Theses and dissertations (Health Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/12
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Item Caregivers experiences of living with an adolescent who abuses drugs in the Sol Plaatjie Municipal area in the Northern Cape(2024) Ditshetelo, Nomonde Patience; Hillerman, L. A.; Sokhela, Dudu GloriaAim Drug abuse by adolescents has devastating effects on the ability of their families and caregivers to function. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the caregiver’s lived experiences of living with an adolescent who was abusing drugs and receiving treatment in selected drug rehabilitation institutions. Research Design and Approach A qualitative, descriptive, and contextual with a phenomenological approach. was adopted to explore caregivers’ lived experiences living with adolescents who abuse drugs. Research setting The study was conducted at four purposively chosen Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) rehabilitation institutions situated in the Sol Plaatjie Municipality in Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province. Participants were recruited from selected rehabilitation government institutions and NGOs in the Sol Plaatjie Municipal area after full ethics approval was obtained from the DUT Institutional Research Ethics Committee (IREC). A non-probability purposive sampling, also known as the judgment sampling method, was used in this study. to interviews with 15 purposively selected caregivers whose adolescents were abusing drugs. Interviews were recorded and then simultaneously translated and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to the experiences of caregivers of adolescents with a drug abuse problem. Results Results show that the behaviour of these adolescents created an environment that led to feelings of shame and embarrassment, family disintegration, conflicts, and communication breakdown, suicidal feelings, and stress related ailments of these caregivers. Participants experienced personal challenges which included psychological and emotional effects of fear, stress, pain, and self-blame. Participants also highlighted family disruptions and financial drain as adverse experiences as a result of their adolescents’ behaviour. Conclusion The study results highlighted the psychosocial challenges experienced by those caregivers of adolescents who abuse drugs. These findings underscore the need for efforts to be directed at the development of formal support interventions for caregivers of adolescents who are affected by this public health scourge.Item An exploration of the role of the Sarva Dharma Ashram in the development of youth and their families in the Welbedacht community(2020-11-30) Gurcharan, Yashna; Bhagwan, RaisuyahHistorically, faith-based organisations have been at the forefront of developing and empowering disadvantaged youth and their families. They have been known to provide not only spiritual support but also material relief to needy families and communities. Despite the fact that they play a salient role in spiritual and social development very little empirical research, exists which attests to their value in developing contexts. It is within this context that the current study was developed. It sought to understand the role of the Sarva Dharma Ashram in the development of youth, their families and the community in the Welbedacht area. A qualitative research approach was used in the study. Specifically a case study design was used, with the Sarva Dharma Ashram being considered as the case for analysis. Three samples were recruited to shed light on the Ashram, as the case of analysis. The samples included the Board members of the Sarva Dharma Ashram, family members of youth, and community members of Welbedacht. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the Board members and family members. Data was collected till saturation. Four Board members of the Ashram were interviewed and ten family members were interviewed. A focus group discussion was used to collect data from ten community members. An interview and focus group guide served as the data collection instruments in this study. In total twenty-four people participated in this study. Data collection with all three samples took place at the Sarva Dharma Ashram. The data was analysed using the process of thematic analysis. The transcripts were read several times for patterns and similar wording. Thereafter, the main themes and sub-themes were identified which highlighted how the Ashram contributed to families and the community. There were five broad themes that emerged from the data. These reflected the experience of poverty and financial hardship endured by children, youth and their families in the community and the varied and multifaceted spiritual and material support extended to families and the community through diverse initiatives of the Sarva Dharma Ashram. The study found that the Ashram acted as a focal point within the disadvantaged community of Welbedacht and a huge immediate resource to youth, families and the community when any psycho-social or financial distress was encountered. The feeding scheme was found to be one such initiative where schools in the vicinity were provided with meals regularly. Moreover spiritual activities at the Ashram such as the Satsangh programme (group devotional singing), were found to uplift families and individual members who faced distress and isolation. Empowerment programmes for unemployed women were aimed to uplift women and enable them to become more financially independent. Faith is a core motivator for the work that faith-based organisations undertake and influences how the initiatives and activities of the Ashram are implemented. The transformational benefits of the activities being implemented at the Sarva Dharma Ashram provide tangible evidence of how crucial such organizations are within underresourced communities. The study highlighted the problems experienced by children, youth, and their families in disadvantaged communities and how spiritual and social support can enable family and community well-being. Clarke and Jennings (2008:15) wrote “the faith element of the faith-based organisation is not an add-on to its development activity, operating alongside. It is an essential part of that activity, informing it completely.” The Sarva Dharma Ashram was found to represent this through its services and programmes for the benefit of the Welbedacht community.