Knowledge of pregnant women regarding tobacco and alcohol use in pregnancy at Mariental clinic, Hardap region: a quantitative study.

Globally, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy is a challenge and linked to negative effects on health and wellbeing on both mother and the fetus. To investigate the knowledge of pregnant women attending antenatal care at Mariental clinic regarding the use of tobacco and alcohol in pregnancy. A quantitative approach with descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical design was used. The population were all pregnant women attending antenatal care at Mariental clinic. Systematic sampling method was used to select the sample of 224 pregnant women. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that collected information on sociodemographic data and knowledge on tobacco and alcohol use. Data was analysed using Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics was utilized to generatee frequencies and percentages. Fisher's Exact test at 0.05 alpha level was used to determine the association between variables. The mean age was 28.8 with a standard deviation of 6.9 years. Most participants, 43.6% were aged between 18 and 24 years. Majority, 88.15% were in third trimester of pregnancy, 73% were single, and unemployed. Most participants 78.7% have a high level of knowledge regarding the use of alcohol during pregnancy and 70.1% have higher level of knowledge regarding tobacco use during pregnancy. No association was found on the level of knowledge on alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy and socio demographic characteristics as all variables show a P-value of more than 0.05. Participants have higher knowledge on alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy.

Practices of pregnant women regarding tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy at one primary health care clinic in Southern Namibia.

Tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy has negative consequences, to the fetus. The study purpose was to investigate the practices of pregnant women regarding the use of tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy. A quantitative research approach with a descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical design was used. The population were all pregnant women aged 18 years and above attending antenatal care at Mariental clinic. Written informed consent was obtained from all respondents prior to data collection. Data was collected from 211 respondents selected through a systematic sampling. Data was analysed using Statistical Package of the Social Sciences version 27. Descriptive statistics were used for frequencies and percentages. Fisher's Exact test at 0.05 alpha level was used to determine the association between variables. The mean age was 28.8 with a standard deviation of 6.9 years. Most participants, 92 (43.6%) were aged between 18 and 24 years. Majority, 186 (88.15%) were in third trimester of pregnancy and 154 (73%) were single. Most 148 (70.14%) respondents have good practices towards alcohol use during pregnancy. Moreover, 190 (90%) of the respondents were classified as having good practices towards tobacco use in pregnancy. Educational levels showed a significant association with practices towards tobacco smoking (P=0.042). The study concluded good practices among pregnant women on alcohol and tobacco smoking during pregnancy. It is recommended that health facilities should introduce awareness campaign on the dangers of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy. Moreover, educational materials should be developed in local languages and distributed to community.

Knowledge, attitude and practices of registered nurses regarding neonatal jaundice at the neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital in Khomas region, Namibia.

Neonatal jaundice is a significant cause of neonatal morbidity worldwide and accounts for 75% of hospital readmissions in the first week of life. New-born babies can develop severe neonatal jaundice that may cause irreversible brain damage or even death. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of registered nurses on neonatal jaundice among neonates at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Windhoek Central hospital. A quantitative, descriptive, cross sectional research design was used. The population was all 34 registered nurses working at Windhoek Central Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. Census sampling was used to include all 34 registered nurses working in the neonatal intensive care unit of the selected hospital due to the limited small number of the population. Data were collected using a self-developed questionnaires that collected socio-demographic information and knowledge, attitudes and practices questions. Data was analysed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics was used to generate frequencies and percentages. The study found that majority of the participants have adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices regarding neonatal jaundice. The study found that most participants 21 (60%) were aged between 20 to 29 years. Participants have adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices on neonatal jaundice. The researchers recommends that future studies using different research approaches should be conducted in other regions in Namibia.

Investigation of the determinants of alcohol use among women in Oshikoto region, Namibia.

Background: Alcohol abuse is one of the world's main public health issues. Alcohol use is growing among African women, and it has become an underlying factor in women's health risk profiles. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence women's alcohol consumption in the Oshikoto Region. Materials and Methods: The study used a quantitative research method with a cross-sectional, analytical design. Data were gathered using interview-led questionnaires from 121 women aged 18-49 years at two state hospitals in the Oshikoto region's two selected constituencies. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 26, was used to evaluate the data. Results: The subjects' median age was 33 years old. The bulk of the participants, 84 (69.4%), resided in rural areas. 49 (40.5%) of the participants were unmarried, and the majority (62%) had children. According to the results, 64 (52.89%) of respondents use alcohol to cope with their problems on occasion. When they are anxious, approximately 56 (46.28%) of the respondents use alcohol to relax and ignore their problems. In the univariable log-binomial regression analysis, a family history of alcohol use (p-value 0.019), peer pressure (p-value 0.004), and spending the majority of time at Cuca shops (p-value 0.000) were all linked with an increased risk of harmful alcohol use. Conclusion: Identifying the determinants of alcohol use may aid in the creation of recommendations for preventative measures and alcohol awareness programs.

An investigation of factors affecting the utilization of antenatal care services among women in post-natal wards in two Namibian hospitals in the Khomas region.

Background: Antenatal care (ANC) services are the care provided by skilled healthcare professionals to pregnant women to ensure the best health for both mother and baby during pregnancy and after delivery. In Namibia, utilization of antenatal care services has been reported to be dropping from 97% in 2013 to 91% in 2016. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate the factors affecting the utilization of ANC services. Methods: A quantitative approach and a cross-sectional analytical design were used to carry out the study. The study population was all mothers who delivered and were admitted to the postnatal ward of Intermediate Hospital Katutura and Windhoek Central Hospital during the time of the study. Data were collected from 320 participants using self-administered structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 25 software. Results: Participants were aged between 16 and 42 years with a mean age of 27 years. The results show that 229 (71.6%) utilized ANC while 91(28.4%) did not utilize ANC services. Factors such as the negative attitude of health care workers, long distance to and from health facilities, lack of transport money to travel to and from the health facilities, lack of knowledge regarding antenatal care, attitude towards pregnancy, and others, were found as hindrances to the utilization of antenatal care services. Participants also indicated motivators for ANC utilization such as preventing complications, knowing their HIV status, getting health education, knowing the estimated date of delivery, and identifying and treatment of medical conditions. The study reveals the higher knowledge of participants on ANC utilization, most participants have the right to make decisions and had positive attitudes toward the quality of ANC services. The level of attitude toward pregnancy was associated with the utilization of antenatal care services with an odd ratio OR=2.132; and P=0.014. Conclusions: The study identified factors that affect utilization of ANC services such as age, marital status, mother's education, partner's formal education, negative attitude toward health providers, long distance to and from ANC health care facilities, fear of HIV test and results, Covid-19 regulations, inability to determine the pregnancy at the earlier stages and financial constraints Based on this study findings, it is recommended that the utilization of ANC might be improved through effective community mobilization and outreach maternity services to educate and improve awareness on the importance of ANC.

Neonatal factors associated with immediate low Apgar score in newborn babies in an intermediate hospital in Namibia: a case control study.

Introduction: Apgar score is conducted to a baby immediately after birth checking how the baby tolerated the birth process and outside the uterus. Objectives: To describe the neonatal factors associated with immediate low Apgar score and analysing the associations among factors associated with low Apgar score in new-born babies. Methods: A quantitative, case-control, descriptive research design was used. Study population were all maternal records of deliveries conducted between 01 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. Simple random sampling was used to select the sample size for 194 cases and 194 controls using a 1:1 case-control ratio. Records indicating low Apgar scores were the cases while normal Apgar scores were the controls. A total of 388 maternal files were reviewed. Data were collected using a document review checklist and analysed using SPSS version 26. Results: The study found that, neonatal factors associated with immediate low Apgar score are; gestational age, foetal presentation, cord prolapse, cord around the neck and the importance of cardiotocography interpretation as they had a P-value > 0.005. Conclusion: Gestational age, birth weight, foetal presentation, cord around the neck and lack of cardiotocography assessment were found to be associated with immediate low Apgar score.

Knowledge of breastfeeding women regarding exclusive breastfeeding in one district in Omusati region, Namibia.

Breast milk is needed for the growth and development of the baby; therefore, a woman should breastfeed exclusively for six months for the baby to get all the necessary nutrients. Breastfeeding mother's knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding plays an important role in the baby's growth. To determine and describe the knowledge of breastfeeding women regarding exclusive breastfeeding in the Outapi District, Omusati region. A quantitative, descriptive research design was used. The population were all women in nine clinics in Outapi district breastfeeding babies aged 0 to 6 months. The target population consisted of 401 lactating mothers of postnatal attendance with babies from 0-6 months in the Outapi district, in nine clinics. Cluster sampling was used to select clinic according to higher attendance, low and moderate attendance and three clinic were selected. The sample size was calculated using Solvin's formula. Simple random sampling was used to select the sample size of 200 participants. Data were collected using a self developed questionnaires that collected socio-demographic information and knowledge questions. Data was analysed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics generating frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that majority of the participants have knowledge regarding exclusive breastfeeding, include, the definition, the importance and advantages of breastfeeding. Most of the participants have higher knowledge on the importance of colostrum, complementary feeding as well as the importance of breastfeeding in disease prevention on the mother and the baby. The overlall knowledge of participants were higher. The study found out that most of the particpants are aged 20 to 31 years old, single and unemployed. The study have identified that participants have higher knowledge regarding exclusive breastfeeding. The study recommended that the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) should institute strategies and actions that can help breastfeeding mothers to better utilize their knowledge on practicing exclusive breastfeeding and enshrined in the nutritional policy to promote health and wellbeing of new-born babies.

Practices of pregnant women regarding tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy at one primary health care clinic in Southern Namibia

Tobacco and alcohol use during pregnancy has negative consequences for the fetus. The study's purpose was to investigate the practices of pregnant women regarding the use of tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy. A quantita tive research approach with a descriptive, cross sectional, analytical design was used. The population was all pregnant women aged 18 years and above attending antenatal care at the Mariental clinic. Written informed consent was obtained from all respondents prior to data collection. Data was collected from 211 respondents selected through a systematic sampling. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package of the Social Sciences version 27. Descriptive statistics were used for frequencies and percentages. Fisher's Exact test at 0.05 alpha level was used to determine the association between variables. The mean age was 28.8, with a standard deviation of 6.9 years. Most participants, 92 (43.6%), were aged between 18 and 24 years. The majority, 186 (88.15%), were in the third trimester of pregnancy, and 154 (73%) were single. Most, 148 (70.14%), respondents have good practices towards alcohol use during pregnancy. Moreover, 190(90 %) of the respondents were classified as having good practices towards tobacco use in pregnancy. Educational levels showed a significant association with practices towards tobacco smoking (P=0.042). The study concluded good practices among pregnant women on alcohol and tobacco smoking during pregnancy. It is recommended that health facilities should introduce awareness campaigns on the dangers of alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy. Moreover, educational materials should be developed in local languages and distributed to the community.

Maternal factors associated with immediate low Apgar score in newborn babies at an intermediate hospital in Northern Namibia.

Background: All newborn infants are required to undergo the Apgar score/assessment immediately after birth and again at five minutes. This vital examination is performed to determine how well the infant is adjusting to the birthing process and the outside environment. Some newborns may have a normal Apgar score, while others may have a low score. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with low Apgar scores among newborns at an intermediate hospital in Northern Namibia. Objective: To identify maternal factors associated with an immediate low Apgar score in newborns at an intermediate hospital in Northern Namibia and to examine the association between maternal factors and an immediate low Apgar score. Quantitative, retrospective, descriptive research methodology was employed. A document review checklist was utilized to collect data at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital between August 2020 and October 2020. Results: Gravidity (p0.021), parity (p0.029), haemoglobin after the first ante-natal care visit (p0.011), ante-partum haemorrhage (APH) (p0.004), membrane status (p0.000), duration of labour (p0.000), type of delivery (p0.000), and caesarean section type and indication (p0.000) were found to be associated with an immediate low Apgar score. Conclusions: The study identified maternal factors that influence an infant's initial low Apgar score. Strengthen maternal health education regarding gravidity and parity, diet, and recognizing danger signs during pregnancy. In addition, strict monitoring of patients with a partograph, cardiotocography, accurate record keeping, and prompt referral of patients with risk factors is strongly advised.