Spirituality as a coping mechanism for family caregivers of persons with aphasia

This study sought to describe spirituality resourcing of family caregivers for people with aphasia (PWA). A purposive sample of 14 female family caregivers of PWA from a historically disadvantaged South African community were participants (married = 42%; age range 21 to 65 years). They completed interviews regarding the spiritual support that they received when caring for their family member with aphasia. Thematic analysis of the data yielded findings to suggest spiritual interpretation of their experiences, importance of prayer as a source of hope and healing, and significance of social support from church fellowship. Spirituality is a resource for coping with the carer-role among community women with responsibility over family members with aphasia.     

Screening and brief intervention of alcohol problems in primary care in South Africa: A brief report

The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to provide screening and brief intervention for alcohol problems in a primary care setting in South Africa. Outpatients were screened for hazardous or harmful alcohol use and were randomised into an experimental (one brief counselling session) or control group (received an alcohol health education leaflet). The study population of hazardous or harmful drinkers (N=140) consisted of 105 male and 35 female women, with a mean age of 30.4 years (SD=6.6). Among the 128 (91.4%) primary care outpatients who also attended the 6-month follow-up session, the time effects on the AUDIT scores were significant but the intervention effect on the AUDIT score was statistically not significant. It would seem that alcohol screening and the provision of an alcohol health education leaflet may in itself cause reduction in drinking.