Masters Degrees (Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC))

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC)) by Author "Du Plessis, Edwin"

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    The prevalence of trauma symptoms and coping used in a disaster-affected community in Johannesburg, South Africa
    (University of the Free State, 2021) Parkins, Colleen Ann; Raphela, Tlou; Du Plessis, Edwin
    Worldwide, the prevalence of trauma symptoms and coping mechanisms used in a disaster-affected community have received little attention, especially in developing countries. This study, therefore, assessed the prevalence of trauma symptoms and coping mechanisms in the Setswetla informal settlement located within the flood line of the Jukskei River in the Alexandra township, in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. The area is subject to disasters such as floods and shack fires. This study used the Harvard trauma questionnaire to assess the prevalence of trauma symptoms in Setswetla, and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, known as the brief COPE questionnaire, to determine the coping mechanisms used in the community. The results of the study indicate that 86% of the respondents have experienced or witnessed a disaster, and there is evidence of trauma symptoms among them. Whether the respondent has witnessed a disaster, as well as their income and employment status, relates to the prevalence of trauma symptoms. The Brief COPE questionnaire indicates that respondents exhibiting symptoms of trauma use coping mechanisms. A questionnaire on the experience of the Setswetla community of the Covid-19 pandemic indicates difficulty with complying with the regulations meant to stop the spread of the virus, as overcrowding and shared facilities make social distancing difficult. Loss of livelihoods from the lockdown regulations and the pandemic is also a concern. While the scope of the dissertation does not include addressing poverty and the systemic failure of the mental health system at a national level, recommendations are made for managing trauma and stress at the community level. It is recommended that disaster management first responders, as well as community leaders and community disaster management volunteers, be trained in Psychological First Aid to render initial assistance in the event of a disaster or other traumatic event. It is also recommended that wellness and stress management programmes be introduced in the community to assist residents with alleviating symptoms of stress and trauma and starting conversations around mental health to address the stigma that is still prevalent around such issues. Addressing and preventing symptoms of trauma could lead to improved functioning in Setswetla on an individual and community level.
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    Spirituality and its contribution to increasing psychological resilience and decreasing burnout amongst first responders in the City of Johannesburg
    (University of the Free State, 2021-04) Williams, Rebecca Jane; Du Plessis, Edwin
    First responders around the world suffer from high levels of burnout and other psychological symptoms related to their exposure to traumatic events. Psychological resilience is an important factor in mitigating the effects of this exposure, whereas the effects of spirituality/religiosity have not been clearly determined. The primary aim of this study was to determine the levels of work-related burnout and psychological resilience among first responders working in the City of Johannesburg. Furthermore, this study aimed to determine the levels of religiosity and spirituality in this population and their correlation with psychological resilience and work-related burnout. A non-experimental, cross-sectional, and criterion-group design was used. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians and disaster managers employed by the City of Johannesburg were identified using purposive sampling, eventually constituting a sample of 111 participants. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Brief Resilience Scale, the Duke University Religion scale and a biographical questionnaire were used to gather information from the participants. Stepwise regression analysis was done to determine the association between burnout, resilience and religiosity/spirituality. Results from the study showed that first responders had high levels of burnout and were not always able to access the help they required. Having attended stress management training correlated with higher resilience and lower burnout scores. For the sub-group of firefighters, higher levels of spirituality correlated with both increased resilience and lower burnout scores. Based on these findings, recommendations were made for increased mental health awareness, training and access to support structures for first responders.