UNAM Gā-aisib Repository (University of Namibia)
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Teachers’ challenges and coping mechanisms in teaching learners who exhibit disruptive behaviour in selected primary schools in the Omaheke region
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education (Inclusive Education)The study explored specific actions of school learners in classes which teachers would refer to as disruptive behaviour. It also covered the teachers’ daily responses to such behaviour. A quantitative, descriptive survey design was employed to collect and analyse data to this effect.
School teachers in both private and government primary schools in the Omaheke educational region (Namibia) comprised the target population of the study. A total of two hundred and ninety (290) teachers from sixteen (16) schools, systematically selected by means of a random sampling technique, participated in the study. Data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire; furthermore, percentage frequency distribution was employed to analyse the greater part of the participants’ responses and compare information from the different participants. The study found
untimely talking and laughing, disrespect and hyperactivity in- and outside classes to be the most frequent form of disruptive behaviour that teachers at participating schools faced daily. Managing learners exhibiting disruptive behaviour in overcrowded classes, lack of curriculum support and limited specialised training were also found as some of the most serious challenges for teachers. The study generally recommends the provision of in-service training to teachers for capacity building in managing disruptive behaviour. Specifically, it recommends strategies that are effective in managing class disruptions. These include teachers giving clearly defined classrules to enable learners to know and understand the kind of behaviour that is expected from them. The use of positive reinforcers, like praising acceptable behaviour was found to be effective and thus highly recommended to teachers
Development of strategies to enhance health-seeking behaviour of parents and caregivers with children under-five years with acute diarrhoea in THE Ohangwena region, Namibia
No full textA dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public HealthThe study aimed to develop strategies for healthcare professionals and healthcare extension workers (HEWs) to enhance appropriate health-seeking behaviours of parents/caregivers of children under five with diarrhoea in the Ohangwena Region in Namibia. In Namibia, the prevalence of diarrhoea nationally is 17%, responsible for 5% of all deaths in children under five, and is the second leading cause of death. Mortality due to diarrhoea is preventable when appropriate and prompt healthcare is sought on time. However, in Namibia, few studies have been conducted to assess the magnitude and factors associated with health-seeking behaviour. The researcher conducted a study with a convergent parallel mixed-method design between January and March 2019 in Engela District, Ohangwena Region, Namibia. The study comprised four phases. Phase 1: During this phase, the researcher conducted concept analysis. For quantitative data, the researcher used the multistage cluster sampling method. The researchers purposively included only households with children under five, and a total of 530 houses were selected. Structured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data. The International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 25 was used to analyse quantitative data. For qualitative data, the researcher purposively selected three doctors, ten nurses, four priests and five traditional healers for key informant interviews. Additionally, the researcher conducted nine focus group discussions (FGD) with 57 HEWs and six FGD with 30 parents/caregivers, and all participants were purposively sampled. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, and Atlas ti was used to analyze qualitative data. The overall prevalence of diarrhoea among children under five was high—23.8%, with informal settlements having the highest prevalence of 48%. Equally, we found evidence showing that 77% of children suffering from diarrhoea had severe malnutrition. Some mothers or caregivers perceived diarrhoea as being associated with spiritual beliefs, traditional beliefs, and myths. Furthermore, most mothers/caregivers (64%) were categorized as having inadequate knowledge of the aetiology, prevention, and ii management of diarrhoea, 84% had poor practices, and 61% admitted to having practised perineal cutting as part of the management of acute diarrhoea. However, the existing guidelines do not reflect aspects aiming to improve parents’ and caregivers’ current practices and health-seeking behaviours. Phase 2: Involved conceptualizing the study's key findings on health-seeking behaviour and linking them to the Dickoff, James, and Wiedenbach’s (1968) practice-oriented theory for development of strategies. Phase 3: Was informed by the factors identified in Phases 1 & 2; Phase 3 outlines the procedures followed in developing the strategies. Furthermore, the strategies in the current study were developed using Howe’s Compass Aligned Performance System (c@ps), created in 2011. The strategies were constructed upon the conceptual framework by using the Delphi process. Phase 4: A team of experts verified the strategies after development. Furthermore, based on the study findings, recommendations were made
An assessment of the impact of procurement planning on project implementation at the Omusati regional council
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Management Strategy)The study assessed the impact of procurement planning on project
implementation at the Omusati Regional Council. The research looked at
need identification, procurement scheduling and risk management planning
as independent variables, as well as effective project implementation as the
dependent variable. Literature review has revealed a lack of consensus on
specific determinants of efficiency and effectiveness in project implementation. Furthermore, the relationship between procurement planning and project implementation may vary, depending on the context in which it is studied. The study adopted a causal-comparative research design and a quantitative approach. The target population of the study was 95 PMU members at the Omusati Regional Council. The study employed a complete enumeration survey method, as it was the most appropriate for a small population. Therefore, a questionnaire with structured questions on a five point Likert scale was administered to collect primary data from all 95 PMU members. However, only 85 copies of the questionnaire were recovered and considered for analysis. Quantitative data was analysed using Chi-square test, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis in SPSS 27.Correlation analysis found procurement need identification and procurement
scheduling to be very highly single; thus, they were combined for further
analysis to avert multicollinearity. Furthermore, results from regression
analysis revealed that risk management planning, as well as a combination of
need identification and procurement scheduling all enhanced effective project
implementation, hence a positive and significant relationship between
procurement planning and project implementation, resulting in the rejection
of all the null hypotheses. The study recommends that roles related to need
identification and procurement scheduling should be merged, to avoid
duplication of functions. Furthermore, it is suggested that future research
should investigate the effectiveness of the current procurement planning
practices, in ensuring project continuity amidst varying impacts of different
COVID-19 variants on project implementation. Likewise, new studies should
assess the effectiveness of centralised procurement planning functions, in
responding to community development needs. Finally, there is a need to
address the knowledge gap on how the emergence of procurement planning
as a strategic tool for enhancing service delivery affects individual
performances of procurement practitioners, in their drive to overcome a
myriad of procurement challenges and achieve key strategic goals of PEs
Measuring youth poverty in Namibia: An application of a multidimensional, multilevel modelling approach
No full textThesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Applied Statistics and Demography)Officially, poverty in Namibia is measured by means of monetary thresholds, using the World Bank’s Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) approach. Poverty cannot, however, be solely defined by the lack of monetary resources. Rather, it is a combination of a range of non monetary factors which act as constraints on individuals’ abilities to reach their capabilities. Adopting the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), an index that captures acute deprivations that a person faces simultaneously, this study assessed multidimensional poverty rates amongst the youth (15-34 years) in Namibia. It examined the incidence and intensity levels, as well as the determinants impelling the level of youth poverty at individual, household and regional levels.
The results from this study indicate that the prevalence of youth multidimensional poverty in Namibia stands at 31.4 percent. Across demographic groups, the results show that multidimensional poverty was high amongst females (32.2 percent), the younger youth aged 15-19 years (43.1 percent), those who resided in rural areas (42.8 percent), as well as those who lived in households that were headed by females (33.7 percent). The dis-aggregation of multidimensional poverty measures by regions indicates that the three regions with the highest rates were Kunene (56.1 percent), Kavango West (53.3 percent) and Kavango East (50.4 percent). The intensity levels further showed that the regions with the most deprived youth also had the most severe poverty. The study found significant determinants of the prevalence and intensity of youth multidimensional poverty not only at the individual level, but also at household and regional levels.
In addressing youth multidimensional poverty, the study recommends an integrated
approach that takes into account the hierarchical socio-economic effects on the livelihood of the youth, strengthening female’s integration into the labor market with equal access to social protection and equalizing rural and urban opportunities in the labor, health and education sectors
An assessment on the usage of internet services at Omaheke regional library
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts (Library and Information Science)Public libraries have become primary sources of free Internet services delivery, and this qualitative case study set to assess the usage of free Internet services provided at the Omaheke Regional Library (ORL). The study was guided by the following research questions: What is the main reason for using Internet services? How satisfied are users with the provision of free Internet services? What difficulties do users encounter when using the Internet? What is the impact of free Internet services to the users? What policies exist in the ORL regarding the usage of free Internet provision to its users? Kuhlthau’s (2008) Information Search Processes theory and Wilson’s (1999) Information Seeking Behaviour theory guided the study. The study applied a qualitative research approach, and the data were collected through Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observations were conducted with purposely selected staff members and Internet users. Interviews, observations and focus group discussions data were analysed by employing the content analysis technique. The findings of the study showed that the Internet users of the ORL used free Internet services for socialising, educational purposes and searching for jobs. The data further revealed that Internet users were not satisfied with the provision of Internet services due to the slow speed of the Internet and few computers in the library. The findings also demonstrated that the provision of free Internet services impacted the lives of Internet users through education and social activities. Moreover, the findings also revealed that the library did not have any Internet policy in place regarding the usage of free Internet services. The research recommends that the ORL should increase the Internet bandwidth and engage library stakeholders regarding decision making of Internet services for effective and efficient provision of free Internet services
Local farmers` perceptions of human-wildlife conflicts in the King Nehale conservacny Namibia
No full textOver the past three decades, wildlife management programmes on communal lands in Southern Africa experienced a major institutional transformation from direct state control to the community-based management approach. While this community-based conservation approach is credited for population recovery of some wildlife species and creating opportunities for local communities to derive benefits from wildlife conservation efforts, costs associated with human-wildlife conflicts negatively affect local farmers’ livelihoods, particularly those neighbouring protected areas. This study investigated local farmers’ perceptions of human-wildlife conflicts in the King Nehale Conservancy, a communal conservancy located north of Etosha National Park. The study employed a quantitative design through a structured questionnaire where a total of 115 randomly selected respondents were interviewed. The results based on the analysis of the chisquare test of association showed that wildlife threatens community livelihoods mainly through livestock depredation and crop-raiding, contributing to negative attitudes towards wildlife. These perceptions were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the respondents’ age groups and the number of years they have been living in the study area. Participants in the economically active age group and those that have been living in the conservancy for longer period, were more likely to agree with the perception that human-wildlife conflict is a serious issue in the conservancy compared to participants who said they have been living there for shorter period. These findings suggest that most local farmers perceive the presence of wildlife as being detrimental to their sources of livelihood. Consequently, these increasingly negative perceptions towards wildlife erode community-based conservation efforts
Investigating the determinants of access to health care services in Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Economics)The argument concerning the link between household/individual, community characteristics and health services utilisation in extant literature is relatively broad. Using data adopted from the Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey (NHIES) conducted between April 2015 and March 2016, this thesis investigated the determinants of access to health care services in Namibia. The probit and multinomial logit regression analysis were used to estimate the effect of household/individual and community characteristics on access to health care services and health care provider choice in Namibia. The study finds that household income, gender, medical insurance, household place of resident and education status increase the probability of accessing health care services. It further reveals that household income, medical insurance, gender and education status significantly influences health care provider choice probability. Therefore, the study confirms that individual/household and community socioeconomic factors do affect health care utilization and significantly explain the choice between private, public and traditional/others health services in Namibia. The findings suggest that there is greater need to uplift the living conditions of people in rural areas, make health care provision accessible to all households in Namibia. Consequently, the study serves as an opportunity for policy makers to pay more attention to improving citizens’ level of education, income and access to medical coverage which are some of the key determinants of access to health care services in Namibia
Assessment of microbiological properties, mycotoxins, and heavy metals in underprized raw Kalahari truffles sold in Namibia
No full textKalahari truffle (Kalaharituber pfeilii) is found in the Kalahari desert and nearby regions (Africa). This study assessed the microbiological quality and safety, mycotoxins, and heavy metals contents of raw Kalahari truffle sold in Namibia.
Methods: Batches of Kalahari truffles were purchased from informal markets and different vendors in Namibia. Total aerobic, coliform, yeast, and moulds counts, and Salmonella were assessed. Also, some mycotoxins and heavy metals were determined. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics Software, Version 25.
Results: Total aerobic count of unwashed truffles ranged from 4.4 to 7.3 log Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g. Total coliform counts detected in truffles were 6.0 log CFU/g. Salmonella was not detected. Doxynivalenol was the most prevalent mycotoxin. Fumonisin B1 levels ranged from 17.4 to 142.1 µg/kg. Ochratoxin A levels in unwashed truffles ranged from 0.1 to 48.5 µg/kg. Total aflatoxin levels were 26.3 to 27.5 µg/kg, while zearalenone levels ranged from 45.0 to 9,680 µg/kg. The iron content was up to 746.72 mg/kg. Cadmium and zinc were detected in the studied samples, but mercury and nickel were no detectable in any samples.
Conclusion: The studied truffle samples were safe in terms of Salmonella, mercury, and nickel. However, some of the detected microorganisms, mycotoxins, and heavy metals in underprized Kalahari truffles may impair the safety, shelf life, and human health. Thus, they should be subjected to appropriate processing before consumption.
© 2022, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Predictors of treatment success among patients with drug resistant Tuberculosis in Namibia
No full textA mini thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Pharmacy (Clinical Pharmacy)Drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a considerable barrier to ending TB globally. In Namibia, the burden of DR-TB, among new and previously treated TB patients is estimated at 3.3% and 18% respectively. The study aimed to determine predictors and patterns of treatment success rates (TSR) among patients with DR-TB in Namibia, to inform national TB program and guidelines. A nationwide case-control study of predictors of DR-TB TSR utilized patient data in the national TB register over 5 years period (201-2019). The data on treatment outcomes, patient socio-demographic, clinical and treatment, and TB programme covariates were analysed in SPSS v22. TSR patterns and crude predictors were determined using descriptive and univariate analysis respectively. Adjusted odd ratios (aOR) (adjusted for the confounders abuse of alcohol and time to treatment) were determined to identify independent predictors of TSR in DR-TB, using multivariate logistic regression. Of the 1494 analysed record 56.3% (n=841) were for males, the mean age was 35.6±14.2 years, and 8.3% had HIV coinfection. The overall TSR was 66.5% (n=994). Prevalent adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were ototoxicity/tinnitus (n=1.8%, 27), vomiting (0.6 %, n=9), 0.4% for joint pains and peripheral neuropathy, 3% for renal impairment, visual disturbance and skin rash. The independent socio-demographic predictors of treatment success were female sex (aOR=0.6, 95%CI:0.34, 0.89; p=0.015), young age <5 years (aOR=0.1, 95%CI:0.0007, 0.421; p=0.005) and 5-14years (aOR=0.0, 95%CI:0.002,0.269; p=0.002), and Namibian citizenship (aOR=0.3; 95%CI: 0.089,0.961; p=0.043). Clinical predictors were; baseline mono-resistance (aOR=7.6, 95%CI:1.427,40.631; p=0.018), and bilateral pulmonary forms (aOR=0.2, 95%CI:0.057,0.498; p=0.001). Whilst TSRs have improved, they remain below global targets and vary by type, regions and patient populations. There is need to individualize DR-TB treatment with targeted at males, older patients, expats, baseline resistance to more than one drug and bilateral pulmonary disease administer using a community-based Directly Observed Treatment (DOTS) approach
Antibiotics’ susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates causing lower respiratory tract infections in ICU patients at referral hospitals in Namibia
No full textThesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Clinical PharmacyIntroduction: LRTIs are a particularly important problem in Namibia, as they are
rated the second leading cause of death in the country and cause around 300 deaths in children under 5 years in 2016. To reduce the burden of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTIs) on health systems and ensure appropriate patient management, it is critical to know the most prevalent pathogens leading to LRTIs and the susceptibility patterns of those pathogens in the local setting. Aim: To formulate cumulative antibiograms for ICUs of referral hospitals in Namibia for the period studied.
Methods: This retrospective analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over two years: 2017 and 2018. The cumulative antibiograms were constructed according to CLSI guidelines and the chi-square test was used to compare the changes in susceptibility rates from 2017 to 2018. The data used to develop the cumulative antigrams was obtained from NIP.
Results: Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.8%, 8.1%) was a predominant pathogen in Windhoek Central hospital ICU in 2017 and 2018. In Oshakati intermediate hospital ICU, Enterobacter sp. (22.2%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (37.5%) were the common pathogens in 2017 and 2018. Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were > 90% susceptibility to colistin, carbapenems and tigecycline in 2017. In 2028, Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were highly susceptibility to amikacin, carbapenems and colistin, but moderately susceptible to tigecyclines. In 2017, Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were more susceptible to carbapenems
(imipenem 94% and meropenem 93.8%), amikacin 89.3% and tigecycline 88.7%. In
2018, Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were 100% susceptible to amikacin, colistin and carbapenems. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates were more than 80% susceptible to all the tested antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were 100% susceptible to linezolid, rifampicin, teicoplanin, vancomycin in 2017 and 2018, its susceptibility to these antibiotics did not change. Conclusion: The susceptibility patterns of the common isolated gram-negative pathogens were highly variable. Meropenem combined with gentamicin, is now the recommended empiric therapy for patients with LRTIs in Windhoek Central hospital ICU