Staff Profiles

• Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.
• Masters of Social Work, Major: Health. University of Utah, U.S.A.
•  Bachelor of Social Work, University of Botswana.

Dr Poloko Nuggert Ntshwarang is a Senior Lecturer and Fieldwork Coordinator  in the department of Social Work at the University of Botswana. She holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. She completed her Masters of Social Work degree (measuring in health) from the University of Utah, U. S.A. She also has a Bachelors of Social Work from the University of Botswana. Dr Ntshwarang  has worked in the health services as a hospital Social Worker and a Refugee Health Program Social Welfare officer at Botswana Red Cross Society before joining the University of Botswana. Her responsibilities within the University include research, teaching, and community service. She has served in several research studies, including the Rapid assessment Survey of HIV and AIDS Prevention Knowledge among adolescents aged 10-18 in Botswana, the Baseline study on child protection in Botswana as well as  the University of Botswana Research and  Activism Project focusing on young women. She  serves in the community by providing social work related services to individuals, families and agencies. She also participates in local, regional and international conferences. 

Dr Ntshwarang teaches in the  following areas of social work: Families and Children, Health Services, Probation  and facilitates a First Year Learning Experience Seminar  to orient students to the university setting. 

Dr Ntshwarang  is interested in Parenting issues, Child Protection, Family and children’s well-being, Health and Gender issues.  She is currently focusing on factors that influence parenting practices and their effects on children with the ultimate goal to develop effective support systems for families to prevent child abuse. 

Dr Ntshwarang supervises undergraduate and graduate research work in various social work areas more especially  research  that focuses on Health, Families and Children. 

1. Ntshwarang, P.N. & Shehu, O.M. (2020). Parenting Practices in Botswana: a nexus of legal and cultural practices. In N.R. Silton (Ed.). Exploring Best child development Practices in Contemporary Society (pp.242-259). USA: IGI Global. ISBN13: 9781799829409. DOI: 10.8014/978-1-7998-2940-9.
2. Maundeni, T., & Ntshwarang, P. N. (2019). Children and Stress in Botswana: Causes, Impact, Programs and the way forward.  Lonaka Journal of Learnin
3. Ntshwarang, P. N. (2017). Parenting and Parenting Practices Among Contemporay families in Botswana: Does Government Policy Matter? In R. Mupedziswa, G. Jacques & L. Mwansa, K (Eds.), Social Work and Social Development in Botswana (pp. 28-53). Switzerland: IFSW.
4. Ntshwarang, P. N. & Malinga-Musamba, T., (2015). Social work counseling for the Children of Botswana: Contemporary Issues and Corresponding Needs. Child Care in Practice, 22(3), 218-230. DOI: 10.1080/13575279.2015.1074542 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2015.1074542