Browsing by Author "Benjamin, Fatiema"

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    Barriers to effective parenting of adolescent children in resource-constrained communities
    (University of Stellenbosch, 2022) Donga, Gift; Roman, Nicolette Vanessa; Benjamin, Fatiema
    The study examined barriers to effective parenting of adolescent children in resourceconstrained communities. A qualitative approach was adopted for data collection and analysis. Thematic analysis was applied to data acquired from a sample of parents from resourceconstrained areas in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Parents interviewed identified the following barriers: financial constraints, peer influence, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of adequate parental time, communication and maturational changes. Given the parental challenges emerging from the findings of the study, greater understanding of the conditions under which effective parenting of adolescent children in resource-constrained societies can be fostered is essential.
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    Enablers and barriers to efective parenting within the frst 1000 days: an exploratory study of South African parents and primary caregivers in low socio-economic communities
    (2022) Adebiyi, Babatope O; Goldschmidt, Tessa; Benjamin, Fatiema; Sonn, Inge K
    Background: The frst 1000 days is the period between conception and a child’s second birthday. Globally, research on parenting is in an advanced stage, but parenting research focusing specifcally on parenting in this developmental phase is limited in South Africa. Therefore, this study explores the enablers and barriers to efective parenting within the frst 1000 days through the lens of parents and caregivers in low socio-economic communities. Methods: This study was conducted in communities in South Africa considered low socio-economic communities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. An exploratory qualitative research design explored the enablers and barriers to efective parenting within the frst 1000 days of life. Thirty participants were purposively selected and interviewed in this study. A semi-structured interview schedule was used for all interviews. The data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Two main categories emerged (efective parenting enablers and efective parenting barriers) during the data analysis. The main enablers of efective parenting within the frst 1000 days of life include a support system, healthy behaviours/environment, unemployment/job opportunities, religion, information/knowledge, and professional assistance. On the other hand, the main barriers to efective parenting were low socio-economic circumstances, environmental circumstances, lack of partner’s support, the negative impact of technology, and lack of access to services. Conclusion: Enablers that need to be promoted for efective parenting range from support systems to professional assistance for parents. Also, barriers that need to be removed for efective parenting range from low socio-economic circumstances to a lack of partner’s support for parents. This is because efective parenting is vital in improving developmental outcomes for children within the frst 1000 days of life. Therefore, there is a need to develop policies and interventions to promote efective parenting within the frst 1000 days in the communities.
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    Exploring the lived experiences of individuals in a substance abuse treatment programme in Cape Town
    (University of the Western Cape, 2019) Benjamin, Fatiema; Davids, Charl; Pedro, Athena
    Substance use is a worldwide health concern that has received significant attention as it is often related to deleterious outcomes. Various treatment programmes have been made available to assist people and their families who misuse substances, to aid rehabilitation and equip people with the necessary tools with the aim of preventing possible relapse. The Western Cape Province has been identified as experiencing the highest increase of substance use, with Cape Town being disproportionately affected. Substance use treatment and prevention programmes are therefore an increasingly important means of addressing substance use and related harms. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of individuals in relation to the treatment they received at a treatment facility in the Cape Town area. As such, the researcher made use of the phenomenological approach as a theoretical framework as it aims to describe the lived experiences of individuals in relation to a particular phenomenon. Furthermore, a qualitative methodological framework was utilised to explore the experiences of individuals who received substance use treatment. Ten participants were purposively selected from an outpatient substance use treatment facility in Cape Town. Focus group discussions were used to collect data and the data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings suggest that there were various reasons participants sought treatment. This includes the challenges they experienced in both their personal and occupational lives as well as the realization of the negative effects substance use had on them physiologically. Findings also revealed that the environmental setting individuals were in fostered their treatment; the various aspects of the programme provided by the treatment facility had a significant contribution to their recovery and improved relationships with others; receiving support from family and friends were important in service providers treatment retention as well as individuals ability to identify the changes within themselves since receiving treatment. Overall, results indicate that the treatment programme helped participants in their recovery and enhanced personal relationships, self-perception as well as personal and occupational growth. Findings suggest that there are various reasons as to why people seek treatment and although this may differ, the treatment modality they were provided with contributed substantially to their recovery. Furthermore, this study will contribute to the literature and understanding the ways in which treatment fosters recovery, personal growth and relationships.
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    Exploring the perspectives of South African parents and primary caregivers living in low-income communities on what children need to thrive within the first 1000 days of life
    (MDPI, 2021) Adebiyi, Babatope O.; Goldschmidt, Tessa; Benjamin, Fatiema; Sonn, Inge K.; Roman, Nicolette V.
    The first 1000 days is recognised as a critical period for the development of children. What children need to thrive in this particular phase of development may be different from any other phase. In South Africa, parents' perception of children's needs within the first 1000 days of life could be considered as emerging. Therefore, this study aims to explore the perspectives of South African parents and primary caregivers on what children need to thrive within the first 1000 days. An exploratory qualitative study design was used to explore the parents' understanding of what children need to thrive in the first 1000 days. A purposive sampling approach was employed to select parents and primary caregivers in low-income communities. In all, thirty respondents participated in the study. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. During the analysis, four themes emerged. The themes included (1) the importance of parenting, care and support; (2) children's need for holistic development; (3) parental roles; and (4) sharing responsibilities. Parents and primary caregivers living in low-income communities understand what children need to thrive within the first thousand days of life. The study could assist policymakers and service providers to design appropriate interventions for parents within these communities.
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    Family functioning and satisfaction: A comparative study between hookah users and non-users
    (African journal of primary health care & family medicine, 2019) Roman, Nicolette; Rich, Edna; Davids, Charl; Benjamin, Fatiema; Taylor, Matthew
    BACKGROUND: Although there has been an exponential growth in hookah use on a global scale, research within the context of South Africa is very limited. While hookah use is known internationally to be a health and addiction risk, the focus is on university students and not on families. AIM: This study aims to compare the family functioning and family satisfaction among hookah users and non-users. SETTING: This study was conducted in low or middle-high class socio-economic status areas of Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS: A quantitative method was employed to test for significant differences with a sample of 1193 participants, in which each participant represented a family. An independent t-test was used to test for significant differences between hookah users and non-users. RESULTS: One-third (34%) of the participants indicated that they smoked hookah pipe, with the general age of onset being 16.5 years. In trying to understand the family context, it was found that 28% of hookah users indicated that the hookah pipe was used as a means of socialising with others in the family, and 24% of parents indicated that they were more accepting of family members smoking the hookah pipe. Findings also suggest that families of hookah users have less cohesion, expressiveness and family satisfaction, and more conflict and permissiveness than families of non-users. CONCLUSION: This study provides and extends knowledge regarding the family in hookah pipe use. This information could assist in reducing hookah pipe use, and building healthier and more resilient communities by formulating prevention and intervention strategies to reduce hookah use.
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    Mental health care services in rural South Africa: A human capabilities approach
    (Routledge, 2021) Benjamin, Fatiema; Vickerman-Delport, Shelley A.; Roman, Nicolette V.
    It is estimated that a significant proportion of people living in South Africa have a mental illness and do not have access to mental health services. This relates to barriers that contribute to help-seeking behavior. Semi-structured interviewers were conducted with a sample of 11 stakeholders and 35 parents. Data were thematically analyzed and results revealed that participants had limited knowledge of what mental health is. Also highlighted was the lack of structural and human mental health care resources, and stigmatization. Addressing the issues related to mental health care services could contribute to ensuring that people have access to good health.