Perceptions of public service speech-language therapists in the Western Cape regarding early communication intervention

Date
2021-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Objectives: This qualitative research study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Speech-Language Therapists (SLTs) providing early communication intervention (ECI) services within the multicultural and multilingual environment of the Western Cape public healthcare sector. Background: Communication delays and disorders are the most common impairment in early childhood. Appropriate and early intervention can limit the negative impact of such impairments across the child’s lifespan. Little research knowledge is available regarding the nature of ECI services in the South African public health sector. Therapists’ perceptions can be valuable in understanding the facilitators, challenges, and opportunities to good quality ECI services. Method: Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with 7 speech-language therapists using an interview guide. Each interview was recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Finally, open coding was applied to the transcripts, and findings emerged in the form of several themes and subthemes. Findings: The main findings that emerged from the study were; the main differences between the current and ideal ECI; challenges and facilitators to ECI service delivery; and achieving ideal ECI service delivery. Several recommendations were made by the participants, including a renewed emphasis upon training candidates that represent the cultural and linguistic characteristics of the communities that they serve; revision of policies regarding the availability of posts; and use of a group therapy approach where possible. Conclusion: The findings of this study represent a clear contrast between the current realities that ECI interventionists face and the ideal service delivery to which they strive. Several recommendations were made by the participants in the light of these findings, especially with regards to the current needs and disparities evident in the field of ECI in the public sector.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Doelwit: Hierdie kwalitatiewe navorsingsstudie het beoog om die perspektiewe van spraaktaalterapeute (STTe) wat vroeë kommunikasie intervensie (VKI) dienste in die multi-kulturele en veeltalige omgewing van die Wes-Kaap se publieke gesondheidsorgsektor lewer, te ondersoek. Agtergrond: Die mees algemene afwyking in die vroeë kinderjare is ‘n kommunikasie agterstand. Toepaslike en vroeë intervensie kan die negatiewe impak van so ʼn agterstand oor die kind se lewensduur beperk. Beperkte navorsingskennis is tans beskikbaar in verband met die aard van VKI dienste in die Suid-Afrikaanse publieke gesondheidsorgsektor. Terapeute se insig kan waardevol wees om die fasiliteerders, uitdagings, en geleenthede tot goeie gehalte VKI dienste te verstaan. Metode: Data is ingevorder deur middel van ‘n onderhoudsgids tydens semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met 7 spraak- taal terapeute. Elke onderhoud is opgeneem en daarna “verbatim” getranskribeer. Die metode van “oop kodering” was toegepas op die transkripte, en bevindinge het na vore gekom in die vorm van verskeie temas en sub-temas. Bevindinge: Die hoof bevindinge wat na vore gekom het was; die hoof verskille tussen huidige en die ideale VKI; uitdagings en fasiliteerders tot VKI dienslewering; en bereiking van ideale VKI dienslewering. Verskeie aanbevelings is deur die deelnemers gemaak, en sluit in ‘n hernude klem op die opleiding van kandidate wat die kulturele en linguistiese eienskappe van die gemeeskappe wat hulle dien verteenwoordig; die hersien van beleide in verband met die beskikbaarheid van poste; en die gebruik van groep-gebaseerde terapie waar moontlik. Gevolgtrekking: Die bevindinge van die studie verteenwoordig ‘n duidelike kontras tussen die huidige realiteit van VKI dienslewering en ideale dienslewering. Verskeie aanbevelings is deur die deelnemers gemaak in die lig van hierdie bevindinge, veral in verband met die behoeftes en ongelykheid wat tans voorkom in die veld van VKI in die publieke gesondheidsorgsektor.
Description
Thesis (MSL&HT)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Speech therapists -- Attitudes -- Western Cape (South Africa), Speech therapy for children -- Western Cape (South Africa), Communicative disorders -- Early detection, Speech disorders in children -- Early detection, Language disorders in children -- Early detection, Public hospitals -- Western Cape (South Africa), UCTD
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