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Authors:Victor; N. Muzvidziwa Pages: i - iii Abstract: No Abstract PubDate: 2024-01-31 DOI: 10.4314/jsda.v39i1.1 Issue No:Vol. 39, No. 1 (2024)
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Authors:Joseph N. Musuguri , Mariana J. Makuu Pages: 1 - 17 Abstract: Aim: This article reviews literature on medical social work practice in hospital settings. The overall goal of medical social work practice in hospitals is to prevent and reduce negative psychosocial-spiritual consequences due to diseases and teach patients and families how to mobilise the available resources. Undeniably, medical social work practice is integral to medical and hospital settings, predominantly when working in a team to improve the patient’s treatment outcome. Methods: This article reviewed online research articles and reports on medical social work practice in hospital settings. Keywords used in conducting the literature review were: medical social work practice, hospital, health practitioners, roles of medical social workers, and inter-professional collaborative practice. The Boolean Operator conjunctive ‘AND’ was used in the mixture of these keywords to enlarge the search process. The databases used for electronic searches of the literature were Google Scholar, ProQuest Central, PubMed Central, and ResearchGate. Results: We conclude that medical social workers perform different roles in the hospital settings nevertheless they are not understood by health practitioners, no consensus amongst health practitioners as to whether inter-professional collaborative practice contributes to the treatment outcome of patients. Factors impeding medical social work practice in hospital settings are also discussed. We suggest that what remains to be explored are the medical practitioners’ experiences in medical social work practice in hospital settings. Findings from this reviewed article contribute significantly to the field of medical social work which is in the infancy stage, particularly in Tanzania and comparable countries. PubDate: 2024-01-31 DOI: 10.4314/jsda.v39i1.2 Issue No:Vol. 39, No. 1 (2024)
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Authors:Anesu A. Matanga, Maybe Chiparausha, Wilberforce Kurevakwesu, Sunungurayi Charamba Pages: 18 - 44 Abstract: With the rise in substance use disorders in Zimbabwe, several interventions have been instituted, but the problem continues on an upward trajectory. One aspect that has been neglected is the reintegration of young people recovering from substance use disorders. As such, this study investigates the challenges that youths recovering from substance use disorders face in Highfield, Harare. We adopted a qualitative interpretative phenomenological design and interviewed 12 participants and 4 key informants. Data were analysed through interpretative phenomenological analysis. From the findings, youths recovering from substance use disorders face several challenges in their reintegration and these include social stigma, lack of empowerment programs, stress, idleness, relapse and lack of social support. We then recommended the need to extend reintegration and aftercare services through the case management system, the prioritisation of income-generating projects for reintegrated youths, community sensitisation, and the development of a substance use policy that addresses issues of reintegration, among others. PubDate: 2024-01-31 DOI: 10.4314/jsda.v39i1.3 Issue No:Vol. 39, No. 1 (2024)
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Authors:Langtone Maunganidze Pages: 45 - 71 Abstract: Globally, the upsurge in internet and social media usage has prompted new ways of gatekeeping and coping strategies significantly transforming the character of political participation research and practice with far-reaching implications for consolidation of democratic governance and social development. Social networking sites and mobile instant messaging platforms have triggered new forms of both political mobilization and resistance calling into question the efficacy and sustainability of the traditional gatekeeping in research. There is little doubt that the nuances and dynamics of digitalized gatekeeping have a profound capacity to facilitate and inhibit the research process. Through a combination of a critical review of documentary information and snippets of practical experiences drawn from Zimbabwe, the article examines the various gatekeeping mechanisms in digitalized political participation research and delineates the possible circumvention interventions. The main dimensions of digital user surveillance and profiling technologies at various levels of the research process are not only mutually reinforcing but also largely panoptic. Since gatekeeping mechanisms in digital research are situated at the meeting point of internet freedom and surveillance, they inadvertently evoke methodological and ethical challenges. PubDate: 2024-01-31 DOI: 10.4314/jsda.v39i1.4 Issue No:Vol. 39, No. 1 (2024)
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Authors:Chika R. Ikeorji, Ajwang’ Warria Pages: 72 - 100 Abstract: In Africa, the caregiving of older adults is primarily provided by the family. However, there have been changes in these traditional caregiving practices due to changing social, economic and health landscapes, requiring a transformative approach to caring for older people in Africa. The AU Policy Framework and Plan Action on Aging/HAI have made recommendations considering the inadequacies of family caregiving. This narrative literature review examined the arguments of scholars within the position of AU/HAI recommendations within the culture of informal care for older people as well as what potential challenges and opportunities arise from the evolving perspectives on caregiving in Africa. The Ubuntu and Relational-Cultural theories were used as a framework for the study. Findings reveal that scholars have justifiably argued for the adaptation of the African perspective on caregiving for older people due to its inadequacy in addressing evolving health, social, and economic factors associated with ageing. Scholars advocate for a paradigm shift towards a more robust and integrative system of care that considers not only the traditional values and familial structures but also aligns with the changing needs of the older population to foster a supportive and effective caregiving environment for older people in Africa. It is recommended that an encompassing social care, policies, and programs should reflect the specific concerns of older women and men such that all people, irrespective of age, can live long and healthy lives. PubDate: 2024-01-31 DOI: 10.4314/jsda.v39i1.5 Issue No:Vol. 39, No. 1 (2024)
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Authors:Anotida Mavuka, Charlene Dambiranwa, Anesu A. Matanga Pages: 101 - 122 Abstract: The study investigates the complexities of practising as a medical social worker in the Zimbabwean health sector. The aim of the study, therefore, was to identify the challenges faced by medical social workers within multi-professional settings. A qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. The study further utilised a phenomenological research design. This is because it offered an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of professional medical social workers. The study targeted qualified medical social workers and social work students on internships in the hospital. The study, therefore, had 6 primary participants and 3 key informants. The key informants included a doctor, a nurse and an administrator. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. From the findings, the study established that medical social workers face the challenges of power dynamics, high caseloads, lack of resources, misunderstanding of the role of medical social work and professional mistrust among many others. The study made various recommendations to deal with challenges faced by medical social workers. The study recommended the need to recruit more social workers, to have clear guidelines on medical social work, and to develop an inter-professional collaboration committee at public hospitals for instruction on the expectations. PubDate: 2024-01-31 DOI: 10.4314/jsda.v39i1.6 Issue No:Vol. 39, No. 1 (2024)