Browsing by Author "Blight, Keagan Brenlynn"

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    The influence of cultural beliefs on social work intervention in mental health: views of frontline social workers
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Blight, Keagan Brenlynn; Zimba, Zibonele France; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Despite the known influence culture has on the lives of all individuals, social work and many other disciplines, no other variable is so poorly informed and untested as culture. There is also a need to shift research to focus on intervention and include evaluations of evidence-based cultural appropriate methods of assisting individuals. In turn, this study aimed to investigate the influence of cultural beliefs on social work intervention in mental health. A clear focus was placed on mental health due to the acknowledgment of mental health being a significant public health issue in South Africa. A qualitative research approach was used for this study. This assisted in attaining in-depth accounts of the participants’ views. Both descriptive and exploratory research designs were utilised for this study. These designs further substantiated the need for attaining varying narratives from the participants. Furthermore, a purposive sampling method was used under which a criterion for inclusion was established. Fifteen participants were interviewed, using a semi-structured interview schedule, attached as Annexure B. Following this, the attained data was transcribed and thereafter analysed using thematic analysis. Based on t hese results, the main conclusions drawn from the findings included that social workers may not have a clear understanding of culture. Also, the caseloads of social workers negatively impact their intervention and therewith their ability to acknowledge culture and cultural beliefs in social work intervention. This is of great concern in the context of South Africa where approximately 30 cultural groups exist and where mental health statistics are rife. In light of the aforementioned, it is recommended that tertiary educational institutions include culture and its components (like cultural beliefs) more extensively into the curricula thus including in a student’s practice education. Moreover, The South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) and the National Department of Social Development should address the workload and working conditions of all social workers. This may assist social workers in developing their ability to acknowledge culture and cultural beliefs in social work intervention.