ABSTRACT Early diagnosis in cancer greatly affects treatment success of which the most important components are education (knowledge) and encouragement of the target population to participate in early diagnostic procedures (World Health Organisation). Statistics from Cancer Namibia (CAN) show that prostate cancer has been on the rise with 126 and 311 cases reported in 2006 and 2012. In 2014 and 2015, 52 and 68 prostate cancer cases were recorded in Intermediate Hospital Oshakati (IHO). Out of...
ABSTRACT Namibia is a country with a high prevalence of HIV infection. Similar to many hospitals and health facilities around the country, Onandjokwe Health District is experiencing social, economic and health care problems related to HIV/AIDS patients. The home-based care option is seen as an alternative to cater for the needs of the HIV/AIDS patient with the support of family members and communities. People who are involved in providing home-based care are usually non-professionals caregive...
ABSTRACT This study is aimed at assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of Kangaroo Mother Care among Health Care Professionals (HCPs) in the care of low birth weight babies in the Keetmanshoop district. The study was a quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted in 6 health facilities with 100 health care professionals in the Keetmanshoop district. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect information and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences...
ABSTRACT Overweight and obesity are reported to be increasing worldwide and currently constituting a public health problem. The consequences of these include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyper-lipidemia, coronary artery diseases and some cancers. The reports from several regions of the world concerning overweight/obesity among children and adolescents are not consistent. In Nigeria there is no current national figure on overweight/obesity in the adult or children. The main objective of ...
ABSTRACT Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs) are viral in 80% of the cases (Mazur, 2010) but antibiotic prescribing in these illnesses still remains a problem in many places, where about 60% of patients with URTIs receive antibiotics inappropriately (WHO, 2010).This makes URTIs important targets for strategies aimed at reducing irrational antibiotic use because irrational use of antibiotics leads to the emergence and spread of bacterial resistance, which is a growing global public heal...
ABSTRACT In recent years there has been an increase in the incidence of pregnancies in HIV positive women, which increases the risk of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, once HIV positive women become aware of their s ero status, many demonstrate a reduced desire for pregnancy, particularly because most of them know that there are risks involved in delivering an HIV positive child. Others, on the other hand, want to have children despite their HIV positive status. Accor ding...
ABSTRACT Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide among black people. Early detection and treatment can prevent blindness, a consequence of glaucoma. Individuals need to be aware of glaucoma and seek assessment regularly for early detection and diagnosis of the disease. Awareness of glaucoma has not been previously documented in a Namibian setting. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the awareness of glaucoma that clients have who...
ABSTRACT The effects of hypertension are cumulative with regard to its negative influence on the organ system in the body. Equipped with the right knowledge, a person can either prevent or slow down these cumulative effects or adapt to the changing life styles. An afflicted person can adapt to his/her condition and make certain life style changes which must be maintained permanently. A person’s success in adhering to the necessary adjustments will depend to a certain extent on how he or she...
Abstract The impacts of teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections among the youth such as dropout from school, long term effects and death is felt by most people worldwide. As a result of this, teenagers are in need of information regarding sexuality and safer sex to enable them to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections and to prevent unintended pregnancies. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe knowledge, atti...
ABSTRACT Adolescent motherhood is presented in the literature as today’s challenge both nationally and internationally. The World Health Organization (2007) also indicated the encountered problem on adolescent motherhood world-wide. Many countries documented the vicious sequence of early motherhood such as poverty and poor education. Accordingly, adolescent motherhood is regarded as a social health concern owing to its socioeconomic consequences, which affect the young mothers, their babies...
ABSTRACT Food safety is a key component of food security as food can only be considered to exist, if it is safe for human consumption. Food handlers play a massive role in food safety, it is for this purpose we conducted a study to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices of food safety among food handlers in Opuwo District. An analytical cross sectional study was conducted, using a multi-staged probability sampling method. A total of 137 food handlers participated in the study from 24 ki...
ABSTRACT Prematurity has become a major global cause of death in neonates. The number of preterm babies has increased significantly in the past ten to fifteen years, creating a public health crisis in the financial and social fraternities. While prematurity has become a public health crisis, delivering and caring for a preterm baby also affects the emotional and social well-being of the mothers who delivered preterm babies. Most preterm infants are born ill, or have difficulties in adapting t...
ABSTRACT This research study aimed at exploring and describing psychosocial experiences of adolescents diagnosed with cancer. A cancer diagnosis is known to be a life-altering experience which disrupts normal development. Often, adolescents bring to the cancer experience a different dimension of psychosocial circumstances because of their developmental life stage. This research study employed an exploratory qualitative research design to explore the psychosocial effects of a cancer diagnosis ...
ABSTRACT HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) remains an important entry to HIV Prevention, treatment, care and support services. According to the Namibian 2013 Demographic Health Survey (DHS), HTC services among 15-49 year old showed a marked increase, with 79% females and 61% males ever tested against the 2006/7 DHS results with 51% and 32% among females and males respectively. However although testing rates have increased the 2015 WHO HIV Testing Services (HTS) Consolidated Guideline indicates...
ABSTRACT Tuberculosis is a preventable and curable disease. In spite of this, globally it is the main cause of human suffering and death through infection. The World Health Organization has set the following targets for global tuberculosis control: a case detection rate of 70%, and treatment success rate of 85%. The Khomas region has attained only 52% treatment success rate, which is significantly below the global target. A better understanding of TB patients’ knowledge, beliefs and practic...