Browsing by Author "Angless, Teresa M"

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    An exploration into the counselling needs of battered women : a feminist perspective for clinical social work practice
    (1990) Angless, Teresa M; Isaacs, Gordon; Tshabalala, Mandla
    Despite the severity and extent of battering, the experiences of battered women remain largely hidden and unacknowledged due to the privacy of the family and the relative unimportance accorded women in a sexist society where male dominance and control are sanctioned. This study attempts to break some of the silence surrounding the problems and experiences of battered women with a view to influencing clinical practice. Battering is situated within its social, historical and theoretical context offering a feminist analysis to provide most clarity on this complex issue. Battering is regarded as one form of extensive male violence against women, and viewed as an extension of behaviour and roles supported and encouraged by the dominant culture. The sample consisted of nine battered women drawn from the case-loads of counsellors who are members of the Coordinated Action for Battered Women group. A feminist methodology which attempts to do research for women rather than on women, was adhered to. Within this the experiences of women themselves are sought to elucidate the general position and experience of women thereby allowing the personal/individual to be connected with political/collective spheres. The research was conducted in the form of a literature search followed by holding individual in-depth interviews with open-ended questions to elicit qualitative data on the women's relationships, their experiences of violence, and their experiences of helping agents. From the transcribed interviews common themes and trends· were drawn out, highlighting the difficulties facing battered women and thereby signifying the complex psychological and practical factors which may keep women trapped in violent relationships. The women's stories therefore serve to indicate issues which clinicians need to consider in their work with battered women. Findings indicate that clinicians need to have a thorough knowledge of the complexities of battering, the effects on women, the resources available and that their role of advocate and change-agent be amplified since socio-legal and economic forces prove the major constraints to battered women. Recommendations for training and increased resources are therefore made. Feminist therapy is advocated as the most appropriate for battered women since its principles and tenets embrace issues such as power, domination, gender, social change and consciousness which are fundamental to an adequate analysis of battering.
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    The patient speaks : a retrospective analysis of the in-vitro fertilization procedures in a provincial hospital
    (1995) Liebowitz, Lorraine Elizabeth; Angless, Teresa M
    This exploratory study tracks the experience of nine infertile couples on the In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) programme at a provincial hospital. Various theoretical perspectives are explored vis a vis the role of women in society in relation to their infertility status. Quantitative data was obtained from questionnaires completed; and qualitative data was obtained through the use of in-depth interviews. The study supports the notion that infertility has both a medical and a psychological component, the latter being unaddressed by the infertility team. Infertility is a couple issue and needs to be addressed as such. The study provides guidelines for future service delivery and therapeutic interventive strategies, and concludes that for effective service delivery, a holistic interventive approach with the inclusion of a clinical social worker is imperative.
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    The use of children's free drawings in assessing the presence of paediatric pain
    (1996) Albertyn, Rene; Angless, Teresa M
    This study aims to investigate the use of hospitalized children's free drawings to assess the presence of post-operative pain in patients where language barriers previously prevented the use of existing pain assessment methods. This research involved 50 children ages 6 - 13 years, mostly from impoverished families, treated at the Red Cross Children's Hospital. The design is exploratory-descriptive in nature. The methodology was to collect drawings (110) on admission, after surgery (described as minor to moderate), when the children were expected to be experiencing pain, and also on discharge from hospital. These drawings were compared for picture content and children's responses to a combination of two scales developed and tested elsewhere (Word Graphic Scale and the Pain Ladder Scale), in an attempt to devise an alternative route to gauge subjective pain through drawings. Parental (44) and respondent (6) interviews provided information on parental reaction to children when in pain, and patient pain behaviour. Evidence suggests that children's free drawings can be successfully used in assessing the presence of pain but not the intensity thereof, and are recommended for use in the treatment process.