African Journals Online
Health SA Gesondheid : interdisciplinary research journal

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Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2001

Academic achievement and time concept of the learner
Grobler, R.C.Myburgh, C.P.H. 3-11

Abstract: The time concept and academic achievement of a group of high school learners were investigated and the results are described in this article. The focus was on: the differences between the time concept of high achievers and the time concept of low achievers; the differences in the time concept of high achievers and low achievers according to their mother tongue; and the educational implications of the findings with respect to the learners. These learners' time concept was measured by the application of a structured questionnaire. A group of 1 436 learners were involved in this research. Their academic achievements were rated on a scale of 0 to 100. Two groups were identified: high achievers and low achievers. A difference was found in the time concept of these two groups. Furthermore, the learners were divided into their various mother tongue groups that would give an indication of their time concept with which they grew up. The Afrikaans- and English speaking high achievers were more future directed, more conscientious in their time management, experience less anxiety about the future, were less focussed on the present and were more content with the present and the past than the low achievers. Among the learners with an African language no statistical significant difference were found between the high and low achievers, only 15,3% of them were high achievers. The learners with an African language need to be assisted to develop a linear and integrated time concept. Only then these learners will be able to actualise their full potential.

Ethical standards for the occupational health-nursing practitioner regarding the hiv positive person in the workplace
Otto, M.Botes, A.C. 12-20

Abstract: The occupational health-nursing practitioner often becomes involved in ethical dilemmas with regard to the handling of HIV-positive people in the workplace in that the interests of the HIV-positive people conflict with the interests of the employer. Therefore, the occupational health-nursing practitioner could find himself/ herself acting as mediator between the two parties. Despite the existence of legal norms and ethical standards to regulate the interests of the HIV-positive person in the workplace, no guidelines exist as to how these norms and standards should be operationalised during interaction between the HIV-positive person, the occupational health-nursing practitioner and the employer. The occupational health-nursing practitioner is therefore uncertain as to the manner in which to act professionally within the laiddown ethical standards for HIV-positive people in the workplace.
The purpose of this study is to provide guidelines and criteria for the operationalisation of ethical standards for the occupational health-nursing practitioner regarding the HIV-positive person in the workplace. This is done through a literature study with specific reference to current ethical frameworks within the occupational health context, after which the research is focused on two target groups, namely the occupational health-nursing practitioners and HIV-positive persons in the workplace. The design of the research is qualitative, explorative and descriptive. In order to assist the occupational health-nursing practitioner to handle the HIV-positive person in the workplace in an ethical manner, guidelines and criteria were compiled for the operationalisation of the standards.

Diagnosis of vaginal infection in pregnancy
Botha, D.E.Van der Merwe, R. 21-27

Abstract: Pregnant women are prone to vaginal infection. At Primary Health Care Clinics diagnosis of causative organism of vaginal infections is made by using history-taking and assessment of clinical picture methods. The accuracy of these methods is investigated in this study by comparing the results obtained by history-taking and assessment of clinical picture with that which is obtained by examining wet mount specimens under a microscope. Seventy respondents participated in the study. In 48,6% cases, the diagnosis of the causative organism, as identified by the two different methods, were similar. In 51,4% of the cases the diagnosis differed. Candida albicans infection was diagnosed by 10 respondents, while 3 actually had Trichomonas vaginalis infection and seven had Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Trichomonas vaginalis infection was diagnosed in 26 cases, while 15 were actually due to Candida albicans and 11 due to Gardnerella vaginalis.

The experience of biological fathers of their partners' termination of pregnancy
Myburgh, M.Gmeiner, A.Van Wyk, S. 28-37

Abstract: The purpose of this article was to explore and describe how single adult biological fathers experience the termination of pregnancy their partners had. The research design entailed a qualitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual design. Guba's model of ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research was applied. The phenomenological strategy was used to collect data from a purposive sample of respondents, consisting of nine adult biological fathers who met the sampling criteria. Three themes emerged from the analysis of respondents which were: powerlessness related to the inability to have a choice in the decision of the termination of pregnancy; emotional turmoil related to the impact of the decision on inter-personal and intra-personal relationships; and lastly psychological defence mechanisms as a way of dealing with the stressful effect of the termination of pregnancy. A literature control was done to verify the results and recontextualise it within the field of psychiatric nursing. Conclusions and recommendations were made.

Support for adult biological fathers during termination of their partners' pregnancies
Myburgh, M.Gmeiner, A.Van Wyk, S. 38-48

Abstract: Nobody denies the fact that termination of pregnancy has an effect on women, but very few people realise that termination of pregnancy also has a major impact on men. Men experience a sense of powerlessness related to an inability to have a choice in the process of the termination of pregnancy. They also experience emotional turmoil related to the impact of the decision on interpersonal and intra-personal relationships. A way for the adult biological father to deal with these stressful effects is to utilise psychological defence mechanisms (Myburgh, 1999:39-57). The goal of this article is to describe guidelines for the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner to support adult biological fathers in mobilising their resources and therefore promoting their mental health. A qualitative, descriptive and contextual research design was utilised, where results from phenomenological interviews and a literature control, served as a basis for deducting and describing guidelines for supportive counselling. The counselling process will allow the adult biological father to ventilate his feelings, thoughts and behaviour and put the termination of pregnancy into perspective as a starting point for constructive change, therefore facilitating his mental health.