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...
ABSTRACT Social workers and other caregiver professions are at risk of becoming negatively affected by the nature of their work. However, many reports also indicate positive outcomes, such as personal growth and finding meaning through working with trauma victims. General mental well-being refers not only to a state of absence of pathology; it refers to optimal well-being in terms of self-perceived level of positive and negative affect, as well as satisfaction with life at a particular time ...
ABSTRACT The Hepatitis B is a viral infection caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) which is a double stranded DNA virus, a member of the Hepadnavidae family of viruses. World Health Organization estimates that about 257 million people are living with Hepatitis B virus infection. Namibia has a high prevalence of Hepatitis B infection (9%) among pregnant women and Kunene region prevalence of 8%. The researcher conducted an un-matched 2:1 case-control study to determine the associated risk factors...
Abstract Aims: The study examined self-esteem, life satisfaction and hopelessness as predictors of meaning in life among people living with HIV/ AIDS. Methods: Two hundred patients; 126 females and 74 males, aged between 17 and 70 years were used for the study. Their mean age was 38.9 years with a standard deviation of 10.2 years. Results: The findings revealed that self-esteem, life satisfaction and hopelessness significantly predicted meaning in life and they are important constructs in ass...
ABSTRACT The overarching purpose of this study was to explore and describe how nurses communicate with patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) at public health facilities in the Khomas Region of Namibia, and to develop guidelines for communication that would enhance the communication skills of nurses. To address the purpose of the study, a research project was conducted, which was quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual in nature. The study was conducted in four phases, star...
ABSTRACT Determination of eligibility for disability pension is a challenging area in view of the complexities surrounding defining and measuring disability. Currently there is an absence of eligibility criteria for the disability pension in Namibia, and people with disabilities have described the process of getting the disability pension as extremely difficult. To improve the process of determining eligibility for disability pension knowledge of the current factors associated with approval ...