Since the introduction of the deinstitutionalisation policy in 1997 in South Africa, many families have agreed or have felt forced to take full responsibility of the care of their mentally ill family members. This impacted the lives of families because they were not well prepared for caring for their mentally ill family members. As a result of this, families were burdened, mentally ill family members defaulted treatment and ultimately revolving door admissions occurred. In spite of these concerns, some families do seem to cope with supporting their mentally ill family members. This makes it vital to explore and describe the strengths of families who take care of mentally ill family members in Potchefstroom, in the North West Province in order to formulate guidelines to support these families. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was employed to understand what strengths families have to support their mentally ill family members. Purposive sampling was used to select potential participants. Unstructured individual interviews with an open-ended question were conducted with nine participants after ethical approval was granted under the RISE study (Strengthening the Resilience of Health Caregivers and Risk Groups), and the permission of the North-West Provincial Department of Health, the psychiatric hospital where the data was collected and the family members of the mentally ill family members were obtained. Data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A consensus meeting was held between the researcher and the co-coder after they had analysed data independently to identify themes that emerged from the data. Twelve themes emerged from the data namely the strengths of getting the necessary treatment for the mentally ill family member, utilizing external resources, spirituality or faith, social support, supervising the mentally ill family member, finding ways to calm the mentally ill family member, explaining the importance of treatment to the mentally ill family member, finding ways to keep the mentally ill family member busy, trying to keep the mentally ill family member away from negative outside influences, trying creative ways to communicate with or understand the mentally ill family member, giving the mentally ill family member praise for doing something good or right and accepting the situation. From the findings, it is clear that the families do have strengths to support their mentally ill family members, although they seem to rely more on external than on internal strengths. From the findings, literature and conclusions of this study, recommendations were made for nursing practice, nursing research and nursing education, including guidelines to support families in their support of a mentally ill family member. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

An estimated 33.0 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Of these, 15.5 million are women, and 2.2 million children under the age of 5 years who have mainly been infected through mother-to-child transmission. Mothers and babies are increasingly infected and about 90% of these are in sub-Saharan Africa. The same trend can be identified in South Africa, which has one of the highest incidences and prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS in the world with 5-6 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Women of childbearing age constitute 55% of all HIV positive adults and a quarter of pregnant women (28%) in South Africa are HIV positive. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is overburdening hospital systems and it will continue to grow within the context of already massively overstretched public resources. This increase also impacts on health services in the North West Province which are facing an alarming increase in mothers and babies living with HIV/AIDS. One of the strategies that are implemented to reduce maternal deaths is the Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme and massive roll out of Antiretrovirals during puerperium. One of the goals of the PMTCT programme is to prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS from mothers to babies and reduce child, perinatal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This strategy is integrated with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in care of mothers and babies living with HIV/AIDS during puerperium. Successful implementation of this programme requires social support and community involvement because of short hospitalization during the postnatal period. Caregivers are trained to perform various tasks and fulfil certain roles due to lack of human resources. Caregivers implementing the PMTCT programme experience problems which lead to stress and one of the causes of this stress manifests in feelings of inadequacy and isolation. They are faced with problems pertaining to mothers not adhering to treatment, and poverty is an additional source of stress as it negatively affects the quality of the PMTCT services they need to provide. This research was conducted in the Bojanala region, Rustenburg Sub-District of the North West Province in South Africa. A descriptive, exploratory, qualitative research design was utilized to explore and describe the lived experiences of caregivers while implementing the PMTCT programme as well as perceptions of health workers coordinating the PMTCT programme in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the support needed by caregivers during puerperium. Two populations were used. In population one, purposive sampling was used to select caregivers. In population two inclusive sampling was used to select health workers. In-depth interviews were conducted with both populations with the aim to collect data. From the research findings similarities were identified between the two populations regarding support, namely: (a) Caregivers need personal support in the form of counselling as well as support networks to enable them to deal with the problems they are faced with. (b) Caregivers need financial support to afford basic essentials and better remuneration to meet their financial needs. (c) Caregivers need to be trained in areas in which they lack knowledge -continued development and empowerment is essential. They also need to be trained specifically in PMTCT and they need a PMTCT consultant to always be available to support them. (d) Improvement of the PMTCT services by providing transport to follow up mothers, protective resources to protect themselves against infections as they are at risk of infections, water is essential as a basic human right, provision with food parcels to mothers who are poverty stricken and the PMTCT health services to be intensified from the antenatal period. (e) Management to establish a caring environment by displaying a caring attitude, respecting them and providing them with rewards to improve morale and performance. Recommendations were made for the fields of nursing education, nursing research and community health practice with recommendations to establish a structure of support for caregivers to enhance the PMTCT programme during puerperium. These recommendations were discussed under the five themes presented above. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

An estimated 33.0 million people are currently living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. Of these, 15.5 million are women, and 2.2 million children under the age of 5 years who have mainly been infected through mother-to-child transmission. Mothers and babies are increasingly infected and about 90% of these are in sub-Saharan Africa. The same trend can be identified in South Africa, which has one of the highest incidences and prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS in the world with 5-6 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Women of childbearing age constitute 55% of all HIV positive adults and a quarter of pregnant women (28%) in South Africa are HIV positive. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is overburdening hospital systems and it will continue to grow within the context of already massively overstretched public resources. This increase also impacts on health services in the North West Province which are facing an alarming increase in mothers and babies living with HIV/AIDS. One of the strategies that are implemented to reduce maternal deaths is the Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme and massive roll out of Antiretrovirals during puerperium. One of the goals of the PMTCT programme is to prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS from mothers to babies and reduce child, perinatal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This strategy is integrated with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in care of mothers and babies living with HIV/AIDS during puerperium. Successful implementation of this programme requires social support and community involvement because of short hospitalization during the postnatal period. Caregivers are trained to perform various tasks and fulfil certain roles due to lack of human resources. Caregivers implementing the PMTCT programme experience problems which lead to stress and one of the causes of this stress manifests in feelings of inadequacy and isolation. They are faced with problems pertaining to mothers not adhering to treatment, and poverty is an additional source of stress as it negatively affects the quality of the PMTCT services they need to provide. This research was conducted in the Bojanala region, Rustenburg Sub-District of the North West Province in South Africa. A descriptive, exploratory, qualitative research design was utilized to explore and describe the lived experiences of caregivers while implementing the PMTCT programme as well as perceptions of health workers coordinating the PMTCT programme in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the support needed by caregivers during puerperium. Two populations were used. In population one, purposive sampling was used to select caregivers. In population two inclusive sampling was used to select health workers. In-depth interviews were conducted with both populations with the aim to collect data. From the research findings similarities were identified between the two populations regarding support, namely: (a) Caregivers need personal support in the form of counselling as well as support networks to enable them to deal with the problems they are faced with. (b) Caregivers need financial support to afford basic essentials and better remuneration to meet their financial needs. (c) Caregivers need to be trained in areas in which they lack knowledge -continued development and empowerment is essential. They also need to be trained specifically in PMTCT and they need a PMTCT consultant to always be available to support them. (d) Improvement of the PMTCT services by providing transport to follow up mothers, protective resources to protect themselves against infections as they are at risk of infections, water is essential as a basic human right, provision with food parcels to mothers who are poverty stricken and the PMTCT health services to be intensified from the antenatal period. (e) Management to establish a caring environment by displaying a caring attitude, respecting them and providing them with rewards to improve morale and performance. Recommendations were made for the fields of nursing education, nursing research and community health practice with recommendations to establish a structure of support for caregivers to enhance the PMTCT programme during puerperium. These recommendations were discussed under the five themes presented above. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Bereavement and grief are life changing and universal experiences. People cope with loss of a loved one in many ways. For some the experience may lead to personal growth and for others it could lead to deterioration in their normal functioning. There is no right way of coping with death. The way a person grieves depends on the personality of that person and the relationship with the person that has died. Grief and loss occurs both at work and at home. However, these days, most people spend more of their time at the workplace than at home. Therefore when a colleague dies or one is grieving a death or a loss, the impact on his or her co-workers can be tremendous. The death of an employee can bring the workplace activity to a halt. Anyone who knew the person will experience some degree of shock and anxiety. However, how a person copes with grief is affected by the person’s cultural and religious background, coping skills, mental history, support systems and the person’s social and financial situation. The workplace could therefore be a significant support system that could help a person to cope with the loss. The manner in which grief and loss are managed in the workplace could determine if the employees’ experiences of this loss is dealt with either positively or negatively. The researcher, through consultations with employees at Umgeni Hospital, has learnt that the employees have within a short time period experienced the loss of several colleagues through traumatic events. Some employees are also struggling to cope with losses in their personal lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital. The objectives of this study were: <ul> <li> To conceptualize theoretically employee bereavement and its impact in the workplace as well as the support strategies for employees.</li> <li> To conduct an empirical investigation into the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital.</li> <li> To provide recommendations to the hospital management on the need for a bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital based on the information gained from this research.</li> </ul> A quantitative research approach was used to assist the researcher understand this need. Applied research focusses on problem solving in practice. In this study applied research was used as the findings of this exploratory study determined the recommendations to management on the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital. The data collection method was hand delivered questionnaires. The population for the study was 422 employees. However, systematic sampling was used to chose a sample of 70 employees. These questionnaires were pilot tested on 5 employees that did not form part of the actual study. The data was analysed using the SPSS statistical package, interpreted and displayed using table format and various graphical presentations. The goal of the study was to investigate the need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital. This goal was definitely achieved as the study determined not only that there is definitely a need for an employee bereavement support programme at Umgeni Hospital but also the exact or specific needs of the employees with regards to the programme itself. This study would therefore definitely add value to the hospital and its employees as it will assist hospital management in developing an appropriate bereavement support programme to assist their employees in the future. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of adolescents, who have been exposed to violence, regarding the role of social support in their academic achievement. A qualitative, collective, within-site case study design was applied to obtain baseline data. The data was gathered through consecutive in-depth individual interviews with two male and six female adolescent learners (between 15 and 17 years of age) in a secondary school in Gauteng. Collages were furthermore used to assist participants with expressing their perceptions on the role that social support played in their academic achievement, despite being exposed to violence in their communities. The study was mainly informed by Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems theory, but in order to better understand the adolescent as an individual who functions within the ecological systems theory, Erikson’s psycho-social development theory as well as the theory of social support were integrated to understand this complex period of development. Interview data were analysed thematically, whilst shared analysis were utilised to give meaning to the visual data presented in the collages. The results indicate that encouragement to achieve, the provision of care and support to deal with problems in a proactive manner and enabling relationships with significant others facilitated academic achievement despite exposure to violence. Furthermore, positive self-talk, self-discipline and coping behaviours were identified as self-supportive behaviour that was perceived as enabling adolescents to achieve academically. The study indicates that adolescents who achieve academically despite exposure to violence, perceive social support as playing a significant role in the facilitation of academic achievement in these contexts of adversity. It is therefore recommended that significant others in the lives of adolescents should be informed about the important role that their supportive interactions play in the adolescent’s ability to maintain academic achievement. Further research could explore the viability of social support interventions in assisting adolescent learners to achieve their full academic potential, despite exposure to violence. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Beginner principals in South Africa and internationally are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the demands set to them. Inadequate preparation and support are the causes that many beginner principals cannot meet the challenges. The beginner school principal has to cope with the diversity in schools, socio-economic differences, language and discipline problems as well as departmental issues. Too many learners in a class, over-aged learners still at school and a lack of resources are part of the challenges of the beginner school principal. This study focused on the type of support beginner principals require, their opinions regarding mentorship as supportive tool, and their views on the characteristics and qualities of an effective mentorship programme. As a result of the interviews, beginner school principals admit that an academic qualification is not enough to support them. Furthermore they also claim that the support from the Department of Basic Education is inadequate. An experienced or even a retired principal as mentor will address the demands and challenges in an on-going nature and will be more suited to support them. Therefore the main question will be: How will effective mentorship support beginner school principals? A qualitative research approach within an interpretivistic paradigm was followed during the investigation. By applying purposive sampling, ten principals from different cultural and racial background were identified as participants. Data was collected from principals by means of individual interviews and two observations per principal. The discourse analysis that followed indicated that beginner principals find areas such as management skills, legal issues, human relations, communication and departmental instructions, the most difficult areas to manage. What emerged and came to the fore was a need for a mentor to support them in specific areas. A mentorship programme, that focuses on these areas, with clear guidelines containing theoretical and practical components, was developed as a result of the research. / Thesis (MEd (Education Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of adolescents, who have been exposed to violence, regarding the role of social support in their academic achievement. A qualitative, collective, within-site case study design was applied to obtain baseline data. The data was gathered through consecutive in-depth individual interviews with two male and six female adolescent learners (between 15 and 17 years of age) in a secondary school in Gauteng. Collages were furthermore used to assist participants with expressing their perceptions on the role that social support played in their academic achievement, despite being exposed to violence in their communities. The study was mainly informed by Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological systems theory, but in order to better understand the adolescent as an individual who functions within the ecological systems theory, Erikson’s psycho-social development theory as well as the theory of social support were integrated to understand this complex period of development. Interview data were analysed thematically, whilst shared analysis were utilised to give meaning to the visual data presented in the collages. The results indicate that encouragement to achieve, the provision of care and support to deal with problems in a proactive manner and enabling relationships with significant others facilitated academic achievement despite exposure to violence. Furthermore, positive self-talk, self-discipline and coping behaviours were identified as self-supportive behaviour that was perceived as enabling adolescents to achieve academically. The study indicates that adolescents who achieve academically despite exposure to violence, perceive social support as playing a significant role in the facilitation of academic achievement in these contexts of adversity. It is therefore recommended that significant others in the lives of adolescents should be informed about the important role that their supportive interactions play in the adolescent’s ability to maintain academic achievement. Further research could explore the viability of social support interventions in assisting adolescent learners to achieve their full academic potential, despite exposure to violence. / MA (Research Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Beginner principals in South Africa and internationally are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the demands set to them. Inadequate preparation and support are the causes that many beginner principals cannot meet the challenges. The beginner school principal has to cope with the diversity in schools, socio-economic differences, language and discipline problems as well as departmental issues. Too many learners in a class, over-aged learners still at school and a lack of resources are part of the challenges of the beginner school principal. This study focused on the type of support beginner principals require, their opinions regarding mentorship as supportive tool, and their views on the characteristics and qualities of an effective mentorship programme. As a result of the interviews, beginner school principals admit that an academic qualification is not enough to support them. Furthermore they also claim that the support from the Department of Basic Education is inadequate. An experienced or even a retired principal as mentor will address the demands and challenges in an on-going nature and will be more suited to support them. Therefore the main question will be: How will effective mentorship support beginner school principals? A qualitative research approach within an interpretivistic paradigm was followed during the investigation. By applying purposive sampling, ten principals from different cultural and racial background were identified as participants. Data was collected from principals by means of individual interviews and two observations per principal. The discourse analysis that followed indicated that beginner principals find areas such as management skills, legal issues, human relations, communication and departmental instructions, the most difficult areas to manage. What emerged and came to the fore was a need for a mentor to support them in specific areas. A mentorship programme, that focuses on these areas, with clear guidelines containing theoretical and practical components, was developed as a result of the research. / Thesis (MEd (Education Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between job insecurity and the work-related outcomes of over-commitment and perceived performance of trainers and trainees (n = 700) at a South African gold mine?s training academy. A cross-sectional survey design was utilised to attain the outcomes of the research. The Qualitative and Quantitative Job insecurity scales of Hellgren, Sverke and Isaksson (1999), the Social support scales of Caplan, Cobb, French, Van Harrison and Pinneau (1975), the Over-commitment scale of Näswall, Baraldi, Richter, Hellgren and Sverke (2006) and a scale measuring Perceived performance (Hall & Hall, 1976) were administered. The results indicated significant relationships between job insecurity, over-commitment and perceived performance. The regression analysis confirmed that job insecurity (qualitative and quantitative), social support and their interaction predict over-commitment. Perceptions of performance were only predicted by social support. This study offers assistance to organisations that are going through adjustments and are striving for a healthy work organisation. In closing, recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Because of the HIV– and Aids pandemic, a paradigm shift is currently noticed in the traditional role expectation of educators. Except for didactical education, they are also confronted with professional and personal demands on a daily basis. These changes in professional and personal roles are often traumatic and sufficient coping skills as well as support, seems to be limited. The REds–program (resilient educators) was developed for this reason - to empower educators to cope more resiliently with these demands. This study was conducted in order to determine if this program is effective in the empowerment of educators. Two articles follow, from which the first one examines and explores the content, nature and extent of the program. The evaluation of the REds–program follows in the second article. Findings suggest that there were participants that were empowered in the long run and direct feedback from participants confirm that they found the program to be valuable on professional and personal areas. / Thesis (M.A. (MW.))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.