UNAM Gā-aisib Repository (University of Namibia)
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Farm workers' resistance to exploration: A case study of the workers at Aussenkehr Karas region, Namibia
No full textA research thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Sociology)The central concern of this study was the exploitation of farm workers and the different strategies of resistance to such exploitation. The study used the conceptual framework of resistance ‘weapons of the weak’ by Scott. According to this theory, the weapons of the weak are manifested through everyday resistance to exploitation. The study was conducted at Aussenkehr farm situated along the banks of the Orange River, which forms the boundaries between Namibia and South Africa. The study was qualitative. The researcher used a semi-structured interview
guide to capture the experiences of workers. Workers' daily activities were also observed and recorded in the observation guide. The sample for this study was 29 farm workers both permanent and seasonal farmworkers at Aussenkehr. Although the production of grapes is an important component of the agricultural sector in
Namibia, and a lucrative industry for exports, the study found the living and the working conditions of farm workers in Aussenkehr to be exploitative. Most of the grape farm workers in Aussenkehr live in reed houses, with no sanitation, electricity, and access to clean running water and earn low wages. The results further revealed that there are gender disparities. It was difficult to detect any forms of overt and covert resistance because one would have had to live with the
community first to understand how the workers resist. The most common forms of resistance that were identified through the interviews conducted include gossiping, joking, name-calling and speaking in native languages. The workers preferred not to engage in any collective resistance due to the fear of losing their jobs, as strikes are strictly forbidden in their employment contracts. The most vocal workers are seen as a threat to the companies, and they are often removed with no explanation. The study also found the available social institutions to be weak and lacking the necessary capacity to fight exploitation and to forge resistance. Moreover, the trade unions only seem to serve the interests of the companies and not necessarily those of the workers
Predicting viral suppression in anti-retroviral therapy patients using transition models and mixed effects models
No full textA mini thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Biostatistics)Background: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a leading cause of death, a limitation to development in Africa, as well as a health threat to millions worldwide. The main purpose of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is to keep people living with HIV in good health. Progression of health in HIV/AIDS patients on ART is characterised by an increase in CD4 cell counts as well as a decrease in viral load (HIV RNA) to undetectable levels. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of HIV occurrence and responses allow countries to track the epidemic and their prevention and control efforts. This study assesses the use of viral load in monitoring HIV/AIDS progression and predicting viral suppression.
Objective: The main purpose of this study was to estimate prediction models and determine factors that influence viral load and CD4 cell counts in ART patients using transition autoregressive model and the mixed effects model.
Methods: The models were applied to secondary data from ART patients drawn from a retrospective cohort design. The participants of the study were aged fifteen years or older (referred to as adults), who initiated ART treatment at selected health facilities in Erongo region, Namibia, between January 2010 and December 2015, giving a total population of 8068 patients. The data was analysed in three parts, namely, the descriptive analysis, the linear mixed effects model and the transition autoregressive model. Both models assume that the future values of a variable depend on its historical values as well as on other covariates.
Results: The findings of this study points to a viral suppression prevalence rate of 71% in Erongo region. The findings provide additional support to the concept that demographic (sex, age and weight) and clinical (follow up time, adherence and clinical stage) characteristics are the determinants of viral load as well as CD4 cell counts. The Log Likelihood, AIC and BIC show that the Transition Autoregressive model is the best predicting model for viral load as well as CD4 cell counts compared to the Mixed Effects Models.
Conclusion: Based on the AIC and BIC, it was shown that the transition model and the mixed effects model have almost the same predictive accuracy at the first few visits of a patient; however, for longer time series the transition model offers somewhat better predictions. Since the transition model is convenient in practice and needs less historical information compared to the mixed effects model, HIV studies may use this model to predict the future viral load. In the final analysis, this study recommends the use of the Transition Autoregressive model in modelling change and event occurrence in longitudinal studies such as HIV studies, specifically in predicting viral suppression in the future
The oryx antelope (Oryx gazella): An unexpected host for Porcine Circovirus-2 (PCV-2)
No full textFor several years after its discovery, Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) represented a major threat to the swine industry through economic losses due to the associated clinical syndromes, decreased production performances in both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals and disease management costs. Widespread vaccination administration has largely reduced the impact of this infection and represents the most effective control measure. The efficacy of vaccination is threatened by the emergence of novel (or uncommon) PCV-2 genotypes. In addition to domestic pigs, PCV-2 has been detected in several other species, a fact which could have an impact on new variant emergence and maintenance. Considering this, the present study assessed the distribution of the minor PCV-2c genotype in non-Suidae ungulates in Namibia. Red hartebeests (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama) (n = 44), kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) (n = 10) and oryxes (Oryx gazella) (n = 54), whose mediastinal lymph nodes were sampled after slaughtering during the period 2019–2021, were included in the study. Two oryxes (3.7%; 95% CI = 0.45–12.75%) were PCV-2-positive by PCR. Complete genome sequence was obtained for the two samples identifying them as PCV-2c genotype. The sequences were identical and shared a high percentage of identity (~99.9%) with those recently obtained from warthogs living in the same area. The present study confirms the presence of the
PCV-2c genotype (previously considered extinct) in Namibian wild animal populations and demonstrates greater than expected PCV-2 host plasticity. Because of the role these niches can have in the maintenance and evolution of minor PCV-2 genotypes, more extensive and dedicated studies should be performed to prepare authorities to promptly react to potential emerging threats from these viruses.The sequences were generated through the Sequencing Services of the Animal
Production and Health sub-program of the Joint Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Divisio
Assessment of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of young adults on alcohol consumption and its effects on their health- Windhoek, Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Public HealthExcessive alcohol consumption has been on the rise globally and Namibia is no exception, thus making the rise thereof and its adverse effects a public health concern. Various studies indicated that excessive alcohol consumption leads to a great deal of health and social consequences. The main purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of young adults on alcohol use and its effects on their health. The study applied a quantitative approach, using a cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory design to obtain data from 383 participants aged 18 – 30 years. A cluster random sampling method was
employed, data was compiled and analysed using SPSS version 25.
Questionnaires were used to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to alcohol consumption. Descriptive quantitative statistics were used to present the results. The mean age of the respondents was 22.9, ±40.05SD. 134 of the respondents (male and female) were from the age of 21 -23 whereby females made up most of the respondents in the study from all age groups with 58.5%.
This study found that most of the respondents had a good knowledge with more than 67.6% describing the awareness and dangers of alcohol (e.g. stomach ulcers, liver damage and increased risk of motor vehicle accidents). Furthermore, 58.7% of respondents agreed that alcohol is a drug, and 87.7% agreed that 10% of road accidents are alcohol-related. Respondents showed inadequate knowledge regarding the term “standard drink” and the recommended number of standard drinks. Overall, respondents had a good attitude and safe practices towards alcohol consumption and its effects on their health. 71.3% of the respondents indicated that their alcohol consumption was enquired during visits to a health facility. This study, therefore, recommends that there is a need to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and maintain practices towards alcohol consumption and its adverse effects among the youth by creating new platforms to increase awareness and intensify alcohol education. This can be achieved by establishing a multisectoral approach between the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Ministry of Education (MoE) and other relevant stakeholders in Namibia
Analysing the determinants of retirement planning behaviour of workers in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Finance)There is a consensus that while retirement is a worthwhile phase in one’s life, a successful and happy retirement requires planning with continual evaluation. Retirement planning is a systematic way of setting aside resources in order to provide sufficient funds in the old age and thus, decisions prior to retirement are very crucial in eliminating financial difficulties thereby securing future health, wealth and wellbeing. Evidence suggests that governments in many developing countries are faced with the challenge of providing sufficient retirement benefits for their aging population and the majority still live on the borderlines of poverty with pension funds unable to provide a comfortable life. For better policy options for these countries, there is need to examine the factors that influence people’s retirement planning behaviour. These studies contribute to the literature by investigating the determinants of retirement planning behaviour of employees in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration in Namibia. The researcher collected primary data from employees of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration and used the logit regression to examine factors that significantly influence their retirement planning behaviour.
The empirical analysis considers the alternative measures of retirement planning
decisions, by classifying retirement planning decisions into the ownership of
investments for retirement, savings and expected amount to be saved towards retirement. The results reveal that irrespective of the various ways of measuring retirement planning behaviour, individuals with favourable socio-economic status are more likely to save or invest for retirement relative to their counterparts with unfavourable socio-economicstatus. For instance, financial literacy, economic knowledge, educational attainment, social interaction and seeking financial advice are positively and significantly associated with investment and saving decisions of employees, whereas being female inversely affects their investment and saving decisions. Disaggregating the analysis by age groups, the researcher finds that the effects of these factors are consistent across the different age groups. Thus, any policy option that can enhance the economic and financial knowledge of employees and their educational attainment will improve their retirement planning behaviour directly and indirectly through financial advice to others and social
interaction. The determinants of retirement planning decisions suggest that individual characteristics are likely to influence the probability of investing and saving for retirement. The researcher recommend that, the government and various policy makers have a role to play in fostering financial education to individuals. Similarly, education programs that target the affected group, there is a need to come up with devising ways of improving the socio-economic status of individuals, their financial and economic knowledge is a potential way of improving the retirement planning behaviour of employees. This suggests that the devised policies should take into consideration the differences in age of the employees, as different policy options may influence retirement planning behaviour differently across age groups
Performance evaluation of Photovoltaic (PV) modules under different deployment conditions
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in PhysicsThe purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the performance of solar modules, comprising various PV technologies, subject to different climatic conditions. The
assessed PV technologies comprises of commercially available technologies and included Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), Copper Indium diSelenide (CIS), amorphous
silicon (a-Si)and polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) modules. Commercially available photovoltaic (PV) modules currently are comprised of two main groups: crystalline silicon modules and thin film modules. The thin film modules are cheaper due to lower production cost. They also exhibit lower temperature coecients compared to crystalline silicon. There is a perception
in the PV industry that thin film modules exhibit superior performance in hot
climates and that they show better tolerance and performance in lower solar
radiation locations. Our task was to determine if there is scientificc evidence for
such perceptions. Measurements were done at two stations in South Africa with different climates: Port Elizabeth (PE), having a humid, relatively cool and with high cloud cover and Johannesburg (JB), having a warm, semi-arid and low cloud cover
climate. In PE, one year of operation data for power output and module temperature
measured at one minute time resolution were collected from the site while
the GHI and ambient temperatures were measured from the site but downloaded
from the SAURAN website. In JB, the power output and module temperature
data measured at one minute time resolution were collected for a period of 6
months. The assessment was based on the following performance indicators: specific yield (SY), specific yield per unit land/roof area occupied by modules (SY/A) and the relative module efficiency ( rel:) for sunny (high irradiance) days and cloudy (low irradiance) days in each location. Statistical assessment of the performance indicators for each module type was performed with ANOVA test. The Tukey post-hoc test at 5% significance level was used for comparison of the daily SY, SY/A, rel: and average module temperatures between the different technologies at each location. A regression model was created to determine the extent of the impact of ambient conditions on the energy output of the modules. Our findings indicate that the solar radiation and ambient temperature have a strong impact on the module's SY, with the SY increasing linearly with the solar radiation while decreasing linearly with the ambient temperature during sunny days. Our findings further shows that the performance of all PV technology types are comparable in cloudy conditions at both locations. Under sunny conditions, CIS shows the highest SY in both locations, CdTe shows the highest SY/A in the warm and sunny JB climate while p-Si shows the highest SY/A under the cool and cloudy climate of PE, and a-Si shows the lowest SY, SY/A and rel: in PE. Furthermore, CIS remained the coolest and p-Si the hottest in the JB location. In PE, all modules
were equally cool on average. In conclusion, significant difference in performance between different PV technologies is only observed during sunny conditions. In addition, the established differences during sunny conditions were not technology specific but rather dependent of the type of performance indicator assessed. Thin film technologies have shown vast differences in performance between technologies and between climatic conditions. The superior performance of thin film technologies in cloudy conditions could not be established. These results are based only on the first year of module deployment and can be expected to change with time due to module degradation
Routledge Handbook of Public Policy in Africa
No full textThis chapter seeks to establish why slow implementation in the harmonisation of quality assurance initiatives in African higher education
systems is based on critical literature analysis. Doing so attempts to address the following
questions:
a Which harmonisation policy initiatives have been adopted in higher education on the
African continent?
b What is the current situation regarding the implementation of such policy initiatives?
c Have commitments to the implementation of the harmonisation policy framework been
made and realised by African countries?
d What are the factors that hinder the effective implementation of such initiatives?
e How could the current status quo be improved?Harmonised quality assurance systems for higher education are imperative for Africa to realise the vision of an integrated and prosperous continent characterised by economic growth, deeper integration and competitiveness in the global economy. Diverse higher education systems have resulted in a lack of mutual recognition of credits and qualifications, constraining academic integration and student mobility across Africa. The African Union has promoted policies that should harmonise and strengthen higher education quality in Africa to ensure local relevance and global competitiveness. This chapter shows that despite these efforts and attendant benefits that these initiatives may offer, implementation has been very slow. This consequently call for sound policies, planning, resources and efficient implementation arrangements, mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and evidence-based policy formulation and implementation
Community acceptance of reactive focal mass drug administration and reactive focal vector control using indoor residual spraying, a mixed‐methods study in Zambezi region, Namibia
No full textAbstract
Background: In Namibia, as in many malaria elimination settings, reactive case detection (RACD), or malaria testing and treatment around index cases, is a standard intervention. Reactive focal mass drug administration (rfMDA), or treatment without testing, and reactive focal vector control (RAVC) in the form of indoor residual spraying, are alternative or adjunctive interventions, but there are limited data regarding their community acceptability.
et al. Malar J (2021) 20:162 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03679-1 Malaria Journal
Methods: A parent trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of rfMDA versus RACD, RAVC versus no RAVC, and rfMDA + RAVC versus RACD only. To assess acceptability of these interventions, a mixed-methods study was conducted using key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) in three rounds (pre-trial and in years 1 and 2 of the trial), and an endline survey.
Results: In total, 17 KIIs, 49 FGDs were conducted with 449 people over three annual rounds of qualitative data collection. Pre-trial, community members more accurately predicted the level of community acceptability than key stakeholders. Throughout the trial, key participant motivators included: malaria risk perception, access to free community-based healthcare and IRS, and community education by respectful study teams. RACD or rfMDA were offered to 1372 and 8948 individuals in years 1 and 2, respectively, and refusal rates were low (< 2%). RAVC was offered to few households (n = 72) in year 1. In year 2, RAVC was offered to more households (n = 944) and refusals were < 1%. In the endline survey, 94.3% of 2147 respondents said they would participate in the same intervention again.
Conclusions: Communities found both reactive focal interventions and their combination highly acceptable. Engaging communities and centering and incorporating their perspectives and experiences during design, implementation, and evaluation of this community-based intervention was critical for optimizing study engagement.
Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria elimination, Namibia, Mass drug administration, Indoor residual spraying, Reactive case detection, Community acceptability, Qualitative and Mixed Method
Investigating the role of emotional intelligence to mitigate the impact of burnout on employees in the Khomas region, Namibia
No full textEmployees are faced with constant changes and those with higher emotional intelligence are likely to remain calm and be less affected by these changes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether emotional intelligence has an influence on burnout of employees in the Khomas Region. The Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (EQQ) was used to measure emotional intelligence and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure burnout. Making use of SPSS, the data was analysed to assess the relationship. The study made use of availability sampling and a total of 191 employees participated in the study. The results showed that a negative correlation exists between emotional intelligence and burnout (r= - ds organisations to host seminars and workshops which can equip their employees with ways on how to cope with stress and challenges, ensuring that the employees workload id reasonable and have regular health check-ups. Using emotional assessment as part of the recruitment process may ensure that the workforce is able to handle stressful work and be resilient despite experiencing difficult working conditions
A novel surveilance framework for tracking and predicting health outcomes of cardiovascular diseases risk factors among people living with HIV initiated on art in Khomas region, Namibia
No full textA research dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Public HealthCardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading cause of death in Africa (57%), has recently been recognised as an essential cause of morbidity and mortality among People Living with HIV (PLHIV). Multiple opportunities exist to address the challenges currently encountered with the epidemiological transition and managing the double burden of CVDs and HIV/AIDS. However, there is no documented link between patients’ previous visits to antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics and subsequent meaningful interpretation and analysis of data in Namibia. Critical data on the leading causes of death, notably, CVDs, injuries, drug and alcohol use, and risk factor exposures are lacking. Therefore, the study’s purpose was to develop a surveillance framework to enhance the tracking and prediction of health outcomes of cardiovascular diseases risks among PLHIV initiated on ART at health facilities in the Khomas region. The researcher adopted a mixed-methods approach which was conducted in four sequential phases during this study. In Phase I, a qualitative approach with phenomenological study design was implemented to explore current data management practices of CVDs risk factors among PLHIV on ART. Thirteen key informants selected purposively were interviewed, and data were analysed with ATLAS.ti. The qualitative findings informed the retrospective, cross-sectional, quantitative data collection process. Risk factors data captured between 2004 until 2017 were extracted from 529 patient care booklets (PCB) and matched with the electronic Patient Monitoring System (ePMS) of sampled PLHIV initiated on ART. These data elements were entered and analysed in SPSS version 25 using descriptive statistics with bivariate and multivariate analysis. Fragmented data management practices for CVDs preventative care among PLHIV initiated on ART were one of the major findings of the study. Phase II involved the process of concept analysis and the development of the conceptual framework based on the findings of Phase I. Schwartz and Kim’s hybrid model of concept development was used to identify and analyse main concepts of enabling environment, sound data management practices, and evidence-based health outcomes. The Population Health Surveillance theory and Donabedian’s model were used as a basis for the development of the conceptual framework. The novel surveillance framework was developed in Phase III. This phase was primarily guided by the outcome of the study findings and Arthur Samuel’s seminal work on the machine learning model of 1959 such as identifying CVDs risk factors; monitoring calculated risks and measuring health outcomes. The framework was evaluated by experts in health, epidemiology, and health informatics to validate its applicability whilst ensuring that the overall study objectives are met. In Phase IV the guidelines to operationalise the framework was developed based on the core elements as listed in Phase III above.
The study concluded that the development of the surveillance framework is effective in enhancing the tracking and prediction of health outcomes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risks among PLHIV initiated on ART in the Khomas region. The study made recommendations for policy and operational level health care workers of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the public health arena, and future research