on haemodialysis treatment and the consequences it has for clinical social work intervention. The awareness of depression in haemodialysis arose out of the researcher's practice as a social worker in the renal unit at Groote Schuur Hospital. The study adopts a quantitative-descriptive research design. Eighteen patients currently on haemodialysis treatment were sampled and interviewed. A standardized scale, The Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale, was used to obtain the data. The data was analysed through use of the scoring method provided with the scale and from which inferences were made. The results conclude that depression is not prevalent in patients on haemodialysis treatment. However the incidence is significant enough to consider the implications it has for clinical social work intervention and recommendations are made in this regard.

Bibliography: leaves 88-93.