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 ...
ABSTRACT Nimesulide microspheres were prepared by the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method, using acetylated starches of the indigenous Ofada rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud) with degrees of substitution (DS) 1.42 and 2.62. A full 23 factorial experimental design was performed using DS (X1), drug:polymer ratio (X2) and polymer concentration (X3) as independent factors; size, entrapment, swelling and time taken for 80% drug release (t80) were the dependent variables. Contour plots were generat...
ABSTRACT Stress levels and affective states in children aged between 11-14 years are impacted by developmental tasks, peer interaction, peer acceptance and psychosocial adjustment. In addition to this, slower development of regulatory systems and rapid arousal and motivation development increases stress levels and affective states of adolescents leading to internalization and/or externalization (maladaptive anger). This study focuses on the experience of and the risk factors associated with ...
Abstract Background: The incidence of HIV infection and AIDS is rising in Nigeria. Surgeons are at risk of occupationally acquired infection as a result of intimate contact with the blood and body fluids of patients. This study set out to determine the knowledge, attitude and risk perception of Nigerian surgery residents to HIV infection and AIDS. Methods: A self-administered postal questionnaire was sent to all surgery trainees in Nigeria in 1997. Results: Parenteral exposure to patients' bl...
ABSTRACT Namibia, one of the countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, has embarked on a large scale public health sector roll-out of ART. The Catholic Health Services is implementing an HIV/AIDS treatment program in the Andara district since 2004. Even though there is strong evidence to show that antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves the survival and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), an increased trend of mortality in patients on ART in the Andara district was observed, but t...
ABSTRACT The Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia has embarked on a fight against the human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic. The human immunodeficiency virus counselling and testing (HCT) services comprises the core component of the prevention, treatment and care pertaining to HIV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the renovation of health facilities on the HCT service utilisation. The study used a quantitati...
ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that major depression impacts the course of HIV infection, yet few studies have explored demographic and clinical predictors of depression in people who with HIV/AIDS. This study investigated predictors of depression (e.g., demographic and clinical variables, negative life events, and coping response) among outpatients with recently diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa. One hundred forty-nine recently diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients (44 males and 105 f...