Pub Date : 2007-05-01DOI: 10.4314/AJPSY.V10I2.30235
C. Myburgh, M. Poggenpoel
65 Qualitative research forms part of the classical cycle of research. A researcher notices a phenomenon that he/she has no explanation for. He/she observes the phenomenon and collects data about it to describe it-this is qualitative research. With enough information about the phenomenon the researcher can now formulate a hypothesis or hypotheses that can be tested through quantitative research. Qualitative research developed in the 1940’s in Chicago (when anthropology students were requested to observe a certain street for a week to ascertain if any repeating patterns of behaviour took place) and since then it has become an established research approach in both the human as well as the natural sciences. The purpose of qualitative research is to obtain understanding and knowledge about a specific phenomenon. Usually there is little or no knowledge available about this phenomenon. A researcher then explores and describes the phenomenon. Qualitative research is both theory and hypothesis generating.
{"title":"Qualitative methods : a research approach worth considering : guest editorial","authors":"C. Myburgh, M. Poggenpoel","doi":"10.4314/AJPSY.V10I2.30235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/AJPSY.V10I2.30235","url":null,"abstract":"65 Qualitative research forms part of the classical cycle of research. A researcher notices a phenomenon that he/she has no explanation for. He/she observes the phenomenon and collects data about it to describe it-this is qualitative research. With enough information about the phenomenon the researcher can now formulate a hypothesis or hypotheses that can be tested through quantitative research. Qualitative research developed in the 1940’s in Chicago (when anthropology students were requested to observe a certain street for a week to ascertain if any repeating patterns of behaviour took place) and since then it has become an established research approach in both the human as well as the natural sciences. The purpose of qualitative research is to obtain understanding and knowledge about a specific phenomenon. Usually there is little or no knowledge available about this phenomenon. A researcher then explores and describes the phenomenon. Qualitative research is both theory and hypothesis generating.","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130473622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2007-02-01DOI: 10.4314/AJPSY.V10I1.30230
F. Njenga
In traditional African societies, roles and responsibilities of its members were carefully regulated, giving the community a sense of cohesion, continuity and integrity. Following the periods of colonization, wars of liberation, independence and post colonial self governments, many countries in Africa have disintegrated into volatile autocratic dictatorships that have led to many wars, genocide, internal and external displacements of the people, recently complicated by natural and man made disasters. AIDS is a recent entrant to the equation. In the midst of these changes (and traumas) the family unit has been denuded of its security, continuity and order. African traditional education systems have been replaced by ill tested western models of education, while time tested rites of passage have been declared health hazards (e.g. circumcision) in many parts of Africa. Marriage systems that traditionally conferred stability derived from the nature of the marital bonds have been replaced by fragile western monogamous unions. These changes have affected relationships “Behind Closed Doors”. This paper describes the effects of this type of globalization on Africans taking Kenya as a case example, exploring domestic violence and the abuse of children.
{"title":"Trauma in African women and children: a study of the Kenyan experience as illustration of the phenomenon","authors":"F. Njenga","doi":"10.4314/AJPSY.V10I1.30230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/AJPSY.V10I1.30230","url":null,"abstract":"In traditional African societies, roles and responsibilities of its members were carefully regulated, giving the community a sense of cohesion, continuity and integrity. Following the periods of colonization, wars of liberation, independence and post colonial self governments, many countries in Africa have disintegrated into volatile autocratic dictatorships that have led to many wars, genocide, internal and external displacements of the people, recently complicated by natural and man made disasters. AIDS is a recent entrant to the equation. In the midst of these changes (and traumas) the family unit has been denuded of its security, continuity and order. African traditional education systems have been replaced by ill tested western models of education, while time tested rites of passage have been declared health hazards (e.g. circumcision) in many parts of Africa. Marriage systems that traditionally conferred stability derived from the nature of the marital bonds have been replaced by fragile western monogamous unions. These changes have affected relationships “Behind Closed Doors”. This paper describes the effects of this type of globalization on Africans taking Kenya as a case example, exploring domestic violence and the abuse of children.","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"10 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129884103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-11-01DOI: 10.4314/ajpsy.v9i4.30221
J. Segal, R. Davidow
Objective : The search for an ideal induction agent for use in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been a long one. To date numerous agents have been used and there is little uniformity in clinical practice regarding agent of choice. Recent reports in the literature suggesting the efficacy of the volatile anaesthetic agent sevoflurane for ECT have appeared. As a result of these reports the Tara ECT unit converted to sevoflurane for induction purposes, hence the need for both a clinical review and cost analysis. Method : This report is a retrospective clinical chart review of all patients treated with sevoflurane induction over the course of the first year of its use in this ECT unit, together with a brief cost analysis comparison to the previous induction agent used. Results : In our experience sevoflurane has been fairly well tolerated and has improved patient anaesthetic induction morbidity but appears to be associated with a shorter duration of motor seizure, potential haemodynamic complications and an increased financial burden for the hospital. Conclusion : This report is from a naturalistic setting with most patients being on concomitant medications and suffering with various medical and psychiatric problems and thus should be generalizable to other ECT units.
{"title":"Sevoflurane induction for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)- a clinical review and cost analysis : original article","authors":"J. Segal, R. Davidow","doi":"10.4314/ajpsy.v9i4.30221","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/ajpsy.v9i4.30221","url":null,"abstract":"Objective : The search for an ideal induction agent for use in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been a long one. To date numerous agents have been used and there is little uniformity in clinical practice regarding agent of choice. Recent reports in the literature suggesting the efficacy of the volatile anaesthetic agent sevoflurane for ECT have appeared. As a result of these reports the Tara ECT unit converted to sevoflurane for induction purposes, hence the need for both a clinical review and cost analysis.\u0000Method : This report is a retrospective clinical chart review of all patients treated with sevoflurane induction over the course of the first year of its use in this ECT unit, together with a brief cost analysis comparison to the previous induction agent used.\u0000Results : In our experience sevoflurane has been fairly well tolerated and has improved patient anaesthetic induction morbidity but appears to be associated with a shorter duration of motor seizure, potential haemodynamic complications and an increased financial burden for the hospital.\u0000Conclusion : This report is from a naturalistic setting with most patients being on concomitant medications and suffering with various medical and psychiatric problems and thus should be generalizable to other ECT units.","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127479340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-08-01DOI: 10.4314/AJPSY.V9I3.30217
S. Kleintjes, A. Flisher, M. Fick, A. Railoun, C. Lund, C. Molteno, B. Robertson
Objective : To provide estimates of the prevalence of selected mental disorders in the Western Cape, based on the consensus achieved by a working group established for this purpose. Method : An expert working group was established to provide technical expertise for the project. Potential risk factors likely to influence local prevalence rates were identified. Annual prevalence rates for adults and for children and adolescents were derived by consensus, informed by a systematic literature review. Prevalence rates were derived for individual disorders and adjusted for comorbidity. Results : The overall prevalence was 25.0% for adults and 17.0% for children and adolescents. Conclusion : Prevalence rates of child, adolescent and adult mental disorders were derived in a short period of time and with the use of minimal resources. Although of unknown validity, they are useful for policy development and for planning service utilisation estimates, resource costing and targets for service development for local mental health needs. This in the absence of an existing methodologically sound national prevalence study. We recommend that policy and programme developers draw on the expertise of local academics and clinicians to promote research-informed planning and policy development in the public sector. South African Psychiatry Review Vol. 9(3) 2006: 157-160
{"title":"The prevalence of mental disorders among children, adolescents and adults in the Western Cape, South Africa","authors":"S. Kleintjes, A. Flisher, M. Fick, A. Railoun, C. Lund, C. Molteno, B. Robertson","doi":"10.4314/AJPSY.V9I3.30217","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/AJPSY.V9I3.30217","url":null,"abstract":"Objective : To provide estimates of the prevalence of selected mental disorders in the Western Cape, based on the consensus achieved by a working group established for this purpose. Method : An expert working group was established to provide technical expertise for the project. Potential risk factors likely to influence local prevalence rates were identified. Annual prevalence rates for adults and for children and adolescents were derived by consensus, informed by a systematic literature review. Prevalence rates were derived for individual disorders and adjusted for comorbidity. Results : The overall prevalence was 25.0% for adults and 17.0% for children and adolescents. Conclusion : Prevalence rates of child, adolescent and adult mental disorders were derived in a short period of time and with the use of minimal resources. Although of unknown validity, they are useful for policy development and for planning service utilisation estimates, resource costing and targets for service development for local mental health needs. This in the absence of an existing methodologically sound national prevalence study. We recommend that policy and programme developers draw on the expertise of local academics and clinicians to promote research-informed planning and policy development in the public sector. South African Psychiatry Review Vol. 9(3) 2006: 157-160","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"68 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115947580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-06-12DOI: 10.4314/AJPSY.V9I1.30207
L. Muller, A. Flisher
The background to these standards is to be found in the following articles by the above mentioned authors, South African Psychiatry Review 2005;8:140-145 & South African Psychiatry Review 2005;8:146-152
{"title":"Standards for mental health services in South Africa : guidelines","authors":"L. Muller, A. Flisher","doi":"10.4314/AJPSY.V9I1.30207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/AJPSY.V9I1.30207","url":null,"abstract":"The background to these standards is to be found in the following articles by the above mentioned authors, South African Psychiatry Review 2005;8:140-145 & South African Psychiatry Review 2005;8:146-152","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114813279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2006-05-01DOI: 10.4314/AJPSY.V9I2.30210
B. Robertson
It is estimated that 70% of South Africans consult traditional healers, who include diviners, herbalists, faith healers and traditional birth attendants. Calls from the new democratic South African government for medical practitioners to collaborate with traditional healers escalated during the nineties, and the draft Traditional Health Practitioners Bill of South Africa was unanimously approved by parliament in September 2004. The author felt that there is a significant lack of information about the contribution of traditional healers in South Africa to mental health, and over recent years conducted three studies designed to fill some of the gaps. The combined data of the studies suggests that, while traditional healers provide a valued mental health service to certain types of clients, they resemble faithbased practitioners and counsellors more than medical practitioners. The author concludes that collaboration should be promoted, but further knowledge and debate is needed about the best way for mental health practitioners to collaborate with traditional healers, and on what basis it should be founded.
{"title":"Does the evidence support collaboration between psychiatry and traditional healers? Findings from three South African studies : review article","authors":"B. Robertson","doi":"10.4314/AJPSY.V9I2.30210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/AJPSY.V9I2.30210","url":null,"abstract":"It is estimated that 70% of South Africans consult traditional healers, who include diviners, herbalists, faith healers and traditional birth \u0000attendants. Calls from the new democratic South African government for medical practitioners to collaborate with traditional healers \u0000escalated during the nineties, and the draft Traditional Health Practitioners Bill of South Africa was unanimously approved by parliament \u0000in September 2004. The author felt that there is a significant lack of information about the contribution of traditional healers in South \u0000Africa to mental health, and over recent years conducted three studies designed to fill some of the gaps. The combined data of the \u0000studies suggests that, while traditional healers provide a valued mental health service to certain types of clients, they resemble faithbased \u0000practitioners and counsellors more than medical practitioners. The author concludes that collaboration should be promoted, but \u0000further knowledge and debate is needed about the best way for mental health practitioners to collaborate with traditional healers, and \u0000on what basis it should be founded.","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"75 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"120941663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-11-01DOI: 10.4314/AJPSY.V8I4.30197
L. Muller, A. Flisher
Objective : Mental health care standards have been developed to describe what is an acceptable and adequate quality of mental health care for service users in South Africa. Part two describes the standards development methods, the range of standards developed and, as an example, the rights and protection standards domain. Methods : A systematic literature review and broad consultation to develop a set of normative-based standards. Consultation included widespread draft document distribution/feedback, in-depth provincial workshops, and focus groups. Structually, detailed criteria and sub-criteria were developed for measurability and adequate detail in key service areas. Results : Three types of standards were developed: core standards, standards for service delivery and for specific settings. Standards to ensure the rights and protection of varied service users within a range of contexts are described. Conclusion : A standards document is an essential component of a quality improvement process, within the context of a supportive legislative, political and managerial framework.
{"title":"Standards for the mental health care of people with severe psychiatric disorders in South Africa : part 2. Methodology and results : original article","authors":"L. Muller, A. Flisher","doi":"10.4314/AJPSY.V8I4.30197","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/AJPSY.V8I4.30197","url":null,"abstract":"Objective : Mental health care standards have been developed to describe what is an acceptable and adequate quality of mental health care for service users in South Africa. Part two describes the standards development methods, the range of standards developed and, as an example, the rights and protection standards domain.\u0000Methods : A systematic literature review and broad consultation to develop a set of normative-based standards. Consultation included widespread draft document distribution/feedback, in-depth provincial workshops, and focus groups. Structually, detailed criteria and sub-criteria were developed for measurability and adequate detail in key service areas.\u0000Results : Three types of standards were developed: core standards, standards for service delivery and for specific settings. Standards to ensure the rights and protection of varied service users within a range of contexts are described.\u0000Conclusion : A standards document is an essential component of a quality improvement process, within the context of a supportive legislative, political and managerial framework.","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114678786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2005-08-01DOI: 10.4314/AJPSY.V8I3.30192
Y. Moosa, Y. Jeenah, A. Pillay, M. Vorster, R. Liebenberg
lIgObjective:l/Ig Non-fatal suicidal behaviour (NFSB) severely impacts on the health services and the resources of a country and should be prevented. The aim of this control study was to describe a group of patients with NFSB and to elicit, if any, the factors associated with this behaviour compared to a non-suicidal control group. lbrglIgMethod:l/Ig Interviews were conducted on patients with NFSB treated in the Johannesburg Hospital medical emergency rooms. The information was gathered by way of a questionnaire and included: patient demographics, past history of psychiatric and medical illness, family history, habits and social adjustment. lbrglIgResults:l/Ig The study sample comprised forty-three patients with NFSB (mean age = 29.7 years) and control group of forty-five non-suicide attempters (mean age = 30.9 years). 26 (60.5%) of the patients and 33 (73.3%) of the controls were females. 10 (23.3%) of the patients had been treated for NFSB within the preceding 12 months. Patients with a past history of a psychiatric illness or of physical or sexual abuse were significantly more likely to exhibit NFSB compared to the control group (p < 0.05). lbrglIgConclusions:l/Ig Patients who threaten deliberate self-harm and who have a history of previous NFSB, past psychiatric illness and physical or sexual abuse, are at a higher risk of this behaviour as compared to the general population. If NFSB intentions are suspected in or voiced by an individual, then these risk factors should be assessed and appropriate preventative measures instituted.
{"title":"Non-fatal suicidal behaviour at the Johannesburg General Hospital : original article","authors":"Y. Moosa, Y. Jeenah, A. Pillay, M. Vorster, R. Liebenberg","doi":"10.4314/AJPSY.V8I3.30192","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/AJPSY.V8I3.30192","url":null,"abstract":"lIgObjective:l/Ig Non-fatal suicidal behaviour (NFSB) severely impacts on the health services and the resources of a country and should be prevented. The \u0000aim of this control study was to describe a group of patients with NFSB and to elicit, if any, the factors associated with this behaviour compared to \u0000a non-suicidal control group. \u0000lbrglIgMethod:l/Ig Interviews were conducted on patients with NFSB treated in the Johannesburg Hospital medical emergency \u0000rooms. The information was gathered by way of a questionnaire and included: patient demographics, past history of psychiatric and medical illness, \u0000family history, habits and social adjustment. lbrglIgResults:l/Ig The study sample comprised forty-three patients with NFSB (mean age = 29.7 years) and \u0000control group of forty-five non-suicide attempters (mean age = 30.9 years). 26 (60.5%) of the patients and 33 (73.3%) of the controls were females. \u000010 (23.3%) of the patients had been treated for NFSB within the preceding 12 months. Patients with a past history of a psychiatric illness or of \u0000physical or sexual abuse were significantly more likely to exhibit NFSB compared to the control group (p < 0.05). lbrglIgConclusions:l/Ig Patients who \u0000threaten deliberate self-harm and who have a history of previous NFSB, past psychiatric illness and physical or sexual abuse, are at a higher risk of \u0000this behaviour as compared to the general population. If NFSB intentions are suspected in or voiced by an individual, then these risk factors should \u0000be assessed and appropriate preventative measures instituted.","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"90 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2005-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125138983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In the context of much social violence South Africa has recently witnessed an increase in the reported cases of rape of young children and even infants. In this article the author wishes to move away from an individual focus on the dynamics underlying the rapist but rather wants to present a socio-psychological perspective on this phenomenon. It will be argued that the rape of infants must firstly be understood within the context of rape as whole. Emphasis will also be given to specific social and political factors present in South African society which may place children at risk of abuse and sexual violence. The interpersonal relationships which may be typical of families of victims will also be explored. Finally intervention and management strategies for mental health professionals working with victims and their families will be suggested.
{"title":"A socio-psychological perspective on the phenomenon of infant rapes in South Africa : review article","authors":"M. Marchetti-Mercer","doi":"10.4314/ajpsy.v6i4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/ajpsy.v6i4","url":null,"abstract":"In the context of much social violence South Africa has recently witnessed an increase in the reported cases of rape of young children\u0000and even infants. In this article the author wishes to move away from an individual focus on the dynamics underlying the rapist but\u0000rather wants to present a socio-psychological perspective on this phenomenon. It will be argued that the rape of infants must firstly be\u0000understood within the context of rape as whole. Emphasis will also be given to specific social and political factors present in South\u0000African society which may place children at risk of abuse and sexual violence. The interpersonal relationships which may be typical\u0000of families of victims will also be explored. Finally intervention and management strategies for mental health professionals working\u0000with victims and their families will be suggested.","PeriodicalId":131071,"journal":{"name":"South African psychiatry review","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2003-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116189010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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