Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, which is the most common cause of mental and learning
disabilities in the world, is totally preventable. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is not a
genetic or inherited condition; however, it is permanent and reduces human potential.
There is no cure or treatment. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder does not distinguish
between race, class or culture and can affect children from all socio-economic groups. It
is however more prevalent amongst poor, uneducated, uninformed and marginalised
(minority groups) or aboriginal communities due to a variety of historical, sociopolitical
and economic reasons. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder has become a public
health problem in South Africa in provinces like the Western and Northern Cape (winegrowing
areas), where substantial research has been conducted and where alcohol
abuse can be traced back to the ‘dop’ system. The highest documented prevalence of
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in the world has been identified in these provinces
amongst a marginalised group of people classified in South Africa as ‘coloured’.
A substantial amount of research has been conducted on the characteristics,
manifestation and prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in South Africa, but
no research has yet been done to ascertain educators’ knowledge of and attitude to
learners with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. In view of the high prevalence of Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in South Africa, and the possibility that many of the
learners with learning and behavioural problems in our schools could be victims of
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (also known as a ‘hidden disability’) I concentrated
my research on schools situated in low socio-economic areas on the Cape Flats where
poverty and unemployment are high and shebeens are plentiful.
Through this research I firstly wished to establish how much knowledge educators have
of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and what their attitudes are toward learners
manifesting the disorder. Secondly, my aim was to ascertain to what extent educators
are able to support and identify these learners. Qualitative research methods and an
interpretive constructivist paradigm were used to conduct the study. Data was
primarily collected through the use of interviews, focus group discussions, observations
and a research journal. Nine participants, from three different low socio-economic
schools (one from each educational phase) on the Cape Flats, were involved. Themes
that emerged from the data were analysed and recorded through the constant
comparative method. They are discussed together with the research findings.
This study revealed important issues pertaining to educators’ knowledge of Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and whether they are able to assist learners presenting with
this disorder in mainstream education in South Africa. A number of recommendations
are made for further research in this field. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom, wat as die algemeenste oorsaak van verstandelike
en leergestremdhede in die wêreld beskou word, is ʼn sindroom wat voorkom kan
word. Die sindroom is nie geneties of oorerflik nie, maar die skade is permanent omdat
daar geen behandeling en teenmiddel is nie. Dit het gevolglik ʼn negatiewe impak op
menslike vermoëns. Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom kan kinders van alle sosioekonomiese
groepe affekteer en alhoewel dit nie kultuur-, ras- of klasgebonde is nie, is
dit oorwegend ʼn algemene verskynsel onder groepe met ʼn lae opvoedingspeil, diegene
wat oningelig en gemarginaliseer is (minderheidsgroepe) of dié wat as
inboorlinggemeenskappe bekend staan, wat toegeskryf kan word aan verskeie
historiese, sosio-politieke en ekonomiese redes. Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom is
tans ʼn openbare gesondheidsprobleem in Suid-Afrika, veral in die wynstreke van die
Wes- en Noord-Kaap. Omvattende navorsing is al in genoemde provinsies gedoen
waar alkoholmisbruik ʼn lang aanloop het en verbind word met die dopstelsel. Die
Wes-Kaap en Noord-Kaap is alombekend as provinsies met die hoogste voorkomsyfer
van Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom FASD in die wêreld, veral onder ʼn
gemarginaliseerde groep mense wat as die kleurlinge’ bekend staan.
Alhoewel omvattende navorsing oor die karaktereienskappe, manifestasies en
voorkoms van Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom in Suid-Afrika reeds gedoen is, kon
geen navorsing gevind word wat die kennis van opvoeders en hul en houdings jeens
leerders met Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom probeer vasstel nie. As die hoë
voorkoms van Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom in ag geneem word, asook die
moontlikheid dat baie leerders in ons skole leer- en gedragsprobleme manifesteer, kan
daar waarskynlik slagoffers van Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom wees en wie se
gestremdhede dus ‘onsigbaar’ is. My navorsing fokus daarom hoofsaaklik op skole in
die lae sosio-ekonomiese areas van die Kaapse Vlakte, waar armoede en werkloosheid
hoogty vier en waar daar ʼn hoë voorkoms van onwettige drankwinkels (‘sjebiens’) is.
My primêre doel met hierdie navorsing was om die kennis van onderwysers oor Fetale
Alkohol Spektrumsindroom te bepaal en om die houding van opvoeders jeens leerders
wat met kenmerke van hierdie sindroom vas te stel. Ek wou ook vasstel tot welke mate
opvoeders bevoeg om is leerders met Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom te identifiseer
en te ondersteun. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes en ʼn interpretatiewe
konstruktivistiese paradigma is in die studie gebruik. Data is primêr ingesamel met
behulp van onderhoude, fokusgroep-besprekings, observasies en ʼn navorsingsjoernaal.
Nege deelnemers verbonde aan drie verskillende skole met lae sosio-ekonomiese vlakke
(een opvoeder van elke opvoedingsfase), op die Kaapse Vlakte was by die studie
betrokke. Temas wat blootgelê is deur die data is ontleed en by wyse van die konstante
vergelykende metode opgeneem. Hulle word saam met die navorsingsbevindings
bespreek. Die navorsing toon belangrike aspekte van opvoeders se kennis van Fetale
Alkohol Spektrumsindroom. Dit bevraagteken ook of hoofstroom-opvoeders in staat is
om leerders met Fetale Alkohol Spektrumsindroom te ondersteun. Voortspruitend uit
die bevindings word aanbevelings gemaak vir verdere ondersoeke op hierdie gebied.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2079 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Scheepers, Patricia |
| Contributors | Perold, M. D., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Educational Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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