Page 18 - UNAM Virtual Graduation e-Book (April2021)

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF NURSING

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN NURSING SCIENCE

CANDIDATE: IKEAKANAM Ottilie T

CURRICULUM VITAE

Ottilie Tangeni Ikeakanam was born at Iihongo yaMvula in the Oshikoto region.
She matriculated from Oshakati Senior Secondary School in the Oshana region.
Her tertiary qualifications include a Certificate in Enrolled Nurse (Onandjokwe
Nursing College), a Diploma in Nursing Science (majoring in General Nursing,
Community Health Nursing, Psychiatry Nursing and Midwifery Science) (University of Namibia), a Diploma in
Nursing Administration (Stellenbosch University) and a Masters Degree in Nursing Science (Stellenbosch University).
She has 33 years experience in the health sector as a Registered Nurse at Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital, Senior
Registered Nurse at Onandjokwe District Hospital coordinating Tuberculosis and Leprosy in the district. She is
currently working as Health Programme Officer at the Oshikoto Health Directorate, division of Family Health.

CANDIDATE’S DISSERTATION

AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME TO SUPPORT THE CAREGIVERS OF ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH HIV REGARDING
DISCLOSURE IN OSHIKOTO REGION, NAMIBIA

The doctoral study was conducted and completed under the supervision of Prof.K.Hofnie-//Hoëbes (University
of Namibia) as Main Supervisor and Dr. K. Amakali (University of Namibia) as Co-Supervisor.

This study was conducted among the caregivers of adolescents living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
in Oshikoto Region.

The purpose of the study was to develop an educational programme to support the caregivers to facilitate their
disclosure practices of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV).

This was a qualitative, descriptive study with an explorative and contextual design. Data was collected through
focus group discussions. Tesch’s method guided data analysis. The findings were that caregivers of ALHIV
experienced barriers to disclose HIV status to ALHIV; they experienced mixed feelings related to adolescents’
diagnosis with HIV and emotional trauma. Furthermore, caregivers experienced resistance from ALHIV to take
Antiretroviral Therapy. Furthermore, the study found that non- biological parents were at ease to care for ALHIV,
because they were probably less emotionally attached to the child. The findings were used to develop an
educational programme to support the caregivers of ALHIV regarding disclosure. The educational programme
was implemented and evaluated. The evaluation of the study indicated that the educational programme
has a potential to help caregivers of ALHIV regarding disclosure of their status. Recommendations from the
findings were that there are needs for more large-scale introduction of healthcare workers to support caregivers
regarding disclosure of HIV status to ALHIV for healthy living of adolescents concerned.

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