Browsing by Author "Kaundjua, Maria B."

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    The changing climate and human vulnerability in north-central Namibia
    (2016) Angula, Margaret; Kaundjua, Maria B.
    North-central Namibia is more vulnerable to effects of climate change and variability. Combined effects of environmental degradation, social vulnerability to poverty and a changing climate will compromise subsistence farming in north-central Namibia (NCN). This will make subsistence and small-scale farmers in the region more vulnerable to projected changes in the climate system. Thus, the aim of this article was to examine factors contributing to subsistence farmers’ vulnerability to impacts of climate change. The article further discusses different aspects of human vulnerability and existing adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate related disasters experienced over the past three to four decades in NCN. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches and methodology were employed to obtain information from subsistence farmers in north-central Namibia. The sociodemographic characteristics of Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati Region reveals high levels of unemployment, high adult and elderly population and high dependency on agricultural livelihood system. These indicators help understand levels of household vulnerability. The study concludes that households interviewed revealed low levels of adaptive capacity due to exposure to climate risks and combined effects of social, political and cultural factors. This article provided an understanding that is required to inform the adaptation pathways relevant for NCN.
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    Community perceptions of climate change and vanability impacts in Oshana and Ohangwena Regions
    (University of Namibia, 2012) Kaundjua, Maria B.; Angula, Margaret; Angombe, Simon T.
    The links between climate change, social and economic development, health, and environmental sustainability have become a dominant and urgent global concern. Understanding community perceptions leads to successful adaptation to climate change. This paper analyses community perceptions of climate change in selected Namibian regions. The study applied the qualitative research approach using the focus group discussion method. The data collection was conducted within a Socio-economic and Gender Analysis framework. The study has revealed that the communities are aware that the climate is changing due to changes observed in the past three to four decades. However, the study concluded that the communities do not have an adaptive capacity to respond to catastrophic natural disaster events such as the recurrent floods of 2009, ww & 2011. The study recommends a programme on community awareness regarding climate variability and change and its implications. The government in collaboration with communities and other relevant stakeholders should set up a long-term adaptation strategy for Namibia.
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    The determinants of the child mortality rate in rural Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2013) Kaundjua, Maria B.
    From a policy perspective, the most useful information about child mortality is its determinants. Hence, during the 20th and 21st centuries, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to identifying factors associated with low child mortality in developing countries. The identification of factors that account for variations in childhood mortality is essential in the formulation of policies and programs that aim to reduce child mortality. This paper analyses and compares the determinants of child mortality in Namibia, nationally, and in the two rural regional health directorates (RHDs), namely the Northeast and Northwest, using the 2006-07 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey. The Cox proportional hazard model is applied to assess the relative effects of the independent variables on child mortality. The results show that short birth intervals and widowed or divorced mothers had the highest risk of child mortality (p < 0.001) in Namibia as a whole as well as in the two rural RHDs. Whilst the variables of a toilet facility and mothers’ education showed significance in both the Northeast and Northwest RHDs, their risks were lower in the Northwest. The variation by the sex of the household head only had a distinct impact in the Northeast RHD. These findings support policy initiatives that encourage longer birth intervals via the strengthening of contraceptive use through broader programs of sexual and reproductive health. The results of this study are also expected to guide policy makers and programme managers in the health sector to formulate targeted intervention programs to reduce child mortality in the rural regions of Namibia.
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    Drinking and its effects on risk behaviour amongst secondary school going youth in Windhoek
    (University of Namibia, 2015) Kauari, Lydia N.; Kaundjua, Maria B.; Mufune, Pempelani
    Alcohol consumption is said to constitute an emerging social problem among adolescents and youth in Namibia with one study estimating that 53.5% of youths aged 13-30 use alcohol (Barth and Hubbard, 2009). It is also said to relate to many social problems including HIV risk taking, fighting, trouble with the police and violence among school going youth. It is in this context that the aim of this study was to provide empirical evidence on alcohol use and abuse in relation to risky behaviour amongst school going youths in Windhoek. A survey targeting several schools was conducted in Windhoek. Alcohol consumption and risk taking behaviour were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square test and logistic regressions were used to examine relationships involving alcohol use and risk taking behaviour. One of the main findings is that gender is a significant predictor of engagement in risk behaviour, such as sexual intercourse without a condom, fighting, trouble with the police and violence among those that engage in drinking. We conclude that there is the need to discourage alcohol use among school going youth as a way of fighting HIV/AIDS and other risk taking behaviour.