The statistics of child sexual abuse is alarmingly high. Even though this is the case, further statistics prove that a great percentage of parents do not ever report the sexual abuse of their child. This study focuses on describing and exploring nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse to ultimately formulate a proposed protocol for the empowerment of non–offending parents to report the abuse. This proposed protocol can be used by health professionals to empower parents to report and will contribute to the intervention strategies in forensic investigations. As research methodology, the qualitative approach was utilized to investigate nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse and to explore and describe a protocol of guidelines to empower nonoffending parents to report child sexual abuse. The case study method was used as a research strategy to accomplish these aims. Ten interviews and a focus group were conducted during which an interview schedule focussing on the parents' reactions, perceived support, and experiences of reporting was employed. The schedule was presented based on the following themes: Theme 1: Finding out about the sexual abuse Theme 2: Reactions of the parents Theme 3: Support Theme 4: Reporting the child's sexual abuse Theme 5: Parents' experiences of the reporting process Theme 6: Suggestions to make the reporting process easier Subthemes, as elicited by these themes, were explored and described in order to contribute towards the formulation of an appropriate protocol that would empower parents to report child sexual abuse. It became clear that parents experience a vast array of emotions upon finding out or having suspicions of their child's sexual abuse. The parents who participated in this study indicated the need for support on different levels– it was proposed that more support might subsequently increase reporting rates. The parents involved in this study were in agreement that the reporting process is extremely taxing and, based on this, various aspects that could help make the reporting of child sexual abuse easier for parents were explored. Further recommendations to empower parents to report child sexual abuse were also made. The data from the interviews was analyzed and a protocol to empower non–offending parents to report child sexual abuse was formulated. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The statistics of child sexual abuse is alarmingly high. Even though this is the case, further statistics prove that a great percentage of parents do not ever report the sexual abuse of their child. This study focuses on describing and exploring nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse to ultimately formulate a proposed protocol for the empowerment of non–offending parents to report the abuse. This proposed protocol can be used by health professionals to empower parents to report and will contribute to the intervention strategies in forensic investigations. As research methodology, the qualitative approach was utilized to investigate nonoffending parents' experiences regarding suspicions of or disclosure of their child’s sexual abuse and to explore and describe a protocol of guidelines to empower nonoffending parents to report child sexual abuse. The case study method was used as a research strategy to accomplish these aims. Ten interviews and a focus group were conducted during which an interview schedule focussing on the parents' reactions, perceived support, and experiences of reporting was employed. The schedule was presented based on the following themes: Theme 1: Finding out about the sexual abuse Theme 2: Reactions of the parents Theme 3: Support Theme 4: Reporting the child's sexual abuse Theme 5: Parents' experiences of the reporting process Theme 6: Suggestions to make the reporting process easier Subthemes, as elicited by these themes, were explored and described in order to contribute towards the formulation of an appropriate protocol that would empower parents to report child sexual abuse. It became clear that parents experience a vast array of emotions upon finding out or having suspicions of their child's sexual abuse. The parents who participated in this study indicated the need for support on different levels– it was proposed that more support might subsequently increase reporting rates. The parents involved in this study were in agreement that the reporting process is extremely taxing and, based on this, various aspects that could help make the reporting of child sexual abuse easier for parents were explored. Further recommendations to empower parents to report child sexual abuse were also made. The data from the interviews was analyzed and a protocol to empower non–offending parents to report child sexual abuse was formulated. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Please read the abstract in the section, "back" (on p277), of this document / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Humanities Education / MEd / Unrestricted

Support services are indispensable for the effective functioning of education. Support services render specific, specialized services to the school (the site of instruction), teachers (trainers) and pupils (learners) and constitute part of the system of both formal and non-formal education. Although contributions by South African authors such as Ruperti, Van Schalkwyk and Lazarus and Donald provide valuable information, there is at present a need for a model for support services to provide in the changing needs of the target group. In this research the various theories with regard to support services as a component of the education system and the mini-education system were discussed. Some brief examples of support services as they function in practice were also discussed. An analysis was made of the different viewpoints, a new perspective provided on support services, and possible organizational structures were discussed for purposes of the organization of support services within the education system. Subsequently attention was directed to the personal situation of the trainer. From the literature it was demonstrated that the trainer would benefit by the support services with regard to both his professional and academic equipment, the different relationships in which he finds himself, his personality profile and his personal circumstances. Attention was then focused on the various fields in which educational events and structures in the South African education system can make use of support services in order to function more optimally. From the literature the conclusion was reached that the educational events and structures can be supported with regard to the equipping task of the site of instruction, management tasks situated in the site of instruction and the physical facilities of the site of instruction. It was also indicated from the literature that the learner has a need with regard to his personal situation. Support needs in the case of the learner were discussed by way of handicaps of learners, disabilities of learners, the parental community in which the learner finds himself, and the extent of stress experienced by the learner. Interviews were conducted with focus groups in practice in order to determine whether the needs for support services as identified from the literature were valid needs. Following this research a model for support services in an education system was proposed by way of graphic representations supported by discussions. Attention was also given to a possible organizational structure according to which one could manage such support services. In conclusion, the research was summarized in brief. Certain findings were underlined in terms of the objectives and certain recommendations were made with regard to possiblities for further research emanating from the results of this project. / Proefskrif (PhD (Vergelykende Opvoedkunde))--PU vir CHO, 1997

The survival rate and life expectancy of infants with complex health needs have increased overthe last decades, and this increases the number of families who have to care for such infants at home. These families seek support in the community setting, and supporting them has a positive impact on the well-being of both the parents and the infant. In South Africa the needs of these parents are not known, and this fact makes it difficult to adequately support them in the community. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the needs of parents of infants with complex health needs in the community setting. Two objectives were set to reach the aim mentioned above: 1) to critically appraise and synthesise the best available evidence on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs and 2) to explore and describe parents’ emic perspective on their support needs as parents of infants with complex health needs in a South African context. A sequential mixed method approach was utilised in two phases, here discussed in five chapters. In an attempt to meet objective one, the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs were determined by means of an integrative literature review from studies obtained through computerised searches of several electronic databases, supplemented by checking reference lists and consultation with experts. This was followed by individual face-to-face interviews with the stated parents in three different settings. The latter addressed the second objective of the study, namely to provide an emic perspective on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs in a South African context. The integrative literature review described five main themes on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs: need for information, need for parent-to-parent support, need for professional support, need for self-confidence in the care of the infant and need for social support. All of these themes were confirmed in the South African context through the interviews with parents. However, South African parents added an additional theme: the need for normality. The final chapter offers an evaluation of the study and discusses study limitations and recommendations for nursing practice, education and research. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Support services are indispensable for the effective functioning of education. Support services render specific, specialized services to the school (the site of instruction), teachers (trainers) and pupils (learners) and constitute part of the system of both formal and non-formal education. Although contributions by South African authors such as Ruperti, Van Schalkwyk and Lazarus and Donald provide valuable information, there is at present a need for a model for support services to provide in the changing needs of the target group. In this research the various theories with regard to support services as a component of the education system and the mini-education system were discussed. Some brief examples of support services as they function in practice were also discussed. An analysis was made of the different viewpoints, a new perspective provided on support services, and possible organizational structures were discussed for purposes of the organization of support services within the education system. Subsequently attention was directed to the personal situation of the trainer. From the literature it was demonstrated that the trainer would benefit by the support services with regard to both his professional and academic equipment, the different relationships in which he finds himself, his personality profile and his personal circumstances. Attention was then focused on the various fields in which educational events and structures in the South African education system can make use of support services in order to function more optimally. From the literature the conclusion was reached that the educational events and structures can be supported with regard to the equipping task of the site of instruction, management tasks situated in the site of instruction and the physical facilities of the site of instruction. It was also indicated from the literature that the learner has a need with regard to his personal situation. Support needs in the case of the learner were discussed by way of handicaps of learners, disabilities of learners, the parental community in which the learner finds himself, and the extent of stress experienced by the learner. Interviews were conducted with focus groups in practice in order to determine whether the needs for support services as identified from the literature were valid needs. Following this research a model for support services in an education system was proposed by way of graphic representations supported by discussions. Attention was also given to a possible organizational structure according to which one could manage such support services. In conclusion, the research was summarized in brief. Certain findings were underlined in terms of the objectives and certain recommendations were made with regard to possiblities for further research emanating from the results of this project. / Proefskrif (PhD (Vergelykende Opvoedkunde))--PU vir CHO, 1997

The survival rate and life expectancy of infants with complex health needs have increased overthe last decades, and this increases the number of families who have to care for such infants at home. These families seek support in the community setting, and supporting them has a positive impact on the well-being of both the parents and the infant. In South Africa the needs of these parents are not known, and this fact makes it difficult to adequately support them in the community. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the needs of parents of infants with complex health needs in the community setting. Two objectives were set to reach the aim mentioned above: 1) to critically appraise and synthesise the best available evidence on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs and 2) to explore and describe parents’ emic perspective on their support needs as parents of infants with complex health needs in a South African context. A sequential mixed method approach was utilised in two phases, here discussed in five chapters. In an attempt to meet objective one, the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs were determined by means of an integrative literature review from studies obtained through computerised searches of several electronic databases, supplemented by checking reference lists and consultation with experts. This was followed by individual face-to-face interviews with the stated parents in three different settings. The latter addressed the second objective of the study, namely to provide an emic perspective on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs in a South African context. The integrative literature review described five main themes on the support needs of parents of infants with complex health needs: need for information, need for parent-to-parent support, need for professional support, need for self-confidence in the care of the infant and need for social support. All of these themes were confirmed in the South African context through the interviews with parents. However, South African parents added an additional theme: the need for normality. The final chapter offers an evaluation of the study and discusses study limitations and recommendations for nursing practice, education and research. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Cochlear implantation is a proven and accepted option for young children with profound hearing loss. Cochlear implantation requires a professional team which should inform, guide, support and collaborate with parents constantly throughout the process. Existing programs for children with hearing loss and their families are generally designed on the basis of what experts believe they should contain, rather than on what parents actually wish to receive, which may often lead to a mismatch between the professionals view and the parents’ views of parental needs. In order to ensure that parental needs are appropriately addressed it is imperative that professionals investigate and understand the individual needs and desires of the parents with whom they collaborate. This can be managed by carefully tailoring information to their individual needs and presenting information in an accessible format at the time it is most appropriate and digestible. The aim of this research study was to develop a pre-implantation tool to rate the individual support and information needs of parents of young cochlear implant candidates. Within the context of applied research, a qualitative descriptive intervention research design was used in the study. Ten parents of children with cochlear implants participated in a semi-structured interview to investigate their need for information and support during the pre-implantation phase of cochlear implantation. Their responses were analysed and compared to relevant literature in order to develop the pre-implantation rating tool for parents of cochlear implant candidates. The rating tool consists of ten areas for information and support. These areas are as follows: general, technical, surgery, social support, financial, communication options, education, outcomes, rehabilitation and parental role. Parents are able to rate which areas of information and support is important to them and what they would like to discuss with the professional involved. Parents are also encouraged to identify any area of information and support that is not included in the rating tool that they would want information on from the cochlear implant team. This rating tool was evaluated by eight speech-language pathologist/audiologist working in six cochlear implant programmes in South Africa to determine the value of the rating tool. Positive responses were given about the adaptability of the tool to identify individual needs for support and information and the tool would be useful to guide speech-language pathologist/audiologists to identify needs of parents that should initially be addressed. Respondents agreed that the rating tool provides an opportunity to express parent’s individual needs for information and support; that the tool correlates with a family centered approach and would be useful to include in cochlear implant programs. The majority of participants felt the rating tool possibly will be effective in identifying information and support needs of parents before cochlear implantation and respondents would be willing to implement the rating tool in their cochlear implant programme. The positive response from professionals working in the field of cochlear implantation validates the effectiveness of the rating tool. AFRIKAANS : Kogleêre inplantering is ‘n beproefde en aanvaarde opsie vir jong kinders met ‘n uitermatige gehoorverlies. Kogleêre inplanting vereis dat ‘n professionele span ouers deur die proses inlig, lei en ondersteun. Huidige programme vir kinders met gehoorverlies en hulle gesinne, is oor die algemeen gebaseer op grond van inligting wat volgens kundiges belangrik is om in te sluit. Hierdie programme is nie noodwendig gebaseer op inligting ouers graag wil ontvang nie. Dit kan lei tot ‘n verskil tussen die perspektief van professionele persone teenoor die van die ouer oor ouer- behoeftes aan inligting. Om te verseker dat ouers se behoeftes effektief aangespreek word, is dit noodsaaklik om dit te ondersoek en die individuele behoeftes van ouers te verstaan. Dit kan gedoen word deur inligting aan te pas volgens die individuele behoeftes van ouers en die inligting te verskaf in ‘n toeganklike wyse op ‘n gepaste tyd wanneer dit geskik is en die ouer die inligting kan prosesseer. Die doel van hierdie navorsing studie was om ‘n pre-inplantering instrument te ontwikkel om die individuele behoeftes aan inligting en ondersteuning van ouers van jong kogleêre inplantings kandidate te bepaal. Binne die konteks van toegepaste navorsing is ‘n kwalitatiewe beskrywings intervensie navorsingsontwerp gebruik. Tien ouers van kinders met kogleêre inplantings het deelgeneem aan ‘n semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud. Die onderhoud het ouers se behoefte aan inligting en ondersteuning tydens die pre-inplanterings fase van kogleêre inplantasie ondersoek. Die resultate is geanaliseer en vergelyk met relevante literatuur om sodoende die pre-inplantering bepaling instrument vir ouers van kogleêre kandidate te ontwerp. Die instrument bestaan uit tien areas van inligting en ondersteuning. Hierdie areas is as volg: algemeen, tegnies, chirurgie, sosiale ondersteuning, finansieel, kommunikasie opsies, onderrig, rehabilitasie en ouer rol. Ouers kan bepaal watter areas van inligting en ondersteuning vir hulle belangrik is en wat hulle graag wil bespreek met die professionele persone betrokke by die kogleêre inplanting proses. Ouers word ook aangemoedig om enige area van inligting en ondersteuning te identifiseer wat moontlik nie ingesluit is in die instrument nie, maar wat hulle graag met die kogleêre span wil bespreek. Agt spraak-taal patoloë/oudioloë van ses kogleêre inplantings programme in Suid-Afrika het die instrument geëvalueer om die waarde daarvan te bepaal. Positiewe insette is gegee oor die aanpasbaarheid van die instrument om die individuele behoeftes vir inligting en ondersteuning te bepaal; dat die instrument betekenisvol is om die spraak-taal patoloog/oudioloog te lei om die behoeftes van ouers te identifiseer en aan te spreek; dat die instrument ooreenstem met ‘n familie- gesentreede benadering en dat die instrument effektief ingesluit kan word in kogleêre inplantings programme. Die meeste deelnemers het aangedui dat die instrument effektief sal wees in die identifisering van inligting en ondersteunings behoeftes van ouers voor ‘n kogleêre inplanting. Deelnemers het aangedui dat hulle bereid sal wees om die instrument te implementeer in hulle kogleêre inplantingsprogram. Die positiewe respons van spraak-taal patoloë en oudioloë dui op die geldigheid en effektiwiteit van die instrument. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

The current mainstream classroom presents several challenges for teachers and principals. Leaner diversity is seen as one of these challenges that teachers face. The Education White Paper 6 (South-Africa, 1996) recognizes all learner diversities, yet gifted-education is given minimal attention. The purpose of this qualitative research is to create a clear picture about the perspectives of high-school teachers, principals and parents of academically-gifted learners. This study seeks to identify the participants’ views about the education of academically-gifted learners and identify possibly gaps in ways of how academically-gifted learners can be supported productively. The research found that there is currently a lack of adequate educational support to academically-gifted learners. Research shows that there is a gap between official educational policies and the classroom situation. Participants in the study admit that academically-gifted learners are not effectively included in the mainstream classroom. Participants believe that the lack of a national definition of academic-giftedness, the deficit to appropriate training for teachers and the views of inclusive education puts strain on the education of these learners. Secondary school teachers and principals believe that the successful implementation of a policy an appropriate education of academically-gifted learners can only be accomplished if there is cooperation between all interested parties. Participants believe that both the parent and the teachers of academically-gifted learners should work together to form a support network for these learners. The findings of the research confirm the need for appropriate productive education and training to academically-gifted learners, so that all stakeholders can work together to help those learners develop. / MEd (Comparative Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The current mainstream classroom presents several challenges for teachers and principals. Leaner diversity is seen as one of these challenges that teachers face. The Education White Paper 6 (South-Africa, 1996) recognizes all learner diversities, yet gifted-education is given minimal attention. The purpose of this qualitative research is to create a clear picture about the perspectives of high-school teachers, principals and parents of academically-gifted learners. This study seeks to identify the participants’ views about the education of academically-gifted learners and identify possibly gaps in ways of how academically-gifted learners can be supported productively. The research found that there is currently a lack of adequate educational support to academically-gifted learners. Research shows that there is a gap between official educational policies and the classroom situation. Participants in the study admit that academically-gifted learners are not effectively included in the mainstream classroom. Participants believe that the lack of a national definition of academic-giftedness, the deficit to appropriate training for teachers and the views of inclusive education puts strain on the education of these learners. Secondary school teachers and principals believe that the successful implementation of a policy an appropriate education of academically-gifted learners can only be accomplished if there is cooperation between all interested parties. Participants believe that both the parent and the teachers of academically-gifted learners should work together to form a support network for these learners. The findings of the research confirm the need for appropriate productive education and training to academically-gifted learners, so that all stakeholders can work together to help those learners develop. / MEd (Comparative Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014