A RESILIENCE LENS ON HOMELESS OLDER PERSONS IN THE CITY OF TSHWANE: AN ILLUMINATION THROUGH PHOTOVOICE

This qualitative study explores and describes the resilience of homeless older persons in the City of Tshwane, South Africa. Eleven participants, recruited purposively, participated in photovoice activities supplemented with semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis and trustworthiness was ensured. Findings indicate that conflict, abuse, family disappointment, unemployment, mental health challenges, declining mobility, isolation and a lack of access to services are risk factors hindering resilience. Religion, support and socialisation, amongst other things, are identified as protective factors enabling resilience. Recommendations for resilience-informed biopsychosocial gerontological social services to homeless older persons are offered to navigate towards better-than-expected outcomes

KHOMANANI: AN HIV AND AIDS COMMUNITY MOBILISATION PROGRAMME FOR RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED SETTINGS

An overview of HIV and AIDS statistics indicates that there were 31.6 million people living with HIV in 2010, and that 68% of those people were from Sub-Saharan Africa (UNAIDS, 2011:07). In South Africa, one of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV prevalence among people between the ages of 15 and 49 has stabilised at 17.8%, with the absolute number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) showing a steep increase of approximately 100 000 additional PLHIV each year. The number of people aged 15 and older living with HIV is estimated to be 5 300 000. These figures actually mean that one out of every six people with HIV in the world lives in South Africa (UNAIDS, 2011:21). The authors therefore postulate that these statistics encapsulate the devastation that HIV and AIDS is causing, particularly in South Africa, which arguably carries the heaviest HIV and AIDS burden in the world. Initially South Africa’s efforts to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS were characterised by programme designs which followed an inflexible biomedical approach that did not focus on the influence of socio-economic and structural factors in addressing the pandemic. This situation, among others, contributed to raise the country’s HIV infection growth rate to among the highest in the world (Kahn, 2006:4)

Efficacy testing of a work-based support programme for teachers in the North West Province of South Africa

Teachers face increased workplace challenges in South Africa. Through a process of intervention research, this study aimed to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a work-based support programme for teachers. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs was adopted as the theoretical framework informing both programme design and evaluation. Teachers (n = 10) were recruited through simple random sampling in the North West Province, South Africa. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions before and after exposure to the programme. Data were thematically analysed. Pre-exposure findings supported existing literature that states that teachers face numerous malleable workplace challenges such as learner indiscipline, parental disengagement, overcrowded classrooms, considerable administrative work and burnout. Post-exposure findings indicated that the programme mitigated teachers’ perceived weaknesses and seems to have enabled them to cope with and manage their workplace challenges. It is concluded that the programme facilitated a process to enable participants to navigate towards self-actualisation and reaching their full potential in the work environment. Recommendations are offered for the further implementation of the programme and in addressing work-based challenges experienced by South African teachers

A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DRUG MASTER PLAN: LESSONS FOR ALIGNING POLICY WITH SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

 If drug policies, such as the South African National Drug Master Plan 2006-2011 (NDMP2), are drafted according to a social developmental perspective, the efforts of stakeholders could be strengthened to mitigate substance abuse, eradicate drug-related crimes, and contribute towards achieving social development goals. This study determined whether the NDMP2 is drafted in accordance with a social development perspective. Quantitative research, with content analysis as research strategy, was adopted to determine whether indicators of social development are embedded in the manifest content of the NDMP2. Results show the NDMP2 has both strengths and limitations when interpreted from a social development perspective

THE AFTERCARE NEEDS OF NYAOPE USERS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR AFTERCARE AND REINTEGRATION SERVICES

Nyaope is a relatively new drug on the South African market and mostly (mis)used by youths. Without targeted intervention, this drug could negatively affect the wellbeing of the people involved. Aftercare and reintegration services are often downplayed, with little emphasis in both research and practice. This article reports on the aftercare needs of nyaope users from both the users’ and the significant others’ points of view in Hammanskraal (a South African township). A collective case study was implemented through semi-structured interviews with both nyaope users and significant others. Recommendations are offered to role players involved in aftercare and reintegration services

DUAL DIAGNOSIS: HOW ADULTS DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER EXPERIENCE IN-PATIENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FOR STIMULANT USE DISORDER

Dual diagnosis has become a topic of interest in recent years. In South Africa individuals diagnosed with dual diagnosis are left without adequate services as a result of the separation of substance abuse and mental health treatment services. Through a phenomenological study the authors aimed to explore how adults diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and stimulant use disorder experienced treatment at treatment centres. Considered from a bio-psychosocial perspective, the findings give insight into service users’ living world with a dual diagnosis, their experiences, their unique needs for treatment and requirements to maintain abstinence. Recommendations for social work services at treatment centres are offered

RISK FACTORS FOR RELAPSE AMONG YOUNG AFRICAN ADULTS FOLLOWING IN-PATIENT TREATMENT FOR DRUG ABUSE IN THE GAUTENG PROVINCE

More than 20% of admissions into treatment centres are re-admissions, with high incidences among young African adults in the Gauteng Province. Drug abuse and relapse have a negative impact on the achievement of social development goals in South Africa, and make serious demands on social work services. This study determined the risk factors for relapse among young African adults following in-patient treatment for drug abuse, specifically according to gender in order to propose localised and gender-specific treatment programmes and aftercare/­reintegration services. A survey was undertaken with 44 respondents, who completed a group-administered questionnaire, at treatment centres across the Gauteng Province

Developing empathetic skills among teachers and learners in high schools in Tshwane: An inter-generational approach involving people with dementia

This article describes the implementation and outcomes of an experiential learning approach to facilitate the development of empathetic skills among teachers and learners at two high schools in Tshwane, South Africa. An inter-generational training programme, the Memory Bridge Initiative (MBI), aimed at exposing participants to interactions with older persons with irreversible dementia, was used as a means to develop empathetic skills. Programmes such as MBI have the potential to develop empathetic skills and to cultivate interpersonal and personal skills among the learners and the teachers. Seven learners and six teachers, recruited through non-probability sampling, from two high schools in Tshwane participated in the three-and-a-half-day training programme which serves as the basic training to equip teachers and learners for the implementation of the programme in their respective schools. Focus-group discussions were conducted with the teachers and the learners separately before and after exposure to the MBI programme. Both learners and teachers agreed that the programme contributed to their interpersonal and personal development. Learners also adopted a more positive way of perceiving older persons and people with Alzheimer’s disease. It is recommended that inter-generational programmes should be implemented in more high school settings to determine best practices to develop empathetic skills among learners. Inter-generational programmes could minimise the isolation of older persons with dementia and equip the youth with transferrable skills to educational and work settings

PERCEPTIONS OF NYAOPE USERS REGARDING THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AT PRIVATE IN-PATIENT TREATMENT CENTRES IN GAUTENG

National data indicate that young adults are increasingly vulnerable to the harmful use of nyaope –an illicit drug. Consequently, there is a need for appropriate treatment services. This study aimedto explore and describe the experiences of nyaope users regarding therapeutic services at privatein-patient treatment centres in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualitative study operationalised througha case study design, specifically an instrumental case study, involved 11 cases/participants whowere recruited through a three-phase non-probability sampling process at treatment centres in twoGauteng metropoles. Following a method of reflexive thematic analysis, four themes withassociated sub-themes, are reported. Recommendations focus on tailored service delivery attreatment centres and addressing limitations in policies