Browsing by Author "Rennie, Timothy"

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    Inequalities of nutrition: The Namibian paradox
    (University of Namibia, 2012) Misihairabgwi, Jane M.; Rennie, Timothy
    The paradoxical coexistence of obesity with undernutrition has been we!l documented worldwide. In many developing countries, 6o % of households contain both underweight and obese individuals, a situation referred to as the "dual burden household". The Namibian population is simultaneously made up of groups of overweight and obese individuals as well as a large group of underweight individuals. Based on data collected from 2003 to 2004, 28 % of Namlbians were categorized as underweight, 11 % as overweight and 7 % as obese. Among adults, aged 30-46, 29% were categorized as overweight or obese. In a middle-income country such as Namibia, food scarcity may no longer be the driving factor behind energy intake. Instead, the availability of cheap, energy dense foods may facilitate the consumption of more calories whiJe an indoor, sedentary lifestyle would further reduce the average daily energy expenditure. Specific cultural perceptions may also encourage obesity. The 'double burden' of disease that has been created threatens to overwhelm the health services in Namibia. In this paper, we document reports on nutritional inequality internationally, and in Namibia specifically, and propose a research strategy to address the burden of the coexistence of under nutrition and obesity in Namibia. The paper documents a useful starting point for understanding the determinants of inequalities in nutritional status and provides some understanding of the causes of inequalities in nutritional status as well as the factors responsible for inequalities in health and nutritional status of individuals.
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    Psychology and adherence of tuberculosis patients: Do illness perceptions predict poor adherence to TB management?
    (University of Namibia, 2015) Rennie, Timothy; Bates, Ian
    To quantitatively explore illness and medication perceptions of tuberculosis patients and to examine their impact on patient adherence to medical management. A questionnaire eliciting illness and medicines perceptions and socio-demographic data was designed. TB patients in three TB services in North East London were recruited and completed the questionnaire. Further data, including the outcome measure of clinic attendance, were collected from clinical notes. Bivariate data analysis was conducted and variables most associated with the outcome measure were entered for regression analysis. Recruited patients were characteristic of TB patients in North East London (n = 109). Patients reported perceptions of short timeline, greater personal control and treatment control over their illness, somewhat incoherent and negative emotional perceptions of their TB, and general perceptions of the benefit of their medicines. Correlations were observed between illness and medicines perceptions, and with self-reported and outcome adherence measures. Regression analysis identified that patients speaking English as a first language and patients with negative emotional representations were more likely to miss scheduled clinic appointments. Illness perceptions may present modifiable factors for use in interventions designed to promote TB patient adherence. Further research needs to clarify the relationship between illness/medication perceptions and adherence.