<p>The purpose of this study is to explore traditional male initiates’ cultural health practices within initiation schools in the Limpopo Province in South Africa. Informants were six elders (70 -80 years old) who directed initiating services at the schools.</p><p>Data were collected by using unstructured group interviews and observations. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings indicated that the traditional male elders reported practices such as perceived positive aspects of initiation ceremonies including the Limpopo circumcision schools Acts, which stipulates that circumcision surgeons must be registered and tested before being certified to circumcise the initiates. Secondly, the Act further states that anyone who transgresses the law will face one-year jail sentence or R2 000 fine. Further-more the elders also reported the negative aspects such as: high initiation mortality caused by the lack of initiates’ competence, expertise, experience, skills and knowledge. Elders believe that local practitioners who have initiation experience to conduct initiation, have a better outcome compared to the ones who are from outside their catchment area, in as far as health promotion practices is concerned. Partnerships between the elderly initiation local men practitioners and external providers would thus result in less morbidity and mortality amongst the initiates.</p>
The study explored the experiences of adolescent learners regarding drug abuse in previously disadvantaged townships in South Africa. A phenomenological research paradigm was employed, and an inductive research approach was implemented. The study followed a qualitative research design focusing on interviews and document analysis as data collection methods. Purposive sampling was done and one-on-one interviews with Life Orientation (LO) teachers in two Gauteng secondary schools were conducted as well as three Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and Non-Profit Organisations (NPO’s) from different organisations. Focus group interviews were conducted with adolescent learners in two Gauteng secondary schools. I further utilised an inductive content analysis using open coding and axial coding to decipher information gathered from interviews conducted with participants.The study leaned on two theoretical frameworks which include Bronfenbrenner’s Nested System and Erikson’s Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development. The findings indicated that adolescent learners get involved in the use of drugs due to their lack of identity formation and the need to belong. It was also discovered that adolescent learners did not master the adolescence stage successfully, hence getting involved in the use of drugs.
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