Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Intimate partner violence is world wide and in South Africa an increasing social problem that leads to life-threatening history of injuries and psychosocial problems. Intimate partner violence is a global phenomenon prevalent in all socio-economic, race, religion, cultural and geographical boundaries. Although women with a lack or low income is more at risk of intimate partner violence and this reinforces their dependency of the intimate partner violence relationship. The largest percentage of South Africa’s poor population lives in rural areas that make them more vulnerable for social problems because of their lack of adequate resources. Women in rural areas involved with intimate partner violence are physically isolated from a supportive social network and must travel far distances to gain access to formal support resources. The goal of the study is to gain an understanding of the support needs of women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence from an ecological perspective. To achieve this goal, the objectives are: to explain the nature, extent and origin of intimate partner violence as a social problem; to discuss the relevance of the ecological perspective as a theoretical framework regarding the analyses of intimate partner violence; to describe the support needs of women in rural areas that is involved in intimate partner violence; to investigate the experience of women in rural areas that is involved in intimate partner violence regarding the availability of support; and to offer recommendations regarding the promotion of the support needs for women in rural areas that is expose to intimate partner violence. Combinations of a quantitative and qualitative research approach were used in the study. The study further assumed an exploratory and descriptive research design due to the lack of information on support that is available to women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence. A purposive sampling method was used to select the participants. Data was gathered by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered during 20 individual interviews. This allowed for a holistic view of the participants beliefs about, or perceptions of the topic. The design of the questionnaire was based on the information obtained from the literature review. The findings of the empirical investigation mainly confirmed the findings of the literature study that those women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence support needs, from multiple levels of the ecological perspective. This support entails both informal and formal support resources which vary from concrete, informational to emotional support in order to cope with stressful life situations. The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that social workers must use an ecological approach during service rendered to women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence. This approach can be used to identify and strengthen support resources on a micro, meso, exo and macro system level. The study further indicate that social workers must collaborate with different government sectors such as health care, police and law enforcement in order to create a multi professional team that focus on the social functioning of families and the community as a entity. Social workers that render intervention services to women in rural areas that are exposed to intimate partner violence should focus on all levels of social work intervention. The recommendation emphasises the importance of women and the communities’ awareness regarding intimate partner violence to promote women independency and to promote and facilitate support groups. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Intiemepaargeweld is wêreldwyd asook in Suid-Afrika ‘n toenemende sosiale probleem wat ‘n geskiedenis van ernstige beserings en psigososiale probleme vir vroue tot gevolg het. Die universele gebeurtenisse van intiemepaargeweld vind plaas binne alle sosio-ekonomiese, ras-, geloofs-, kulturele en geografiese grense. Alhoewel vroue met gebrekkige of lae inkomste hulle ‘n groter risiko vir intiemepaargeweld maak, versterk dit ook vroue se afhanklikheid van die intiemepaargeweldverhouding. Die meerderheid van Suid-Afrika se arm populasie woon in landelike gebiede, wat hulle meer kwesbaar maak vir maatskaplike probleme weens die gebrek aan genoegsame hulpbronne. Vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, is fisies geïsoleerd van ‘n ondersteunende sosiale netwerk en moet ver afstande reis om toegang tot formele ondersteuningshulpbronne te kry. Die doel van hierdie studie is om met behulp van die ekologiese perspektief die behoefte aan ondersteuning van vroue wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, beter te verstaan. Om hierdie doel te bereik, is die doelwitte: om die aard, omvang en oorsprong van intiemepaargeweld as ‘n maatskaplike probleem te verduidelik; om die relevansie van die ekologiese perspektief as teoretiese raamwerk vir die ontleding van intiemepaargeweld te bespreek; om die ondersteuning wat nodig is vir vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, te omskryf; om ondersoek in te stel na die ervaring van vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, ten opsigte van die beskikbaarheid van ondersteuning; en om aanbevelings te maak ten opsigte van die bevordering van die ondersteuning vir vroue in landelike gebiede wat aan intiemepaargeweld blootgestel word. ‘n Kombinasie van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenaderings is in hierdie studie gebruik. Tydens hierdie ondersoek is ook beide ‘n verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp benut, aangesien die beskikbare literatuur ‘n gebrek aan inligting aangaande ondersteuning wat beskikbaar is aan vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, toon. ‘n Doelbewuste streekproefmetode is geselekteer om deelnemers te verkry. Die data is ingevorder deur die gebruik van ‘n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys tydens 20 afsonderlike individuele onderhoude. Sodoende kon ‘n geheelbeeld van die deelnemers se oortuigings en persepsies aangaande die onderwerp van die studie verkry word. Die samestelling van die vraelys berus op inligting wat uit die literatuurstudie verkry is. Die resultate van die ondersoek het hoofsaaklik die bevindinge van die literatuurstudie bevestig dat vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, ‘n behoefte aan ondersteuning op veelvoudige vlakke van die ekologiese perspektief het. Hierdie ondersteuning behels beide informele en formele ondersteuningsbronne en varieer vanaf konkrete, informatiewe tot emosionele ondersteuning ten einde stresvolle lewensituasies te kan hanteer. Die belangrikste aanbevelings van hierdie studie dui daarop dat maatskaplike werkers die ekologiese perspektief moet gebruik tydens dienste wat aan vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, gelewer word. Hierdie perspektief kan die nodige ondersteuningshulpbronne identifiseer en versterk om die nodige ondersteuning aan hierdie vroue op ‘n mikro-, meso-, ekso- en makrosisteemvlak te bied. Die aanbevelings dui ook aan dat maatskaplike werkers saam met verskeie regeringsektore, naamlik gesondheidsorg-, polisie- en wetstoepassingsdienste, ‘n multi-professionele span vorm sodat daar op die sosiale funksionering van gesinne en gemeenskap as ‘n geheel gefokus word. Maatskaplike werkers wat intervensiedienste lewer aan vroue in landelike gebiede wat aan intiemepaargeweld blootgestel word, moet op alle maatskaplikewerk-intervensievlakke fokus. Die aanbevelings beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van vroue en die gemeenskappe se bewustheid rakende intiemepaargeweld om sodoende vroue se onafhanklikheid te bevorder en ondersteuningsgroepe te bevorder en te fasiliteer.

M.Cur. / Violence stalks the streets of our erstwhile civilised cities and towns, and has also involved too many homes, transforming them from places of protection into pits of powerlessness and victimization. No immunization to this epidemic is afforded by culture, social class, economic states, education or ever religious affiliation. It is time to lift the shroud of silence and to shine the spotlight of truth on this social dilemma (Couden, 1999: 5). This research begins with the journey of awareness, which is intended to lead to healing, mental health and wholeness for the victimised women. It is intended to give victimised women a voice, since they are the experts of their own lives. Through sharing of their experiences, it is hoped that such awareness will positively impact our families, communities, churches and the wider society. The objectives of this research are to: • Explore and describe the experiences of victimised women of group interventions in a psychiatric clinic. • Formulate guidelines for the promotion of mental health of victimised women of group interventions. • In phase one of the research, the researcher made conclusions that the group interventions had an effect on victimised women. Group interventions enabled these women to understand that they can do something about being victimised. The main themes that came out were ventilating of emotions, support for each other in the group interventions, a sense of being empowered and a sense of forgiveness towards their perpetrators. In phase two guidelines were described for the advanced psychiatric nursespecialist to facilitate and promote the mental health of victimised women. An empowerment programme based on the suggestions given by Goodman and Fallon (113) described on the survey list by Dickoff et al (1968: 423). Conclusions, limitations and recommendations for the nursing practice, nursing education and research in nursing have been made.

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Hierdie studie toon dat vroue wat vir terminasie van swangerskappe aanmeld, se behoeftes wyer as bloot die verwydering van die fetus strek. Die diversiteit van probleme, vra 'n beradingsbenadering wat holisties van aard is. Indien die sosiale, psigiese en spirituele behoeftes nie aangespreek word nie, het ons in die holistiese hantering gefaal. Die Department Huisartskunde waar ek werksaam is, beywer hom vir 'n holistiese benadering van die pasient. Hierdie benadering word ook deur die huidige SuidAfrikaanse Regering onderskryf. Die vrou met die ongewenste swangerskap het 'n behoefte om, behalwe die fisieke probleme, in totaliteit verstaan en gehoor te word. Sy smag na 'n berader wat saam met haar deur die kompleksiteit van die probleem kan dink en voel. Die holistiese benadering behels die fisieke sowel as die psigiese, maatskaplike en spirituele behoeftes. Die studie het te doen met 'n soeke na 'n beradingsbenadering wat in al die behoeftesvan die vrou sal voorsien. / This study demonstrates that the needs of women requesting a termination of pregnancy extend much further than the mere removal of the foetus. The diversity of problems demands a counselling approach that is holistic in nature. We will fail in this holistic management, should the social, psychological and spiritual needs not be addressed. The Department of Family Medicine where I am employed strives towards a holistic approach to the patient. This approach is also endorsed by the present South African Government. The woman with an unwanted pregnancy needs to be heard and understood in totality, over-and-above the physical problem. She yearns for a counsellor who can think and feel through the complexity of the problem together with her. The holistic approach includes the physical, as well as the psychological, social and spiritual aspects. The study involves a search for a counselling approach which provides for all these needs of the women. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Praktiese Teologie - met spesialisering in Pastorale Terapie)

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research originated from the researcher's interest in the effect of high-risk pregnancy, premature birth and infancy on the emotional well-being of parents. The research undertaken particularly focused on exploring the psychosocial experiences of parents with a premature infant. The study aimed at investigating various social work intervention strategies that can be applied to address the problematic factors parents with a premature infant are confronted with. The purpose of this research is to provide a theoretical knowledge basis, in order to set guidelines for social work intervention, to ensure effective service rendering to parents with premature infants. The research report includes a review of the literature discussing premature labour and birth, the premature infant and the psychosocial experiences of parents. Social work in health care, kangaroo care, crisis intervention, family therapy and grief counselling are also discussed to create a theoretical knowledge basis in order to serve as a guideline for social workers, to ensure effective and efficient social work service rendering to parents with a premature infant. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the psychosocial experiences of parents and the effectiveness of social work intervention. The population admitted in the Military hospital during the period 2001 to 2003 consisted of +- 60 cases. To enable the researcher to conduct the research study 50% of the overall population was used which resulted in a sample of 20 respondents consulted in the period 2002 to 2003. The respondents were invited to a group meeting where questionnaires, which included open-ended and closed questions, were used to collect the data. The results obtained were analyzed and compared to relevant literature in order to assess the reliability of the research. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were offered from the findings of the study. The fmdings of this study serve as a guideline for professionals, specifically social workers in the medical setting, to be able to render an effective service to parents with a premature infant. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oorsprong van hierdie navorsing het ontstaan na aanleiding van die navorser se belangstelling rakende die effek wat hoë-risiko swangerskap, premature kraam en die premature baba op die emosionele welstand van die ouer het. Die navorsingsondersoek fokus spesifiek daarop om die psigo-sosiale ondervindinge van ouers te verken. Die studie poog ook daarin om verskeie maatskaplike intervensiestrategieë te ondersoek wat aangewend kan word om die problematiese faktore waarmee ouers gekonfronteer word aan te spreek. Die doel van die navorsing is om 'n teoretiese kennisbasis daar te stel wat as riglyne benut kan word vir die implementering van maatskaplikewerk-intervensie ten einde 'n effektiewe diens aan ouers met premature babas te kan lewer. Die navorsingsverslag bied 'n oorsig van die literatuur waarin premature kraam, die premature baba en die psigo-sosiale ondervindinge van ouers in diepte bespreek word. Verskeie maatskaplike intervensiestrategieë word ook bespreek met verwysing na maatskaplike werk in die gesondheidsektor, kangaroosorg, krisisingryping, gesinsterapie en rouberading. Die empiriese studie sluit in die benutting van beide die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes ten einde die psigososiale ondervindings van ouers met premature babas te verken asook die effektiwiteit van maatskaplikewerk-intervensie te ondersoek. Die totaal ouers met premature babas opgeneem in die Militêre hospitaal vir die tydperk 2001 tot 2003 het +- 60 gevalle beloop. Ten einde dit dus vir die navorser moontlik te maak om die navorsingstudie te kan onderneem is 50% van die populasie betrek in die navorsingstudie waaruit 'n steekproef van 20 respondente saamgestel is met wie gekonsulteer is in die periode 2002 tot 2003. Die respondente is genooi na 'n groepvergadering waartydens vraelyste uitgedeel is om data te bekom. Oop en geslote vrae is ingesluit in die vraelyste. Die resultate en bevindinge verkry is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die literatuur om die betroubaarheid van die navorsing te toets. Gevolgtrekkinge is gemaak en aanbevelings daarop gebaseer is na aanleiding van die bevindinge van die studie aangebied. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie kan aangewend word as 'n riglyn vir professionele persone met spesifieke verwysing na maatskaplike werkers in die gesondheid sektor, om 'n effektiewe diens te kan lewer aan ouers met premature babas.

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Hierdie studie toon dat vroue wat vir terminasie van swangerskappe aanmeld, se behoeftes wyer as bloot die verwydering van die fetus strek. Die diversiteit van probleme, vra 'n beradingsbenadering wat holisties van aard is. Indien die sosiale, psigiese en spirituele behoeftes nie aangespreek word nie, het ons in die holistiese hantering gefaal. Die Department Huisartskunde waar ek werksaam is, beywer hom vir 'n holistiese benadering van die pasient. Hierdie benadering word ook deur die huidige SuidAfrikaanse Regering onderskryf. Die vrou met die ongewenste swangerskap het 'n behoefte om, behalwe die fisieke probleme, in totaliteit verstaan en gehoor te word. Sy smag na 'n berader wat saam met haar deur die kompleksiteit van die probleem kan dink en voel. Die holistiese benadering behels die fisieke sowel as die psigiese, maatskaplike en spirituele behoeftes. Die studie het te doen met 'n soeke na 'n beradingsbenadering wat in al die behoeftesvan die vrou sal voorsien. / This study demonstrates that the needs of women requesting a termination of pregnancy extend much further than the mere removal of the foetus. The diversity of problems demands a counselling approach that is holistic in nature. We will fail in this holistic management, should the social, psychological and spiritual needs not be addressed. The Department of Family Medicine where I am employed strives towards a holistic approach to the patient. This approach is also endorsed by the present South African Government. The woman with an unwanted pregnancy needs to be heard and understood in totality, over-and-above the physical problem. She yearns for a counsellor who can think and feel through the complexity of the problem together with her. The holistic approach includes the physical, as well as the psychological, social and spiritual aspects. The study involves a search for a counselling approach which provides for all these needs of the women. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Praktiese Teologie - met spesialisering in Pastorale Terapie)

This study focussed on determining the knowledge and understanding of Angolan women pertaining to the causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS with the aim of developing an information leaflet about HIV/AIDS for disseminating information to the vulnerable community. A quantitative approach was applied using an exploratory and descriptive design, utilising a self-developed questionnaire to collect the data, from 100 females who accompanied sick children to a specific hospital in Luanda. The findings indicated that even though the respondents were aware of certain key issues in the transmission and consequences of the HIV infection, there were many areas in which a great measure of uncertainty existed such as the causes of the disease, prevention methods, risk factors and precautions to take when living with an HIV positive person. Recommendations were made in view of enhancing the distribution of information regarding the causes and consequences of HIV and AIDS by means of different structures. / HEALTH STUDIES / MA (HEALTH STUDIES)

AIDS-related bereavement counselling programmes / The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a need for specific bereavement counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, where death is believed to be fated. Six AIDS-bereaved women were recruited. Data analysis was conducted based on the women's interview transcripts and journal entries. The women experienced at least three traumatic life events. The most challenging experience was learning that they have contracted a disease they knew to be mostly associated with prostitution. Given the short lapse of time between their husbands' deaths and learning about their seropositivity, biographical disruption appeared to have acted as an "analgesic", while concerns to protect their children seemed to have triggered biographical reinforcement. This phenomenon may have brought about a positive bereavement outcome. Specific counselling programmes for women affected by HIV/AIDS are needed, but emphasis should first be placed on improving their wellbeing and their perception of stigma. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS))

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of women in midlife. The primary purpose of the study was to develop and describe a model of health promotion that will facilitate self-care of women in midlife to support them in the attainment of wholeness. A theory-generative, qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was utilized to achieve the objectives of the study, namely to explore and describe women's experience of midlife transition; classify concepts of the model; describe the structure and process of a model for support of women during midlife transition, and develop guidelines for operationalization of the model. The study was undertaken in one of the northwest states of the United States of America. Purposive sampling of eight women included women between the ages of 40 and 55 years of age. Women who had undergone surgical menopause were excluded as the influence of prolonged hormone replacement therapy was seen as a bias. Data was collected by using an unstructured interview technique. Data was analyzed according to Tesch's protocol (in Cresswell, 1994:155). Guba's model (in Krefting 1991:215) was utilized to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Ethical issues were considered throughout and these are reflected in chapter one of the thesis. The study identified two themes: (1) how the women experienced midlife and (2) how they managed it. The experiences of midlife were expressed in physical, psychosocial and spiritual changes while the management of the process was accomplished in two ways, namely self-care and the services of healthcare professionals. The researcher identified that health promotion was essential to facilitate the self-care practices of women in midlife. Essential and related attributes of health promotion were identified, analyzed and synthesized to define health promotion. The process of health promotion was then defined with a description of the structure and process of the model. Concepts identified were classified, defined and placed into relationship statements after which the model was described and evaluated. Guidelines to operationalize the model were then formulated to assist health professionals to support women in self-care for the attainment of wholeness. / Health Studies / D.Litt et Phil (Health Studies)

This thesis includes four studies investigating the experiences of abused women. According to ecological approaches different systems should be considered when conducting research into abused women and their experiences. The first study involved women who successfully left an abusive relationship. An ecological approach was used to investigate the experiences of the women in the different phases of their relationship, including the initial attraction to the partner, the development and sustaining of the abuse and her attempts to leave until her final decision to leave permanently. An important finding was the importance of considering and investigating all systems and levels when dealing with abused women, including those who have left and those who are contemplating leaving this relationship. The second study found that women who experienced physical abuse were often hurt in anatomical locations that were indicative of impulsive violence. The abuser used any object in the heat of the moment to attack the victim and no premeditated planning was evident in the type of injuries sustained. The women further reported that medical practitioners did not investigate the causes of injuries and that they were not referred to social services or organisations dealing with abused women, although they were recognised as suffering from abuse. The intersection of abuse of women and HIV was the topic of focus of the third study. A review of the records of abused women revealed that many abused women were subjected to risk factors for contracting HIV, with counsellors focussing only on abuse issues. Longitudinal case studies, of women exposed to both conditions, revealed that they lacked social support and were often secondarily victimised by the social welfare systems. An environmental scan found that social and health care services were not accessible to these women. The final study investigated intervention strategies to combat burnout in workers at an organisation dealing with abused women. The importance and effectiveness of creative exercises and art sessions were determined in combination with debriefing and supervision sessions. The studies all considered systems that are important in service delivery to abused women. A holistic and systemic investigation and treatment of abused women is shown to be essential, as is the importance of grass roots research. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of women in midlife. The primary purpose of the study was to develop and describe a model of health promotion that will facilitate self-care of women in midlife to support them in the attainment of wholeness. A theory-generative, qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was utilized to achieve the objectives of the study, namely to explore and describe women's experience of midlife transition; classify concepts of the model; describe the structure and process of a model for support of women during midlife transition, and develop guidelines for operationalization of the model. The study was undertaken in one of the northwest states of the United States of America. Purposive sampling of eight women included women between the ages of 40 and 55 years of age. Women who had undergone surgical menopause were excluded as the influence of prolonged hormone replacement therapy was seen as a bias. Data was collected by using an unstructured interview technique. Data was analyzed according to Tesch's protocol (in Cresswell, 1994:155). Guba's model (in Krefting 1991:215) was utilized to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Ethical issues were considered throughout and these are reflected in chapter one of the thesis. The study identified two themes: (1) how the women experienced midlife and (2) how they managed it. The experiences of midlife were expressed in physical, psychosocial and spiritual changes while the management of the process was accomplished in two ways, namely self-care and the services of healthcare professionals. The researcher identified that health promotion was essential to facilitate the self-care practices of women in midlife. Essential and related attributes of health promotion were identified, analyzed and synthesized to define health promotion. The process of health promotion was then defined with a description of the structure and process of the model. Concepts identified were classified, defined and placed into relationship statements after which the model was described and evaluated. Guidelines to operationalize the model were then formulated to assist health professionals to support women in self-care for the attainment of wholeness. / Health Studies / D.Litt et Phil (Health Studies)