ABSTRACT Phenomena such as urbanisation and individual traits such as health literacy, affect people’s exposure and vulnerability to coronary artery disease risk factors. Namibia, as a developing country, is no exception. Although studies have indicated significant effects of predictor variables such as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on coronary artery diseases, none has been reported in the Namibian context. The purpose of this study was to determine and describe the knowledge, ...
Background:Cancer in children in Tanzania is a concerning health issue, yet there is a shortage of information about the experiences of the guardians of children who receive cancer treatment. Objective:To explore concerns and needs of support among guardians of children on cancer treatment in Dares Salaam, Tanzania. Method:Using a qualitative design,3 focus group discussions were held with 22 guardians of children aged 9 to 17 years. Guardians were recruited from Muhimbili National Hospital, ...
ABSTRACT In this study, the researcher explored and described the views of health care professionals who are managing children with foetal alcohol syndrome at public health facilities in the Khomas Region in Namibia. The purpose of this research project was to develop and evaluate foetal alcohol syndrome guidelines. This study was qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual in nature and was conducted in four phases.
ABSTRACT Communication is the ideas and information exchanged and actions or reactions that arise from that exchange and contact. What really defines the communication is the relationship between the communicator and the recipient. Therefore, for a good nurse-patient relationship to be established, nurse patient communication must be effective. The study described in this paper was to thoroughly investigate the factors influencing communication between registered nurses and patients at Inter...
ABSTRACT Background: Globally, malnutrition is a public health problem and more than one-third of mortality among children aged below five years is attributable to malnutrition. Therefore a comprehensive nutritional assessment for early diagnosis of malnutrition and care is important. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a health facility (dispensary) among children aged below five years of age. A total of 302 children were randomly selected from twelve dispensaries in Chamwi...
Abstract The aim of this study was threefold. Firstly, it aimed to find out how single, young adult women in rural Owambo communities appraised their premarital pregnancy at that time when they found out they were pregnant and subsequent reappraisals thereof. Secondly, it intended to investigate whether these women feel stigmatized, isolated and marginalized. Thirdly, the study also aimed at examining how the past and present perceptions of their premarital pregnancy have contributed to how ...
ABSTRACT Trypanosomosis is a vector-borne, tropical disease that causes mortality and morbidity in livestock and humans. In this study we investigated the risk factors for trypanosome infection in cattle in the Maasai Steppe of northern Tanzania. We assessed the influence of age, sex, herd size and history of treatment against trypanosomosis as risk factors of trypanosome infection. Cattle blood samples were collected from 150 cattle in three villages in the vicinity of Tarangire National P...
ABSTRACT Background: Reports on systematic evaluation of the impact of antiretroviral therapy(ART) on patients’ hospitalisation in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and Tanzania in particular are scarce. We aimed at documenting the trends of hospital admissions at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) following scale up of free access to ART in Tanzania. Methods: Records for all admissions at MNH from June 2005 to June 2015 were reviewed. We extracted data from Hospital Information Management System...
ABSTRACT Epilepsy is the most common serious and chronic neurological disorder worldwide. Lack of knowledge and negative attitudes among teachers towards epilepsy causes stigmatization and discrimination of children diagnosed with epilepsy on a daily basis. Teachers in Namibia do not receive formal training on epilepsy, which may lead to them missing partial epileptic seizures, especially on undiagnosed children. Little is known about the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Namibian teache...
ABSTRACT Rabies kills over 55,000 people worldwide annually of which about 97% die resulting from the bite(s) of rabid dogs. Despite the free annual vaccination of dogs in Namibia and Ohangwena region in particular, rabies is still on the increase in both animals and humans. We conducted this study to establish the level of protection against rabies in the vaccinated domestic dogs through antibody testing. Furthermore, the study assessed the level of people’s knowledge on rabies. A descrip...
ABSTRACT Cancer has become a global health burden accounting for about 8.2 million deaths every year worldwide. Cancer patients or people, who experience symptoms similar to that of cancer in Namibia’s rural settings, may endure suffering for months and may even die without receiving medical attention, due to the lengthy distance between the rural areas and the nearest medical centre and the long referral process. It may even take more time to get the correct medical attention for t partic...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to describe and explore the experiences of parents of children with congenital abnormalities and identify source of support such parents employ when dealing with the child born with congenital abnormalities. Congenital abnormalities, regardless of the type, pose a concern to the Government, society, immediate family members and individual parents. The expectations parents had for a normal child becomes a nightmare when the child they were expecting is b...
ABSTRACT In the Grootfontein health district, directly observed treatment (DOT) services, a component of directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) strategy (whereby tuberculosis (TB) patients take medicine under proper supervision and support) is available at all public health facilities. Yet the TB defaulter rate in Grootfontein is very high at 28%, and treatment success rate remains at 56%, far below the international target of 85%. Although many factors such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, la...
ABSTRACT Namibia is among the countries with the highest per capita burden of tuberculosis. The traditional San community that are living in northern Namibia are heavily burdened by the TB disease partly due to high household density. This study compares the risk of transmission of TB among close contacts with the community contacts. A retrospective cohort study was conducted and data, of index cases registered during 2014 and their close and community contacts, was collected using health fa...
ABSTRACT Immunisation is one of the most cost effective public health interventions that provide protection against infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess and describe the measles immunisation status and vaccine management in the Engela district. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a proportionate and systematic sampling technique. A structured administered interview to participants, supplemented with an observational checklist to assess measles cov...