A Spirituality Discourse in Treating Substance Use Disorders with Marginalised Persons

A spirituality discourse in substance abuse treatment offers useful unconventional constructs in treatment services to ethnic minority groups with substance use disorder (SUDs). It is important to locate spirituality within culture, place, and history in order to understand the spiritual needs of persons from minority groups with SUDs. There are many studies that merit a spiritual approach in treatment for ethnic minority groups with SUDs. However, spirituality is a broad concept that means different things to different people. Therefore, such an unconventional approach should be approached critically and cautiously. This chapter looks at the utilisation of an integrated eclectic approach with a focus on inclusion of spirituality in treatment services from a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective. Tapping into the spiritual needs and the meaning that people ascribe to spirituality and religion (S&R) in treatment services is often more valued than conventional secular treatment services. Also, the client’s spirituality is generally overlooked by professionals offering such services simply because it is so controversial. This chapter proposes an integrated eclectic methodology calling for a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective to address the needs and well-being of ethnic minority groups with SUDs as a comprehensive person-centred and holistic approach, utilising mindfulness techniques

Integration of theory and practice in Social Work: challenges and triumphs

Introduction: Teaching (in any discipline) is rewarding when students show the required growth and development in terms of their knowledge, skills and attitude (within the social work context) (Kadushin & Harkness, 2002). So it is disappointing when, in completing various assessment tasks, some students do not achieve the learning objectives set for a given task. The most troubling within the UWC context was the challenges students experienced on the third year level in integrating their theoretical knowledge with their practice learning.Department of HE and Training approved lis

SOCIAL SUPPORT NETWORKS FOR YOUTHS AGING OUT OF RESIDENTIAL CARE TO PROMOTE POSITIVE TRANSITION OUTCOMES – A SCOPING REVIEW

This scoping review provides the available evidence on support interventions and networks for youths aging out of child and youth care centres (CYCCs), and makes recommendations for best practice to alleviate the plight of youths leaving CYCCs. Thirteen databases were searched, resulting in the retrieval of 80 articles, 26 of which met the review criteria: English, full-text, peer-reviewed, open-access studies conducted between 2015 and 2020 on social networks and transitional services to youths aging out of residential care. Recommendations are made for policy changes, extending the age of eligibility and strengthening social support networks for youths transitioning into independent living

Practitioners’ experiences of student supervision in the bachelor of social work degree

The developing and evolving social welfare system in South Africa coupled with inadequate human and material resources and high staff workloads, all impact on student learning in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. This paper focuses on the challenges experienced by social work practitioners with regard to student supervision in the BSW. A qualitative case study design was used, in which the researcher purposively selected social work practitioners involved at third -year level teaching and learning in the BSW at a selected South African university. The findings point to challenges relating to limited agency resources, institutional–agency cooperation and students’ personal challenges. These findings have implications for social work education and practice in South Africa as well as for continued professional development of social workers and agencies who offer student placements to universities.DHE

Role of religious beliefs on antiretroviral treatment adherence among Pentecostal Christians in sub Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. As such, several countries in sub-Saharan Africa are implementing the UNAIDS’ recommendation to test and treat people living with HIV (PLHIV) irrespective of their CD4 count. However, most of the antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes, in this region, continue to struggle with poor adherence to treatment stemming from patient-related factors including their religious beliefs. Unfortunately, the role of religious beliefs on ART adherence has been underexplored in the literature. In this study protocol, we propose the steps of a scoping review to explore, identify and map the literature on the impact of religious beliefs on adherence to ART among Pentecostals living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods and analysis We will use Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology guidelines to conduct this scoping review. The following databases will be searched for relevant literature: Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, Psych-ARTICLES, Academic Search Complete, Cumulative Index of Nursing, Allied Health, Google Scholar and published articles from conference proceedings. Studies published between January 2010 and February 2022 will be eligible. The identified literature will be independently screened for eligibility by two reviewers based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. An Excel form will be designed to electronically capture data from studies that meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, we will use a narrative synthesis to summarise the data extracted to report on the nature of existing evidence and the impact of religious beliefs on ART adherence. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval will not be required for the scoping review since it will entail synthesising information from already published articles and conference proceedings. The study findings will be disseminated through publication in a scientific journal and presented at conferences and workshops aimed at improving adherence to ART in PLHIV

Role of religious beliefs in adherence to antiretroviral therapy in the Cape Town metropole: A study protocol

There are presently over four million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the South African national antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme. However, some ART programmes are battling poor ART adherence emanating from patient-related factors, including their religious beliefs. In this paper, we outline a study protocol to understand the adherence behaviours of Pentecostal Christians living with HIV to ART and to develop guidelines that can be used to strengthen ART adherence

Challenges of integrating theory and practice in social work teaching and learning

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW)Global and national standards for social work training have for a very long time required that institutions of higher learning include a theoretical as well as a practical component into the social work programme. The integration of theory and practice is purposefully aimed at enhancing the student's competency and skills (SAQA, 2003:9). The introduction of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) in South Africa (Government Gazette No. 19640, 1998) has confirmed the need for addressing challenges relating to integration of theory and practice. Assessments of social work fieldwork competence at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) indicate that the majority of the students in the third year of study struggle to integrate theory and practice resulting in low level competence in Intermediate Fieldwork Education (University of the Western Cape Quality assurance report: Intermediate Fieldwork, 2007). In addition to the aforementioned, student reports indicate that there is a perception that the classroom learning, the supervision and fieldwork practice often are not sufficient to facilitate the integration of theory and practice. The lack of integration of theory and practice results in students not achieving the expected learning outcomes. This is an urgent concern in social work education and it seems most appropriate to learn from the people who are closely affected by and involved in this issue. The focus of the study was thus on the challenges experienced by social work students, their lecturers and fieldwork supervisors at UWC regarding the integration of theory and practice at intermediate level in the context of OBE. Hence I used a qualitative approach as I wanted to study the challenges of theory and practice integration from an insiders' perspective. This is appropriate when the goal of research is to describe and understand a social issue. For this reason I selected an exploratory-descriptive research design and an instrumental research strategy to study the issue of theory and practice integration in the selected programme. The population of the study was third year social work students at UWC and also a selected group of third year social 'work students from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), social work lecturers from UWC and field supervisors form agencies in the Western Cape where social work students are placed. Purposive sampling were utilized to select sixteen third year social work students from UWC, seven NMMU students, sixteen field supervisors and eight lecturers from UWC. Data were collected by means of individual interviews as well as focus group sessions from students and field supervisors and by means of written responses to an open -ended guide from lecturers. Data were analyzed by means of thematic, content analysis. Relevant literature findings on constructivism, cooperative learning and social work teaching and learning in particular were compared to the findings of the case study exploration. Literature pertaining to social work teaching and learning in the context of ELOs is limited and therefore further justifies the need for this research. The findings indicated that participants in this study experienced challenges with regard to theory and practice integration on various levels and to different extents. They attribute these challenges to a variety of factors relating to the construction of knowledge in the classroom and in the fieldwork setting as well as personal challenges experienced by students. Hence I made various recommendations with regard to collaborative teaching and learning strategies within the classroom and fieldwork setting as well recommendations based on the conclusions of findings relating to students' personal challenges

Social work services by non-profit organisations for adults with substance use disorders

Social work services globally started as a result of society’s response to basic human needs, and thus facilitated alleviating, based on doing good, the plight of those in need. Since its inception as a professional discipline, social work has always been associated with poverty relief and services to persons with substance use disorders (SUDs). The high prevalence of SUDs in South Africa makes it one of the top 10 substance abusing countries globally. As such, the demand for social work services, aimed at substance abuse intervention, has increased rapidly over the past 20 years, resulting in the emergence of many non-profit organisations (NPOs). However, there are gaps in evidence-based research on social work services provided by NPOs to persons with SUDs

Social work services provided by Non-Profit Organisations to adult methamphetamine users: An ecological perspective

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Substance abuse is a universal challenge which places strain on the demand for a country’s social welfare resources. In South Africa – one of the countries with the highest number of methamphetamine (MA) users in the world – the demand for substance abuse services has increased rapidly in the past 20 years. Using the framework of ecological systems theory, the study’s main aim was to gain an understanding of the nature, scope and utilisation of social work services that non-profit organisations (NPOs) provide to adult MA users, in order to make informed recommendations in line with current policy directives to NPOs in the Cape metropolitan area. A qualitative case study approach was used together with an exploratory and descriptive case study design. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 10 service providers and 10 service users The eight-step approach to thematic data analysis by Tesch (in Creswell, 1994) was used in combination with Atlas Ti. Key findings were that social workers, ministers and ex-addicts play significant roles in intervention by providing on-going guidance and support. However, collaboration is urgently required between governmental policymakers, NPOs and private organisations to address the scourge of MA abuse.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dwelmmisbruik is 'n universele uitdaging wat die vraag na 'n land se maatskaplike welsynsbronne benadeel. In Suid-Afrika – een van die lande met die grootste aantal gebruikers van metamfetamien (MA) in die wêreld – het die vraag na dwelmmisbruikdienste die afgelope 20 jaar vinnig toegeneem. Met behulp van die raamwerk van ekologiese sisteem teorie, was die doel van die studie om begrip te verkry van die aard, omvang en benutting van maatskaplike werkdienste wat nie-winsgewende organisasies (NROs) aan volwasse MA-gebruikers bied, om ingeligte aanbevelings in lyn te bring met huidige beleidsriglyne, aan (NROs) in die Kaapse metropolitaanse gebied. 'n Kwalitatiewe gevallestudie-benadering is gebruik tesame met 'n verkennende en beskrywende gevallestudie-ontwerp. Semi-gestruktureerde individuele onderhoude is uitgevoer met 10 diensverskaffers en 10 diensgebruikers. Die agt-stap benadering tot tematiese data-analise is deur Tesch (in Creswell, 1994) aangewend in kombinasie met Atlas Ti. Belangrike bevindings was dat maatskaplike werkers, predikante en oud-verslaafdes ‘n belangrike rol speel met intervensie deur deurlopende leiding en ondersteuning te bied. Daar is egter dringend samewerking tussen regeringspolitici, NROs en private organisasies nodig om die plaag van MA-misbruik aan te spreek

Understanding the role of religious beliefs in adherence to antiretroviral therapy among Pentecostal Christians living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

Abstract Background Optimum adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial in managing HIV. However, some people’s religious beliefs can influence how they deal with HIV and the psychosocial factors influencing their adherence to ART, such as disclosure, acceptance of HIV status, belief in ART, and depression. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the role of religious beliefs in ART adherence is underexplored. We aimed to identify and conceptualize the literature on religious beliefs concerning ART adherence among Pentecostal Christians living with HIV in SSA. Methods We conducted a scoping review of the literature on religious beliefs and ART adherence. We searched papers from PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Sabinet, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus, Health Source/Nursing Academic, Scopus, and Google Scholar and published papers from conference proceedings and dissertations. Data were extracted according to a predetermined population, concept, context framework, and eligibility criteria for selecting or rejecting studies. We used a narrative synthesis to summarize the data on evidence and the impact of religious beliefs on ART adherence. Results Seven papers published between January 2010 and February 2022 met the inclusion criteria. Nineteen aspects of religious beliefs were identified as negatively influencing ART adherence, while eight aspects facilitated optimal adherence. “Being saved” or “born again” enhanced coping strategies for optimal adherence through actions such as less alcohol use, fidelity to a sexual partner(s), disclosure, acceptance of HIV status, reduced depression, and facilitated PLHIV to access social support from church members or other institutions. Conclusion Religious beliefs are integral to Pentecostal Christians living with HIV and affect their adherence to ART. While some Pentecostal Christians living with HIV on ART use their religious beliefs and practices to access psychosocial support from other church members or organizations and achieve good clinical outcomes, others apply their religious beliefs and practices differently and compromise their commitments to taking ART as prescribed, thus experiencing poor viral suppression and clinical outcomes. However, more research is required to understand and theorize how religious beliefs impact ART adherence among Pentecostals living with HIV to inform guidelines for practitioners