Background: Parents of children with disabilities have faced difficulties in looking after their children, be it socially, economically and financially. Parents in rural areas are mainly left with a huge burden, as there is a lack of services and support from both the state and non-governmental organisations. Parents in Sekhukhune district, a rural area in Limpopo province of South Africa, face challenges in raising their disabled children related to lack of resources and lack of services at their disposal.Objectives: This study focuses on the experiences and life circumstances faced by parents of children living with different types of disabilities at Lehlaba Protective Workshop in Sekhukhune district of Limpopo province, South Africa.Method: The study consisted of 14 participants who are parents of children living with disabilities. An interview guide with a set of questions was utilised to gather data. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and themes that emerged were grouped together.Results: Themes that emerged from the data showed that most of the participants had varying understandings on the causes of disabilities to their children. The participants also were of the view that a ‘cure’ for disability was available medically, spiritually or through traditional African medicine. The study also brought the notion of absent fathers, as most men do not want to be associated with children who are disabled. Stigmatisation of the parents was also a theme that the study revealed. The parents are subjected to name labelling as they are viewed to be practising witchcraft or to be paying for their sins they committed.Conclusion: Parents of children with disabilities are in their own battle in raising their children. There is a lack of support structures available for parents of children living with disabilities. There is a lack of legislation available for protecting and promoting the rights of children with disabilities. The researchers concluded that raising a child with a disability is expensive, time-consuming and straining.

Poor adherence to antihypertensive medications remains a significant challenge in the management of hypertension among women living in rural areas. The objective of the study was to assess the reasons of nonadherence in women suffering from hypertension. The researchers used a qualitative exploratory research design to conduct the study. A purposive sampling technique was used to select fifty (50) Black African women who participated in five ( 5) focus group interviews. The NVivo program was used to manage and organize the qualitative data. The study revealed that inadequate health literacy, financial constraints, forgetfulness and cultural differences are some of the barriers that prevent women from adhering to antihypertensive medication. Health promotion activities to empower women to become more proactive about their health needs and care should not be underestimated. As a result, they will be more likely to comply with their treatment, which will make them healthier in the long run.

AIM: This research project aimed at exploring the views of secondary school teachers and hostel matrons on the landscape of substance abuse amongst the youth at a border town situated in the northern region of Namibia. METHOD: In this qualitative study, in-depth interviews were conducted with secondary school teachers and hostel matrons, selected by means of a purposive sampling method from five schools representing state schools and private schools. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Namibia’s ethical approval committee, whilst permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Namibia.  Participation was voluntary and based on informed consent. FINDINGS: The themes identified in the study were amongst others; the types of substances used by the youth, the use of substances on school premises and easy access/availability of substances. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that substance abuse seems to be normalised in the community because of the excessive availability of alcohol in the community. The need for law enforcement and law reform as well as prevention programmes at all levels of society is highlighted.

The primary aim of this article is to explore and describe the production and consumption of homemade alcohol and its associated challenges in relation to implications for social work practice. Qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was ideal and purposive and snowball sampling methods were used in this research. Data was collected through interviews with brewers and consumers of homemade alcoholic beverages. It was found that foreign substances are put into homemade alcoholic beverages for commercial reasons in an attempt to address social exclusion.

Women’s vulnerability to climate-induced shocks hinges on a high dependence on climate-sensitive livelihoods and a natural resource base aggravated by the acute inequalities that they experience due to patriarchal dominance. This article’s purpose is to unpack the vulnerabilities and inequalities that rural women experience in the climate change terrain which necessitates the involvement of the social work profession. This study adopted a qualitative methodology guided by a multi-case study design. A sample of twenty-five participants, including community members and social workers, participated in the study. These participants were selected through simple purposive and convenient sampling techniques. Data were collected using focus group discussions and individual interviews. The thematic content analysis was followed to analyse the findings. The study established that rural women are impacted by various vulnerabilities and inequalities in the climate change discourse, which serve as barriers to their effective adaptation. The vulnerabilities and inequalities manifest through lack of land and property rights, discrimination from decision-making processes, poverty and lack of adequate knowledge about climate change mitigation and adaptation. Social work involvement to address these catastrophes is scant in the Vhembe district in Limpopo province, South Africa. The study recommends that all climate change interventions should put an end to inequalities women experience in order for them to be effective and social workers should be at the frontline of such initiative.