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Question: Alicia is a 6-year-old girl in Grade 1 in a public Primary School near Pinetown. Her parents are originally from Mozambique, her mother fled from Mozambique due to the physical abuse from Alicia’s father and came to South Africa last year in search of a better life for her children. Alicia lives in an informal settlement with her mother and 2 younger brothers. Her mother hand weaves mats and sells them by the roadside, Alicia helps her after school and during weekends. She has not found work yet and use the little money she gets from selling mats to support her children. Alicia speaks Swahili and Portuguese at home and does not understand any of the South African languages. The school that Alicia attends uses IsiZulu as a language of instruction and she does not understand the teacher due to the language barrier. Alicia’s birth card indicate that she was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) a condition that results from alcohol exposure during the mother’s pregnancy. Her teacher tries her best to accommodate her by relying on demonstrations when instructing her to do tasks, it is however, still difficult for Alicia to comprehend and her teacher suspects that Alicia’s academic challenges are not only a result of the language barrier. She seems to lack concentration in class and appears to be in a world of her own. She also struggles to interact and engage with other learners in her class. Her teacher has noted that she is usually tired in the mornings and lacks energy, her energy levels seem to improve after break when she has eaten a meal provided by the school. Her teacher called her mother for a meeting to address Alicia’s academic challenges, her mother came to school intoxicated and communication between her and Alicia’s teacher was difficult. She did demonstrate that the teacher must hit Alicia if she gives her any trouble. Despite Alicia’s academic challenges her teacher has noted that she is very artistic and enjoys drawing, singing, and dancing. • Using the biopsychosocial model formulate a table and identify the biological, psychological and the social/environmental factors that apply to Alicia’s case.
Biological Factors: 1. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) - Alicia was born with this condition, which affects her neurocognitive development, learning abilities, and overall health. 2. Nutrition - Due to their low income, Alicia and her family may not have regular access to balanced meals, leading to poor nutrition. This can contribute to poor health and lack of energy. 3. Genetics - Alicia's Mozambican genetic heritage may potentially impact her susceptibility to certain diseases or conditions, as well as her overall health. Psychological Factors: 1. Language Barrier - Alicia's inability to understand IsiZulu, the language of instruction at her school, potentially increases frustration and hampers her learning. 2. Learning Difficulties - Due to FAS, Alicia is likely to have specific learning difficulties that could affect her academic performance. 3. Mood/Behavior - Alicia exhibits signs of poor attention and appears disconnected at times, which could be related to her psychological state. 4. Trauma - The physical abuse her mother experienced and fleeing their home can cause residual traumatic stress for Alicia. Social/Environmental Factors: 1. Cultural Differences - The difference in culture between Mozambique and South Africa could be affecting Alicia's ability to adapt. 2. Economic Challenges - Living in extreme poverty challenges basic needs for Alicia's family. 3. Parent's alcoholism - Her mother's addiction can impact her ability to provide a stable, nurturing environment for Alicia. 4. Community/School: Living in an informal settlement and attending a school where she does not understand the language of instruction impacts her ability to fit in socially and acadically. 5. Support System - Lack of a solid support system at home and her mother's inability to understand or attend to Alicia's needs could affect her emotional well-being and development. 6. Child labour - Alicia helps her mother sell mats which can cause fatigue and stress, and take time away from her schoolwork and play. It's crucial to address these factors with the help of a multidisciplinary team that can include a social worker, nutritionist, psychologist, and special education teacher to develop a comprehensive plan to support Alicia's growth and development.
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