Pregnancy and childbirth are important life experiences in a woman’s psychosocial and psychological development. For many women, vaginal birth is still considered an integral part of being a woman and becoming a mother. Furthermore, it is thought to promote maternal well-being through helping women to match their expectations to experiences. For these women, a failed natural birth can be a psychological, psychosocial, and existential challenge that can result in significant and far-reaching consequences for their psychological wellbeing. Research, especially recent research, on the experiences of women who most wanted to, but were unable to deliver their babies naturally is relatively rare. This is surprising given the potential implications of these experiences on a mother’s emotional well-being, as well as for her feelings towards her new baby. Nevertheless, literature on the topic presents a coherent perspective on the problem and indicates that these women experience difficulties in adapting to not being able to fulfill their dream of delivering their baby naturally. There is no existing research on the subjective experiences of South African women who delivered their babies by unplanned Caesarean section. This study therefore aimed to contribute to knowledge that may fill this gap to some extent. Through purposeful sampling, ten mothers who had wanted to deliver their babies naturally, but had not been able to for whatever reason, were selected as the study sample. Various aspects of their birth experiences were explored in indepth phenomenological interviews. This allowed the researcher to probe certain aspects offered by participants in order to understand and explore their contributions in as much depth as possible. A semi-structured, open-ended approach allowed for the exploration of relevant opinions, perceptions, feelings, and comments in relation to the women’s unplanned Caesarean experiences. The transcribed data was synthesized within a framework of phenomenological theory, where women’s experiences were analyzed and explored in an attempt to understand how participants made sense of their experiences. The different aspects of women’s experiences were explored in three substudies. The results are reported in three manuscripts/articles. Research suggests that post-partum adjustment difficulties are influenced by the potentially virulent stress reactions generated in response to a perceived birth trauma. The objective of the first article was to explore women’s labour and birthing accounts with specific regard to the subsequent stress responses experienced. The stress responses experienced by the women in this study both prior to, and during the Caesarean section were predominantly anxiety-based. This was distinguished from the post-partum period, where women described having experienced more depressive symptoms. Post-traumatic stress responses are associated with negative perceptions of the birth, self and infant. The experience of adverse emotional consequences during the post-partum period can undermine a woman’s ability to successfully adapt to her role as a mother, meet the needs of her infant, and cope with post-partum challenges. The second article highlighted the possible impact of women’s unexpected and potentially traumatic childbirth experiences on initial mother-infant bonding. The unplanned Caesarean sections left mothers feeling detached from the birthing process and disconnected from their infants. Passivity, initial separation, and delayed physical contact further compromised mother-infant interaction. Postpartum physical complications and emotional disturbances have important implications for a woman’s perceptions of herself as a mother and her ability to provide for her infant, her self-esteem, and feelings of relatedness with her baby. Adverse responses to a traumatic birth experience could therefore influence the establishment of a maternal role identity, the formation of balanced maternal attachment representations, the caregiving system, and ultimately initial motherinfant bonding. In the third article, women’s experiences were contextualized in relevant coping resources and strategies. The processes occurring during a traumatic birth experience, such as during an unplanned Caesarean section, could be influenced by perceived strengths when coping with the stress related to the incident. The mothers in this study described several factors and coping strategies that they perceived to have been effective in reducing the impact of their traumatic birth experiences. These included active coping strategies, problem-focused coping strategies, and emotion-focused coping strategies. Coping strategies could result in reassessment of the birth process, and be associated with a more positive, acceptable and memorable experience. This study contributes to nursing, midwifery and psychological literature, by adding to the professional understanding of the emotional consequences of surgical delivery on South African childbearing women. This exploration therefore has important implications for preventative measures, therapeutic intervention, and professional guidance. However, the restricted sample may limit the generalizability of results. Further investigation of the experiences of a larger, more biographically and culturally diverse population could be instrumental in the development of knowledge and understanding in this field of study. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Pain is a very common problem experienced by the general population and children in particular. It goes beyond personal suffering and affects all dimensions of the quality of life and general functioning of both adults and children, be it the physiological, psychological or financial aspects. Children may suffer from pain that may either be chronic or acute, depending on the diagnosis. Assessment of pain in children is equally important as that of adults, except that they lack the verbal fluency and cognitive development to communicate their pain. Children’s experience of pain is similar to that of adults. Pain assessment is a key aspect in the nursing management of children and delivery of care within the Primary Health Care (PHC) setting. Effective pain assessment is thus reliant on comprehensive assessment of the child and his or her pain. The aim of this research was to explore and describe practices and perceptions of professional nurses working in a PHC facility regarding pain assessment of children under five years in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality and to formulate recommendations for professional nurses in PHC facilities to facilitate pain assessment in PHC settings. A qualitative study design was used and data was collected with the use of focus groups. A purposive sampling was conducted to select participants who represent the target population. The sample used for the study included all the professional nurses working in PHC facilities registered with the South African Nursing Council and that have at least one year of experience. The practical training of the researcher to conduct an interview was done prior to the actual research. A pilot focus group was conducted and the interview schedule was finalised. Semi-structured focus groups were used to obtain data from the participants. The researcher conducted 6 focus group interviews attended by 32 professional nurses. Data was collected until data saturation was achieved. Trustworthiness was ensured in accordance with the principles of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Data was captured on a digital voice recorder and transcribed verbatim. Field notes were taken during each focus group. Data analysis was done by means of content analysis by the researcher and an independent co-coder. After consensus and saturation, three major themes emerged. Each theme was identified and divided into sub-themes and was consequently discussed together with the relevant data obtained from literature. The findings indicated that professional nurses perceive the assessment of pain in children under five years as a challenge. The combination of signs and symptoms to make decisions with pain assessment was identified as an area of concern. The participants further p erceived the history provided by the parent as important in the process of pain assessment. The conclusions drawn are that the professional nurses acknowledge that they don’t take sufficient notice of pain in children under five, which means that children with pain are neglected. Professional nurses maintain that there is a need for sufficient pain assessment and the need for guidelines and tools to assess pain in children under five, especially in the PHC setting. These professional nurses support the availability of guidelines to assist them to conduct effective and comprehensive pain assessment. The research report concluded with the researcher’s recommendations for nursing education, nursing research and nursing practice with specific formulation of guidelines for the facilitation of professional nurses to truly render effective and comprehensive pain assessment in PHC settings. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The research that was conducted focused on the perceptions of educators regarding co-operation with the play therapist in dealing with the child who has been multi-traumatized. The objective of the research was to determine the perceptions of educators regarding co-operation with the play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. In order to achieve this objective, information was gathered and a theoretical framework was drawn up through an extensive literature study and consultation with experts. An empirical study was conducted by making use of two separate focus groups. Empirical data was gathered through the use of focus group discussions. Fourteen respondents where included in this study. Applied research was used. The data gathered through the empirical study was used by the researcher to make recommendations regarding the co-operation between educators and play therapists in order to improve the therapeutic insets made by the play therapist. The researcher made use of an exploratory research design and the following research question underlined this study: What are the perceptions of educators with regards to working together with the play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. A focus group guideline was used during the focus group discussions in order to gather the empirical data. Out of the empirical data the following themes were identified: · Educators experience behavioral, emotional, and academical problems with the multi-traumatized child; · Educators has a need for information, skills and co-operation with others in dealing with the multi-traumatized child; · Educators have both positive and negative perceptions regarding play therapy; and · Educators do have a need for co-operation with the play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. The research showed that there is a need for co-operation between educators and play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. Co-operation between these two role players is not only in the best interest of the child but it also strengthens the input of both educators and play therapist in dealing with the multi-traumatized child. / Dissertation (MSD (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Social Work / unrestricted

Taxation is an ever changing field and the need for people who specialise in this area is continually growing. As a result of this the need for specialist tax related services; it has evolved into a profession of its own for quite a while in South Africa. Professional and specialised consulting occupations require a certain degree of specialisation to attain a level of superiority in the commercial world. To attain the status of a professional or to enjoy the status of specialised consultant requires extensive training and education. Taxation is taught at most universities albeit not as a degree in its own right but there are some exceptions. Currently South African universities offer a number of different undergraduate degrees that incorporate the discipline of taxation as a subject. Currently there is no set of standards or a professional body that regulates any individual claiming to be a tax specialist or practitioner. Consequently it is unsure whether or not the spectrum of topics and other required content included in the various degrees offered by South African universities, is educated at the required level to provide students with the necessary practical and theoretical skills, as well as other desired qualities, to survive in the ever changing and evolving world of taxation and be successful as a professional tax practitioner as expected by their employers. Using questionnaires, data was obtained from the tax departments of the universities accredited with SAICA. The results indicated, as expected, that a higher level of knowledge is expected of a student with a postgraduate qualification. In addition to this the more specialised the industry/field becomes to which the specific tax topic applies, the lesser level of knowledge is expected of a newly qualified candidate irrespective of the qualification. The conclusion drawn in this study was that educators place a high level of expected theoretical knowledge, practical skills and personal attributes on a newly qualified student but this level does not necessarily coincide with the level expected by employers. Consequently educators and employers need to reach a consensus about the curricula included in various degrees offered by South African universities in order to prepare them for practice. AFRIKAANS : Die konsep van belasting is ‘n alewig veranderende veld en die vraag na persone wie gespesialiseer is in die area groei by die dag. As gevolg van hierdie groeiende vraag na gespesialiseerde belastingdienste het die professie tot in sy eie reg ontwikkel en bestaan dit al vir ‘n etlike jare in Suid-Afrika. Professionele en gespesialiseerde konsultasie tipe beroepe vereis ‘n sekere vlak van spesialiseering om sodoende hoër agting te verkry in die kommersiële wêreld. Om die status van professional person of titel gespesialiseerde konsultant te geniet vereis intensiewe opleiding. Belasting as vakgebied word aangebied by meeste universiteite hoewel nie altyd as ‘n graad in sy eie reg nie, maar daar is uitsonderings. Ten tyde van hierdie studie bied Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite ‘n wye verskeidenheid voorgraadse kwalifikasies aan, wat belasting as ‘n vak insluit. Huidiglik is daar nie ‘n aanvaarde standaard of ‘n professionele organisasie wat persone reguleer wat beweer dat hulle in belasting spesialiseer nie. Gevolglik is daar onsekerheid in verband met die onderwerpe en inhoud wat vereis word in die verskeie kwalifikasies aangebied deur Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite. ‘n Verder onsekerhied onstaan ook of die inhoud wat aangebied word, op die verlangde vlak is om studente te voorsien met die nodige praktiese en toeretiese vaardighede, asook met ander verlangde kwaliteite, sodat hulle sal kan oorleef in die gedurig veranderende en ontwikkelende wêreld van belasting en sodoende suksesvol te wees as ‘n professionele belastingpraktisyn soos dit verwag word deur ‘n werkgewer. Data is ingevorder met behulp van vraelyste vanaf die belastingdepartemente van universiteite wat deur SAICA geakkrediteer word. Soos verwag het die resultate getoon dat daar egter van ‘n student met ‘n nagraadse kwalifikasie ‘n hoër kennisvlak verwag word. Hierbenewens, hoe meer gespesialiseerd die bedryf of gebied waaraan ‘n spesifieke belastingsonderwerp gekoppel word, hoe minder kundig hoef ‘n nuutgekwalifiseerde kandidaat te wees, ongeag van sy/haar kwalifikasies. Die gevolgtrekking uit hierdie studie is dat dosente ‘n hoë verwagting plaas op teoretiese kennis, praktiese vaardighede en persoonlike eienskappe vanaf nuut gekwalifiseerde studente maar dat die vlak van verwagting met betrekking tot die werkgewer se raamwerk nie noodwending ooreenstem nie. Daarom is dit uiters belangrik dat opvoeders en werkgewers konsensus bereik oor die inhoud van curricula in die verskeie kwalifikasies aangebeid deur Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite in ‘n poging om studente sodoende beter voor te berei vir praktyk. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Taxation / unrestricted

Sexual abuse is not being reported adequately. Teachers are in an ideal position to deal with and report sexual abuse. However, research, as well as practical experience, shows that teachers are not sufficiently trained to deal with sexual abuse. Various establishments offer training initiatives to teachers, but it is unclear what the teachers’ perceptions are of the training after completion thereof. The goal of this research was to explore the perceptions of teachers after they had been exposed to an available training programme called “Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse”. The programme forms part of the training material of Forensic Assessment Consultation Training (FACT). FACT is a training company which offers support and training to professional people on the topic of sexual abuse. The researcher followed a qualitative approach. Twenty teachers from Welkom, Odendaalsrus, Virginia, Wesselsbron and Bothaville were involved in two separate training sessions. After completion of the training sessions, two focus group interviews were conducted in order to explore the participants’ perceptions regarding the training programme. The results show clearly that the perceptions of the teachers who participated in the Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse programme were significantly positive. It is also clear that there was a certain need among teachers for information such as provided by the programme. Besides the dispensation of relevant information, which was regarded as valuable and appropriate, participants valued the group consolidation and felt confident to share experiences regarding sexual abuse. Participants cherished the information not only as teachers, but also in their capacity as parents. They agreed there was a need for such training, even before participating in the study. It was recommended that colleagues, student teachers and parents should undertake the same training, conducted in a similar way. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Sexual abuse is not being reported adequately. Teachers are in an ideal position to deal with and report sexual abuse. However, research, as well as practical experience, shows that teachers are not sufficiently trained to deal with sexual abuse. Various establishments offer training initiatives to teachers, but it is unclear what the teachers’ perceptions are of the training after completion thereof. The goal of this research was to explore the perceptions of teachers after they had been exposed to an available training programme called “Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse”. The programme forms part of the training material of Forensic Assessment Consultation Training (FACT). FACT is a training company which offers support and training to professional people on the topic of sexual abuse. The researcher followed a qualitative approach. Twenty teachers from Welkom, Odendaalsrus, Virginia, Wesselsbron and Bothaville were involved in two separate training sessions. After completion of the training sessions, two focus group interviews were conducted in order to explore the participants’ perceptions regarding the training programme. The results show clearly that the perceptions of the teachers who participated in the Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse programme were significantly positive. It is also clear that there was a certain need among teachers for information such as provided by the programme. Besides the dispensation of relevant information, which was regarded as valuable and appropriate, participants valued the group consolidation and felt confident to share experiences regarding sexual abuse. Participants cherished the information not only as teachers, but also in their capacity as parents. They agreed there was a need for such training, even before participating in the study. It was recommended that colleagues, student teachers and parents should undertake the same training, conducted in a similar way. / MSW (Forensic Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study focuses on self care among patients with hypertension visiting primary health care clinics in the Naledi sub-district in the North-West Province. Hypertension is one of the chronic diseases that shorten the life expectancy of many people globally and remains the most common and rapid growing cardiovascular disease, affecting 20 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Hypertension is one of the quadruple burdens of disease associated with risky lifestyle behaviours like unhealthy diets with excessive energy intakes, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Although taking the mentioned common modif iable factors and the fact that hypertension is a manageable condition into consideration, the reality remains that the hypertension. A non-experimental, quantitative research was used to reach the aim of the study namely to identify and describe the self care abilities of patients diagnosed with hypertension, as well as explore and describe their knowledge and perceptions on hypertension. This was done by means of objectives to explore and describe self care abilities, knowledge and perceptions among patients diagnosed with hypertension; if there is an association between self care, knowledge and perception in relation to the level of education, age, income and time period and if there was association between self care and knowledge and perception of patients with hypertension visiting PHC clinics in Naledi sub-district in the North-W est Province. A literature review was first conducted for a clear understanding of self care and hypertension. Thereafter a structured questionnaire, consisting of demographical information, and questions on self care, knowledge and perception among patients with hypertension, was employed. Trained field workers assisted in data collec tion. A number of 142 questionnaires were completed by patients visiting PHC clinics. The demographic data was first analysed with results shown in the frequency table. The exploratory factor analyses were done for data reduction on self care, knowledge and perception among patients with hypertension. Descriptive statistics and Cohen effect sizes for factors on self care, knowledge and perception in relation to the level of education, age, income and other chronic illnesses of patients diagnosed with hypertension, correlational descriptive statistics between self care and knowledge and perception were done. The results revealed that patients with hypertension with low levels of education lack information with regard to hypertension. The higher the income of patients with hypertension, the better their self care abilities compared to those with low income. Patients who are English and Afrikaans speaking have more internal positive power and have better management abilities of hypertension than those who are Setswana speaking. Younger patients have more internal positive power, which declines with age. Those patients who are newly diagnosed with hypertension have more information on management abilities than those who have been diagnosed more than two years. The conclusion regarding the relationship of self care and knowledge and perception of hypertension is that the patients diagnosed with hypertension need knowledge on hypertension in order to adhere to self care abilities. The more knowledge patients have the better they will be able to adhere to self care activities. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

This study focuses on self care among patients with hypertension visiting primary health care clinics in the Naledi sub-district in the North-West Province. Hypertension is one of the chronic diseases that shorten the life expectancy of many people globally and remains the most common and rapid growing cardiovascular disease, affecting 20 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Hypertension is one of the quadruple burdens of disease associated with risky lifestyle behaviours like unhealthy diets with excessive energy intakes, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Although taking the mentioned common modif iable factors and the fact that hypertension is a manageable condition into consideration, the reality remains that the hypertension. A non-experimental, quantitative research was used to reach the aim of the study namely to identify and describe the self care abilities of patients diagnosed with hypertension, as well as explore and describe their knowledge and perceptions on hypertension. This was done by means of objectives to explore and describe self care abilities, knowledge and perceptions among patients diagnosed with hypertension; if there is an association between self care, knowledge and perception in relation to the level of education, age, income and time period and if there was association between self care and knowledge and perception of patients with hypertension visiting PHC clinics in Naledi sub-district in the North-W est Province. A literature review was first conducted for a clear understanding of self care and hypertension. Thereafter a structured questionnaire, consisting of demographical information, and questions on self care, knowledge and perception among patients with hypertension, was employed. Trained field workers assisted in data collec tion. A number of 142 questionnaires were completed by patients visiting PHC clinics. The demographic data was first analysed with results shown in the frequency table. The exploratory factor analyses were done for data reduction on self care, knowledge and perception among patients with hypertension. Descriptive statistics and Cohen effect sizes for factors on self care, knowledge and perception in relation to the level of education, age, income and other chronic illnesses of patients diagnosed with hypertension, correlational descriptive statistics between self care and knowledge and perception were done. The results revealed that patients with hypertension with low levels of education lack information with regard to hypertension. The higher the income of patients with hypertension, the better their self care abilities compared to those with low income. Patients who are English and Afrikaans speaking have more internal positive power and have better management abilities of hypertension than those who are Setswana speaking. Younger patients have more internal positive power, which declines with age. Those patients who are newly diagnosed with hypertension have more information on management abilities than those who have been diagnosed more than two years. The conclusion regarding the relationship of self care and knowledge and perception of hypertension is that the patients diagnosed with hypertension need knowledge on hypertension in order to adhere to self care abilities. The more knowledge patients have the better they will be able to adhere to self care activities. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Despite the growing numbers and valuable contributions of older individuals to society, they continue to face negative attitudes towards them. Such attitudes are largely influenced by portrayal of older persons in the media. Understanding how the media portrays older people to the public can provide significant insights into the nature of the images from which older people may make comparisons and which inform the perceptions, opinions, and attitudes of other people. There is little knowledge of perceptions of media portrayal in old age, and this study aimed to obtain insight from the point of view of older people regarding how they are portrayed in the printed media. Qualitative research has been applied to gain insight in the older persons’ perceptions. The case study method was chosen since it allowed the researcher to gain an in–depth understanding of older person’s perceptions regarding how they are portrayed in the media. The participants in this study consisted of nine male and 12 female individuals residing in a residential care facility. Persons between the ages of 60 and 85 were purposively chosen since they can contribute to meaningful insight regarding how they are portrayed in the print media. Data was collected by means of conducting focus group discussions and individual interviews. The use of these methods enabled dynamic interactions resulting in the production of rich, detailed information. Data was analyzed using thematic content analysis and key–word–in–context analysis. Guidelines to ensure the integrity of the findings have been applied. The findings indicated that older persons perceive their portrayal in the media to be minimal in terms of the exposure that they receive. Older persons feel that on the seldom occasion when they are in the media, they are presented as an isolated population separated from younger persons. The portrayal of older persons in the media is also perceived as stereotypical in the sense that older persons are presented as sick, inactive, weak and fragile. The implications of such portrayal according to older persons are that they influence intergenerational relationships and they also confirm stereotypical assumptions about older persons. Older persons feel that they rather want to be portrayed in terms of the valuable contributions that they are making to all spheres of life, despite old age. The media should thus promote positive ageing, which could contribute to the stimulation and motivation of older persons. Findings of this study also indicate that while older persons enjoy reading magazines and newspapers they are often limited to do so due to financial restrictions and physical limitations such as poor eyesight. The findings of this research of older persons perceptions regarding their portrayal in the media has implications for intergenerational relationships as well as to advertisers and marketers who are looking to appeal to the older population. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Despite the growing numbers and valuable contributions of older individuals to society, they continue to face negative attitudes towards them. Such attitudes are largely influenced by portrayal of older persons in the media. Understanding how the media portrays older people to the public can provide significant insights into the nature of the images from which older people may make comparisons and which inform the perceptions, opinions, and attitudes of other people. There is little knowledge of perceptions of media portrayal in old age, and this study aimed to obtain insight from the point of view of older people regarding how they are portrayed in the printed media. Qualitative research has been applied to gain insight in the older persons’ perceptions. The case study method was chosen since it allowed the researcher to gain an in–depth understanding of older person’s perceptions regarding how they are portrayed in the media. The participants in this study consisted of nine male and 12 female individuals residing in a residential care facility. Persons between the ages of 60 and 85 were purposively chosen since they can contribute to meaningful insight regarding how they are portrayed in the print media. Data was collected by means of conducting focus group discussions and individual interviews. The use of these methods enabled dynamic interactions resulting in the production of rich, detailed information. Data was analyzed using thematic content analysis and key–word–in–context analysis. Guidelines to ensure the integrity of the findings have been applied. The findings indicated that older persons perceive their portrayal in the media to be minimal in terms of the exposure that they receive. Older persons feel that on the seldom occasion when they are in the media, they are presented as an isolated population separated from younger persons. The portrayal of older persons in the media is also perceived as stereotypical in the sense that older persons are presented as sick, inactive, weak and fragile. The implications of such portrayal according to older persons are that they influence intergenerational relationships and they also confirm stereotypical assumptions about older persons. Older persons feel that they rather want to be portrayed in terms of the valuable contributions that they are making to all spheres of life, despite old age. The media should thus promote positive ageing, which could contribute to the stimulation and motivation of older persons. Findings of this study also indicate that while older persons enjoy reading magazines and newspapers they are often limited to do so due to financial restrictions and physical limitations such as poor eyesight. The findings of this research of older persons perceptions regarding their portrayal in the media has implications for intergenerational relationships as well as to advertisers and marketers who are looking to appeal to the older population. / Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.