Risk factors contributing to child sexual abuse in the Ingwavuma district
- Authors: Mabika, Thabi
- Date: 2012-02-28
- Subjects: Cild sexual abuse , Ingwavuma (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2099 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4444
- Description: M.A. , The main purpose of the study was to investigate specific factors that may contribute to child sexual abuse in the community of Ingwavuma in KwaZulu-Natal. The social workers’ office caseload showed that the occurrence of this phenomenon outweighs other social problems that affect children in the district. This inquiry examined the relationships between environmental, personal and familial factors that contribute to child sexual abuse in the area. The researcher targeted the community of Ingwavuma, because she works in this area. Participants were child victims and their families. Only cases that were resolved were used, in order to avoid emotional distress. Cases were selected randomly from the caseload, and a qualitative approach was used in order to obtain a more thorough understanding, meaning, perceptions and other subjectivities of the social phenomenon of child sexual abuse. Extensive literature controls were used to validate the collected data. Content analysis of open-ended responses revealed that there is excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse by perpetrators. They also exercised force and threats to intimidate victims if they disclose the abuse to family members. The most dominant risk factors of child sexual abuse were the following circumstances: presence of step-parents in the household, poverty, unemployment, lack of supervision by parents, poor parent-child relationships, and strong adherence to cultural and traditional practices, children travelling long distances to school unaccompanied and inadequate housing. A unique finding of the present research was that the fruit of the marula tree, which grows in the vicinity of Ingwavuma, has similar effects to that of alcohol, if brewed. Notwithstanding that, further studies concerning this factor need to be done for validity purposes.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mabika, Thabi
- Date: 2012-02-28
- Subjects: Cild sexual abuse , Ingwavuma (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2099 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4444
- Description: M.A. , The main purpose of the study was to investigate specific factors that may contribute to child sexual abuse in the community of Ingwavuma in KwaZulu-Natal. The social workers’ office caseload showed that the occurrence of this phenomenon outweighs other social problems that affect children in the district. This inquiry examined the relationships between environmental, personal and familial factors that contribute to child sexual abuse in the area. The researcher targeted the community of Ingwavuma, because she works in this area. Participants were child victims and their families. Only cases that were resolved were used, in order to avoid emotional distress. Cases were selected randomly from the caseload, and a qualitative approach was used in order to obtain a more thorough understanding, meaning, perceptions and other subjectivities of the social phenomenon of child sexual abuse. Extensive literature controls were used to validate the collected data. Content analysis of open-ended responses revealed that there is excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse by perpetrators. They also exercised force and threats to intimidate victims if they disclose the abuse to family members. The most dominant risk factors of child sexual abuse were the following circumstances: presence of step-parents in the household, poverty, unemployment, lack of supervision by parents, poor parent-child relationships, and strong adherence to cultural and traditional practices, children travelling long distances to school unaccompanied and inadequate housing. A unique finding of the present research was that the fruit of the marula tree, which grows in the vicinity of Ingwavuma, has similar effects to that of alcohol, if brewed. Notwithstanding that, further studies concerning this factor need to be done for validity purposes.
- Full Text:
Guidelines for the improvement of EAP services at SAPS Eastern Free State
- Authors: Komane, Lebogang Lorraine
- Date: 2011-12-06
- Subjects: South African Police Services , Employee assistance programs
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1811 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4173
- Description: M.A. , This study is based on developing guidelines that will enhance Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) services within the South African Police Services (SAPS). The implementation of EAP services within the SAPS has left the members confused as to whether these services are meant to assist management (i.e. their employer- to get rid of them), or are the services really meant for their benefit and well being. The qualitative research methodology was applied with the researcher selecting participatory action research to engage members and the management in the study. The type of action research was focus group. 6 focus group sessions were conducted in the SAPS-Eastern Free State, with a sample of 72 members and management out of the population of 4000. The findings of the study confirm that EAP services within the SAPS in the Eastern Free State are not effective. Most of the members are not familiar with the EAP services within the SAPS. Those who are aware are afraid to utilize them as they are under the impression that they will be stigmatized or will jeopardise their chances of promotion. It is thus important for the EAP practitioners to adapt to the monitory marketing strategies that will be applicable to the SAPS. The practitioners should strive to market their services to such an extent that members understand the impact of EAP services in their lives. The guidelines have been formulated to enhance the services of EAP practitioners within the SAPS.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Komane, Lebogang Lorraine
- Date: 2011-12-06
- Subjects: South African Police Services , Employee assistance programs
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1811 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4173
- Description: M.A. , This study is based on developing guidelines that will enhance Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) services within the South African Police Services (SAPS). The implementation of EAP services within the SAPS has left the members confused as to whether these services are meant to assist management (i.e. their employer- to get rid of them), or are the services really meant for their benefit and well being. The qualitative research methodology was applied with the researcher selecting participatory action research to engage members and the management in the study. The type of action research was focus group. 6 focus group sessions were conducted in the SAPS-Eastern Free State, with a sample of 72 members and management out of the population of 4000. The findings of the study confirm that EAP services within the SAPS in the Eastern Free State are not effective. Most of the members are not familiar with the EAP services within the SAPS. Those who are aware are afraid to utilize them as they are under the impression that they will be stigmatized or will jeopardise their chances of promotion. It is thus important for the EAP practitioners to adapt to the monitory marketing strategies that will be applicable to the SAPS. The practitioners should strive to market their services to such an extent that members understand the impact of EAP services in their lives. The guidelines have been formulated to enhance the services of EAP practitioners within the SAPS.
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Die belewenis van stres deur bestuurders van Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie-tehuise en-behuisingskemas
- Authors: Lamprecht, Verlaine
- Date: 2009-03-31T09:33:28Z
- Subjects: Executives' job stress , Caregivers' job stress
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8257 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2368
- Description: M.A. , Stres is ’n welbekende verskynsel in hedendaagse tye wat ’n ernstige impak het op die maatskaplike funksionering van mense. Individue ervaar dikwels hierdie impak veral binne hul werkomgewings, wat ’n direkte impak het op hul prestasies, medewerkers en kliënte. Binne diensorganisasies, soos die Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie, is daar vele uitdagings wat daagliks verskeie stresvolle situasies vir werknemers tot gevolg het. Wanneer hierdie situasies nie korrek hanteer word deur die beskikbaarheid en toepassing van doelgerigte intervensies, effektiewe streshanteringsvaardighede en ondersteuningsnetwerke nie, kan dit die kwaliteit diens negatief beïnvloed. Bestuurders van tehuise en behuisingskemas vir bejaardes en gestremdes vervul ’n baie verantwoordelike rol in hierdie inrigtings. Hierdie individue is aanspreeklik vir elke personeellid, inwoner en aksie wat vanuit die inrigting van stapel gestuur word. Deur middel van professionele waarneming deur die navorser, erkenning deur sekere van die bestuurders dat hulle wel stres ervaar, asook twee stresmetings, is vasgestel dat stres beslis ’n realiteit is binne die maatskaplike sisteme waarbinne hierdie individue funksioneer. Verskeie faktore dra by tot die belewenis van hul stres, waarby organisatoriese strukture, werkomstandighede, interpersoonlike verhoudings en verwagtinge slegs ’n paar is. Hierdie navorsingstudie se fokus is veral daarop gerig om te bepaal watter van hierdie faktore wel ’n rol speel sodat aanbevelings en riglyne vir die SAVF se oorweging aangebied kan word. Dit was die navorser se voorneme om deur middel van hierdie studie ‘n professionele ondersoek van stapel te stuur na die belewenis van stres deur bestuurders werksaam in die SAVF, sodat riglyne vanuit die ondersoek se resultate saamgestel kon word. Hierdie riglyne se doel is tweevoudig, eerstens om die individuele maatskaplike funksionering van die bestuurders te bevorder en tweedens om ’n positiewe impak op die kwaliteit diens wat vanuit hierdie strukture gelewer word, te fasiliteer. Stres is ‘n verskynsel wat dikwels ontken word en beslis nie die nodige erkenning en korrekte aandag ontvang nie. Veral binne diensorganisasies word die klem van ondersteuning en hulp hoofsaaklik op die kliëntesisteme geplaas, en dikwels word daar van diegene wat die diens lewer, se maatskaplike behoeftes vergeet. Met hierdie studie hoop die navorser om ’n positiewe bydrae te lewer om hierdie tendens effektief aan te pak.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lamprecht, Verlaine
- Date: 2009-03-31T09:33:28Z
- Subjects: Executives' job stress , Caregivers' job stress
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8257 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2368
- Description: M.A. , Stres is ’n welbekende verskynsel in hedendaagse tye wat ’n ernstige impak het op die maatskaplike funksionering van mense. Individue ervaar dikwels hierdie impak veral binne hul werkomgewings, wat ’n direkte impak het op hul prestasies, medewerkers en kliënte. Binne diensorganisasies, soos die Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie, is daar vele uitdagings wat daagliks verskeie stresvolle situasies vir werknemers tot gevolg het. Wanneer hierdie situasies nie korrek hanteer word deur die beskikbaarheid en toepassing van doelgerigte intervensies, effektiewe streshanteringsvaardighede en ondersteuningsnetwerke nie, kan dit die kwaliteit diens negatief beïnvloed. Bestuurders van tehuise en behuisingskemas vir bejaardes en gestremdes vervul ’n baie verantwoordelike rol in hierdie inrigtings. Hierdie individue is aanspreeklik vir elke personeellid, inwoner en aksie wat vanuit die inrigting van stapel gestuur word. Deur middel van professionele waarneming deur die navorser, erkenning deur sekere van die bestuurders dat hulle wel stres ervaar, asook twee stresmetings, is vasgestel dat stres beslis ’n realiteit is binne die maatskaplike sisteme waarbinne hierdie individue funksioneer. Verskeie faktore dra by tot die belewenis van hul stres, waarby organisatoriese strukture, werkomstandighede, interpersoonlike verhoudings en verwagtinge slegs ’n paar is. Hierdie navorsingstudie se fokus is veral daarop gerig om te bepaal watter van hierdie faktore wel ’n rol speel sodat aanbevelings en riglyne vir die SAVF se oorweging aangebied kan word. Dit was die navorser se voorneme om deur middel van hierdie studie ‘n professionele ondersoek van stapel te stuur na die belewenis van stres deur bestuurders werksaam in die SAVF, sodat riglyne vanuit die ondersoek se resultate saamgestel kon word. Hierdie riglyne se doel is tweevoudig, eerstens om die individuele maatskaplike funksionering van die bestuurders te bevorder en tweedens om ’n positiewe impak op die kwaliteit diens wat vanuit hierdie strukture gelewer word, te fasiliteer. Stres is ‘n verskynsel wat dikwels ontken word en beslis nie die nodige erkenning en korrekte aandag ontvang nie. Veral binne diensorganisasies word die klem van ondersteuning en hulp hoofsaaklik op die kliëntesisteme geplaas, en dikwels word daar van diegene wat die diens lewer, se maatskaplike behoeftes vergeet. Met hierdie studie hoop die navorser om ’n positiewe bydrae te lewer om hierdie tendens effektief aan te pak.
- Full Text:
Multicultural scale development in social work
- Van Breda, Adrian Du Plessis
- Authors: Van Breda, Adrian Du Plessis
- Date: 2010-05-27T06:03:31Z
- Subjects: Services for ethnic groups , Multiculturalism , Social work with minorities , Intercultural communication
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6843 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3275
- Description: M.A. , This study serves to expand the work of A.C. Faul on scale development in social work to incorporate the demand for multiculturalism. Ecometrics – the measurement of ecosystems – is a steadily growing field in South Africa. To date, however, scale development has assumed that the ecometrics will be practiced in a monocultural context. This is obviously not the case in South Africa. Consequently, the research goal is to design a process model for the development of social work scales for multicultural use in South Africa. As a secondary objective, the study aims to test this model in practice, through the development of a multicultural scale that accurately measures the social health of military employees/families. A number of issues underlying the technical aspects of multicultural scale development are first explored, including issues of the characteristics of ecometrics; the meaning of the term culture; the emic-etic debate; cultural equivalence; and bias, fairness and standards in ecometrics. Thereafter, a process model for the development of multicultural ecometric scales is introduced and five main phases are described: analysis, design, development, evaluation, and diffusion & adoption. Each of these phases is further decomposed into main moments and steps, each of which is described at both theoretical and technical levels. In order to test this process model in the real world, a new multicultural, multilingual, multidimensional, systems-oriented, salutogenic scale was created, called the Military Social Health Index. In the analysis phase, the need for the scale was analysed and the innovation requirements determined and contracted with the client. A theoretical framework – family resilience theory – was identified and explored, resulting in the development of an assessment model that underlies the scale. The cross-cultural comparability of the constructs was assessed and each construct was operationally defined, using facet maps. In the design phase, a multicultural, multilingual team of social workers generated close to 200 items, as well as instructions, using a multifocus approach, in which items were generated in four languages simultaneously (English, Zulu, Setswana and Afrikaans). Only items that could be expressed equivalently across languages were accepted. This resulted in an initial instrument, comprising 175 items (plus 16 demographic items), covering seven constructs, in four languages, at an average reading level of Grades 6-7. During the development (or field testing) phase, the instrument was reviewed by a group of social workers for content relevance, translation equivalence, item formulation, etc. Thereafter it was reviewed by focus groups of soldiers in the SANDF. Finally, the instrument was subjected to an analysis of linguistic equivalence. In response to each review, changes were made to the instrument.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van Breda, Adrian Du Plessis
- Date: 2010-05-27T06:03:31Z
- Subjects: Services for ethnic groups , Multiculturalism , Social work with minorities , Intercultural communication
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6843 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3275
- Description: M.A. , This study serves to expand the work of A.C. Faul on scale development in social work to incorporate the demand for multiculturalism. Ecometrics – the measurement of ecosystems – is a steadily growing field in South Africa. To date, however, scale development has assumed that the ecometrics will be practiced in a monocultural context. This is obviously not the case in South Africa. Consequently, the research goal is to design a process model for the development of social work scales for multicultural use in South Africa. As a secondary objective, the study aims to test this model in practice, through the development of a multicultural scale that accurately measures the social health of military employees/families. A number of issues underlying the technical aspects of multicultural scale development are first explored, including issues of the characteristics of ecometrics; the meaning of the term culture; the emic-etic debate; cultural equivalence; and bias, fairness and standards in ecometrics. Thereafter, a process model for the development of multicultural ecometric scales is introduced and five main phases are described: analysis, design, development, evaluation, and diffusion & adoption. Each of these phases is further decomposed into main moments and steps, each of which is described at both theoretical and technical levels. In order to test this process model in the real world, a new multicultural, multilingual, multidimensional, systems-oriented, salutogenic scale was created, called the Military Social Health Index. In the analysis phase, the need for the scale was analysed and the innovation requirements determined and contracted with the client. A theoretical framework – family resilience theory – was identified and explored, resulting in the development of an assessment model that underlies the scale. The cross-cultural comparability of the constructs was assessed and each construct was operationally defined, using facet maps. In the design phase, a multicultural, multilingual team of social workers generated close to 200 items, as well as instructions, using a multifocus approach, in which items were generated in four languages simultaneously (English, Zulu, Setswana and Afrikaans). Only items that could be expressed equivalently across languages were accepted. This resulted in an initial instrument, comprising 175 items (plus 16 demographic items), covering seven constructs, in four languages, at an average reading level of Grades 6-7. During the development (or field testing) phase, the instrument was reviewed by a group of social workers for content relevance, translation equivalence, item formulation, etc. Thereafter it was reviewed by focus groups of soldiers in the SANDF. Finally, the instrument was subjected to an analysis of linguistic equivalence. In response to each review, changes were made to the instrument.
- Full Text:
The well-being of HIV/AIDS employees
- Authors: More, Penelope Sekgametsi
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Research -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- Research -- South Africa , Occupational diseases -- Diagnosis -- Social aspects -- Research -- South Africa , Employee attitude surveys -- Research -- South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7658
- Description: M.A. , Virtually unheard of two decades ago, AIDS is, at the turn of the century, one of the best known and most talked about disease on the globe. A decade ago, HIV was regarded primarily as a serious health crisis. What had first appeared to be a disease confined to certain well-defined populations such as gay men and haemophiliacs became a disease that threatened everyone, everywhere. AIDS has become a fullblown threat to development and its social and economic consequences are felt widely not only in the workplace but also in the human resource field and the economy in general. The HIV epidemic is the most important challenge facing South Africa since the birth of democracy. The implications of HIV in the workplace are scary. Even though HIV affects all of us, it has become a workplace issue that must be addressed simply because work is one of the most important dimensions in the life of the individual. The workplace can be a scene of prejudice, discrimination, rejection and harassment, for people affected by HIV, and those feelings are fuelled by ignorance and fear of infection. HIV-positive employees suffer high levels of depression, anxiety, fear and a great degree of uncertainty associated with the diagnosis. Instead of rejecting, stigmatising and isolating positive employees, a collective commitment is needed by the workplace to treat positive employees with dignity and respect. Because the workplace is such an important element in the individual's life, it has been demonstrated to be life lengthening and fulfilling for employees to remain in familiar, supportive and productive surroundings even after being diagnosed HIV-positive (Masi, 1993). The researcher examined how HIV affects employee functioning in the work environment. A qualitative research design is followed using a framework based on Straus and Corbin (1990). Purposive, non-probability sampling is used. Data is captured by using an unstructured, open-ended interview schedule. In this study data analysis is completed manually. Literature is reviewed to validate the findings and lastly conclusions and recommendations are presented.
- Full Text:
- Authors: More, Penelope Sekgametsi
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Research -- South Africa , AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects -- Research -- South Africa , Occupational diseases -- Diagnosis -- Social aspects -- Research -- South Africa , Employee attitude surveys -- Research -- South Africa
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10290 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7658
- Description: M.A. , Virtually unheard of two decades ago, AIDS is, at the turn of the century, one of the best known and most talked about disease on the globe. A decade ago, HIV was regarded primarily as a serious health crisis. What had first appeared to be a disease confined to certain well-defined populations such as gay men and haemophiliacs became a disease that threatened everyone, everywhere. AIDS has become a fullblown threat to development and its social and economic consequences are felt widely not only in the workplace but also in the human resource field and the economy in general. The HIV epidemic is the most important challenge facing South Africa since the birth of democracy. The implications of HIV in the workplace are scary. Even though HIV affects all of us, it has become a workplace issue that must be addressed simply because work is one of the most important dimensions in the life of the individual. The workplace can be a scene of prejudice, discrimination, rejection and harassment, for people affected by HIV, and those feelings are fuelled by ignorance and fear of infection. HIV-positive employees suffer high levels of depression, anxiety, fear and a great degree of uncertainty associated with the diagnosis. Instead of rejecting, stigmatising and isolating positive employees, a collective commitment is needed by the workplace to treat positive employees with dignity and respect. Because the workplace is such an important element in the individual's life, it has been demonstrated to be life lengthening and fulfilling for employees to remain in familiar, supportive and productive surroundings even after being diagnosed HIV-positive (Masi, 1993). The researcher examined how HIV affects employee functioning in the work environment. A qualitative research design is followed using a framework based on Straus and Corbin (1990). Purposive, non-probability sampling is used. Data is captured by using an unstructured, open-ended interview schedule. In this study data analysis is completed manually. Literature is reviewed to validate the findings and lastly conclusions and recommendations are presented.
- Full Text:
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