Browsing by Author "Hartweg, Janine"

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    Identification and assessment of intentional physical injuries to hospitalised preschool children
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000-12) Hartweg, Janine; Green, S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences . Dept. of Social Work.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the indicators, different role players and the assessment process of intentional physical injuries to children who are hospitalized. The basic premise for this research is the importance of professionals working with children in acquiring skills and knowledge on handling physically abused children. Physical abuse affects and requires the involvement of the entire family of the physically abused child. It is therefore necessary to consider the physically abused child as a part of the larger family system, and not assessed or treated in isolation. The purpose of this research is to broaden the theoretical knowledge of professionals working with children, and specifically social workers, in identifying and assessing physically abused children. This research report includes an investigation of risk factors, consequences and the adjustment process of physically abused children. Knowledge of these indicators of physical abuse will increase the awareness and the ability of the social worker or other professional to identify the injury as intentional. The assessment process by the multi-professional team in the hospital is also examined, focusing on the central role of the social worker in managing cases of physically abused children. The phases of the assessment process, the role of each team member, the various techniques applied as well as factors influencing assessment are described. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods in order to explore the theoretical part of the research. This section can be divided into three phases. The first phase included setting up a profile, over a period of four months, of physically abused children under the age of five, who were admitted to the hospital and their families (N = 24). Of this sample, the characteristics and circumstances of four parents/perpetrators (n = 4) were investigated in the form of interviews, which formed part of the second phase of the empirical research. The third phase included conducting a survey with the social workers (n = 5) that assessed physically abused children in the hospital. This was done III the form of questionnaires, which included closed and open-ended questions. The findings and responses of the respondents were analyzed and compared with the findings from previous studies undertaken by various authors. The findings of this research can be used as guidelines for professionals in general who work with children, and more specifically social workers in a hospital that assess children presenting with intentional physical injuries.
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    A situation analysis of hospitalised physically abused pre-school children in South Africa : contributing social factors
    (Department of Social Work, Stellenbosch University, 2004) Green, Sulina; Hartweg, Janine
    The experience of physical abuse is a traumatic event, which is so intense and frightening that it overwhelms the child’s ability to cope with his/her normal developmental tasks. The goal of the study was to expand social worker’s knowledge of the social circumstances of physically abused preschool children who are hospitalised, and to offer guidelines for professionals from a variety of disciplines to identify and assess physical abuse. To obtain the goals, the objectives were threefold: first to present demographic data on children with intentional physical injuries and their families; second, to describe the experiences of the perpetrators and circumstances under which the abuse took place; and third, to determine how social workers assess children who are suspected of having been physically abused. The study was conducted at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. The diagnoses reported were drawn from a sample of preschool aged children presenting with intentional physical injuries at the hospital over a four month period, interviews with four perpetrators using set guidelines, and conducting a survey with four of the social workers employed at the hospital using a self-completion questionnaire. The findings offered demographic details of the abused children and confirmed that children under the age of six were the most vulnerable age group to be subjected to physical abuse. Head injuries and gunshot wounds were the most frequent occurring physical injuries in this sample, indicating gang activities, effects of poverty and substance misuse. Four case studies are presented following the interviews with the perpetrators/parents, which give a situation analysis of these social circumstances under which the abuse took place. The social circumstances under which the physical abuse took place, and criteria used for assessment can be used as a framework for professionals rendering services to children.