Browsing by Author "Mitonga, Kabwebwe H."

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    An assessment of the prevalence and treatment outcomes of multiple antibiotic prescribing vis-`a-vis the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions in the empirical treatment of infections: Across-sectional study from Lesotho
    (University of Namibia, 2016) Adorka, Matthias; Mitonga, Kabwebwe H.; Allen, Kirk
    Purpose: The study had the objective of evaluating the prevalence and effectiveness of healthcare providers use of multiple antibiotics in the empiric treatment of infections. Methods: Three hundred and seven (307) antibiotic prescriptions from inpatient departments of five selected hospitals in Lesotho were assessed for their appropriateness. Antibiotic treatment success rates among patient groups and subgroups treated with antibiotic prescription categories considered appropriate and in appropriate and with specific numbers of antibiotics were determined. Correlations or associations of numbers of antibiotics per prescription and relevant variables were determined and used to evaluate the effects of multiple antibiotic prescribing on treatment outcomes. Results: Single antibiotics were almost prescribed for clinical conditions where prescribes had not absolutely identified bacteria pathogens as aetiologies of treated infections. Greater numbers of prescribed antibiotics were associated with inappropriate use of the agents in the empiric treatment of infections. Appropriateness rather than numbers of prescribed antibiotics correlated positively with treatment outcomes. Conclusion: no categorical relationship appears to exist between the number of antibiotics prescribed and treatment outcome. Prescribing higher numbers of antibiotics did not produce higher favorable treatment outcomes as compared with prescribing antibiotics appropriately.
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    Barriers to the provision of smoking cessation intervention/services: A mixed-methods study among health care workers in Zambezi region, Namibia
    (Journal of Public Health in Africa 2023, 2023) Mahoto, Silvia K.; Mitonga, Kabwebwe H.; Oladimeji, O.
    Over the past few years, several surveys have been conducted regarding smoking in Namibia; 9,10,15–19 however, there has been lack of information on the barriers towards the provision of SC intervention in Zambezi region, therefore increasing the challenges associated with developing prevention interventions. Knowledge of the barriers towards the provision of SC intervention would be essential in the design and implementation of SC strategies. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to contribute to knowl edge gaps on the identification of barriers which prevent HCWs from delivering SC therapy and treatment to patients in Zambezi region, Namibia. To our knowledge, this is the only study explor ing the barriers that prevent HCWs in Zambezi region from engag ing in SC with patients. The study outcomes presented an understanding of the regular perceived barriers that prevent HCWs in Zambezi from delivering SC intervention to their patients who smoke. The main outcomes of this study were divided into three separate categories namely; structural, healthcare workers and patient-based barriers.
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    Development of model to facilitate male involvement in the reproductive health context by the registered nurses
    (2015) Amukugo, Hans J.; Jooste, Karen; Mitonga, Kabwebwe H.
    The purpose of this article is to describe the process followed in the development of the model of facilitating male partner involvement in reproductive health (RH) context by the nurses. Namibia is one of the African countries affected by cultural and socio-economic influences that have persuaded gender roles in a way that hinders male-partner involvement in RH context. This phenomenon make difficult for the nurses to facilitate their involvement. The research methods were done in four phases. Phase 1 entitled concepts analysis. Phase one was done into two steps namely step1 - concepts identification and step 2 - concepts definition. During concept identification, qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design was followed. The target population included male and female partners attending health facilities and all nurse managers (registered nurses in charge) that provided RH services in the health facility in a northern region in Namibia. Individual interviews and focus were conducted until data saturation occurred. During the research three fundamental principles such as respect person, beneficence and justice were adhered. Tech’s eight steps of descriptive data analysis were used. Three (3) main categories, six (6) categories and twelve (12) subcategories were identified using open coding and conceptualization. The main concepts of the model were identified and classified using a survey list of Dickoff, James, Wiedenba (Dickoff,James, Wiedenbach, 1968; Mckenna, 2006). Phase 2 dealt with the creation of interrelationship statements between concepts identified in step 1. In phase 3 focuses with the description of the model using strategies proposed by (Chinn & Kramer, 1991). In phase 4, the description of guidelines and evaluation for the model was also done. The applied the principle of trustworthiness through developing dependability, credibility, transferability and confirmability in all four phases. A model was developed based on a theory generated approach. The model consist of five phase namely, situational analysis in the external environment (community) and internal environment (health facilities); establishment of partnership (male and female partner and Nurses), management process, maintaining the conducive environment and control & terminus/ outcome phase. It was concluded that facilitation of Male involvement in RH care context is needed. Further the recommendations were made to implement a model within the current health care framework in which reproductive health is provided.
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    The effects of antihypertensive drug therapies on blood glucose levels in maturity onset diabetes patients on oral hypoglycaemic drugs: The case of selected health centres in Lesotho
    (University of Namibia, 2017) Adorka, Matthias; Motseng, Letsa; Mitonga, Kabwebwe H.; Kirk, Allen
    Background: Antihypertensive drugs may cause changes in blood glucose levels. The concurrent use of these medications with hypoglycaemic drugs in diabetic patients may contribute to inadequate control of blood glucose levels. Objectives: To describe the effects of prescribed antihypertensive agents on fasting blood glucose levels of non-insulin dependent diabetic patients on treatment with oral hypoglycaemic medications. Method: Descriptive data on fasting blood glucose levels of diabetic patients on hypoglycaemic and antihypertensive drug treatments were collected retrospectively for a six-month period. Data sources were medical records of patients attending diabetic clinics in five health centres in the Maseru Health Service A rea of Lesotho. There cords were categorised in to two basic patient groups, namely, patient groups treated with only oral hypoglycaemic agents and patient groups treated with same agents concurrent with Anti-hypertensive agents. Differences in the means of the initial and end of six-months Period fasting blood glucose levels of patient treatment groups were determined and compared. Results: Patients who received an anti-diabetic drug regime concurrent with antihypertensive medication tended to show improved fasting blood glucose levels at six months, whereas patients receiving only anti diabetic drugs did not show improvement. Partly owing to the small sample size (178patients), the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Hydrochlorothiazide prescribed singly or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs was implicated in increased blood glucose levels. Captopril showed better glycaemic control for patients on oral hypoglycaemic agents. Atenolol and nifedipine appeared not to have any effects on patients’ fasting blood glucose levels. A prospective case-control study would help clarify these findings in this study’s population.
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    Knowledge and attitudes of infection prevention and control among health sciences students at University of Namibia
    (2012) Ojulong, J.; Mitonga, Kabwebwe H.; Iipinge, S.N.
    Background: Health Sciences students are exposed early to hospitals and to activities which increase their risk of acquiring infections. Infection control practices are geared towards reduction of occurrence and transmission of infectious diseases. Objective: To evaluate knowledge and attitudes of infection prevention and control among Health Science students at University of Namibia. Methods: To assess students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding infection prevention and control and their sources of information, a self-administered questionnaire was used to look at standard precautions especially hands hygiene. Results: One hundred sixty two students participated in this study of which 31 were medical, 17 were radiography and 114 were nursing students. Medical students had better overall scores (73%) compared to nursing students (66%) and radiology students (61%). There was no significant difference in scores between sexes or location of the high school being either in rural or urban setting. Conclusion: Serious efforts are needed to improve or review curriculum so that health sciences students’ knowledge on infection prevention and control is imparted early before they are introduced to the wards.
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    Knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary schools learners on sanitation and hygiene practices
    (2018) Shilunga, Anna Panduleni; Amukugo, Hans J.; Mitonga, Kabwebwe H.
    Background: Water, sanitation and hygiene played a significant role in schools by reducing water and sanitation related diseases; subsequently improving the health and learning performance of school-aged children. However, ppeople’s knowledge and attitudes on sanitation and hygiene determine the actual practice towards it. This study aimed at assessing and describing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary school learners towards sanitation and hygiene. Methods: A quantitative, descriptive design was used. A questionnaire was used to collect data among 450 learners in 10 selected primary schools in Ohangwena region. The study population was grade five, six and seven primary school learners. A three staged probability sampling method was employed. Statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. Results: The result indicated that younger learners in lower school grades, has poorer knowledge, attitudes and practices towards hygiene and sanitation than older learners irrespective of their gender, school circuits or location. This is a logical conclusion because, as learners become older, they become more aware and take precautions about hygiene and sanitation issues. Conclusions: Younger learners in lower school grades, has poorer knowledge, attitudes and practices towards hygiene and sanitation irrespective of their gender, school circuits or location. The older learners become more aware, and cautious about hygiene and sanitation issues comparing to younger learners. The practice and knowledge of sanitation and hygiene are implicated by the reality of the conditions of the sanitation facilities available to them.
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    Prevalence and risk factors of smoking among healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers in Zambezi region, Namibia: A cross-sectional study
    (Southern African Journal of Public Health, 2021) Mahoto, Silvia K.; Mitonga, Kabwebwe H.; Oladimeji, O.
    Background. Smoking is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases, and remains a significant public health challenge in many low- and middle-income countries, including Namibia. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of smoking and its associated risk factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs in Zambezi region, Namibia. Methods. An exploratory cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and October 2020 among residents of the eight constituencies of Zambezi region. A total of 461 respondents who had been residents of the selected constituencies for over 5 years and were aged between 17 and 60 years were selected for the study. The main outcome measure was current cigarette smoking status. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. We stratified data analysis according to whether individuals were health workers or non-health workers. A bivariate Pearson χ2 test was used to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics and smoking status. Statistically significant variables in the bivariate analysis were used as predictors in the univariate and multivariate models. Results. The response rate of potential participants was 95% (n=434). The mean (standard deviation) age of participants was 32.5 (11.34) years. Significant relationships were observed between smoking status and area of residency (constituency), gender, age category, level of education, age of onset of smoking and daily smoking frequency. The majority of smokers (n=108) were non-HCWs, with males the majority (n=62). Age (p=0.001), education levels (p=0.001) and area of residency (p=0.022) were highly associated with smoking among non-HCWs, while marital status was associated with smoking among HCWs (p=0.013). In the final multivariate model, the odds of smoking among female non-HCWs were significantly lower (odds ration (OR) 0.386; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.228 - 0.655). Furthermore, the odds of smoking among this same group were lower among those who had secondary-level education (OR 0.178; 95% CI 0.0659 - 0.483), post-secondary (OR 0.117; 95% CI 0.0412 - 0.330) and first-stage tertiary (OR 0.306; 95% CI 0.106 - 0.881) compared with those who had primary school education. Conclusion. The smoking prevalence among non-HCWs and HCWs working in Zambezi included in the study was similar to that of the general Namibian population, but higher than that in neighbouring countries within the Southern African Development Community. The results showed a need for the establishment of specific smoking-related strategies that target HCWs to address smoking use parallel to the running strategies of non-HCWs, which would ultimately decrease smoking prevalence and improve health.