Browsing by Author "Zealand, Donovan"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Indigenous knowledge of HIV/AIDS among High School students in Namibia
    (BioMed Central The Open Access Publisher, 2011) Chinsembu, Kazhila C.; Shimwooshili-Shaimemanya, Cornelia N.; Kasanda, Choshi D.; Zealand, Donovan
    The use of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) can help students to form schemas for interpreting local phenomena through the prism of what they already know. The formation of schemas related to HIV/AIDS risk perception and prevention is important for individuals to form local meanings of the HIV /AIDS epidemic. The objective of this study was to explore the indigenous names and symptoms of HIY/AIDS among High School students in Namibia
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    Physical activity and self-esteem: A Namibian youth perspective
    (Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2008) Zealand, Donovan
    Youngsters who feel inferior, deprived, shamed, and frustrated express those feelings through various antisocial behaviours, ranging from delinquency to suicidal tendencies. Youth from dysfunctional families often have low academic skills, vague or totally missing career goals, a poor or complete lack of work history, abuse drugs and, or alcohol, and have been involved with the juvenile justice system. Our society still emphasizes punishment before rehabilitation for crimes, which occur because children lack socialization. Children who have had drug or alcohol problems as early as the age of six or seven become involved in substance abuse-related crimes before the teenage years and continue to have conduct disorders well after adolescence. The current situation in Namibia suggests that there is need for concern about youth in an at-risk context. Research has shown that the enhancement of self-esteem and self-efficacy can be an important contributing factor to both the prevention of psychological and physical illness and the maintenance of health. Exercise is in the position of being able to contribute to the prevention of illness or the reduction of its effects through the process of improving self-esteem. Reviews of the literature illustrate clearly that exercise contributes to improvements in self-esteem. A lack of quality education, unemployment and poverty have always been inter-related and a contributing factor towards low self-esteem, and in this regard Namibia has experienced an alarming increase in youth suicide over the past few years.
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    Reasons for code switching in upper primary classes in the Khomas Educational Region
    (Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2011) Mouton, B.D.; Mowes, Andrew D.; Zealand, Donovan
    In this article, the views of upper primary school teachers in the Khomas educational region regarding code switching were investigated. A questionnaire and interviews were administered to a stratified sample of 13 schools with 44 participants that were aware of the occurrences of code switching within their classes. It was found that the main reasons for code switching were due to its usefulness in the teaching environment, such as transmitting of knowledge, clarifying concepts or meanings, and assisting learners who had a deficiency in the competence of the English language. Code switching was furthermore used in the classrooms when discipline problems arose and when learners were not paying attention.
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    Sexuality, HIV/AIDS and contraception. A Namibian youth perspective
    (Namibian Educational Research Association (NERA), 2008) Zealand, Donovan
    The current situation in Namibia suggests that there is need for concern about youth in an at-risk context. Education, unemployment and poverty have always been inter-related and Namibia has experienced an alarming increase in youth unemployment over the past few years. Poverty exacerbates the crises and also constraints individual’s choices about issues relating to sexual behaviour, which makes especially the youth vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection. According to the Department of Health Services, 37% of Namibian women had experienced sexual intercourse by the age of 18, rising to 61% by the age of 20. Knowledge of modern contraceptive methods was high (more that 80%) among female adolescents, but practice was very low. Only 11% of sexually active females aged 15 to 19 reported using modern contraceptives. The first of the study aim was to gain practical insight about perceptions amongst the youth about sexuality and HIV/AIDS and contraceptive use, which can assist in the formulation of a strategy towards HIV/AIDS education for Namibian youth in an at-risk context. The second aim was to gather descriptive data from Namibian youth about a number of personal issues, with special emphasis on those issues related to the creation of an “at-risk” environment. The participants in this study were youth living in an at-risk context (Katutura and Khomasdal) in Namibia (N= 305). For the purpose of data collection, it was decided to use a quantitative approach, through the administration of a questionnaire. The research evidence suggests that access to a full range of sexual and reproductive health education services is inadequate, despite the fact that many young Namibians are already sexually active and in need of information and healthcare. There is a need to empower marginalized youth, provide good leadership and establish support. All stakeholders have a responsibility to help the youth develop practical psychological and social skills to equip them for positive social behaviour and for coping with negative pressures. There is a need to create educational programmes that responds imaginatively to the crises. Skilled-based intervention strategies can also promote numerous positive attitudes and behaviours, including healthy decision-making, improved communication, and effective situational analysis.
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    The status of health education in Namibian schools
    (Sense Publications, 2012) Kasanda, Choshi D.; Keyter, M.C.; Zealand, Donovan