Back to top

University of Limpopo

An exploration of the role of Traditional Health Practitioners’ dreams in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness in Blouberg Municipality, Limpopo Province

Dreams have always been intriguing phenomena confronting humankind over many years. They have been perceived differently across time and space, with different meanings attached to their manifestation. The general understanding and perception about dreams was that they emanate from some supernatural powers. Dreams have been some of the subjects of inquiry within the field of psychology. In this context, dreams are commonly perceived to originate from ‘within – intra’’ the dreamer.

Development of a support programme for nurses who care for patients with chronic mental illness in three Limpopo Province mental health institutions

Nurses working in mental health institutions experience enormous challenges sometimes without formal support structures and programmes to ease their caring duties. This study sought to develop a support programme for nurses caring for patients with chronic mental illness in three mental health institutions in Limpopo Province. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological design was used. A total of thirty participants (male = 7; females = 23) between 27 and 64 years were selected using a purposive homogeneous sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews.

An exploratory study of psychological resilience factors associated with climate change adaptation by subsistence farmers in a rural community in Maruleng, Limpopo province

Climate change poses a major threat to both the well-being of people and the environment. Subsistence farmers are particularly affected because they rely on local supply systems that are sensitive to climate variation. The aim of the study was to explore psychological resilience factors associated with climate change adaptation by subsistence farmers in a rural farming community in Maruleng Municipality in Limpopo Province (South Africa).

Download culture and the dilemma of postmodern technologies: (il)legal digital music sharing and its effects on South African artistes

Digital technologies are increasingly revolutionising music consumption patterns globally. Consequently, there is an emerging culture in which online tools have become primary platforms for music consumption. In this postmodern era, digital technologies make music easily accessed, consumed and shared, thereby providing a seemingly global recognition to artistes beyond their immediate geographical market. As a result, artistes sometimes distribute their music for free with the intention to reach potential consumers.

The influence of organisational culture on service delivery in south Africa: a case study of the city of Tshwane municipality in Gauteng province

The New Public Management (NPM) movement brought about by the changes that occurred after the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994. The changes impact on how the three spheres of government; that is, National, Provincial and Local ought to operate when rendering services to the public. These imperatives inspired this research project.

Multi-flex neo-hybrid identities: liberatory postmodern and (post)colonial narratives of South African women’s hair and the media construction of identity

Hair has been a marker of identity that communicates issues of race, acceptability, class and beauty. Evidence of this was during colonialism and apartheid where South African identities were defined by physical characteristics such as the texture of one’s hair, and the colour of one’s skin.

The perception and treatment of mental illness by selected Pentecostal pastors in Polokwane: towards an intervention programme

Mental illness is a high burden of disease especially in Low- and Medium-Income Countries (LMICs) like South Africa. In many LMICs, there is a paucity of Mental Health Professionals (MHCPs). As a result, people with mental illness call their faith healers or religious/spiritual leaders (pastors in this study) when experiencing mental health problems.

An exploratory study on the psychological meaning of ancestral calling by ?anga dza Vhavenda

The training to become a traditional healer has been under scrutiny because of the symptoms that are experienced during ancestral calling. Ancestral calling usually presents itself in the form of a mysterious physical or psychological illness that will not ordinarily respond to western treatment.