Alcohol Abuse as a Militating Factor against Quality of Life for Migrants’ Youth Population in Selected Provinces of South Africa

Migrants’ youth are seen as one of the vulnerable populations in South Africa. This is largely due to the fact that they are seen as people who come to take job opportunities of the youth in the host country. In order to cope with their fear and stress, migrants indulge in binge consumption of alcohol. It is in light of that that in this paper researchers aimed to accentuate alcohol abuse as a militating factor against the quality of life for migrants’ youth population in selected provinces of South Africa. The study adopted qualitative approach and case study design to highlight how alcohol is seen as a militating factor against quality of life. The study population was drawn from three provinces in South Africa using convenient sampling technique to sample three participants. Moreover, the data was collected telephonically in three selected provinces and analysed thematically. The findings indicate that due to the accessibility, availability, affordability and stress migrants’ youth indulge in binge consumption. Thus, researchers recommend that policymakers should make guidelines that will restrict mushrooming of alcohol outlets – be regulation to prohibit overcrowding of outlets in selected provinces of South Africa

Perceptions and attitudes of rural women in Matebeleng, Limpopo Province towards cervical cancer

Cervical Cancer is a global concern and the most common cancer among women in many less developed countries where there is inadequate access to information and quality screening programmes. In South Africa alone, 6742 infections and 3681 deaths were recorded in 2014. The spiral increase of this disease in low-resourced areas is aggravated by some socio-economic, cultural and structural factors. The study, which explored the knowledge and attitudes of ruralbased women towards cervical cancer, was conducted at Matebeleng village in LimpopoProvince. A qualitative exploratory case study was conducted, and self-reported data was collected from 22 women. Two focus groups consisted of seven (7) and eight (8) participants, and six (6) face-face individual interviews were held using a semi-structured interview guide. Data was analysed thematically. The research findings show that the majority of women in Matebeleng village have no knowledge of cervical cancer, and only very few received some information of this disease through radio, health clinic, random women, and consent forms from the school. Participants highlighted some of the risk factors, but some information was incorrect. The findings showed that a few participants had only been screened once, and that the majority have never been tested for cervical cancer. Those who were screened never received feedback from nurses, and their experiences did not motivate re-screening. It is, therefore, recommended that cervical cancer outreach programmes be conducted in rural areas, and that methods of disseminating information to rural women in their distinct contexts be examined.Keywords: Perceptions, attitudes, rural women, cervical cance

Challenges impeding the successful implementation of early childhood development programmes in South Africa: implications for practice

The purpose of this paper is to discuss, debate, and discourse the stumbling blocks that impede the proper implementation of early childhood development programmes in South Africa. This paper used qualitative methodology. In this study, non-probability sampling was used and, specifically, purposive sampling. The following challenges associated with early childhood development programmes were identified: poor infrastructure; inadequate training of early childhood development educators; and poor financial support, monitoring, and evaluation. The following have been recommended to bolster early childhood development programmes: increase the number of trained early childhood development educators; make sufficient funding available to early childhood development centres; mobilise local funding; adopt various means of strengthening the proper implementation of the early childhood development programmes; and monitor early childhood development services.Keywords: Early childhood development programmes; infrastructure; funding; skills gap; competency; structural problems

The influence of familial factors towards the disclosure of child sexual abuse amongst Vhavenda tribe

Child sexual abuse is a worldwide health and social problem that exists across different cultures. It happens to children of all demographics. It is  difficult for disclosure of child sexual abuse to happen since it often takes place in private spaces. There have not been ample studies amongst Vhavenda tribe which focused intensively on contemporary factors influencing non-disclosure of child sexual abuse. Therefore, the article is based on a study that aimed to investigate the influence of familial factors towards disclosure of child sexual abuse within the context of Vhavenda tribe. In order to attain its aim, the study used the qualitative approach with ethnographic exploratory design. Fifteen (15) Vhavenda caregivers of children were purposively selected, and data was collected through semi-structured interviews which were guided by an interview schedule with open-ended questions. Data was analysed thematically with the assistance of the Nvivo software. The study was guided by both the ecological and socio-cultural theories. It was found that patriarchal practices, the taboo around sexual abuse, the value of family relationships, the role of the perpetrator within the family, family status and secrecy have a big influence in the nondisclosure of child sexual abuse amongst Vhavenda.  Therefore, it is recommended that Vhavenda families should be capacitated about the implications of African values on the disclosure of child sexual abuse and the impact it has on the child victim. These families should also be empowered with skills to necessitate the disclosure of child sexual  abuse thereof. Keywords: Child, child sexual abuse, disclosure, family, Vhavenda

Impact of traditional food and medicine on healthy aging and high life expectancy: Implications for practice

Life expectancy in Sub-Saharan countries is reported to be very low with Zimbabwe having the lowest life expectancy of 34 and 42 years for women and men, respectively. Low life expectancy can be attributed to poverty and low access to health care services. Despite those challenges, some people have lived above 80 years because of a lifestyle fostered using traditional food and medicine. For this study, a qualitative approach through exploratory and descriptive research designs was adopted. Criterion purposive sampling was used to select twenty-five (25) respondents from Ward 4, Bikita District of Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. The researchers used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions as data collection tools. Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was employed to analyse the data. The findings of the study indicate people who are accustomed to the use of traditional food and medicine have little consideration for processed food and pharmaceutical medicine. They further revealed that lifestyles fostered using traditional food and medicine contribute to healthy aging and higher life expectancy. There are a lot of traditional herbs that are used to cure a variety of diseases in Zimbabwe. The impact of traditional food and medicine on healthy aging and high life expectancy is based on their availability where people of low socio economic status can easily access them. Traditional medicine is complemented by traditional food in ensuring a prolonged health life in rural Zimbabwe.Keywords: Traditional food, traditional medicine, healthy aging, life expectancy