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Abstract

Background: State patients are admitted to a psychiatric hospital after being declared as such by the magistrate courts as a result of not found fit to stand trial for the offence they had committed. Despite continued care, treatment and rehabilitation of state patients in the psychiatric hospitals: there is limited evidence about the kind of support that family members need during reintegration of male state patients into their families in South Africa. The kind of support needed by family members regarding reintegration of male state patients into their families is not largely explored in the scientific body of knowledge. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the kind of support needed by family members to reintegrate the state patients into their family, and to. Setting: This study was conducted in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Method: A qualitative approach using explorative, descriptive and contextual designs was adopted. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 family members who were purposefully sampled, and data were thematically analysed using Tech Open Coding method. Results: Four themes emerged during analysis of data, namely; support needed by family members from the hospital regarding reintegration, family members� kind of support they needed from the community relating to reintegration, and family members� kind of support they needed from the government relating to reintegration. Conclusion: Data revealed that family members require support from hospitals, community and govern regarding re-integration. This kind of support was based on the type of family and patients who need to be reintegrated into their families. The study recommends that a model need to be developed regarding re-integration of state patients into their families. Keywords: family, family member, state patient, support and model

Biography

Dr. Lavhelani NR is a Lecturer at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He has a Doctoral Degree in nursing and various other qualifications. He has taught for many years at both public nursing colleges and universities. He also served as a nurse manager in public hospital for more than 15 years. His research thesis focused on the development of a model to reintegrate state patient into their families thus reducing usable bed utilization rate. His research interest on nursing management and leader ship, mental health and nursing education.