Diversity training for health professionals: Preparedness to competently address intellectual disability in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

2022 ◽  
pp. 174462952110504
Author(s):  
Mario R Smith ◽  
Maryam Papadakis ◽  
Erica Munnik
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Diversity Training ◽  
Disability Services ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Explorative Study ◽  
Purposive Sample

Diversity training for health professionals in South Africa has traditionally been conceptualized as differences in gender, race or ethnicity, culture and sexual orientation. More recently physical disability and mental illness was included as a dimension. Intellectual disabilities received lip service as a diversity concern. This paper reports on health professionals' perceptions of the extent to which diversity training prepared them to competently deal with intellectual disabilities. This explorative study included a purposive sample of 18 health care professionals experienced in intellectual disability services. Two focus groups were facilitated over three sessions. Transcripts were analysed thematically. Health professionals felt inadequately prepared to consider intellectual disabilities as a diversity issue. They could not effectively advocate for reasonable accommodation. There was a differential familiarity with issues related to diversity and intellectual disability with profession constituting an additional intersecting dimension of diversity. Health professions did not perceive their diversity training to prepare them to deal competently with intellectual disabilities.

scholarly journals Efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention on the psychological well-being of health care professionals and trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method design

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Osman ◽  
Shaista Hamid ◽  
Veena S. Singaram
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Intervention Analysis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Impact

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis.Setting: The context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic.Methods: A mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.Conclusions: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis.Contribution: The impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.

scholarly journals Nurses’ views on promotion and the influence of race, class and gender in relation to the Employment Equity Act

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana M. Van der Heever ◽  
Anita S. Van der Merwe ◽  
Talitha Crowley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Diversity Training ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Mixed Race ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Employment Equity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Managerial Positions ◽  
And Gender

Orientation: Regardless of the implementation of the Employment Equity Act (EEA), No. 55 of 1998 and the abolishment of apartheid in 1994, African and mixed-race females are under-represented in managerial positions in the public sector of the Western Cape (WC) in South Africa and nationally in the private health sector.Research purpose: The purpose was to explore the views of nurses about promotion to managerial positions in view of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) and the possible influence of race, class and gender.Motivation for the study: South Africa has a history of racial hierarchies and gender inequities. It was therefore important to explore the influence of the EEA and race, class and gender on the promotion of nurses in the post-apartheid context.Research approach/design and method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was completed. Six hundred and eighty-eight (n = 688) nurses consented to participate and 573 (83%) questionnaires were returned.Main findings: Race as a social construct surfaced in the superior viewing of white and the inferior viewing of African nurses. Mixed-race and white nurses seemed disgruntled with the EEA because of the benefits it holds for African nurses. African nurses seemed angered by their under-representation in managerial positions in the private and public sectors in the WC. White nurses seemed convinced that African, mixed-race and Indian nurses experience upward mobility. Mixed-race nurses (public sector WC) showed concerns about the career successes of males in a female-dominated profession.Practical/managerial implications: Managerial structures should be required to invest in diversity training, create awareness of the noble intentions of the EEA and communicate the relevance of employment equity plans.Contribution/value-add: The findings provided evidence that reflected a need for diversity training and the creation of awareness about the longstanding influence of racial and gender hierarchies.

scholarly journals ‘I Waited for It until Forever’: Community Barriers to Accessing Intellectual Disability Services for Children and Their Families in Cape Town, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (22) ◽  
pp. 8504
Author(s):  
Siyabulela Mkabile ◽  
Leslie Swartz
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Disability Services ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Interview Guide ◽  
Children With Intellectual Disability

Background: Intellectual disability is more common in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. Stigma and discrimination have contributed to barriers to people with intellectual disability accessing healthcare. As part of a larger study on caregiving of children with intellectual disability in urban Cape Town, South Africa, we interviewed a sub-group of families who had never used the intellectual disability services available to them, or who had stopped using them. Methods: We employed a qualitative research design and conducted semi-structured interviews to explore the views and perspectives of parents and caregivers of children with intellectual disability who are not using specialised hospital services. We developed an interview guide to help explore caregivers’ and parents’ views. Results: Results revealed that caregivers and parents of children with intellectual disability did not use the intellectual disability service due to financial difficulties, fragile care networks and opportunity costs, community stigma and lack of safety, lack of faith in services and powerlessness at effecting changes and self-stigmatisation. Conclusion: Current findings highlight a need for increased intervention at community level and collaboration with community-based projects to facilitate access to services, and engagement with broader issues of social exclusion.

scholarly journals Expectations of youth victims of violence regarding health care professionals leading them to wellness in South Africa

Curationis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezihe L. Ahanonu ◽  
Firdouza Waggie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Professional Attitude ◽  
Contextual Design ◽  
Victims Of Violence

Background: Many youth victims of violence report for treatment at the health care facilities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It was unclear what the youth expected regarding how they could be led towards wellness by health care professionals following an incident of violence (R1.1).Objectives: This study sought to explore and describe the expectations of the youth victims of violence with regards to health care professionals (R1.2) leading them to wellness in a selected rural community.Method: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used. Nine focus group discussions were conducted with 58 (23 males, 35 females) purposefully selected youth victims of violence between the ages of 15 and 19. Data analysis was done through open coding. Ethics clearance was received from the University Ethics Committee prior to the study being conducted.Results: Findings indicated that the youth victims of violence expect the health care professionals (professional nurses, doctors and social workers) working in their community to act as role models, demonstrate a professional attitude, provide health education, provide confidential counselling services, and establish school and community outreach programmes.Conclusion: This study provides evidence that youth victims of violence have important expectations from health care professionals concerning their wellness. Hence, health care professionals should focus on designing and implementing interventions targeting these expectations.

How can mental health clinicians, working in intellectual disability services, meet the spiritual needs of their service users?

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Loynes ◽  
Jean O'Hara
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
General Health ◽  
Disability Services ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Mental Health Clinicians ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify approaches that mental health clinicians, working in intellectual disability services, can adopt to ensure the spiritual needs of their service users are met. Design/methodology/approach – A narrative literature review examining original research, expert opinion pieces and book chapters was undertaken. To broaden the perspective of the paper, publications from different academic areas were reviewed including intellectual disabilities, mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders, general health and spirituality literature. Findings – The main principles of spiritual assessment tools from the general health literature can be applied to this group. However, the literature would suggest that certain approaches are of particular importance in intellectual disabilities mental health including advocating for service users to attend the religious services they wish to and working collaboratively with families and carers when addressing spiritual issues. Research limitations/implications – The question of how to meet the spiritual needs of people with autism and severe intellectual disability is a neglected research area. Research examining the spiritual needs of service users with intellectual disabilities, on mental health inpatient units, is also needed as well as a review of whether spiritual needs are being met in current person-centred care plans. Originality/value – No published literature review was identified that specifically addressed the question of how mental health clinicians should approach the spiritual needs of their service users.

scholarly journals Health care professionals' perspectives on the requirements facilitating the roll-out of kangaroo mother care in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 228-237
Author(s):  
Wilma Ten Ham ◽  
Karin C.S. Minnie ◽  
Christa S.J.C. Van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
National Level ◽  
Kangaroo Mother Care ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Roll Out

Background: Using best evidence to inform practice is the cornerstone of quality patient care, and requires spread, uptake, implementation and roll-out of best practices. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) was used as a best practice which has been partly rolled-out in South Africa. In order for successful roll-out of best practices, it is important to understand what health professionals perceive as requirements for the rolling-out process. However, no published research was found on requirements for rolling-out a best practice in the South African context.Purpose of the research: To explore and describe the perspectives of health professionals on the requirements for the rolling-out process of KMC as a best practice in South Africa.Methodology: Twelve semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in 2012 with health professionals from various South African healthcare levels, involved in the implementation and the rolling-out process of kangaroo mother care. Content analysis were guided in terms of the four requirements for roll-out of best practices, identified in Edwards and Grinspun's Evidence Informed Model of Care.Results: The requirements for the successful rollout of best practices mentioned by the participants in this study concur with the requirements of Edwards and Grinspun: personal alignment and protocol/policy alignment with the best practice; a roll-out plan; leadership; and supporting and reinforcing structures such as: resources, communicating, education and development regarding the best practice, and the organisational structure. The requirements were identified at four different levels: individual level (e.g. the nurse and medical specialists), management level (of the hospital), provincial level and national level.

scholarly journals Communities’ views, attitudes and recommendations on community-based education of undergraduate Health Sciences students in South Africa: A qualitative study

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Langalibalele H. Mabuza ◽  
Paula Diab ◽  
Stephen J. Reid ◽  
Busisiwe E. Ntuli ◽  
Penelope S. Flack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Student Teaching ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Education ◽  
Health Sciences Students ◽  
The University

Background: Medical and Health Sciences students in South Africa undertake community-based education (CBE). Health professionals based at host sites are jointly responsible for training of these students in conjunction with university staff. This study explored the communities’ views, attitudes and recommendations regarding CBE undertaken by these students, in order to improve the qualityof community support for these programmes.Method: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted at CBE placement sites of students from the Faculties of Health Sciences of the University of Limpopo (UL), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and University of the Western Cape (UWC) during 2010 and 2011. Focus group discussions were held with site facilitators, community leaders and patients, and interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English where necessary. Data were analysed using NVivo (version 9).Findings: CBE was seen to benefit communities, students and host institutions as there was perceived improvement of service delivery, better referral to hospitals and reduction of workloads on site staff.CBE was also seen as having potential for recruiting professionals who have better orientation tothe area, and for motivating school pupils for a career in health sciences. Students acquired practicalskills and gained confidence and experience. Challenges included poor communication between universities and host sites, burden of student teaching on site facilitators, cultural and religious sensitivity of students and language barriers.Conclusion: The study revealed that communities have an important role to play in the CBE offuture health care professionals. CBE activities could be better organised and managed through formalised partnerships.

scholarly journals Perspectives on access and usage of assistive technology by people with intellectual disabilities in the Western Cape province of South Africa: Where to from here?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fleur H. Boot ◽  
Callista Kahonde ◽  
John Dinsmore ◽  
Malcolm MacLachlan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Western Cape Province ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
People With Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Study Setting

Background: Whilst assistive technology (AT) can play an important role to improve quality of life, health inequity regarding access to appropriate AT for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) is still very much present especially in low resource countries.Objectives: This study focused on exploring factors that influence access to and continued use of AT by people with ID in the Western Cape province of South Africa and to suggest potential implications of these findings and actions required to promote access to AT.Method: A qualitative approach was used to explore the experiences of people with ID and providers of AT. Face-to-face interviews with 20 adults with mild to profound ID, and 17 providers of AT were conducted and the data were analysed thematically.Results: People with ID within the study setting faced many challenges when trying to access AT and for those who managed to acquire AT, its continued usage was influenced by both personal characteristics of the user and environmental factors. Important factors that influence AT access and use for people with ID found in this study were (1) attitudes from the community, (2) knowledge and awareness to identify AT need and (3) AT training and instructions to support the user and care network.Conclusion: With the perspectives of both the providers and users of AT, this study identified priority factors, which could be addressed to improve AT access and use for people with ID in the Western Cape province.

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