http://hdl.handle.net/10386/46 2026-04-21T12:37:52Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/5346 Nexus of indigenous knowledge systems and disability management : a case of Murombedzi Communal Area in Zvimba District in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe Mukushi, Adam Tafadzwa Social work methods were adopted from Western countries and have not been fully indigenised to suit African cultures. People with disabilities are among some of the clients of social work. Persons with disabilities and their families become short-changed when social workers do not realise some of the key aspects that affect their day-to-day life. Other service professions such as social and care departments like Department of rehabilitation and Department of social development strongly coordinate at a professional level, leaving out some issues rooted in culture, traditions, and beliefs. This study sought to explore and describe the relationship between indigenous knowledge systems and the management of disabilities in the Murombedzi communal area of Zvimba district in Zimbabwe. The aim of the study was achieved through the following objectives: to appraise knowledge and belief systems on the causes of disabilities and how they shape care, coping mechanisms, and service-seeking behaviour of people with disabilities and their families; to assess traditional/alternative ways of managing disability in Zimbabwe – it was found that traditional methods of managing disabilities do exist; to establish how traditional practices and beliefs contribute to the resilience of people with disabilities and their circles of care; and to propose a hybrid model that takes into consideration contemporary as well as traditional practices and beliefs in disability management in Zimbabwe. The study was conducted after observing limited adherence to contemporary disability management programmes due to many reasons, including inaccessibility due to service and access costs, the belief that some disabilities are best dealt with using traditional methods, and limited sensitivity to cultural and spiritual issues by contemporary service providers despite a clear central role in African people. The study adopted an Afrocentric research methodology since it was about African people and their indigenous knowledge system. It was a qualitative study that allowed the voices of participants to come out and to understand in-depth traditional methods used in identifying, assessing, and managing disabilities, which all form disability management processes. The study was a case study. Descriptive case studies are in-depth studies of a certain situation, and in this case, the understanding and management of disability by indigenous Zimbabwean people. Case studies allow the research of complex situations to gain a full understanding of phenomena (Zainal, 2007). As disability management is complex, from identifying what disability is and coming up with a strategy to manage it, the researcher chose a case study design for the study. This allowed the researcher to systematically narrow down wide-ranging topics of disability to one researchable aspect of Zimbabwean aboriginal’s understanding of disability. Triangulation was used to sample participants. Three sampling techniques, that is, purposive, snowballing, and convenience, were adopted. In-depth Interviews were used to collect data from people with disabilities, traditional leaders, and healers; family interviews were conducted with families of persons with disabilities with communication challenges and mental illnesses. This was because the researcher was not able to communicate effectively with them. Lastly, focus group discussions were conducted with community leaders and people with disabilities to enable those who were not comfortable with talking about sensitive issues in individual interviews to openly speak feeling safe amongst others like them. Having an abnormality or malfunctioning body part was understood to be a disability. Disability was mainly linked to body parts as compared to contemporary definitions which suggest disability in terms of activity limitation. People with disabilities were, therefore. found to be people with problems; hence disability management processes focused on solving the problem as compared to eliminating barriers. Disability causes were highly linked with spiritual factors. Spiritual factors that were reported include witchcraft, backfiring juju or sacrificing family members for their success, violating taboos, avenging spirits, ancestral spirits, kutanda botso, love portions, and mombe yehumai. Other non-spiritual factors were reported, including aspects like stress, accidents, drug abuse, genetic factors, and malnutrition. Disability management strategies were highly linked with the believed cause of disability. Where disability is believed to have been caused by spiritual forces, then the interventions will also be spiritual in nature. Some of the reported interventions include the use of herbs, animals, animal, and birds’ products, rituals, kurasirira/kurasira (exorcism), kudzura or kuruma (where hands or teeth are used to extract the poison or dangerous items in one`s body) and kurutsisa (making someone vomit the evil stuff they have been fed). Resilience of persons with disabilities and their families was reported to come from idioms and proverbs, family, and community solidarity, ubuntu, and a general belief that disability is a sign that one is half human and half spiritual; hence the challenges faced by people with disabilities will be rewarded by God or Vadzimu (ancestors) later. The study recommends the involvement of family, extended family, and the community in disability management process, recognition of traditional leaders as key stakeholders in disability management, the upholding of the role of Ubuntu in social work practice, recognition of African spirituality in social work education and practice, and the strengthening of community-based disability management services Thesis (Ph. D. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/5035 Exploring lived experiences of female students on intimate partner violence at an institution of higher learning Ndou, Nokuthula Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as a form of Gender Based Violence (GBV) is considered a societal problem and it occurs in all settings where there is an intimate relationship. IPV is global concern and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are also affected by this problem including South Africa. Researchers have previously studied IPV but there is still lack of studies on female students’ experiences with IPV at HEIs that were conducted in Limpopo, hence the study was conducted at an institution of higher learning in Limpopo. The study took the form of a phenomenological study aided with exploratory research objectives located within the qualitative paradigm. A total of eight female students from an institution of higher learning were interviewed. Participants were selected based on the fact that they have experienced IPV. The researcher made use of an interview guide and employed semi-structured face-to-face interviews using open-ended questions as a guide and as a data collection method. Data was analysed through deductive thematic content analysis. The findings of the study were centred on the experiences of participants and the role and function of the Gender desk, which highlighted the significance of reporting instances of IPV to the appropriate authorities as a crucial approach in tackling this problem. The findings in the study revealed that participants had experienced a diverse range of IPV such as emotional, sexual and sexual violence in the hands of their intimate partners. The participants were expected to possess knowledge of both the gender desk and the fundamental protocols for reporting cases of intimate partner violence. In addition, the findings discussed the subject of comprehending the protocols for reporting occurrences of IPV. Lastly, the findings focused on the intervention platforms implemented within the institution to tackle the problem of intimate relationship abuse. IPV has a substantial negative impact on the academic achievement of its victims due to the stress and trauma they experience. Thesis (M. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4905 A non- unionised social work profession in the Republic of South Africa: implications for policy and practice Kwakwa, Winnifred Mabel Motshidisi The primary focus of this study was on non-unionisation of the social work profession in South Africa. On a secondary level, the study examined the history of the social work profession and unionisation, the evolvement of the profession itself since its inception to the current status and its intersectionality with gender, identity, status and image both locally and globally. The study triangulates three designs, which are Grounded Theory, Multiple case studies and exploratory design. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews from social workers who were part of the defunct social work union committee and alumni in Limpopo and those of the general social work practitioners in South Africa in their respective private spaces, to acquire a broader understanding of the phenomenon. Data was analysed thematically using thematic analysis. The general consensus was that a union is a necessity however, disunity and fragmentation of the profession, is still a thorny issue. The legacy of the South African history was fingered as perpetuating the disunity and fragmentation of this profession. In addition, the colonial social work curriculum that failed to prepare students for political activism and also the critical lens towards systemic and neo-liberal realities of today that are viewed to be exacerbating the status quo. The use of post-modernism (constructivism) and grounded theory enabled the development of a model of the social work union in South Africa based on the data and scenario provided by participants. The study is envisaged to set a way forward for more inquiry into the unionisation of the social work profession in other provinces, and to create further debate on the critical and radical field of social work and prospects of forming a union based on the proposed conceptual model. Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4887 An analysis of the intergenerational family economic support expectations and responsibilities amongts black South African employed graduates : implications for social work practice Mafa, Prudence The practice of providing support to kin is an activity which has been passed down through generations amongst black people. This was done to ensure that the needs of individual members and those of a family as a whole are catered for by the family. This current study sought to explore and describe the socio-economic merits and limitations of economic support provision in black families. These are the objectives which made it possible for the study aim to be achieved: to identify determinants of economic intergenerational support provision; to determine how economic support is utilised in the family; to appraise benefactors’ experiences with regards to providing economic support to family members; to assess the impact of economic intergenerational support on family dynamics; and lastly to formulate strategies to ease the burden experienced by graduates who provide economic support to their intergenerational families. The study was done so that the phenomenon of intergenerational economic support provision could be analysed with social work lenses as it has social implications on the lives of both benefactors and their beneficiaries. The social work profession is committed to alleviating human suffering in all its forms. As such, this study was able to illuminate socio-economical burdens and benefits associated with intergenerational economic support and recommended ways to mitigate discomforts brought by this phenomenon. This study employed a phenomenological approach to study the essence of intergenerational economic support in black families and to find out what this phenomenon means to the participants. This was a qualitative, exploratory descriptive study in which data was collected by means of individual interviews. Interviews were held with ten employed black South African University graduates who were providing economic support to their extended family members. these participants were from the following provinces: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State. Data was presented according to the themes which emerged during the data analysis process. The study findings revealed that intergenerational economic support is a complex and multi-layered issue. It was found to be a personal, family, and structural problem which could persist for generations to come if the family and environmental circumstances do not change. This proposed study therefore proposes a family centred programme on the intergenerational family economic support provision to help ease the burden of support provision. Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z