Construction of a model for human rights education in the health professions

Abstract

A theory - generative, qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual design was used in this study, in phases 1 and 2. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the nature of human rights education in the health professions programmes at the University of Limpopo, MEDUNSA Campus in order to develop a model for human rights education and teaching of the students in such programmes.

In Phase 1, data were collected by means of unstructured, in-depth interviews from the sampled lecturers teaching ethics and/or human rights, as well as by observation, field notes and document analysis. The findings indicated that human rights education is an empowering process for the students, which can be facilitated through a collaborative, Inter-professional and interdisciplinary approach. The content for a human rights education programme should include Ethics and Human Rights which is contextual in terms of the South African society and also considers the international perspectives of human rights. Interactive teaching strategies should be used to facilitate maximum involvement and engagement of the student with the subject matter.

In Phase 2, the construction and description of the model is done, based on the guidelines of Dickoff, James & Weidenbach (1968); Chinn & Kramer (2008); Walker & Avant (2011). The concepts which were derived from the themes that emerged from the interviews with the key informants, the observations made, the field notes, the review of selected documents and the literature which used as data, provided the framework for the model “Human Rights Education in the Health Professions”. The thesis provides the research report, and a description of the model, including the guidelines for implementation. Recommendations which are based on the findings of the study have been made with respect to education, practice and research. A key recommendation concerns the review of the content of the curriculum for human rights.

Key words: collaboration, education, empowerment, ethics, human rights, human rights education.