Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Oshakati (Namibia)'

Breastfeeding id important for the health and well-being of infants. WHO recommends globally, exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and thereafter, adequate and safe complementary foods to be introduced and baby to be breastfed for up to 2 years of age or beyond. Exclusive breastfeeding in Namibia is very low, at 26%. The study was designed to assess the group perception and view to appropriate breastfeeding patterns, explore the cultural beliefs of men on breastfeeding, attitudes of men towards breastfeeding and roles and actions of men that support or hnder breastfeeding.

The research focused on the experiences of casualty doctors regarding their role in the management of gender-based violence victims at the Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Namibia. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was utilized and data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. These were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Tesch’s method of qualitative data analysis by the researcher in conjunction with an independent coder. The research findings revealed that the study participants experienced gender-based violence as a common and recurrent public health issue. Participants indicated that the majority of the victims presented with a wide range of physical injuries as well as significant emotional trauma. With further exploration, it emerged that participants identified alcohol abuse, low socioeconomic status and several relationship problems as prevalent factors associated with gender-based violence. They also recognized that the current programme managing gender-based violence provides a measure of safety for victims by making emergency services available. In addition, these services could be accessed free of charge and victims identified as ‘high-risk’ were offered sanctuary in the ward to prevent further harm. Study participants further observed that the presence of a multi-disciplinary team of care-givers also contribute positively to the management of gender-based violence victims. However, participants experienced several challenges that impair their role in the management of gender-based violence victims. Notable among these are high workload (arising from shortage of personnel and offering services to non-emergency cases in casualty), lack of collaboration among team members and a lack of proficiency in psychosocial intervention strategies. Based on the study findings, it is hereby recommended that clear guidelines for the management of gender-based violence victims should be established and a better collaboration among all cadres of professionals involved in this issue should be promoted. In addition, campaigns to sensitize the community about values that can help in the prevention of gender-based violence and dangers of alcohol abuse as well as strengthening the legislative framework vis-à-vis implementing punitive measures against culprits, should be vigorously pursued.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 1997, the Government of the Republic of Namibia launched the Policy and Programme for Small Business Development. The Ministry of Trade and Industry at the time was assigned the responsibility, together with several different stakeholders, to implement this policy. The launch of such a programme was a step taken to recognise the importance of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in local economic development (LED). The core of LED transformation and the implementation of any local authority is the creation of the private sector - a primary source of development – and support of the SME sector in particular. SMEs are considered one of the main driving forces in LED. The current study, which was conducted within Oshakati Town, attempted to study the role of SMEs in the LED sector and what challenges are hampering the SME sector to participate fully and to make a serious contribution towards LED implementation at the local authority level. The study considers to what extent the Namibian government and local government policies supports the SME sector development and contributes to LED and assessed issues regarding the sustainability of the measures engaged in by the government, and especially by the local government. Further, the researcher also attempted to determine how the SME sector in Namibia has responded to the LED implementation that regards SME development as the key to social and economic development through reducing poverty and increasing employment opportunities. The findings of the study indicates that, despite the nationally recognised importance of the SME sector in terms of LED, the sector still faces major challenges in regional and local government. The challenges of business entry (start-up capital), survival and growth are often substantial. The availability of financial resources and the lack of capacity to handle complex business management issues, as well as business premises also regarding the price of business land are all important in this regard. There is a continuous need to improve and maintain the required elements that bring about a good enterprises climate.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regering van die Republiek van Namibië het in 1997 die Beleid en Program vir Kleinsakeontwikkeling bekend gestel. Die destydse Ministerie van Handel en Nywerheid is saam met etlike verskillende belanghebbendes met die praktiese inwerkingstelling daarvan belas. Met dié beleidstuk het die regering oënskynlik ’n tree nader gekom aan die erkenning van die belang van die klein-en-middelslagonderneming- (KMO-)sektor in plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling (PEO). Die grondslag van PEO-transformasie en die suksesvolle funksionering van enige plaaslike owerheid is die koestering van die privaat sektor – synde ’n vername bron van ontwikkeling – sowel as steun vir die KMO-sektor in die besonder. KMO’s is bekend as een van die hoofdryfkragte agter PEO. Hierdie studie, wat in Oshakati onderneem is, ondersoek die rol van KMO’s in PEO, en die uitdagings waarvoor die KMO-sektor te staan kom om as volwaardige deelnemer aan die ekonomie ’n werklike bydrae tot PEO-inwerkingstelling op plaaslikeregeringsvlak te lewer. Die studie besin oor die mate waarin Namibiese staats- en plaaslikeregeringsbeleid die ontwikkeling van die KMO-sektor sowel as dié sektor se bydrae tot PEO ondersteun. Die volhoubaarheid van die maatreëls wat die regering, en veral plaaslike regering, ingestel het, word ook verken. Voorts probeer die navorser vasstel hoe die Namibiese KMO-sektor gereageer het op die ontwikkeling van dié tipe ondernemings as sleutel tot plaaslike maatskaplike en ekonomiese ontwikkeling deur armoedeverligting en werkskepping. Ondanks die nasionaal erkende belang van die KMO-sektor in die strewe na PEO, kom die sektor volgens hierdie studie klaarblyklik steeds voor groot uitdagings op streeks- sowel as plaaslike vlak te staan. Dikwels is saketoetrede (aanvangskapitaal), -oorlewing en -groei wesenlike hindernisse. Die beskikbaarheid van geldelike hulpbronne, die gebrek aan vermoë om ingewikkelde sakebestuurskwessies te hanteer en die verkryging van ’n sakeperseel, ook wat eiendomspryse betref, is alles tersaaklike kwessies in dié verband. Dus is daar ’n dringende én voortdurende behoefte aan die verbetering en instandhouding van die vereiste elemente vir ’n goeie sakeklimaat.

This study focused on perceptions and experiences of pregnant women who opted in against those who opted out of voluntary antenatal HIV counseling and testing. The pregnant women's perceptions and experiences were assessed in order to gain insight into their views towards voluntary antenatal counseling and testing.

Background: About 22.4 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 out of which women constitute approximately 57%. Namibia is one of the highly affected countries with a national HIV prevalence of 17.8% among women attending antenatal clinics. Antiretroviral medications have become available in Namibia since 2002 and presently all district hospitals and some health centres provide ARVs to those in need. Namibia is rated as one of the few countries in sub-Sahara Africa with a high coverage of ART, with 80% of those in need of ART receiving the treatment. An increasing trend has been observed whereby HIV+ women on ARV are becoming pregnant. Little is known about the attitude, knowledge and behavior of these women towards family planning and use of contraceptives and what barriers they may be facing in accessing these services.Aim: To determine the factors affecting the utilization of family planning services by HIV+ pregnant women receiving PMTCT services. Methodology: The study was a cross sectional study using both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the critical elements of knowledge, attitude and perceptions of the study participants towards family planning services. The study also assessed the health system and other factors that impact on the use of contraceptives by HIV+ women. It was conducted in northern Namibia at Oshakati Health centre among randomly selected pregnant HIV+ women attending for PMTCT services.Results: Among the 113 respondents, who participated in the study, 97.3% knew at least one method of family planning but only 53.6% actually used any method of contraception prior to current pregnancy. Among the 46.4% who did not use any contraception, the reasons often cited for non-use were because they wanted a baby (52%), spouse objection (10%), being afraid of the effects (14%) and other reasons such as belief, culture and distance to travel to the health facility. 88% of the respondents indicated a willingness to use contraceptives after current pregnancy and expressed general satisfaction with services at the health centre while asking for more information on family planning services.Conclusion: HIV+ women have high awareness on some contraceptives but use of contraceptives is not as high as many of them have a desire to have children for self esteem and leave a legacy for the future. Knowledge of the risks of pregnancy on HIV+ woman may be limited and there is a need to improve educational intervention in this regard as well as integrate family planning services into all HIV/AIDS services.

Namibia is severely affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with an estimated HIV prevalence of 17.8%. A comprehensive, public HIV/AIDS treatment and care programme was established in 2003 by the government of Namibia in association with its development partners. The introduction of antiretroviral therapy [ART] has dramatically decreased HIVrelated mortality and morbidity, improved quality of life, revitalized communities and transformed perceptions of HIV/AIDS from a plaque and death sentence to a manageable chronic condition. Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (IHO) in the Oshana region, is one of the six pilot hospitals where highly antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was initiated. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key factor in ensuring optimal clinical outcomes and is associated with improved survival among HIV and AIDS patients. Sustained high levels of adherence (taking 95% or more of medication as prescribed) are essential for treatment success. Suboptimal adherence to treatment has been associated with virologic, immunologic and clinical failure, and may increase the risk of resistance to first-line ART drugs. Studies conducted in various parts of the country including the Oshakati district, report small proportions of patients defaulting on ART. Defaulting from treatment raises questions about adherence to ART as it can be assumed that poor adherence would precede defaulting from treatment. This study explored factors that influence poor adherence to ART among patients at Intermediate Hospital Oshakati.

Magister Artium (Social Work) - MA(SW)
Child crime (juvenile delinquency) has become a norm in many societies and the world at large. Crime is prevalent in all age groups and is said to be on the increase among children under the age of eighteen. Juvenile delinquency also increases in Namibia. The study was informed by Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory as the factors contributing to the phenomenon are the social relationships and individual's environment. The research question asked by the researcher was: What are the psycho-social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency in Oshakati, Namibia? The research goal, based on the research question, was to achieve an in –depth understanding of the psycho-social factors contributing to juvenile delinquency in Oshakati, Namibia, from the perspectives of the multi-disciplinary team working with the involved youth in this area. The research objectives to attain the goal were: to explore the social factors and psychological factors contributing to juvenile delinquents and, to provide recommendations that could be included in treatment and prevention of the phenomenon. The study adopted an explanatory, descriptive, qualitative approach using the case study strategy of inquiry, where multiple data collection methods and sources were used. The population was the multi-disciplinary team working with the juvenile delinquents in Oshakati, Namibia and eight participants were purposefully selected, including teachers, police officers, social workers and youth workers. Data was gathered through in-depth interviews and document analysis was done in order to involve multiple sources of data. Six themes were identified, which the influence of the internal family environment with reference to lack of parental guidance; lack of parental control and supervision due to parents being absent; the external family environment and delinquency in relation to the social environment with special reference to the effects of bars and social clubs in informal settlements; lack of community support; the school factors; lack of recreational and educational facilities and poverty; adolescence and peer pressure/ peer acceptance and the influence of the media.

Women, who are HIV-positive, may transmit the virus to their babis during labour and through breast milk. HIV-positive mothers have to be counselled and encouraged to make informed decisions about the feeding of their babies to avoid this transmission. The feeding choices are exclusive breast-feeding , exclusive formula feeeding or modified feeding. this study focused on the perceptions, knowledge and experiences of breastfeeding women living with HIV/AIDS in the Oshakati district, Northern Namibia. A qualitative descriptive research design was used to conduct the study. The sresaerch was conducted at the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Clinic, in the intermediate Hospital, Oshakati. The Medical Superitendant of the Hospital gave the researcher permission to conduct the study at the PMTCT clinic. A purposive sample was used consisting of 14 breastfeeding women who are HIV-positive and aged between 15-49 years. the ages of their babies were between one day and six months. The data collected through individual face-face-interviews. The interviews were tape-recorded with the permission of the respondents. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and data were analysed by thematic content analysis. The Health Belief Model guided the description and interpretation of the data. Th study revealed that some women had inadequate knowledge about the transmission of HIV through breastfeeding. Their breastfeeding choices were influennced by their knowledge and perceptions while their experiences were shaped by their relationships with their partners and family.

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The researcher conducted an explorative, qualitative study to identify the perceptions and experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV and AIDS in order to establish strategies within ARV Clinic to deal with the situation and eliminate this as a barrier to access the services. The study population included 5 men and 5 women who access health services at Oshakati ARV Clinic and have been on ARVs for more than one year, aged 20-60 years old. The study participants were selected using a purposive sampling approach and interviewed in the ARV clinic. The study found that participants have experienced enacted and internal stigma and discrimination related to their HIV status within their community and families. They however did not perceive or report any experiences of stigma and discrimination in the ARV clinic. Possibility exists that the participants might not be well empowered to detect acts of stigma and discrimination in the health care environment.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorser het 'n verkennende, kwalitatiewe studie uitgevoer om die waarnemings en ervarings van stigma en diskriminasie tussen mense wat met MIV en VIGS leef, vas te stel met die doel om strategieë te bepaal binne die ARV kliniek om die situasie te hanteer en die hindernes om dienste te bekom te verwyder. Die studiepopulasie het bestaan uit 5 mans en 5 vroue wat die gesondheidsdienste van die Oshakati ARV kliniek gebruik en wat ARV’S vir meer as een jaar gebruik en tussen die ouderdomme van 20-60 jaar is. Die deelnemers is gekies met 'n doelgerigte steekproeftrekking-benadering en onderhoude is gevoer in die ARV-kliniek. Die studie het bevind dat die deelnemers interne stigma en diskriminasie wat verband hou met hul MIV-status binne hul gemeenskap en families ondervind het. Hulle het egter nie aangedui dat hulle stigma en diskriminasie ervaar het by die ARV-kliniek nie. Die moontlikheid bestaan dat die deelnemers nie goed bemagtig is om dade van stigma en diskriminasie in gesondheidsdienste te kan identifiseer nie.

As in many other places, socio-spatial production in modern Namibia has been a top-down practice approached in professionalised and standards-oriented ways, focused on outputs. 'Participation’ or involvement of 'beneficiaries’ has over time been added to the repertoire of such practices, but this remains driven by a one-dimensional definition of what’s 'better’. Even when the modernist and centrally-controlled practice of Apartheid is generally condemned, its ways with regards to spatial production remain largely unquestioned and, by consequence, preserved and expanded. At the same time, the urban transformation that Namibia has seen in recent decades has been astonishing. These changes expose the limits of previous approaches and at the same time lay bare new openings for socio-spatial production. There are various practices that have been part of this urban transformation, but they remain largely undocumented. Furthermore, even when they are approached, they tend to be assessed in terms of their outcomes; relegating the ways of the process as a matter of lesser importance. My research accounts for three practices of socio-spatial production in three urban areas in Namibia today. These spaces have been the result of a considerable number of iterations, and have been made possible through the contribution of a wide array of participants; many of them performing beyond their 'main’ role. I have documented these practices from their beginnings up to the point in which they are today. My research is structured as a case study. Within it, I have undertaken semi-structured qualitative interviews with participants, and also employed maps, official documents, and photographs to triangulate the accounts. I have then brought these together with debates on co-production and autogestion, exploring whether the practices can be understood in these terms. Other subsidiary debates fundamentally related to these two are those on state and civil-society divisions; the nature of grassroots associations ('social movements’); and on-going and long-standing debates on land and housing. My analysis suggests that, while the way in which the practices take place varies greatly, they can be considered the sites of various kinds of innovation. I have also found that the 4 ways of the grassroots, while having legitimacy and equality as strong values, show new options in terms of representation. I have found that co-production, as understood in the more recent literature, is a useful way to understand the practices, particularly if a variety of strategies is recognised. Autogestion is a useful term to keep in mind, and although such term has some overlaps with the recent concepts of autogestion, only some understandings of the term stemming from practice enable a reading of the cases I document. The division between civil society and the state today consists of a constellation of parties not necessarily fitting in these two categories. The practices stand also as the more recent evidence within a trajectory of production of space undertaken through a social process involving the grassroots in Namibia, one in which visibility and participation are no longer the only aims, but where negotiation and some degree of autonomy is sought. Lastly, land ownership (real or perceived) emerges as a powerful force in making the process collective and enabling socio-spatial development. Land rights are exercised throughout, often irrespective of the degree of de jure tenure at stake. Housing becomes a devise for savings and resource mobilisation, as well as an income-generating activity sometimes enabling further livelihoods. My study adds to on-going debates on co-production, and to some extent to those on autogestion. For the first, it expands on earlier observations that brought the term to the socio-spatial realm and provides new openings for the term to establish bridges to other debates. It also contributes to the archive of socio-spatial practices in Namibia, and to the pending project of a socio-spatial history of the country. It provides new insights for those engaged in socio-spatial production of what are the experiences and the openings for a new kind of practice that moves away from the assumptions that have placed us in the urban crisis that characterises our times.

La these conduit une reflexion sur l'emergence de collectivites urbaines dans quatre ville de deux anciens homelands du nord de la namibie qui etaient soumis au regime colonial sud-africain d'apartheid et depourvus d'instances urbaines locales jusqu'a la proclamation de l'independance en 1990. Apres avoir retrace le contexte politique d'emergence et de faconnement des villes, et mene une interrogation sur leur nature, l'auteur analyse la mise en place des nouvelles autorites locales dans le cadre de la decentralisation de 1992, leurs rapports de dependance et de subordination au pouvoir central et leur competition avec les autres pouvoirs locaux, anciens et nouveaux. Il souligne le caractere ambigu et contradictoire de cette decentralisation mise en uvre par un gouvernement reticent a partager le pouvoir gestionnaire. La gestion fonciere a ete retenue comme revelateur des recompositions territoriales. Elle met en lumiere les pratiques, strategies et logiques de controle et d'appropriation du sol des pouvoirs et des citadins. Elle revele l'evolution du rapport de l'homme au sol et des rapports sociaux face aux enjeux fonciers. Face aux opportunites de rente urbaine, les alliances et les antagonismes sont fluctuants et variables selon les quartiers et les villes et dessinent des territoires disputes dont les frontieres se chevauchent. Fortement differenciee, la population urbaine tend vers une fragmentation sociale et spatiale qui met au defi la capacite des pouvoirs a structurer et consolider des collectivites urbaines encore fragilisees par l'heritage de l'apartheid.

This study investigated factors influencing the quality of data for the Tuberculosis (TB) control programme in Oshakati District in Namibia. A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted using 50 nurses who were sampled from five departments in Oshakati State Hospital. Data was collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The results indicated that the majority (90%) of the respondents agreed that TB training improved correct recording and reporting. Sixty percent of the respondents agreed that TB trainings influenced the rate of incomplete records in the unit, while 26% of the respondents disagreed with this statement. This indicates that TB trainings influence the quality of data reported in the TB programme as it influences correct recording and completeness of data at operational level. Participants’ knowledge on TB control guidelines, in particular the use of TB records to, used to capture the core TB indicators influenced the quality of data in the programme. The attitudes and practises of respondents affected implementation of TB guidelines hence, influencing the quality of data in the programme. The findings related to the influence of the quality of data in the TB programme and its effect to decision-making demonstrated a positive relationship (p=0.0023) between the attitudes of study participant on the use of data collected for decision-making. Knowledge, attitudes and practice are the main factors influencing the quality of data in the TB control programme in Oshakati District.
Health Studies
M.A. (Public Health)

The study investigated the influence of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning Approach (POGIL) on Science Foundation students’ achievements in stoichiometry versus traditional lecture centered pedagogy. Two intact science foundation class groups at the University of Namibia were used as a case study. A quasi-experimental non-randomized pre and posttests control group design was used to investigate the achievement in stoichiometry. Data on student achievements were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The ANCOVA results showed that there was a significant statistical difference in achievements when comparing the adjusted mean score (54.5%) obtained by the control group and the adjusted mean score (60.5%) obtained by students in the POGIL group; (F (1,75) = 17.990, p < 0.05). The POGIL group also showed the highest average improvement (65%) on questions related to reaction stoichiometry and limiting reagents, whereas the control group recorded improvements of about 53% in the same section. The results from the analysis of student’s test solutions revealed that the POGIL group students were able to give concrete reasons for their answers that they had obtained through numerical calculations or multiple choices and demonstrated enhanced understanding of linking various stoichiometry concepts.
Science and Technology Education
M. Sc. (Chemistry Education)

The aim of this study was to assess the extent on how effective was the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection at Oshakati District Health Centre. Explanatory survey was used to conduct the research. A total of 160 nurses experienced in prevention of mother-to-child transmission and women who attended antenatal care and post natal care services participated in the study. Respondents expressed unsatisfactory with the promoting involvement of male partners, high quality voluntary counselling and testing services, couple counselling and testing, integration of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy services, administration of short course of Zidovudine to pregnant mothers and the provision of antiretroviral drugs to infants. Therefore, promoting involvement of male partners, couple counselling and testing, administration of short course of Zidovudine to pregnant mothers and educating women about exclusive breastfeeding prior to delivery are some of recommendations for effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infections.
Health Studies
M.A. (Public Health)

The aim of this study was to assess the extent on how effective was the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection at Oshakati District Health Centre. Explanatory survey was used to conduct the research. A total of 160 nurses experienced in prevention of mother-to-child transmission and women who attended antenatal care and post natal care services participated in the study. Respondents expressed unsatisfactory with the promoting involvement of male partners, high quality voluntary counselling and testing services, couple counselling and testing, integration of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy services, administration of short course of Zidovudine to pregnant mothers and the provision of antiretroviral drugs to infants. Therefore, promoting involvement of male partners, couple counselling and testing, administration of short course of Zidovudine to pregnant mothers and educating women about exclusive breastfeeding prior to delivery are some of recommendations for effective prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infections.
Health Studies
(M.A. (Public Health))