Page 31 - Spring Graduation Booklet (SESSION-1)(19Oct2022)

SCHOOL OF NURSING & PUBLIC HEALTH
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES &
VETERINARY MEDICINE
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PUBLIC HEALTH

CANDIDATE: BAULETH Maria F

CANDIDATE’S DISSERTATION

DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE HEALTH-
SEEKING BEHAVIOURS OF PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WITH
CHILDREN UNDER-FIVE YEARS WITH ACUTE DIARRHOEA IN
THE OHANGWENA REGION, NAMIBIA

The doctoral study was carried out in the Engela District in the Ohangwena Region
and was undertaken and completed under the supervision of Prof. Honoré Kabwebwe
Mitonga as Main-Supervisor and Dr Lusia N. Pinehas as Co-supervisor, both from the
University of Namibia.

The overall aim of the study was to develop strategies to enhance the health-seeking
behaviours (HSB) of parents and caregivers with children under-five years with acute diarrhoea
in the Ohangwena Region, Namibia. This study was necessitated by the researcher’s
findings related to treatment adherence, whereby some defaulters were convinced that
they were bewitched and could only treat their disease with traditional medicines. Patients
often stopped their treatment and sought help from traditional healers and spiritual healers.
Furthermore, the prevalence of diarrhoea and children under-five mortality is reported to be
higher in the Ohangwena Region more so in the Engela District where the current study was
conducted. This indicates the need to review the situation in communities presenting with
high incidences of child mortality, to determine factors involved in HSB among caregivers
of children under five. Hence, the strategies to enhance health-seeking behaviours are the
vehicle to promote health, enhance best practices among parents and caregivers and
improve the Health Systems, particularly in Primary Health Care.
The study design involved a convergent mixed method approach that required
both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. The study
was conducted in four phases: the situational analysis, the conceptual framework
development, the strategies development and the evaluation of the effectiveness
of health-seeking behaviour strategies in the Namibian context. The study’s results
contributed to understanding the factors contributing to diarrhoea prevalence
among under-five children and those hindering appropriate health-seeking behaviour
of mothers and caregivers. The developed strategies from the study findings should
enable stakeholders to improve parents’ and caregivers’ health-seeking behaviour
and the Health Systems.

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