Browsing by Author "Zengele, Patricia Bongi."
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Item The images of God as perceived by abandoned children : an exploratory study into the spiritual development of children.(2006) Zengele, Patricia Bongi.; Rakoczy, Susan Francis.; Haddad, Beverley Gail.This research study explores the ways in which children from diverse family backgrounds can construct or reconstruct their God representations. These were probed by using 'object relations theory' and 'matemal deprivation theory' as means of further gaining insight into children's initial formulations of interpersonal and emotional relationships and how these were translated into the way they imagined God to be for themselves, given their age-group. Parallels were drawn between the interface of psychology and theology by using theories on faith development. There is a clear acknowledgment that there are certain steps of development that individuals go through in their growth at both psychological and spiritual levels. This confirms that there is a need for these two disciplines to draw from each other as means of creating conducive climate to allow for an integrated approach towards formulations of spiritual development among children. Through the use of questionnaires the children were given the opportunity to explore images of God and to also express these in the form of a drawing. The content analysis of this study demonstrated that there were no distinct differences on how children perceived God between abandoned children being raised in an institutional setting and those children being raised by biological parents. This finding highlighted the fact that there are other factors that impact children's spiritual development. These include care, nurture and emotional security. This study contributes to future research on developing new theologies by children, thus enabling them to play a central role in formulating contextual and relevant curriculums on religious education.Item School-based violence: exploring educator’s perceptions and experiences at the Gem Combined School in Mpumalanga.(2022) Malindisa, Xolani Cyprian.; Zengele, Patricia Bongi.This study focused on school-based violence as it become a global issue. It was designed to understand the experiences and perceptions of teachers at The Gem Combined School in Mpumalanga. The main aim of the study was to understand the perceptions and experiences of educators understanding about school-based violence. It sought to answer the following questions: What are the prevalent forms of school-based violence in school? What is the nature and extent of school-based violence in the school? What are the effects of violence on educators? What are the support structures put in place to assist educators manage school-based violence? The theoretical framework that guided this research study is the ecological systems and Differential Association theory. This qualitative study explored how educators perceived and experienced school-based violence through semi-structured interviews. Semi structured interviews were used to obtain data from the 15 voluntary participants from The Gem Combined school. Purposive sampling as a technique was used for the selection of participants of this study. The participants comprised of teachers at the school, and principal with no restriction of the number of years in practice. The research findings were analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings of the study show that educators are exposed to violent behaviours from learner. Furthermore, results indicated that school-based violence disturbs the teaching and learning. Educators are suffering to manage and deal with delinquent, deviant or related behaviours from learners. There is a lack of supportive structures that are aimed at intervening. There is a greater need for social workers in schools who will provide psychosocial support to learners and inversely assist the educators in addressing school-based violenceItem Sexual and reproductive health issues: exploring the perceptions of young women on their post-teenage pregnancy experiences.(2021) Chonco, Nosipho.; Zengele, Patricia Bongi.Other literature on young girls' pregnancy reveals that young girls' early pregnancy has become a global social problem, affecting children as young as 12 years of age. Various research studies have been conducted on the issues surrounding early sexual debut, teenage pregnancy, and early childbearing and its consequences. Yet, little has been done to understand the experiences of young women in their post-teenage pregnancy. Adding on the above statement, little has been done to explore these young women's perceptions of their experiences, especially in the Umbumbulu area, KwaZulu-Natal. Early sexual debut among young people is one of the contributing factors towards the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and early childbearing. Where these young mothers face the consequences of teenage pregnancy and early childbearing compared to their male counterparts. Teenage pregnancy and early childbearing are associated with various adverse outcomes for the young mother and the child. Therefore, this current research study aimed to explore and better understand young women's perceptions of their post-teenage pregnancy experiences in the Umbumbulu area. Furthermore, it looked closely at what could be done to improve the standard of living of young people with the sole aim to promote and enhance health social well-being. This research study found various factors considered to be the influencing factors in the increase of teenage pregnancy in this community. Namely: lack of communication, peer pressure, lack of knowledge and access to contraceptive methods, and alcohol drugs abuse. This study also reports on the challenges that young women face. It further recommends that community stakeholders in alliance with other government sectors consider developing programmes that will help young people prevent early pregnancies and encourage young people to further their education. Social Learning Theory, covered the important part of the research study, allowing the researcher to understand the social environment of the participants and how it has contributed to their experiences of early childbearing.Item “Sihlukumezekile”: the elderly talk of their experiences of elder vulnerability in KwaSwayimani area.(2019) Mosoeu, Ramosa Joseph.; Zengele, Patricia Bongi.Background: The problem of elder abuse is undeniable and can be found everywhere in the world including South Africa and the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. Robinson (2016) asserts that in the United States alone, more than half a million reports of vulnerabilities that predispose the elderly to abuse reach authorities every year, and millions of more cases go unreported. Rationale of the study: The rationale of the study is to explore and understand vulnerabilities faced by elderly women in KwaSwayimane Area under Umshwathi Local Municipality where 7 elderly women were raped and assaulted, and the 4 elderly women robbed and murdered during the year 2013. Research methodology: A qualitative descriptive design was adopted in this study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis from a purposive sample of 09 elderly women attending KwaSwayimane Day Care Centre. Results: The results indicated that vulnerabilities that predispose the elderly to abuse are prevalent amongst elderly women especially those who are widowed, living alone, in isolation, and illiterate. The study finding also revealed that the most common vulnerability was as a result of criminal attacks such as housebreakings mostly during pension pay days to steal and rob the elderly of their pension monies and other belongings. The results also showed that financial exploitation by close family members occurred in the home environment where elderly women with their meagre pensions had to take care of their family members such as their unemployed adult children and the grandchildren. Lastly, the results showed that the elderly need various and prompt inter-departmental interventions in-order to make their situation better. Recommendations: This study recommends a multidisciplinary approach to elder care and management in line with the KZN Premier’s Operation Sukuma Sakhe Programme which co-ordinates the delivery of governmental integrated services to communities. It also recommends further research that would explore elder vulnerability as it occurs in the community. The study recommends social work curriculum to include a detailed gerontology syllabus since there is a fast-growing number the elderly in our society who need special social work care.