UNAM Gā-aisib Repository (University of Namibia)
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The career maturity of Grade 9 learners in selected schools at Keetmanshoop, Namibia
No full textA mini thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Educational Psychology (Guidance and Counseling)Career maturity is an individual’s ability to make proper career choices and includes awareness of what is required to make career decisions, as well as the extent to which one’s choices are both realistic and consistent over time. The first aim of the present study was to obtain information regarding career maturity. Secondly, it aimed at establishing whether there were differences in career maturity between the genders, types of school and school performance. Cluster sampling was employed to identify natural occurring schools, followed by random sampling to select the schools and the learners who participated in the study. The total sampled population consisted of 138 Grade 9 junior secondary school learners in Keetmanshoop, Namibia, comprising of 22 private school learners and 116 government school learners. Langley’s Career Development Questionnaire (CDQ) (1990) was employed to assess the career maturity of the learners. Descriptive statistics (median, mode, means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (t-test) that included the CDQ five dimensions was utilised to analyse data. A t-test measured the statistical differences in the career maturity of the respondents across gender and the two educational settings. To investigate school performance, a correlation study was conducted to assess the relationship between career maturity and academic Grade average. Results revealed an average level of career maturity for learners in all CDQ dimensions. A significant difference for gender was found, with males exhibiting a higher-level of career maturity than females. A significant difference for school type between private and government schools was found, with private
schools indicating a higher-level career maturity than government schools. Findings revealed that Grade point average was a relevant factor to predict career maturity due to the positive relationship between the two variables. Counsellors should thus pay additional attention to the career guidance of low performing learners by assisting them to reach higher levels of career maturity. Similarly, girls should be encouraged to think more about their future careers, as results revealed that they were even less career mature than boys were
An educational programme to support the caregivers of adolescents living with HIV regarding disclosure in Oshikoto region, Namibia
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Science)ln 20 l 7 about 1.8 million adolescents, between the ages of 10 and 19, were living
with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide, acco unting for about 5% of
all people living with HIV and about 16% of new adult HIV infections. Adolescents
living with HIV (ALHIV) present a significant proportion of new infections of HIV
in Namibia as well. The caregivers of ALHJV are faced will the difficult decision of
when, and how to inform their children of their HIV status. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of caregivers of ALHIV regarding disclosure in Oshikoto region, Namibia. The study included the development of an educational programme to support such caregivers and to facilitate their disclosure practices. This was a qualitative, descriptive study with an explorative and contextual design. The findings were that caregivers of ALHIV experienced barriers to disclose HIV status to ALHIV; they experienced emotional trauma, and experienced mixed
fee lings related to adolescents ' diagnosis with HIV. Caregivers experienced
resistance from ALHIV to take antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the study
found that non- biological parents are at ease to care for ALHIV, because they are
probably less emotionally attached to the child. The findings were used to develop an educational programme to support the caregivers of ALHIV regarding disclosure. The educational programme was implemented and evaluated in the final phase of the study and indicated that the educational programme has a potential to help caregivers of ALHIV regarding disclosure of their status. Recommendations from the findings are that there are needs for a more large scale introduction of healthcare workers to support caregivers regarding disclosure of HIV status to ALHIV for healthy living of adolescents concerned. Additionally, the study recommended further studies on evaluation of the effectiveness of the educational programme and the role of the family characteristics in disclosure practices
Factors influencing clients in choosing insurance companies
No full textThe paper was conducted to analyze different factors influencing clients’ choice of insurance companies. Insurance is essential for peace of mind, however, clients should be cautious when choosing insurers to avoid future disappointments. Clients should also be aware of fake agents, misrepresentation of information, fraud and coercion by agents and brokers. The main objective of this paper was to identify the factors that drive clients’ preferences in selecting insurance companies, whilst the second objective was to determine the relative importance of these particular factors (advertising, social and behavioral factors). This paper followed a survey design with questionnaires and 185 randomly selected participants from Keetmanshoop Namibia.
The results showed that majority of participants chose insurers as a result of
agents/broker persuasion, which is similar to what the majority of other researchers found in previous studies. None the less, 87% of participants are satisfied with their current insurers, leaving 13% unsatisfied and intending to switch to other insurers. In addition findings revealed a positive relationship between client’s relative importance of insurance and factors (social, advertising and behavioral factors)
An investigation into the impact of stress on the members of the Namibian Police: A case study of police officers at Katima Mulilo Police Station
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Security and Strategic Studies)This study aimed to establish the impact of stress on members of the Namibian Police Force. The specific objectives of this study were to assess stress awareness levels of the members of the Namibian Police Force working at Katima Mulilo Police Station (KMPS); to explore the causes of stress among the members of the Namibian Police Force working at KMPS; to determine the effects of stress on the performance and well-being of the members of the Namibian Police Force working in KMPS, and to suggest strategies on how to reduce the level of stress among members of the Namibian Police Force working at KMPS. To achieve the above objectives, this study adopted a quantitative research approach. Data was collected from a sample of 90 police officers who were selected randomly. This study found that police officers at KMPS have a high level of awareness regarding the symptoms, causes and effects of stress on employee performance and well-being; stress among police officers is caused by poor remuneration, the traumatic nature of work done by police officers, working alone on night shifts, work overload, risky work environment, autocratic leadership style, biased promotion of police officers, and shortage of police officers which deprives existing police officers of their free time. Additionally, this study found that stress among police officers leads to the creation of a toxic work environment, decreases employee productivity, promotes employee absenteeism, makes employees sickly and makes police officers adopt irrational behaviours such as excessive drinking and smoking. This study recommends the recruitment of more police officers, an increase in remuneration of police officers and the introduction of regular counselling sessions for police officers
Optimising adverse drug reactions reporting and strengthening of pharmacovigilance systems in Namibia
No full textA research Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy PracticeSpontaneous adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting is a vital part of
pharmacovigilance activities within a health system. Under-reporting of adverse drug
reactions is a widespread phenomenon among healthcare workers. Little is known
about the culture of reporting among healthcare workers in public healthcare settings in Namibia, in particular, in relation to adverse drug reactions. This required the determination of the basal effectiveness of pharmacovigilance systems and the
capacity of the healthcare workers within the health system to carry out
pharmacovigilance activities and the development of ways of mitigating whatever
gaps exist within the system. This research depicted the current state of
pharmacovigilance within the health system, healthcare workers‘ reporting abilities
and capabilities, patient-level dynamics and possible pharmacovigilance system
optimisation. Chapter 1, the general introduction, provided a background to the need for and the state of pharmacovigilance in Namibia and other low- and middle-income countries. It highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare workers in reporting ADRs and the possible ways of mitigating the challenges. Chapter 2, the literature review, discussed different aspects of therapeutics, links between therapy and development of adverse events, culture of pharmacovigilance in different regions of the world and identified ways of mitigation under-reporting among different cadres of healthcare workers. Chapter 3 sought to know the treatment outcomes of patients after the introduction of atazanavir boosted with ritonavir (ATV/r) as a preferred second-line protease inhibitor on the health of patients compared with lopinavir boosted with ritonavir (LPV/r) based second-line regimens with respect to the reported ADRs. Most ADR cases received on these two regimens were linked to ATV/r; however, no conclusion can be made considering the possibility of under-reporting of possible and suspected cases. Following the results obtained at patient-level, Chapter 4 evaluated and explored the reasons for the underreporting of ADRs by healthcare workers and the factors associated with such reasons in Namibia through a cross-sectional quantitative survey. Nursing cadre was the only predicting factor for under-reporting of ADRs among the healthcare workers, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.17(95% CI: 0.07, 0.401, p<0.01). Particular attention may be focussed on the nursing cadre because they are the first healthcare professionals seen by patients in the public healthcare sector. In a bid to develop an optimisation plan for strengthening the pharmacovigilance and ADRs reporting, a contextual study of the knowledge of 8 key informants about the pharmacovigilance system in Namibia and proposed ways of optimising the existing system was carried out in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 presents an electronic tool (Epicollect5® as a platform) that was developed in a bid to mitigate the under-reporting of ADRs. The tool was introduced and piloted during several training sessions among healthcare workers in Namibia, both in the public and private healthcare sectors. Chapter 7 presented the recommendations and conclusions drawn from the different studies in this research. In conclusion, in order to optimise the pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting system in Namibia, there is a need for political will on the part of decision-makers, mandating healthcare workers to report any suspected ADR by using designated means such as paper-based or electronic reporting platforms (considering the challenges related to paper-based reporting systems). Provision of feedback in the form of ADR case report analysis by the Therapeutic Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre to the reporting healthcare worker or facility will facilitate good rapport between the two parties. Incorporating pharmacovigilance into the curriculum of medical, pharmacy and nursing students can bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. Conducting in-service and continuing professional training might assist in providing the necessary education for older healthcare workers. The need for advocacy for pharmacovigilance among healthcare workers and patients cannot be overstated; involving facility-level and regional-level Therapeutic Committees in pharmacovigilance through advocacy, promotion and analysis of reported cases will go a long way in stimulating ownership of the activity
Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical characterization, and antibacterial activity of Grewia tenax and Albizia anthelmintica extracts against multidrug-resistant pneumonia-causing bacteria
No full textThe use of Grewia tenax and Albizia anthelmintica in treating different ailments is attracting significant attention as a primary health care option in Namibia. This study aims to document their ethnobotanical uses, phytochemical composition, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus. The ethnobotanical uses of G. tenax and A. anthelmintica in treating respiratory conditions were documented. Organic (ethyl acetate) and aqueous extracts were screened for phytochemical composition using the thin-layer chromatography method. The total phenol content was determined using the Folin and Ciocalteu reagent method. In vitro antioxidant activity was based on the scavenging activity of the stable 1, 1diphenyl 2-picrylhyorazyl free radical. Antibacterial activity of extracts (200.0 µg/ml) and antibiotics was determined by the disc diffusion method. G. tenax and A. anthelmintica are commonly used to treat pneumonic symptoms. Steam inhalation and decoction are the most common methods used in preparing remedies. While alkaloid, flavonoid, and coumarins were detected in all extracts, organic extract of A. anthelmintica showed higher total phenol content of 28.5 ± 0. 5 mg GAE/g. G. tenax organic extract showed higher in-vitro antioxidant activity of 83.3±0.1%. The pathogens showed resistance to 10 µg of penicillin G, and Co-Trimoxazol, however, A. anthelmintica organic twig extracts inhibited the growth of the bacteria with average inhibition ranging between 17.5±0.6 - 20.7±0.6, mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50.0 µg/mL. These findings are the first to report on the ethnomedicine of G. tenax and A. anthelmintica in Namibia and their effectiveness in killing pneumonia-causing bacteria
Public perceptions and factors affecting domestic marine fish consumption in Namibia, Southwestern Africa
No full textUsing a web-based survey conducted among 2,481 Namibian, aged 18 years or older, the factors and motivations driving individuals’ decisions on marine fish consumption, spatial fish consumption, and possible strategies to promote domestic marine fish consumption were explored. Most participants (97.9%) were aware of the importance of fish in the human diet, with many preferring hake (Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus) (31.5%) and Cape horse mackerel (Trachurus capensis) (21.7%). Most respondents (64.1%) were poor fish consumers, consuming fish once a week or once a month. Participants claimed that they mostly purchased marine fish from retail fish shops (50.7%), wholesale fish companies (18.8%), and the Namibian Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (17.4%). Factors affecting marine fish affordability in Namibia were explained with a Logit Model, with age, education, gender, monthly income, and region of residence as the explanatory variables. Responses regarding fish affordability were principally driven by age, education, and monthly income (p < 0.05). The Khomas region purchased the most marine fish (60,764.8 weighted kg) in 2019. There was a consensus across all participants that regular fish consumption is beneficial to human health; however, participants listed affordability and accessibility of marine fish as critical constraints. Results indicate that Namibian marine fish consumption is poor and needs to be promoted. Results suggest ways to stimulate marine fish consumption locally and elsewhere to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger and alleviate malnutrition
Assessing the utilization of information and communication technologies in inclusive classes in the Oshana region of Namibia
No full textA research thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education (Inclusive Education)The introduction of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in the 21st century has transformed education processes in inclusive classes, including the role of teachers and learners of the 21st century. Subsequently, the academic achievement of learners in inclusive classes was enhanced/improved. Following this global development, Namibia has adopted the ICT Policy for Education (1999) with the objective to foster appropriate development, efficient delivery and quality utilisation of technology in order to ensure ICT integration for excellence and equity in the education system. The purpose of this research study was to assess the use of Information Communication Technologies in inclusive classes at two schools in the Oshana Region of Namibia. The study, furthermore, investigated ICT-related challenges faced by teachers in teaching learners in inclusive classes, and identified solutions which can be put in place to overcome the challenges.
This research study adopted a qualitative methodology and employed semi-structured interviews and observations as the main data soliciting tools. The researcher, furthermore, employed a purposive sampling method, where respondents were selected based on their experiences in teaching children with special needs. The content analysis method was employed to capture meaning from the data. Findings indicate that ICTs can be used as evaluative and assistive devices for learners in inclusive classes. The study further reveals that teachers failed to integrate ICTs successfully in their inclusive classes due to challenges, such as a lack of technical support, training of teachers on the utilisation of ICTs and pedagogical knowledge, as well as insufficient ICT gadgets and the inability of teachers to integrate ICTs. Lastly, the study advocates for the training teachers in employing ICTs, arranging regular workshops to keep teachers abreast of technological advancements, as well as providing technical support and adequate ICT gadgets to schools. A consistent supply of electricity in the schools and a supportive infrastructure, among others, are possible solutions to challenges
that inhibit the successful integration of ICTs in inclusive classes
In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of endophytic actinobacteria associated with Harpagophytum procumbens [Burch.] DC ex Meissn.: An ethno medicinal plant of Southern Africa
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Microbiology)The present study was designed to determine the taxonomic diversity, metabolic activity, structure elucidation, and screening of genes involved in antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the endophytic actinobacteria associated with Harpagophytum procumbens. Six lateral tubers collected from the Hardap (A) and Khomas (B) regions were used. After primary screening, 23 of 140 isolate extracts of ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol were tested for their antimicrobial potential against 8 microorganisms and their MIC was determined. The ethyl acetate extracts produced significantly better results in all tests (P = 0.000). Ethyl acetate extracts of isolate B44 (Curtobacterium sp.) demonstrated a significant broad-spectrum potential against 7 out of 8 of the test organisms. The 23 isolates were identified by using 16S rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses and were taxonomically grouped into 6 families and 7 genera: Streptomyces (̴52%), Agromyces (̴4%), Nocardiopsis (̴4%), Rubrobacter (̴4%), Patulibacter (̴13%), Rhodococcus (̴4%), Curtobacterium (̴4%) and 3 unidentified strains (̴13%). PKS-I (found in 61% of isolates) and NRPS (found in 13% of isolates) gene clusters were also amplified. From the four antioxidant tests carried out, ethyl acetate extracts of A36 (Streptomyces sp.) had the highest phenolic content (1.993 ± 0.004) and total antioxidant activity (0.258±0.001), B12 (Streptomyces sp.) had the highest radical scavenging activity (95%), while B43 (unidentified) had the highest total reducing power (0.849 ± 0.003). Ethyl acetate solvent extracts tested for their ability to protect DNA from degradation found that 61% of the extracts had DNA damage protection potential. When testing for industrially important enzymes, 74% tested positive for urease, 83% for gelatin degradation, 74% for protease, 65% for starch degradation, 48% for indole-acetic acid, and 96% for catalase. Furthermore, optimal growth conditions for antimicrobial production of the best overall performing strains (B12, B44 and A65) were evaluated and a multiple regression analysis was carried out (F(6,1451) = 293.036, p = 0.000, R2 = 0.548). GC/MS analysis was carried out on extracts B12, B44 and A65 and compounds were tentatively identified as alkanes (56%) and unknown compounds (37%), with B12 and A65 also containing octadecenamide. From the present study, it is possible to conclude that these endophytic actinobacteria associated with H. procumbens could be a promising source of bioactive compounds and warrant further studies
Effects of elephant carcasses on vegetation cover, herbivore behaviour, and potential Anthrax transmission in central Etosha National Park
No full textA thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science (Biology)Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivores caused by a soil-borne, spore-forming and Grampositive bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. This study investigated the role large-bodied animal carcasses may play in anthrax transmission dynamics in an African savanna. Specifically, I examined how African elephant (Loxodonta africana) carcasses affected vegetation cover, soil pathogen concentrations, and herbivore behaviour at carcass sites over time in central Etosha National Park, Namibia. Carcass site soil and vegetation sampling was conducted three times over
a growing season (January, April and July), while motion-triggered camera traps monitored activity at elephant carcass sites over a three-year period in central Etosha National Park. Elephant carcasses were placed into age classes for soil and vegetation sampling based on the time of death as follows: recent (0-2 years old), old (2-5 years old), and very old (>5 years old). This study i) measured the area of soil disturbance around the elephant carcass, ii) measured for vegetation
cover at elephant carcass, iii) determined the concentration of B. anthracis spores in soils at zebra and elephant carcass sites, and iv) monitored animals activity at elephant carcass sites using motion sensing video camera. The area of soil disturbance at elephant carcass sites, while substantial in the year of death (up to 31.55m2), showed a sharp decline after the first year (to lessthan 1m2). Vegetation cover was generally highest near the centre of carcass sites and declined
with increasing distance away, except for some of the younger sites (<2 years old) with more soil disturbance at the closest sampling distance. Among site ages, the 2-5 years old carcass sites had higher vegetation cover than younger or older sites. There was seasonal variation in vegetation cover that varied with site age, with cover at older carcass sites dropping off considerably in the dry season. Although B. anthracis spore concentrations showed a declining trend with site age for
elephant and zebra carcass sites, these trends were not statistically significant. Over 35 trap months, the video cameras recorded a total of 31,068 videos of which 12,728 were mammals and the rest by wind, rain and birds. Video recordings at elephant carcass sites showed that 21 animal species (ungulate herbivores, carnivores and small mammals) visited these sites. Behaviours displayed by mammals and vultures were recorded, and ranked according to risk of anthrax exposure in descending order as; foraging, bone contact with mouth, smelling, kicking/touching, resting, investigating and walking by. The behaviours displayed, and which were most common, varied among animal species. These findings were compared to previous work on carcass sites from plains zebra (Equus quagga) carcass sites. Both species had significant effects on soil and vegetation at carcass sites, although vegetation responses at elephant carcass sites appear to occur on a longer time lag, in the 2-5 year window, as compared to vegetation at zebra carcass sites peaking the year after death. Anthrax cases of both species showed persistence of B. anthracis spores over time at sites, with no significant difference in spore concentrations between the two species. The biggest difference between the two carcass types was in which species visit these sites and how they interacted with potentially infectious material at the carcass sites. Elephant carcasses have the potential to expose a different suite of host species to anthrax, than observed at plains zebra carcass sites. While zebra are the main host species in Etosha, and most cases in the system are detected in grazing herbivores, large-bodied, wide-ranging animals like elephants that use different habitats than grazing hosts could serve as a bridging host, bringing anthrax into different habitats, and exposing a wider variety of host species