Browsing by Author "Hoosain, Shanaaz"

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    Experiences of post-matriculants regarding basic schooling and education in Cape Town – South Africa: qualitative study with post matriculants in Du Noon township
    (2025) Frydie, Asheeqah; Hoosain, Shanaaz
    This qualitative, explorative research study aimed to explore post-matriculant experiences about accessing jobs in South Africa. The study explored experiences about accessing jobs concerning the ease or difficulty of finding jobs for post-matriculants. In addition, the study explored those who found it easier to find such jobs based on what they went through. For those who found it hard to find jobs, the research explored reasons they found it challenging. Finally, factors attributed to finding it easier or difficult to access jobs and what can be done to make it easier for post-matriculants to find jobs were interrogated. This study used an exploratory and qualitative research design whereby 15 participants were recruited using purposive non-probability sampling. Face-to-face interviews were used in data collection. Significant findings of the research investigation concerned the post-matriculants having various experiences accessing jobs, as some found them more accessible. In contrast, others found it very difficult to access jobs. A few post-matriculants indicated they found it easier to access jobs because they had gone through tertiary education. At the same time, many of them stated that they faced challenges in accessing jobs as they had only matriculant certificates, societal pressure to succeed, mental and emotional health concerns, and a lack of necessary skills to enter the labour market. One significant implication of the research findings is that the curriculum was not properly equipping post-matriculants with the skills to successfully enter the labour market upon completion of their matriculation, hence the high unemployment rates. In conclusion, post-matriculants need various interventions after matriculation to access tertiary education and relevant vocational training and have a curriculum appropriately formulated to equip them with the skills to enter the labour market successfully. Since this research has shown that the more significant number of the people interviewed indicated that it was difficult to access jobs, it is recommended to conduct further research to make it easier for post-matriculants to find jobs. It is further recommended that policymakers be more mindful of post-matriculants' challenges and implement initiatives to ease their transition from school to the labour market.
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    Exploring social worker's experiences working with child sexual abuse survivors who are intellectually disabled.
    (2025) Samuels, Leandre; Hoosain, Shanaaz
    Sexual abuse of children with intellectual disabilities is a global phenomenon. The study aimed to explore social workers' experiences working with child sexual abuse survivors with intellectual disabilities. The study employed a qualitative research design, specifically a qualitative descriptive and explorative design. The study design reflects a commitment to upholding the rights, safety, and well-being of both the social workers involved and the vulnerable populations they serve. Given the sensitive and emotionally charged nature of this study, strict ethical guidelines were followed to ensure the protection and dignity of all participants. Ethical approval was obtained from the UCT Ethics review committee, and all participants provided informed consent before participation. The study prioritized confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation, allowing participants to withdraw at any stage without consequence. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were held with 14 participants across the Cape Metro who have more than 5 years of experience within the field of child sexual abuse. Through purposive and snowball sampling techniques, the sample consisted of 14 participants, 13 female and one male. The study employed a thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed the unique challenges social workers experience with child sexual abuse survivors' intellectual disabilities. The challenges included vicarious trauma, communication difficulties, lack of available resources, and ethical and legal dilemmas, including seeking justice. Furthermore, participants often face systemic barriers such as inadequate training and a lack of intervention strategies. Practice models utilized by participants are adapted from international guidelines. Thus, participants must adapt the guidelines based on the intellectual level of the child survivor. Moreover, the current legislation and policies available are silent when addressing the needs of the child sexual abuse survivor with intellectual disabilities. The study underscores the need for alternative communication methods, tailored intervention approaches, specifically for South Africa, and comprehensive training programmes to empower social workers in the field of intellectually disabled child sexual abuse. Furthermore, the findings highlighted the need for stakeholder collaboration and policymakers to include and implement policies relating to child sexual abuse survivors with intellectual disabilities.
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    Exploring the lived experiences of those who attended gender-based violence prevention community theatre in Delft
    (2024) Nqinileyo, Themba; Hoosain, Shanaaz
    The year 2023 marks the 29th year since South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994. Close to three decades into democracy, violence persists in our society at an unimaginable scale. This research study explores the lived experiences of those who attended a gender-based violence (GBV) prevention community theatre in Delft. The study presents lived experiences and the meanings attached to those experiences from the perspectives of audience members. Supplementarily, the study explored audience members' definition of GBV and GBV prevention and looks at the contribution of community theatre to GBV prevention. The study used a qualitative approach and a phenomenological design. Data were collected through indepth, face-to-face interviews of 19 participants (ages 18–47 years, mean age = 26) selected from two different recruitment groups; fifteen participants were audience members from the Delft community and four were social service providers in the Delft community working in victim empowerment programs. Data was analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Data analysis revealed five areas of interest: audience experiences; community theatre as GBV prevention tool; understanding GBV and GBV prevention; challenges faced by victims of GBV; and GBV victim support.
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    Exploring the perceptions of local residents regarding homelessness in the Strandfontein community
    (2023) Chandler, Chernay; Hoosain, Shanaaz
    This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Strandfontein residents regarding homelessness in their community. The study employed a qualitative research design, specifically an exploratory approach, through face-to-face semi-structured interviews to gain rich insights and an understanding of residents' views regarding homelessness in their community. The interviews were conducted with twenty (20) residents who have lived in the Strandfontein community for more than five (5) years. The sample consisted of fourteen (14) females and six (6) males, selected through purposeful and snowball sampling methods. The findings of the study revealed a diverse range of attitudes and beliefs among community residents regarding homelessness. Some residents demonstrated empathy, tolerance, and acceptance of homeless individuals, acknowledging the collective responsibility of the community to support people experiencing homelessness. These individuals recognised the complex societal factors contributing to homelessness. Conversely, other residents emphasised homeless individuals' responsibility. However, it was observed that participants' limited knowledge and indirect experiences, influenced by second-hand information or media portrayals, shaped their perceptions of homelessness, leading to misconceptions and biased views. Additionally, in some instances, participants attributed their perceptions to direct interactions between homeless individuals and residents. However, for most, these interactions reinforced negative stereotypes and highlighted the importance of informed and compassionate interactions. Interestingly, despite these variations in perspective, residents held contradictory views. They recognised the need to help homeless individuals while simultaneously attributing homelessness to individual choices. Furthermore, despite being open to integration, practical guidance and information on effective community engagement were lacking. Based on the study's findings and participant suggestions, several recommendations were proposed to address homelessness and foster social integration. In light of these findings, the following actions should be considered. Firstly, targeted stakeholder interventions should be implemented to address bias and attitudes towards homelessness. This can be achieved by enhancing the presence of social services within communities and promoting collaboration among stakeholders, ensuring comprehensive support and effective solutions. Furthermore, the establishment of representative community committees, with active participation from homeless individuals, can provide a platform for ongoing dialogue, problem-solving, and collective decision-making. Additionally, raising awareness and providing education to community members and homeless individuals can significantly combat misconceptions and build empathy within the community. This is done through skills development workshops and reintegration programmes.
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    Intergenerational transmission of domestic violence in refugee families in Durban, South Africa
    (2025) Maksudi, Kassa; Hoosain, Shanaaz
    The World Health Organization in 2021 reported that 30% of women globally experience violence, with South Africa being infamous for particularly high rates of violence against women, including domestic violence. Despite this, domestic violence experiences and its intergenerational transmission among refugee women living in South Africa remain underexplored. Refugee women living in South Africa are a vulnerable and marginalised population with regard to domestic violence, as their refugee status and other risk factors disproportionately increase their vulnerability. This qualitative embedded single case study adopted an integrated conceptual framework that includes concepts from Heise's ecological framework, social learning theory, and attachment theory to explain the theory of intergenerational transmission. The study aimed to investigate how domestic violence is transmitted intergenerationally among refugee women from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo living in Durban, South Africa. A total of 30 mother-adult daughter pairs of refugee women from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo were purposively sampled through focus group discussions and individual semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using thematic and case study analysis. The findings revealed a complex interplay of psychosocial mechanisms, including internalisation, socialisation, silencing, re-enactment, guilt, and the influence of the family of origin, all embedded within multi-level risk factors. Some of these risk factors include exposure to domestic violence, lack of social support, refugee status, attitudinal acceptance, and gender norms, contributing to the transmission of domestic violence both within the first generation and from the first to the second generation. Findings also revealed potential protective factors that may be used in culmination with risk factors and psychosocial mechanisms of transmission, which could be critical for informing targeted responses to domestic violence within the study group, underscoring a critical need for targeted interventions. By elucidating specific factors and mechanisms influencing the intergenerational transmission of domestic violence among refugee families, this study enhances our understanding of how domestic violence can be interrupted across generations. It also guides research interventions and policy recommendations. This study also underscores the importance of religious, culturally sensitive, and context-specific approaches in addressing and preventing domestic violence and its transmission across generations in refugee populations.
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    Young women's access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Cape Town
    (2025) Vievermans, Maud Stefanie Joanna; Hoosain, Shanaaz
    Many women in low-and-middle-income countries, including South Africa, struggle to access sexual and reproductive healthcare services. This study aimed to describe young women's experiences to access sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Cape Town, South Africa. This study employed a qualitative research design, specifically a phenomenological descriptive approach. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 young women aged between 18-25, who have accessed sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Cape Town. Interviews were facilitated by Partners in Sexual Health, an organisation that provides and advocates for sexual and reproductive health & rights in South Africa. Thematic analysis was then employed and the analysis was framed using the socio-ecological model for health. The findings of this study revealed that young women in South Africa face challenges in accessing accurate information about sexual and reproductive healthcare services, leaving them unprepared to make informed decisions about their sexual health. Limited knowledge about sexual and reproductive healthcare services, coupled with a lack of support by family, friends, community stigmatisation, and disrespectful and unprofessional treatment by healthcare workers hinders young women in having positive experiences while accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare clinics. In addition, the findings of this study underscore the limited autonomy that young women have in making their own decisions about their sexual health. Furthermore, this study suggests that to fully understand the experiences of young women accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare services, it is necessary to consider not only individual factors but also contextual factors such as interpersonal relationships and societal norms and values. This study emphasises the importance of autonomy of young women in making decisions about sexual health. Therefore, there is a significant need for comprehensive sexuality education to enhance young women's understanding of their sexual health, improve communication within families and among peers, and shift community attitudes towards recognising the importance of sexual health among young women.