Traditional beliefs and practices versus public health approach to COVID-19: Perspectives of social work academics in Zimbabwe

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a thorn in the flesh for many governments across the globe. This virus which has indiscriminately affected people of all walks of life has almost brought the entire world to a halt. The novel virus has been surrounded by  misconceptions, fears, myths and confusion and even the world's best health care systems and health practitioners have grappled to arrest it. Several misconceptions have occupied the minds of many in Africa. These misconceptions have been exacerbated by the fact that most recommendations by health experts are against African values and ways of life. This study, informed by the health belief model, sought to explore the perspectives of social work academics in Zimbabwe about the misconceptions around COVID-19 as well asthe interface between African traditional beliefs, practices and preventions measures promulgated to curb the virus. The study adopted a qualitative approach and purposive-convenience sampling techniques were used to select participants among social work academics in Zimbabwe. Data was collected through telephonic interviews. The study established that public health approach to COVID-19 interferes with certain traditional African beliefs and practices amongst black African people. Examples are social distancing, stepstaken in burial of Covid-19 victims, isolation of COVID-19 patients among other things. Social workers therefore have a role to play in creating awareness about the virus through the use of all platforms available to people, monitoring traditional events to ensure that people do not continue to be exposed to the virus, engaging traditional leaders and sensitise them on the dangers of not followingCOVID-19 regulations among their community members. Key words: social work, Covid-19, myths, academics, Ubuntu, public health approac

Legislation and Service Provision for Children with Disabilities in South Africa: a Social Work Perspective

Children with disabilities are a special group of children which requires special protection and services. Due to various reasons, children born with disabling conditions constitute a significant percentage of child population in Africa. South Africa has enacted a number of pieces of legislation for people with disabilities and children with disabilities in particular. There are also a number of services and programmes to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy their rights like any other citizen of the country. However, despite the services and laws, children with disabilities continue to face deprivation. This paper discusses the numerous pieces of law meant to cushion children with disabilities and services available for them with a view to assess their efficacy. The paper adopts a human rights approach, applauds the existence of progresses laws in South Africa but laments the continued poor service provision for children with disabilities especially those in rural areas

Violence, abuse and discrimination: key factors militating against control of HIV/AIDS among the LGBTI sector

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) South Africans continue to face considerable challenges, including societal stigma, homophobic violence (particularly corrective rape), and high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and infections (particularly Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS) even when discrimination based on sexual orientation was outlawed by South African’s post-apartheid constitution. This study was conducted to ascertain violence, abuse and discrimination against the LGBTI sector as key factors that hinder the smooth implementation of HIV/AIDS programme among sexually minority (LGBTI) group in Walter Sisulu University, South Africa. The self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The study involved 3048 purposively selected participants (1285 male and 1763 female) aged 17–38 years. About 70.5% of the participants witnessed physical attack as a form of violence against people in same-gender relationship; 47.7% disagreed that violent targeted at this sexually minority group is justified. The LGBTI face challenges which include verbal insults (937, 32.4%), bullying (532, 18.4%) and name-calling (1389, 48%). Discrimination against members of the LGBTI sector was witnessed in various forms: non-acceptance (981, 33.9%), disapproval of act of homosexuals (1308, 45.2) and denial of rights (327, 11.3). Violence, abuse and discrimination which constitute stigmatisation among the LGBTI sector are received with mix feeling. Some respondents justified the use of one or more of these key elements of stigmatisation against the LGBTI (6.6%, supports violence), others condemned these acts of stigmatisation (28.8%), against discrimination). Social stigma which resulted from violence, abuse and discrimination exist in this institution and is responsible for the unwillingness of disclosure of sexual orientation among the LGBTI members. An enabling environment should be created where the LGBTI members could come out freely to access programmes targeted at the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS