Thesis (MPH)--University of Limpopo,2011. / BACKGROUND In an era of HIV/AIDS many children are growing up without parents. In rural Hlabisa District, KwaZulu Natal the rate of orphanhood has increased with HIV prevalence rates. Orphanhood increases with age and peaks at the adolescent range of 15-18 years. 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This has led many to be in a vulnerable position and their very livelihood threatened. OBJECTIVES To determine the age-sex distribution of adolescent orphans to non-orphan adolescents and to compare their education level and drop-out from school; sexuality and pregnancy; socio-economic, employment and emigration; dependence on government grants and to determine the health of both groups especially their HIV status. METHODS A Cross-Sectional Data Analysis Design using data from a longitudinal surveillance system of Africa Centre Demographic Information System in Hlabisa was made available. Use of regression analysis was done to investigate the relative risk to pregnancy, drop-out of school, living in poorer households, migration and HIV infection of orphans relative to non-orphans in adolescents, aged 15-18 years. 15 RESULTS In 2006, the year of study, there were 8609 adolescents (aged 15-18 years) who constituted 22.87% of all children (0-18 years). The overall orphanhood prevalence was 10.37%. In the orphanhood group, the prevalence increased significantly with age peaking around 16 years. 45.24% were orphans in the group of study (15-18 years). Paternal orphans were highest, followed by dual and then maternal. Majority of all adolescents acquired Grade 9 education but there was a gradual drop in attaining higher education from Grade 10 to 12 with fewer orphans reaching matriculation to non-orphans (4.22% and 5.32% respectively). Majority of adolescents left school and did nothing (56.39% among orphans and 53.3% among non-orphans). Pregnancy accounted for a significant drop-out of school among adolescent females (12.71% non-orphans, 10.27% orphans). Adolescent orphans were more likely to have ever had sex while there was no statistical difference in the odds of ever being pregnant (female only) and fathering a child (male only). Orphans were poorer and out-migrated. Orphans had a higher prevalence of HIV infection and perceived their general health was poor. 4.53% of adolescent orphans were assessing government grants than non-orphans (1.16%). CONCLUSION Orphan adolescents lived in significantly different socio-economic circumstances than non-orphaned adolescents. The high percentage of adolescent orphans in the study group poses a significant public health problem. Being an orphan is associated with increased vulnerability to lack of support. Intervention programmes to improve the plight of orphans needs government and community commitment.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) / My thesis was designed to shed light on the numerous ways in which a small group of forty three orphaned Holocaust survivors adapted to their new lives in Australia, whilst keeping their preferred Jewish practices. I have attempted to explain the reasons for their choices in doing so. The majority abandoned their belief in the existence of God but felt obliged to keep, preserve and manifest a Jewish identity. This was achieved by celebrating some Jewish traditions. A few retained both belief in God and Jewish practices. All interviewees were born between 1927 and 1932. They originated from seven European countries and came from homes where the degree of Jewish observance varied. They survived the Holocaust whether incarcerated, in hiding or rescued by early Kindertransporte. The education and schooling of all the interviewees had been disrupted as a consequence of the Holocaust. A few continued their studies and completed tertiary education at university or technical college. The remainder embarked on acquiring various skills, which eventually assisted them in their occupation. My research demonstrates that the level of education or professional skills bear no correlation to the level of religiosity. The interviewees who came from acculturated backgrounds, continued with corresponding Jewish practices in their adult years. Belief in God had played no major role in the lives of their parents. However, practice of certain rituals had been integrated into their Jewish identity. Transporting these rhythms to Australia caused no difficulty for these interviewees in their post-war lives. A considerable transformation of Jewish rites and rituals occurred amongst the interviewees, who came from shtetls. Their previous unswerving belief in God had been challenged, so that it was either weakened or, in many cases, vanished. The adherence to Jewish traditions and laws had diminished. Many relinquished observation of the laws of kashrut. The Sabbath was no longer observed and revered as it had been in the pre-war years. The contrast of such entrenched Jewish traditions from shtetl lives to suburban life in Australia in the 1950s was too great. A significant difference emerged within the group of six interviewees, who kept their belief in God. Their backgrounds were Modern Orthodox. They came from larger towns or cities in three countries. Education had played a crucial part in their early life. Learning, in conjunction with adherence to religious traditions and laws had shaped their childhood and upbringing. The retention of faith and Orthodox traditions correlated with their love of learning. Modern Orthodox practices could be more easily maintained than the traditions followed in shtetls. All forty three interviewees kept their Jewish identity in one form or another. As Jewish identity can be explained in terms of religiosity, ethnicity, culture and nationalism, this continuity was possible. Survivors, who lost their belief in God, were able to continue with Jewish rituals, traditions and life cycle events as part of their ethnicity or culture. There is no doubt that for the large majority of the interviewees, the Holocaust affected their religious life. Losing their parents and siblings as a result of the Holocaust shattered their beliefs and resulted in an abandonment of their previously held beliefs and trust in God. As a consequence, changes occurred in their Jewish identity. They considered themselves as Jews, without adhering to any religious form. However, they were not prepared to relinquish all traces of Jewish identity. The memories of their lost families proved too treasured to allow them to abandon all Jewish ties. It is my conclusion that the rhythms of Jewish life constituted a defining factor in the re-building of their shattered lives after the Holocaust. They provided a framework which allowed and maintained the continuity of Jewish existence, their belief in God and Jewish rites and rituals. For those interviewees who abandoned their belief in God, Jewish rites and rituals served to provide identification with Jewish peoplehood and culture. However, many of the teenage survivors practised these rhythms and rituals in a secular/cultural manner, rather than emanating from a belief in God. These reactions reflect the complexity of Jewish identity in the modern and post modern world.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) / My thesis was designed to shed light on the numerous ways in which a small group of forty three orphaned Holocaust survivors adapted to their new lives in Australia, whilst keeping their preferred Jewish practices. I have attempted to explain the reasons for their choices in doing so. The majority abandoned their belief in the existence of God but felt obliged to keep, preserve and manifest a Jewish identity. This was achieved by celebrating some Jewish traditions. A few retained both belief in God and Jewish practices. All interviewees were born between 1927 and 1932. They originated from seven European countries and came from homes where the degree of Jewish observance varied. They survived the Holocaust whether incarcerated, in hiding or rescued by early Kindertransporte. The education and schooling of all the interviewees had been disrupted as a consequence of the Holocaust. A few continued their studies and completed tertiary education at university or technical college. The remainder embarked on acquiring various skills, which eventually assisted them in their occupation. My research demonstrates that the level of education or professional skills bear no correlation to the level of religiosity. The interviewees who came from acculturated backgrounds, continued with corresponding Jewish practices in their adult years. Belief in God had played no major role in the lives of their parents. However, practice of certain rituals had been integrated into their Jewish identity. Transporting these rhythms to Australia caused no difficulty for these interviewees in their post-war lives. A considerable transformation of Jewish rites and rituals occurred amongst the interviewees, who came from shtetls. Their previous unswerving belief in God had been challenged, so that it was either weakened or, in many cases, vanished. The adherence to Jewish traditions and laws had diminished. Many relinquished observation of the laws of kashrut. The Sabbath was no longer observed and revered as it had been in the pre-war years. The contrast of such entrenched Jewish traditions from shtetl lives to suburban life in Australia in the 1950s was too great. A significant difference emerged within the group of six interviewees, who kept their belief in God. Their backgrounds were Modern Orthodox. They came from larger towns or cities in three countries. Education had played a crucial part in their early life. Learning, in conjunction with adherence to religious traditions and laws had shaped their childhood and upbringing. The retention of faith and Orthodox traditions correlated with their love of learning. Modern Orthodox practices could be more easily maintained than the traditions followed in shtetls. All forty three interviewees kept their Jewish identity in one form or another. As Jewish identity can be explained in terms of religiosity, ethnicity, culture and nationalism, this continuity was possible. Survivors, who lost their belief in God, were able to continue with Jewish rituals, traditions and life cycle events as part of their ethnicity or culture. There is no doubt that for the large majority of the interviewees, the Holocaust affected their religious life. Losing their parents and siblings as a result of the Holocaust shattered their beliefs and resulted in an abandonment of their previously held beliefs and trust in God. As a consequence, changes occurred in their Jewish identity. They considered themselves as Jews, without adhering to any religious form. However, they were not prepared to relinquish all traces of Jewish identity. The memories of their lost families proved too treasured to allow them to abandon all Jewish ties. It is my conclusion that the rhythms of Jewish life constituted a defining factor in the re-building of their shattered lives after the Holocaust. They provided a framework which allowed and maintained the continuity of Jewish existence, their belief in God and Jewish rites and rituals. For those interviewees who abandoned their belief in God, Jewish rites and rituals served to provide identification with Jewish peoplehood and culture. However, many of the teenage survivors practised these rhythms and rituals in a secular/cultural manner, rather than emanating from a belief in God. These reactions reflect the complexity of Jewish identity in the modern and post modern world.

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Masters in Social Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, 2017. / Parental loss has a devastating effect on the lives of the orphaned children as it brings about many changes and difficulties in different areas of a child’s life. The children face difficulties educationally, socially, financially and psychologically when they experience such loss. The impact of parental loss can be traced to many conducts or behavioural problems that children manifest later in life. The essence of the study was to explore the after-math that orphaned children face once the parents are deceased and what impact it has had on them in their continuation of life within the boundaries mentioned above (educationally, socially, financially, and psychologically). The significance of the study was to provide an improved understanding of the current state of the orphaned children in their new places of care post parental loss given the assistance that they receive from the government (monetary grants) and civil society including international donors to mend their situation. The researcher’s focus was on uncovering the re-arrangement of the orphan’s lifestyle holistically after a parental loss and how it has negatively affected them. To attain the research aim, a qualitative research method was employed and an exploratory research design was followed. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data having an interview schedule as a guide for question flow and for the purposes of employing neutral probing should the need arise. 10 participants, five females and five males were purposively selected to participate in the study. The participants were orphaned children who receive support from a local Community Based Organization (CBO) called Thembalethu, which is located in Thalaneni area. The data analysis of the study discovered that orphaned children do face different distresses after the death of their parents and effects are deeper. Educationally the children have been affected as they have had to relocate to the new places of care, leaving the schools they attended and adapt to the new school coupled with the loss that has been experienced. This has yielded in orphaned children’s poor academic performance in school. Socially the children have taken a strain as it was reported that the decision of who assumes care for them never lies with them and they end up in the care of a person whom they rarely knew. As many orphaned children are recipients of the social assistance in the form of foster care grant and child support grant, the decision about the use of their grant money has also lied with their caregivers and v ultimately benefited other people who are in the household due to the overwhelming number of people that need to be cared for. Psychosocial support has been seen to be the greatest need by the orphaned children as it was reported that they face psychosocial distresses due to not receiving thorough counselling regarding the loss that they have experienced. Other children have been compelled to move on with life without grieving properly for their parents and they have suffered the effects of lack of bereavement support. Upon the realization of these challenges, the researcher, therefore, recommended that close supervision of the cases of foster care be implemented by social service practitioners in the government and non-governmental sector in order to follow-up and make progress with placements and be kept abreast of these challenges. Parenting skills are also seen to be needed by the relatives that assume care for the orphaned children so as to improve the standard of living amongst the orphaned children and the new caregiver.

The AIDS pandemic has affected the lives of millions worldwide and has a particular devastating impact in Sub-Saharan Africa. Much is known about the effects of AIDS on children and on young adults but little attention is given to the plight of grandparents. This study focused on an increasing phenomenon in the black South African family and the increase of families headed by aged individuals who are often reliant on pension payouts for their livelihood. Against this background, this research explored the challenges facing a sample of ten black South African grandmothers between the ages of sixty-four and seventy-eight, living in Katlehong, west of Ekurhuleni in the outskirts of Johannesburg. These participants attended a granny-support group at Khanya Family Centre, a non-governmental organization. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted. The study focused exclusively on the participants’ challenges to cope, and their social support needs as caregivers. The findings of this study showed that elderly women caring for AIDS orphaned grandchildren faced substantial obstacles in meeting their caregiving responsibilities. Some of the challenges faced by these grandmothers as caregivers included lack of psychological support, emotional support and socio-economic support. They also experienced stressful lives, compounded by age-related ailments and conditions. Coping with the challenges of caring for the AIDS orphaned grandchildren as well as their own problems negatively impacted on their psychological, emotional and physiological well-being.

Submitted in fulfillment of a degree of requirement of a degree of Masters in Community Work In the Department of Social Work in the Faculty of Arts At the University of Zululand Supervisor: Prof N.H. Ntombela Co-Supervisor: Dr J.D. Adams Date of Submission: November 2014 / The essence of the study was on the experiences of orphaned learners at school. These experiences were limited to the psychosocial support being provided by educators and their peers to the orphaned learners during their time at school. Bearing in mind the level of stress these orphaned learners go through after the loss of their biological parents, the purpose of the study was hence to explore how orphancy was being supported psychosocially and the extent to which these support contributes to their learning and continuation of schooling. The researcher objective was to understand how orphaned learners perceive themselves through the psychosocial support they receive from their peers and educators. The significance of this study was to provide an account of how orphanhood should be catered during their schooling. To attain the research objective, a qualitative research design was used to explore the experience of the orphaned learners consequently an exploratory study. Semi-structured interviews were used as an instrument for data collection and seven participants were purposively selected due to their rarity. These participants were within high schools from the Eskhaleni Township. These participants were double orphans because they had lost both parents prior to study and residing with extended families and others reside in child-headed homes. The analysis of the data revealed that orphaned learner do experience support from their peers and educators while at school. Within the boundaries of psychosocial support the findings showed that these learners received social support from both educator and peers. Social support was in the form of motivational talk, empathized and sympathized concerns were expressed from their peers and educators. Peculiar to peers were the social attention they received during school hours most especially when their countenance were perceived to be moody. Whilst most educators only reacted in the provision of social support after realizing that the participants were not performing well at school. Unlike social support, the participants revealed that they did not receive any form of psychological support from neither peers nor educators. Out of the scope of the study the participants nonetheless acknowledged other forms of supports that they got from their peers and educators such as financial supports and were of much valuable and appreciative from their perspective. The researcher therefore recommended that township school should be provided with professional counselors at schools. Furthermore the South African School Act, Children’s Right and School based policies should be amended in considerations of orphaned leaners necessities. / University of Zululand Research Fund,

Introdução: A qualidade de vida de crianças órfãs por aids pode sofrer um impacto negativo no desenvolvimento e crescimento físico. Objetivo: Estimar a força muscular de membros inferiores de crianças órfãs por aids, segundo características sociodemográficas, condições clínicas, atividade física e crescimento corporal. Material e métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 171 crianças órfãs por aids no município de São Paulo. A variável dependente foi a força muscular, avaliada por meio do teste salto horizontal. As variáveis independentes foram os aspectos sociodemográficos, condições clínicas, atividade física habitual, brincadeiras no lazer, estágio maturacional, estado nutricional e composições corporais. Na análise estatística, foi utilizado o teste “t"de Student e análise de variância ANOVA. Resultados: Crianças órfãs por aids apresentaram menor força muscular em relação a outras crianças brasileiras. Meninos tiveram melhores resultados no teste de força. Crianças cuidadas por um dos pais saltaram mais. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos para crianças mais velhas e de maior grau de escolaridade. Maior gordura corporal influenciou negativamente o salto horizontal. Crianças com maior circunferência de panturrilha saltaram mais. Conclusão: Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de atenção à saúde das crianças órfãs por aids. / Background: The quality of life of children orphaned by AIDS may suffer a negative impact on their development and growth. Objective: To estimate the muscular strength of low limb in children orphaned by AIDS according to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, physical activity, and body growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 children orphaned by AIDS in the city of São Paulo. The dependent variable was muscular strength, measured by long jump. The independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, habitual physical activity, playing during free time, maturation stage, nutrition state, and body composition. The analyses included Student’s t-Test and ANOVA. Results: Children orphaned by AIDS showed less muscular strength when compared to Brazilian children. Boys had better results in the test of strength. Higher jump was observed among children taken care of by a parent, older children and children with a higher educational level. Higher body fat affected negatively the long jump. Children with higher calf circumference performed long jump better. Conclusion: The results highlight the need of addressing attention to the healthcare of children orphaned by AIDS.

Introdução: A qualidade de vida de crianças órfãs por aids pode sofrer um impacto negativo no desenvolvimento e crescimento físico. Objetivo: Estimar a força muscular de membros inferiores de crianças órfãs por aids, segundo características sociodemográficas, condições clínicas, atividade física e crescimento corporal. Material e métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 171 crianças órfãs por aids no município de São Paulo. A variável dependente foi a força muscular, avaliada por meio do teste salto horizontal. As variáveis independentes foram os aspectos sociodemográficos, condições clínicas, atividade física habitual, brincadeiras no lazer, estágio maturacional, estado nutricional e composições corporais. Na análise estatística, foi utilizado o teste “t”de Student e análise de variância ANOVA. Resultados: Crianças órfãs por aids apresentaram menor força muscular em relação a outras crianças brasileiras. Meninos tiveram melhores resultados no teste de força. Crianças cuidadas por um dos pais saltaram mais. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos para crianças mais velhas e de maior grau de escolaridade. Maior gordura corporal influenciou negativamente o salto horizontal. Crianças com maior circunferência de panturrilha saltaram mais. Conclusão: Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de atenção à saúde das crianças órfãs por aids. / Background: The quality of life of children orphaned by AIDS may suffer a negative impact on their development and growth. Objective: To estimate the muscular strength of low limb in children orphaned by AIDS according to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, physical activity, and body growth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 171 children orphaned by AIDS in the city of São Paulo. The dependent variable was muscular strength, measured by long jump. The independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, habitual physical activity, playing during free time, maturation stage, nutrition state, and body composition. The analyses included Student’s t-Test and ANOVA. Results: Children orphaned by AIDS showed less muscular strength when compared to Brazilian children. Boys had better results in the test of strength. Higher jump was observed among children taken care of by a parent, older children and children with a higher educational level. Higher body fat affected negatively the long jump. Children with higher calf circumference performed long jump better. Conclusion: The results highlight the need of addressing attention to the healthcare of children orphaned by AIDS.

The context of working and living in a care institution is accepted as challenging for all concerned, yet there is a dearth of studies into the stress experiences of caregivers. This study investigated caregivers’ stress and coping in an institution where care was provided to children affected by HIV and AIDS. The study was informed by a qualitative and case study design within an interpretivist paradigm. In addition, it was guided by a theoretical framework derived from Folkman and Lazarus’ (1984) transactional model of stress and coping. A focus group discussion and individual interviews were utilised to gather data, and to clarify and probe responses on caregivers’ experiences of stress. Thematic analysis of the data yielded the most significant themes and subthemes from caregivers’ subjective experiences and perceptions of the stress that they experienced in their daily work situation. The results of the study indicate that caregivers’ stress experiences need to be addressed if caregiving is to be provided effectively. This will require not only training and management support for caregivers in institutional context (e.g., to deal with challenges such as appropriate discipline for the children under care), but also personal support and counselling for caregivers in order to enable them to assess the signs of burnout and cope with stress effectively. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

There are many approaches taken by teachers in order to effectively teach students the information they will need to be successful. One of these approaches is that of brain-based instruction. No one single definition is the same as another when it comes to brain-based teaching and learning. Definitions may include incorporating music and movement into lessons, using techniques to reach both hemispheres of the brain, and differentiating instruction to teach to the needs of the individual students. This study takes a closer look at the perspective of teachers when it comes to what brain-based instruction strategies are. Teachers were given a survey to voice their opinions about brain-based instruction and how they incorporate it into their classrooms. This study gathered information about how teachers perceive and understand brain-based instruction. The use of brain-based instruction is quickly becoming vital to the education field. Understanding more about it will help teachers effectively teach students.