School of Human and Community Development (ETDs)

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    The experiences of caregivers on their involvement in their Children’s learning during covid-19: the case of vlaaklagte Number 2, mpumalanga province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-05) Matshiana, Bongi Zanele; Watermeyer, Jennifer; Pretorius, Edmarie
    The outbreak of COVID-19 affected the lives of all sections of society as people were asked to self-quarantine in their homes to prevent the spread of the virus. The pandemic affected the public's mental health and well-being in a variety of ways, including through isolation, job loss and financial instability, illness, and grief. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted teaching and learning. In many schools, the curriculum had to be adapted to an online format and parents had to take over the role of teachers and assist their children at home. The study aimed to explore how caregivers perceived their engagement in their children’s learning during COVID-19. The research approach that was utilized in this study is qualitative approach. An exploratory qualitative study grounded in phenomenographic principles. The population that was utilized in this study are the caregivers of school-going learners in Vlaaklagte Number 2 in Mpumalanga who are over the age of 18 years. The sample size was 8 caregivers and the sampling procedure utilized for this study was purposive sampling. The research instrument utilized in this study was a semi-structured interview guide. The researcher’s method of data collection was face-to-face interviews with the participants which included audio recordings that participants consented to. A thematic analysis was utilized as a data analysis technique in this study. According to the findings of this study, the mental well-being of caregivers in Vlaaklagte Number 2 has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A surge in anxiety and stress was noted amongst them, largely due to the high mortality rate and rapid spread of the virus. In addition to this, financial strain caused by job loss and the added responsibility of full-time parenting, supervising children, and ensuring adherence to COVID-19 protocols, further added to their already heightened levels of stress. As a coping mechanism, caregivers relied on their spiritual beliefs. Furthermore technology, particularly Google was utilised by caregivers in supporting their children’s learning during the pandemic. This study highlights the urgent need for post-pandemic assistance and support for caregivers in this community. Based on the findings of this study, caregivers in Vlaaklagte Number 2 faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic that were similar to those experienced by their counterparts in other areas of South Africa. The pandemic has exacerbated the impact of past traumas, underscoring the critical need for mental health support. Caregivers who were unemployed or working from home reported heightened levels of stress. Ultimately, this study underscores the significance of prioritizing the psychological welfare of caregivers and ensuring that they have access to mental health resources.
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    Caregivers’ Perceptions of the Influence of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Well-Being of Secondary School Learners in the Vosloorus Area, Gauteng, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mqadi, Slindile Alicia; Pretorius, Edmarie
    The COVID-19 pandemic did not only impact the education system in South Africa but as affected the lives of learners when remote learning was introduced to the education system. This new way of learning affected the well-being of learners in different ways. The purpose of the study was to explore the caregivers' perception of how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the well-being of secondary school learners in Vosloorus, Gauteng, and South Africa. The ecological perspective was the theoretical framework underpinning the research study. A qualitative research approach and a phenomenological design was used to focus on the social meaning that individuals attach to their circumstances, experiences, and situations. The design allowed exploring the caregivers’ perceptions on how COVID -19 pandemic affected the well-being of their grade 10-12 school going children. The population of the study was caregivers of grades 10 to 12 learners, at a secondary school in Vosloorus Gauteng. Purposive sampling was used to sample eight caregivers of grades 10-12 learners. The research instrument used was a semi-structured interview guide and the method of data collection was face-to-face interviews with caregivers. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data. The main findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic left most homes in devastating condition, it left many mourning for their loved ones. Many learners were left orphaned or with one parent. Very few families did not experience the death of a loved one during this time, if it wasn’t a death of a family member, it was the passing on of a schoolteacher, a friend, or just someone you knew. This resulted in learners being bereaved, developing anxiety, and living in fear. Following the death of loved ones, the high rate of job losses was catastrophic. For caregivers and learners, the loss of employment or receiving a decrease in income added to their already poor socioeconomic status and it had other consequences for families and learners. Another major finding was that learners experienced overwhelming emotions, like fear, anxiety, and loneliness. There was also a high rate of grades dropping and learners being pushed to the next grade. Lastly caregivers perceived that COVID-19 contributed to the use of substances among learners.
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    The lived experiences of caregivers: psychological and social implications of caring for patients with Bipolar Disorder
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-05) Nicolau, Mikaela Diane; Kasese-Hara, Mambwe
    Due to the nature of the illness, bipolar disorder (BD) has detrimental effects on the diagnosed patients as well as their caregivers (Hajda et al., 2016). Vast amounts of research have been published on the impact and implications experienced by caregivers of mentally ill patients however, a majority of research assessing the psychological and socio-economic status of the caregivers has been quantitative in nature (Sharif et al., 2020). This study sought to understand the psychological and social implications of caring for a patient with BD, with a specific focus on caregivers in the Gauteng region. The middle-class was chosen as Ayalew et al. (2019) found that the higher the caregiver’s income, the fewer implications they experienced as a caregiver. A phenomenological framework was used to conduct this study. The qualitative method of data collection was face-to-face, in-depth interviews with six participants (two males, four females), who were selected using purposive sampling. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the data analysed by means of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. For the caregivers in the current study, managing the patient’s unpredictable behaviour and dealing with the varying symptoms of the disorder presented a challenge. They described the caregiving role as an emotional rollercoaster, signifying the chaotic, up-and-down nature of the disorder. Being a mother-caregiver led to shared experiences among the caregivers, with similar implications being expressed. Being a wife, however, presented significantly greater caregiver implications. The male caregivers have adapted to their roles better than the females. The theme of financial implications was interesting in this study, as these implications varied among the respondents. The researcher found it interesting that five of the participants spoke about neglecting their needs without any probing, yet they also acknowledged the importance of self-care and being aware of their mental state. The participants in this study expressed the need for support groups, which are lacking in the country. Whilst the findings of this study were in line with much published research, the researcher notes that there is a scarcity of literature covering some of the themes and subthemes presented, and therefore further research should be conducted.