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Determining potential health risks to residents from water sourced in Maloni compound of Livingstone district in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Public Health.This study is an investigation into the presence of bacteria from water sourced in Maloni Compound of Livingstone District in Zambia. The basic research objective of the empirical study was to investigate the presences of bacteria in water sourced from Maloni Compound of Livingstone District. Furthermore, to examine the potential health risks to the residents arising from the water sourced in Maloni Compound. A mixed research strategy was adopted that made use of questionnaire, interviews guide, observation and standard field sampling sample bottles to collect empirical data. The findings revealed that water in Maloni compound was sourced from submissive boreholes, hand pump fitted boreholes and shallow wells. The study further revealed that residents of Maloni Compound used on site sanitation system namely pit latrine and septic tanks. It also revealed that water sourced from Maloni Compound had the presence of bacteria with relatively high total coliform and faecal coliform contamination, the fact that may have compromised the public health status of the residents of Maloni Compound. The study recommended for the following:
i. There is need for collaboration of various stakeholders up to the consumer level during the planning and implementation stage of urban and peri urban areas, to ensure that the allocation of residential plots is done simultaneously with the provision of necessary services such as water and sewerage reticulation systems.
ii. There is need for SWASCO to directly provide water to existing residents of Maloni and to facilitate decommissioning of all contaminated water sources.
iii. There is need for urban Planners and SWASCO to encourage households to also employ alternative methods in the water sector such as rain water that can be stored and used for flushing toilets.
iv. There is need to formulate policies in water and sanitation, planning and in infrastructure design that will encourage research and development of innovations and technologies that will apply to our local scenario
An assessment of the effect of agriculture automation on employment in selected parts of central province, Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Human Resource Management.There are about 400 Commercial farmers in Zambia and several of them are located in Mkushi and Chisamba Districts, and farmers are increasingly adopting use of automated equipment to increase farm yields. However, use of automated equipment threatens job security of farm employees. Currently, it is not well documented how the adoption of automated farming is affecting employees in Zambia. Hence, the study assessed the effect of automation in the agriculture sector on employment in Chisamba and Mkushi Districts of Central Province by; (a) establishing kinds of automation used; (b) ascertaining levels/types of skills affected by automation; and (c) proposing measures to reduce effects of unemployment in the agriculture sector due to automation. It was a mixed method approach and Survey design involving 138 commercial farmers which were randomly selected using simple random technique. A semi-structured questionnaire was setup on Google platform and a link was generated. The link was sent to all commercial farmers through emails and short messages service (SMS). The data collection tool was semi-structured. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 14 and the opened-ended responses were analysed thematically. The study found that, (a) most farmers in Mkushi and Chisamba use automated devices to farm, and these include both heavy and light equipment; (b) the growing use of automation in agriculture made one-third of unskilled employees lose employment, though blending of traditional and automated farming is currently an option; and (c) labour laws threaten employment in agriculture in favour of automated agriculture. Implying automation has a negative effect on employment security of unskilled labour force in the sector, statutory labour obligations that farmer employment must meet is pushing farmers to opt for automated agriculture, though blending manual labour and automation is a growing option. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) and National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to find a win-win situation of engaging commercial farmers in meeting statutory obligations for their employees; farm employees must be empowered and provided with skills development, and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning (MoFNP) and Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MCI) should restrict imports of locally produced products to save local employment. Future studies must establish the effects of job losses due to automation on commercial farm employees
An assessment of the quality of service delivery in micro-finance companies in Zambia : case study of tottengram fin services.
Get PDFThesis of Masters In Business Administration.This study aimed to assess the quality of service delivery in Microfinance Companies (MFIs) in Zambia, using Tottengram Fin Services as a case study. The microfinance sector in Zambia faces challenges such as donor dependence, rising operational costs, low client retention, high staff turnover, and a decline in service quality, leading to suboptimal MFI performance. The study analysed customer perceptions of service quality in Zambian MFIs and its link to client retention, evaluated operational challenges, and identified measures for enhancing service quality and sustainable performance. The SERVQUAL model was used as the theoretical framework, with independent variables including organizational factors, regulatory environment, and customer expectations, and dependent variables like quality of service delivery. A qualitative research approach was adopted, with data collected from 3800 customers and 150 employees from Tottengram Fin Services' five branches. The major findings revealed that responsiveness, professionalism, transparency, personalized approach, continuous improvement, and feedback mechanisms were key factors in customer perceptions of service quality. Operational challenges included limited access to financial infrastructure, insufficient technological capabilities, inadequate human resources, limited financial resources, and regulatory constraints. Measures to enhance service quality and sustainable performance included customer-centric approach, technology adoption, skilled workforce, continuous training, strategic partnerships, and monitoring and feedback mechanisms. Recommendations include conducting regular customer satisfaction surveys, addressing operational challenges, investing in technology infrastructure, providing comprehensive staff training programs, and fostering strategic partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, and technology providers. These recommendations can guide MFIs in Zambia to improve service quality, overcome operational challenges, and achieve sustainable performance
Optimization algorithm of a high dose-rate brachytherapy treatment plan for cervical cancer patients in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Physics.The increase in availability of diagnostic tools and increase in awareness of cancer disease, has enabled the diagnosis of new cancer cases that were not previouslycaptured in Zambia. Today, the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) treats over 3,200 cancer patients annually, a number significantly
higher than the initial projection of 1,200 when CDH was established. Approximately 60% of these patients require Radiotherapy (RT), and Brachytherapy (BT) is an essential component for treating cervical cancer. At CDH, BT treatment planning employs a computerized treatment planning
system based on the report by Task Group 43 (TG-43) of American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) that generates radiation dose distributions for optimal treatment delivery. Although individualized plans can be developed from standard treatment plans, high patient volumes necessitate generating multiple standard plans tailored to suit most patient profiles. However, there is a need to verify the accuracy of these standard plans. This study aims at refining strategic decision points for passing or failing the standard treatment plan used at CDH by developing a mathematical modeling algorithm that evaluates current practices in optimizing. This is achieved by developing brachytherapy standard treatment plans. Using a retrospective study design spanning three years (2019-2021), we reviewed 254 treatment plans and collected data by reviewing source details from radioactive source parameters and dose-volume histogram markers to calculate various dose metrics necessary for quality assurance purposes. The study used some dose metrics to develop an algorithm capable of determining whether a given plan passes or fails
based on quantitative evaluation criteria. While values for the Conformity Index (COIN), Conformity Number (CN), and Coverage Index (CI) were better in 2019 compared with other years; Dose Non-Uniformity Ratio (DNR) and Dose Homogeneity Index (DHI) remained low throughout all years reviewed. Nonetheless, most analyzed treatments had acceptable values for COIN, CI, and CN with mean values ranging between 0.86 (±0.09) to 0 .93 (±0 .05). Ideal case entails that these indices are of the value 1 or close to 1 except for DNR where a value of 0 is ideal. Unfortunately, none of the CDH standard plans examined passed the set criteria (i.e. 5 indices passing out of the 5) because none of them met standards for both DNR and DHI indices whose average values ranged between 0.34 to 0.43 for DHI and 0.57 to 0.66 for DNR. Therefore, achieving treatment plans that meet optimum balance among these indices require that organs at risk are not exposed beyond their tolerance limit but, providing maximum coverage of clinical target volume should be considered. This Algorithm will serve as an institutional protocol devised for acceptability criteria of a treatment plan at CDH
Views of untrained guidance teachers on importance of learner participation in career guidance in selected secondary schools in Mpika district.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Science in Counselling.The purpose of the study was to explore how untrained guidance teachers view the importance of learner participation in career guidance activities in selected secondary schools n Mpika district of Zambia. The objectives of the study were to explore how untrained guidance teachers view the importance of their participation in career guidance activities in selected secondary schools, identify types of career guidance activities that take place in schools with untrained guidance teachers and to establish how untrained guidance teacher prepare learners for careers. The study adopted qualitative approach and employed a case study design which allows in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under study. Data was collected from a sample of 16 respondents attained through data saturation from selected four secondary schools in Mpika. The study used typical case purposive sampling procedure. Interview guide and non-participant
observation guides were used to collect data from participants. Thematic analysis of data was employed. The findings of the study revealed that guidance teachers appreciated the importance of participation of learners in career guidance activities despite lack of detailed knowledge of career guidance. The study also found that untrained guidance teachers were involved in career guidance activities of some sort through limited in depth and scope. The study also revealed that not all components of guidance and counseling services were offered in the schools sampled. Based on the findings, the study concluded that although untrained guidance teachers lacked basic skills to provide holistic services to learners, they appreciate the need for learners to participate in
guidance and counseling programs. The study recommends that school authorities should consider scaling up provision of adequate appropriate and holistic services in order for learners to appreciate participation programs. Further the government should ensure that policies on guidance and counseling which already exist are fully implemented in order to enhance learner participation
Factors influencing employee engagement at workplace in Zambia : case study of Investrust bank plc in Lusaka.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Business Administration.The aim of the study was to ascertain the factors that enhance employee engagement at Investrust Bank PLC. The study used primary data sources and was collected using questionnaires. The study had a sample size of 200 respondents and were chosen using simple random sampling. The current study is quantitative thus a correlational research design was used. Thus, correlational research design was employed in this study in order to ascertain the factors that enhance employee engagement. Primary data collected from the questionnaires was coded in Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Demographic profiles were presented using graphs and tables. Statistical methods such as Chisquare, Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression analysis are statistical test that were employed to answer the hypotheses statements and research objectives.
The findings of the research showed that leadership styles enhance employee engagement at Investrust Bank PLC and the two variables share a very strong association. The findings of the current research revealed that training and development enhances employee engagement at Investrust Bank PLC and the two variables share a very strong association. The findings of the study established that compensation enhances employee engagement at Investrust Bank PLC, and this means that the two variables share a very strong association. The findings of the current study were further supported by the following researchers Alkhatani, (2016), Moody (2012) ,Hammond (2019) ,Negwaiya (2013,Zhijian et al (2013and Sapna et al (2016) who had similar research findings to the current study. Based on the findings of the study, it has been concluded that leadership styles, Training and development and compensation are the factors enhancing employee engagement at. The study recommended that managers and businesses need to create better compensation policies that show the parity of incentives among employees. The study also recommended that companies should place a high emphasis on developing a just and equitable rewards system as one of the tools to engage employees and satisfy their rising job demands
Escherichia coli contamination and risk exposure assessment of humans consuming water from unprotected wells in Chaona community, Mwachisompola area of Chibombo district of Zambia.
No full textThesis of Master of Science Degree in Food Safety and Risk Analysis.A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted to detect the presence of E. coli in unprotected water wells of Chaona community in Mwachisompola area, Chibombo District. A total of 48 wells drawn from four villages were sampled from the study area and an exposure assessment was done by use of add-in Model risk app in excel for risk assessment. The occurrence of the bacterium in well water was confirmed by laboratory processes of culturing, isolation and identification of E. coli. The identified E. coli was subjected to microbial resistance testing and the resistant genes
were further detected by use of PCR. Out of 48 unprotected wells tested, 38 were indicative of E. coli presenting 79% (95% CI: 77.3 – 80.7%). The individual variation results that were positive to E. coli are Chilumbwa 5/38 (32%) (95% CI: 2.3 – 23.7%), Chabwa village 10/38 (26%) (95% CI:
12.1– 39.9%), Kafwilo 11/38 (29%) (95% CI: 14.6 – 43.4%) and Katobole12/38 (32%) (95% CI: 17.2 – 46.9%). Meanwhile, 16/48 (33.3%; CI: 31.4 – 35.2%) samples were found with an average number of CFU of between 1000 and 10,000 which was the highest range. E. coli isolates were also tested for Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) of which one isolate was indicative of being resistant to eight antibiotics and another to five antibiotics presenting (5.88%; CI: 3.2 – 8.6%) for each. Meanwhile, seven isolates were resistant to four antibiotics (41.2%; CI: 35.5 – 46.9%) and eight isolates were resistant to three antibiotics (41.1%) (CI: 35.4 – 46.9%). In addition, 30.9% (17/55) of the isolated E. coli organisms were found to be resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics primarily ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, cefotaxime, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. The probability to be exposed to E. coli was revealed to be at 79.5% (95%; CI: 66.5 – 86.7%) when consuming water from unprotected wells in the study area. In conclusion, the study revealed that E. coli contamination was highly possible and it is recommended that water be boiled and or treated with chlorine before use at household level
Print media coverage of agricultural information in Zambia: a comparative study of Times of Zambia and Zambia daily mail newspapers.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Mass Communication.The primary objective of this research study is to compare the coverage of agricultural information by print media in Zambia. Specifically, the study was aimed to analysing the importance accorded to agricultural information in terms of length, placement and prominence. To achieve this objective, the study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. In this study, two local daily newspapers (Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail) were analysed using content analysis to ascertain their coverage of agricultural information. The researcher analysed a total of 358 newspaper editions for the two named publications on the coverage of agricultural information for a total period of six months namely December of the year 2018, February, June, and December of the year 2019, and February and June of the year 2020 for the two agricultural seasons namely 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 season. It should be noted that dates sampled for each month for both publications were the same so as to enable effective comparative content analysis. In addition to content analysis, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from journalists. Data collected was analysed using Microsoft excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings show that a total of 374 agricultural news stories were published during the period of coverage selected. Research findings revealed that the frequency of reportage of agricultural information was highest (55.6 percent) in the Zambia Daily Mail. The study concluded that the selected two local daily newspapers did not give significant prominence to agricultural information. This was evidenced by the fact that out of the 17, 597 news stories that were published by the two selected newspapers over a given period, only 374 agricultural stories were published representing 2.1 percent. The study also provided insights on the challenges faced by print media outlets in disseminating agricultural information to farmers and the wider public in Zambia. Based on the findings of the research, it was recommended that more inspirational stories of farmers in agriculture were needed to create more awareness of agriculture and to motivate the youth to take up agriculture as an occupation. Secondly, capacity building workshops should be organised for journalists with a passion for reporting of agriculture information. Least but not last, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, working with other agricultural stakeholders need to be more active, interactive and give out information the media is looking for in a timely manner
A user experience (UX) evaluation of adopted higher education institution library portals in Zambia.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Library and Information Science.This study aimed to evaluate the user experience of adopted library portals in Zambian universities. This encompassed the adoption and usability of the library portals. The research objectives were threefold: first, to determine the extent of adoption of library portals in Zambian universities; second, to assess the integration of key library portal features with existing library portals; and third, to examine users' perceived usability of these portals. A survey design was employed in the study. A mixed-method approach was then used which involved the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data., this involved the distribution of 62 questionnaires to universities registered under the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to collect their URLs. A heuristic evaluation was conducted to assess portal characteristics, involving 12 expert librarians as participants. Additionally, a System Usability Scale (SUS) was utilized to gauge the perceptions of lecturers and students towards the portals, with a sample of 60 lecturers and 324 students. This study was worth carrying out because it aimed at providing answers to the effectiveness of the information design of Zambian university academic library portals as information communication channels and also to show if there was a need to change and improve the current portals. It was also important because it can also be used as a guideline in the creation of a policy that can help librarians as they set up their library portals The findings revealed that only three Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Zambia had adopted library portals: ZCAS University, Mulungushi University and the University of Zambia (UNZA). The study indicated that participants generally rated the usability of these portals as average. Specifically, the average SUS scores for UNZA (n=132, SD=53.685), ZCAS University (n=68, SD=60.28) and Mulungushi University (n=124, SD=51.865) were all above the 50 SUS score threshold. Despite being categorized as 'Ok' according to the SUS scores, the study revealed that this rating falls within the marginal acceptability range. The results underscored the limited presence of library portals in Zambian HEIs and the need for universities to prioritize the redesigning of their existing portals to enhance information provision and overcome distance barriers. Furthermore, the study recommended that the three universities with library portals focus on improving their platforms to encompass all essential characteristics of effective library portals.
Keywords: User Experience, Library Portals, Higher Learning Institutions, Usability, Satisfaction, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Accessibility, Usefulness, Zambia, Universities
Assessing the impact of a managed services model on organisational performance in the Zambian telecommunications Industry.
Get PDFThesis of Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Management.The telecommunications industry in Zambia has experienced rapid growth, leading to increased competition and operational complexities for telecommunication companies. In response, many firms have adopted the Managed Services Model (MSM) as a strategic approach to enhance their organizational performance. This study aims to assess the impact of the MSM on organizational performance in the Zambian telecommunications industry, focusing on four key variables: cost efficiency, improved focus on core competencies, access to human resources, and access to modern technologies. A descriptive research design with a quantitative research approach was employed for this study. A sample size of 224 participants from various telecommunication companies in Zambia was surveyed, and data was collected using structured questionnaires. The study investigated the relationships between the aforementioned variables and organizational performance. The results of the study revealed a positive and significant correlation between the four variables (cost efficiency, improved focus on core competencies, access to human resources, and access to modern technologies) and organizational performance in the Zambian telecommunications industry (p < 0.05). this study demonstrates that the Managed Services Model has a significant positive impact on organizational performance in the Zambian telecommunications industry. The variables of cost efficiency, improved focus on core competencies, access to human resources, and access to modern technologies were all found to be positively and significantly related to organizational performance. These findings suggest that adopting the MSM is a viable strategy for telecommunication companies seeking to enhance their overall performance, improve financial outcomes, and maintain competitiveness in a dynamic industry landscape. The implications of this research are valuable for telecommunication industry stakeholders, including company executives, policymakers, and investors, as it provides insights into the benefits of implementing the MSM. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of strategic outsourcing in optimizing resources and leveraging external expertise to achieve superior organizational performance