The experiences of female ministers in counselling female rape survivors: A phenomenological study

Rape is an act of humiliation that leaves the survivors ashamed. They therefore often try and hide from others and rarely seek help. Informal discussions with female ministers revealed that some of them had counselled female rape survivors. A descriptive phenomenological study, aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of female ministers in counselling female rape survivors through individual interviews, was conducted. Six ministers were interviewed. They experienced the dichotomy of being a woman and being a minister during their encounter with rape survivors. As women, they became emotionally involved in the suffering of the rape survivors, and as ministers they experienced that prayer and scripture reading in collaboration with counselling promote healing. They also experienced that rape survivors perceived them as approachable because of their gender, but less approachable because of their status as ministers

The image of nurses and nursing as perceived by the South African public

The aim of the study was to describe the South African public's perceptions of the image of nurses. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted and 776 respondents from different backgrounds completed questionnaires comprising 19 statements about nurses and nursing. Most respondents viewed nurses as extremely hardworking (80.0%; n=621) and caring and understanding (78.2%; n=607). Notwithstanding the positive comments about nurses, only 43.6% (n=338) of the respondents indicated that they would want their children to become nurses. Contrary to the negative image portrayed by the media of nursing in South Africa, this study revealed a generally positive public response to nursing and nurses in South Africa. However, nursing was not viewed as a career choice and the public did not seem to understand the complexities of a nursing career. The findings of this study could be used as a baseline for further studies on recruiting prospective student nurses.http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=24782http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/ajnmam201

Traditional healers' views on the termination of pregnancies in Mamelodi, South Africa

The aim of the study was to describe the views of traditional healers regarding the termination of pregnancies. A contextual and descriptive qualitative study was conducted and seven traditional healers from Mamelodi, an urban area near Pretoria in South Africa, were interviewed regarding their views on the termination of pregnancies. According to South African legislation only doctors and trained midwives can provide legalised termination of pregnancy services. However, all traditional healers who participated in this study terminated pregnancies on request and, in some cases did so repeatedly for the same women, although they advised their patients not to use abortions as a family planning method. They recommended that women should use traditional contraceptive herbs to prevent pregnancies. The interviewed traditional healers believed in their remedies and only advised their patients to consult healthcare professionals at hospitals in cases of severe bleeding. Some South African women continue to consult traditional healers to terminate their pregnancies despite the availability of legalised free termination of pregnancy services at government hospitals and clinics. Traditional healers provide termination of pregnancy services during one visit, maintain confidentiality about the procedure and provide “traditional cleansing services” as well, unlike the government healthcare services that require repeated visits before the procedure can be completed and then these women still need to visit traditional healers for the “traditional cleansing services”. These findings could be used as a baseline for further studies regarding cooperation between traditional healers and Western healthcare providers in South Africa.http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=24782http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/ajnmam201

Becoming the mother of a child with disabilities : a systematic literature review

The transition to motherhood starts early in pregnancy and is completed when the mother feels competent in caring for the infant. Becoming the mother of a child with disabilities is demanding as their needs are complex. The aim of the review was to appraise completed qualitative and quantitative reports on the challenges of mothers of children with disabilities regarding their own transition to motherhood. A review of the literature was carried out through, first, a computerized search strategy to identify relevant studies from selected databases and, second, quality appraisal and thematic analysis of selected studies. The transition to motherhood of children with disabilities takes place in the inside world at home, the outside world external to home and the ‘going-between’ world of travelling between the two worlds. The mothers are challenged at home to integrate basic infant care with technical care of their children. In the outside world they often struggled to ensure that their children got the necessary professional care. Travelling between their homes and healthcare services posed many problems.La transition vers la maternité commence au début de la grossesseet la transition s’estterminéquand la mèreestcompétente pour être capable de soigner pour l’enfant. De devenir la mère d’un enfant handicapéestexigeantparcequeleursbesoinssont complexes. L’objectif de l’étudeétaitd’évaluer à la fin les rapports qualitativesetquantitativessur les défis de mèresd’enfantshandicapés en ce qui concerneleurpropre transition vers la maternité. Une revue de la littérature a étéréalisée par le biais, d’abord, unestratégie de rechercheinformatisé pour identifier les étudespertinentes à partir de bases de donnéessélectionnées et, deuxièmement, l’évaluation de la qualité et de l’analysethématique des étudessélectionnées. La transition vers la maternité des enfantshandicapés a lieu dans le monde dans la maison, le monde dehors de la maison et dans le monde »qui se trouve entre cesdeuxmondes » c.a.d. le monde de voyage entre cesdeuxmondes. Les mèressontcontestées à la maison pour intégrer les soins de bases comme les nourrissons avec unsoin technique de leursenfants. Dans le monde dehors de la maison, ilsontsouventlutté de donner la securité à cequeleursenfantsontobtenu les soinsnécessaires qui doiventêtreprofessionnels. De voyager entre leur domicile et les services de soins de santé a posé beaucoup de problèmes.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ccwf202017-08-16hb201

Caregivers’ and nurses’ perceptions of the responsibilities of community nurses in the management of infant developmental needs in a primary healthcare clinic in South Africa

By virtue of their access to infants and their families, community nurses in South Africa are provided with an important window of opportunity to assess and positively influence infant health and development. Hence, developmental surveillance should be incorporated into the ongoing healthcare of the child. Such routine child development services are not consistently provided by community nurses and if at all these services are provided, significant inadequacies hamper the delivery thereof. A single holistic case study design was used to explore the perceptions of caregivers and community nurses about the responsibilities of community nurses regarding the management of infant developmental needs in a primary healthcare clinic in one of the provinces in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five nurses and eleven caregivers of infants. Data were analysed by means of content analysis. Community nurses do not focus adequately on infant development, as stipulated in their scope of practice. The caregivers indicated that they receive limited emotional and appraisal support. The only interventions indicated by the community nurses were that of referral and limited anticipatory guidance. This study highlights the importance of community nurses living up to their responsibility regarding the management of infant developmental needs to ensure optimal outcomes for both the infant and the family.http://www.ajol.info/journal_index.php?jid=153&ab=ajpherd2017-12-31am201

Two male nurses' experiences of caring for female patients after intimate partner violence : a South African perspective

BACKGROUND : South Africa is perceived to be one of the countries with the worst reputation regarding the occurrence of intimate partner violence. The women who suffer from serious physical injuries are admitted to emergency care units and their first contact with health care is through the nurses in these units. Emergency care nurses become secondary victims of violence due to their exposure to the pain of assaulted patients. Female nurses tend to identify with these patients as some nurses are in similar relationships. Not much research has been done on the challenges that male nurses face when they are confronted with abuse of women inflicted by males. METHODOLOGY : In this case study with a phenomenological research methodology two African male emergency care nurses were interviewed. FINDINGS : The participants experienced a dichotomy of being-in-nursing and being-in-society and had been confronted with the conflicting roles of being men (the same sex as the perpetrators) and being nurses (the carer of the victim). They tried to manage the situation by using the ‘self’ to care for the patient and to be a problem solver for the patient and her partner or husband. CONCLUSION : The authors conclude that society expects men not to be in a caring profession and nursing is still a female-dominated caring profession that finds it difficult to move away from its engendered and caring image. The participants experienced role conflict when they took care of female patients who have suffered intimate partner violence.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rcnj202016-08-31hb201

Development of guidelines for the assessment of abuse in women living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi

The aim of the study was to develop guidelines for the assessment of abuse in women living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi. In phase one of the research, the experiences of these women were explored through a descriptive phenomenological study that involved 12 women living with HIV/AIDS who had encountered abuse. In phase 2, guidelines for the assessment of abuse were developed. Information from the interviews and a review of the literature was used to compile the draft guidelines. The guidelines were refined through a Delphi study carried out by nurses in the field of HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence. The guidelines could assist nurses to identify and address the abuse of women living with HIV/AIDS in a timely manner. Since the guidelines are inclusive of the actions nurses should take to encourage women to talk about their experiences, it is foreseen that their implementation could improve the quality of care rendered to the women.Government of Malawi and the Community-Oriented Nursing Education Project for Women and Child Health of the University of Pretoria.http://www.ajol.info/journal_index.php?jid=153&ab=ajpherd2016-09-30hb201

Healthcare needs of displaced women : Osire refugee camp, Namibia

AIM : The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of health care needs of displaced women in the Osire refugee camp in Namibia. BACKGROUND : Namibia is a country where displaced people from other African countries seek refuge as a result of their own country‟s political instability. All displaced people are hosted in the Osire camp, which is a highly protected area. There are more women than men in the camp and their health is often compromised. METHODS : In a descriptive phenomenological study the natural dimension of the experiences of the participants of their health care needs were explored through in-depth interviews and reflected upon through transcendental processes to formulate the phenomenological dimension thereof. FINDINGS : The essence of displaced women´s health care needs was “the need for the restoration of hope and human dignity”. Their needs refer to measures to enhance their autonomy and freedom; skills training; certainty about their future; security with aid distribution; protection against stigmatisation due to Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) infection; protection against abuse; and participation in reproductive health care. DISCUSSION : When displaced women are admitted in a camp they lose their freedom to make decisions about everyday functioning and future. They thus develop feelings of insecurity and vulnerability. CONCLUSION : The participants referred to several factors that were detrimental for their wellbeing. The essence of their needs was “the need for the restoration of hope and human dignity” that could only be achieved when their needs are addressed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING : As nurses are in close contact with displaced women in refugee camps they should negotiate opportunities for the women to discuss their concerns with the camp officials. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY : Policies should make provision for the involvement of displaced people in all aspects that relate to their everyday and future living arrangements.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1466-76572017-03-31hb2016Nursing Scienc

Enhancing the professional dignity of midwives : a phenomenological study

BACKGROUND : When midwives are not treated with respect and their professional competencies are not recognised, their professional dignity is violated. OBJECTIVE : This study explored and described how the professional dignity of midwives in the selected hospital can be enhanced based on their experiences. RESEARCH DESIGN : A descriptive phenomenological research design was used with in-depth interviews conducted with 15 purposely selected midwives. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS : The Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee of the University of Pretoria approved the study. The research was conducted in an academic tertiary hospital with voluntary participants. FINDINGS : To dignify midwives it is essential to enhance the following: ‘to acknowledge the capabilities of midwives’, ‘to appreciate interventions of midwives’, ‘to perceive midwives as equal health team members’, ‘to invest in midwives’, ‘to enhance collegiality’, ‘to be cared for by management’ and ‘to create conducive environments’. CONCLUSION : The professional dignity of midwives is determined by their own perspectives of the contribution that they make to the optimal care of patients, the respect that they get from others and the support that hospital management gives them. With support and care, midwives’ professional dignity is enhanced. Midwives will strive to render excellent services as well as increasing their commitment.http://journals.sagepub.com/home/nejhj2018Nursing Scienc

Nurses’ professional dignity in private health care : a descriptive phenomenological study

AIM : This study explored and described nurses’ experiences of factors that influenced their professional dignity in private hospitals in South Africa. BACKGROUND : Patients’ dignity is a nursing professional value in high regard. Nurses’ dignity, in particular nurses’ professional dignity, has not been valued equally. Disrespect for nurses' professional dignity impacts on nurses’ motivation to provide nursing care to their full potential. METHODS : Descriptive phenomenological research was conducted. Eleven professional nurses were interviewed at two private hospitals in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State of South Africa. FINDINGS : The participants were conscious of their ‘professional standing due to own and others’ percipience’. Their professional dignity was influenced by experiences such as perceiving one’s own professional dignity; having contradictory experiences; being proud to be a professional nurse; receiving support, appreciation and respect; providing care in complex situations; performing as a professional nurse; valuing patient well-being; and being humiliated by others. CONCLUSION : Preserving nurses’ professional dignity is crucial and should be acknowledged and encouraged by managers, health team members and nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING/HEALTH POLICY : The need for preserving nurses’ professional dignity necessitates the incorporation of professional dignity strategies in healthcare, nursing and education policies.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14667657hj2021Nursing Scienc