Masters Degrees (Practical Theology and Missiology)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Practical Theology and Missiology) by Subject "AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects"

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    Compassion fatigue : pastoral care to HIV and AIDS caregivers within the realm of the healing professions
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04) Solomons, Daniel Peter; Louw, D. J. (Daniel Johannes), 1944-; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation aims to address the phenomenon of compassion fatigue within the scenario - of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in South Africa where an estimated 5-6 million people are living with HIV and AIDS. One in every three patients is hospitalised at some stage of their sickness and sufferers of the pandemic come into contact with someone that gives care to HIV and AIDS infected persons, whether in a hospital, a clinic, in counselling or a hospice. Professional stress and emotional fatigue is an inherent feature of the life of caregivers, and there is growing evidence is that it is on the increase. Caregivers are generally compassionate people and the compassion that they have and share with suffering people can be depleted . Caregivers become fatigued by the plight and the situation that never lets up hence the concept compassion fatigue. In this regard, the meaning of this concept as applied to HIV and AIDS caregivers in the healing and helping professions in hospital care (chaplaincy) and different clinical settings was the focus of the research. Compassion fatigue relates to professional stress and can impair professional competency and performance within pastoral caregiving. The phenomenon was studied to distinguish between compassion fatigue burnout/burn up and vicarious traumatisation. A more comprehensive understanding of these concepts will help to clarify current misconceptions. Aspects that necessitate a closer look are whether compassion fatigue is fundamentally stress related or a kind of depletion within the self of the pastoral helper. Could it be some kind of affective exhaustion, or is it related fundamentally to the overexposure to human suffering? Is compassion fatigue then suffering related? The study focuses on the challenges that confront caregivers in the HIV and AIDS field. How can these challenges pose an existential threat to their being-function and human identity? The study also explores how the theology of the cross (from a pastoral approach) can assist caregivers to deal with the question of meaning in the suffering that their patients (and they) may experience. Research questions included how the phenomenon of compassion fatigue should be understood as an inherent feature of the life of caregivers to HIV and AIDS sufferers, and what caregiving should imply to the caregivers (“wounded healers”). What is clear is that those caregivers very definitely also need care. A viable possibility to render meaningful help to depleted caregivers is to take them out of the working place and give them time, space and means to become whole again. A retreat environment is indicated as a form of recuperation for caregivers. At this stage the study amounts to only first steps in that direction and emphasises the need to investigate the subject further.
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    Destigmatisation within the HIV/AIDS pandemic : wowards a pastoral anthropology of embodiment
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010-03) Washington, Vanessa Marie; Louw, D. J. (Daniel Johannes), 1944-; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus of the thesis is on the HIV and AIDS-related stigma and stigmatisation of people who try to live positively with HIV/AIDS within the pandemic. The basic assumption is that there is interplay between the HIVAIDS-related stigma as a cultural phenomenon and the negative perception of the human body. Since a human being is created corporeal and re-created due to the fact that human embodiment is a fundamental ingredient for the understanding of soul, It is argued that in a pastoral approach, a person should be understood holistically. Anthropology within the traditional kerygmatic approach focused mainly on the notion of sin (corruption totalis) within the theological understanding of God’s judgement (judgemental attitude). I have proposed that pastoral anthropology should adopt constructive paradigms and point towards the integration of embodiment (wholeness) in a realistic approach rather than emphasising the notion of sin and forms of dualism. The thesis departs from an eschatological and pneumatological view of the human being, in which the concepts of resurrection and hope are equally crucial. I further argue that a Christian spiritual perspective on embodiment is potentially destigmatising itself. In terms of a pastoral hermeneutic I have shown that in destigmatisation the transformation of the HIV and AIDS-related stigma corresponds to the transformation of the mindset and paradigm of a person (habitus). Through the process of destigmatisation people discover meaning and are enabled to live fully embodied and responsible lives. The thesis is designed as a literature study based on text analysis and hermeneutical reflection. Moreover, in order to develop a pastoral anthropological view, the Scripture is used as a reference point.