South African Family Research Articles

Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals

Background: Researchers increasingly receive invitations by email to publish. We analysed email publication invitations received by staff members of the Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State (UFS), comparing emails relating to accredited and non-accredited journals.Methods: This cross-sectional study included all publication invitations received via UFS email accounts by staff members from May 2023 to July 2023. The researchers independently completed the data form, then checked and resolved any discrepancies.Results: Of the 93 distinct emails received from 88 journals, only 15 (16%) were received from a journal appearing on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) accredited journal lists. These included South African Family Practice (SAFP) and the African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine (PHCFM). Emails from non-accredited journals were significantly (p 0.01) less likely to refer to a journal with a health sciences-related title (37% vs. 86%), indicate the publisher (36% vs. 93%), provide a link to the journal website (59% vs. 100%), state a full physical address (24% vs. 80%), refer to author instructions (21% vs. 47%) or request the recipient to share the email with colleagues (5% vs. 47%). Emails from non-accredited journals were significantly (p 0.01) more likely to contain grammatical errors (63% vs. 0%) and flattering remarks regarding the recipient or his or her research work (49% vs. 0%), and to indicate the journal’s International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) (67% vs. 13%).Conclusion: Clear differences were found between email invitations from accredited versus non-accredited journals.Contribution: The findings provide insight into warning signals in email publication invitations.

Fertility responses to short-term economic stress: Price volatility and wealth shocks in a pre-transitional settler colony

This paper examines the effects of short-term economic stress, captured by general price volatility and a negative wealth shock on short-run fertility behavior in the rural pre-transitional society of the Cape Colony. First, we link complete birth histories of settler women from the South African Families database to consumer price index data to examine the effect of price volatility on conceptions. Next, we link the same birth histories to slave owner and slave emancipation data to examine the effect of a negative wealth shock on conception. Upon slave emancipation in 1834, former slave owners received on average only between 40 and 50 % of the market value of their slaves as compensation, resulting in a substantial reduction in their wealth. Relying on event history models that look simultaneously at stopping and spacing, we do not find strong evidence in support of fertility control in response to general price volatility. We do find greater variance in birth interval lengths for former slaveholding households during and immediately after emancipation, suggesting that a negative wealth shock is associated with increased fertility limitation through postponement in this context.

Unveiling the First Neobatrachian (Anura) Discovered in the paleokarst system of Bolt’s Farm (Plio-Pleistocene; Cradle of Humankind), South Africa

ABSTRACT Anurans are widely diversified in South Africa, with more than 150 recognised species across the country. However, most the known fossil records of anurans are concentrated in the southern part of South Africa, within the rich Pliocene site of Langebaanweg. Isolated anuran elements have been recovered in the Pliocene deposits of the Cradle of Humankind, but none from the multi-localities site of Bolt’s Farm (Plio-Pleistocene). A small block containing an articulated anuran specimen was recently discovered from the Milo A site from Bolt’s Farm. We analysed this specimen using CT-scanning to describe its osteology. Surprisingly, the cavity housing the skeleton took the shape of the body of the individual, revealing a small sized individual with a triangular-shaped head. The preserved skeletal elements (around 50% of the skeleton) shows clear synapomorphies of the Ranoidea. A comparison between our specimen and members of all South African ranoid families allow us to highlight numerous osteological similarities between our specimen and taxa of the Pyxicephalidae, leading to a putative attribution to this large African family. In addition, the position of the body is identical to the position of a dormant pyxicephalid, suggesting that our specimen died during a dormancy period, in the dry season. This supports the current paleoenvironment reconstruction, an open savannah with marked seasonality.

An exploration of positive leisure activities in Batswana families

This study’s aim was to explore and describe positive leisure activities in South African Batswana families. The research employed a qualitative, explorative-descriptive research design. The population included adult Tswana family members residing in Mafikeng in the North West Province of South Africa. Through the utilization of purposive sampling, the sample size (seven families consisting of 13 individual adult family members, three males and 10 females, mean age of 34) was determined through data saturation. Family semi-structured interviews were utilized to collect data and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings allude to five main themes: participants’ understanding of family leisure, positive leisure activities families engage in, leisure activities families enjoy the most, the role of positive leisure activities, and the role played by leisure activities during Covid-19 and lockdown in 2020.

Advocating for Family Well-being in a Transforming and Broken World: A Practical and Eco-Theological assessment

This paper presents an intervention aimed at enhancing family well-being through eco-theology. Through a comprehensive approach, including a literature review, survey, interviews, and pastoral or biblical counseling, this study examines intricate connections between religion, nature, society, church, and the family, particularly in light of urgent ecological concerns. The social ills of our society are real-life situations that impact the eco-system. While eco-theology emphasizes sustainability, ethical concerns, and environmental stewardship, it also recognizes the threats posed by father absence, gender-based violence (GBV), and moral and ethical quandaries, especially within the family context. Eco-theology, as a form of constructive theology, delves into these relationships within the framework of God's design, grounded in the Being of the triune God. However, contemporary societal perspectives often depict families as marred by abuse, brokenness, divorce, and violence, deviating from the divine intent. The disruption of family life reverberates through society, violating fundamental social morals and community values. In the context of South Africa, significant changes in family composition contribute to numerous broken relationships. Practical theology contends that the Bible serves as the foundation for Christian living within the realms of family, church, and community (2 Tim 3:16), emphasizing God's care and concern for families. Pastoral care, a division of practical theology, addresses prevalent social issues such as father absence, GBV, and moral and values quandaries. Therefore, an intervention is crucial for addressing these social issues and providing training, equipping, empowering, resources, and support to families. Through a series of discussions and inquiries focused on parenting, family well-being, values, and relationships, this intervention aims to foster a deeper understanding and implementation of strategies to address these pressing issues prevalent within South African families.

The best interests of the child and the right of interested third parties to parental responsibilities and rights: RC v HSC 2023 4 SA 231 (GJ)

The South African post-constitutional era gave rise to the reframing of what was previously referred to as parental authority to parental responsibilities and rights. Throughout these developments, the best interests of the child remained a constant consideration, resulting in a move away from a parent-centred approach to a child-centred approach. In line with this child-centred approach, modern South African law recognises that children have the right to family or parental care. Recognition is also given to the subsequent fundamental principle that parents and the family perform a central role in a child's care and protection. However, analogous to global trends South African family structures have transformed and are no longer typically nuclear, but are characterised by a diversity of parental, family and community-based forms of caregiving. Children accordingly find themselves being cared for by persons who are not their biological parents. In this regard the position of the "interested third party" or so-called "co-holder of parental responsibilities and rights" is gaining increasing relevance. Although the role of interested third parties is recognised in domestic law, in the Children's Act, some uncertainty about the right of these parties to obtain parental responsibilities and rights over a child prevails. One such aspect is the right of a former life-partner to obtain parental responsibilities and rights over a non-biological child upon the dissolution of a life-partner relationship. A recent High Court case, RC v SC 2022 4 SA 308 (GJ) and its appeal namely, RC v HSC 2023 4 SA 231 (GJ) to a full bench of the High Court provides valuable insight into this regard and specifically on the approach taken by the courts about an application for parental rights and responsibilities to a non-biological child by an interested third party in terms of the Children's Act.

Value Sets of Business-owning Families: An Indigenous African Perspective

ABSTRACT While the literature highlights the important role played by family values in family businesses, knowledge on the nature of these values is limited or close to non-existent from certain perspectives, notably an indigenous African family business perspective. Therefore, utilizing seven indigenous Black South African family businesses as case studies, our study seeks to identify the family value sets in the business-owning families using a qualitative design. The findings show that these families uphold and teach the next-generation (NextGen) four family value sets, namely moral and ethical, economic, spiritual and religious, and cultural values. The NextGen is expected to use these value sets as they navigate their lives in and outside the family. Our study contributes to theory by identifying, developing and providing detailed insights into the nature of family values from an indigenous Black South African business-owning family perspective, and our value classification framework potentially provides other researchers with a theoretical foundation to conduct further research. Business-owning families should uphold value sets that accommodate the needs of individual family members, entire business-owning families, and their respective cultures. We also believe that non-indigenous businesses need to understand the family value sets upheld by indigenous Black African businesses to engage with them appropriately and improve business relationships.

Hydropedology of South African soil forms and families

Hydropedology is an interdisciplinary field that studies the interactions between soil and water, recognizing that soils influence hydrological processes through their hydraulic properties, and serve as indicators of hydrological behaviour through their morphological properties that are shaped by water regimes. Given the practical implications of hydropedology and its integration into South Africa's latest soil classification system, an updated categorization of soil forms and 1 657 (1 629 + 28) families was necessary, organizing them into three overarching response groups based on their predominant hydrological responses: recharge, interflow, and responsive. Within these groups, recharge soils are further classified into deep, shallow, and slow subgroups, interflow soils encompass soil/bedrock, shallow, and slow categories, while responsive soils are subdivided into responsive shallow and responsive wet. This paper aims to enhance the reader's comprehension of hydrological responses and simplify the intricacies integrated into South Africa's official soil classification system.

Cultivating leaders for primary health care: A revised approach for transformative development.

Family physicians require leadership skills to strengthen team-based primary care services. Interviews with South African district managers confirmed the need to develop leadership skills in family physicians. The updated national programmatic learning outcomes for South African family physician training were published in 2021. They sparked the need for curriculum renewal at the University of Cape Town's Division of Family Medicine. A review of the leadership and governance module during registrar training showed that the sessions were perceived to be content heavy with insufficient opportunities for reflection. Following a series of stakeholder engagements, the module convenors co-designed a revised module that was blueprinted on the updated learning outcomes. The module incorporates a group coaching style, facilitating learning through reflection on one's experiences. The revised module was implemented in 2022. It aims to provide a transformative learning experience centred on students' perceptions of themselves as leaders, as well as professional identity formation and resilience building. This short report describes preliminary insights from the revised module's developmental phase and forms part of an ongoing iterative evaluation process.Contribution:Family physicians should lead across all their defined roles. Formal and informal learning opportunities are needed to facilitate their growth as leaders and help them to meet the health needs of communities served by an evolving health care system. This short report describes an example of a revised postgraduate module on leadership and governance, which may be of value to clinician educators and academic departments exploring innovative methods for the African region.

The Failure of the South African Family Law System in Custody Battles: A Father's Perspective

ABSTRACT This article examines the experiences of four non-resident fathers in child custody battles in South Africa. These fathers have been in constant legal battles and have concluded that the South African family law system has failed them. The system, according to these fathers, refers to the various laws related to the maintenance court system and the children’s court, as well as the people who implement them, including social workers from the Department of Social Development, court-appointed psychologists, and family lawyers, and all the other organisations tasked with ensuring that the best interests of a child in custody cases are upheld. The interviewed participants maintained this view based on what they perceived as the barriers that the system places before fathers. Participants in this study also believed that in child custody cases, the courts tend to be biased against men, and they lament the slow manner in which the children’s court handles and resolves child custody cases. The narratives of the four participants presented in this article shed light on an important aspect of parental relations in South Africa. The study recommends a coordinated effort by the government, the South African court system and organisations advocating for fathers’ rights to encourage the involvement of non-resident fathers, and commends the recent court judgements in favour of fathers in parental alienation cases. The article emphasises that the systems should promote positive and active father involvement with their children with the same vehemence as financial provision by fathers for mothers and their children.

Abdication of Responsibility for Father–Child Contact in a Group of Black South African Non-resident Father Families: A Systems Perspective

Much of what is known about non-resident fathers is based on studies conducted in North America and Europe, and on the accounts of only one family member. This article draws from a study which utilised a family systems perspective and obtained the views of four members of ten Black South African non-resident father families ( N = 40) with infrequent father–child contact. The aim was to investigate if and how non-resident fathers’ contact with adolescent children was influenced by relationships with various family members. Individual interviews were conducted with each of the family member and thematically analysed. Here, we engage with one of the master themes that shows the circular dynamic in families in which various family members held implicit assumptions about who was responsible for father–child contact and, subsequently, did not view the responsibility to be theirs. Infrequent or lack of non-resident father–child contact should therefore be addressed as a family systems issue.

Perspectives on family resilience in the face of unemployment: a case study on unemployed City of Johannesburg families

Unemployment is a global phenomenon that is affecting many individuals and families negatively, in particular, their functioning, well-being, and coping mechanisms. Unemployment is thus regarded as a risk factor that places many families in adverse situations. While literature extensively describes family resilience in the face of diverse adversities, little research documents family resilience in the face of unemployment, especially in South Africa. It is within this context that we set out to explore the adversity of unemployment from a resilience perspective with the intention to unmask the embedded protective processes in affected families. This was approached through the loose application of Walsh’s family resilience perspective as a theoretical lens. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine participants who were regarded as breadwinners or key family providers. Each participant engaged in two interviews that were four months apart to allow for reflection and member checking. Data were analysed through a hybrid process that incorporated both the inductive and the deductive logic of thematic analysis. Participants described several key protective processes, which aligned with what Walsh proposed. The practice of communicating, the ability to connect, and the use of spirituality were identified as particularly useful. Overall, the findings imply that despite the experienced adverse conditions of unemployment, South African families demonstrate thriving potential.

Genetic screening of South African families with Parkinson’s disease

-

Family practice research in the African region 2020-2022.

The African region produces a small proportion of all health research, including primary health care research. The SCOPUS database only lists the African Journal of Primary Health Care Family Medicine (PHCFM) and the South African Family Practice Journal (SAFP) in the field of family practice. To review the nature of all original research (2020-2022) published in PHCFM and SAFP. African region. All 327 articles were included. Data were extracted into REDCap, using a standardised tool and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The median number of authors was 3 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2-4) and institutions and disciplines 1 (IQR: 1-2). Most authors were from South Africa (79.8%) and family medicine (45.3%) or public health (34.2%). Research focused on integrated health services (76.1%) and was mostly clinical (66.1%) or service delivery (37.9%). Clinical research addressed infectious diseases (23.4%), non-communicable diseases (24.6%) and maternal and women's health (19.4%). Service delivery research addressed the core functions of primary care (35.8%), particularly person-centredness and comprehensiveness. Research targeted adults and older adults (77.0%) as well as health promotion or disease prevention (38.5%) and treatment (30.9%). Almost all research was descriptive (73.7%), mostly surveys. Future research should include community empowerment and multisectoral action. Within integrated health services, some areas need more attention, for example, children, palliative and rehabilitative care, continuity and coordination. Capacity building and support should enable larger, less-descriptive and more collaborative interdisciplinary studies with authors outside of South Africa.Contribution:The results highlight the strengths and weaknesses of family practice research in Africa.

Erratum: South African Family Practice Manual, fourth edition: Meeting expectations?

No abstract available.

Parental influence on next-generation family members in South African Black-owned family businesses

PurposeThere are many factors that contribute to a person's career choice. The decision of whether or not to join the family business is certainly most influenced by parents. The aim of this research is to determine how much of an impact parents have on their next-generation family members' (NGFMs) decision to join the family business.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a positivistic paradigm, a cross-sectional design was followed using a quantitative, self-administered questionnaire through a judgemental sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was distributed to South African respondents who have parents who own a family business. The data were analysed using Statistica.FindingsThe results indicate that parental style, culture, self-efficacy and parental identification were found to influence the NGFMs' intention to join the family business significantly. Their decisions can be influenced by several factors, and parents can better manage these aspects by being aware of these influencing factors.Practical implicationsGiven the imminent ageing of a large cohort of senior leaders, this research adds to the body of knowledge by highlighting the necessity for committed, willing and ready next-generation family members (NGFMs) to ensure efficient succession in family businesses. Therefore, effective management is required for succession-planning, particularly from the perspective of the successor.Originality/valueThis study, therefore, responds to calls for more in-depth quantitative studies on family businesses in general and on Black-owned family businesses in South Africa in particular. This study will evaluate the significance of parent influence on NGFMs to join Black family-owned businesses in South Africa. This research will assist family business owners and their families in understanding their children's intentions, designing and evolving an appropriate system to instill necessary traits, skills and attitudes in the children, preparing them for upcoming challenges, adding new perspectives to the family business and ensuring its profitability and long-term growth.

South African Family Practice Manual, fourth edition: Meeting expectations?

No abract available.

Business values as a strategic resource in indigenous black South African family businesses

Purpose: To identify the business values underlying the strategic decisions of indigenous black South African (IBSA) family businesses and to explore a possible relationship between these values and business outcomes.Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a qualitative methodological approach and utilised seven IBSA family business cases. Data were collected from 17 selected participants using semi-structured interviews. The reflexive thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data transcripts.Findings/results: Ten business values were identified as underlying the strategic decisions of IBSA family businesses, namely customer focus, innovation and creativity, business traditions, continuous learning, employee empowerment and development, open communication, business sustainability, teamwork, partnerships and business reputation. These values are considered a strategic resource because they influence the strategic business decisions made and ultimately contribute to the business outcomes and long-term survival of the family business.Practical implications: The study provides insights into the relationship between business values, strategic decisions and business outcomes in the context of IBSA family businesses. Therefore, family business owners and leaders should ensure that behaviours, actions and strategic decisions are aligned to their business values so that these values can serve as the strategic resource that scholars claim they are.Originality/value: While several studies on values have been conducted in European or Western contexts, this study provides insights into the possible relationship between business values, strategic decisions and business outcomes from an indigenous African family business perspective.

Workplace-based learning opportunities in a South African family medicine training programme.

Workplace-based learning (WBL) provides authentic learning opportunities to develop fit-for-practice healthcare workers. Different types of WBL opportunities have been described in high-income countries, but the opportunities in the district health systems of sub-Saharan Africa have not been characterised. This study explored family physicians' (FPs) and registrars' perceptions of WBL opportunities in a decentralised postgraduate family medicine registrar training programme. The study was conducted at five decentralised training sites across two provinces affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. This instrumental case study involved semi-structured qualitative interviews with 11 FPs and 11 registrars purposively sampled across the training sites. The verbatim transcripts were thematically analysed using Braun and Clark's six-step approach. Workplace-based learning opportunities were grouped into four themes: Learning from interpersonal interactions, learning from district activities, self-directed learning and contextual influences on learning opportunities. Registrars learnt from patients, peers, FPs and other professionals. Feedback, self-reflection, portfolio use, involvement in various district events, such as student and staff teaching, and continuous medical education augmented learning. Contextual influences originated from health facilities, resource availability, district management and university support, excessive workload and a need for standardised district learning opportunities. Registrars are exposed to several types of WBL opportunities in district health systems. Effective engagement with available opportunities and addressing contextual challenges could enhance registrar learning.Contribution: Maximising learning opportunities to promote registrars' acquisition of required skills and competencies to efficiently address community needs in a middle-income country such as South Africa.

Book Review of South African Family Practice Manual: 4th edition.

No abstract available.