Interactive video technology (IVT) remains one of the common modes of teaching utilised by various higher education institutions (HEIs) across the globe with an aim of catering to ever-increasing educational demands. The objectives of this study were to explore and describe the experiences of nursing students on the use of IVT as a mode of teaching General Nursing Science with a view to describing the aspects that affect their learning. The study was conducted at one of the satellite campuses of an HEI located in north-eastern Namibia. In this study, a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. A total of fifteen nursing students from the Faculty of Health Sciences in the School of Nursing, purposively selected from the population of fourth-year nursing students who were taught via IVT, participated in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed by means of content analysis. Three main themes subsequently emerged: nursing students experienced the IVT as a beneficial mode of teaching; the use of IVT as a mode of teaching resulted in certain negative experiences for nursing students; and the presence of certain strategies that strengthen IVT as a teaching mode. The study identified both positive and negative student experiences resulting from the use IVT as a mode of teaching. It was therefore concluded that the School of Nursing should continue to use IVT as a mode of teaching, but should put certain interventions in place to strengthen it and to make the learning environment more favourable for students.

Background: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a strategy used to try to limit new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, as it has the potential to reduce HIV and/or AIDS transmission from women to men by up to 60%. However, in spite of efforts by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, only a few men in Namibia have been circumcised. The objective of this study was to explore and describe the facilitators of, and barriers to, medical male circumcision for HIV prevention in Kavango East, Namibia.Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was employed. The accessible population in this study comprised 18 health professionals who were selected for the study using a purposive sampling technique.Results: Participants reported numerous barriers to VMMC in Namibia. Barriers to VMMC included ‘myths’ and misconceptions attached to VMMC, age limitations, fear of pain and stigma associated with HIV, small VMMC team and long distances from health facilities. Facilitators to VMMC included family support, having experienced genital sores and genital warts or phimosis and paraphimosis.Conclusion: The study revealed that a number of barriers must be overcome before VMMC before the desired number of men take advantage of VMMC. Multiple factors act as constraints to VMMC, including fear, myths and misconceptions, small VMMC teams and the long distance between clients’ homes and VMMC services.Contribution: The study’s findings can be used to develop targeted interventions and strategies that can be used by VMMC providers to address the identified barriers.

Background: Whilst the number of students who choose to enrol at institutions of higher education continues to increase, class size remains a challenge. Therefore, institutions of higher education should continuously explore the challenges experienced by students regarding learning in large classes and devise strategies to address such challenges. The experiences of nursing students regarding learning in large classes and its effects on teaching and learning at the University of Namibia (UNAM) and in Namibia are not extensively researched.Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of nursing students regarding learning in large classes and its effects on teaching and learning at the UNAM.Methods: A qualitative explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed. Data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews to ascertain the experiences of nursing students regarding learning in large classes and its effects on teaching and learning at the UNAM. Fifteen undergraduate nursing students from the Rundu campus participated in the study using a purposive sampling technique.Results: The analysis of data led to the emergence of the following themes namely: negative learning experiences, positive learning experiences and mechanisms for improvement. The findings had a negative effect on participants’ learning outcomes.Conclusion: Findings from this study indicated that participants were dissatisfied with the size of their classes as the learning environment was not conducive for teaching and learning.

Background: Blood transfusion plays a significant role in maternal and child-care interventions, as well as by saving lives following natural disasters. Ignorance and fear among the general population in Namibia limit the numbers of blood donors, leaving the Namibian Blood Transfusion Services (NAMBTS) with insufficient donations for hospital patients. A review of the literature did not disclose publications on the factors that contribute to the low number of blood donors in Namibia, despite the urgent need for an increased pool of blood donors.Aim: The aim was to explore and describe the factors contributing to the low number of blood donors among the employed residents of the Oshatumba village, Oshana Region, Namibia.Settings: Interviews were conducted at a peri-urban village located in the eastern part of the Oshakati District in the Oshana Region.Methods: A qualitative methodology utilising explorative, descriptive and contextual strategies. Data were collected by means of individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, who were selected through convenience sampling.Results: The study discovered three themes: (1) the concept of blood donation; (2) factors contributing to low blood donations and (3) practical suggestions to increase the low uptake of blood donations.Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that individual health status, religious beliefs and misconceptions associated with blood donations are among the factors that cause a low level of blood donations.Contribution: The research findings can be used to develop strategies and targeted interventions to increase the number of blood donors.

Smoking involves inhaling, exhaling, holding or otherwise having control over an ignited tobacco product. This practice remains a global budden and deaths caused by smoking-related conditions is believed to have escalated. Many countries in the world have policies in place that regulate the production, transportation, handling and utilization of tobacco products in order to compact this budden of smoking. Despite these effort, various contributing factors of smoking amongst which peer-pressure forms part, are believed to be cause of an increase in the number of new smokers. Nicotine is one of the constituents of tobacco smoke which causes a pleasant feelings which in return contributes to addiction. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals with some known to be carcinogens. Smoking during pregnancy poses danger to a pregnant mother and her unborn babe as they exchange blood. The public needs to be educated on the danger of smoking, and exposure to second-hand smoke as well as on strategies that one can follow to quit smoking.

Hepatitis E (HEV) remains one of the foremost public health problems globally and it is estimated to have affected one-third of the human population. Usually, symptoms appear 2 to 9 weeks after exposure to the virus and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, and jaundice. While the government has a duty to provide access to clean water, communities, and individuals can equally play an important role in practicing and maintaining good physical and environmental hygiene. In Namibia, the spread of HEV has been a public health concern since it's outbreak in 2017. Before then, the country had two outbreaks in 1983 and 1995-1996 which affected mainly areas lacking potable water and waste disposal facilities in Kavango region. This chapter ought to provide an overview and different prevention measures and supportive management approaches used to contain and prevent the spread of HEV. The above statistic calls for plans and actions from national, regional, district management teams to implement effective active surveillance interventions in place that are geared towards curbing the spread of HEV.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, over 1,000 newborns are infected with HIV every day, despite available medical in- terventions. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) remains one of the primary sources of HIV infection in children and without interventions 40% of babies born from HIV-positive mothers would be infected with the virus. It is estimated that 300 000 children become infected with HIV worldwide, whilst 1.5 million children die when their mothers opt for other choices instead of breastfeeding. Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess and describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of HIV-positive mothers regarding the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding at Rundu Intermediate Hospital, Kavango East Region in Namibia. Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey that used convenience sampling, as the researcher sought to use subjects available during the time of study to select 79 HIV positive mothers. Results: Participants in this study (94%; n=51) had good knowledge of the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding and that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child. The results confirmed that (77.2%; n=42) of the mothers opted to take ART with the babies until they stop breastfeeding. Conclusion: HIV positive mothers had good knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the benefits of exclusive breast- feeding. A significant number of mothers were, however, not sure about breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months as they would stop if offered free formula milk for the baby. Support by the fathers and others in the community is vital. Keywords: Knowledge; HIV; breastfeeding; attitudes; practices; HIV-positive mothers; Namibia.

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