Anthropology

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Browsing Anthropology by Author "Van Rensburg, H. C. J."

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    Female initiation: becoming a woman among the Basotho
    (University of the Free State, 2006-05) Du Plooy, Shirley; Erasmus, P. A.; Van Rensburg, H. C. J.
    The aim of this study was to investigate and report on female initiation among the Basotho of the rural eastern Free State and Lesotho. Triangulating the data gleaned with multiple methods and techniques (participant observation, the use of key informants, in- depth interviews, life histories), a descriptive account of the initiation process was possible. With the empirical evidence, a number of issues could be addressed. Firstly, the lacuna in the existing Southern African ethnographic literature concerning initiation, particularly that of girls is filled. Secondly, applying Van Gennep’s (1909) tripartite scheme for rites of passage, a theoretical framework, unlike abstaining only with a detailed ethnographic description, on the one hand was used particularly in the evaluation and analysis of the data, and on the other offered an opportunity to verify the applicability of said scheme. Thirdly, not only did this study attempt to answer the question of the occurrence of female circumcision among the Basotho, it argues that the existing literature does not clearly distinguish between the two actions ‘to initiate’ and ‘to circumcise’, thereby placing their credibility in question.
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    The socio-cultural contexts of patients undergoing antiretroviral treatment in Petrusburg: an anthropological perspective
    (University of the Free State, 2010-05) Serekoane, Motsaathebe; Erasmus, P. A.; Van Rensburg, H. C. J.
    English: Although antiretroviral (ARV) medicines do not provide a cure for HIV and AIDS and are associated with other problems such as side effects and drug resistance, they can increase the length and quality of life, as well as the productivity of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Antiretroviral regimens have improved survival rates and lowered the incidence of opportunistic infections in people with AIDS. Strict adherence to ART is crucial in order to maintain a low viral load and to prevent the development of drug resistant strains of the virus. However, some patients do not return for follow-up on schedule and the likely outcome for such patients is sub-optimal adherence to prescribed ARV regimens and possible treatment failure. Anthropological studies have shown that patients‟ explanatory models are necessary additions to the treatment criteria used by health providers (Kleinman, 1980 & 1988; Nanda & Warms, 2002). Kleinman et al. (1978) introduced the concept of the explanatory model in applying anthropological insight to clinical practice. They maintain that, in the health care encounter, patients and practitioners may be working with different and competing models. If not properly managed, such divergent and incongruent models may result in ineffective treatment or non-compliance (cf. Jones et al., 1998). If Eisenberg‟s (1977) assumption that, „a patient suffers illnesses, and doctors diagnose and treat disease‟ is correct then Kleinman‟s (1980) pursuit to reconcile the social and medical constructs of ill health is a worthy endeavour. Unfortunately, such a comprehensive approach is for the most part, lacking in the literature. In line with Kleinman‟s view, this study argued that, HIV and AIDS, ARV medication adherence, prevention programmes and treatment readiness training cannot be studied and understood without taking into account the individual‟s explanatory models (situated within and constrained by social context), as well as how individuals construct an understanding of and imposes meaning on the world around them. Given the importance of proper adherence management, the aim of this study was to conduct an ethnographic inquiry into the nature and role of individuals‟ socio-cultural contexts in treatment adherence/non-adherence regardin antiretroviral treatment. In order to achieve this aim, three integrated ethnographic data collection methods, i.e., participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were employed to better understand the socio-cultural context and experiential understanding of patients on ARV. The results reinforced several important facts related to HIV and AIDS, ARV medication adherence, prevention programmes and treatment readiness training, and shed additional light on other areas of patient social interaction that might add value to current discourse/practices. The study concluded that patients‟ socio-cultural context provides crucial information that can be used not only to identify causal reasoning, understanding of ill health, treatment readiness training, prevention programmes and adherence to treatment, but to assist in ascertaining the most effective means of intervention within a particular society or community.