Page 23 - Windhoek Graduation (20 May)(SESSION 2)(PhDs, Masters)

Executive Dean: Dr Alfonse Mosimane
Faculty of Education and Human Sciences
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, SOCIETY AND DEVELOPMENT
Associate Dean: Dr Martha Akawa

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH STUDIES

CANDIDATE: MUSHAANDJA Theresia

CURRICULUM VITAE

Theresia Mushaandja (no Nepolo) originates from Okathima Ka Nangolo,
Omusati region and is a proud matriculant of Nuuyoma Senior Secondary
School. Her academic qualifications include Master of Arts in English Studies
(UNAM), Bachelor of Arts Honours in English Studies (NUST), Bachelor of
Secondary Education (English & Geography) (UNAM), and a Proof Reading and Editing Certificate (UCT).
Her professional career includes teaching English, Religious and Moral Education, lecturing in several English
modules at Welwitchia Health Training Centre and part-time lecturing at the University of Namibia (Faculty of
Education). She is currently employed as a lecturer and acting HoD by the Namibia University of Science and
Technology, Language Section, TVET Department. Her research interests include Applied Linguistics (Healthcare
Communication, Multilingualism, Language Maintenance, Interpretation and Translation Studies), Public
Speaking, English as a Second Language Teaching and Learning, Literary Studies and Stylistics.

CANDIDATE’S DISSERTATION

INVESTIGATING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS’ AND PATIENTS’ COMMUNICATION EXPERIENCES IN WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA:
TOWARDS A COMMUNICATION MODEL FOR THE NAMIBIAN HEALTHCARE CONTEXT

The doctoral study was undertaken and completed under the supervision of Dr Nelson Mlambo as the Main-
Supervisor and Prof. Collen Sabao as the Co-Supervisor, both from the University of Namibia.

The candidate investigated healthcare providers’ and patients’ communication experiences in Windhoek,
Namibia. The study focused on physicians, physiotherapists, pharmacists, nurses and patients from selected
public and private hospitals and healthcare centres in Windhoek. The study investigated the communicative
experiences and cultural/linguistic challenges experienced in the Namibian healthcare context. The study’s
main finding was that in addition to linguistic discordance, healthcare communicators also experience
discordance emanating from differences in cultural backgrounds, socio-cultural and religious beliefs, and
the lack of exposure to different cultures, lifestyles and life experiences. The lack of professional interpretation
services also contributes to the lack of mutual intelligibility between healthcare providers and patients.

The study’s major conclusions were that healthcare providers in hospitals and healthcare facilities in Windhoek
are both locals and expatriates, and that understanding a language does not necessarily mean understanding
the cultural practices of the people, since in some cultures, some conditions and situations cannot be directly
mentioned. The study’s results were compressed into an on the desk/notice board model for healthcare
providers and patients. The study recommends that the Ministry of Health and Social Services makes available
formalised interpretation services to enhance fair, quality and equitable healthcare provision, and thereby
protect and uphold the privacy of the patients. The ministry also needs to disseminate translated health-related
information leaflets and educational resources to communities in local languages. More so, healthcare providers
training institutions need to include health communication, interpretation and translation modules in addition
to the generic English modules. This may also include a module on operating in a multilingual and multicultural
healthcare context.

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