Showing papers by "University of Port Elizabeth published in 2014"

Reflections on the experiences and needs of adolescents who have attempted suicide: a qualitative study

Abstract: Suicide and attempted suicide as a response to crisis are growing alarmingly among the young. Thomerson (2002:30) states that “Youth suicide is a growing epidemic… It is currently the third leading cause of death of 15- to 24-year-olds, and the fourth leading cause of death among 10- to 14-year-olds. Nearly 4600 kids killed themselves in the United States, and approximately 46 000 others tried”. Schlebusch (1995:3) has confirmed the high incidence of attempted suicides by postulating that for every completed suicide there are at least eight to ten attempted suicides. In a study by Terblanche, Bates, Bokwana, Brits, Corder, Cuendet, Davis, Donson, Mbengu, Ngesi, Olivier, Roger, Stokwe, Totana and Viljoen (1999:148) on risk behaviours of high school learners in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, it was found that 25% of a sample of 2198 learners that had responded to the specific item in the questionnaire on having thoughts the past year, had such thoughts in the year preceding the study. From the total 25% who had thoughts about suicide, 16% had told someone about such thoughts. 14% of the sample of 2201 who responded to the specific item in the questionnaire on attempting suicide in the year of the study, in fact did attempted suicide, and 42% (or 122 respondents) of the learners who attempted suicide needed to seek professional treatment. Terblanche et al. (1999:81) concluded that suicide ideation was higher amongst female respondents than among their male counterparts. However, more male respondents actually attempted suicide which necessitated professional treatment following such incidents

Stigmatisation of hiv-positive members of the workforce

Abstract: The rate at which the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is spreading throughout the world, especially Africa, is alarming. Although Africa contains only about 12% of the world’s population, it contains over 70% of HIV-infected individuals. It is estimated that over 10% of the South African population is HIV positive (Addison, 2001). This pandemic is a threat to the economy, individual workers and society in general (House, Eicken & Gray, 1995). Social implications of HIV/AIDS include fear, prejudice, discrimination, hysteria, stigmatisation and other irrational responses from members of society (Herek & Glunt, 1988; House et al., 1995). For the purpose of this study, "stigmatisation" refers to the irrational responses (including fear, attitudes and prejudicial behaviour) by co-workers and/or superiors within the work environment towards HIV positive individuals.

Learning About Interdependencies and Dynamics

Abstract: As mentioned in previous chapters, the companion modelling approach is based on principles laid down in the ComMod Charter (Collectif ComMod 2005). In this founding document, two fields of application were identified: to produce knowledge on the social and ecological systems under study and to facilitate cooperation between different stakeholders involved in a participatory process.

The Companion Modelling Approach: Dealing with Multiple Scales and Multiple Levels of Organization

Abstract: The companion modelling approach initially was conceived and tested at a local level because of the focus on resource users. Based on the premise that different stakeholders involved in resource management operate with different areas of reference and time scales in mind, the approach focuses on the representation of this diversity in its tools and in the form of coordination workshops (d’Aquino et al. 2002b; Etienne et al. 2008c; Le Page et al. 2001). Like many participatory approaches developed at the local level, the approach quickly confronted issues posed by the institutionalization of participatory processes (Pimbert 2004): the institutional integration of collective learning developed at a local level, taking into account stakeholders not present at the local level, and the need to interact directly with regulators and decision-makers at higher levels. A study group was formed within the ComMod network, in parallel to the ADD-ComMod project, to discuss the novel challenges raised by the application of companion modelling to several organizational levels of action and decision and by changing scales in a companion modelling approach.

How to make scansion earn its keep in schools

Abstract: Some years ago, when asked for comr. . .!nts on the new core syllabus for Senior Certificate Latin, I suggested that scansion be eliminated. My reasons were twofold: for one thing I felt that the mark allocation simply did not justify the amount of time needed to master the skill. (One is acutely conscious of "cost-effectiveness" these days.) Secondly, in 25 years of lecturing I have never found a first-year student - and I must include myself- who proved, by the ability to read Latin verse as verse, that scansion was anything more than an artificial exercise devised for its own sake. (The utilitarian argument again.) I am not now justifying the retention of a difficult hurdle for pupils to surmount, invoking the witty adage that invention is the mother of necessity. There is a practical reason to recommend scansion: clearly the sound of language was of major importance to the Romans, as readers used to read aloud to themselves, and the recitatio was a common event in the life of litterateurs especially under the early Empire. Since the current format of examination papers shows how far pupils' literary critical originality and frank opinion are encouraged, I now hope to give some practical help to teachers to prepare their charges a puero for an enjoyable and rewarding encounter with scansion.