ETD Collection

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    L'images des personnages feminins dans Une si longue lettre de Mariama Ba et Riwan ou le chemin de sable de Ken Bugul
    (2011-08-22) Tonleu, Madeleine
    Through a thematic content analysis, this dissertation analyses how Mariama Bâ in So long a letter (1979) and Ken Bugul in Riwan ou le chemin de sable (1999) perceive the image of African women. This work is focused as well on the ambiguity of the situation of these women who are torn between modernity and tradition. Mariama Bâ raises the issue of women’s emancipation as that of complementarities between men and women and not as that of confrontation. She doesn’t conceive African feminism as a requirement of modern times because everything is not admissible in modernity; but believes a controlled evolution of mentalities is necessary for the balance of the society. On the other hand, Ken Bugul questions all the concepts and ideas that have been received so far on the issue of the status of women in Africa. She thinks women can find happiness in a polygamous marriage, and beyond this a way of rehabilitation. She presents “modern” women as victims in monogamous spousal relationships and believes they have lost their cultural identity.
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    Nurses' perceptions of nurse-physician collaboration in the intensive care units of a public sector hospital in Johannesburg
    (2010-10-21) Bodole, Feggie
    Nurses working with critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) have a unique role to play in health care. They spend 24 hours with patients and come into contact with all the disciplines which come to review these patients. Nurses therefore need to effectively collaborate with the multidisciplinary teams, especially physicians, in order to meet patients’ needs and maximise patient care outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe nurses’ perceptions towards nurse-physician collaboration in the intensive care units. A non experimental descriptive study design was utilised in this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed from the Jefferson Scale of Attitude toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration with additional two open-ended questions to cover the rest of the study objectives. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics as well as content analysis. Results showed that nurses working in Intensive Care units (ICUs) had positive attitude towards nurse-physician collaboration regardless of gender, years of working in the ICUs and whether registered intensive critical care nurse or not. The findings also showed that nurses perceive that the process of nurse-physician collaboration in Intensive Care Units provokes a number of challenges, such as superior-subordinate relationships which exist between nurses and physicians, workload and overlapping responsibilities hence, nurses feel inferior, undermined, mostly overwork and become frustrated. However, nurses suggested that promoting team-work; a focus on patient-centered care and staff motivation would assist in creating effective collaborative environment. collaborative environment
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    Adolescents perception of paternal figures' involvement in their sexuality education
    (2008-12-05T12:01:58Z) Siboyana, Bafana
    The main aim of the study was to investigate adolescents’ perceptions of the paternal/father figures’ involvement in their sexuality education. Other aims included to determine adolescents’ perception of paternal/father figures’ knowledge of sexuality education; aspects/topics that are discussed; and the gender differences in paternal figures’ involvement with adolescents’ sexuality education. The study sample consisted of 67 adolescents aged between 13-19 years and was chosen through purposive, non-probability sampling technique from Illinge Secondary School at Vosloorus Township, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council. A questionnaire designed by the researcher was used to collect the data for the study. The results of the present study indicated that a small number of the adolescents perceive their paternal/father figures as involved in the discussion of sexuality matters. Nevertheless a highest number of the participants in the study perceive a paternal figure as a right source of sexuality education. However, the study shows that participants perceive their paternal figures as authoritarian and having poor communication about sexuality matters. This study indicated that there is no trend in adolescents’ perceptions of their paternal figures’ adequacy and inadequacy of knowledge regarding competency/incompetence in discussing sexuality topics. The main topic that the participants indicated to be receiving paternal figures’ attention is adolescents’ pregnancy and parenting. However, there is an indication that sexual intercourse is not mentioned as the antecedent to pregnancy. A large number of adolescents in this study indicated that there is a presence of a significant gender difference in the sexuality education. An increased father forum as well as involvement of social institutions and the professional and community based work force is recommended to address the need for father/paternal figures’ involvement in the sexuality education of adolescents.
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    Response scenarios of households to drought-driven food shortage in a semi-arid area in South Africa
    (2007-02-26T10:12:57Z) Akpalu, Delali Adjoa
    The goal of this research report was to profile the coping strategies of households in Thorndale to the effects and impacts of the 2002/2003 drought. Thorndale, the study site is prone to drought and thus experiences severe drought almost every year. The rationale behind the selection of Thorndale for the study was based on this fact, in addition to the fact that the study area is relatively unstudied. The study’s major findings included inadequate agricultural extension service delivery in the community, while the drought’s impacts were economic, social, nutritional and health, food shortage, environmental and wildlife. The most significant and largest impact was water shortage. These impacts led to increased household dependency on the natural capital component of livelihoods in addition to prostitution and the community’s institutional arrangements. The main constraints households encountered in response to the drought’s impacts included the lack of employment opportunities, financial and infrastructural problems among others. It is recommended that with respect to food security, efforts should be made to ensure the trickle down effect of national level assessment of vulnerability on annual basis to rural households in South Africa’s drought-prone areas including Thorndale, in order to improve timely and practical solutions to issues of food insecurity. Furthermore, it should be ensured that the national level benefits of early warning systems trickle down to the local and community levels including Thorndale. Additionally, agricultural extension service delivery in the community needs to be improved.
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    Children's perceptions of death: A Piagetian Perspective
    (2006-04-24T07:22:17Z) Symons-Bradbury, Janice
    This study explored children’s perceptions of death from a Piagetian perspective. While a few international studies exist which have explored this issue, it was deemed useful to evaluate the perceptions of South African children. It seems that many researchers have not taken into account the importance of broader contextual experience in children’s perceptions of death, and it was felt that the current high death rate in South Africa may impact on both or either the rate and level at which children start to engage with and understand the concept of death. The participants of the current study were between the ages of five and twelve years, and were drawn from a Gauteng Place of Safety and a preschool. Individual, structured interviews were conducted on this cross-sectional population. The interviews contained questions adapted from Koocher’s (1973) research in this area, and responses were analysed by means of a traditional content analysis. It was found that children had a basic understanding of death concepts by the age of approximately seven years old. It was also found that the youngest age group of children possess an awareness of death, but tend to view it as reversible and not final. An understanding of the finality of death emerges around the age of seven. In general, the participant’s responses showed a close relationship between Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and how the young child reasons about death.