<p>This was a descriptive qualitative study. Eight people living with HIV, four of which had disclosed their status, were individually interviewed. Two focus group discussions (each comprising 6 participants) were also conducted with health workers. The study was based at an urban TB hospital which is currently providing a range of HIV-related services including HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing, case management and treatment.</p>

Language impairment affects the ability to communicate. Children with languageimpairment have difficulties in using language in interaction to various degrees, and the contributions of the conversational partner are of great importance. The use of languagein interaction can be analysed by means of conversation analysis. The purpose of thepresent study was to study interaction of a group of pre-school children with language impairment with four different conversational partners. These were a peer with languag eimpairment, a peer with typical language development, a pre-school teacher and a parent. This study also intended to analyze the conversations in terms of similarities and differences between the participation frameworks. In all, 12 conversations were analyzedby using conversation analysis. A number of phenomena of interest were identified. The frequency of occurence of some of these phenomena was calculated to complement the qualitative analysis. The results show a number of phenomena occurring where mutualunderstanding is present and when it is limited. These phenomena are sequencing in theform of initiative-response and question-answer, back-channelling, development of conversational topic, breakdown, non-sequencing, topic drift, repair, clarification requestand confirmation. The results also demonstrate differences in the conversations betweenthe participation frameworks with reference to the frequency and the distinction of thephenomena. The greatest differences are found between child-child and adult-childconversations. The pre-school teacher and the parents ask more questions and use more clarification requests and confirmations than the children with language impairment. The development of conversational topics is more distinct in child-adult conversations. The development of conversational topics also occurs to some extent in conversations between two children with language impaiment. In conversations between a child withlanguage impairment and a child with typical language development this phenomenon isgenerally indistinct. Utterances lacking topical coherence in relation to each other areonly distinctly occuring in conversations between two children with language impairment. The pre-school teacher and the parents all perform more distinct other repairsthan the children with language impairment. / En språkstörning påverkar den kommunikativa förmågan. Barn med språkstörning harolika grad av svårighet i språklig interaktion med andra människor och samtalspartnern spelar en betydande roll. Samtalsanalys är ett sätt att analysera den faktiskaspråkanvändningen. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att studera interaktion hos engrupp förskolebarn med språkstörning i fyra olika deltagarstrukturer. De olika deltagarstrukturerna var samtal med ett annat barn med språkstörning, ett barn medtypisk språkutveckling, en person ur förskolepersonalen samt en förälder. Vidare syftade studien till att analysera likheter och skillnader i samtalen mellan de olika deltagarstrukturerna. Totalt analyserades 12 samtal med samtalsanalys, conversationanalysis (CA). Under analysen valdes ett antal fenomen ut och kompletterandeberäkningar gjordes på några av de utvalda fenomenen i samtalen. Resultatet visar att detfinns ett antal fenomen som belyser samförståelse och begränsad samförståelse i samtalen. Dessa fenomen utgörs av sekvensering i form av initiativ-respons och frågasvar, återkoppling, utvecklande av samtalsämne, sammanbrott, icke-relevant svar, yttrande som inte ämnesmässigt koherent i förhållande till föregående yttrande, ämnesglidning, reparation, begäran om förtydligande samt bekräftande av föregående yttrande. I resultatet framkommer skillnader i samtalen mellan de olika deltagarstrukturerna med avseende på hur ofta dessa fenomen förekommer och hur tydliga de är. De största skillnaderna återfinns mellan barn-barn- och barnvuxensamtalen. Personalen och föräldrarna ställer fler frågor samt begär förtydligande och bekräftar föregående yttrande i större utsträckning än barnen med språkstörning. Utvecklande av samtalsämne är tydligast i barn-vuxensamtalen. Utvecklande av samtalsämne förekommer också i viss utsträckning i deltagarstrukturen barn med språkstörning-barn med språkstörning. I deltagarstrukturen barn med språkstörning-barn med typisk språkutveckling är detta fenomen generellt otydligt. Yttranden som saknar ämnesmässig koherens i förhållande till varandra är endast tydligt förekommande ideltagarstrukturen barn med språkstörning-barn med språkstörning. Personalen och föräldrarna utför tydligare annan reparationer än barnen med språkstörning.

<p>Disclosure of HIV positive status to male partners is well established as a key element in the success of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV programmes, as it helps improve adherence to ARVs by the women within these programme. However, partner notification rates remain low in the urban areas of Lusaka, Zambia against a high HIV prevalence of 25%. The purpose of this study was to explore the timing of disclosure as part of the process of disclosure amongst women who were part of the PMTCT services at Kaulu health centre in Lusaka. An exploratory descriptive study using qualitative research methods was conducted. 15 women, who were attending the Kaulu health centre PMTCT programme, were requested to participate in a semi-structured interview. The women, who were purposively selected with the aid of the health centre‟s PMTCT focal point nurse, had to have disclosed their HIV positive status to their partner, either before or during the course of their pregnancy or after delivery. To increase rigour,&nbsp / individual interviews were conducted with 5 health workers associated with the PMTCT programme so as to obtain their perspective and experiences on the issue of HIV disclosure amongst their PMTCT patients. Participation in the study was voluntary and all information obtained during the course of the interviews remained confidential and secure. Potential participants were each provided with an explanation of the purpose and process of the study and their informed written consent obtained before the researcher embarked on the interviews. Content analysis of the transcripts was done so as to develop coding categories and identify emerging themes. Disclosure to male partners is an important step in PMTCT and facilitates adherence to HIV care for the family and should be done as early as possible after the woman receives her HIV test result, though there exists a range of alternative times when it can be done. The relationship existing between a couple is very important in determining the timing of when a woman chooses to disclose. PMTCT services need to provide ongoing counselling for HIV positive women during pregnancy and after giving birth that supports, informs and equips them with the necessary skills to make an informed and timely decision about disclosure to a partner. In addition, the PMTCT service providers need to be encouraged to implement couple counselling as a strategy to facilitate disclosure as well as establishment of a peer support network for HIV positive pregnant women. The study findings will be used to contribute to health workers‟ capacity to support women manage the disclosure process to their male partners, thus helping to increase the disclosure rate and also contributing to improving the positive effect of the PMTCT services, in Lusaka, Zambia</p>

There are several participants in the renewable energy sector, each one having their own perspective, according to their interests. One renewable source of energy is wind. Development of wind energy projects is complex and implies the conjunction of several endeavors that are hard to be undertaken by only one organization. The complexity of wind energy projects demands the interaction among actors, that is, the creation of partnerships.   The purpose of this study is to question the nature of partnerships as a response to strategic decisions for the implementation of wind energy projects and to provide arguments to state that partnerships are indeed strategic. By making a comparison of the different roles of the actors involved in the sector and having a theoretical support created by a literature review of the subject, authors’ arguments are based on the analysis of six different perspectives from those actors in the wind energy arena: Utilities company, wind energy projects developers, government, financial institutions, international organization and consultants. A qualitative approach guided the identification of the role of these wind energy participants as their perspective in the sector. Perspective cases were formed through interviews made to representatives of different actors and through secondary data. Having an empirical approach, some wind energy projects and their involved partnerships were identified and analyzed. In addition, by analyzing the critical success factors of partnerships that influence crucial aspects for implementation of wind energy projects, it was confirmed that good partnerships are based on trust and their success is the result of establishing clear objectives and defining the roles and responsibilities of each partner. Besides, considerations regarding control management of partnership deployment among actors of the energy sector are suggested. Latterly, it was uncovered that organizations sometimes do not recognize their relationships as partnerships, due to the bare understanding of the scope of partnership concept. In practice, partnership is conceived as a long-term relationship, while relationships for a limited time are commonly identified as contracts. However, it was concluded that in any case a partnership is developed, as partners gather their own expertise to achieve common goals.     This research is meant to be a reference for decision-making individuals or project managers that need to evaluate ways to implement strategies. Also this study is conceived for those that need to decide if it is worthy to establish a partnership and its considerations, as a response to strategic decisions.

The decision of romantic partners to share or keep a secret involves each partner’s perception of the other’s trustworthiness. Indeed, trust may influence how romantic partners enact secrecy in their relationship. This study investigated the willingness of individuals to keep secrets from their partner, the number of secrets that people keep from their partner, individuals’ reports of their reasons for discussing their expectations regarding secrets, and the association between each of these characteristics and partners’ trust. First, the literature regarding secrecy and people’s willingness to keep secrets from a relational partner is investigated. People’s willingness to keep secrets from a relational partner should differ based on their trust in the partner. Secret holders are more likely to disclose to a confidant when they perceive that confidant to be trustworthy (Kelly & McKillop, 1996) and, conversely may not disclose to a confidant who lacks trustworthiness (Wheeless & Grotz, 1977). In light of these findings, it was expected that individuals’ willingness to keep secrets would be negatively related to the degree to which they trusted their partner. In a similar vein, the association between trust and the frequency of discussing expectations regarding secrecy was explored. The literature suggests two possibilities for the association between trust and the frequency of discussing expectations regarding secrecy. The first is that individuals who trust their partner enough may decide to discuss how secrets should be managed, because dyadic trust is associated with increased intimacy of disclosure (Larzelere & Huston, 1980). The second possibility is that people may choose to discuss their expectations of how they should manage secrets, not because of trust, but because a lack of trustworthiness. Research questions explored the associations between the frequency of discussing expectations regarding secrecy and partners’ willingness to keep secrets, the number of secrets they keep, and their trust. Finally, the reasons why individuals might or might not discuss their expectations regarding secrets with their partner, and what these discussions might consist of were explored. / text

No description available.

This study deals with problems of the unequally yoked marriage partners (a couple where one is a Christian and the other not). The practical theological model of Zerfass was followed by establishing a basis-, a meta- and a practice theory. The basis theoretical perspective shows that God forbade mixed marriages in the Old Testament due to the danger that His people could be lured into heathen practices. In the New Testament, Paul warns Christians not to many unbelievers. Unequally yoked marriages happened when one of the partners got converted after the marriage. Paul's advice to believers is that divorce is permissible, but the decision lies exclusively with the unbeliever. If the unbeliever wants to leave, the believer must let him/her go. Peter's advice to the believing wife is that she must submit to her unbelieving husband and not say a word, as he may be won over for Christ through her deferential behaviour. From the metatheoretical perspective, the literature consulted shows that religious commitment and homogamy have a positive effect on marriages. Believers in unequally yoked marriages revealed in the empirical study the problems they experience and how they cope. A relatively fulfilled marriage is possible. Pastors consulted in the empirical study want to help couples to accept each other and to learn to live with their differences. The pastors focused mostly on the believer's relationship with God. Guidelines for a possible model which pastors can follow in their pastoral guidance of the unequally yoked couple are given and focus primarily on the believing partner. Prayer and Scripture are fundamental in the pastoral guidance. / Thesis (M.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

<p>This was a descriptive qualitative study. Eight people living with HIV, four of which had disclosed their status, were individually interviewed. Two focus group discussions (each comprising 6 participants) were also conducted with health workers. The study was based at an urban TB hospital which is currently providing a range of HIV-related services including HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing, case management and treatment.</p>

<p>Disclosure of HIV positive status to male partners is well established as a key element in the success of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV programmes, as it helps improve adherence to ARVs by the women within these programme. However, partner notification rates remain low in the urban areas of Lusaka, Zambia against a high HIV prevalence of 25%. The purpose of this study was to explore the timing of disclosure as part of the process of disclosure amongst women who were part of the PMTCT services at Kaulu health centre in Lusaka. An exploratory descriptive study using qualitative research methods was conducted. 15 women, who were attending the Kaulu health centre PMTCT programme, were requested to participate in a semi-structured interview. The women, who were purposively selected with the aid of the health centre‟s PMTCT focal point nurse, had to have disclosed their HIV positive status to their partner, either before or during the course of their pregnancy or after delivery. To increase rigour,&nbsp / individual interviews were conducted with 5 health workers associated with the PMTCT programme so as to obtain their perspective and experiences on the issue of HIV disclosure amongst their PMTCT patients. Participation in the study was voluntary and all information obtained during the course of the interviews remained confidential and secure. Potential participants were each provided with an explanation of the purpose and process of the study and their informed written consent obtained before the researcher embarked on the interviews. Content analysis of the transcripts was done so as to develop coding categories and identify emerging themes. Disclosure to male partners is an important step in PMTCT and facilitates adherence to HIV care for the family and should be done as early as possible after the woman receives her HIV test result, though there exists a range of alternative times when it can be done. The relationship existing between a couple is very important in determining the timing of when a woman chooses to disclose. PMTCT services need to provide ongoing counselling for HIV positive women during pregnancy and after giving birth that supports, informs and equips them with the necessary skills to make an informed and timely decision about disclosure to a partner. In addition, the PMTCT service providers need to be encouraged to implement couple counselling as a strategy to facilitate disclosure as well as establishment of a peer support network for HIV positive pregnant women. The study findings will be used to contribute to health workers‟ capacity to support women manage the disclosure process to their male partners, thus helping to increase the disclosure rate and also contributing to improving the positive effect of the PMTCT services, in Lusaka, Zambia</p>

Advance Care Planning has been advocated for over 20 years as a way in which individuals who are no longer able to speak for themselves, may still convey their preferences regarding a wide of array of decisions, including medical care. Advance care planning may not be initiated by individuals for many reasons, and even when initiated, may not be specific enough to help guide decision making. Recent advance care planning models have utilized disease specific information to help guide end of life health care decision-making. Persons diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment face an increased possibility of developing dementia at some point in the future, but may retain decision making capability for a window of time, and thus the opportunity to participate in advance care planning. The advance care planning experiences of individuals with mild cognitive impairment have not been extensively studied. This study explored the advance care planning experiences of persons with mild cognitive impairment and their care partners' understanding and views of advance care planning, and if the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment affects the advance care planning practices of these two groups. A convenience sample of 10 individuals with mild cognitive impairment and their 10 care partners (n=20) were recruited and interviewed. Using a grounded theory qualitative analysis approach, four themes were identified (1) decreased awareness regarding advance care planning from individuals with mild cognitive impairment versus a heightened awareness for the care partners; 2) the preference for comfort care measures only; 3) preferences for future end of life healthcare decisions largely influenced by previous end of life experiences with family and friends; and 4) lack of discussion of end of life healthcare decisions related to dementia and/or artificial nutrition and hydration by physicians or other healthcare providers. In addition two latent themes emerged including from the care partners, the importance of the mild cognitive impairment support group and lawyers for advance care planning and from both care partners and the mild cognitive impairment participants, trying to maintain autonomy, to `hang on' to self were identified. Study implications include the need for structured advance care planning interventions with individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment to focus on common end of life scenarios, such as whether to use artificial nutrition and hydration, which will require future surrogate decision making.