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Question: Using the biopsychosocial model identify the biological, psychological and the social/environmental factors that apply to the following case study: 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.
The following factors from Alicia's case study align with the key components in the biopsychosocial model: Biological: -Alicia's reported condition of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) affects her cognitive abilities and concentration levels. This leads to struggles academically and biologically impacts her brain function. -Alicia's energy levels vary throughout the day, improving after having a meal, which suggests her nutritional intake may not be sufficient at home, affecting her physical health. Psychological: -The language barrier and her condition (FAS) contribute towards Alicia's difficulties in comprehending classroom instruction and interacting with other learners. This creates a psychological challenge in terms of her cognitive development and interpersonal relationships. -Alicia exhibits symptoms of escapism (being in a world of her own) which may be indicative of underlying stress or emotional struggle. -Despite these challenges, Alicia shows resilience by finding joy in artistic activities, which points to a healthier aspect of her psychological health. Social/Environmental: -Alicia is living in an informal settlement, a poor socioeconomic situation that does not provide the ideal environment for a child's growth. -She is witnessing her mother's struggle to financially support the family, leading to added stress and responsibility at an early age. -Her mother's alcoholism and the implied acceptance of physical abuse as a disciplinary measure raise serious concerns about the home environment. -The language barrier at school and home is a clear environmental challenge, as Alicia cannot effectively communicate in either setting. -The fact that Alicia gets a meal at school suggests food insecurity at home which is another stressful environmental factor.
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