Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk

FACILITATING ACTIVE AGEING: A SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION WITH INSTITUTIONALISED OLDER ADULTS

2024-06-14T07:04:55+00:00

Older adults in many developing nations move to care homes for reasons other than ill health, but the institutional routines, paired with the separation from families, may curtail their autonomy and choices, adversely affecting their active ageing prospects. This study introduced a novel social work intervention that targeted individual-level, personnel-level and institutional-level modifications to improve the active ageing prospects of institutionalised older adults. A total of 35 participants (16 males and 19 females) were recruited from seven care homes in Kerala, India. The active ageing status of the participants significantly improved after the intervention (137.77±45.1) compared to that before the intervention (128±44.2). The findings show that structural and personnel changes in the institution, combined with individual and family-level interventions, can improve the active ageing prospects of institutionalised older adults in developing nations, where institutionalisation is not always necessarily a consequence of ill health.

CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS AMONGST ZIMBABWEAN IMMIGRANT FAMILIES LIVING IN SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA

2024-06-14T07:12:47+00:00

Childcare is a pivotal universal right, particularly for immigrant families and their children in helping them to settle in a host country successfully. Underpinned by social exclusion and intersectionality frameworks, this qualitative study explored the childcare arrangements used by Zimbabwean immigrant families living in Soweto, a low-income community in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study used semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion to gather data from the heads of eighteen Zimbabwean immigrant families. Among other findings, the study revealed that immigrant families used various childcare options, and their choices were constrained by levels of vulnerability and forms of exclusion. Some of the recommendations made to enhance the childcare arrangements amongst the group are integrative and inclusive measures such as adequate documentation and improving the income of members of this group.

AN INTEGRATED INDICATOR FRAMEWORK TO PROMOTE CHILD WELL-BEING IN NAMIBIA

2024-06-14T07:28:19+00:00

Namibia has adopted several policies, pieces of legislation and programmes aimed at improving the well-being of children. However, the Namibian National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) of 2004 no longer adequately reflects the contemporary problems faced by vulnerable children. Policy makers require a comprehensive and integrated set of indicators to inform policy revision to make informed choices. This article reviewed national and international child protection reports, evaluation studies and indices to identify contemporary indicators for tracking child well-being in Namibia. It found that while the available indicators reflect objective well-being measures, there is a gap in tracking the subjective experiences of children, child safety and the promotion of children’s rights. The article offers an alternative integrated indicator framework that captures multiple dimensions of child well-being. Adoption of this framework can enable policy makers to make more informed decisions to support vulnerable children.

XHOSA CULTURAL ATTITUDES IN RELATION TO ADOPTION

2024-06-14T07:34:55+00:00

Xhosa culture has a strong aversion to breaking familial relationships by placing children in non-parental settings or orphanages, which may lead to limited legal adoption procedures in this cultural context. Their cultural values may also have a significant impact on the adoption process. This study, conducted in Mthatha in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, sought to describe Xhosa cultural attitudes in relation to adoption. The article used a two-pronged sampling approach, combining convenience sampling to easily access respondents and purposeful sampling to deliberately select individuals who met specific criteria relevant to the research objectives, using a cross-sectional descriptive design and a quantitative approach. A closed-ended paper-based questionnaire was used to assess the attitudes of the population to adoption. Descriptive statistics and mean scores were used to analyse the variable distribution and associated demographic characteristics. The article indicated a markedly positive attitude towards adoption among the Xhosa in Mthatha.

WE NEED SUPPORT: THE EXPERIENCES OF FAMILY MEMBERS CARING FOR A RELATIVE DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

2024-06-14T07:41:41+00:00

Family members living with and caring for a relative diagnosed with schizophrenia may experience severe challenges that can result in secondary stress and influence various life domains. This article is based on a study which aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of these family members. The study applied a qualitative research approach with phenomenology as the strategy of inquiry. The study implemented voluntary snowball sampling to select participants for the study. Data collection consisted of unstructured interviews followed by thematic analysis to establish the findings of the research. These findings specified the challenges experienced by family members caring for a relative with schizophrenia. The findings also indicated the social support and social work interventions which can mitigate or prevent the adverse effects when family members care for a relative diagnosed with schizophrenia. Effective and comprehensive social work services, which are family sensitive and inclusive, are imperative. Active engagement with both the family carer(s) and relative diagnosed with schizophrenia can contribute to minimising these adverse effects.

CARE-LEAVERS’ EFFORTS TO BUILD RESILIENCE THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS OF BELONGING

2024-06-14T07:48:30+00:00

This article aims to deepen and theorise our understanding of the need for belonging among young people transitioning out of residential care. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with a sample of 31 residential care-leavers in South Africa, who were followed-up annually for seven years. It addresses the lack of theoretically informed studies and builds an indigenous theory to explain the care-leaving journey. This paper presents findings on care-leavers’ deep desire for authentic belonging, their investment in building authentic relationships, and their frustration and failure in doing so. Implications for practice suggest an imperative to build care-leavers’ sense of belonging after removal from home to care, which will ultimately lead to building resilience. Social workers and child and youth care workers need to co-build networks of belonging to foster young people’s perceptions of themselves and the part that belonging plays in their post-care reintegration.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S SCHOOL READINESS: A ROLE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS

2024-06-14T07:53:29+00:00

The importance of the early childhood years for school readiness highlights the primary role of parents in preparing their children for school entry. This article reports on a qualitative study that explored parental involvement in children’s school readiness in a South African context, with special emphasis on the influence of the social environment on parental involvement. Through purposive and snowball sampling, a sample of 25 parents or caregivers, nine Foundation Phase teachers and four social workers were recruited from communities in Tshwane, Gauteng. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as theoretical framework was relevant for understanding contextual influences on parental involvement in school readiness. To account for the evidently inadequate school readiness of many South African children, the findings of the study indicate that parents’ knowledge, perceptions and socio-economic contexts influence their ability to effectively prepare young children for school entry; this in turn suggests a role for social workers to empower parents for enhancing their children’s school readiness

WHAT MOTIVATES MOTHERS TO APPLY A POSITIVE PARENTING APPROACH? A QUALITATIVE STUDY

2024-06-14T08:13:47+00:00

Few studies to date have explored the perceptions of parents about positive parenting in general, and none have examined parents’ motivation to apply a positive parenting approach. Consequently, the aim of this study was to explore what motivates parents to apply a positive parenting approach. Participants were recruited in South Africa by means of non-probability purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain the perspectives of sixteen mothers who identified themselves as positive parents. Participants responded to the following open-ended question: “What motivates you to apply a positive parenting approach?” After a thematic analysis, the following four categories (with themes and subthemes) emerged from the data: It is who I am, It just works, Gaining knowledge through learning and resources, and The importance of social support. The findings of the study may be utilised in interventions to encourage parents to adopt a positive parenting approach and may provide guidance on how to maintain these parenting skills to empower themselves and their children.

CONSTRUCTION AND EXPRESSION OF COMMITMENT IN COHABITATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

2024-06-14T08:25:29+00:00

Cohabitation is often misconstrued as consisting of a relationship characterised by a low level of commitment. However, commitment in cohabitation is multidimensional, as it allows a couple to demonstrate their love in different ways, without necessarily conforming to a particular traditional formality. It is a private and personal commitment between the cohabiting partners concerned, founded on principles of trust. The current study suggests that commitment in heterosexual cohabitation is closely aligned with the couple’s intentions. Through the lenses of commitment and symbolic interactionist theories, this article explored how cohabitees construct and express commitment in their relationship. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study involved 21 purposively selected heterosexual cohabitees who are involved in a monogamous relationship. Data were generated through conducting semi-structured face-to-face interviews, using open-ended questions contained in an interview guide which were subsequently analysed thematically. Principles of credibility, transferability, dependability and conformability were adhered to throughout the research process.

THE PERSPECTIVES OF SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISEES ON THE QUALITY OF SUPERVISION IN THE GIYANI REGION OF LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

2024-06-14T08:29:53+00:00

This article reports on a qualitative research study which was intended to explore the perspectives of social work supervisees on the quality of supervision in the Giyani region of Limpopo, South Africa. It was important to determine the quality of supervision rendered because social work supervision is intended to capacitate social workers with knowledge and skills and to support them, yet such supervision is fraught with challenges for decades. Purposive sampling was thus used to select study participants from whom data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The study findings revealed that the majority of the participants (10 of the 13) were not offered quality supervision by their supervisors. The participants attributed the poor supervision to the fact that their supervisors were delegated not appointed to supervise. The study thus recommends that all delegated social work supervisors in the Giyani region should be permanently appointed to their supervision positions.

RESPECTING DIVERSITY THROUGH JOINT SOCIAL ACTION

2024-06-14T06:55:15+00:00

In the pursuit of progress and lasting change, one African saying resonates deeply: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This proverb encapsulates the essence of collaboration and unity, highlighting the indispensable role of diverse perspectives and contributions in achieving enduring success. It underscores the imperative of embracing and respecting different backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints to realise common objectives. The articles in this second issue of 2024 are indeed a demonstration of the Journal’s mission of diversity through joint social action.

SOCIAL WORK, SOCIAL WELFARE, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A POSTCOLONIAL PERSPECTIVE

2024-06-14T08:34:14+00:00

The lack of African social work literature and an overreliance on Western literature have led to calls for African scholars to produce rich social work texts to support Africa’s decolonisation agenda. In Social Work, Social Welfare, and Social Development in Nigeria: A Postcolonial Perspective, Mel Gray and Solomon Ahmadasun offer a key text on social work in Nigeria.