Kinders van plaaswerkers in die Oudtshoorn distrik se belewenis van alkoholmisbruik in hul primêre gesinne

Abstract

Alcohol abuse is a social dilemma in South Africa, as well as in the rest of the world. During the middle childhood years the child’s experience of alcohol abuse in his primary family is seen in different developmental phases, in daily interactions with his family as well as in his wider relationships. The child wants to be independent, but his family stays a resource for security and support. For the research methodology the process was put in tabular format and subdivided into four phases. During the first phase, which is the initial planning and problem formulation, the three main issues were addressed: the research topic, problem formulation and the purpose of required objectives. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate rural children’s experience of alcohol abuse in their families. In the second phase, the formal planning phase, information was collected through triangulation. Focus was on the research approach and strategies. From various data the experiences of alcohol abuse in families and its impact on the rural child in middle childhood stage of life were described. A literature study, the composition and layout compiled a study profile of the child from a paradigmatic perspective. During the third phase focus was on the empirical study through the practice of triangulation. Five child respondents had to complete sentences, a self-designed questionnaire was used and that was followed by semi-structured interviews with five parents and teachers. During the fourth stage, findings were interpreted and integrated. It was concluded that there is a void at both national level and in rural areas in terms of the child’s experience of alcohol abuse in his family and environment. It further became clear that alcohol abuse is a relevant problem and that alcohol abuse in marital relationships need attention and that ignorance exists regarding parenthood and the experience of the child in his family where alcohol is abused. For this reason it is recommended that the focus should not only be on the child’s process, but on the knowledge and the insight that the parents, teachers and social workers, which forms part of the support network, should receive through training programs.