Professional nurses’ attitudes and perceptions towards mentally ill in an associated psychiatric hospital

Research indicates that professional nurses with additional training in mental health nursing demonstrate more positive attitudes and perceptions towards mentally ill patients compared to those with less training. The aim of this study was to identify the factors which influence the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses towards the mentally ill. A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive design was employed and cross-sectional survey was carried out among 60 professional nurses who were in permanent employment at a governmental associated psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. The findings indicated that nurses with post-registration diplomas in psychiatric nursing reported significantly higher role competency than those who only completed the basic four-year comprehensive nursing programme. The ethnicity of nurses played a role in the stereotyping of the mentally ill. No significant differences were evident between those professional nurses who had completed the advanced mental health course and those who had not. It is thus recommended that an introductory programme that addresses fallacies and negative attitudes towards the mentally ill should be made mandatory for all the students from the very early stages of their training.Department of HE and Training approved lis

Professional nurses’ attitudes and perceptions towards the mentally ill in an associated psychiatric hospital

Magister Curationis - MCurProfessional nurses, with additional training in mental health, report attitudes and perceptions of mental health nursing that are more positive, whilst those with less training report more negative attitudes and perceptions to mental health nursing. The primary aim of this research study was to describe the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses towards the mentally ill in a psychiatric hospital in the Cape Metropole. The objectives of the study were: to explore the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses towards the mentally ill; to identify common factors that influence the professional nurses’ attitudes and perceptions towards the mentally ill; to compare the attitudes and perceptions of professional nurses who have completed the Regulation 425, Regulation 808 and Regulation 212 training in mental health nursing towards the mentally ill. A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive design was employed and cross-sectional survey was carried out. Participants comprised all permanent professional nurses (n=60) at a governmental Associated Psychiatric Hospital in the Cape Metropole. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and two self-report questionnaires, measuring attitudes to and perceptions of mental health problems. Nurses with a diploma report significantly higher role competency than those nurses with a degree. The ethnicity of nurses played a role in the stereotyping of the mentally ill. No significant differences were evident between those professional nurses who had completed the advanced mental health course and those whom had not. However, the combined effects of learning the appropriate course and experience in the practical field of the mentally ill are necessary for the task of impacting positively on the attitudes of the nurses towards the mentally ill

Swinging : a Sociological conceptual framework of the influence of consensual non-monogamy on the marital satisfaction of South African couples

PhD (Social Science with Sociology), North-West University, Vanderbijlpark CampusPrompted by the comparative paucity of existing research on the subject of swinging in a South African context, the aim of this study was to explore how the consensual non-monogamous lifestyle of swinging affects marital satisfaction among South African couples, using a qualitative approach. Participants were purposefully selected from across South Africa through invitations to swingers’ clubs and snowball sampling. Data were gathered via individual semi-structured interviews, were audio recorded transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. The findings were integrated into a Consensual Non-Monogamous Marital Satisfaction Model (CNMMS). A number of enabling factors influenced participants’ decisions to engage in CNM, emanating from the worldview of the participants. These factors centred on how they critique and challenge religious views of monogamy and the view that the only valid relationship style is heteronormative. Three main themes emerged to describe the reasons (or antecedents) why people engage in CNM. The first theme was influences from external sources, which included sub-themes such as the pro-swinging influence or prompting of the media, life partners, and social connections. In each of these sub-themes, the participants were introduced to CNM through an external source such as pop-up adverts (media), suggestions to engage in CNM from life partners, or through discussions with work colleagues (social connections). Typically, the world views of such individuals (which tended to be disconnected from religious indoctrinations and to view the notion of heteronormativity as limiting) were more partial to alternative romantic relationship styles. The second main theme was the desire to fulfil needs for sexual diversity, centred around two sub-themes namely sexual needs and social needs. Sexual needs included the desires for sexual diversity (multiple partners) and fluidity (exploring bisexuality), which could be addressed through CNM by engaging with multiple sexual partners, the freedom to explore bisexuality without harming the primary relationship, and through the variety of themed rooms at clubs such as BDSM rooms or medical fetish rooms that cater to a wide array of fantasies and fetishes. As some of these needs could not be met in a monogamous heterosexual relationship, the need became a strong motivator to pursue swinging. The second sub-theme, which centred on social needs, included the need for like-minded friendships where one could be authentic without fear of rejection or judgement from those who do not agree with the lifestyle. Non-lifestyle friends are perceived to be inauthentic whereas lifestyle friends are deemed to be more honest and authentic with regard to their sexuality. The freedom to be authentic without judgement and rejection was a strong motivation for the participants to engage in CNM. The third main theme, trauma, linked to life experiences such as the death or infidelity of a partner that caused a reconstruction of what a relationship is and how it should be conducted. This made the participants susceptible to suggestions to different relationship styles such as a swinging lifestyle, which either offers an alternative to infidelity or a means to fulfil a sexual need arising from the death of a partner. Couples who enter the lifestyle encounter challenges and derive benefits from their varied and diverse interactions with other swingers. The challenges and benefits most notably affected the personal, social, and marital aspects of their lives. The most significant challenges pertaining to the personal realm included a negative body image, which caused some participants to be reluctant to interact. This occurred mainly among women who felt too fat, too old, or otherwise insecure about perceived bodily imperfections. In many instances, this resulted in the women needing much more convincing to engage in CNM. However, once engaged, women typically become the maintainers of the lifestyle and seemed to enjoy it more than their male partners. In part, this was ascribed to the ‘women rule’ principle, which maintains that women are in control and determine when, where, and how swinging interactions transpire - which directly challenges patriarchy. Nonetheless, despite maintaining the lifestyle, some women faked orgasms so as not to hurt the feelings of their swing partner, specifically when he was not a good lover, which attests to the maintenance of traditional gender roles and patriarchy. Furthermore, given the average age at which the participants entered the lifestyle (40–45 years), the onset of erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent and often not disclosed. The women who engaged with these men were in some instances left feeling inadequate. In other instances, men with ED were sought out by predominantly single female swingers, as that became a source of intimate touch and embrace which they otherwise would not get because of not having a steady partner. A final challenge pertained to inconsistent condom use, as some participants felt that it was only useful as a birth control measure, and not as STI protection. A few marital challenges were identified during the analysis, some of which are common to non-swinging relationships, and others which appear to be unique to the CNM lifestyle. A common challenge of the former kind was jealousy, which was often associated with distrust and disharmony, and which tended to negatively influence marital satisfaction. Although CNM is purported to be devoid of cheating, it remains prevalent in the lifestyle in the form of partners falling in love with their swing partners and conducting the relationship under the guise of swinging. Challenges unique to CNM occur mainly during the entry phases to the lifestyle, which require the negotiation of a playstyle and deciding whether to engage in ‘full swap’ (i.e., penetration with the play partner) or ‘soft swap’ (i.e., flirting or petting with no penetration). These challenges all require open and sexually candid communication within the dyad. Failure to communicate effectively about these challenges could damage the primary relationship. Once the couple has navigated the initial stages of entry into CNM and addressed the marital challenges, they start coming into contact with other swingers, clubs, and swing parties, which also expose them to challenges in their social lives, centring on racial dynamics, non-lifestyle friendships, religion1, age and the perceived exploitative nature of swingers’ clubs. Although clubs are deemed to be a safe space to engage in bisexual encounters and explore needs for sexual diversity, they are also perceived as exploitative, particularly toward single men, who are expected to pay the admittance price of a couple to a club, while single women are in some instances not charged an entry fee. Single women, however, felt exploited for the benefit of couples who wish to engage in threesomes or bisexual encounters. There were meaningful differences in how each race perceives and enacts swinging. While white persons engage in swinging mainly for sexual diversity, friendship and agency, black and coloured swingers are perceived to be more penis-centric, reportedly engaging in swinging to “show off” their larger penises. Furthermore, white swingers mostly play with other whites, while black and coloured swingers seek out white women as trophies. Black and coloured male participants noted that they avoid swinging with others of their own race due to a penis-centric outlook; they do not want their partners to be with another black or coloured man who has a bigger penis. Age (i.e., specifically as it related to youthfulness) is another notable social challenge. The influx of much younger swingers was deemed a challenge, despite the older swingers generally being the ones who invited them in. Younger women are often perceived as being sexually immature, despite the notion that an older man with a younger woman implies that he “still has the moves”. Meanwhile, younger men are seen as virile and sexually exciting for the older female swinger and enhanced the feeling that the older women are still desirable. While the challenges were more prevalent during the entry stages of CNM, the benefits seemed to become more prevalent after engagement in CNM. As was the case with the challenges, the benefits also occurred within the social, marital, and personal domains. Both men and women experienced better hygiene practices, such as shaving and taking extra care with cleanliness. The most notable benefits directly associated with marriage included learning new sexual techniques and then transferring this to the marital bed, leading to a feeling of enhanced marital satisfaction. The findings highlight the value of candid and honest communication to navigate the challenges and amplify the benefits associated with engagement in CNM. An understanding of such challenges and benefits, as well as the value of open communication about them, could be of significant value to counsellors and therapists working with individuals either already in or considering entry into the CNM lifestyle. Such support could assist couples in transcending the initial stages, which are characterised by various challenges that could be detrimental to the dyad, and to enhance the benefits associated with the lifestyle, which would facilitate enhanced marital satisfaction. Irrespective of its eventual effect on the couple’s relationship, the study shows how CNM facilitates the democratisation of contemporary South African men and women’s conceptualisations, experiences and expressions of sexual intimacy.Doctora

La dynamique paradoxale du gouvernement urbain de la santé. Entre prétentions publiques au cadrage des conduites et velléités sociales à l’autonomie. Le cas de la ville de Toulouse

National audienc

Le gouvernement métropolitain de la santé comme instrument d’innovation de l’action publique locale. Le cas de l’agglomération bordelaise

National audienc

Entreprise métropolitaine en santé et ordre public local. Les limites socio-politiques à l’innovation institutionnelle. Le cas de l’agglomération bordelaise

Le processus de métropolisation de la santé engagé dans l’agglomération bordelaise depuis les élections municipales de 2014 est source de controverses, voire de conflits. Véritable entreprise d’innovation institutionnelle, il modifie les rapports de pouvoir entre les acteurs publics en présence. Des procédures de concertation sont mises en place afin de lever les résistances communales et de produire du consentement. Si ces dispositifs participatifs circonscrivent les contours du rôle que la métropole est autorisée à jouer en matière de santé, les promoteurs de cette innovation y voient l’opportunité de valoriser un engagement volontariste présenté comme singulier

La fabrique du gouvernement métropolitain de la santé

Traditionnellement dévolue à l’État, la santé n’échappe pas au processus de territorialisation de l’action publique dont les configurations sont marquées par la fragmentation et les concurrences institutionnelles. La question est alors posée de la désignation et de la légitimité de l’autorité chargée d’assurer l’articulation entre les différents niveaux de gouvernement impliqués dans la promotion de ce secteur. Au sein de l’agglomération bordelaise, le contrat et l’échelle métropolitaine constituent les leviers privilégiés par l’État pour se repositionner au sein de la régulation politique de la santé. Or, la manière par laquelle les représentants de l’agence régionale de santé, des villes et de la métropole participent et réagissent à ces orientations traduit une lutte permanente pour définir et légitimer les échelles d’intervention pertinentes, les acteurs qu’elles consacrent et qui leur donnent sens et, ce faisant, les frontières territoriales et sectorielles du gouvernement urbain de la sant

The Fight against Physical Inactivity at the Local Level: Urban Governance and Fragile Partnerships

At a time when physical inactivity has been elevated to the status of public issue, the interaction between public health and physical and sports activities has been strengthened. Against this backdrop, cities are being urged to do their utmost to encourage the population to adopt an active lifestyle. As their policies depend closely on arrangements between local actors, the question is raised as to the strategies and interests in presence, and the forms of governance devised to collectively address the issue of physical inactivity. The aim of the article is to provide a detailed analysis of a local sphere of interdependency (the city of Bordeaux) in order to contribute to debate on the complex ways in which public action is structured, by considering the “local” level as an object of research in its own right. In order to appraise the dynamics at work on the territory, 27 semi-directive interviews were conducted with the representatives of this municipal authority (elected officials and personnel from various administrative departments) and associative and professional operators working in the healthcare, sports, social action and education sectors