Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
Open Access

Abstract

As part of community health nursing curriculum Welwitchia students were assigned to do a community study in the Okahandja Park section 1,3 & 4 � an informal settlement in Windhoek. The aim was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the population, sanitation; maternal and child health services available as well as the transport and environmental services in the three sections. A survey questionnaire was developed, used by students to collect data under the supervision of one lecturer and eight community contact persons from the location. The sections and houses were randomly selected. Permission was obtained from the constituency councillor, the community coordinators in Okahandja Park. Consent was also obtained from the persons interviewed at household level. A total population in the Okahandja park is estimated at 1625 of which 817 (50.3%) are males and 808 (49.7%) are females. A total of 306 households were interviewed. About 98.4 houses are constructed with corrugated iron with only 18% of these houses having good ventilation; the rest has minimal to poor ventilation. Gas is the main sources of power in 65.5% of the houses while wood and solar energy is use in 18.4% and 16% houses respectively. 94% houses have access to tap water. About 77% of the households use public toilets and only 23% uses bushes when nature calls. The population (96%) seems well informed about the health services; 93% make use of hospitals and clinics for health needs. 93% of the under-fives completed their immunization and were born at health facilities. 97% of the mothers attended ANC while 92.5% attended post natal clinics. Exclusive breast feeding seems popular as reported by 68% of the mothers interviewed; although there were 25% who reported using mixed feeding while 7% use bottle feeding. Although few children (3%) were noted to be underweight, 96.8 of the children had normal weight for their age. The report will be presented to the community Okahandja Park on the date agreed with them. There will be a discussion with the community to map future activities and to select health promoters to be trained at Welwitchia University for them to serve as changing agent in their own community.

Biography

Scholastika N Iipinge completed her PhD at the age of 40 year from the Rand Afrikaanse University (now the University of Johannesburg) after completing her Masters in Community Health at the School of Tropical Medicine in Liverpool, UK. She is the Director of Welwitchia University, a private University in Namibi. Previously worked at the University of Namibia as Dean of the Nursing School. She published many papers in repute journals and helped in developing Government documents over the years.

Email: siipinge@gmail.com