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Prevalence and the correlates of postnatal depression in an urban high density suburb of Harare
No full textIntroduction: Postnatal depression is a common cause of morbidity but is rarely diagnosed or adequately managed in busy primary care settings in most resource limited countries like Zimbabwe.
Objectives: This study sought to determine the prevalence of postnatal depression and establish factors associated with postnatal depression.
Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design where 295 consenting women (mean age=25.4 years; SD= 5.6 years) attending post natal care services at Mbare Polyclinic were recruited. Data were collected using the validated Shona version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire. Associations between variables were computed using the chi-square test statistic and where appropriate the Fisher's exact statistic.
Results: Prevalence for postnatal depression was 34.2% among women in the study. Univariate analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant associations between mother's age (p=0.120), parity (p=0.396), marital status (p=0.523), level of education (p=0.805), and age of child (p=0.489) and postnatal depression.
Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that there is a high prevalence of postnatal depression in women in Mbare, Zimbabwe. This therefore calls for further studies to identify and address the causes of postnatal depression among women attending postnatal care in Zimbabwe
Genetic prediction models and heritability estimates for functional longevity in dairy cattle
No full textLongevity is a major component of the breeding objective for dairy cattle in many countries because of its high economic value. The trait has been recommended for inclusion in the breeding objective for dairy cattle in South Africa. Linear models, random regression (RR) models, threshold models (TMs) and proportional hazard models (PH) have been used to evaluate longevity. This paper discusses these methodologies and their advantages and disadvantages. Heritability estimates obtained from these models are also reviewed. Linear methodologies can model binary and actual longevity, while RR and TM methodologies model binary survival. PH procedures model the hazard function of a cow at time t derived from survival from first calving to culling, death or censoring. It is difficult to compare methodologies for sire evaluation and ranking across countries because of the variation in the definition of longevity and the choice of model. Sire estimated breeding values (EBVs) are derived differently for the models. Sire EBVs from PH models are expressed as deviations of the culling risk from the mean of the base sires, expected percentage of daughters still alive after a given number of lactations, expected length of productive life in absolute terms or as standard deviation units. In linear, TM and RR modelling, sire EBVs for longevity have been expressed as deviations of survival from the mean estimated with Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP). Appropriate models should thus be developed to evaluate functional longevity for possible inclusion in the overall breeding objective for South African dairy cattle
Average distance and edge-connectivity I
No full textThe results in this paper are part of the second author’s PhD thesis.The average distance of a connected graph G of order n is the average of the distances between all pairs of vertices of G. We prove that if G is a -edge-connected graph of order n, then the bounds if , if , and if hold. Our bounds are shown to be best possible, and our results solve a problem of PlesníkNational Research Foundation and the University of KwaZulu-Nata
A conceptual expose of public interest litigation in post 2013 Zimbabwe
No full textZimbabwe recently witnessed a new constitutional phase through the enactment of the new Constitution, which saw the introduction of the concept of Public Interest Litigation, (hereinafter referred to as PIL). Zimbabwe’s constitutional framework is earmarked by a broadened Bill of Rights. The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land conferring rights on legal persons a forum to vindicate breach of the same. Zimbabwe’s transformative constitutional project is grounded in the Constitution’s Founding Values. The progressive nature of the dispensation is premised upon Chapter 4 (the Bill of Rights), and, in particular, Section 85 of the Constitution.
Crucially, a key aspect in every constitutional democracy is the justiciability of human rights. Section 85 of the Constitution entrenches this philosophy. Subsection (1), liberalizes the traditional concept of legal standing traversing the blinkered common law rules of legal standing by allowing any person to approach a court of law in the public interest. This provision contradicts the traditional notion calling for a rigid application of rules of legal standing through the direct and substantial interest test as sanctioned in Section 24 of the Lancaster House Constitution.
What now boggles the mind is the proper meaning of PIL within the purview of Section 85
(1) (d) and whether or not the way it is couched in our Constitution is sufficient to achieve the ideal? If one tries to understand the nature and scope of PIL within the purview of Zimbabwean decisions brought under Section 24 of the previous Constitution: Law Society of Zimbabwe v. Minister of Justice & Parliamentary Affairs & Anor12, In re Wood & Anor13, Ruwodo N.O. v. Minister of Home Affairs &Ors14, Retrofit (Pvt) Ltd v. PTC & Anor15, United Parties v. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs &Ors16, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe v. Attorney General &Ors17,
Minister of Lands &ors v. Commercial Farmer’s Union, one will be left with a limited
appreciation of the functionalities of PIL in Zimbabwe.
In other words, the Zimbabwean courts restrictively interpreted legal standing to encompass persons who had a direct and substantial interest in the matter, ratepayers, associations, class actions, and any person in cases of unlawful detention or harbeas corpus applications, among others. GUBBAY CJ (as he then was) in the United Parties case, held that:
...S 24 (1) affords the applicant legal standing to seek redress for a contravention of the Declaration of Rights only in relation to itself (the exception being where a person is detained. It has no right to do either on behalf of the general public or anyone else.
Are GUBBAY’s sentiments still applicable in the new constitutional dispensation? The previous constitutional legal framework discouraged efforts to practice PIL in Zimbabwe.Thus, PIL forums opted for the provision of legal aid to victims of human rights violations because the terrain was not conducive. Is this all what PIL entails? No. The functionalities of PIL are more comprehensive. PIL covers a large spectrum, which include inter alia, legal aid, clinical legal education, establishment of PIL law centres, judicial activism, collaborative and investigative litigation, non-adversarial litigation, epistolary jurisdiction, extended legal standing, as embraced India. However, despite the limited scope of PIL in Zimbabwe, PIL organizations have managed to assist hundreds of victims of human rights violations through free legal aid services.International Commission of Jurists (ICJ
An echocardiography audit to determine and characterise rheumatic heart disease lesions seen in 2012
No full textIntroduction: Rheumatic heart disease is still a common problem in Zimbabwe. It has a significant mortality rate due to heart failure, stroke or endocarditis. Timely surgical interventions can reduce mortality. An echocardiography audit was performed to determine the proportion of patients referred for echocardiography who had a diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease, the pattern of valvular involvement and the presence of surgical indications on echocardiography.
Objective: To determine the number of echocardiograms done in 2012 and the proportion with a diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease. To determine which valve lesions were present and whether there were any echocardiographic indications for surgical intervention.
Method: A record review of all echocardiograms performed by the investigator during the period January to December 2012 was performed. A data collection form was used to extract the data and the findings were tabulated and analysed.
Results: Three hundred and eight (308) echocardiograms were performed by the investigator during the year of review. 236 of these were abnormal and rheumatic heart disease was diagnosed in 16% of them. The commonest valve lesion was mitral regurgitation and half of the patients had surgical indications. The common complications were pulmonary hypertension and left atrial enlargement.
Conclusion: This audit shows that rheumatic heart disease is still quite common in patients referred for echocardiography. Lesions are severe and the majority of patients are in need of surgical intervention
Factors associated with perinatal mortality in Umguza and Bubi rural areas, 2015- the effect of maternal human immunodeficiency virus status.
No full textIntroduction: The perinatal mortality rate (PMR) is used as a proxy for the quality of maternal and child health care services accessible to women during pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal period. The PMR increased from 8.9 to 33 deaths and 21to 23 deaths per 1000 live births in Umguza and Bubi districts between the years 2010- 2014. The study seeks to understand the determinants of perinatal mortality in the two districts so that appropriate measures can be put in place.
Methods: An unmatched 1:2 case control study was conducted using a pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 73 cases and 146 controls were recruited in the study. A case was a woman who resided in Umguza and Bubi districts who had a perinatal death from January 2014 to June 2015. A control was a woman who resided in Umguza and Bubi Districts whose baby survived the early neonatal period from January 2014 to June 2015. Two focused group discussions (FGD) were done one in each district using the FGD guide. The FGD consisted of 12 women for Bubi and nine women for Umguza district.
Results: The median age of cases and controls was 22years (Q1=19; Q3=29) and 23 years (Q1=19.5; Q3=28) respectively.Gestational age of < 36 weeks OR 8.28 (3.67; 96.6), having a male baby OR 1.4 (1.09; 2.88), low birth weight of <2500g OR 1.37 (1.27; 6.96) and no antenatal care booking OR 24.6 (2.67;226.3) were independent risk factors for perinatal mortality. Antenatal booking OR 0.30 (0.14; 0.65) and secondary education were protective factors against perinatal deaths. Women’s cultural believes and poor nurse attitudes, resource shortages and patient delays were cited as contributory to perinatal mortality.
Conclusion: Gestational age of less than 36 weeks, not attending antenatal care, having a male baby and low birth weight were risk factors. The majority of perinatal deaths were
macerated. Having early neonatal deaths occurring during the first 24 hours after delivery might be indicative of the quality of neonatal care provided
Identifying and evaluating field indicators of Urogenital Schistosomiasis-related morbidity in preschool-aged children
No full textSeveral studies have been conducted quantifying the impact of schistosome infections on health and development in school-aged children. In contrast, relatively little is known about morbidity levels in preschool-aged children (_5 years) who have been neglected in terms of schistosome research and control. The aim of this study was to compare the utility of available point-of-care (POC) morbidity diagnostic tools in preschool versus primary school-aged children (6–10 years) and determine markers which can be used in the field to identify and quantify Schistosoma haematobium-related morbidity. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the performance of currently available POC morbidity diagnostic tools on Zimbabwean children aged 1–5 years (n=104) and 6–10 years (n=194). Morbidity was determined using the POC diagnostics questionnaire-based reporting of haematuria and dysuria, clinical examination, urinalysis by dipsticks, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Attributable fractions were used to quantify the proportion of morbidity attributable to S. haematobium infection. Based on results of attributable fractions, UACR was identified as the most reliable tool for detecting schistosome-related morbidity, followed by dipsticks, visual urine inspection, questionnaires, and lastly clinical examination. The results of urine dipstick attributes showed that proteinuria and microhaematuria accounted for most differences between schistosome egg-positive and negative children (T=-50.1; p<0.001). These observations were consistent in preschool vs. primary school-aged children. Preschool-aged children in endemic areas can be effectively screened for schistosomerelated morbidity using the same currently available diagnostic tools applicable to older children. UACR for detecting albuminuria is recommended as the best choice for rapid assessment of morbidity attributed to S. haematobium infection in children in the field. The use of dipstick microhaematuria and proteinuria as additional indicators of schistosome-related morbidity would improve the estimation of disease burden in young children.Wellcome Trust (Grant number WT082028MA, http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/funding/) and Thrasher Research Funds (Grant number 9150, https://www.thrasherresearch.org/default.aspx)
“Resettled and Yet Unsettled?” Land Conflicts and Food (in) security in Insiza North, Zimbabwe, 2005-2013
No full textBook chapter in Dialoguing Land and Indigenisation in Zimbabwe and Other Developing CountriesThe Land resettlement programme in Zimbabwe beginning around 2000 has been hotly contested within and outside the country. The land occupations had far reaching effects on the social, political and economic landscape of the country in general and Insiza district in particular. The state-led resettlement programme has brought to the district and country unanticipated and incessant conflict. In the Insiza district, this conflict has been between and amongst the following: national political parties; the Shona and Ndebele in the area; the only remaining white rancher and the resettled farmers who violated boundaries, among other things; the local government administration and the resettled farmers. These conflicts were heightened by the return of one Chief Jahana to Insiza with many of his subjects in 2006 to reclaim ‘his motherland’ having been displaced by the colonial regime in the 1960s. Having the support of some of the locals and influential politicians, Jahana’s movement has seen tension heightening by the day. This paper uses the case of Insiza District to evaluate the post-colonial state’s land resettlement exercise. It demonstrates how the conflicts are intricately woven with the food security situation in the region. By and large, we argue, the resettled farmers in Insiza are ‘unsettled’. The paper uses interviews, newspapers and District Council minutes to arrive at a number of conclusions. We note that, in a number of ways, the land conflicts have a potential to derail the success of the resettlement exercise.Organ For National Healing and Reconciliatio