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Investigating antimicrobial use and occurrence of extended spectrum beta lactamase (esbl)-escherichia coli in commercial and small-scale poultry farms in selected districts of Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science Degree in Microbiology.Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among Escherichia coli (E. coli) from food animals is a rising problem with overuse, underuse, or prolonged usage of one type of antimicrobial in poultry as a contributing factor. In Zambia, studies linking poultry-associated AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) are rare. This study aimed to investigate commercial and small-scale poultry farmers‘ usage of antimicrobials using a pre-tested structured questionnaire in ten districts of Zambia. A total of 119 questionnaires were administered to 35 commercial farmers and 84 small-scale farmers. In addition, the study detected extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli isolates obtained from poultry in the same districts. Further, three cloacal swabs were collected in each of the 269 poultry houses and pooled into a single sample for analysis of the presence of E. coli and resistance profiles. A total of 232/269 (86.2%) E. coli isolates were isolated and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using eight antibiotic classes and stored. The overall prevalence of AMR was 98% and Multidrug resistance (MDR) was identified in 70.7% of the E. coli isolates. However, 150/232 (64.7%) E. coli isolates were recovered and further screened for ESBL production by streaking them on cefotaxime (CTX)- supplemented MacConkey agar, 20% (30/150) of the third-generation cephalosporins (3GC) resistant isolates were ESBLs. Of these isolates, those with CTX Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ≥ 4 µg/mL were then subjected to sequencing on a NextSeq. The questionnaire information showed that more small-scale than commercial poultry farmers used antimicrobials (OR = 7.70, 95% CI = 2.88–20.6, p < 0.001 but less prescriptions (OR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.00–0.08, p < 0.001). Altogether, the questionnaire survey results showed a higher proportion of AMU and lower prescription usage among small-scale farmers. Overall, susceptibility testing revealed that resistance was highest to ampicillin (128/148, 86.5%) and tetracycline (101/136, 74.3%) and that the presence of multidrug-resistance (MDR) (28/30, 93.3%) among the third generation cephalosporins (3GC) (28/150) was high. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of eight
(8/30, 26.7%) revealed (6/8,75%) the presence of ESBL-encoding genes blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-55 and blaTEM. WGS also detected other AMR genes for quinolones, aminoglycosides, phenicols, tetracycline, macrolides, and folate-pathway antagonists. Survey results indicated that there was higher usage of antimicrobials without prescription. In addition, the results give insights into the occurrence of ESBLproducing E. coli strains with associated MDR in both commercial and small-scale poultry farms. It will be important to educate farmers on AMR risks and to encourage
responsible usage of antimicrobials. There is a need to strengthen regulations limiting access to antimicrobials and establish a one health system to guide public health response
Evaluating the contribution of financial lending institutions through access to finance, in achieving sustainable growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) : a case study of Kasama district, Northern province.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration (MBA).Access to financial services has long been accepted as an important means of improving income generating opportunities, and overall living conditions among households. A wide range of financial institutions have been involved in providing various financial services to households in Zambia over many decades Small and medium enterprises is an engine for the country’s economic development of any healthy nation. These businesses pray a pivotal role through creation of employment the most and major of a country population and also through contribution to the country Gross National Product. The study was conducted to evaluating the contribution of financial lending institutions through access to finance, in achieving sustainable growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs); a case study of Kasama district, northern province. The study employed a descriptive research design to achieve the objectives. The following were the research objectives; To evaluate the contribution of Financial Lending Institutions through Access to finance, in achieving Sustainable Growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Kasama, to investigate how these Financial lending institutions are contributing to the economy of Kasama District through financing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, to assess the performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise sector and key support structures relative to sustainable enterprise growth in Kasama District and to investigate the challenges being faced by SMEs as they receive financing from financial lending institution in Kasama District. The study used a questionnaire to collect the required data. The data collected was coded, quantified and analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative data was analysed by the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study concluded that access to finance, lack of collateral security, lack of managerial skills experience are the key socio-economic factors affecting the growth of businesses in Kasama. The other key factors that were found to affect access to finance by MSMEs are: access to business information, access to infrastructure and government policy and regulations. The study recommended that the government should start offering basic business and financial management skills as this will enable entrepreneurs to make informed investment decisions as well as enhance their entrepreneurial skills that enable them to recognize and exploit the available business opportunities. Business
owners/managers need to formalize their businesses through registration in order to enjoy the opportunities presented by formalized business
Natural regeneration of Miombo trees after shifting cultivation: a case study of Chibombo and Rufunsa districts, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity.The objective of the study was to assess the regeneration of Miombo woodlands after shifting cultivation in Chibombo and Rufunsa districts in comparison to undisturbed woodland. The study analysed different descriptors that characterize the woodland including: species composition, diversity, richness, stem density and mode of regeneration. To achieve these objectives, three sites were selected. In each site, 40 circular plots of radius 10 meters were sampled. All trees within the plot were identified and counted. Trees that were ≥0.6cm in height were measured for height and diameter. The main stems were counted and the mode of regeneration for each shoot was recorded. The GENSTAT and Python were used to analyse the data. The Shannon Diversity Index was used to assess species diversity. The Non-Metric Multidimensional scaling (NMDS) results show that there is some separation between the sites, particularly between Chibombo and the other two sites, suggesting that Chibombo might have a distinct species composition compared to Mfunganisha and Nyampande. However, the Analysis of Similarlity (ANOSIM) like analysis suggests that the observed differences in species composition are not statistically significant (p-value is 0.10). Analysis of species diversity revealed that Chibombo had the highest species diversity with H‟=2.83 and D=0.11. The undisturbed woodland recorded H‟=2.68 and D=0.13 while Rufunsa had the lowest diversity with H‟=2.60 and D=0.12. However, the undisturbed woodland had the highest species richness (60); Rufunsa recorded 43 while Chibombo had the least with 40. Generally, the species diversity was quite high in all three sites, an indication of good recovery in terms of species. Determination of
stem density revealed that Rufunsa had the highest number of stems per hactor (10417), higher than the undisturbed woodland which recorded 9063 stems ha-1 while Chibombo recorded the lowest number of stems of 3165 stems ha-1 . An analysis of mode of regeneration showed that root sucker is the most dominant mode of regeneration, followed by stump and seed regeneration in both sites. This can be attributed to the type of shifting cultivation and the farming equipment which favours root sucker. No mature trees were recorded in both sites accounting for the low number of seed regeneration. The study revealed a potential for Miombo woodland to recover provided the fallow period is followed and the regenerating Miombo trees are not exploited for other use such as poles and fibre before maturity. Further, there is need to educate farmers on the importance of coppice with standards. While this study has provided insights into species diversity and stem density, further research should investigate additional
indicators of recovery, such as soil health, carbon sequestration, and the presence of keystone species
Determinants and barriers to rabies prevention and control in Manyinga and Mwansabombwe districts of Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Epidemiology by Research.Rabies persists as a long-standing issue in Zambia, despite being preventable. The current control measures, including dog vaccination, population control, and movement restriction, guided by Zambia's Dog Control Act, have not yielded the desired impact in Manyinga and Mwansabombwe districts. These areas continue to report low dog vaccination percentages, unrestricted dog movements, and escalating cases of animal and human rabies, along with dog bites. Aligned with global aspirations to achieve zero human rabies cases from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, this study scrutinizes the determinants and obstacles hampering the execution of rabies prevention and control initiatives in Manyinga and Mwansabombwe. Spanning approximately 11 months, this cross-sectional study targeted a population of 48,181 in Manyinga and 35,546 in Mwansabombwe were pre- and post-vaccination data from 301 households in Manyinga and 100 households in Mwansabombwe was collected. Using pretested structured questionnaire, including closed and open-ended questions we probed knowledge, attitudes and practices related to rabies prevention and control.The questionnaire comprised 10 questions on rabies knowledge, 3 questions on practices, 2 questions on attitudes, and general follow-up questions. A transect survey, key informant interviews, and assessment of rabies vaccination and dog bite records complemented the data collection. IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0 was used for a comprehensive thematic analysis were cross tabulations and Pearson’s Chi Square were performed. Findings revealed that 68% of respondents in Manyinga and 84% in Mwansabombwe possessed knowledge about rabies, confirming affected species and transmission. Moreover, 76.8% in Manyinga and 88.6% in Mwansabombwe were acquainted with rabies prevention and control methods. Concerning
dog owners, 89% were aware of rabies, 66% understood its prevention and control, and the majority identified bites as the primary mode of transmission. Vaccination coverage stood at 64% in Manyinga and 21% in Mwansabombwe. Notably, education and occupation exhibited
significant associations with rabies knowledge. On the attitudes and practices on rabies vaccination 51.82% in Manyinga and 72.09% in Mwansabombwe of the dog owning respondents had valid rabies vaccination. And only 55% in Mwansabombwe and 70% in Manyinga washed the wound, visited the veterinary office and went to the hospital after a dog bite. Manyinga recorded low numbers on vaccinated dogs with valid vaccinations which is a risk to the community because majority of the dogs were not protected against rabies. Also, the two districts had beliefs which hindered the community from having their dogs vaccinated. The key informants were well vested with rabies and their role in rabies prevention, however, they faced a lot of challenges due to understaffing, lack of resources and community practices. The study underscores critical knowledge gaps which affected the practices and attitudes towards rabies prevention and control and emphasizes the need for enhanced education, awareness programs, improved rabies surveillance, free mass vaccination campaigns, and community engagement to augment vaccination coverage and knowledge about rabies.
Key words: Rabies, Prevention, control, vaccination, barriers, determinant
A meta-analysis on the antibiotic resistance patterns of brucella strains in humans.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science Degree in Tropical Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis.Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease threatening livestock productivity and human health, especially in low-income regions. Brucella-induced infections present significant treatment challenges due to the limited intracellular penetration of antibiotics, leading to prolonged treatment durations and elevated risks of treatment failure and relapse. The emergence of antibiotic resistance further exacerbates these challenges, presenting an impending public health threat. This study aims to analyze the global prevalence of antibiotic resistant Brucella strains in humans in order to manage and control antimicrobial resistance. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of antibiotic resistant Brucella strains. Peer-reviewed research publications were gathered from the 14th August, 2023 to 12th September, 2023, through a literature search utilizing the following keywords :("Brucella") AND "Antibiotic susceptibility," OR "Antibiotic resistance," OR "Antibiotic sensitivity," OR "Antibiotic activity" OR "Antimicrobial susceptibility" OR "Antimicrobial resistance " OR "Antimicrobial sensitivity " OR "Antimicrobial activity" "Antibacterial susceptibility" OR " Antibacterial resistance " OR "Antibacterial sensitivity" OR " Antibacterial activity" OR " Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing" OR "Microbial Sensitivity" OR "Microbial resistance" OR "Antibiogram") in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science-Direct. The study examined online research articles published from 2008 to 2022, specifically concentrating on English studies. A total of 19 eligible studies representing 10 countries and 1, 798 samples were included. Brucella melitensis was isolated in all the studies, with two other Brucella species found in two studies; Brucella abortus in Turkey and Brucella suis in Malaysia. The global pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was 9% (95% CI: 6-13%). Brucella strains showed the highest antibiotic resistance to macrolides at a prevalence of 58% (95% CI: 0-100%) followed by ansamycins at 35% (95% CI: 17-56%), then betalactams at 7% (95% CI: 0-26%), sulfonamides at 4% (95% CI: 0-19%), aminoglycosides at 1% (0- 1%), and fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and cephalosporin at 0% (95% CI: 0-1%). The study observed significant bacterial resistance to macrolides and ansamycins specifically,
azithromycin and rifampicin, suggesting the need for an alternate treatment considering that the combination of rifampicin with doxycycline is the recommended treatment of human brucellosis. The study also indicates moderate resistance to sulfonamides and beta-lactams whereas tetracyclines, cephalosporin, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides remain extremely effective
Exploring performance inhibiting factors in business studies education : a case of selected secondary schools in Mbala district.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration.Everyone in the society is affected by business activities as they live, work, save, invest, spend or travel. Consequently, there is need to prepare individuals to engage in business activities with confidence and competence by understanding how businesses function and the roles they play in the society. The relevance of Business Studies Education in Secondary Schools cannot be overemphasised. The study was undertaken to investigate the performance inhibiting factors in Business Studies Education in selected Secondary Schools in Mbala District. The purpose of conducting the research was to explore the experiences of teachers and learners in the teaching and learning of Business Studies Subject in Senior Secondary Schools of Mbala District. The General Objective of the study was to analyse the factors that inhibit the performance of the learners in Business Studies Subjects (BSS) in selected Secondary Schools of Mbala District.
The Specific Objectives of the study were to: assess the level of motivation towards the teaching and learning of Business Studies Subjects, to investigate the challenges faced by the teachers and learners in teaching and learning of Business Studies Subjects and to examine the underlying causes and remedies to the poor academic performance of students in Business Studies Subjects in selected Secondary Schools of Mbala District. Various literatures were reviewed and gaps were established based on Global, Regional and Local perspectives. The study was Qualitative. It comprised of a population of 237 individuals (224 Grade 12 pupils taking Principles of Account and Commerce, 9 Business Studies Teachers and 4 Heads of Departments) from 4 Secondary Schools in Mbala District. The study sample comprised of 149 participants drawn from 4 Secondary Schools in Mbala District. The participants included 140 Grade 12 pupils taking Principles of Account and Commerce, 5 Business Studies Teachers and 4 Heads of Departments. The number of participants was determined using Slovin's Formula and the participants were selected using Purposive Sampling Technique. Semi-structured Questionnaires were used to collect Primary data from pupils, Business Studies Teachers and Business Studies Heads of Departments. Data was analysed using narrative analysis and Microsoft Excel. The research findings reviewed that motivating learners and teachers is vital in the implementation of Business Studies Education. Psychological factors attribute to the performance of the learners. The findings indicate that effective use of teaching strategies like demonstration, group work, role play, educational tour, problem based solving and teacher exposition and the use of teaching aids helps learners to retain the knowledge acquired. The conclusion of the study was that possible remedies/strategies should be implemented to improve the performance of the learners so as to sustain Business Studies Education in Mbala District. The study recommended for the introduction of Business Studies in primary schools so as to prepare learners for Business Studies Education in Secondary Schools
Seroprevalence of human Brucella antibodies and associated risk factors among patients seeking medical attention in selected health facilities in western province of Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in One Health Analytical EpidemiologyBrucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease that affects humans and animals and can lead to severe illness in humans and financial losses for households that rear livestock. In human cases, the disease presents with fever, fatigue or malaise, flu-like symptoms, weight loss, headaches and back pains. Most human brucellosis occurs in rural regions where individuals live in close proximity to their livestock and ingest contaminated raw milk and milk products. In Zambia,
there is a paucity of information on the seroprevalence of human brucellosis and its risk factors in the human population. The study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of human Brucella antibodies and associated risk factors among patients seeking medical attention at community hospitals.
A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted from 21st April 2023 to 12th January 2024 among patients seeking medical attention at health facilities in selected districts of Western province in Zambia. 225 blood samples were collected from consenting participants. Sera were separated and analysed for anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) in serial
interpretation. A questionnaire was administered to obtain epidemiological data related to exposure to the Brucella pathogen. The data obtained were coded and entered in the Micro Soft Excel 2013® and analysed using STATA version 15® (Stata Corp., College Station, TX, USA). The odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, and Fisher's exact tests were computed to see the degree of association of the risk factors with Brucella seropositivity. Using the cut-off of
P.I.< 30% and P.I. ≥ 30% for c-ELISA respectively negative and positive. Only 197 sera samples were found acceptable for testing and analysis for this study, out of these, the seroprevalence of Brucella antibodies was 18.3% (n=36, 95% CI=12.8-23.6) on RBT and 4.57% (n=9, 95% CI=3.25-14.8) on c-ELISA (p-value=0.412) respectively. Among the risk factors considered only the number of animals was statistically significant to Brucella seropositivity (OR 6.49, 95% CI=1.10-38.13, p-value = 0.039). Brucella antibodies are prevalent among patients attending health facilities in the Western province of Zambia. To
reduce the risk of exposure, the general public needs to be educated about the brucellosis disease. Additionally, farmers should be encouraged to vaccinate their animals
The effect of energy mix on energy deficit in 10 miles in Chibombo district.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science degree in Environmental and Natural Resources Management.The study aimed to evaluate how the energy mix impacts the energy deficit, focusing specifically on the accessibility within a 10 Mile radius in the Chibombo district of the Central province. This region, like many parts of Zambia, faced energy deficits due to its reliance on hydroelectricity, which is hampered by drought-induced water shortages (Silimina, 2023). While prior studies, such as Kaela's work in 2018, have projected Zambia's energy mix by 2050, they have not explored its effects on accessibility and availability, creating a research gap. Failure to investigate the energy mix's impact on energy deficit could perpetuate detrimental activities like charcoal production, a major driver of deforestation and forest degradation in Zambia, leading to high carbon emissions and depletion of wood resources. The objectives of the study included identifying the types of energy used at 10 Miles, determining the drivers behind these choices, and assessing how the energy mix influences the energy deficit in the area. The study employed a qualitative research approach, focusing on three focus groups comprising 10 households each and 20 key informants from diverse backgrounds such as business houses, village Chiefs, council officials, churches, and schools. Primary data collection utilized interviews and focus group discussions, while secondary data was gathered from libraries, media, and open educational resources. Data analysis involved content analysis for interview data
and thematic analysis for focus group discussions. Findings revealed five primary energy sources at 10 Miles: solar power, hydropower, biomass, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and wind power. Despite this variety, access to reliable and affordable energy remains challenging, with traditional biomass dominating with over 50% accessibility rate. Electrification rates in Chibombo district were notably low, with only 6% compared to the
national average of 5%. Additionally, clean cooking solutions were scarce, with merely 5% of households having access to LPG, biogas, and improved cook stoves. Factors that affected energy availability include resources, infrastructure, policies, climate, geography, and technology. Solutions include off-grid renewables, efficiency measures, capacity building, and public-private partnerships to overcome challenges. The study advises investing in off-grid renewables (solar, wind, hydropower) for remote areas, suggesting mini-grids for community service. Implementing energyefficient technologies and fostering partnerships with the private sector while providing financial support and training are recommended for sustainability
SME strategic management practices during the covid-19 pandemic in Zambia : an empirical test of the threat rigidity hypothesis.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration in General.The study undertook to establish the strategic management practices adopted by Zambian SMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic and how they affected their performance. The study was anchored on Threat Rigidity and Failure-Induced Change theories. To help with meeting the foregoing
objective, a pragmatic research approach which permits the use of mixed methods research design was adopted. With quantitative data being of primary focus, it successfully collected data from 333 SMEs who had been in operation for at least 4 years at the time of the survey. With data on
strategic management practices and business performance collected using a Likert scale questionnaire, they were initially subjected to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). EFA enabled the computation of factor scores, which are composite indices that represented the concepts of interest in as far as variable operationalization was concerned. The results show that surveyed SMEs adopted defensive strategic management practices in their attempt to navigate through the challenges that were presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. The extent to which surveyed SMEs were defensive was, however, moderate. On further investigating whether SMEs were justified in their preferences for execution of defensive strategic management actions as far as performance was concerned, the study found mixed results. Particularly, those who chose to scale down their operations were found to have performed better than their counterparts who did not. On the contrary, those that decided to restrict their scope of information search and processing had poorer performance outcomes than those that opted to do the opposite. On the basis of the foregoing, the study recommends a mix of offensive and defensive strategic managements practices when SMEs are facing a crisis environment for purposes of building resilience. In addition to only applying to the SMEs who participated in the study, the findings may not necessarily be time invariant
Transformative pedagogies: cultivating educators for 21st century graduates.
Get PDFn the era marked by rapid technological advancements, globalization, and evolving societal needs, the demands for transformative pedagogies to prepare students for the
complexities of the 21st Century has become increasingly urgent. This research examined the role of educators in fostering transformative pedagogies to cultivate the skills and competencies necessary for 21st Century graduates. Through a comprehensive review of literature, the study examined the theoretical foundations and practical implications of transformative pedagogies, highlighting their role in fostering critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills, digital and information literacy among students. Furthermore, the study explored the role of professional development initiatives in supporting educators’ adoptions of transformative pedagogies and enhancing their instructional practices. Through qualitative analysis, the study assessed the influence of these initiatives on student learning outcomes, academic achievement, and readiness for higher education and workforce. Curriculum interconnection from secondary to tertiary and the workforce, resource constraints and change of attitude were the major challenges showed in the implementation of transformative pedagogies. By identifying barriers to
adoption and strategies for overcoming challenges, this research provides insights into maximizing the potential of transformative pedagogies to prepare students as agile and adaptable graduates capable of thriving in an ever changing world. Ultimately this paper contributes to ongoing discourse on educational reform and provides actionable recommendations for stakeholders invested in cultivating
educators for the demands of 21st Century