ABSTRACT Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have different experiences and express different emotions regarding their diagnosis. In daily conversations, some patients revealed that they were totally surprised by the diagnosis, others expressed that they were in denial, while some anticipated their diagnosis. As a result, a qualitative study aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of men diagnosed with prostate cancer was carried out in the four northern regions: Oshana, Ohangwena, ...
ABSTRACT Available data has shown that most deaths due to liver cancer and cirrhosis are primarily attributed to the complications of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections, globally. Countries ought to have well-documented information on the HBV prevalence and risk factors to be able to understand and interrupt its transmission. In Namibia, data on the HBV prevalence and risk factors are scanty and older than two decades. Also, health care workers’ (HCWs) awareness on the HBV prevention and c...
ABSTRACT Literature has found that paraplegic as well as quadriplegic individuals are presented with a range of challenges, which are similar as well as frequent amongst them. These include stigmatisation, discrimination, problems related to family, work and independence. Health problems such as bowel and bladder control, infections and pressure sores, as well as related psychological problems are also common (Lustig, 2005). Paralysis impacts on all areas of an individual’s life, because i...
ABSTRACT Background: Stillbirth is defined as a baby born with no signs of life (WHO). Globally, around 3.2 million stillbirths occur annually, of which, 98% are experienced in low and middle-income countries. By 2009, Namibia’s stillbirth rate was 15 per 1000 deliveries. Otjozondjupa Region toped the list of regions with high burden of stillbirth in Namibia in 2016. Like many other countries, stillbirths are not prioritized and fewer resources are mobilized to curb them in relation to neo...
ABSTRACT Quality Improvement (QI) is a diverse health care issue with multiple dimensions, which include structural, leadership and organizational attitudes. Generally, private hospitals are perceived to have better quality of care according to international standards; this perspective is true in Namibia, whereby only one private hospital is accredited according to international standards. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of staff regarding the COHSASA acc...
ABSTRACT Nursing is considered as being intrinsically stressful because nurses are exposed to dangers such as viruses, bacteria, needle-prick injuries and other hazards on a daily basis. Thus, this study set out to investigate the stress, work engagement, and psychological well-being of nurses working at state hospitals in Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja. The objective of the study was to determine the levels as well as the relationships between stress, work engagement, and psychological we...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was twofold. Firstly to explore and describe the utilization of the Nursing Process by registered nurses in local level Primary health care practice in Namibia with regard to Primary health care delivery during their daily practices and secondly, to develop strategies that would support registered nurses in executing their role and function in this regard. These were prompted by the implementation of a Primary health care approach to health care delivery in...
Abstract Public stigma towards mental illness is associated with various negative implications for those struggling with mental illness and plays a significant role in help seeking behaviour as well as treatment adherence. The aim of this study is to quantify the degree of public stigma that exists and to understand attitudes towards mentally ill people held by people residing in Windhoek, Namibia. Finally, it seeks to identify whether there are any demographic variables associated with high...
Abstract An alarming increase of breast cancer in Namibia started in 2005 with a record of 179 cases, and 1625 cases in 2006 respectively. To date, the cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) as a registry reported 3092 cancer incidences in 2012. The purpose of this study is to explore the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and the correlation of the determinant factors on early detection of bread cancer among women in Windhoek. Methods used were the purposive sampling involving 236 women ...
ABSTRACT This research aimed at assessing the barriers to ARV therapy adherence among inmates living with HIV/AIDS at Windhoek Central Prison. The researcher was interested in determining what are the barriers to adherence to ARV therapy in prison, and how these barriers can be addressed to assist inmates in Windhoek Central Prison to adhere to their ARV therapy. A qualitative, descriptive, explorative, phenomenological and contextual research was conducted to assess the barriers to ARV ther...
ABSTRACT Research on Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH), particularly the study on parents of murdered victims is not widely documented. In Namibia, little is known about the impact of IPH on the parents, since more attention is directed to either the victims or perpetrators of these crimes with less focus on the parents of the victims. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychological experiences for parents of IPH victims in the Khomas region. To answer the research question, “How ...
ABSTRACT Globally, the projected number of foods found to be contaminated from street vendors particularly in developing countries is on the increase. It is however unclear; the contribution unhygienic practices make to food contamination. This study sought to determine the practices of food vendors regarding food hygiene, safety and assessed the level of knowledge of street food vendors with regard to food hygiene and safety, as well as to determine the attitudes of street food vendors towa...
ABSTRACT Southern Africa has the highest HIV prevalence rates among adults in the world. Namibia has not been spared the scourge of this pandemic. In Oshakati, where this study was conducted, the HIV prevalence rate is 25.2%, the second highest in Namibia. There are not many large industries in Oshakati. The greater part of the labour force is employed in the informal sector. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) provide a social safety net for the poor, the uneducated, for women and chi...
Abstract Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease of warm-blooded animals caused by Lyssavirus of the Rhabdoviridae family that attacks the Central Nervous System, provoking fatal acute encephalitis. Domesticated dogs are the main vector, responsible for almost 99% of human rabies cases. Namibia with the rest of the world is engaged in fight to eradicate dog mediated rabies. There is a need to explore the knowledge gaps, attitudes and practices regarding rabies control among dog owners. The purpos...
ABSTRACT Despite mass media campaigns to provide information on how to promote healthy lifestyle and sexual behaviour among the population, especially among the youth, there is evidence that risky sexual behaviour are more prevalent among males than females (UNAIDS, 2013c), putting them at the risk of acquiring Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Not much is known about the knowledge, attitude and practices of male learners in secondary schools in Namibia on HIV prevention and their practice...