Maatskaplike Werk, as die uiting van n samelewing se bemoeienis met mense in nood, word vir baie dekades reeds deur welsynsinstansies beoefen. Welsynsinstansies is egter nie vir alle persone in nood aanvaarbaar nie, sodat diegene in die middel- en hoer inkomstegroepe nie juis by maatskaplikewerk-hulpverlening uitkom nie. In die VSA is dieselfde verskynsel gehanteer deur die instelling van maatskaplikewerk-privaatpraktyk, wat tans daar n omvangryke en gevestigde hulpverleningstruktuur is. Sedert 1970 het maatskaplike werkers in Suid-Afrika begin om privaatpraktyk te oorweeg en het selfs daarmee begin eksperimenteer. Dog, uiteenlopende standpunte, hetsy evolusionere of revolusionere beskouings, word daaroor gehandhaaf. Die doel van die ondersoeke is dus om te bepaal of privaatpraktyk in Maatskaplike Werk bestaansreg het, of dit beskikbaar en in privaatpraktyk bruikbaar is. Uit die bevindings kan n model vir die instelling en instandhouding van n lewenskragtige praktyk ontwikkel word. Die ondersoek het bestaan uit n literatuurstudie en n empiriese opname in ses stede van die land onder drie teikensisteme, naamlik maatskaplikewerkers (privaatpraktisyns) en nie-privaatpraktisyns) , kliente van welsynsorganisasies en privaatpraktyke en lede van vyf ander hulpprofessies. n Studiereis is na die VSA onderneem om privaatpraktyke te bestudeer en n vergelykingsbasis vir die Suid-Afrikaanse bevindings te kry. Resultate uit die ondersoek dui daarop dat privaatpraktyk, as hulpverleningstruktuur, n realiteit in die maatskaplikewerk- professie is wat nie genegeer kan word nie. Die bestaansreg daarvan is teoreties kwalifiseerbaar, terwyl die nodige sisteme bestaan om maatskaplikewerk-hulpverlening privaat en onafhanklik van welsynsinstansies aan te bied. Privaatpraktisyns verlang n infrastruktuur om hulle dienste beter te organiseer, terwyl 97,8% van die nie-privaat-praktisyns ten gunste van privaatpraktyk is, omdat dit n groter beroepskeuse bied en die professie se selfstandige optrede bevestig. Verbruikers van privaatpraktyk-dienste is oorwegend tevrede, maar as gevolg van beperkte fondse kan die meeste welsynsorganisasie-kliente nie privaatpraktyk-dienste benut nie. Lede van die ander hulpprofessies dra nie voldoende kennis van die maatskaplikewerk-hulpbron nie, maar is oor die algemeen positief daaroor, hoewel net 52,9% voorsien om dit te benut. Indien maatskaplike werkers die nodige opleiding ondergaan, konstruktief beplan, besigheidsbeginsels inkorporeer, die diens bekendstel en kwaliteitdienste lewer, is n lewenskragtige praktyk verseker. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 1984. / gm2014 / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

Malnutrition is one of the serious childhood problems that affect children under five (5) years of age, and is common in developing countries Botswana included. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of mothers of children diagnosed with malnutrition in Botswana, specifically at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital, Serowe. The said hospital is a district hospital which renders services to Serowe community and the surrounding villages, as such; participants in this study were from Serowe and other surrounding villages like Mabou, Tshimoyapula, Mmashoro and Mogorosi. Applied research was used as a type of research because it is associated with the researcher’s motivation to assist in solving a particular problem facing a particular community. Collective case study was used as a research design. The researcher explored the perceptions of mothers regarding child malnutrition; through the use of semi-structured interviews. Twelve (12) mothers of children with malnutrition were interviewed using systematic random sampling method and subsequently data was analysed according to Creswell’s model. Literature study was done and the following aspects were discussed: Child malnutrition in developing countries; child malnutrition in Botswana; description of child malnutrition; causes of child malnutrition; symptoms of child malnutrition; treatment of child malnutrition; prevention of child malnutrition; psychosocial implications of child malnutrition on the patient, family and community and social work intervention (therapy and prevention). Literature was also compared with research findings when analysing data. The study revealed that mothers had limited knowledge on malnutrition as a condition, the signs and symptoms thereof; causes; prevention and treatment of child malnutrition. This lack of knowledge made mothers to have wrong perceptions about child malnutrition. It was revealed that mothers did not perceive malnutrition as a serious problem that can result in admission for treatment in a hospital, they expected a different diagnosis. They perceive malnutrition as a secondary diagnosis. The majority of mothers had a Setswana diagnosis for their children’s condition. Mothers perceived the signs and symptoms of malnutrition as those of Thibamo, Phogwana (fontanel), or Ntsana. They interpret malnutrition as a Setswana ailment that can be treated traditionally. Factors that were identified to be contributing to malnutrition among children at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital in Serowe were found to be; lack of knowledge about malnutrition, wrong perceptions of malnutrition by mothers, illiteracy and unemployment, and cultural factors like taking a child to a traditional healer instead of a medical health facility. The study shows that mothers’ social functioning is disrupted by their children’s illness and hospitalization and thus a need for support from the hospital multi-disciplinary team, especially the social worker who is a trained counselor. The social worker should provide ongoing supportive counseling during the process of the child’s illness. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / Unrestricted

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die teoretiese doelstellings van die ondersoek behels die verkenning van sommige maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes, asook die aard van maatskaplikewerk-hulpverlening aan Dowes in Suid-Af rika. In die empiriese ondersoek word twee aspekte ondersoek, te wete: -Dowes se menings oor maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes; -Maatskaplike werkers in Dowesorg se menings oor maatskaplike behoef tes van Dowes en die praktyk van maatskaplikewerkhulpverlening aan Dowes. / The theoretical goals of the study include the investigation of some of the social needs of deaf people, as well as the nature of social work services to the Deaf in South Africa. The empirical research focuses on the following two aspects: -Deaf people's opinions about their social needs; -Social workers in Deaf care's opinions about the social needs of deaf people and the practice of social work services to the Deaf. / Social Work / D. Diac. (Social Work)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die teoretiese doelstellings van die ondersoek behels die verkenning van sommige maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes, asook die aard van maatskaplikewerk-hulpverlening aan Dowes in Suid-Af rika. In die empiriese ondersoek word twee aspekte ondersoek, te wete: -Dowes se menings oor maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes; -Maatskaplike werkers in Dowesorg se menings oor maatskaplike behoef tes van Dowes en die praktyk van maatskaplikewerkhulpverlening aan Dowes. / The theoretical goals of the study include the investigation of some of the social needs of deaf people, as well as the nature of social work services to the Deaf in South Africa. The empirical research focuses on the following two aspects: -Deaf people's opinions about their social needs; -Social workers in Deaf care's opinions about the social needs of deaf people and the practice of social work services to the Deaf. / Social Work / D. Diac. (Social Work)