Browsing by Author "Sibande, Zamafiso Nombulelo"

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    Exploring fatigue among women who live with endometriosis in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University., 2020-03) Sibande, Zamafiso Nombulelo; Roomaney, Rizwana; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Endometriosis is an incapacitating gynecological disease affecting approximately 10-15% of females of reproductive age. The symptoms of endometriosis negatively affect women’s mental, emotional and physical well-being. Common symptoms reported in numerous studies include chronic pain, inflammation, dyspareunia and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fatigue has been identified as a commonly reported secondary symptom. However, there is limited research on the impact that endometriosis-related fatigue has on women living with endometriosis and the management strategies these women use to alleviate fatigue and mitigate the negative impact of fatigue. Fatigue can have a negative impact on the patient’s quality of life. This thesis presents data collected from 25 South African women who were diagnosed with endometriosis and reported experiencing endometriosis-related fatigue. The data captured their understanding and subjective experiences of fatigue, how it affected them on a daily basis and how they manage it. I collected the data using semi-structured interviews and recruited participants using social media and at a public tertiary hospital. I recorded the interviews and transcribed them, with the help of other transcribers. I employed a thematic analysis to analyze my data and found three major themes namely; (1) Fatigue-a constant companion, (2) The impact of fatigue, and (3) Fatigue management strategies. In the current study, women reported that fatigue was disabling at home, in the workplace and in social spaces. The results highlight a relationship between occupational stress, daily stress, nutrition and lifestyle, feelings of depression, endometriosis and fatigue. The findings demonstrate a lack of fatigue management strategies, advice and treatment from health practitioners. Therefore, the data shows a need for an intervention that will help endometriosis patients manage endometriosis-related fatigue. Additionally, the findings highlight the importance of health practitioners’ support for women with endometriosis.