Browsing by Author "Abankwah, Ruth M."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Health Information Literacy of the University of Namibia’s Students
    (University of Namibia, 2015) Nengomasha, Cathrine T.; Abankwah, Ruth M.; Uutoni, Wilhelm; Pazvakawambwa, Lillian
    This article presents the findings of a study on the health information literacy of students at the University of Namibia main campus. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2014 and consisted of two hundred and seventy one (271) participants aged between 17-19 years old. The quantitative study used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data. The findings show that the majority of the respondents strongly believed that health information is important and they were able to seek health information. They also strongly agreed that they knew where to seek health information and they liked to get health information from a variety of sources. The respondents indicated that they were more comfortable getting information from the Internet than print sources. A gap in health information literacy was revealed by the fact that the respondents found it difficult to know who to believe in health issues, suggesting difficulties in critically evaluating the health information and sources. The study concludes that although UNAM students appeared knowledgeable in some health information issues, there are some gaps which need to be addressed. The study therefore recommends Kickbusch’s (2008) three way intervention strategy which comprises of culture and society, health and education systems to address the existing gaps in health information literacy.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The plight of an African girl child: Traditional cultural practices in Malawi
    (UNAM Press, 2017) Abankwah, Ruth M.
    The Malawian girl child is faced with many challenges such as early marriages to older men, dropping out of school due to pregnancy and instances where the tradition requires girls to have sex with a paid sex worker (Hyena) when they reach puberty. In some tribes in Malawi, this tradition is still revered by many elders who consider it to be sexually cleansing. Sexual cleansing also applies to women whose husbands die. Such a women is required to have sex with a paid sex worker known as 'hyena' before she buries her husband (Kamlongera, 2007). This act in itself is harmful to the victims who are vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS. Such people may be left with emotional and psychological scars which may never heal. The main question this concept paper ask is: Where does one draw the line between tradition and the African girl child's rights?
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Policies and strategies that govern the management of audio-visual materials in Eastern and Southern Africa Regional branch of the International Council on Archives
    (2012) Abankwah, Ruth M.
    This paper reports the results of an empirical study on the management of audio-visual materials in the member states of the East and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA). The paper examines the extent to which national archives in ESARBICA apply archival policies and strategies to the management of audio-visual (AV) materials. The main objectives of the study were to: i) identify policies which archival institutions in ESARBICA used to manage AV materials; and ii) identify strategies which archival institutions in ESARBICA apply to the management of AV materials. The study employed a survey design. Nine countries (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Swaziland) in the region were covered. Data was gathered mainly through literature review supplemented by interviews and observation checklists. The findings revealed that while some national archives adhered to established standards and practices, others did not. It was evident that disposal and digitisation policies were lacking. Since most national archives were financially constrained, the management of AV materials did not seem to be a priority in their budgets. This in turn impacted on the preservation of AV materials.