Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007 / Understanding the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the Namibian's health sector is important in the global information society It is not clear how ICT is being deployed to support the delivery of health services to the Namibian patients. Health service providers (HSP) in both private and pUblic health sector must be aware of ICT use patterns because this may influence how they deliver services to their patients in the future. This study thus seeks to investigate how ICT have been used in the delivery of health services to patients in the Khomas and Oshana regions of Namibia. Based on the literature review and data collected from the HSP and patients, a 'generic' health service delivery landscape for Namibia was developed and regional landscapes for the Khomas and Oshana regions were further derived from it. The landscapes depicted health service provision to patients in the different health sectors in Namibia. After mapping the health landscapes primary data was collected from the health service providers (HSP) in private, mission and public health institutions using a questionnaire A second structured questionnaire was administered on the patients A total of 21 and 134 HSP patients respectively, responded to the survey questionnaire. Results from the descriptive analysis indicate a relatively high ICT use by both HSP and patients.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The role of health foreign assistance in explaining health outcomes remains an unending debate. The study assessed the relationship between foreign health aid and three selected health indicators of interest: infant mortality rate, under-five mortality rate and life expectancy, with control variables such as government expenditure on health and general medical clinics and public health services in Namibia. The data used was from 1990 to 2013 although there was some missing data. It was found that all health indicators improve with an increase in foreign health aid except that it is more impactful (statistically significant) in the case of infant mortality rate. The regression analysis shows that a one percent increase in heath aid will result in a 0.03 decrease in infant mortality rate but this is statistically insignificant. A one percent increase in health aid will result in a 0.01 decline in under-five mortality. A one percent increase in health aid will result in 0.53 increase in life expectancy. The Granger causality test revealed a uni-causal relationship among most variables. An increase in government expenditure to health is accompanied by a decline in all indicators. Overall, based on correlation coefficients, aid is linearly related to health outcomes in Namibia. The study gives a tentative conclusion that foreign health aid slightly improves health outcomes in Namibia.

Labour is a vital period for the labouring mothers, as it should bring with it the fulfilment of an expectation of having the baby that has been awaited. The health of the foetus which is to be born and that of the labouring mother are inextricably linked with each other which is why the labouring mother needs to be assessed and monitored carefully. The cardio-tocograph, which is a globally accepted method of diagnosis and assessment of the foetal status during labour is preferred to be used in monitoring labouring mothers, especially high- risk patients. Despite the evidence and information regarding the effectiveness of the use of the cardio-tocograph, midwives are still found not to be using it correctly, the reasons given that the women not always co-operate; do not keep the electrode and belt in place or cite the discomfort they experience from contraction. The objectives of this study were to: explore and describe the perceptions and current practice of Namibian midwives regarding the use of the cardio-tocograph as an informative labour- monitoring tool. Explore and describe how midwives working in labour wards in Namibia perceive informing laboring women of the use of the cardio-tocograph as an informative labour- monitoring tool and based on the results, develop an instruction guide for midwives working in the labour ward in intermediate hospital in Namibia that would serve as a guide on how to teach labouring women about the use of the cardio-tocograph as a labour- monitoring tool and enhance positive labor and delivery outcomes The study was conducted between May and June 2016, using a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design, following the necessary university approval and approval from other relevant authorities. The research population was midwives who work in labour wards at a public hospital in Namibia. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from purposively sampled participants using set criteria. A voice recorder was used to capture the interview with the permission of the participants. Seventeen midwives were interviewed of whom two were used for the pilot study. Data saturation determined the sufficient sample size. The collected data was analyzed using Tesch’s spiral method of data analysis with the assistance of an independent coder From the research findings, it emerged that midwives had varying perceptions regarding the use of the CTG machine. Midwives still perceive CTG interpretation as a challenge as a labour -monitoring tool and expressed a need for updates. Furthermore, midwives expressed the fact that they had limited communication with labouring women regarding the use of CTG. Based on the research findings and guided by Health Belief Model principles, three main guidelines were developed for midwives working in the labour ward in a public hospital in Namibia. These guidelines will serve as a tool to assist midwives in their teaching of labouring women about the use of the cardio-tocograph as a labour- monitoring tool, and the role to be played by labouring women during that monitoring period. Furthermore, recommendations for clinical nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research were developed. The researcher used literature control to ensure validation and integrity of the study. Trustworthiness, which was used to ensure rigour of the study, was guided by the principles of truth-value, transferability, dependability and confirmability. Ethical considerations were guided by the Belmont report adopting the principles of beneficence, respect for human dignity, justice and non-maleficence.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Health statistics on adolescents in Namibia indaicate high incidences of teenage unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, baby dumping, maternal ill health, early marriages and STIs including HIV. These are indicators of underutilisation of adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) by adolescents as education on these problems are covered in it. Although Government has made some strides to esure implementation starts, there is a recognisable lack of its adoption by health workers. The aim of this study was to establish the reasons for the slow adoption of AFHS practices by health workers at Katutura Health Centre. A quantitative non-experimental cross-sectional descriprive research approach was used in this study. Evidence using both primary data collected in the field through self-administered semi-structured questionnaires (with both open and closed questions) and secondary data collected in the literature review was employed . A census of the entire population of health workers was prefered over sampling. A total of 56 health workers accepted to participate in the study and the questionnaire, 46 of which returned it within a stipulated three weeks data collection period. Descriptive statistics was utilised together with frequencies, mean and basic collection. Eighty two percent of the sample participated in the study of which 67% respondents were female and 33% were male. The majority of the respondents (78.3%) had tertiary education. The results indicated: AFHS were not known to the majority of health workers; there is slow adoption of AFHS; and the programme introduction could have been done better. Factors significantly associated with adoption of AFHS are knowledge of such services, sex, level of education, job position, work experience and effective implementation of the programme. A probability value of p<0.05 was adopted. The programme is well appreciated despite concerns of lack of training and proper implementation. Key recommendations were on staff recruitment, retention and training of health workers; creation of space for implementing AFHS and marketing the programme. The system is in place, what is left is to tighten some loose ends and programme is up and running. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesondheid statistieke oor die jeug in Namibië verwys na hoë voorkoms van ongewenste tiener swangerskappe en onveilige aborsies, weg gooi van babas, swak moederlike gesondheid, vroeë huwelike en seksueel oordraagbare siektes, insluitend MIV. Dit is aanwysers van die onderbenutting van jeug vriendelike gesondheidsdienste (AFHS) deur die jeug, as die onderwys op hierdie probleme gedek word. Hoewel die regering 'n paar implementerings begin het, is daar 'n beduidende gebrek van aanneming deur gesondheidswerkers. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die redes vas te stel vir die stadige aanvaarding van AFHS praktyke deur gesondheidswerkers by Katutura Gesondheids Sentrum. 'n Kwantitatiewe, nie-eksperimentele navorsingsbenadering is gebruik in hierdie studie. Bewyse uit beide primêre data wat ingesamel is in die veld deur middel van self-geadministreerde semi-gestruktureerde vraelyste (met beide oop en geslote vrae) en sekondêre data wat ingesamel is in die literatuuroorsig was gebruik. 'n Sensus van die hele bevolking van gesondheidswerkers is verkies in plaas van steekproefneming. 'n Totaal van 56 gesondheidswerkers het aanvaar om deel te neem aan die studie en die vraelys, waarvan 46 teruggedien is binne die vasgestelde tydperk van drie weke se data-invorderingstermyn. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik saam met frekwensies, gemiddelde en basiese versameling. Tagtig en twee persent van die steekproef het deelgeneem aan die studie, waarvan 67% respondente vroulik en 33% manlik was. Die meerderheid van die respondente (78,3%) het tersiêre opleiding. Die resultate het aangedui: AFHS is nie bekend aan die meeste van gesondheidswerkers nie, en daar is stadige aanneming van AFHS; en die program inleiding kon beter gedoen gewees het. Faktore wat beduidend verband hou met die aanneming van AFHS is kennis van sodanige dienste, geslag, vlak van onderwys, werk posisie, werkervaring en doeltreffende implementering van die program. 'n Waarskynlikheid waarde van p <0,05 is aangeneem. Die program is goed waardeer ten spyte van kommer aan 'n gebrek van opleiding en behoorlike implementering. Belangrikste aanbevelings was op die personeel werwing, behoud en die opleiding van gesondheidswerkers; skepping van ruimte vir die implementering van AFHS en bemarking van die program. Die stelsel is in plek, wat oorbly om gedoen te word, is om 'n paar los punte te versterk en die program is aan die gang.

It is important for nurses to show acceptable behaviour when interacting with the patients. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the factors that contribute to nurses’ negative behaviour when rendering patient care and to determine the effects of nurses’ behaviour on patient outcomes. The study used a non-experimental explorative and descriptive quantitative design. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire. The sample comprised of 64 respondents which consisted of 25 registered nurses and 39 enrolled nurses. The study found that besides the known contributing factor, that is, the shortage of nurses, further identified contributing factors to nurses’ negative behaviour when rendering patient care are failure to retrain nurses identified with negative behaviours, poor condition of employment and patients’ behaviours and cultural beliefs. These results suggested a need to train more nurses, improve conditions of employment, as well as support and retrain nurses identified with negative behaviours. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)