Psychosocial challenges of children with disabilities in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo province of South Africa: Towards a responsive integrated disability strategy

Disability, and everything it encompasses, presents major challenges to individuals, families and communities worldwide. Children with disabilities (CWD) are marginalised and excluded in most societies. Discrimination and prejudice towards CWD are compounded by poverty, lack of essential services and support and sometimes a hostile and inaccessible environment. Objectives: The study sought to examine the psychosocial challenges experienced by CWD in the Sekhukhune district of Limpopo province, South Africa. Based on the identified, articulated and expressed challenges, the study sought to recommend improvement of the existing Integrated National Disability Strategy (INDS) for greater responsiveness to the needs of CWD at both provincial and local levels. Method: The interpretivist qualitative mode of enquiry was the chosen methodology for this study. Phenomenology and descriptive research designs guided the study. Purposive sampling was employed, and data were collected from 36 participants using three triangulated methods: individual in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Thematic data analysis was used to analyze data. Results: The findings revealed that CWD in Sekhukhune experienced numerous challenges which affected their social functioning, development and general well-being. Aggravating factors included stigma, labelling and discrimination; disability-specific discrimination and bullying; exclusive education; sexual exploitation; lack of governmental support and poor implementation of disability-specific policies, amongst others. Conclusion: The provisions of the INDS to promote inclusion, integration, mainstreaming and equitable access to resources and services remained an ideal rather than a reality for CWD in Sekhukhune.

We also have Cases of the Disease that you are researching about. Small-scale Enterprises and the Challenges of HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma and Discrimination in Kabale; Uganda

At the workplace; the HIV epidemic has brought about loss of productivity; staff turnover and increased labour costs among others. HIV stigma presents barriers to HIV prevention in different settings including the workplace. Unlike large scale enterprises; small-scale enterprises have received less attention in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This study employed a qualitative case study design. Data were collected from eighteen participants in three small-scale enterprises in Kabale; Uganda. Findings indicate that although there are effectively no workplace policies in small-scale enterprises; employees in the visited workplaces do not fear HIV/AIDS testing and disclosing their HIV/AIDS status as main sources of HIV-stigma although their perceptions remain hypothetical. Integrating clear anti-discriminatory HIV/AIDS policies may empower some small-scale enterprises with related HIV knowledge and skills in an effort to overcome the challenges of HIV-related stigma and discrimination

Mental health stigma: what is being done to raise awareness and reduce stigma in South Africa?

Objective: Stigma plays a major role in the persistent suffering; disability and economic loss associated with mental illnesses. There is an urgent need to find effective strategies to increase awareness about mental illnesses and reduce stigma and discrimination. This study surveys the existing anti-stigma programmes in South Africa. Method: The World Health Organization's Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems Version 2.2 and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data on mental health education programmes in South Africa. Results: Numerous anti-stigma campaigns are in place in both government and non-government organizations across the country. All nine provinces have had public campaigns between 2000 and 2005; targeting various groups such as the general public; youth; different ethnic groups; health care professionals; teachers and politicians. Some schools are setting up education and prevention programmes and various forms of media and art are being utilized to educate and discourage stigma and discrimination. Mental health care users are increasingly getting involved through media and talks in a wide range of settings. Yet very few of such activities are systematically evaluated for the effectiveness and very few are being published in peer-review journals or in reports where experiences and lessons can be shared and potentially applied elsewhere. Conclusion: A pool of evidence for anti-stigma and awareness-raising strategies currently exists that could potentially make a scientific contribution and inform policy in South Africa as well as in other countries

Mental illness - stigma and discrimination in Zambia

Objective: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the presence; causes and means of addressing individual and systemic stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness in Zambia. This is to facilitate the development of tailor-made antistigma initiatives that are culturally sensitive for Zambia and other low-income African countries. This is the first in-depth study on mental illness stigma in Zambia. Method: Fifty semi-structured interviews and 6 focus group discussions were conducted with key stakeholders drawn from 3 districts in Zambia (Lusaka; Kabwe and Sinazongwe). Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Results: Mental illness stigma and discrimination is pervasive across Zambian society; prevailing within the general community; amongst family members; amid general and mental health care providers; and at the level of government. Such stigma appears to be fuelled by misunderstandings of mental illness aetiology; fears of contagion and the perceived dangerousness of people with mental illness; and associations between HIV/AIDS and mental illness. Strategies suggested for reducing stigma and discrimination in Zambia included education campaigns; the transformation of mental health policy and legislation and expanding the social and economic opportunities of the mentally ill. Conclusion: In Zambia; as in many other lowincome African countries; very little attention is devoted to addressing the negative beliefs and behaviours surrounding mental illness; despite the devastating costs that ensue. The results from this study underscore the need for greater commitment from governments and policy-makers in African countries to start prioritizing mental illness stigma as a major public health and development issue

Negative Stereotypes Examined through the HIV and AIDS Discourse: Qualitative Findings from White Young People in Johannesburg; South Africa

Previous studies reporting perceptions of HIV and AIDS by white youth in South Africa suggest both explicit and implicit racial stereotypes and negative attitudes. This paper contributes to the literature on the discourse of racial stereotypes found in discussions about HIV and AIDS. The study was conducted in the suburb of Edenvale; north-east of Johannesburg; South Africa. Three focus group discussions were held with mixed-sex; white middle-class participants aged 16 to 24. Key findings show stereotypes related to cultural knowledge and group character of black youth. Participants spoke negatively of ignorance; illiteracy; traditionalism; backwardness and lack of civilisation among black youth. Black youth were negatively represented as relying on ancestors andtraditional healers for guidance. Participants reasoned that black young males were sexually irresponsible and promiscuous; and were spreading HIV intentionally. Thus it is imperative that contemporary HIV prevention interventions in South Africa address and dispel stereotypes reproducing racist discourses

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Scale (AUDIT) normative scores for a multiracial sample of Rhodes University residence students

Objective:The objective of this research is to obtain accurate drinking norms for students living in the university residences in preparation for future social norms interventions that would allow individual students to compare their drinking to an appropriate reference group. Method: Random cluster sampling was used to obtain data from 318 residence students who completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); a brief; reliable and valid screening measure designed by the World Health Organisation (Babor et al. 2001). Results: The Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.83 reported for this multicultural sample is high; suggesting that the AUDIT may be reliably used in this and similar contexts. Normative scores are reported in the form of percentiles. Comparisons between the portions of students drinking safely and hazardously according to race and gender indicate that while male students are drinking no more hazardously than female students; white students drink far more hazardously than black students. Conclusions: These differences suggest that both race- and gender-specific norms would be essential for an effective social norms intervention in this multicultural South African context. Finally; the racialised drinking patterns might reflect an informal segregation of social space at Rhodes University