UNAM Open Access Journal University of Namibia
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Application of survival analysis on the prevalence and risk factors of breast cancer in Namibia
Full text linkCancer is a universal disease that drastically affects people regardless of race, sex, socio-economic status and culture. At an approximated population size of 2.3 million people, Namibia is not spared from this disease, with breast cancer diagnosis becoming more rampant in the country. For this reason, this paper was aimed at examining the prevalence and trends for breast cancer patients regardless of patients’ sex, as well as establishing the risk factors associated with breast cancer inNamibia. Secondary data obtained from the Cancer Association of Namibia from 2013 to 2016 was used. Survival analysis techniques (Kaplan-Meier and Cox Proportional Hazard) were used to estimate the survive time of the breast cancer patients. Results revealed that Khomas and Oshana regions had the highest percentage of reported breast cancers cases. It also revealed that the survive time of breast cancer was associated with the patient’s age group and ethnicity. Furthermore, the survival time for patients aged 41-50 years and 61-70 years were higher, compared to patients who were less than 31 years of age while the survival rate for patients aged 81-90 years was low. Therefore, there is still a need for a greater focus along the breast cancer care pathway in Namibia, with emphases on improving access to early diagnosis at early age
Ephemeral river systems and their ecosystem provisions to the local populations: A review of the Huab and Ugab Rivers, Namibia.
Full text linkEphemeral rivers have been the source of domestic and livestock water for millennia in Africa. In Namibia, crystalline and alluvial groundwater aquifers in ephemeral rivers are the only source supporting livelihoods. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature on these two ephemeral river systems, with a specific objective to investigate the knowledge gaps in these arid areas of the Huab and Ugab ephemeral systems. These rivers lie in proximity of the marginalpopulations and support a great number of livelihoods, and economic activities. The aridity dynamics are fundamental factors that influence ecological aspects of the ephemeral rivers that support at least one- fifth of the Namibian population. The rivers only flow for a period of two weeks per year, and in wet years, some may flow for three weeks. The rivers have a highly evolved ecological system that is sustained by the high hydrologic variation which is the main ecological driver. These ephemeral rivers transport sediment, fine particulate matter, and organic matter in form of tree and woody matter that is generally deposited downstream as a result of hydrologic decay. The study found that knowledge on hydrological and ecological patterns of the Huab and Ugab ephemeral rivers are limited, in spite of their catchments being the main supportive systems to the economically marginal populations. There is also a lack of understanding on how the ecosystem provision influences the livelihoods of the local populations. The study recommends further research on ecological reserves, linking to ecosystem provision of these natural systems (natural future bank of resources)
The status of Xitsonga in South African Broadcasting Corporation television channels
Full text linkLanguage use at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is regulated by the South African Broadcasting Corporation Language Broadcasting Policy (SABC LBP). The SABC LBP emphasizes multilingualism and multilingual service provision and it commits to treat all the official languages equitably and with equal respect. In view of the provisions of the SABC LBP, this article examines the status of Xitsonga in the various genres of drama on SABC television channels to see how it fares. Data was gathered through document analysis of the SABC LBP since it regulates language use at the SABC. The SABC LBP was analysed to examine the apparent adequacy (or lack thereof) of its provisions in as far as language use is concerned in the media. This was complemented by observations of the actual practice in as far as language use is concerned in the various genres of drama on SABC television channels. Semi-structured interviews with Xitsonga speakers were also conducted to solicit information on the language use patterns in the various genres of drama on SABC television channels. The findings of this study showed that the overt and covert provisions of the SABC LBP marginalise less widely spoken and understood languages and those which are not cognate languages since the SABC prioritises the dominant languages. It was noted that Xitsonga fares badly in the various genres of drama on SABC television channels. As a result, Xitsonga speakers are denied access to information through edutainment in their mother tongue. This also means that the SABC marginalises other official languages on the basis of their smaller speaker numbers and that they are not widely spoken or understood or cognate languages. This constitutes a violation of the linguistic human rights of the Xitsonga speakers and their right of access to information. It was also noted that this also constrains the development of Xitsonga and Vatsonga
Determination of local meteoric water lines along a precipitation gradient, Namibia
Full text linkPrecipitation is the main input parameter in the hydrological balance and plays important role in groundwater recharge. Isotopic fingerprints are a tool to trace this component. In this study, isotopic composition of precipitation was determined along a precipitation gradient at three sites namely: Tsumeb (600 mm/a precipitation; Waterberg (450 mm/a) and Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer (240 mm/a precipitation). Precipitation samples from Tsumeb and Waterberg were collected during the rainy season from 2017 to 2018, while Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer samples were collected between 2014 and 2015. A total number of 83 precipitation samples were collected. Precipitation samples were analysed using a Los Gatos water stable isotope spectro-analyser at the University of Namibia. Precipitation isotopic values for δ18O(‰) range from -9.08 to 5.19 for Tsumeb, -15.96 to 5.09 for Waterberg and -12.54 to 4.75 for Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer, while δ2H(‰) isotopic values for Tsumeb, Waterberg and Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer range from -73.30 to 46.70; -117.50 to 40.60 and -82.50 to 47.80, respectively. Scattering of rain samples along the global meteoric water line in the areas could be attributed to a seasonal effect. Local meteoric water line equations for Tsumeb, Waterberg and Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer were obtained using a linear regression method and are δ2H = 7.78 δ18O + 6.74, R2 = 0.95; δ2H = 7.37 δ18O + 5.77, R2 = 0.97; δ2H = 7.16 δ18O + 9.88, R2 = 0.96 correspondingly. All the slopes obtained from three study sites are lower than that of a global meteoric water line equation. A lower slope could be an indication that the local precipitation has experienced some subcloud evaporation, leading to enrichment of heavy isotopes. The effect is more pronounced at Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer where the slope is 7.16. Our findings could serve as baseline for these three study sites with regards to further isotopic investigations in the study areas especially in tracing the origin of groundwater
Voices of linguistic participation in language maintenance and revitalisation: Case of the Nama Dialect of Khoekhoegowab
Full text linkAlthough Khoekhoegowab is one of the national languages according to the Namibian constitution, it is not visibly used in many of the formal functions of public domains where we expect to find it as a national language. The data for this study were collected in a town called Keetmanshoop in Namibia. The data collection instrument employed for this study was a semi-structured interview as this allow for the gathering of vast quantities and also due to its greater flexibility. This paper puts agentive speakers at the centre of changes in their communicative economies. This thus suggests the need for an approach that looks at how speakers construct and reconstruct their ideas of language. A notion of linguistic citizenship is attuned to the implications of such communities
Perceptions amongst university students about elder abuse in Namibia
Full text linkThe most vulnerable period in the lifecycle of a human being is in childhood and again reaching advanced age in later life. Social work students need to have knowledge and competencies to respond effectively to vulnerabilities such as elder abuse. The aim of the study was to examine social work student’s level of awareness and knowledge on elder abuse, in order to highlight content areas to be addressed in curricula by social work educators. In a qualitative method study, the convenient sample method was used to select 150 social work students in the first, second and third year of study. Each student was able to present two case examples on elder abuse in their communities. The findings indicated that economic and financial abuse of older people takes place on a regular basis, participants further shared that older adults experience neglect, abandonments and emotional abuse. To a lesser extent older people suffer from physical abuse. From the viewpoint of young people it has been confirmed that elder abuse is a common concern in Namibia and that it has a serious impact on the lives of the elderly. The study underlines the importance of public awareness. Documentation and help systems need to be developed to effectively address the problem of elder abuse. A component of aging, and in particular, elder abuse need to be incorporated in the social work curricula to better prepare graduates
Scientific persuasion and use of language forms : A rhetorical enquiry of climate change publications in Namibia
Full text linkThe paper sought to explore the dynamics of the rhetoric of the language of science on climate change publications. The arguments presented in this paper were drawn from the theoretical framework that saw rhetorical argument and discourse as an important feature of scientific publications. This research paper aimed at making a consequential input to an ongoing debate about climate change in Namibia and the world over; the use of rhetorical devices in the construction of knowledge about climate change; analysis and exploration of rhetorical elements employed by science researchers. The research was inspired by the study of rhetoric. As such the research looked at the progression of persuasive methodical argument and facts, as a result providing a clear understanding of how scientific publications influence government policy on climate change. The paper adopted a qualitative approach. Rhetorical interpretations of science publications seemed complex, as such required a research design that enables such complexity to be analysed and explored. The paper found that different rhetorical moves were used by the authors of the analysed documents, to try and persuade policymakers and the public. The study revealed the frequent use of scare tactics by the authors to try and persuade the public about climate change. Moreover, the study exposed the presence of the language forms that seemed to rely on perpetual persuasive techniques to persuade the current and future generations
The discourse-based approach towards the translation of metaphors: ‘Journey’, ‘movement’, and ‘body metaphors’ in translation of the Sesotho novel “Chaka”
Full text linkIn a departure from other studies on metaphor translation, this paper employs the discourse-based approach to examine the procedures employed in translation of metaphors used in the Sesotho novel, Chaka, into English. The findings show that there is an alignment with Newmark’s (1988) framework even though the framework is prescriptive and is based on the traditional view of metaphor as purely linguistic. The substitution of a metaphor with a metaphor is the most frequent procedure. There is also the translation of metaphor into simile, the translation of metaphor into sense and the deletion of metaphor. The factors that determine the procedures are: the existence of metaphors with very close similar semantic and pragmatic functions; the existence of TL metaphors that are based on the same cognitive mappings as the SL metaphors, and closely resemble them; the existence of culture-specific metaphors that can be only be decoded if converted to simile; existence of culture-specific metaphors that may not be decoded even if simile is used and the employment of a metaphor for a rhetorical style that is foreign to TT readers. The use of the procedures creates a text that is idiomatic and generally resembles the ST in message, style and language
Translation Techniques in the English-Kiswahili Translation of Agro-Pesticide Texts in Tanzania: Relevance to the Farmers
Full text linkThis qualitative study investigated the translation techniques used in the English-Kiswahili translation of agro-texts in Maswa District of Simiyu Region-Tanzania. The subjects for this study were translators, cotton farmers, farm input vendors, and agricultural extension officers. Through text analysis and interviews, the study revealed that transference, naturalization, descriptive equivalence and reduction are used as translation techniques. Other techniques include expansion, compensation, modulation, paraphrase, transposition and calques. The information translated through transference, calques, reduction and expansion could not easily be understood by the farmers. The rest of the techniques convey information in a manner that suits the farmers’ common understanding. The Kiswahili equivalent formation processes such as compounding and borrowing produced words that could easily be understood by the farmers. However, the equivalents formed through compression and coinage did not satisfy the needs of the farmers. To some extent, the translation techniques used in the sampled texts seemed relevant to the farmers. It is recommended that the impact of loan words or transferred words from the source language to the message in the target language and the way the readership perceives them should be examined
Determination of the natural radionuclide content and associated radiation hazard in soil samples collected from the Ohorongo cement plant and the town of Otavi, Namibia
Full text linkThe activity concentrations and associated radiation hazard of the primordial radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples collected from the Ohorongo cement plant and the town of Otavi, Namibia, have been studied by gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity concen[1]trations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the plant are respectively 15.0 ± 4.7Bq/kg, 25.1 ± 9.9 Bq/kg, and 310.7±97.2 Bq/kg while they are 21.6±7.2 Bq/kg, 20.3±8.5 Bq/kg and 256.4±113.7 Bq/kg in Otavi. All these values are lower than the worldwide average values. In order to determine the associated health hazard, the activity concentrations were used to calculate different radiological parameters. The values of 43 ± 15 µSv/y and 40 ± 15 µSv/y obtained for the mean effective dose rate at the cement plant and town, respectively, are less than the maximum permissible value of 1.0 mSv/y recommended by the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP). Sim-ilarly, the values of 74.9 ± 25.6 Bq/kg and 70.4 ± 26.7 Bq/kg obtained respectively for the mean radium equivalent activity (Raeq) in the cement plant and town as well as the corresponding values obtained for the mean external hazard index are far below the maximum permissible limit. These results imply that radiation hazard is negligible at the Ohorongo Cement plant and town of Otavi