ABSTRACT Violence amongst women has become a concern worldwide, including in Namibia. These violent and aggressive behaviours stem from various challenges experienced by women, overall. If such behaviours persist, the role of women as caregivers will be compromised as incarceration would be inevitable and their absence may have adverse consequences on the overall functioning of their families. Understanding these factors can assist in the application of gender-sensitive approaches, tailored s...
ABSTRACT Domestic violence is a sensitive issue and challenging to discuss. In Namibia, domestic violence is a social issue of major concern, as the country is entrenched in a culture of male domination. At least one out of three women worldwide has reported physical, sexual, and emotional abuse by an intimate partner in her lifetime. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible contributing factors of physical violence to women in Tsumeb, Namibia. The study further examined the prev...
ABSTRACT Suicide has become a major public concern in Namibia, particularly in Ohangwena region. This study investigated the causes of suicide in the Ohangwena region by exploring the causes of attempted suicide in the region. A qualitative approach was utilized. Data were gathered through semi-structured self-developed interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis. The sample of twenty (20) participants who were all suicide attempters, were purposively selected from the three distr...
ABSTRACT The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) established the first National Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center, called Etegameno Rehabilitation and Resource Center (ERRC), in 2004. It serves to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to alcohol and drug dependent individuals and families during a period of five and a half weeks. Clients who completed treatment at the Centre are invited into an aftercare programme which entails support and follows up counselling. It h...
ABSTRACT In Namibia’s Omusati Region, it is a taboo to talk about family issues. For many families, issues such as those of violence against children are kept within the family. However, when children are abused or neglected, social workers from the MGECW in some cases remove them and place them in alternative care with an aim of protecting them and focusing on ‘the best interest of the child’. To increase understanding of this major social issue, a phenomenological study was conducted...
Abstract This study explored the effects of traumatic events on the psychosocial functioning of police officers at Wanaheda Police Station in Windhoek, Namibia. An understanding of the effects of traumatic events on the psychosocial functioning of police officers will enable mental health workers in the Gender and Welfare Directorate of the Namibian Police Force and other helping professionals, to understand the police officer’s world view better and tailor interventions to their particula...
ABSTRACT De-institutionalization brought with it a shift in the care taking of psychiatric patients from institutional care to community care. As a result, people with mental illnesses have to rely on families for support and care. Existing literature in the field of psychiatry tend to over concentrate on the well-being of the mentally ill, while the experiences of caregivers are understudied. This exploratory study was designed to investigate family and caregivers support to psychiatric pat...
ABSTRACT The main purpose of the study was to collect baseline data on psycho-social factors affecting utilization of VCT services amongst the 15 to 49 year old people in Windhoek. A cross sectional exploratory study design was utilized and the study generated baseline data using quantitative methods. Data were collected from 200 respondents using a standard structured questionnaire that was administered face to face by the researcher and two assistants. The sample design for the household s...
ABSTRACT This study focused on the effects of shebeens in the society, particularly within the Greenwell Matongo residential area. Its overall aim was to explore the community members’ perceptions towards the effects of shebeens, thus it investigated their views and experiences around the signing of shebeen consent letters, and the shebeen monitoring system. A qualitative research approach was employed, and, a phenomenological design was used. Data were collected through a semi-structured ...
ABSTRACT The aged population is fast increasing and the growth rate is relatively high in developing countries. Majority of elderly persons are cared for by family caregivers, hence knowledge on elderly abuse, as they are cared for by family caregivers is significant, since abuse is a pervasive public health issue and may significantly add to the health, social and financial strains of elderly persons. Knowledge on elderly abuse will help individuals to better care for elderly persons and als...
ABSTRACT Despite an increase in the number of individuals affected by mental illness, mental health facilities in Ghana are few and ill resourced, leading to stress on the few facilitates available. Alternatively, community-based care is being proposed by Ghana‟s Mental Health sector to reduce stress on mental health facilities. Societal attitudes and perceptions towards mental illness and mental health, however, affect the effectiveness of community -based care. The main goal of this study...
ABSTRACT Elderly persons aged sixty years and above frequently find themselves in a situation that makes some of them less active within the society. Traditionally, because African societies emphasised communal living and reciprocity among family members, the provision of elderly care has been an ageless phenomenon. However, disintegration of the family support system and the inability of the public and the private sectors to adequately address the diverse social problems of the elderly, have...
ABSTRACT This study explored the experiences of released juvenile offenders in Accra and was underpinned by Lazarus and Folkman‘s Transactional Model of Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. The study sought to find out (1) what challenges do release juvenile offenders in Accra encounter. (2) the factors that contribute to challenges faced by released juvenile offenders in Accra and (3) the coping strategies employed by released juvenile offenders in Accra to deal with challenges they experience....
ABSTRACT Given the rising number of deportees in Africa and Ghana in particular, this study explored the challenges and coping strategies among deportees in the Nkoranza Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The objectives of the study were to (a) find out why deportees in Nkoranza returned to Ghana (b) investigate the challenges faced by deportees (c) identify the coping strategies adopted by deportees and (d) ascertain the support services that are available for deportees. Using...
With the promulgation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989, children are now recognised as active actors and subjects of human rights. The UNCRC mandates all Signatory States to educate their citizenry, including children about children's rights. Ghana is on record for being the first country to ratify the UNCRC and has since harmonised its national laws with the UNCRC. Yet, little is known about the extent to which children in Ghana know about thei...