Experiences of health care professionals regarding management of fetal alcohol syndrome in the Khomas region of Namibia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of health care professionals regarding the management of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in the Khomas Region of Namibia. The study was qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual in nature and was conducted at two state hospitals in Windhoek. The researcher used in-depth unstructured interviews and focus group discussions. Data was analyzed by using Tesch’s method of qualitative data analysis. Ethical principles were employed to avoid acts that diminish self-respect and violate self-determination of research participants. The Findings of the study revealed four main themes on experiences of healthcare workers regarding management of FAS: Lack of knowledge about management of FAS; inadequate resources to facilitate the management of FAS; unconducive environment for mother and family; and lack of inter-professional collaboration. A total of ten sub-themes emerged from these four themes all of which indicated negative experiences that presented barriers to proper management of FAS. It is recommended that guidelines for health professionals should be developed to facilitate the management of children with FAS. In addition, healthcare workers knowledge and the clinical environment should be enhanced to enable effective management of this condition.