Low-income women and mental health care : an exploratory study of non-governmental mental health services in the west coast/winelands region of South Africa

Date
2000-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is aimed at exploring mental health services for low-income women in the West Coast I Winelands Region of South Africa. In order to understand the extent to which such services are empowering, the accessibility and theoretical underpinnings of these services are investigated. It was found that although services appear to be available, they are often not very accessible. They also often lack a specific gender focus. In certain instances, services need to increase their accessibility in order to accommodate the restrictive environments of women in this region. As such, it is believed that services require greater integration in their approach to intervention concerning both gender and the origins of mental health problems. Results of this study also highlight areas on which future research could focus. These areas include language of service provision, how organizations understand available theories surrounding service provision, and the service needs of women in this region themselves.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is gemik op die ondersoek van geestesgesondheidsdienste vir vroue van lae-inkomste groepe in die Weskus I wynverbouingstreek van Suid Afrika. Die toeganklikheid en teoretiese onderstuttngs van hierdie dienste word ondersoek in In poging om die graad waarin delke dienste bemagtigend is, te verstaan. Bevindinge toon dat dienste, albeit beskikbaar voorkom, dikwels nie baie toeganklik is nie. Dienste toon ook meestal 'n gebrekkige fokus ten opsigte van 'n spesifieke geslag. In sekere gevalle behoort die toeganklikheid van dienste verbeter te word in 'n poging om die beperkende omstandighede van vroue in hierdie streek tegemoet te kom. As sulks benodig dienste 'n hoër mate van integrasie in hul benadering tot intervensie, beide wat geslag en die oorsprong van geestesgesondheidsprobleme betref. Bevindinge lig ook areas uit waarop toekomstige navorsing kan fokus. Hierdie areas sluit die volgende in: die taal van diensvoorsiening, hoe organisasies beskikbare teorieë ten opsigte van diensvoorsiening verstaan, en die behoefts van die vroue in hierdie streek self ten opsigte van dienste.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
Keywords
Poor women -- Mental health services -- South Africa, Mental health services -- South Africa, Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa, Dissertations -- Psychology
Citation