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Item Inclusion of dry sex and polygyny in HIV and AIDS behavior change programmes: Case studies from selected NGO’s in the Zambezi region, Namibia(University of Namibia, 2022) Mogotsi, ImmacullateThis study explored the cultural practices of dry sex and polygyny that could potentially perpetuate HIV. The study further enquired whether the two cultural practices are included in HIV and AIDS behaviour change programmes. Dry sex refers to a phenomenon where women insert herbs into the vagina to reduce vaginal lubrication during sexual intercourse. The practice is associated with tearing and cuts of the vaginal wall and glans of the penis, and this heightens the risk of contracting HIV. Polygyny refers to a practice where one man is married to more than one wife at the same time. Such marriages are an institutionalised form of concurrent sexual partnerships which can also increase the spread of HIV by creating more connected sexual networks. The objective was to explore dry sex and polygyny that might promote the spread of HIV among women, as well as assessing HIV and AIDS behaviour change programmes adopted culturally appropriate and sensitive prevention strategies. A focused ethnography method which consisted of in-depth, semi-structured interviews and focused observations with field notes was employed. In total, 33 participants from non-governmental organisations, traditional leaders, traditional healers, Life Skills teachers, instructors of Sikenge (girl child initiation instructors), men, women, youth and staff members from Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Zambezi Regional Council that are responsible for HIV and AIDS Behaviour Change Programmes were interviewed. The research sites were in Windhoek, Kabbe and Katima Mulilo. The study employed Vygotsky Social Constructivist Theory which views human development as a socially mediated process in which individual acquire their cultural values, beliefs and problem-solving strategies through interactions with other members of iii society. Hence, practices such as polygyny and dry sex are learned through social interaction. Connell’s Theory of gender and power was also employed to illustrate sexual inequality, gender and power imbalance perpetuate women’s vulnerability to HIV. The findings indicate that the cultural practices of dry sex and polygyny were commonly practised in Kabbe and Katima Mulilo. Despite the risk of HIV associated with these cultural practices, behaviour change programmes had responded differently to address them. For example, none of the interventions had targeted the practice of polygyny directly. Similarly, no targeted interventions had been devised to address dry sex; hence, the practice persisted. This study, concludes that it is imperative to devise HIV interventions that are culturally appropriate and sensitive. Cultural practices such as dry sex and polygyny should be included in HIV and AIDS behaviour change programmes.Item HIV & AIDS stigma, Namibian newspapers and health policies, 2000 - 2012: An investigation of framing, priming and agenda-setting effects(University of Namibia, 2020) Njuguna, Perpetua WanjaMedia representation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) disease has greatly influenced how the disease and those who are affected by it are perceived in the society, thus often causing stigma towards those infected and affected. This dissertation therefore investigated to what extent stigma is present in print media reporting on HIV & AIDS in Namibia. This is because controlling the spread and managing HIV & AIDS in the country has been a major challenge not only for the nation but for other southern African countries due to the high prevalence (Lewthwaite & Wilkins, 2009, p.333). Using purposive sampling, the researcher selected articles in two Namibian newspapers – The Namibian - the largest private newspaper and New Era - the largest government newspaper in Namibia, all totaling 1334 to determine framing of HIV & AIDS stories. This approach was also used to identify texts as well as headlines which were content analyzed because purposive sampling is quite useful given the nature of reporting on HIV & AIDS in the local press (Wimmer & Dominick, 2014, Leedy & Ormrod, 2005). Priming, Framing, Agenda-Setting and Social Construction of Reality theories undergirded the research (Goffman, 1974; Iyengar & Kinder, 1987; Scheufele & Tewksbury, 2007; Berger & Luckmann, 1966) while its philosophical basis was constructivism (Phillimore & Goodson, 2004), which is a theoretical framework which argues that human beings construct meaning from a combination of their lived experiences and ideas. There are many findings of the research as there are three stand alone chapters but a brief from all the three: (1) That high level of stigma exists in framing HIV & AIDS stories in the two newspapers; (2) the complex nature of coverage of HIV & AIDS stories is evident in the way reporters write stories about the epidemic as well as those who are affected by HIV & AIDS; (3) how the stories are presented exhibits thematic and contextual characteristics of the epidemic; (4) Policy developers need to incorporate media as key stakeholders; (5) Few of critical persons that deal with issues of HIV or AIDS such as reporters and others working with HIV & AIDS organisations are aware of the UNAIDS Terminology Guidelines – UNAIDS needs to correct that; (6) UNAIDS’ advise that organisations should not use HIV/AIDS should also be subject to their own use of the words as in their various documents, they still use HIV/AIDS; (7) Specialised training of media reporters on HIV & AIDS as well as other stigmatised diseases is inevitable. The principal contribution to knowledge of this study is that a high level of stigma is still driving the way HIV & AIDS is reported in Namibia. Secondly, HIV & AIDS reporting should be regarded as a specialized area requiring specialized training to be given coverage in a neutral and value free manner in the mass media. Thirdly, it is proposed that Namibia specific AIDS reporting guidelines such as this study produced be formulated to address this shortcoming. Words form local languages can be added to the final Reporting Code.Item Access and utilisation of knowledge and information by aquaculture farmers in Namibia(University of Namibia, 2019) Yule, WilsonThis study on access and utilisation of information and knowledge by aquaculture famers in Namibia investigated the knowledge gap that exists between information and aquaculture production by providing research based evidence on the nature and extent of information utilised by aquaculture farmers in Namibia. The study was driven by the main research question; what is the level of access and utilisation of knowledge and information by aquaculture farmers in Namibia?, and it was guided by two theories: Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory that explained how a new innovation is adopted in society and Kuhlthau’s Six Stage model of the Information Search. The mixed methods research design employed a concurrent triangulation approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data collection methods used for the quantitative research were surveys, and semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis for the qualitative. The population comprised of all fish farmers and their managers in Namibia, and the fish farmers’ database at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources was used as a sampling frame. The survey respondents were selected using a multi stage sampling technique, starting with a simple random sample as well as employing convenient sampling technique while key informants (managers) were selected using the purposive sampling technique. The key findings of the study revealed that fish farmers lacked the required information to fulfil their information needs. They needed the information for problem solving, performing tasks and decision making. The study also showed that fish farmers used different types of information which cuts across different disciplines and this information included agricultural information, health information, environmental information, technological information, business and trade information, and government policies and plans. Several information sources used by fish farmers were newspapers, Internet, textbooks, experts, etc. and they shared information on various topics amongst themselves such as fish markets and harvests, weather forecast, types of fish species, modern fishing methods, site of shoal, fish feeds, and fishing regulations and government policies. The study established that fish farmers could not attend information literacy and knowledge competencies training regularly, though this should not be interpreted to mean that they lacked information and knowledge on aquaculture production. The study proposes an information access and utilisation model (Integrated Aquaculture Information System) that can support aquaculture farmers as users of information, and also highlights the importance of information and knowledge for sustainable livelihoods amongst fish farmers.Item Perceived impact of mass media campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention among the youth in Oshana region, northern Namibia(University of Namibia, 2010) Shikongo, Regina MpinganaThis study explores the perceived impact of mass media campaigns in communicating information on HIV/AIDS prevention to in-school (ISY) and out-of-school youth (OOSY) in Oshana Region, northern Namibia. Mass media campaigns have become one of the acknowledged means for stemming the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Since the first case of HIV/AIDS was diagnosed in Namibia in 1986, HIV/AIDS has become the number one cause of hospitalisation and death among people of all ages and of both sexes in the country. The mass media campaign organisations disseminate information through radio, television and printed materials based on the conventional health education model. Despite the high level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS which the youth were found to have, there is little change in their lifestyle and sexual behaviours and the HIV infections have continued at a high rate in the country. It is against this background that this study was conducted in Oshana Region, northern Namibia, one of the regions with a high HIV/AIDS infection rate in the country. The study employed a survey based on the probability sampling approach, using simple random and stratified sampling methods. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Key theories and models of social behavioural change served as a cornerstone of the study in explaining how knowledge, belief and understanding influence behavioural change in young people towards HIV/AIDS prevention. Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package in Social Science (SPSS) software and analysed in a descriptive manner. The data indicate that respondents have adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention. The study findings also revealed that youth have a good understanding and moderately high self-efficacy concerning HIV/AIDS prevention. Moreover, the study results indicate that mass media campaigns organisations only use the conventional health education model to disseminate information on behaviour change. Based on the study findings, the researcher proposes an integrated dialogical health communication model to disseminate information to the youth. The proposed model promotes change in life style and sexual behaviours based on dialogue and participation that empowers the youth to understand issues and environments in which they live as individuals and members of communities.Item Human mobility and Namibian family transformation: an analysis of socio-economic development and family-migrant connections in contemporary Namibia(University of Namibia, 2018) Venditto, BrunoThe dissertation attempts to present migration from a holistic perspective where the decision to move is the result of an assessment of competing strategies open to potential migrants. This is a bid by globally marginalised populations for economic security; a deliberate decision taken by the family to improve their livelihood. Migrants are here seen as social actors, or agents, who confront structural socioeconomic contexts, which offer both constraints and opportunities. The migrants’ reflexive rational assessment of such limiting and enabling structures determines the decision-making process, and the subsequent behavioural outcomes. Namibia is currently experiencing a high level of unemployment and underemployment across large portions of its population, and hence levels of poverty and inequality remain high, 26 years after independence from South Africa. Migrants now seek lifestyles, work, income, welfare benefits, and the chance to aid family networks back home through the strategic axial advantage of the remittance system. This thesis critically utilised the structuration and agency theory as a contextual and conceptual means to make sense of Namibian migration, while at the same time focusing on the way in which both financial and social remittances can modify the socio-economic status of the migrants’ families, providing empirical evidence from Namibia on the role that migration can have on local development. The epistemological design used emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, which combines economic and sociological paradigms, to investigate the impact of internal migration on transforming the socio-economic structure of the Namibian family. These considerations were instrumental in the choice of Charmaz’s (2006, 2014), constructivist grounded theory version for the study. Using the grounded theory approach allowed the participants to express their own experiences related to the decision to migrate and to present their perspective on the consequences of such a decision, while at the same time giving the participants and the researcher, the possibility of reflexively investigating on it. Internal migration appears to be a mix of specific coping strategies put in place by the family to face the socio-economic adversities, combined with the migrants’ personal motivations. The research found that individual aspiration to materially progress in life goes beyond mere economic gratification. The moral sentiment of the migrant, out of a sense of responsibility for the family, and concern for the community (or country), is linked with the gratification and respect received by their family members, community and friends. Shifting the emphasis to the migrants’ personal motivations, as suggested in the thesis, provides an unconventional explanation of the drivers of migration compared to the one presented by mainstream migration theories and doctrine. This research’s approach was found to provide a phenomenologically more meaningful and comprehensive understanding of the complexities (personal, familial, and community) of the migration challenges facing Namibians.Item Records and archives management in post-colonial Zimbambwe's public service(University of Namibia, 2016) Matangira, VioletGood recordkeeping systems are reported to have existed in the colonial period, while general crisis situations have been reported in many postcolonial African nations, including Zimbabwe. The main concern of this study was why this seemingly success factor in colonial recordkeeping failed to continue in postcolonial Africa, including Zimbabwe, as reported in various studies. In light of these insights, this study therefore sought to conduct an investigation of the status of records and archives management in postcolonial Zimbabwe so as to have in-depth explanations on its postcolonial recordkeeping experiences. The study took a colonial-postcolonial dimension in an effort to gain in-depth explanations on the strengths or weaknesses of current recordkeeping practices; and to find out if the situation regarding recordkeeping, as observed in other countries, is applicable to the Zimbabwean context. This case study on Zimbabwe, carried out within an interpretivist paradigm, employed qualitative data collection methods of interviews, observations and documents search. This was in order to gain in-depth insights into the state of records and archives management in the Public Service of Zimbabwe; which constituted the population of the study. The total targeted sample was 76 interviewees distributed as follows: three persons from each of the 24 Ministries comprising the Permanent Secretary, the Records Supervisor, and one Action Officer; three from the National Archives of Zimbabwe comprising the Director, Head of Records Management section and Head of Public Archives section; and one key person from the Ministry of Information & Communication Technology, Postal & Courier Services (MICTPCS) responsible for ICT issues in the Public Service of Zimbabwe. Observations were made on recordkeeping facilities at the registries within the Ministries. In addition, an assessment of related recordkeeping documents was also carried out The study revealed that, contrary to the general notion of collapsing recordkeeping systems in many postcolonial African scenarios, the recordkeeping systems established in the colonial era in Zimbabwe did not actually collapse but, in fact, the continued use of these archaic manual systems from the colonial past became the main source of recordkeeping problems in Zimbabwe. The absence of information communication technologies (ICTs) in the management of records and archives overwhelmed the traditional manual system resulting in the system‟s failure to incorporate technology-based records into the formal recordkeeping systems. This problem was compounded by lack of ICT resources, skills, and a general lack of government commitment to make a paradigm shift from manual to electronic recordkeeping systems. Nevertheless, the study also found many strong points in Zimbabwe‟s recordkeeping systems. Top among them is that Zimbabwe inherited a strong recordkeeping system from the colonial times and by the time of independence; the country had over four decades of archival experience. In addition, the transitional period into independence did not disrupt recordkeeping systems but in fact allowed continuation and consolidation of recordkeeping work. The government‟s deliberate records management expansion drive, which saw the decentralisation of records management facilities and an active archivist training programme helped consolidate recordkeeping work in Zimbabwe. Archival legislation was also revised and improved to support the expansion drive. The study attributes the strong archival framework found in the country to a cocktail of these factors even though there were operational problems in between the life-cycle stages. The study, however, singles out the effects of the current Zimbabwean political and economic crisis which threatens to derail the good framework available; worsens the weak points already in the system, and could lead to collapsing recordkeeping systems. With this state of affairs in Zimbabwe, the study recommends, through a proposed model, points of intervention that recognise the strong factors found in the system but also incorporates those factors that have been overlooked. More importantly, it recommends introducing new aspects of ICTs that relate to electronic records management, which were found to be inadequate in the current recordkeeping systems.Item Information needs and seeking behaviour of orphans and vulnerable children and their caregivers, and the role of service providers in Namibia(2013) Mnubi-Mchombu, ChikuIn 2000, world leaders adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which are aimed at, among other targets, halving extreme poverty and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS by the year 2015. The two MDG goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and combating, HIV/AIDS are relevant to the present study (National Planning Commission, Republic of Namibia, 2004:1). In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS met to raise world leaders' awareness of the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and also to get their support. One of the key recommendations of the conference was to strengthen the capacity of countries to protect orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) by ensuring access to essential services (Foster, Levine and Williamson, 2005:282; MoRSS, 2007c:6; MoRSS, 2007d: 2; MoRSS, 2008a:191). The present study is set against this background. The purpose of this study was to investigate the information needs and seeking behaviour of OVC and caregivers, and to examine the role of service providers in disseminating information to OVC and caregivers in Namibia. Although several studies focusing on different aspects of the OVC situation have been done, the researcher could not identify any study that focused on the information needs and seeking behaviour of OVC and their caregivers in Namibia and how the two groups satisfy their information needs at present. In order to obtain data from the respondents, the study adopted qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection. A questionnaire was mailed to the sampled service providers, while interviews were conducted with OVC and caregivers. Focus group discussions were also held with caregivers and key informants in order to explore the general attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions of the research population with respect to information needs and seeking behaviours. The study took place in the rural community of Ohangwena and the urban setting of Khomas. A total of 566 OVC, 70 caregivers, and 18 services providers from both regions took part in the study. A total of eleven focus group discussions took place; eight focus group discussions were held in Ohangwena, while three were in the Khomas region. Both rural and urban OVC indicated that they needed information in order to access financial assistance/grants, child care/support, feeding schemes, and health servtces. The most important information required, according to the OVC from Ohangwena, was information on school development fund exemption, fmancial assistance or grants, health services, child care/support and training opportunities. The OVC from Khomas had similar priorities with the exception of training opportunities, which was replaced with counselling. Both rural and urban OVC consulted relatives, teachers, and friends to satisfy their information needs, indicating that people were their most important source of information. The findings from focus group discussions (FGDs) with caregivers and key informants indicated that there are disparities between rural and urban areas in terms of information access and use based on literacy and education. For example, the rural dwellers cited their need for information on educational support, psychological and counselling services, child care/support, and job opportunities. In the urban setting of Khomas, educational support and the establishment of small businesses featured as prominent needs. The FGDs revealed that the radio, traditional leaders, regional councillors, friends and relatives were the most important sources and channels of information in Ohangwena, while in Khomas, friends and relatives, community leaders, and regional councillors were the most popular channels. Social workers and the television were also popular channels in Khomas. The findings of the study indicate that service providers provide a range of services to OVC and caregivers in both rural and urban areas. In the rural areas, the majority of the supporting organisations had health-related programmes focusing on feeding schemes and nutrition, and HN/AIDS awareness. In urban areas, service providers provided psychosocial support, counselling, and resilience services. The findings reveal that the majority of the service providers used community meetings and public forums to communicate their own information and to create awareness of their services in both regions. The channels that were most frequently used in Ohangwena were community meetings and open forums, while the use of volunteers featured prominently in Khomas. The OVC and caregivers encountered various problems in accessing information, including: long distance to access information and _services; language barrier for printed materials; shortage of service providers in rural areas; lack of coordination of service providers; and bureaucratic red tape from government departments. Major recommendations stemming from the study include: the need for service providers to provide clear information on how to' access the different services that target OVC and caregivers; service providers should collaborate and use mass media channels to disseminate information; the need for a "one stop shop" where all information related to OVC services would be made available; and the need to provide information in local languages. The study concluded that information provision is a crucial resource for OVC and caregivers because it helps them ideJ).tify and take advantage of available services. Conversely, lack of information leads to the lower utilization of available services and increased poverty and disempowerment. Several recommendations are made on how to improve the flow of information to OVC and caregivers to help them easily locate and use facilities and services that have been set up for them either by the government, or by non-governmental organisations and other service providers. The study also proposes a model to improve the provision of information to OVC and caregivers in the two regions.Item Mass media, lifestyle and young adults’ (un)reflexive negotiation of social and individual identities in Windhoek(University of Stellenbosch, 2012) Fox, TomThe rapidly growing presence of old and new media in postcolonial Namibia, particularly from the decade after the turn of the Millennium, has significance for cultural and identity transformations in the country. Formerly entrenched social identities, shaped by restrictive colonialism and indigenous traditions, appear to be under pressure as shifts become apparent in the face of globalisation.This thesis examines the characteristics of change from the perspective of young adults’ mediated experiences in the city of Windhoek. The research constitutes a cultural study that addresses the current knowledge gap regarding how growing local and global media presences are increasingly situated in youth identity and cultural lifestyle spaces. Degrees of reflexive response to mediated information and entertainment are examined in an attempt to understand awareness of and reaction to local and global power narratives situated in actors’ relationships with media. It was found that participants responded positively to the novelty and opportunities that global media offered for identity and lifestyle negotiations, while also revealing ontological anxieties about erosion of ‘traditional’ culture, and concern about absence of recognition and representation of the ‘local’ in global media productions. This led to the research conceptually establishing three participant orientations to media: cultural expropriationist, cultural traditionalist and cultural representationalist. The study concluded that while media seemed to be instrumental in identity and cultural change, social tension over matters of culture appeared to be emerging. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.zaItem Perceived impact of mass media campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention among the youth in Oshana region, northern namibia(2010) Shikongo, Regina MpinganaAbstract provided by authorItem The effect of HIV/AIDS related mortality on family structures in Namibia(2009) Edwards-Jauch, LucyItem A study of electronic record management in the Namibian Public Service in the context of e-government(2009) Nengomasha, Cathrine T.Abstract provided by authorItem Business information needs, seeking patterns and information services in the small, medium and micro enterprises sector in Namibia(2008) Chiware, Elisha R.;This thesis reports on a study conducted to investigate the business information needs, seeking patterns and information services for small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in Namibia. The survey methodology was used and questionnaires were distributed to 308 SMMEs and 60 business service providers in the Windhoek and Oshana districts of Namibia. An in-depth qualitative assessment of the business information services was also conducted in 15 business support organisations in the two districts. The data collected through questionnaires was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. The study revealed that SMMEs have a range of business information needs and top among them are information on: finance, marketing, training and business information. The study also revealed that the information seeking patterns of SMMEs are largely informal with limited use of formal business information services provided by a range of business support services. There are several business support organisations in Namibia providing a range of services, including the provision of business information services. However, the study established that there is need for a coordinated approach towards the provision of business information services in the SMME sector in Namibia. The study showed that the utilisation of ICTs among SMMEs is very limited to basic computer operations like word processing, book-keeping packages, and spreadsheets. The use of Internet as a business tool and source of business information among SMMEs is also very limited. However, the study shows that the utilisation of ICTs among business support organisations is advanced and that this could be used as a platform to improve information delivery services to the SMMEs. The study proposes a strategic model that could be used in the deployment of business information services in the SMME sector. This strategy is based on a definition of business information services, components of business information services and the steps that must be followed in the development of the services. The proposed strategy also outlines the steps that should be taken in the impact assessment of business information services. The study concludes by making several recommendations concerning the improvement of business information delivery services to the SMME sector. Business support organisations and, in particular government and Chambers of Commerce and Industry need to consider various approaches in the design of sustainable business information services.