Despite the implementation of the national standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) towards the prevention among others teenage pregnancy the, problem continues to rise across the regions of Namibia.This article presents the findings of a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study regarding the implementation of the components on Adolescent Friendly Health Care Providers and the Adolescent Friendly Environment of the Adolescent Friendly Health Services standards by nurses in Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia.Quantitative data were collected from 12 registered nurse midwives and 23 enrolled nurse-midwives who implement the AFHS at the health care facilities (through structured self-interview questionnaire) and 18 health care facilities that implement the AFHS in Otjozondjupa Region (through checklist) for triangulation of the data. The data were analysed using the SPSS Version 16 data base. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on selected variables to determine the relationship of variables.The findings indicated that only 30% of the registered nurse-midwives compared to 75% of the enrolled nurses who implement the AFHS were formally trained in adolescent reproductive and sexual health issues. The findings further indicated that although 75% and 87% of the respective categories of nurse respondents indicated that they conduct school outreach activities, the initiative seems not being implemented effectively as can be inferred from only 14% of the registered nurse who indicated that they do conduct health education at schools. In the same vein, 90% of the health facilities had no spaces that were designated for the adolescent health services. Therefore, the recommendations were made in respect of the implementation of these two components of the AFHS standards at the health care facilities in the region.

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of maternity clients’ relating to domestic violence. A quantitative, exploratory and descriptive design was utilised. The population consisted of maternity patients admitted to a referral hospital in Windhoek, Namibia. The findings indicate that some perceptions reflect biographical differences such as education, age and economic status. In some instances, perceptions of maternity clients were in line with findings published in existing literature that reported socio-economic circumstances and familial obligations which forced women to endure abuse. It was recommended that these differences in perceptions be taken into account during the counselling of maternity clients or while health education is being given. <b>Opsomming</b> Die doel van hierdie studie was om swanger vroue se persepsies in verband met gesinsgeweld verkennend te beskryf. ’n Kwantitatiewe, verkennende en beskrywende ontwerp is gebruik. Die studie was ook kontekstueel in ontwerp. Die populasie het uit swanger vroue bestaan wat in ’n verwysingshospitaal in Windhoek, Namibië, opgeneem is. Daar is bevind dat sommige persepsies deur biografiese veranderlikes bepaal word soos geletterdheidsvlak, ouderdom en ekonomiese status. In sekere gevalle is gevind dat die persepsies van swanger vroue ooreenstem met bevindinge in bestaande literatuur deurdat sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede en familieverpligtinge hulle dwing om gesinsgeweld te verduur. Daar word aanbeveel dat hierdie verskillende persepsies gedurende beradingsessies met swanger vroue of tydens gesondheidsopvoeding in ag geneem word

Despite the 1990 reforms to the health system in Namibia, mental health still receives low priority. Coupled with limited resources, health policies are directed at addressing communicable and life-threatening diseases. On the primary health care (PHC) level, health care services are either completely absent or, at best, fragmented. Therefore, an assessment of the implementation of the mental health policy that was launched in 2005 in the Oshana region of Namibia was undertaken in order to assess the extent to which the mental health policy had been implemented. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the extent of implementation and identify the challenges faced by nurses in PHC settings.A quantitative, explorative, descriptive design was used, where a total of 42 nurses from 13 health facilities in the Oshana region were conveniently included in the study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that included both open and closed-ended items. The study found that health care workers on the ground were expected to implement the policy, without have been provided with the crucial tools for implementing it, such as training, implementation guidelines, supervision, infrastructure to support the services and the materials needed to provide the services. In addition, although 77% of the research participants had received training in mental health, none expressed confidence in delivering mental health services on a PHC level. As a result, such services are not available in 94% of the health facilities in the region. This finding supports Gilson et al.'s (2008) bottom-up model of policy implementation, which holds that in order to implement a policy fully and successfully, sufficient resources for implementation at multiple levels are required.The findings call for articulated plans to address the challenges experienced in mental health policy implementation in Namibia in order to allow for the early identification of the burden associated with mental disorders.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to explore and describe the knowledge of women regarding health promotion in the prevention of breast and cervical cancer. This study was carried out in the Oshakati district at the Intermediate Hospital Oshakati. METHODOLOGY: A quantitative approach was used for this study. This approach was chosen in order to provide a comprehensive picture and understanding of the women&rsquo;s knowledge or awareness of health promotion in the prevention of breast and cervical cancer. The study population consisted of all women of child-bearing age, aged 15 to 49, in the Oshakati health district, that is, 41,985. The research sample was identified as 10% of the study population, thus numbering 419 respondents. The researcher personally distributed 419 questionnaires to every second woman of child-bearing age admitted to the Intermediate Hospital Oshakati. RESULTS: The findings indicate that awareness of information relating to breast and cervical cancer exists in Oshakati Health District. However, overall knowledge on the causes of breast and cervical cancer, risk factors for breast cancer and warning signs of cervical cancer was very poor. The findings also revealed that while many respondents were informed about breast self-examination (BSE) and had practised it, very few respondents acknowledged clinical breast examination (CBE) attendance once a year, or the use of mammography and sonar attendance as additional screening methods. RECOMMENDATIONS &amp; CONCLUSION: Based on the findings the study recommends that women should share information with their peers; in addition, radio should be used to disseminate such information as it is the most reliable source of information in the rural areas. Information, education and communication materials on the prevention of breast and cervical cancer should be developed and disseminated to the public. Women should be encouraged to develop a reading culture in order to increase their knowledge.

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Adolescents experience development related challenges more so those related to the reproductive health. If they are not guided during this transitional stage, they may reap detrimental results including teenage pregnancy. Despite the existence of the national standards for Adolescent Friendly Health Services (AFHS) to prevent among others teenage pregnancy, adolescent pregnancy continues to rise across the regions of Namibia.This article presents the findings of quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study regarding the utilization of the Adolescent Active Participation component of the Adolescent Friendly Health Services standards by the adolescent girls in Otjozondjupa region of Namibia.Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaire from a sample of 540 out of study population of 4995 school-going teenage girls as the potential users of the AFHS in Otjozondjupa Region.The findings indicated that, although the standards for the implementation of AFHS exist, adolescent girls do not utilize the services as demonstrated by high percentage (96%) of lack of awareness of the existence of the AFHS among the study participants, low (33%) use of condom among the sexually active study participants, non-participation (92%) of adolescent girls in health care committees as well as adolescents' lack of participation (91%) in development and distributions of the Information Education Communication materials (IEC). Therefore, the study recommended the strategies which may accelerate active participations of the adolescents in the implementation of the AFHS standards, particularly in Otjozondjupa region and Namibia at large.