Browsing by Author "van der Berg, Jean"

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    The support needs of mothers and caregivers of children with disabilities in a rural context: A critical ethnography
    (University of the Western Cape, 2023) van der Berg, Jean; Hess-April, Lucia
    Disability affects many worldwide. While the person with a disability is known to face many challenges, disability also affects the family, friends, and by extension the greater community. Persons with disabilities are known to face marginalisation, and those living in rural areas, where resources are fewer and support is further, are significantly less supported than those living in urban areas. This indicates that children with disabilities, and by extension their caregivers, may not receive the support that they need to allow for full participation in communities. This study was guided by critical social theory and aimed to explore the support needs of mothers/caregivers of children with disabilities in the rural setting of Middledrift in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape. The objectives of the study were to explore how mothers of children with disabilities in a rural community are supported in their parenting role; to critically analyse the factors that shape the support needs of mothers of children with disabilities in a rural community in South Africa and to develop an action plan with mothers and caregivers of children with disabilities that will aim to promote support and disability inclusion in the community. The qualitative research study was conducted within the transformative research paradigm. The research design utilised was critical ethnography. Four themes emerged from the findings depicting the experiences and support needs of caregivers.
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    The value of occupational therapy intervention for the worker roles of forensic mental healthcare users in Cape Town, South Africa
    (IOS Press, 2021) Soeker, Mogammad Shaheed; Hare, Saabirah; Mall, Saadia; van der Berg, Jean
    BACKGROUND: There is a void in research that focuses on how OT programs facilitate self-esteem in forensic mental healthcare users' return-to-work in the open labor market, particularly in South Africa. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences and perceptions of forensic mental healthcare users, transitioning from an OT program to the open labor market. METHODS: Five individuals, diagnosed with Schizophrenia, and two key informants participated in this study that was positioned in a qualitative paradigm, with an exploratory and descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. RESULTS: Theme one reflects on the challenges experienced by forensic mental healthcare users, when returning to work. Theme two describes various OT programs, as well as how they facilitate the reintegration of forensic mental healthcare users into the worker role. Theme three describes the positive support for forensic mental healthcare users, in the mental healthcare setting, workplace, and the greater community. Theme four describes how participation in occupation installs hope in forensic mental healthcare users, reinforcing the value of work, while positively influencing their work identity. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that stigma, residual symptoms, relapse due to substance abuse/mental health, and the lack of family support, were not be conducive to work skills development. However, the support of family and friends, workplace occupational therapy support, assembly line work, and therapeutic groups in an OT program, ensured positive workplace reintegration.