
Promoting Adherence to Hypertension Medication
Dr Olivia Nakwafila, a lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the University of Namibia is proud to have received her PhD in Public Health for her research on factors influencing the implementation of interventions to promote hypertension medication adherence in Namibia.
Under the mentorship of Professors Tivani Phosa-Mashamba Thompson and Benn Sartorius, the mixed-method study encompassed various methodologies, including scoping review, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, secondary data analysis, cross-sectional survey, and Nominal Group discussions.
The findings suggest the need for a tailor-made, multifaceted educational intervention targeting patient and healthcare system barriers and facilitators. Nakwafila published four articles in renowned journals, with more articles and presentations at conferences and seminars on the horizon. She is also in the process of developing another study to pilot-test the recommended intervention.
She said that the challenges she faced included postponed workshops and data collection delays due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, unwavering support from her family, friends, and supervisors enabled her to complete the study.
Nakwafila has a diverse academic and research background in the fields of Field Epidemiology, Clinical Pathology, Blood Transfusion, and Higher Education. She earned an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Science and Technology in Namibia, followed by an MSc in Field Epidemiology and a postgraduate diploma in Higher Education. Her research interests span across the One Health spectrum, covering areas such as non-communicable diseases, emergency planning, preparedness and response, climate change, and food security. She is excited about the future and anticipates taking on leadership roles with increased responsibilities in the field of Epidemiology, making a lasting contribution to her community and beyond.
Words: Nombuso Dlamini
Photograph: Albert Hirasen