Browsing by Author "Mwaba, Kelvin"
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Item Beliefs and attitudes about tuberculosis causation and treatment in Africa: A systematic review(University of the Western Cape, 2021) Petersen, Carinne Annfred Lorraine; Mwaba, KelvinTuberculosis continues to affect a third of the world’s population annually. Globally, Africa constitutes more than 25% of tuberculosis-related deaths. The high incidence of HIV/AIDS in Africa is associated with the severe tuberculosis fatality figures. The aim of this study was to systematically review literature with methodological rigour on people’s beliefs and attitudes regarding tuberculosis causation and treatment in Africa. Ethical approval was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee at the University of the Western Cape (Reference: BM19/5/1). A systematic search was conducted from the months of June 2019 to September 2019 and March 2020 to April 2020 as part of the initial data collection phase and the verification process, respectively. Index keywords were divided into two phases to identify literature on both the beliefs and attitudes (Phase 1: N = 5; Phase 2: N = 19, respectively) on the topic.Item Body image satisfaction among a sample of black female South African students(Society for Personality Research (Inc.), 2009) Mwaba, Kelvin; Roman, Nicolette V.Numerous research studies have established a strong relationship between body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. As more and more young people in South Africa embrace Western values, the aspiration to attain the Western body ideal of beauty may be putting some women at risk of developing eating disorders. This study focused on body image satisfaction among a sample of 150 black South African female university students. Data were collected using a revised Body Shape Questionnaire (Cooper, Taylor, Cooper, & Fairburn, 1987). The results showed the majority of the women were satisfied with their body image. However, there was a minority who engaged in unhealthy eating behaviors. Implications of the findings are discussed.Item Circle of Security parenting program efficacy for improving parental self-efficacy in a South African setting: Preliminary evidence(Routledge, 2018) Rose, Jenny; Roman, Nicolette; Mwaba, KelvinThis pilot study examined the cross-cultural transportability of a western Circle of Security (COS) parenting program to improve on levels of parental self-efficacy in a South African setting . Participants (n = 9) were sampled from a fishing community on the West Coast of South Africa . The participants completed the COS with pre-test and post-test measures of their parenting self-efficacy . Furthermore, they completed an open-ended measure of their satisfaction with the parenting program . The data were analysed using the Wilcoxon sign-rank test and the Sign test to determine the significance in differences between pre-to-post-test change scores . In addition, a thematic analysis was conducted on participant’s satisfaction with the parenting program . Results indicated significant and possible change scores for the efficacy scores: ability to handle parenting pressures, control, and learning . The participants considered the COS program appropriate to their context and situation . These preliminary findings support the need for further study of the COS parenting program within the broader context of South Africa.Item Collective efficacy and HIV Prevention in South African Townships(National Institute of Health, 2013) Cain, Demetria; Pitpitan, Eileen V.; Mwaba, Kelvin; Eaton, Lisa; Carey, Kate B.; Carey, Michael P.; Mehlomakulu, Vuyelwa; Harel, Ofer; Simbayi, Leickness; Kalichman, Seth C.South African townships have high HIV prevalence and a strong need for collective action to change normative sexual risk behaviors. This study investigated the relationship between perceptions of individuals about collective efficacy in the community’s ability to prevent HIV and their personal HIV risk behaviors. Men (n=1581) and women (n=718) completed anonymous surveys within four Black African Townships in Cape Town, South Africa from June 2008 to December 2010. Measures included demographics, alcohol use, attitudinal and behavioral norms, sexual health communications, and sexual risk behaviors. In multivariate logistic regressions, men were more likely to endorse collective efficacy if they were married, drank less often in alcohol serving establishments, believed that fewer men approve of HIV risk behaviors, talk more with others about HIV/AIDS, and had more sex partners in the past month. Women were more likely to endorse collective efficacy if they drank alcohol less often, talked more with others about HIV/ AIDS, had more sex partners in the past month, but reported fewer unprotected sex acts in the past month. Community level interventions that strengthen collective efficacy beliefs will have to consider both protective and risk behaviors associated with believing that the community is ready and capable of preventing HIV.Item The effect of the circle of security parenting programme on parental self-efficacy and internalising behaviours in children(University of Western Cape, 2019) Rose, Jenny Lee; Roman, Nicolette V.; Mwaba, KelvinEarly Childhood development is an important phase of development, wherein the trajectory of the child’s life can potentially be determined. However, not all children experience positive outcomes, and many present with psychopathology. In particular, psychopathology in children will manifest as either externalizing behaviours or internalising behaviours. The treatment of internalising disorders becomes increasingly complex, as there isn’t always outward behaviour to give evidence to the inward difficulties. Literature amplifies the importance of the role of the parent in ensuring the well-being of the child and in working towards healthy developmental outcomes.Item Evaluation of a bullying prevention programme at selected schools in the Western Cape Province – the Olweus approach(University of the Western Cape, 2015) Matthews, Brenda Marian Frederica; Naidoo, Pamela; Mwaba, KelvinThe study aimed to pilot-test the effectiveness of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Intervention Programme (OBPP) at two selected primary schools in the Western Cape; and to compare the differences in reported incidents of bullying between the control schools (CSs) and intervention schools (ISs), after the OBPP intervention. On the basis of these aims, the stated objectives were to measure bullying behaviour for pre-test and post-test comparisons with the CSs after the implementation of the OBPP at the ISs; and to investigate the effectiveness of the OBPP by comparing the ISs and CSs for programme targets. Three main hypotheses were formulated and tested, including: (1) There is no statistically significant difference in the mean rank of learners’ exposure to various types of bullying, characteristics (grade level and gender) of the perpetrator, locations of where the bullying occurred, disclosure of the bullying incident, participants’ and peers’ feelings of support, reactions and attitudes when experiencing or witnessing a bullying incident, parents’ and teachers’ reactions and efforts to support and protect victims and participants’ reports of satisfactory schooling environments at the ISs and CSs before and after intervention; (2) There is no statistically significant difference in mean rank of learners’ exposure to various types of bullying, characteristics (grade level and gender) of the perpetrator, locations of where the bullying occurred , disclosure of the bullying incident, participants’ and peers’ feelings of support, reactions and attitudes when experiencing or witnessing a bullying incident, parents’ and teachers’ reactions and efforts to support and protect victims and participants’ reports of satisfactory schooling environments between females’ and males’ reports before and after intervention; (3)There is no statistically significant difference in mean rank of learners’ exposure to various types of bullying, characteristics (grade level and gender) of the perpetrator, locations of where the bullying occurred , disclosure of the bullying incident, participants’ and peers’ feelings of support, reactions and attitudes when experiencing or witnessing a bullying incident, parents’ and teachers’ reactions and efforts to support and protect victims and participants’ reports of satisfactory schooling environments between females’ and males’ at the ISs and CSs before and after intervention. In order to provide the relevant theoretical orientations to the study, the Olweus Approach, served as a framework for investigating the prevalence and extent of bullying in the selected schools, while Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological theoretical framework was used to inform the study. In order to reach these objectives, a quantitative method using a questionnaire to collect data and a quasi-experimental design with intervention (ISs) and control (CSs) groups was used. The following are the main findings in terms of tested hypotheses: Firstly, there is a positive statistically significant difference concerning the CSs variables that include peer support toward bullying (school 2 and 4) where females represented higher mean ranks than males at school 2 and males were represented by higher mean ranks compared to females for school 4. Furthermore, for the variables peer attitudes toward bullying (school 4) and reported satisfactory schooling environments (school 4), more females than males attested for both. This suggests a favourable effect without the intervention. Furthermore, there is a statistically significant difference concerning the ISs variables that include characteristics (grade level and gender) of the perpetrator (school 1), disclosure of the bullying incident (school 1), peer reaction and attitudes toward bullying (school 1), parents’ and teachers’ reactions and efforts to support and protect victims against bullying (school 1 & 3), class teacher efforts to support and protect victims of bullying (school 1) as well as reported satisfactory schooling environments ( school 1). Secondly, it is noteworthy that for all the variables that presented statistically significant differences between females and males at baseline and follow up for the ISs – on average more females compared to males attested to this. Finally, statistically significant differences in terms of overall positive improvements i.e. N=200 that reported been bullied at baseline, was highlighted at only one of the ISs (school 1). Variables in this regard, included exposure to various types of bullying, characteristics (grade and level) of the perpetrator, disclosure of the bullying and reports of having a satisfactory schooling environment and noteworthy is that more males than females attested to be exposed to various types of bullying. These findings confirmed that the implementation of the OBPP has shown to be an effective programme at instilling an anti-bullying culture in terms of the named variables. The study therefore recommends, among others, that schools address existing bullying behaviour and prevent further bullying by building and enhancing existing connections between itself and the community which it serves; that the staff as a whole sets the standards of advocating an anti-bullying culture; and that teacher training colleges and universities offer the guidelines of the OBPP as a part of the students’ curriculum requirements.Item Exploring attitudes and values about volunteerism at a Non-Governmental Organization in Gauteng, South Africa(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Thobejane, Lobisa Zanele; Mwaba, KelvinThe services of volunteers cover a wide range of sectors such as education, health, tourism, and rehabilitation. In addition to the wide range of services being offered, youth volunteers have different values and attitudes towards volunteerism. Many community and voluntary organizations are increasingly depending on volunteers due to reduced funding and incomes caused by the recession. The study aimed to study explore how values and attitudes of volunteerism match the volunteer fit of organizations. An exploratory qualitative design was used and the "Values and attitudes model” provided the theoretical framework for the study. Participants were recruited from a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) in Gauteng through purposive sampling.Item Exploring experiences and self-explanations of antisocial offending behaviours of a group of South African emerging adults(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Faroa, Brendon Duran; Mwaba, KelvinAntisocial offending behaviour relate to instances of criminal and societal norm violating behaviour. In South Africa, statistics on antisocial offending behaviour reflect high incidence rates among South African young people who engage in societal norm violations that are largely aggressive and criminal in nature. In the country's prisons, the average inmate is a young substance abuser who is unemployed, has dropped out of school before high school, is functionally illiterate and, more often than not, homeless. This is particularly true for emerging adults (those between the ages of 18 and 25 years) who constitute the poorest economic age group, the average house burglar as well as make up more than a quarter of the prison population in South Africa. In South Africa as well as internationally, the antisocial offending behaviour of emerging adults remain grossly understudied especially through qualitative self-explanations. The present study utilised a qualitative research approach to explore experiences and self-explanations regarding antisocial offending behaviours of a group of 10 South African emerging adults. The study used an exploratory research design. Participants were drawn from a number of non- government organisations, and two townships in Cape Town which is located in the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa.Item Exploring experiences of homeless young women at a shelter in Cape Town(University of Western Cape, 2021) Mphigalale, Phophi; Mwaba, KelvinHomelessness in South Africa is an ever growing problem and it is difficult to determine the exact number of homeless people due to the fact that they live in different areas, such as under bridges, parks, abandoned buildings and vehicles and at shelters. The problem is growing every year nonetheless, there is still no solution. The number of women who are becoming homeless has also been increasing dramatically. There are many contributory factors that have been identified resulting in homelessness among young women, including domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, poverty amongst others. Homeless women are more vulnerable than other groups, young women especially.Item Exploring psychological well-being among South African mothers and children(University of the Western Cape, 2008) Phillips, Julie; Roman, Nicolette V.; Mwaba, Kelvin; Lens, WillyINTRODUCTION: A review of the literature indicates a growing interest among researchers seeking to understand psychological well- being. However, relatively few studies on the subject have been conducted in South Africa. AIM: The aim of the study was to ascertain self-esteem and life satisfaction as indicators of psychological well-being among a sample of South African mothers and their children. METHODS: Participants were a convenience sample of 245 mothers and their children residing in Cape Town, South Africa. Data was collected using the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and Satisfaction with Life Scale. RESULTS: The results showed that the majority of mothers and children attained medium scores on measures of self-esteemand satisfaction with life. CCONCLUSION: The data also showed a significant positive relationship [r = .14, p < .05] between mother and child self-esteem levels. For both mothers and children, satisfaction with life levels was significantly related to self-esteem levels. The implications of these findings are discussed.Item How the experiences of Infertility and In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer (IVF -ET) are understood by South African women attending fertility clinics(University of the Western Cape, 2008) Pedro, Athena; Mwaba, KelvinInfertility is currently a serious problem that is escalating, not only in South Africa, but also worldwide. In Cape Town, a culturally diverse, urban community of approximately 1000 couples are referred to the Groote Schuur Hospital Infertility Clinic annually. Although infertility is primarily regarded as a medical condition, the treatments have emotional effects on infertile couples due to the recurring highs and lows that often accompany treatments. This study aimed to qualitatively explore and understand the emotional and psychological experiences of infertility and its treatments (specifically In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer). Social constructionism is based on the premise that realities are not constructed in a vacuum but rather undergo a process whereby the subjective and inter-subjective experiences over time and through cultural processes come to be regarded as truths. These truths become internalised and function as lenses through which we see ourselves, compose and invent ourselves accordingly, making sense of what would otherwise have been chaotic and meaningless experiences. Additional aims were to examine women's experiences of infertility care whilst undergoing treatment and describe their experiences of coping with infertility and In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET). Semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 21 women presenting with primary infertility at a fertility clinic. This study utilised an ethnographic case study design. The results of the study suggested that women perceived themselves as not conforming to a dominant belief system that promotes motherhood as the most important role for women. The women described their 'failure' to fulfill socio-cultural expectations as emotionally turbulent. Some of the psychological responses to infertility included feelings of disappointment, shock, denial, devastation, anger, frustration, sadness, inadequacy, poor self-image and self-esteem. The women's personal accounts of their experiences of In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) revealed that they found the treatment to be highly stressful, with emotional bouts of anxiety, nervousness, excitement and optimism. A psychological synopsis of infertility and IVF-ET is presented. This diagrammatic representation shows the intensity of the emotional rollercoaster that infertility and IVF-ET presents. The findings in this study suggest the need for the incorporation of presented. This diagrammatic representation shows the intensity of the emotional rollercoaster that psychosocial intervention into infertility management. Greater attention to the psychological and emotional repercussions of infertility treatment could lead to a more personalised approach which, in turn, would optimise patient satisfaction and also prepare couples for the demands of the program by informing them about better ways of coping.Item Opportunities for technology-based HIV prevention programming among high school students in Cape Town, South Africa(Taylor & Francis, 2014) Ybarra, Michele L.; Mwaba, Kelvin; Prescott, Tonya L.; Roman, Nicolette V.; Rooi, Bronwyn; Bull, SheanaOne in three new cases of HIV in South Africa is among adolescents. Given that adolescents are particularly affected, scalable, and cost-effective prevention programs are urgently needed. This study aims to identify opportunities to integrate technology into youth HIV prevention efforts. In 2012, 1107 8th-11th graders completed a paper-and-pencil survey. Respondents were enrolled in one of three public high schools in Langa, a lower income community in Cape Town, South Africa. Eighty-nine percent of respondents have used text messaging (SMS) and 86% have gone online. If an HIV prevention program was offered online, 66% of youth would be somewhat or extremely likely to access it; slightly fewer (55%) felt the same about SMS-based programming. In comparison, 85% said they would be somewhat or extremely likely to access a school-based HIV prevention program. Interest in Internet- (60%) and SMS-based (54%) HIV prevention programming was similar for youth who had a self-appraised risk of HIV compared to youth who appraised their risk to be lower, as it was for youth who were tired of hearing messages about HIV prevention. Technology use is common - even among high school students who live in lower income communities. At the same time, these data reveal that it is not uncommon for youth to be tired of hearing messages about HIV prevention, and many of the typical topics key to HIV prevention have low interest levels among youth. HIV prevention researchers need to be mindful of the extent of existing programming that youth are exposed to. Technology-based programming may be especially amenable to meeting these requirements because of its novelty especially in developing countries, and because interactive functionality can be easily integrated into the program design. Given the preference for school and Internet-based programming, it seems that a hybrid approach is likely feasible and acceptable.Item Perceptions of premarital sex risk among undergraduate students in South Africa: A systematic review(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Abesai, Malebogo; Mwaba, KelvinThe first year of college is usually regarded as a significant transitional period for young adults, mainly with regard to sex and dating. Premarital sex is being reported by an increasing number of young adults, as well as college undergraduates, increasing by 11.3% in 2000 as compared to 9.8% in 1990. The absence of comprehensive sex education for youth raises the dangers that they will have unsafe sex and the chances that they will engage in premarital sex without being efficiently informed of the likely consequences. The aim of the study is to provide evidence of filtered base information assessed for methodological rigor and coherence on perceptions of premarital sex risk among undergraduate students in South Africa. A three-step assessment strategy was utilized to identify any potential sources of bias. The following databases were searched; Cochrane, EBSCOR host (Eric, Academic Search Complete, Psych Info, Education Search Complete, Psychological and Behavioral Sciences), SAGE, JSTOR, and Science Direct. Articles passed through rigorous selections and evaluation process for inclusion in the final review. The findings shows that most students' do have positive attitudes towards premarital sex, with males having more liberal attitudes than females (mean score of 2.68 vs. 2.32, p < 0.001). Personal HIV risk perceptions were only stated by 27.76% of the sexually active respondents which is very little. Moreover, majority of the sexually active respondents (89.49%) described their fellows' sexual behaviours as either risky or very risky.Item Prevalence and correlates of anal sex among secondary school students in Cape Town, South Africa(Taylor & Francis, 2018) Ybarra, Michele; Price-Feeney, Myeshia; Mwaba, KelvinResearch efforts have overlooked anal sex as a risk factor for adolescents’ acquisition of HIV despite the high rates of HIV among South African youth. Here, we report findings from a survey conducted in 2012 among secondary school youth, ages 16–24, in Cape Town. 937 adolescents completed a pencil-and-paper survey. Eleven and 31% of female and male youth, respectively, reported ever having anal sex. By comparison, 59% and 78% of female and male youth reported ever having vaginal sex. The percentage of youth reporting lifetime rates of anal sex increased with age: 32% of 20-to-24 year olds had anal sex compared to 16% of 16-to-17-year olds. When the sample was stratified by sex, this difference appeared to be driven by older male, but not female, sexual behavior. Despite noted differences in prevalence rates by sex, both boys and girls who had anal sex were more likely than their same-sex peers who had vaginal sex to report sexual coercion victimization and perpetration experiences and inconsistent condom use. Interestingly, some differences in HIV motivation, information, and behavioral skills were noted for youth who had vaginal sex versus youth who had never had sex; scores were largely similar for youth who had anal sex versus youth who had never had sex however. Together, these findings suggest that anal sex is not uncommon and may be an important marker for other HIV risk behaviors in at least one lower income South African community. Anal sex needs to be explicitly discussed in adolescent HIV prevention and healthy sexuality programing, incorporating age-relevant scenarios about negotiating condoms and other healthy relationship behaviors (e.g., refusing sex when it is not wanted).Item Randomized community-level HIV prevention intervention trial for men who drink in South African alcohol-serving venues(2013) Kalichman, Seth C.; Simbayi, Leickness; Cain, Demetria; Carey, Kate B.; Carey, Michael P.; Eaton, Lisa; Harel, Ofer; Mehlomakulu, Vuyelwa; Mwaba, KelvinSouth African alcohol-serving establishments (i.e., shebeens) offer unique opportunities to reduce HIV risks among men who drink. Purpose: To test an individual- and a social structural-level HIV prevention intervention for men who drink in shebeens. Methods: Twelve matched pairs of township neighbourhoods were randomized to receive either (i) an HIV prevention intervention (guided by Social Action Theory) to reduce sexual risk and increase risk reduction communication in social networks, or (ii) an attention-matched control intervention that focused on the prevention of relationship violence. At the individual level, the interventions delivered skills building workshops focused on sexual risk reduction. At the social structural level, the intervention aimed to increase conversations about safer sex among men in the shebeens, distributed small media and implemented community educational events. Individual-level outcomes were assessed by following the workshop cohorts for 1 year (N = 984), and community-level outcomes were examined through cross-sectional community surveys conducted for 1 year in the shebeens (N = 9,678). Results: Men in the HIV prevention workshops demonstrated greater condom use, more HIV prevention-oriented conversations and greater perceptions of safer sex norms than men in the comparison workshops. Changes at the community level demonstrated significant differences in condom use, although the pattern was not consistent over time. Conclusions: Multi-level interventions that target men who drink in South African shebeens may help reduce risks for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.Item The significance of sub-threshold symptoms of anxiety in the aetiology of bruxism(South African Journal of Psychology, 2010) Basson, Reneda; Mwaba, Kelvin; Rossouw, Roelof; Geerts, Greta; van Wyk Kotze, Theuns; Stuhlinger, Martin E.Bruxism is an oral parafunctional habit involving clenching and grinding of the teeth. It occurs mainly unconsciously, diurnally and/or nocturnally. It is considered an important contributory factor in the aetiology of myofacial pain (MFP) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The etiology of bruxism is considered to be multifactorial, involving physiological and psychological factors. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between the sub-threshold symptoms of anxiety and bruxism using a spectrum model. Firstly, levels of anxiety and stress were determined using the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Kessler-10 (K-10). Secondly, a tooth wear score was determined by means of a clinical examination, intra-oral photographs and dental casts. Thirdly, bruxism was rated on an ordinal scale according to specified bruxism criteria. A dualistic trend in the relationship between sub-threshold symptoms of anxiety, stress and bruxism was observed in the results. In approximately half of the subjects with higher than average anxiety and stress scores, bruxism behaviour was found. This indicates the possibility of two groups with separate relationships. The dentist could play a role in recognizing that a patient may be experiencing stress or anxiety, expressed through bruxing behaviour and refer the patient for therapy or counselling. An understanding of the psychological factors involved in the etiology of bruxism could encourage a more holistic approach to the treatment of patients with signs of bruxism.Item Understanding HELLP Syndrome in the South African context: a feminist study(University of the Western Cape, 2012) Andipatin, Michelle; Shefer, Tamara; Mwaba, Kelvin; Dept. of PsychologyThis thesis is about HELLP Syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count in pregnancy): a devastating maternal hypertensive complication that results in multi-system changes that can rapidly deteriorate into organ failure and death. Despite rapid advancesin medical technology and medical science this disease continues to take the lives of women and their infants. The only effective intervention for this disorder is immediate termination irrespective of the gestational stage of the pregnancy. The primary objective of this thesis was to explore the subjective experiences and meaningmaking processes of women in and through their high-risk pregnancies. This objective crystallised into the following aims: to facilitate and listen to the voices of women who were HELLP Syndrome survivors; to explore the reported bodily, psychological and emotional experiences of HELLP Syndrome survivors; to understand the role medical intervention and biomedical discourses play in these women’s experiences and finally to explore the subjective experiences of HELLP Syndrome in the context of traditionallyheld notions of motherhood. The study was couched in a feminist poststructuralist epistemology. A material-discursive framework which comprised phenomenological and poststructuralist theorising was usedin an attempt to understand both the lived experiences as well as the discursively constructed nature of those subjective experiences. Thus the analysis encompassed both a broadly phenomenological framework to understand the lived experiences of HELLP Syndrome, and a discourse analysis to explore the meaning-making processes of participants in relation to larger social discourses, in particular the dominant biomedical and motherhood discourses. A qualitative approach using in depth semi-structured interviews was utilisedto gather data. Eleven participants from very diverse backgrounds consented to be part of thisstudy. The findings of the study highlighted the immense trauma, difficulties and challenges participants faced in these high-risk situations. What was evident from the analysis was that their experiences were so diverse and werecompletely shaped by the severity of the disorder and the gestational stage of the pregnancy. Some women ended up in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) and had near-death experiences, some had very premature babies, while some of the participants lost their babies during the process. With regards to the emotional, psychological and corporeal aspects of the disorder,participants described their situations as a disaster, painful and difficult. Due to the rapid deterioration of symptoms, they described the tempo of these events as a whirlwind in which they felt they had no control. Emotions ranged from shock, total disbelief and surprise to anger, helplessness and powerlessness. Lacking knowledge and access to appropriate information further compounded the situation for participants. Theparticipants who had premature babies found the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit experience (NICU) extremely challenging and stressful. A discourse analysis revealed that women’s talk was shaped by the disciplinary frameworks oftechnocratic medicine and patriarchal notions of gender. Participants’ discourses about their encounters inthe medical context werelocated in, and shaped by, the structure of health care in our country. In this regard binaries (like private versus public health care, women versus men and nurses versus doctors) were evident. Furthermore their hospital stay reflected their experiences in the Intensive Care (ICU) and the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) both of which are highly technologically orientated and managed. Biomedical discourses that filtered through the participants’ talk were: medicine as indisputable truth;mechanistic model of the body as machine; medical doctors as gods and the foetus as ‘super subject’. Discourses of risk were inevitably taken up as participants tried to make sense of both their current pregnancies and the potential ones to follow. The passage into motherhood for these participants was dependent on whether they had live babies or not. For those who had live babies it was a difficult time as they had to contend with their own recovery as well as the prematurity of their infants. The NICU experience was described as tiring, trying and cumbersome. For mothers who lost their babies it was a time of profound sadness and loss coupled to the notion that motherhood itself was lost. This loss of their children symbolised broken dreams, severed connections and a powerful taboo. In addition, discourses in which motherhood was naturalised and normalised saturated their talk and framed their experience in a narrative of deficit and failure. The ideologies of mother blame and the ‘all responsible’ mother were pervasive in their discussions. In conclusion, this high-risk situation represented a time of tremendous uncertainty and unpredictability for all participants and was powerfully shaped by dominant discourses about motherhood and the biomedical discursive and institutional framework in which participants were subjugated. The study thus highlights how the HELLP syndrome experience illuminates the erasure of women’s subjectivities while the foetus/infants’ life takes precedence. This has significant implications for scholarship in general and feminist scholarship in particular and highlights the need for this type of engagement in an area that has remained on the periphery of feminist research.