School of Applied Human Sciences

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/6451

The School of Applied Human Sciences (SAHS) consists of Criminology and Forensic Studies, Psychology, The Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS), and Social Work.

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Where the streets have no names : factors predicting the provision of counselling and social work services for child rape survivors in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2009) Naidoo, Kerisha.; Collings, Steven John.
Despite high prevalence rates for rape in South Africa, little focus has been placed on the rape of children, and even less on the secondary victimization of child rape survivors. Such secondary victimization may manifest in two forms, namely, negative attitudes and behaviours and the non-provision of essential services. This study aimed to explore secondary victimization in child rape as a result of the non-provision of counselling and social work services, to a sample of 200 child rape survivors, who presented for medico-legal assessment at a state hospital in the North Durban area (KwaZulu Natal, South Africa). Data analysis revealed that only 48.5% of the sample did in fact receive such services. In the majority of cases (20%), services were only provided between 2-7 days after the child had presented for medical evaluation. In addition, the study found that in most cases, service provision was limited to a single intake interview. Service provision was found to be less likely in cases where respondents resided in homesteads (informal or ‘traditional’ housing) that had no street address, or where the child presented at the study hospital outside of normal working hours. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for secondary victimization and secondary prevention programming.
Access to antiretroviral treatment by children in KwaZulu-Natal Province : a qualitative exploratory study into factors influencing poor access.
(2009) Phili, Rogerio.; Meyer-Weitz, Anna.
South Africa and the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has one of the greatest HIV burdens in the world with an estimated 5.7 mHIion people living with HIV/AIDS. One of the interventions that the government introduced to address this situation was the provision of antiretroviral treatment (ART) to those individuals that are eligible for HIV treatment in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality. Despite widespread availability of ART in KZN, children do not access ART to the extent that adults do, and therefore continue to die because of HIV and AIDS. This qualitative study explored the psychosocial and health system factors that influence paediatric access to ART in KZN from parents and caregivers perspectives. The ecological theory and the social cognitive theory was used to formulate an interview schedule used in conducting the in-depth interviews with adults (parents or guardians) who were bringing their children for ARTservices and those attending these services themselves and not their children at Edendale and King Edward Hospitals in KZN. Purposive sampling was used to select clients for interviews and thematic was done in accordance with the aims and objectives of the study. A total of 42 participants were interviewed in this study. The low uptake of child ART was found to be influenced by several psychosocial and economic factors such as the poor knowledge about ART, stigma and disclosure associated with HIV, extent of support provided by parents/caregivers, parent's own ART was a determinant for bringing children for ART, use of traditional / alternative medicines, disintegrated families, especially the issue of multiple caregivers, complexity of paediatric ART, poor referrals of children from community institutions, unsatisfactory service at clinics, and some health policy and legislation with respect to health care for HIV-infected children that had an unintended effect of restricting child access to ART as well as poverty related Issues. Improving knowledge and self-efficacy related to ART, prevention of mother to child transmission ofHIV, re-training of health workers on child issues and addressing stigma and discrimination and other psychosocial and institutional problems and logistics could help to improve the low paediatric uptake of ART.
The life experiences of children orphaned on account of HIV and AIDS.
(2009) Ramsuran, Shamitha Inderlall.; Sewpaul, Vishanthie.
The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of children who were orphaned on account of HIV and AIDS as well as the experiences of their caregivers, thereby improving the knowledge base of practitioners working with children and their caregivers.This qualitative study was designed to answer the following research questions: • What are the experiences of children orphaned on account of HIV and AIDS? • What consequences does the HIV and AIDS pandemic have on children? • How do children cope with AIDS-related loss and grief? • What are the caregiver’s roles, experiences and perceptions regarding children orphaned on the account of HIV and AIDS? • What resources and support systems are available to caregivers in fulfilling their roles in relation to children? The social ecological model provided the theoretical framework for this study. Qualitative data was collected through personal interviews with eleven children and ten caregivers. This was supported by observational visits to the homes of the participants and secondary analysis of case files. The major themes that emerged were the phenomenon of absent fathers and the dominant role that women play. The caregivers had to keep their grief to themselves and more urgent stressors took priority in their lives. Grief was often held in abeyance as the caregivers had to focus on daily survival needs. Poverty overshadowed the lives of all the participants and a large portion of the South African population. Despite this the resilience on the part of the child participants was remarkable. Emanating from these themes, recommendations for social work practice and implications for future research are proposed.
A contextual assessment of a workplace HIV/AIDS peer education programme.
(2009) Anderson, Roslyn.; Bhagwanjee, Anil Mohanlal.
Set in the mining sector, the aim of this study was to explore the experiences, insights and reflections of a particular group of peer educator's with regard to their organisationâ€™s peer education programme. Using the PRECEDE-PROCEED Model (Green & Kreuter, 1991) as an organising framework, this study explored the pre-disposing, enabling and reinforcing factors that had an impact on this HIV/AIDS peer education programme. The specific objectives to be assessed in this study were the peer educatorâ€™s perceived impact on attitude and behaviour change amongst employees; the perceived organisational barriers and supports that peer educators encountered in programme delivery as well as further training needs of the peer educators. Using an interpretivist paradigm, the study was concerned with describing and interpreting peopleâ€™s feelings and experiences with qualitative depth. Interviewees comprised of a non-probability saturation sample of five current adult peer educators and one adult ex-peer educator, employed in the Eastern Region of the Organisation (KwaZulu-Natal). In addition the regional manager and the human resource manager were interviewed. Semi-structured tape recorded interviews were used to collect data from the peer educators, and the data was transcribed verbatim from the digital recording. Themes were induced and coded by looking for reoccurring peer educator views, following which the researcher was able to induce potential predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors that the peer educators faced in programme delivery. Based on the findings of the study, appropriate recommendations are offered with a view to improving programme delivery and quality. Finally, the main constraints which limited the study findings are considered.
The psycho-social experiences of unwed teenage mothers in faith communities : a qualitative study.
(2009) Ngcobo, Bongiwe Fidelma.
The current study investigated the experiences of unwed adolescent mothers in faith communities, the Roman Catholic Church in particular. The study was motivated by the fact that, despite the Christian sexual ethic, which prohibits sex outside wedlock, many young unmarried women in faith communities do become pregnant. The study thus sought to investigate the lived experiences of these young women, their psychological and social experiences of unwed motherhood in the church community. Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy, sources of social support and possible intervention mechanisms were also explored. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed, and thirteen (13) participants ranging in age from 18-22 years were interviewed individually and in focus groups. The results indicate that unwed teenage mothers in faith communities experience a range of psychological and social experiences, including frustration, feelings of depression, social exclusion and discrimination by fellow church congregants. Stigma theory and stigma consciousness were used to account for these experiences. Peer pressure and gendered power relations were cited among the causes of unwed teenage pregnancy, while payment of damages and re-admission to the community of believers following a confession were cited among the sources of social support. The study concludes that sex education and communication between parents and their teenage girls are essential in dealing with the problem of unwed teenage pregnancy. The study concludes with recommendations for practice and further research.
'Jy weet, jy kan jouself vandag in k*kstraat vind deur jouself 'n Afrikaner te noem ...' (You know, you can find yourself in sh*tstreet by calling yourself an Afrikaner today ... ') : Afrikaner identity in post-apartheid South Africa.
(2008) Verwey, Cornelius Tobias.
Afrikaner Nationalism and the discourse of Apartheid have always formed a central part of Afrikaner identity. The fact that Afrikaner Nationalism has now been publicly discredited has had a destabilising effect on Afrikaner identity in post-Apartheid South Africa. This qualitative study explored the ways in which Afrikaners reinterpret their identity post-Apartheid. Fifteen adults, residents of middle-class Afrikaner suburbia in Bloemfontein, participated in in-depth interviews focusing on participants‟ dilemmas and struggles over their identity as Afrikaners, South Africans and Africans and the way in which these identities are being redefined in post-Apartheid South Africa. While participants condemn Apartheid, they are in fact „recycling‟ the discourse of Afrikaner Nationalism and Apartheid. The central argument which emerged from the data is one against acceptance of Africa and does not point to an adaptive re-negotiation of Afrikaner identity. Participants claim their entitlement to the category „African‟ but there are no indications that they are discursively redrawing the group boundaries, such that „Afrikaner‟ is part of a broader „African‟ identity. Participants appear to be constructing a version of Afrikaner identity which is more acceptable, by jettisoning certain public aspects of Afrikaner of identity as liabilities in post-Apartheid South Africa.
From West Street to Dr Pixley KaSeme Street: How contemporary racialised subjectivities are (re)produced in the city of Durban.
(2009) Brown, Lyndsay.; Durrheim, Kevin Locksley.
From West Street to Dr Pixley kaSeme Street:1 How contemporary racialised subjectivities are (re)p roduced in the city of Durban This thesis is part of the larger mission to understand and challenge the ongoing reproduction of race. The focus of this particular project is on how race is perpetuated through the continuing construction of our racialised subjectivities in/through place. This idea is broadly epitomised by the idea that „who we are is where we are? (Dixon and Durrheim, 2000) and the recognition that this process is highly racialised. This emphasis locates this project squarely within the social psychology of race, place and identity. To collect data that could facilitate access to racialised place-identity constructions I used a mobile methodology wherein black and white city government officials (who had grown up in Durban) took me on a walking and/or driving tour of the city of Durban talking with me about the racial transformation of this city from our childhood (in apartheid times) to the present (post-apartheid) city. These conversations were digitally recorded and transcribed for analysis. I also recorded various activities that took place during the tour and made extensive pre-tour and post-tour notes. All of this material was utilised analytically. Initially I analysed the discursive practices which we (the participants) engaged in as we constructed the racialised city historically and contemporaneously and reflected on the attendant subjectivities of blackness and whiteness invoked by this particular place-identity talk. When it became apparent that there was more to the production of race on the tours than that which was produced by our implaced talk my analysis progressed to an examination of other practices which produced race on the tours, namely, our material/embodied interactive practices. Through paying close analytic attention to our interaction on the tours it became evident that key practices which produced race on the tours – the spatial, discursive and embodied practices – were inextricably connected to each other in a „trialectical? (tri-constitutional) relationship. I argue that we need to analyse this trialectical relationship further because of the ways in which it facilitates the creation of racial sticking points which obfuscate racial transformation in South Africa.
The disobedient naïve psychologist : deviating from predicted attributions in a social context.
(2009) Naidoo, Evasen.; Quayle, Michael Frank.
Classical attribution theorists developed models of causal attribution that reflected their belief that people were primarily interested in attribution accuracy. These models did not consider contextual factors such as relationships and societal norms which resulted in the emergence of several empirical puzzles many of which are related to the use of consensus information. This study investigates whether the puzzle of the differential treatment of consensus information can be solved if it is assumed that people are primarily concerned with social features of the attribution setting rather than strict attribution accuracy. This study experimentally tests the role of key aspects of the social context such as the impact of social strategies in Kelley’s model of attribution to explore whether some of its empirical anomalies could have their origins in the social aspects of attribution in research contexts. The study found that participants were 2.63 times more likely to provide ‘inaccurate’ responses when there was a risk that the accurate answer would be socially disruptive. Findings from this study suggest that participants prioritise the implications of the social context over attribution accuracy.
Conceptions of illness, help seeking pathways and attitudes towards an integrated health care system : perspectives from psychological counsellors, traditional healers and health care users.
(2008) Zondo, Siyabulela Felicia.; Mkhize, Nhlanhla Jerome.
Perceptions of health and illness which include the perceived cause and recourse play an important role in diagnosis and management of illness. Traditional and allopathic medicines are used simultaneously and sometimes without the knowledge of the health professional and this has an impact on clinical outcomes. Overlooking patients’ subjective experience, health providers’ biases and prejudice may pose a negative impact on clinical outcomes. This study explores patients’, traditional healers’ and psychological counselors’ perception of illness by conducting interviews and administering open-ended questionnaires. The data is analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively through the use of content analysis and non-parametric statistical procedures. The results indicate that the concept of illness is complex and multidimensional with physical and socio-spiritual aspects. Effective management requires a joint approach between indigenous and western health systems. The results further show that traditional healers fully embrace the integrated health approach while there is some skepticism and uncertainty from psychological counselors which could be stemming from their training. There is still work to be done in terms of health planning and policy but also the training of health professionals.
"Deaf ears and closed minds : do you hear the child's voice?" : exploring disclosures from the perspective of child rape victims.
(2008) Latif, Suhaila.; Collings, Steven John.
Despite recent increases in public, media and research concern with the issue of child rape, not much is known about the disclosure of this phenomenon. This study focused on exploring disclosure from the perspective of child rape victims (i.e., elucidating the subjective meaning of disclosure for children, as well as exploring the circumstances, and factors that facilitate or hinder disclosure). The sampling frame included 16 cases of child rape (12 girls and 4 boys) in the age range 5-17 years old, with 12 years being the average age of the children. The process of thematic analysis revealed three broad thematic areas, as well as a number of dominant and sub-themes. The first broad thematic area, Pre-Disclosure, provides insight into the intrapersonal process children undergo in the aftermath of rape; the children's thoughts and anxieties in coming to understand that they have been raped; and the decision-making process they underwent prior to disclosing their rape experience(s). The second thematic area, Disclosure, provides insight into the children's lived experiences of disclosing their rape and of the disclosure process. At this point in the disclosure process, disclosure is not only experienced at the intrapersonal level, but is experienced in relation to others (interpersonal level). Lastly, Post-Disclosure, provides insight into the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup/ institutional influences in the aftermath of disclosure that play a role in the child's feelings about having disclosed, their evaluation if disclosing was worthwhile, and their decision to engage in subsequent disclosures (i.e., to keep telling). The present study indicated that disclosure can best be conceptualised using the 'Tipping the Balance' model (London Family Court Clinic, 1995). This theoretical model employs a scale as a metaphor for the competing influences on a child who is sexually victimised, and proposes that a fragile balancing act precedes the decision to disclose (London Family Court Clinic, 1995). Such a decision is affected by competing pressures (intrapersonal, interpersonal and intergroup/ institutional), and by what the present study has identified as facilitators and inhibitors. In each child's case, the balance must tip so that the facilitators and perceived benefits outweigh the influence of the many factors which can inhibit disclosure (London Family Court Clinic, 1995). In addition, the decision to use the ecosystemic theory as a conceptual framework for the present research proved to be of heuristic value as it recognises the multiple levels of influence (intrapersonal, interpersonal, inter-group/institutional) that have an effect on the child.
Caring for AIDS patients in a rural hospital setting : nurses' perspectives.
(2009) Zulu, Nhlanhla Dennis.; Meyer-Weitz, Anna.
The aim of the study was to explore nurses' experiences, attitudes and perceptions regarding the care of patients with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) before and after the introduction of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) in a rural KwaZulu-Natal hospital .. A secondary aim was to investigate psychosocial stressors that nurses experience and the support they receive in this regard. A qualitative study was conducted and three focus group discussions were conducted before the introduction of ART and five individual interviews were used for in-depth exploration of the health care workers' perceptions of caring for AIDS patients after the introduction of ART. Special attention was paid to nurses' experiences with AI DS patient care and with attention to stress and coping. The AACN Synergy Model was used as a broad theoretical framework for the study to guide the exploration regarding the influence of both nurse and patient characteristics influence the care process within a rural South African context. The findings suggested that before the introduction of ARV-therapy most patients had limited knowledge and understanding of HIV/AIDS disease and its processes. They and other significant others who could be a family member or even friends were marginally involved in the care process. Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) seemed to impact negatively on this situation, and patients were not willing to test and disclose their status to health workers. The knowledge around HIV/AIDS among nurses seemed to be inadequate due to the lack of support and training. They reported being inadequately equipped to deal effectively with caring for their AIDS patients. After the introduction of ARV-therapy, greater involvement of patients on ARV treatment was noted. The participation of significant others in patient management also improved possibly due to their involvement as treatment associates, a requirement of the ART programme. However, the nurses still reported inadequate knowledge not only around AIDS in general but also pertaining ART as well as in the provision of psychosocial support to their patients. The study also revealed that the Synergy Model for patient care, which compares the patient characteristics to nurse competencies can be used to gain insight into patient care and its demands. This model has also suggested weaknesses in nurses' training that need attention. Nurses are expected to use insight into patients needs to improve their competencies to meet the challenges of AIDS patient care and to fulfill their mandate as the key stakeholders on patient care. Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) views on stress and coping were useful in identifying the nurses' coping strategies. The study highlighted specific areas in need of intervention. Formal and informal teaching for both nurses and the patients on HIV and AIDS management needs to be introduced. Patients and families' involvement in decision making and HIV/AIDS disease management should be expanded. HIV counseling and all its components, which are pre- and post-counseling as well as on-going disease management counseling needs to be re-evaluated. There is a need to advocate for a more patient orientated counseling rather than test orientated counseling. Psychosocial support to nurses should be a priority to help them cope with their stressful AIDS caring work. Advocacy for a worker friendly Employee Assistance Program (EAP) should be encouraged by the managers of the institution. Intra-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary communication needs to be improved through innovative strategies. The address of the AI DS stigma within the healthcare system remains a priority and this aspect needs to be incorporated at different levels i.e. basic training, in counseling and within the psychosocial support efforts directed at nurses.
A description of kinship care placements in Ekukhanyeni, Nkandla local municipality.
(2009) Msomi, Irene Zodwa.; Simpson, Barbara.
The Department of Social Development has made good progress in finalizing children's court enquiries and placing children officially in formal foster care with relatives. This has major implications for accessing social support in the form of foster care grants and is aimed at reducing the burden of poverty. However, there are challenges in terms of follow-up and professional foster care supervision to meet the goals or vision of the Department. Supervision of placements is not done and it is not known how placements are progressing after Children's Court enquiries. Foster parents are referred to South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) for foster grant processing and no further contact is made with the clients unless there is a problem with the foster care grant. The foster family is seen after two years when it is time for review of care placement of the child. We do not provide support to kinship carers or close supervision to children in kinship care. The overall aim of the research was: • To investigate the physical and material circumstances of the families. • To explore the psycho-social needs of the children. • To explore the physical and emotional problems of the kinship carers • To identify support systems available to kinship carers. This research provides a comprehensive description of the living circumstances of the children and the families. This will enable social workers at the Department of Social Development to develop tailor made community and group work programmes to address specific areas of concern and so improve social service delivery to children and their caregivers. It has also provided a baseline for further studies which may be pursued to establish whether the type of care has improved.
An evaluation of a reorientation training programme in changing nurses attitudes towards the provision of mental health care.
(2008) Madi, Nompumelelo.; Memela, Nonjabulo Cynthia.
The transition from the apartheid rule to a new democracy in South Africa has been accompanied by a vision of a national health care system that is based on the principles of universal primary health care. This vision opens up access to provision of mental health to everyone. This means that nurses, as gate-keepers of primary health care, have had to be trained in identification and management of minor mental health problems that are presented in their community clinics as well as health centres. For the current study, the need for such training was identified by an intern psychologist placed in one of the clinics in the area of KwaDedangendlale Valley of a Thousand Hills. His work in the area alerted him to the shortcomings of the nurses in both identification and management of what was perceived to be mental health problems. These shortcomings included the nurses' inability to identity and hence properly refer patients who needed the intervention of a professional mental health specialist. From this, a training programme which also included a reorientation process to deal with negative attitudes that are usually levied against the mentally ill was undertaken. Reorientation in this context was based on the assumption that prior to training nurses had a particular world view or position towards the provision of health care, which was identified to be biomedical and this training sought to re-orientate them towards the provision of a more holistic care which is inclusive of psycho social aspect of functioning The follow up to that training and reorientation programme was an evaluation component. This sought to ascertain whether after training, nurses were better equipped to identify and manage mental health problems. Further to that, the researcher sought to identify whether their attitudes had improved, such that they would be willing to deal with patients who presented with minor psychiatric problems. The objective of the current study is to present results of the evaluation component that was undertaken after training. This evaluation took into consideration both the process undertaken during training and the outcome of the reorientation process itself. Process evaluation focused on what makes a programme successful or unsuccessful. This included how the training was undertaken, i.e. manner of instruction etc. Outcome evaluation focused on establishing how good the programme was and whether it managed to provide desired outcomes i.e. change in nurses' attitudes. The Physician's Belief Scale (Ashworth, Williamson & Montano, 1984) was used for both the pre and post evaluation of the nurses' attitudes. The results revealed that before training, nurses had limited knowledge of mental health problems and as a consequence of this limited knowledge they developed negative attitudes towards provision of mental health care. One of the unexpected results of the study was the response of one of the groups of the nurses trained to the integrative manner of instruction. Their response highlighted the importance of understanding the influence of the padagogy on knowledge transmission and acquisition. Nurses reported to be accustomed to harsh pedagogical methods, used during formal nursing training. This kind of pedagogy was viewed as disempowering, as well as somewhat disrespectful, and hence, the much as the friendly and warm atmosphere presented by the facilitators in the current study was viewed as a welcomed change and an empowering process. Most importantly, one was also alerted to the importance of providing ongoing support to health care professionals after being trained. As Petersen (2000) has cautioned that should there be no additional mentoring or support, nurses would be likely to revert to their usuaVold styles of dealing with their patients' problems, given that the training does not necessarily change their environments. They would still be pressured to see large numbers of patients within a limited time period. And because of this, it becomes easier to just prescribing medication than to explore issues that are psychological in nature.
Do cumulative mild head injuries in rugby affect neuropsychological performance? : a comparative study between club rugby players and non-contact sport athletes.
(2008) Pentz, Hayley Liza.; Mansfield, Douglas John.
Context: Concussion is a major sports medicine concern that is currently under scrutinisation worldwide. Well-publicised cases of careers ending due to multiple concussions, and the potential for permanent, disabling neurocognitive deficits have raised concerns and encouraged further research to take place. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate subjects exposed to mild head injuries with the aim of determining if neuro logical sequelae are detectable. The objectives of this study were to evaluate changes in neuropsychological performance over a period of playing rugby for one full season, which extended over nine months. This study investigated the relationship between concussion history and neuropsychological performance relating to the possible cumulative effects of concussion. Neuropsychological functioning in recently concussed athletes was compared with that of non-injured (control) athletes to detect whether neurological sequelae were present. Investigation into the relationship between post-concussion symptoms and neuropsychological performance was evaluated. The position of play was analysed to see if there were any measurable differences m neuropsychological performance present between forward and backline players. Design, Setting, and Participants: 35 club rugby players and 35 non-contact sports athletes were assessed over a period of 9 months. Both groups underwent pre-season baseline testing and post-season testing. A comprehensive battery of reliable and valid neuropsychological tests was used to assess these subjects, with particular focus on the following 5 areas of cognition: planning, visuo spatial and constructional ability; attention and concentration; memory; verbal fluency and speed of information processing. Results: The data showed that significant differences occurred in rugby players participating regularly in the sport over one full season in terms of changes in neuropsychological test performance in a range of cognitive domains, including planning, visual spatial and constructional ability, attention and concentration, memory and verbal fluency. Numerous significant relationships were found between certain Post Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) scores and poor neuropsychological performance, which were considered indicative of subtle effects of sub-concussive injuries and mild head injury (MHI). Surprisingly, following the assessment of concussed players during the season, the data did not show any reliable significant declines in cognitive performance compared to their baseline testing. However, mean scores of the concussed group did show a trend of decreased neuropsychological performance in almost every cognitive domain following the concussive injury. The data did not show any significant relationship between a history of three or more previous concussions and neuropsychological performance. Furthermore, no significant differences in neuropsychological performance between backline and forward players were evident. Conclusion: This research demonstrates that concussion can present serious consequences for athletes and warrants the attention it has received. This present study gives a clear description of the potential negative consequences of playing rugby, which are evident by looking at the change in scores between pre- and post-season testing and poorer performance in most neuropsychological measures following a concussive injury. Although this study dealt mainly with 'normal' players, the results shown here are a cause for concern. What has become evident is that the player need not be exposed to severe concussion in order to experience some form of cognitive impairments. Even if these impairments are minimal, they are however still present and have the potential of accumulating, which could lead to disastrous permanent deficits.
Educational psychologists' perceptions of their role in the Pietermaritzburg area.
(2008) Pitchford, Tessa May; Hough, Angela Mary.; Mankayi, Nyameka.
With vast changes occurring in the South African context since 1994, it is clear that the role of educational psychologists has also shifted. While changes have occurred, numerous difficulties still exist within the education sector highlighting the need for educational psychologists. However, there appears to be disagreement about how the role is perceived in the Health Professions Council of South Africa, training institutions and in practice. For these reasons, this study seeks to unpack educational psychologists' perceptions of their role within the Pietermaritzburg area. A qualitative methodology is employed using semi-structured interviews with a number of practitioners in the area. The study found that the role of educational psychologists is complex, affected by individual variables and various contextual shifts and tensions. This finding has implications for the training of educational psychologists and raises questions around their place within education itself.
Attitudes of university students towards euthanasia.
(2008) Nkwinika, Khazamula Thomas.
Euthanasia has emerged as one of the leading ethical and moral issues of our time. This practice has been debated ever since ancient times. Medical and religious organizations are the front runners of this debate. At present, people of all classes have joined in and euthanasia movements have increased. Arguments in favour of euthanasia focus on the principles of self-determination and autonomy. The opponents on the other hand stress the danger of abuse of the practice and benefits of palliative care. The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes of university students towards the practice of euthanasia. The sample comprised three-hundred and ninety-two students from the faculties of Theology (100), Human Sciences (96), Law (99) and Medicine (99). Convenience sampling method was used to select the sample. Four different scales were used to collect data. MANOVA was used to analyze data. The results of this study showed that age and gender were not associated with the students' attitudes towards euthanasia, experiences with regards to end-of-life situations, level of religious beliefs and beliefs in autonomy. The students' year of study was also not associated with their attitudes towards euthanasia, level of religious beliefs as well as beliefs in autonomy. However, the findings showed that senior students had more experiences with regards to end-of-life situations, followed by post graduate while first- year students had the least experiences. Faculty was found to be associated with attitudes towards euthanasia, experiences with end-of-life situations as well as level of religious beliefs. Theology followed by Medical students showed the most positive attitudes towards euthanasia. Human sciences had the least positive attitudes towards euthanasia. Theology students had more experiences with regard to end-of-life situations while Human sciences showed the least experiences. Theology students were the most religious of the groups while Human sciences were the least. Medical students had the highest autonomy more than Human sciences students.
An investigation into the influence of target category manipulation on the results obtained in the implicit association test (IAT) in race and gender domains.
(2008) Tooke, Larry Frank.
The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a computer-based psychological test that measures implicit attitudes, stereotypes and beliefs. In an effort to better understand the applicability and limitations of the IAT researchers have investigated the effects of manipulating a variety of procedural variables that comprise the IAT, not least the IAT categories and the exemplars that are instances of those categories. This study investigated the effects of manipulating the IAT's target categories that define the attitudinal domain that the IAT measures. Experiments were devised to determine the IAT's sensitivity to minor and major semantic manipulations to its target categories while keeping exemplars and attribute categories constant. It was found that the IAT was sensitive to major semantic differences in its target categories, but was apparently insensitive to minor semantic category differences, implying that it is unable to discriminate between subtle distinctions in attitude. It was hypothesised that this latter finding could have been partly due to a temporary cognitive re-definition of the categories in accordance with the salient characteristics of the exemplars.
Conceptions of research and attitudes towards research and research collaboration : a community perspective.
(2009) Zukelwa, Nondumiso.; Mkhize, Nhlanhla Jerome.
This study investigated community members’ understanding of research and res earch collaboration. Their attitudes towards research, as well as their perceptions of research, were explored as were factors that affected their understanding of research and research collaboration. The study used maximum variation sampling to select 12 participants who occupy di fferent influential positions in the community. The current study was conducted in the eas tern part of KwaZulu-Natal. An interview guide was used to collect data, aimed at acquir ing in-depth understanding of community conceptions of research and research collaboration. The at titudes and perceptions of the research were examined. Lastly, factors that affect research and research collaboration were explored. The results suggest that the participants have a limited understanding of Wes tern research. Community training and education is thus warranted. Participants indicated that community members would appreciate the establishment of relationships characterised b y mutual respect for different world views held by researchers and participants. This was viewed a s a vehicle towards a more consultative approach to research which does not overlook the interface of world views for research outcomes to be useful. This was also perceived as likely to facil itate adequate participation in decision making in the research process. The involvement of key community members was emphasised.
A qualitative study exploring black women's perceptions of the impact of women's changing socio-economic status on intimate heterosexual relationships
(2009) Sedumedi, Precious.
This study explored Black women’s perceptions of the impact of women’s changing socio-economic status on their intimate relationships. The study used the theoretical resources of social constructionism and feminism. Seven Black women (African, ‘Coloured’, and Indian) were recruited from a banking and an academic institution using convenience non-probability sampling technique. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data which was analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that participants viewed the change in women’s socio-economic status and roles as rendering some women more vulnerable to abuse. The participants reported that women’s shift in socio-economic status imposes a threat to masculinity leaving some men feeling intimidated, insecure, and emasculated. Most men were seen as responding to their feelings of intimidation by leaving their partners for a less financially independent woman, or by abusing their current partners. Some men were considered to use domestic violence to exert their power and control over women, express their authority, as well as police and maintain the boundaries of femininity and masculinity. Analysis indicated that for a number of reasons women continue to remain vulnerable to experiencing domestic violence irrespective of their socio-economic status. It was also evident in the study that some working women find themselves in a dilemma of choosing between their careers and family. Some self-reliant wives were seen as having to forfeit senior occupational ranks due to the expectation that their husbands would be disapproving and unsupportive. The respondents stated that other financially stable women are reluctant to marry because they fear being controlled, losing their sense of autonomy, and the ability to make their own decisions without seeking their husbands’ approval. However, it also revealed in this study that women’s changing financial status was seen as entitling them with power and control of their sexuality. As the result, women seem to perceive men as being under pressure to be romantic and satisfy their partners’ sexual needs so as to maintain the relationship. This study highlights an important area for further research as it is likely that the shift in Black women’s socioeconomic status will continue to impact and shape heterosexual relationships in particular ways.
An investigation of the association of peer norms and sexual risk-taking behaviour in school-going adolescents in the Durban Metropolitan Area.
(2009) Kodi, Charlene.
Today’s youth grow up in a world riddled by HIV/AIDS and its devastating effects. In order to prevent HIV infection in youth, there is an ongoing need to understand the influences that place them at risk in order to develop programmes to mediate these influences towards healthy outcomes. Sexual risk behaviors are influenced by various factors ranging from intrapersonal to social normative and contextual/environmental factors. This study focuses on the social normative contextual influences on adolescent sexual risk behaviours in an attempt to understand sexual behaviours, in a sample of school going adolescents from grades nine, ten and eleven, in the Durban Metropolitan area (N=259). This study aimed to examine the relationship, if any, between protective peer norm influences and adolescent sexual behaviour, including sexual risk-taking behaviours, measured by the dimensions of condom use at last sexual encounter, number of sexual partners and age of sexual debut. The findings showed no significant difference in levels of protective peer norms between those who have never engaged in sexual intercourse (primary abstinence) and those that had. The findings did, however, show significantly higher levels of protective peer norm influence regarding safe sexual practices, particularly condom use, among those who reportedly used condoms at their last sexual encounter, confirming that those who practiced safer sex had higher levels of protective peer norm influence. The findings of this study suggest the need for lifeskills programmes to empower youth to challenge social norms that place youth at risk of HIV infection, and further to include interventions to facilitate the renegotiation of peer norms towards health enhancing alternatives, to protect adolescents against sexual risk behaviours.

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