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Browsing by Subject "Namibia"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    A comprehensive alcohol and drug testing policy in the workplace as an intervention in the mining sector
    (Journal of Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences., 2016) Maretha, Maree; Lightfoot, Elizabeth; Ananias, Janetta
    The abuse of alcohol and drugs can negatively affect the workplace. The testing of workers for substances is a sensitive, yet effective intervention to minimise the percentage of workers who test positively for substance abuse. Little research has been conducted to assess the impact of alcohol and drug testing on the workplace. Thus, this qualitative study, carried out in the mining industry in Namibia, investigates how a comprehensive workplace policy on alcohol and drug abuse can reduce substance abuse among workers during working hours. Data was gathered by means of six focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews, incorporating workers from all job grades, as well as community members in a closed mining town. The findings show that the comprehensive alcohol and drug testing policy had a positive impact on reducing the occurrence of substance abuse in the workplace. Since the introduction of both random drug and alcohol tests and fit-for-work testing, fewer workers were testing positively for the presence of substances, and participants noted how workers restricted their substance use specifically because of the testing. A central feature of this particular alcohol and drug testing policy is its provision of substance abuse treatment to workers who tested positively for the presence of substances and the involvement of a social worker hired by the mine, rather than simply a punitive approach. However, findings also show that treatment programs need to be followed up with standard aftercare procedures, such as support groups and training on policies and procedures around alcohol and drug testing, in order to improve worker perceptions and acceptance of policies. Furthermore, prevention efforts were regarded as more cost-effective and proactive than the treatment of substance abuse, and holistic substance abuse training was seen as improving awareness among workers. This paper is dedicated to Maretha Maree – she was a teacher/lecturer, mentor and colleague. Maretha was a lecturer in the Department of Social Work for almost 30 years until her death in November 2013. Over all the years at UNAM, she taught many courses amongst others community work, palliative care, and social work management. The late Maretha will also be remembered for her expertise in substance abuse in Namibia, as chairperson of Namibia’s Drug Awareness Group, she was instrumental in the facilitation and establishment the Teenagers Against Drug Abuse (TADA) groups through Namibia. This paper is also amongst the many scientifi c contributions made by the late Maretha Maree towards substance abuse in Namibia.
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    Exploring the Relationships Between Supports and Depression Among Elderly Caregivers Raising Children Orphaned by AIDS in Rural Namibia
    (2015-05) Kalomo, Eveline
    Using the ecological systems theory, the present study examined the levels of depression in elderly caregivers of AIDS orphaned children in relations to those caregivers' financial stability, social support, informational support, and personal characteristics. Cross-sectional data were collected through face-to face interviews using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) of depression and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Measures for financial stability and informational supports were specifically developed for this study. Multiple regression analysis found elevated levels of depressive symptoms, with all caregivers in this study scoring above the threshold criteria for depression (≥16 points). The mean score of CES-D for the entire sample was 48. Findings also revealed a significant negative association between financial stability and depression. In addition, results showed a negative association between caring for an HIV-infected child and depression after controlling for caregiver age and caring for an HIV-infected child. Findings suggest the need for greater economic security and mental health interventions for elderly caregivers.
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    Giant sulfur bacteria (Beggiatoaceae) from sediments below the Benguela Upwelling System the host diverse microbiomes
    (2021-03-08) Flood, Beverly E.; Bailey, Jake V.; beflood@umn.edu; Flood, Beverly, E.; University of Minnesota Bailey Geobiology Research Lab
    Due to their lithotrophic metabolisms, morphological complexity and conspicuous appearance, members of the Beggiatoaceae have been extensively studied for more than 100 years. These bacteria are known to be primarily sulfur-oxidizing autotrophs that commonly occur in dense mats at redox interfaces. Their large size and the presence of a mucous sheath allows these cells to serve as sites of attachment for communities of other microorganisms. But little is known about their individual niche preferences and attached microbiomes, particularly in marine environments, due to a paucity of cultivars and their prevalence in habitats that are difficult to access and study. Therefore, in this study, we compare Beggiatoaceae strain composition, community composition, and geochemical profiles collected from sulfidic sediments at four marine stations off the coast of Namibia. To elucidate community members that were directly attached and enriched in both filamentous Beggiatoaceae, namely Ca. Marithioploca spp. and Ca. Maribeggiatoa spp., and non-filamentous Beggiatoaceae, Ca. Thiomargarita spp., the two morphotypes were rinsed of sediment debris and pooled by morphotype for iTag sequencing. The Beggiatoaceae samples collected from a highly sulfidic site were enriched in strains of sulfur-oxidizing Campylobacterota, who may promote a more hospitable setting for the Beggiatoaceae who are known to have a lower tolerance for sulfide to oxygen ratios. Otherwise, specific Beggiatoaceae niche preferences were not elucidated by the methods employed in this study. We found just a few host-specific associations with the motile filamentous morphotypes. On the contrary, we detected 123 host specific enrichments with non-motile chain forming Beggiatoaceae. Potential metabolisms of the enriched strains include fermentation of host sheath, syntrophic exchange of H2 and acetate, inorganic sulfur metabolism, and nitrite oxidation. Surprisingly, we did not detect any enrichments of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria as previously suggested and postulate that less well-studied anaerobic ammonium oxidation pathways may be occurring instead.
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    Microbial Communities Associated with Phosphoclast-bearing Sediments of the Benguela Upwelling Zone
    (2016-09) Zoss, Roman
    Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient in the environment and is an important component of many biological molecules. Calcium phosphate mineral deposits, known as phosphorites, are also the primary source of P for agriculture. Understanding phosphorite formation may improve management of P resources. However, the processes that mediate calcium phosphate mineral precipitation in certain marine pore waters remain poorly understood. Phosphogenesis occurs in sediments beneath some oceanic upwelling zones that harbor polyphosphate-accumulating giant sulfur bacteria (GSB). These bacteria may concentrate phosphate in sediment pore waters, creating supersaturated conditions with respect to apatite. However, the relationship between microbes and phosphogenesis is not fully resolved. To further study this relationship, we examined microbial communities from two sources: sediment cores recovered from the shelf of the Benguela region, and DNA extracted from washed phosphoclasts recovered from those same sediments. We used iTag and clone library sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to examine the microbial communities and their relationship with the environment. We found that many of our sediments shared large numbers of phylotypes with one another, and that the same metabolic guilds were represented at localities across the shelf. Sulfur-reducing bacteria and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were abundant in our datasets. Phylotypes that are known to carry out nitrification and/or anammox (anaerobic ammonia oxidation) were also well-represented. Our phosphoclast extraction, however, contained a distinct microbial community from those observed in the modern sediments. We observed both an enrichment of certain common microbial classes and a complete absence of others. These results could represent an ancient microbial assemblage that was present when the apatite precipitated. While these taxa may or may not have contributed to apatite precipitation, several groups represented in the phosphoclast dataset have the genetic potential, as determined through the analysis of published genomes, to synthesize, and perhaps accumulate, polyphosphate.