Relevance of the family assessment for least developed countries (FALDC) assessment tool rendering child protection services in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mgidi, Siphelele
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Child abuse -- South Africa -- Prevention Family social work -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6335 , vital:29578
- Description: Assessment tools have been used for various purposes, including for protecting children from maltreatment. The main aim of this study was to to evaluate and determine the relevance of the Family Assessment for Leased Developed Countries (FALDC) assessment tool for child protection services in the Eastern Cape Province. The research was conducted using the social developmental welfare approach (Patel, 2005) and ecological systems theory (Healy, 2005). The study made use of the qualitative research method; in doing so the study made use of the case study design. In using the qualitative research method, focus group discussions were conducted with 29 social workers involved in child protection services. The findings of the study indicated that the FALDC assessment tool provides information useful for child protection services even though it contains sections that are regarded as less relevant to child protection. The study also founded that the FALDC assessment tool is relevant to child protection in the South African context, yet it needs to be aligned so that it provides much of the information desired by those involved in child protection. A conclusion drawn from this study is that the FALDC assessment tool appears to be relevant for child protection services. The FALDC assessment tool needs to be adjusted taking into consideration other aspects important to child protection in the South African child protection context.
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- Date Issued: 2016
Exploring the attitudes of selected community members on the interplay between incidences of poverty and the escalation of HIV/AIDS in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mrashula, Zodidi
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape AIDS (Disease) -- Economic aspects Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/7941 , vital:30987
- Description: Cofimvaba has had a noticeable increase of people who got infected with HIV/AIDS and is one of the poorest of the poor in the Eastern Cape. Hence, the researcher became interested to investigate the interplay between incidences of poverty and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. The reasons for the continued increase of HIV infection in Cofimvaba were investigated. The study used a qualitative approach, was descriptive and explorative and specifically used a case study as a specific research design. The study investigated 32 participants, nine of whom were infected and diagnosed to be seropositive between the years 2012, and 2014; six community members; twelve from the volunteer care givers who were members from the support group. The study also investigated a number of key informants who included a traditional leader, a care giver, a nurse, a social worker and a community development practitioner. The study used a non-probability sampling methodology, but specifically purposive sampling technique. On data collection, the study triangulated both in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The findings of the study revealed that people who are infected with HIV/AIDS are unemployed, illiterate and suffer from poverty. The study also found that poor people are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infections. The study findings were as follows: There is a lack knowledge about HIV/AIDS that leads to lack of prevention. It has been discovered that there is a high level of poverty and HIV/AIDS in Cofimvaba. High level of unemployment is a contributing factor of poverty and high level of HIV/AIDS in Cofimvaba. Level of unprotected sex as driver of HIV/AIDS has also been identified. There is an inextricable relationship poverty and prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Unreliability of the food parcel on people who are HIV positive leads to poverty. The study findings were also as: Caregivers breaching the ethos and principle of confidentiality leads to people not to to HIV/disclose their HIV/AIDS status. Migration driving vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. It has been insisted that transactional sex drives to HIV/AIDS. Low HIV/AIDS education makes people to be vulnerable to HIVAIDS., The fear of testing makes people unaware of their HIV/AIDS status. Also the excessive alcohol intake as a driver to HIV/AIDS vulnerability. It has also been noted that only women responded to the study and there was a high rate of death revealed on account of HIV/AIDS in Cofimvaba. The researcher has also made the following recommendations to the study: obligatory psychol-social support programs for PLWHA, extension and replication of community based organisation, collaboration between different stakeholders in the HIV/AIDS domain. Widen the horizon of training education and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and availability of counselling, job opportunity, social grants and food parcels.
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- Date Issued: 2017