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Teachers’ experiences and roles of the revised biology curriculum: A case of selected secondary schools in Ompundja circuit, Oshana region, Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of master of education (inclusive education)The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences and roles of Namibian
teachers on the implementation of the Biology revised curriculum in the Ompundja circuit,
Oshana Region. The study employed a qualitative – case study design where fifteen (15)
Biology teachers from Ompundja circuit, in the Oshana Region were selected from the
five (5) Secondary schools by means of the purposive sampling strategy and a semi structured face-face interviews to collect the data that was analysed thematically. The
study established that teachers experience inadequate resources, medium of instruction
for Biology a challenge, inadequate time for content coverage as well as overcrowded
classes. It was also unveiled that Biology Secondary school teachers are the major pillars
of curriculum implementation. They are motivators of learners, learners’ assessors,
planners for the subject content, and developers of activities and teaching materials,
creators of a positive learning environment as well as engagers of learners in extra-mural
activities. In essence, they are agents of change and curriculum implementers. Against the
above findings, it was recommended that, in order to motivate learners and raise their
interest in Biology, schools should take part in awarding of the best teachers and learners
to inspire them to learn Biology. Parents should be involved in an education system as
educational stakeholders and implements policies that uplift the education system.
Specifically, it recommends the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture to revisit the
criteria that were used to allocate teaching resources to schools so that the neediest schools
are prioritized and the amount of funds to be in and in line with their needs in line with
the teaching and implementation of the revised Biology curriculum among other
The essence of annual statistics on road infrastructure development and maintenance of local authorities in Namibia: A case study of the Ongwediva Town Council
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of public administrationThe study was based on the influence of annual statistics on road infrastructure
development and maintenance of the Ongwediva local authority in Namibia. The study
was unique in its nature as it primarily focused on questioning why there were no
national annual statistics on road infrastructure development and maintenance in
relation to the road infrastructure under the jurisdiction and management of local
authorities in Namibia. The study, used mixed research methods in which
questionnaires and interview guides were the research instruments used for data
collection. The targetted sample size for the study was 30 respondents, and snowball
and judgmental sampling techniques were used in the process of selecting research
participants. The quantitative data was presented and analysed with the use of charts
and frequency tables while the qualitative responses were presented verbatim. The
study found that 86% of the research participants were not satisfied with the road
infrastructure development and maintenance of Ongwediva. It further found that 100%
of the research participants concluded that collecting annual statistics is a positive
initiative. However, the study also found that collecting annual statistics is costly. The
study recommends that statistics are critical and very useful to assess and inform
policies and projects. Hence, proper planning for developing and maintaining road
infrastructure is vital. The study recommends that local authorities should adopt a
strategic plan to address the disparity in road infrastructure development and
maintenance between each local authority's central business district and its less used
roadways. The study further recommends that it is essential to conduct yearly reviews
of the Local Authority Act to ensure it remains aligned with the evolving demands of
the global villag
An interactive near real-time early warning agricultural system for northern farmers in Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Information TechnologyPreparedness is a vital aspect of disaster mitigation, management, and recovery,
especially in agriculture. However, it is quite challenging to prepare for unforeseeable
disasters without adequate information on the nature of the disasters, their probable
start, and their cessation. In the absence of sufficient disaster predictions and early
notices, a community’s readiness is at its lowest. This makes that community
extremely vulnerable to the losses associated with the disasters. Meanwhile,
agriculture is one of the sectors that has been exposed to different inevitable climatic
threats over the years in Namibia. Inconsistencies in broadcasting weather information
and early disaster warnings are some of the factors that hinder farmers’ preparedness
and mitigation of climatic disasters. Therefore, this study intended to explore the
development and use of an early warning agricultural system to contribute to resilience
and preparedness for hazards and threats by generating comprehensive and timely
warnings for farmers in northern Namibia. The study started with a review of existing
early warning agricultural systems in the northern regions of Namibia. Subsequently,
a mixed research method was employed to conduct a survey in Outapi and
Anamulenge constituencies to get 15 commercial and 73 communal farmers’ past
experiences with disasters, information sharing, their expectations, and readiness to
adopt the system in mitigating the impact of disasters. Lastly, area-specific historic
and near real-time data streams from Namibia Meteorological Service were obtained,
and a near real-time interactive early warning agricultural system was ultimately
developed using the prototype software development methodology. The study
revealed that the use of early warning agricultural systems among Namibian farmers
in mitigating agricultural losses is open for exploration, with a high possibility of
feasibility to a portion of farmers that has technical resources and skills to adopt the
system. However, it may come with limitations to the other portion of farmers with
limited access to resources and skill
An evaluation of Namibia’s anti-corruption laws and their effectiveness: A contemporary legal perspective
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of lawsThis study evaluated Namibia's institutional, legal, and
policy frameworks as to how well they function together to
fight corruption. There is no question that corruption has an
impact on economic development in terms of economic
efficiency and growth and hinders the equitable distribution
of resources across the population, leading to an increase in
income disparities and undermining the efficacy of social
welfare programmes, which in turn prevents economic
growth, prosperity, and the eradication of poverty. It is
necessary to have strong institutional, legal, and policy
frameworks to effectively tackle corruption. Namibia has
created national anti-corruption structures. In terms of the
Anti-Corruption Act, Act No. 8 of 2003, the Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC), an independent agency, was established
with the mandate to combat and prevent corruption in
Namibia, amongst others. The legal regime on corruption in
Namibia is contained in other Acts of parliament, the
Prevention of Organized Crime Act, Act No.10 of 2004, and
the Financial Intelligence Act, Act No.13 of 2012. However,
the effectiveness of Namibia’s legislative and institutional
framework in fighting corruption is still up for debate. The
Anti-Corruption Act is the primary legislation, giving a wide
and all-encompassing definition of corruption. Namibia has
several institutions geared at preventing corruption or
guaranteeing adherence to various legal frameworks in
addition to the legal frameworks themselves. These
institutions' contributions to the fight against corruption will
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be examined in this study. This study examined numerous
innate weaknesses and gaps that may prevent Namibia from
effectively tackling corruption in its final analysis. The study
concludes that Namibia needs the right institutional, legal,
and policy frameworks in place before it can effectively
combat corruption. To combat corruption in Namibia, this
study recommended that new policies be developed, existing
policies be reviewed, and existing institutional and legal
frameworks be strengthene
Anti-hyperglycemic, Anti-oxidant, and Cytotoxicity activity of selected Ethno medicinal plants from the Hardap region of Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in BiologyDiabetes mellitus is a multifactorial non-communicable metabolic disorder,
characterized by the perpetual manifestation of hyperglycemia as a consequence of the
disturbed metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, due to defects in insulin
secretion and/or its effectiveness. Currently prescribed medication such as the
derivatives of Biguanides, have excellent therapeutic benefits but cause impaired liver
and kidney due to lactic acidosis. Based on the historic success of medicinal plants as
remedies for many ailments and the increasing need for alternative medication for
diabetes, plants from the Hardap region, in Namibia, were evaluated as potential
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for diabetes. In Namibia, medicinal
plants are used as primary health care to manage diabetes, especially by those in
resource-poor settings. However, there is a paucity of data supporting the use of these
plants for this purpose. Scientific data must be generated to support the use of
Namibian plants as complementary and alternative medicines for managing diabetes.
To this end, a survey on the use of medicinal plants for the management of diabetes in
the Hardap region of Southern Namibia was conducted. The survey revealed eleven
plants belonging to nine different families, that is Asphodelaceae, Malvaceae,
Pedaliaceae, Apocynaceae, Lamiaceae, Geraniaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Tiliaceae, and
Fabaceae as authenticated by the National Herbarium. However, of the eleven plants,
only five were available for collection for laboratory analysis, namely Corchorus
tridens, Sarcocaulon salmoniflorum, Zygophylum decumbens, Hermannia fruticulosa,
and Hoodia gordonii.
The plant materials were air-dried at room temperature before being ground to a
powder for extraction using ethanol, methanol, and water. The plant extracts were
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subjected to Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) screening, followed by quantification
of total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC). The biological
properties of the extracts; antioxidant activity involving DPPH and reducing power;
antihyperglycemic activity using α amylase and α glucosidase assay; and in vitro
cytotoxicity assay using MTT assay, were evaluated.
The study demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins,
steroids, tannins, and terpenoids in plants. Quantification of phytochemicals showed
high TPC content in C. tridens, methanol extracts (23.58 ±0.41) mgQE/g, and ethanol
extracts (22.79 ±0.16). High TFC was observed in ethanol extracts of C.tridens
(96.90±7.04) mgGAE/g, followed by Z. decumbens (49.98±2.97) mg GAE/g then S.
salmoniflorum (44.55±0.44) mg GAE/ g. Data showed a statistically significant
difference between TFC and TPC (p < 0.05).
Plants showed free radical scavenging potential, with C. tridens ethanol extracts
exhibiting the highest scavenging activity with IC50 0.0312±21.05 mg/ml followed by
methanol extracts of H. fruticulosa with IC50 of 0.0339±24.64 mg/ml when compared
with the positive control (ascorbic acid) with IC50 of 0.0279±17.09 mg/ml. The
different solvents used for plant extraction significantly influenced the free radical
scavenging potential of plants (p < 0.05) while no significant difference was
demonstrated across the different concentrations (p >0.05). The reducing power of
extracts showed no significant concentration dependence (p > 0.05). High reducing
activity was recorded in methanol extracts of S. salmoniflorum 1.84 ± 0.025726834
and C. tridens 1.5± 0.014854405 when compared with the ascorbic acid of 3.16 ± 0.
026394.
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Antihyperglycemic potency of plant extracts was evident with the inhibition of α-
amylase recorded for aqueous extracts of Z. decumbens and H. gordonii, 96.3% and
93.9 % respectively when compared with the positive control (acarbose) inhibition
capacity of 64.2 % at 1 mg/ml. The inhibition of α-amylase is not significantly
influenced by the concentration (p > 0.05), though showed significant reliance on the
solvent used for extraction (p < 0.05). Aqueous extracts of H. gordonii revealed
potency with the lowest IC 50 of 0.1667 mg/ ml. A qualitative α-glucosidase inhibition
potential was demonstrated by all the tested plant extracts, through the ability to
prevent the degradation of starch in the presence of α-glucosidase and starch that was
evident by the stain that was produced on the agar. The cell line of 3T3 proliferated 90
% and above in the presence of the studied plant extracts. The Kruskal- Wallis test
revealed that the growth of 3T3 cell lines wassignificantly influenced by the difference
in extract concentrations (p < 0.05). Moreover, these cells proliferate differently in the
presence of the different studied plants (p < 0.05). The safety data of cytotoxicity
indicate less toxicity to none except for C. tridens with IC 50 0.2014±5.491 μg / μl.
The demonstrated anti-hyperglycemic activity of the studied plants, especially
aqueous extracts of Z.decumbens and H. gordonii can be attributed to the presence of
the tested phytochemicals and may infer that they have potential anti-hyperglycemic
agents as well as validate their use in the traditional setting. Further in vivo and detailed
phytochemical analysis is recommended to identify active components of the plants
and their mechanism of action
Evolution of the start-up ecosystem traditional to tech-driven industries
No full textThis chapter seeks to provide insights into the factors propelling the transition from traditional in dustries to a landscape dominated by innovative, technology-driven start-ups (Patuzzi, 2019). It goes
beyond mere chronology, exploring challenges, disruptions, and collaborative endeavours that defined
each phase of this evolutionary process (Dhakal, 2020). The objective is not just to recount historical
events but to distil the essence of entrepreneurship’s evolution, drawing connections between the past
and the present (Dhakal, 2020).
Furthermore, the chapter aspires to offer a roadmap for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business
enthusiasts by shedding light on pivotal moments and paradigm shifts shaping the entrepreneurial land scape. Through a nuanced understanding of the past, the goal is to inform strategic decision-making,
inspire future innovation, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on the role of entrepreneurship in
shaping societiesIn recent years, the start-up ecosystem has shifted from traditional industries to a tech-driven one. This
change is driven by technological advancements, evolving consumer behavior, and a thirst for innovation.
Tech startups leverage digital tools, AI, and the internet to disrupt traditional sectors. They benefit from
easier market entry, quicker prototyping, and global reach. Increased venture capital, angel investors,
and crowdfunding support their growth. Collaboration in tech hubs like Silicon Valley fosters knowledge
sharing and innovation. Established companies are partnering with tech startups to integrate innovation.
This transformation democratizes entrepreneurship, enhances funding, and promotes innovation, with
more changes expected in the futur
Clinical epidemiology of atrioventricular septal defects among children at Windhoek Central Hospital, 2015-2020
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of masters of science in applied field epidemiology/ laboratory managementCongenital Heart Disease (CHD) accounts for nearly one-third of all birth defects
globally. It is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among children in low
resource settings. Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) accounts for 7.4% of the
cardiac malformations. Since establishment of the only paediatric cardiac service in
Namibia in 2009, number of children diagnosed with CHD has been on an increase.
This study aims to assess the clinical epidemiological burden of AVSDs among
children in Namibia.
A retrospective cohort study (2015-2020) was conducted using a data collection tool
to extract register data of children aged between 0 and 12 years with AVSD at the
Windhoek Central Hospital pediatric cardiology department. Patient’s diagnostic
criteria included clinical and echocardiographic assessment and when relevant, other
cardiac imaging. Bivariate analysis will be used to explore the factors associated with
AVSD at the confidence level of 95%. Multiple logistic regression models retained
significant risk factors at p-value less than 0.05 to determine significant associations.
A total of 91 patients with AVSD were captured in the study. Incidence of AVSD was
0.22 per 1000 children. The male:female ratio was 1:1.3. Trisomy 21 was the most
common genetic syndrome found to be associated with AVSD, accounting for 51.6%
of all AVSD cases. Only an eighth of the cases received corrective cardiac surgery.
Of all the cases, 15.4% AVSD cases were diagnosed with already established
irreversible pulmonary hypertension and among these 4.4% demised. There was a
significant association between AVSD and prematurity with p-value of 0.029.
In conclusion, the study found a significant association between with AVSD and
prematurity. Late referral of patients to cardiology clinics has led to late diagnosis and
hindered them from receiving appropriate treatment. The study calls for an intensified
public health approach to spread the awareness and advocacy of CHD in Namibi
Exploring the relationship between self-esteem, resilience and problem-solving skills of third year students at the University of Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts in clinical psychologyLiterature highlights the necessity of self-esteem, resilience and problem-solving skills
across different stages and domains of life. The aim of this study was to determine the
levels of self-esteem, resilience and problem-solving skills of third year students at the
Windhoek-based campuses of UNAM, as well as to explore the relationships between
self-esteem, resilience and problem-solving skills. Moreover, it intended to determine
possible differences between male and female students with regards to levels of self esteem, resilience and problem-solving skills. Finally, this study aimed to determine
whether self-esteem or resilience had a larger impact on the level of problem-solving
skills. This cross-sectional study used a quantitative research paradigm, with an
inductive approach and a non-experimental, correlational research design. The
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD RISC), and the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI), in addition to a socio-demographic
questionnaire, was employed to collect data from 326 participants through a
probability sampling technique, simple random sampling. Data from the
questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSPS)
(Version 28.0) with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics used to explore the
data on these constructs. Findings from this study revealed moderate overall levels of
self-esteem, resilience and problem-solving skills with third year students at the
University of Namibia. The study found significant, positive interactions between each
of the three variables. In addition, there were no significant differences in scores of
the three constructs for males and females. The study found that resilience had a larger
impact (than self-esteem) on the level of problem-solving skills. Finally, it was
established that resilience mediates the relationship between self-esteem and problem solving skills. Along with further local research and development of positive
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psychology, initiatives to cultivate inner resources, such as workshops and mentorship
programs may prove helpful in the Namibian context so as to help citizens overcome
difficultie
Perceptions of adolescent girls and young women regarding HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis usage at public health facilities in Katima Mulilo, Zambezi region, Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master’s in Nursing ScienceZambezi population and most especially adolescent girls, and young women are at high risk of
HIV infection. This is evidenced by the prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 64 in
Zambezi region at 22.3 %. Among this percentage, the number of new infections among
adolescent girls and young women was at 2,323 in 2016 to 2017. The Ministry of Health and
Social services has the HIV preventative guidelines in place which provides free HIV Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PREP) to the high-risk population as a preventative measure. The data
shows only 147 people initiated on PREP in Zambezi health facility between August 2017 and
July 2018. The number of new infections outweigh the PrEP initiations per year. Therefore,
the study titled “perceptions of adolescent girls and young women regarding HIV pre-exposure
prophylaxis usage at public health facilities in Katima Mulilo, Zambezi region, Namibia” was
conducted. This qualitative exploratory descriptive design study utilised the socioecological
model to explore and describe the perceptions of adolescent girls and young women aged 18-
24years regarding HIV PrEP usage at public health facilities in Katima Mulilo, Zambezi region.
The study was conducted at three health facilities that are offering HIV PrEP. Twelve (12)
face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescent girls and young
women aged 18-24 years who visited the health facility for an HIV test or presented with signs
and symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection and tested HIV negative during data
collection process. Purposive sampling technique was used on participants who met the
inclusion criteria. Participants were employed until data saturation. Four (4) themes and several
subthemes emerged from the data collected and formed part of the findings of this study. The
identified themes were; participants perceived factors that influence the usage of HIV pre exposure prophylaxis, providers and health facilities factors that influence the usage of HIV
pre-exposure prophylaxis among adolescent girls and young women.
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Furthermore, participants also perceived health policy factors that influence the usage of HIV
pre-exposure prophylaxis among adolescent girls and young women. Participants
recommended solutions to facilitate the provision of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among
adolescent girls and young women. The study concluded that adolescent girls and young
women decision on using HIV PrEP from health facilities in Katima Mulilo is influenced by
social factors based on individual, interpersonal and society. Furthermore, the results also
indicated that there is poor awareness and education on HIV PrEP usage as well as poor HIV
PrEP services at health facilities. Therefore, the study recommends the establishment of
functional and well supervised adolescent friendly corners to increase HIV PrEP usage among
adolescents’ girls and young women. In addition, the study suggests reviewing the HIV PREP
policies to strengthen and decentralize the HIV PrEP awareness campaigns. Finally, further
methodologically sound research is needed to investigate the experiences and influences of
HIV PrEP usage among adolescent girls and young wome
Statistical modelling of the association between dietary diversity, dietary patterns and non-communicable diseases in Namibia
No full textA Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor in Science in Applied statisticsGlobalization coupled with urbanization has placed a significant pressure on the food systems of
many developing countries. This has led to lifestyle changes that have become one of the most
important influences on dietary patterns. The nutritional transition has affected the dietary pattern
and nutrient intake greatly and has led to a rise in the purchases and consumption of processed and
convenience foods. Analysis in nutritional epidemiology typically examined diseases in relation
to a single or a few nutrients or foods. However, people do not eat isolated nutrients. Instead, they
eat meals consisting of a variety of foods with complex combinations of nutrients. The high degree
of inter-correlation among nutrients as well as among foods makes it difficult to attribute effects
to single dietary components. Dietary patterns can influence health and the risk of developing
chronic conditions. Therefore, to gain full understanding of the relationship between diet and the
development of non-communicable diseases (NCD), it is desirable to use several methodological
approaches.
The main objective of this study was to explore the linkages between dietary patterns, dietary
diversity and prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Specifically, the study aimed at: (i)
applying count models on dietary diversity in Namibia, (ii) using bivariate count modelling
approach in analyzing convenience and non-convenience consumption food preference in
Windhoek, (iii) applying copula joint modelling of food insecurity indicators with application to
food insecurity prevalence (FIP), household dietary diversity score (HDDS) and months of
inadequate household food provisioning (MIHFP), (iv) fitting multiple indicators-multiple-cause
modelling to examine the relationship between foods consumed and non-communicable diseases.
The analysis used two representative survey data, namely the AFSUN-HCP Household Food
Security Baseline Survey (2016) and Namibian Household and Income Expenditure (NHIES) of
2015/2016.
The study focused on dietary diversity by using different count models. The household dietary
diversity score presented a mean score of 6.5, suggesting a moderate diverse diet, with less
consumption of food made from beans/lentils; eggs; fruits/vegetables and more consumption of
starch food. Determinants for household dietary diversity included educational level, sex of head
of household and main source of income (p-value <0.005). The study further used bivariate
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modelling approaches to analyze the food consumption patterns. The results found that, whereas
the consumption of food monthly was more on the non-convenience foods, the purchases of
convenience was frequent on a weekly basis and in multiple food sources. Moreover, the study
employed copula joint modelling of food security indicators. The findings show that AIC of the
untruncated (conditional/marginal) Poisson regression model was lower and thus proved to fit the
data better. The Frank Copula and Bivariate Normal Copula best fitted the data of establishing the
relationship between HFIP and HDDS, and between HFIP and MIHFP respectively. Lastly, we
analyzed multiple indicators-multiple causes examining the relationship between foods consumed
and non-communicable disease. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Structural Equation
Models (SEM) were used as data reduction methods to derive dietary patterns. Fruits, foods such
as condiments/tea/coffee and potatoes, yams, cassava, or any foods made from roots and tubers
accounted for majority of the variation.
The study concluded that the usage of appropriate methods for specific data types is very critical.
Generalized Poisson Regression models through the usage copula approaches are best to analyze
jointly two outcomes in order to test for significant relationships between high-level hierarchical
effects (e.g., random effects). Specifically, the bivariate normal and the Frank Copula were found
to fit the data best. The unique nature of the bivariate normal model is that it does not allow for a
different dependence structure between the outcomes while the frank copula does not have tail
dependence and it can model both positive and negative dependencies as the normal copula. SEM
and PCA’s were used as data reduction methods. Lastly, the study concludes that food and nutrition
insecurity is a major threat to the development of the country and the study recommends for
strengthened advocacy for consumption of healthy and diverse diets in the country in order to slow
down and arrest proliferation of non-communicable disease