Jonker, Linda (2012-03)
Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Member states of the United Nations accepted eight Millennium Development Goals in 2000.
Millennium Development Goal number four addresses the improvement of child health. The
purpose of goal number four is to decrease the child mortality rate by 60% for the period
1990 to 2015. South Africa is one of twelve countries where the incidence of child mortality
increased during this period.
Guided by the research question “What are the experiences and perceptions of mothers
utilizing child health services”, a study was done. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological
methodology was applied to explore the experiences and perceptions of mothers utilizing
child health services for children younger than two years.
The goal of this study was to determine the experiences and perceptions of mothers utilizing
The objectives were to explore their experiences and perceptions, with specific reference to
the service they receive regarding:
- the growth of the child
- the growth chart
- other underlying illnesses
Ethical approval was obtained from Stellenbosch University and various health authorities.
Validity was assured by adhering to the principles of trustworthiness, namely credibility,
transferability, dependability, and conformability.
The population for this study was mothers who utilized ten clinics in a demarcated area of
Cape Town for child health services. Purposive sampling was utilized to consciously select
three clinics (N =10), and at each of the clinics four mothers were purposively selected to
participate. A total of seventeen mothers participated in the study.
An interview guide was used to conduct interviews with participants. The researcher
conducted and recorded the interviews after obtaining written informed consent from each
participant. A field diary was kept for notation of observations. Data analysis involved the transcribing of digitally recorded interviews, the coding of the
data, the generating of themes and sub-themes, interpretation and organization of data and
the drawing of conclusions.
The Modeling Role-Modeling Nursing theory of Erickson, Tomlin and Swain were utilized as
conceptual theoretical framework to facilitate application to the broad population.
Findings of the study indicated varied experiences. All mothers did not receive information
about the RtHB or RTHC. Not all mothers developed a relationship of trust with caregivers or
were afforded the respect of becoming part of the child’s health care team. According to the
mothers integrated child health care services were not practised.
The consequences were missed opportunities in immunization, provision of Vitamin A,
absence of growth monitoring, feeding assessment and provision of nutritional advice.
Hospitals and private practitioners equally did not provide immunization services or offered
Simple interventions such as oral rehydration, early recognition and treatment of diseases,
immunization, growth monitoring and appropriate nutrition are not diligently offered; that
could reduce the incidence of child morbidity and mortality.
The following recommendations are made: determine why hospitals do not immunize
children. The root causes must be addressed to change practice. Rendering of child services
must happen in an integrated approach. Staff must be empowered with skills regarding
procurement, in particular regarding vaccines.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 2000 het die lidlande van die Verenigde Volke Organisasie die Millenium
Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte aanvaar. Die Millenium Ontwikkelingsdoelwit nommer vier roer die
kwessie van kindergesondheid aan. Die strategie om die voorkoms van kindersterftes met
60% te verminder vanaf 1990 tot 2015 is die vierde millenium doelwit. Suid Afrika is een van
twaalf lande in die wêreld waar die kindersterftes vir hierdie tydperk toegeneem het.
‘n Studie is gedoen om te bepaal “Wat die ervaring en persepsies van moeders is wat van
kindergesondheidsdienste gebruik maak. ‘n Kwalitatiewe, beskrywende, fenomenologiese
studie is gedoen,om die ervaring en persepsies van moeders wat kinders jonger as twee
jaar na klinieke geneem het, te bepaal.
Die doel van die studie was om die ervaring en persepsies van moeders ten opsigte van
kindergesondheidsdienste vas te stel.
Spesifieke doelwitte was die bepaling van die ervaring en persepsies rondom:
- die groeikaart
- behandeling van siektes
Etiese goedkeuring was verkry vanaf die Universiteit van Stellenbosch en die verskeie
gesondheidsowerhede. Geldigheid van die studie is verseker deur die beginsels van
geloofwaardigheid na te kom naamlik, aaneemlikheid, betroubaarheid, oordraagbaarheid en
Die bevolking betreffende die studie was moeders wat kliniekdienste gebruik het vir hulle
kinders in ‘n spesieke area van Kaapstad, bestaande uit tien klinieke. Drie klinieke (N=10)
is doelgerig geselekter vir deelname. Vier moeders is doelgerig by elk van die drie klinieke
geselekteer vir deelname.
Onderhoude is met sewentien deelnemers gevoer. ‘n Onderhoudsgids is gebruik en die
navorser het rekord gehou van waarnemings. Die navorser het onderhoude gevoer en
opgeneem na skriftelike toestemming daarvoor van elke deelnemer verkry is. ’n
Veldwerkdagboek is gehou van alle waarnemings. Data-analise het behels: digitale opnames wat woordeliks beskryf , tematies ontleed en
geïnterpreteer is en volgens temas georganiseer is.
Toepassing na die breër populasie is bevorder deur die gebruik van die verpleegteorie van
Erickson, Tomlin en Swain.
Bevindinge van die studie het getoon dat moeders verskillende ervaringe gehad het. Nie alle
moeders het inligting ontvang omtrent die RtHB of RTHC nie. Nie alle moeders het vertroue
in die kliniek nie en moeders word nie erken as bepalende faktore in die sorgspan nie. .
Volgens die moeders is geïntegreerde gesondheidssorg nie beoefen nie.
Die gevolge is dat geleenthede nie benut word om te immuniseer nie, vitamien A te verskaf,
groei te kontroleer, voeding te bepaal en voedingsadvies te verskaf. Die voorraadvlakke van
entstof word nie oral doeltreffend beheer nie. Hospitale en dokters beoefen nie altyd
immunisering en holistiese kindergesondheidsdienste nie.
Eenvoudige intervensies, wat die voorkoms van kindermorbiditeit en kindermortaliteit kan
bestry, word nie verskaf nie. Voorbeelde van sulke intervensies is mondelinge rehidrasie,
vroeë diagnose en behandeling van siektes, immunisering, groeimonitering en geskikte
Daar word aanbeveel dat daar indringend bepaal word hoekom hospitale nie kinders
immuniseer nie en dat die oorsake aangespreek word. Integrasie van dienste by klinieke
moet as prioriteit gesien en geïmplimenteer word. Personeel se vaardighede betreffende
beheer van voorraad moet verbeter word, veral t.o.v. entstof voorraad.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20294