Browsing by Author "Daniels, Priscilla"

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    Communities' views, attitudes and recommendations on community-based education of undergraduate Health Sciences students in South Africa: A qualitative study
    (2013) Mabuza, Langalibalele; Diab, Paula; Reid, Stephen; Ntuli, Busisiwe; Flack, Penelope; Mpofu, Ratie; Daniels, Priscilla; Adonis, Tracy-Ann; Cakwe, Mandisa; Karuguti, Mugambi; Molefe, Ngkatiseng
    Background: Medical and Health Sciences students in South Africa undertake community-based education (CBE). Health professionals based at host sites are jointly responsible for training of these students in conjunction with university staff. This study explored the communities’ views, attitudes and recommendations regarding CBE undertaken by these students, in order to improve the quality of community support for these programmes. Method: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted at CBE placement sites of students from the Faculties of Health Sciences of the University of Limpopo (UL), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and University of the Western Cape (UWC) during 2010 and 2011. Focus group discussions were held with site facilitators, community leaders and patients, and interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English where necessary. Data were analysed using NVivo (version 9). Findings: CBE was seen to benefit communities, students and host institutions as there was perceived improvement of service delivery, better referral to hospitals and reduction of workloads on site staff. CBE was also seen as having potential for recruiting professionals who have better orientation to the area, and for motivating school pupils for a career in health sciences. Students acquired practical skills and gained confidence and experience. Challenges included poor communication between universities and host sites, burden of student teaching on site facilitators, cultural and religious sensitivity of students and language barriers. Conclusion: The study revealed that communities have an important role to play in the CBE of future health care professionals. CBE activities could be better organised and managed through formalised partnerships.
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    Experiences of parenting learners with regards to learner pregnancy policy
    (University of the Western Cape, 2010) Matshotyana, Zanele; Daniels, Priscilla; Dept. of Human Ecology; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    A qualitative research design in the form of a case study was employed. A quantitative method was also utilized in the form of a short questionnaire for demographic purposes in order to provide a general description of the sample. A purposive sample of 10 parenting learners, and two teachers was selected. The study was conducted in a Senior Secondary School that is located in Khayelitsha, a historically disadvantaged community in the Western Cape. Semi structured interviews of approximately ninety minutes each were conducted and audio taped. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the audio taped data from the transcribed interviews. The key findings from this research illustrate that there is a misunderstanding and miscommunication between teachers and learners about learner pregnancy. Pregnant learners hide pregnancy from the teachers to avoid comments and from being expelled from the school and consequently do not get any support from the school. On the other hand, the findings indicate that if the teachers were aware of their pregnancy and trained to deal with learner pregnancy, these learners would be supported by the school. Some of the recommendations were to develop the capacity of the teachers so that the school is able to provide an adolescent-professional-friendly service. A safe non-judgmental environment is required so that the learner is able to disclose her pregnancy status as early as possible to ensure that they receive the necessary support.
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    Exploring the experiences of refugees in the Western Cape, South Africa with regard to their integration into society
    (UWC, 2008) Mwambetania, Tusekile; Daniels, Priscilla
    Forced migration is a serious problem worldwide and it is always associated with political, ethnic or violent conflict accompanied by intensive human rights abuses. Africa has the largest number of refugees (more than 15 million) compared to other regions. Many Africans are forced to abandon their homes and go into exile because of ethnic conflicts, civil wars and ongoing violence which in turn cause millions of refugees to be separated from their families and loved ones. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of refugees in the Western Cape province with regard to their integration into the society. The objectives of the study were (1) to explore the experiences of refugees in the Western Cape, South Africa; (2) to explore the link between their experiences and integration into the South African society. This research employed an exploratory study design that was conducted qualitatively. Semi-structured interviews with refugees were conducted with the aim of understanding personal experiences and challenges that refugees face. The population of the study was refugees who visited two of the refugee centres in Cape Town. A purposive sampling method was used. A total of ten refugees were interviewed and a questionnaire was used to collect the demographic characteristics of the participants. Data was analyzed by thematic analysis method where the data was coded and categorized and discussed according to the aims and objectives of the study in relation to previous studies. The major themes identified were employment and financial independence, education, health, language, culture, emotional sustainability, support and xenophobia. The results of the study were made available to refugees and the centres participating in the study. The main findings were that most refugees are educated and have skills and relevant work experience yet they feel dissatisfied in their current work place because they are underutilized and not using their skills optimally. Emotional sustainability and integration is often challenged and refugees rely on spiritual faith to face their hardships. Issues of cultural differences and language gaps contribute to the lack of well being. Accessing treatment in public health care facilities was described as inadequate by refugees. Xenophobia contributes to the problems of integration. Participants felt to some extent their difficulties could be reduced if proper intervention could be made by the government in terms of support. The main recommendations resulting from the research were 1) government and non governmental institutions should work together to improve services delivery to refugees for integration purposes; 2) policy intervention is needed from the government to address the problems of refugees and 3) nongovernmental organizations should extend their services to community development to improve the interaction of refugees in adopted countries.
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    HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviours of college students at Nazarene Teacher Training College in Swaziland: A descriptive study
    (University of the Western Cape, 2005) Simelane, Nomcebo Barbara; Daniels, Priscilla; Dept. of Human Ecology; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and attitudes of college students of the Manzini Nazarene Teacher Training College with regard to HIV/AIDS. The aim was to identify risky sexual practices of the college students as well, which may require redress in order to enhance their effectiveness in combating the spread of HIV.
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    Promoting excellence in teaching in health education through the development of partnerships
    (University of the Western Cape, 2007) Daniels, Priscilla; Adonis, Tracy-Ann
    INTRODUCTION: The Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (FCHS) reviewed its curricula for 1994, allowing the Primary Health Care (PHC) approach to be the foundation of teaching and learning in health. To institutionalize a PHC approach, the teaching methodology of service-learning which is premised on the development of partnerships, proved useful in realizing the faculty's goal. AIM: The aim of this study was to identify how to ensure that partnerships develop optimally and in a sustainable fashion to promote excellence and relevance in teaching and development of professional skills in FCHS. Methods: A qualitative study was employed using focus groups with the partners in 2 service-learning programmes in FCHS. RESULTS: Key findings included that capacity building programmes for all partners promotes good training and education in health sciences; partners' roles should be clarified and it's imperative that formalized partnership agreements exist to ensure collaboration and enhance teaching. CONCLUSION: Service-learning serves as an impetus to move higher education in the direction of multi-disciplinarity.
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    Service-learning in nursing: Integrating student learning and community-based service experience through reflective practice
    (University of Johannesburg, 2005) Julie, Hester; Daniels, Priscilla; Adonis, Tracy-Ann;
    Domestic violence is a pervasive problem in South Africa. The School of Nursing at the University of the Western Cape has responded to the challenge of training sensitive, knowledgeable and skilled health personnel by developing a Management of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) module. The purpose of this paper is to describe the professional and personal development of nursing students in this programme through their service-learning experience in the GBV module based on the analysis of the description of the students’ reflective journals, group project reports and a focus-group discussion as the primary data sources. Analysis showed that students gained critical thinking skills and developed an understanding of the supportive role health professionals can play through developing skills of caring, advocacy and a commitment to civic engagement, which promotes collaborative relationships. Some of the lessons learnt from this experience include realistic planning in terms of outcomes, time frames, and available resources as well ensuring support from colleagues for the effective implementation of the programme.
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    A study investigating the contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of coloured unmarried pregnant teenagers
    (University of the Western Cape, 1998) Cupido, Xena; Daniels, Priscilla; Dept. of Human Ecology; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    A study investigating the contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of coloured unmarried pregnant teenagers.
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    Women and men's perception of the effect of unemployment of the male partner on gender role perception, family communication and relational power within the family
    (University of the Western Cape, 1998) Nicolaai, Celeste; Daniels, Priscilla
    The research focused on 60 coloured, Afrikaans-speaking men and women residing in Bell ville South who completed a structured questionnaire and open-ended interview questions. Their perceptions held on the influence of male unemployment on family relations with specific reference to gender role perception, relational satisfaction, communication, decision making, finances and labour within the family were investigated. Unemployment of the male partner was found to have no statistically significant differences for the manner in which males and females perceive their gender roles, finances and labour distribution within the family. Statistically significant differences were found for the manner in which males/and females perceive decision-making and communication within the family when the male partner is unemployed. The results revealed that unemployment does not have an influence on role perception and that the respondents uphold a traditional role perception. Decision making was not male dominated, as more egalitarian decision were taken. The respondents expressed combination gender roles with regard to management of finances and appeared to be satisfied with family and partner relations. The minority of respondents who experienced problems with communication attributed this to the consequences of being unemployed. Social agencies need to offer services to empower families to deal with the affects of unemployment on family life to ensure the survival of families during these challenging periods. A multi-disciplinary approach, provided by a team of professionals is the basis for recommendations for proposed support programme development, access and further research.
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    Women and men's perception of the effect of unemployment of the male partner on gender role perception, family communication and relational power within the family
    (University of the Western Cape, 1998) Nicolaai, Celeste; Daniels, Priscilla
    The research focused on 60 coloured, Afrikaans-speaking men and women residing in Bellville South who completed a structured questionnaire and open-ended interview questions. Their perceptions held on the influence of male unemployment on family relations with specific reference to gender role perception, relational satisfaction, communication, decision making, finances and labour within the family were investigated. Unemployment of the male partner was found to have no statistically significant differences for the manner in which males and females perceive their gender roles, finances and labour distribution within the family. Statistically significant differences were found for the manner in which males and females perceive decision-making and communication within the family when the male partner is unemployed. The results revealed that unemployment does not have an influence on role perception and that the respondents uphold a traditional role perception. Decision making was not male dominated, as more egalitarian decision were taken. The respondents expressed combination gender roles with regard to management of finances and appeared to be satisfied with family and partner relations. The minority of respondents who experienced problems with communication attributed this to the consequences of being unemployed. The survival of families during these challenging periods. A Social agencies need to offer services to empower families to deal with the affects of unemployment on family life to ensure multi-disciplinary approach, provided by a team of professionals is the basis for recommendations for proposed support I programme development, access and further research.