1358 research outputs found
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The relationship between psychosocial support and PMTCT uptake among HIV positive pregnant women at Chitungwiza Central Hospital.
No full textThe study determined the relationship between psychosocial support and uptake of PMTCT among HIV positive pregnant women at Chitungwiza Central Hospital antenatal clinic. The independent variable was psychosocial support and the dependent variable was PMTCT uptake. Neuman’s systems model guided the study. A descriptive correlation study design was employed to examine the relationship between the variables. A simple random sample of 80 subjects was recruited and interviewed using a face to face structured interview schedule. The instrument had three sections, that is, demographic questionnaire. PMTCT uptake questionnaire and a psychosocial support questionnaire. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS). Research questions were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and Pearson Product correlational coefficiency test was used to determine the relationship between psychosocial support and PMTCT uptake. The statistical significance level was set at 5% or alpha< 0.05 and the results showed a moderate positive significant relationship between psychosocial support and PMTCT uptake. (r = .484 p < .01) implying that as psychosocial support increases PMTCT uptake increases. This study should contribute to a body of knowledge on Maternal and Child Health and Midwifery practic
Determinants of acute malnutrition in children under five years in Harare City Zimbabwe 2011
No full textBackground: Malnutrition is associated with 35% of the top five causes of childhood mortality in Zimbabwe. The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with acute malnutrition in Harare City.
Methods: A 1:1 age group matched case-control study using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire was done. A case was a child with low weight for height or a mid-upper arm circumference less than 125mm. A control was a child with no signs of malnutrition.
Results: We interviewed 116 cases and 115 controls in the six to 24 month age group and 57 cases and 60 controls in the 25 to 59 month age group. The median age was 18 months (Q1=11, Q3=27) for cases and (Q1=10, Q3=29) for controls. Significant determinants of malnutrition were: breastfeeding less than eight times a day [OR=1.83(1.05-3.20)]; eating less than three meals a day [OR=2.16 (1.22-3.81)]; drinking less during fever or cough [OR=2.12 (1.08-4.16)] and birth weight less than 2300g [OR=2.67 (1.01-7.06). Cases used more coping strategies, 110 (Q1=92, Q3=122) for finding food than controls, 91 (Q1=78, Q3=112), p-value 0.01. After further analysis, acute malnutrition remained independently associated with breastfeeding less than eight times the previous day [OR=1.86 (1.02-3.39)] and eating less than three meals a day [OR 2.16 (1.20-3.88)].
Conclusion: Determinants of acute malnutrition are breastfeeding less than eight times a day and children not feeding more than three times a day. To reduce childhood malnutrition, emphasis should be given to increasing the knowledge of caregivers on infant and young child feeding practices
Building Health Data Dissemination and Information Use Systems in Zimbabwe Under the President's Emergency fund for AIDS Relief
No full textCharacterising Silicon Diode response for radiation measurements
No full textScholarship awardX-ray radiation has been used in the treatment of cancer since its discovery in 1895. It was
found that incorrect use of x-radiation can cause irreversible damage. It was necessary to
introduce diode in-vivo dosimetry for x-radiation measurement to control the dose
administered to patients.
This study focuses on the characteristics of a p-type silicon diode as an x-radiation detector.
The investigation involved measurement of the response of the diode under different
conditions, which include gantry angle, field size, source to surface distance, off axis and
wedge angle, in order to determine the optimum position for diode placement for both flat
and curved surface.
These conditions were varied and the corresponding change in response of the diode noted.
The measurements were done on both the flat and curved surface of a phantom designed and
built specifically for this project. Two diodes (old diode and new diode) were used in the
investigation to observe the change in diode sensitivity after prolonged use. The results were
also compared to those of other workers [8,10,15,20,23].
The results showed that the old and new diode both exhibited similar trends in all
measurements though notable difference in their sensitivity can be observed. Large
percentage deviations about ± 7 % were observed in the curved surface measurements. The
diodes responded differently between the curved and flat surface measurements. The project
showed that proper diode placement is necessary especially when performing measurements
on curved surfaces.Germany Academic Exchange Services (DAAD
A study on the challenges faced by children infected with HIV: the case of children on the SOS children’s villages community outreach programme (Glen View, Glen Nora and Budirio)
No full textThe aim of the study was to establish the challenges faced by HIV infected children. The objectives of the study were to ascertain health, education and psychosocial needs and problems of children infected with HIV, to establish how children infected with HIV are benefiting and helped to cope through the SOS Children’s Villages outreach community program and to find out the challenges faced by SOS Children’s Villages in providing services to HIV infected children. The study was carried out in three high density suburbs in Harare. Thirty four children infected with HIV and seven key informants formed the respondents. The responses generally show that the needs of HIV children infected include access to basic food, health fees assistance, and school fees assistance, access to counselling and support group services and clothing. The major problems that the child participants noted included continued ill health, drug shortages, limited access to psychosocial support services such as counselling services, stigma and discrimination and anxiety about what will happen in the future.
It was recommended that collaborative efforts be strengthened between relevant government ministries, and non state actors to ensure increased availability of basic food and other services such as drugs, school fees and psychosocial support services so as to meet fully the needs of HIV infected children and promote their growth. Other recommendations include improved linkages and networking of all partners in HIV/AIDS service provision so as to ensure complimentary service provision thereby avoiding duplication of activities to the same target population. These among many other issues are discussed in the dissertation
A comparative analysis of maize technical efficiency between a1 resettlement areas and communal areas in Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province
No full textABSTRACT
This study sought to establish the differences in technical efficiency levels between A1 and communal farmers in Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province. Detailed survey data was obtained from 100 farmers in Goromonzi District for the 2010/2011 agricultural season. Goromonzi was purposively selected because being located in agro-ecological region II, has historically been highly diversified and productive for both commercial and communal farmers The study aimed to answer the following questions: How socio-economically different are A1 farmers from the communal farmers? What factors influence production efficiency of both A1 and communal farmers? How different is the production efficiency of A1 farmers from communal farmers? How efficient are smaller farms relative to larger ones?
In order to achieve the broad objective of the study, a detailed literature review was carried to understand the relationship between output and farmers production. Analytical tools employed include descriptive statistics, ordinary least squares, maximum likelihood estimations, regression analysis and the stochastic frontier production. The results from the survey showed that that the mean levels of technical efficiency are 63.5 percent and 80.5 percent for A1 and communal farmers respectively suggesting existence of substantial gains in maize yield.
The efficiency differences were explained significantly by soil fertility, education level, agricultural training, and cattle ownership for A1 farmers. In the communal areas, technical efficiency levels were explained significantly by age, education, agricultural training, cropped area and cattle ownership. It was recommended that government, in providing assistance to the two groups of farmers need to be group-specific. Results emphasise agricultural extension and farmer-education programmes as key policy instruments for governments seeking to improve efficiency. Study results showed that farmers located in fertile soil areas showed higher levels of technical efficiency than those in less fertile areas. Coordinated effort to promote effective soil management was recommended to improve and maintain soil productivity. Cattle ownership was shown to have a positive impact on technical efficiency. It was therefore recommended that government designs appropriate policy for improving cattle production systems in Zimbabwe by solving the shortage of feed and health problems among other problems.African Institute for Agrarian Studies (AIAS
THE NEED FOR POSITIVE LIVING AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV. A CASE STUDY OF HARARE’S HATCLIFFE EXTENSION SUBURB.
No full textThe purpose of this study is premised on the basis that in the absence of a cure for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the emphasis is on living positively with HIV, a term used to describe leading a normal, non-risky life while following preventive and supportive measures to live longer though infected with HIV. This study aimed at assessing the nature and scope of services available to People Living With HIV (PLWH) in Hatcliffe Extension Suburb, to identify and profile hindrance factors that prevent PLWH to access the above referred services and live positively in general. The study also aimed at proposing solutions to identified challenges faced by PLWH in their quest to living positively. The research methodology was qualitative and purely exploratory involving 54 participants. 50 of them were PLWH while the other 4 were key informants. Four (4) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted; in-depth interviews were used with key informants and case studies for participants who were sampled from the FGDs. The study focused on just one suburban setting with a cohesive support group network while the participants were purposively selected. The research findings revealed that there is in existence some infrastructure to cushion PLWH. These include free Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services, existence of the National AIDS Council (NAC) among others. It also emerged from the results of the study that PLWH were aware of the need for positive living and were consciously and actively pursuing it. However, their efforts were being hampered by an array of social, economic, cultural and structural challenges. Chief among them were stigma, lack of income to access good nutrition, culturally driven women sexual disempowerment and the bottlenecks that were encountered in early access to anti-retroviral therapy and other related medical services. The study concluded that in order to ensure the full realization of positive living by PLWH, there is need to address the barriers to positive living. It was recommended that service providers as well as media practitioners should highlight how some cultural beliefs and behaviors contribute in complicating life for PLWH. The study also recommended that organizations which cater for PLWH together with all the relevant stakeholders should aim to address the challenges to positive living. Dissemination of information should be tailor made to address how different age groups and sexes should live positively considering their unique challenges
