Age In Zambia Research Articles

Spatial analysis and associated factors of underweight, overweight and obesity among non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Zambia

Introduction: Malnutrition in women in reproductive age (WRA) is associated with distinct types of public health problems such as preterm birth, low birth weight, malnourished children, poor psychological health and high mortality. The study aimed at investigating the risk factors associated with underweight, overweight and obesity among WRA and map their spatial distribution. Methods: The study used the 2013/2014 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) data and survey proportional odds model was fitted to the data. Spatial effects were modeled using Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) version 2.18.1 to develop univariate choropleth maps. Results: 14,377 WRA were enrolled into the study. Overweight was more prevalent (15.87%) compared to underweight (10.22%) and obesity (6.47%). The findings revealed that a higher wealth index, age, having a car, using contraceptives, being married or divorced similarly increased the odds of being at or beyond a particular category of nutrition status. The spatial analysis also suggested Lusaka and Copperbelt were more prone to overweight and obesity, whereas Western had increased prevalence of underweight. Conclusion: Appropriate nutritional and economic programs are highly recommended in specific provinces of Zambia. Programs to curb overweight and obesity should be directed more to Lusaka and Copperbelt while underweight programs to Western province. Keywords: Underweight; overweight; obesity

COVID-19 and sexual reproductive health service utilisation among women of reproductive age in Zambia

ABSTRACT Zambia has made improvements in addressing maternal and child health in the past two decades. The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which could put a strain on the healthcare systems and alter how access to sexual and reproductive health services is provided, could, however, have a negative impact on the gains. Data from a recent nationally representative COVID-19 survey, conducted in April 2021, was used to examine the utilisation of antenatal care services among pregnant women during the pandemic in Zambia. Overall, 10 per cent (95% CI: 8.0–11.4) of pregnant women missed antenatal care during the COVID-19 period, signifying an increase when compared to the time before the outbreak of COVID-19. Age of a woman and level of education were associated with the risk of missing antenatal care services. The study highlights the need to improve communication to women on availability and access to sexual reproductive health services to stimulate demand and use among women during this period.

Evaluation of ROTARIX® Booster Dose Vaccination at 9 Months for Safety and Enhanced Anti-Rotavirus Immunity in Zambian Children: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Oral rotavirus vaccines show diminished immunogenicity in low-resource settings where rotavirus burden is highest. This study assessed the safety and immune boosting effect of a third dose of oral ROTARIX® (GlaxoSmithKline) vaccine administered at 9 months of age. A total of 214 infants aged 6 to 12 weeks were randomised to receive two doses of ROTARIX® as per standard schedule with other routine vaccinations or an additional third dose of ROTARIX® administered at 9 months old concomitantly with measles/rubella vaccination. Plasma collected pre-vaccination, 1 month after first- and second-dose vaccination, at 9 months old before receipt of third ROTARIX® dose and/or measles/rubella vaccination, and at 12 months old were assayed for rotavirus-specific IgA (RV-IgA). Geometric mean RV-IgA at 12 months of age and the incidence of clinical adverse events 1 month following administration of the third dose of ROTARIX® among infants in the intervention arm were compared between infants in the two arms. We found no significant difference in RV-IgA titres at 12 months between the two arms. Our findings showed that rotavirus vaccines are immunogenic in Zambian infants but with modest vaccine seroconversion rates in low-income settings. Importantly, however, a third dose of oral ROTARIX® vaccine was shown to be safe when administered concomitantly with measles/rubella vaccine at 9 months of age in Zambia. This speaks to opportunities for enhancing rotavirus vaccine immunity within feasible schedules in the national immunization program.

Factors associated with fertility intentions among women living with and without human immunodeficiency virus in Zambia.

Zambia is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus among women of reproductive age. Notably, the literature shows that human immunodeficiency virus status is one of the factors that influence fertility intention among women of reproductive age. With increased access, uptake and coverage of anti retroviral therapy, there is a need to understand the influence of human immunodeficiency virus status on fertility intentions of women of reproductive age in Zambia. The purpose of this study was to determine the fertility intentions of both mothers living with human immunodeficiency virus and mothers living without human immunodeficiency virus in Zambia. This study adopted a cross-sectional design using data collected by the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey conducted in 2018. The study sample comprised 7983 mothers in the reproductive age (15-49 years), of which 6704 were mothers living without human immunodeficiency virus and 1279 were mothers living with human immunodeficiency virus. Here, we determined the fertility intentions of mothers living with human immunodeficiency virus and mothers living without human immunodeficiency virus using secondary data. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the association of individual and household socio-demographic factors on fertility intentions of mothers living with human immunodeficiency virus and mothers living without human immunodeficiency virus in Zambia. Fertility intention among mothers living with human immunodeficiency virus was 42.1% while that on mothers living without human immunodeficiency virus was 55.5%. Regardless of human immunodeficiency virus status, fertility intention reduced with increasing age. Mothers aged 35-49 years who were living with human immunodeficiency virus (adjusted odds ratio = 0.12, 95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.24) and mothers aged 35-49 years who were living without human immunodeficiency virus (adjusted odds ratio = 0.18, 95% confidence interval = 0.13-0.26) had lower odds of intention to have another child compared to mothers aged 15-24 years. Furthermore, married mothers living with human immunodeficiency virus and those living without human immunodeficiency virus had increased odds of intention of having another child (adjusted odds ratio = 2.52, 95% confidence interval = 1.36-4.66) and (adjusted odds ratio = 3.21, 95% confidence interval = 2.36-4.36), respectively. The study has established that age, marital status, parity and employment status were associated with fertility intention among women living with and without human immunodeficiency virus. The results necessitate the need for enhanced maternal health education for mothers regardless of human immunodeficiency virus status. Furthermore, there is a need for continuous counselling for both women living with human immunodeficiency virus and without human immunodeficiency virus during their routine human immunodeficiency virus care, to improve and enhance pregnancy outcomes.

Economic evaluation of severe malaria in children under 14\xa0years in Zambia

IntroductionMalaria exerts a significant economic burden on health care providers and households and our study attempts to make claims on the cost effectiveness of artesunate against quinine in patients under 14 years of age in Zambia. Also, to find the average total costs involved in the treatment of severe malaria in children and their impact on household expenditure.MethodsCost-effectiveness analysis of severe malaria treatment was conducted from a healthcare provider perspective using a Markov model. Standard costing was performed for the identification, measurement and assessment phases with data from quantification reports for anti-malaria commodities as these documents provides drug procurement costs from suppliers and freight costs. Average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were estimated and uncertainties were assessed through probabilistic sensitivity analysis.ResultsIn Zambia severe malaria in children has been shown to account for over 45% of the total monthly curative healthcare costs incurred by households compared to the mean per capita monthly income. The cost of treating severe malaria depleted 7.67% of the monthly average household income. According, to the cost effectiveness analysis the of artesunate with quinine the ICER was $105 per death averted.ConclusionThe use of artesunate over quinine in the treatment of severe malaria in children under 14 years is a highly cost-effective strategy for the healthcare provider in Zambia.

Effect of agricultural diversification on dietary diversity in rural households with children under 5years of age in Zambia.

Micronutrient deficiencies in low‐income countries are associated with the monotonous consumption of nutrient‐deficient crops, contributing to childhood stunting with far‐reaching socioeconomic consequences. To promote nutrition sensitive agriculture, policy makers in such countries have embarked on policy initiatives that encourage agricultural diversification in smallholder farming systems. This paper investigates the link between agricultural diversification and two key indicators of food and nutrition security among children under 5 years in rural Zambia. Data from the 2015 Rural Agricultural Livelihoods Survey and regression models are used to explain household dietary diversity and months of inadequate household food provisioning among 7934 households. Factors associated with the key outcome variables include land cultivated, household size, total livestock units, household head education, households receiving extension information, and use of productivity‐enhancing inputs such as fertilizers. Although the results demonstrate that agricultural diversification is positively associated with the household dietary diversity score, the relationship is not statistically significant. Further, the study findings illustrate that agricultural diversity is negatively associated with months of inadequate household food provisioning but that this relationship is also not statistically significant. The implication for policy is that other interventions such as productivity enhancement and behavioral change communication need to be scaled up.

Distinguishing African bovids using Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS): New peptide markers and insights into Iron Age economies in Zambia.

Assessing past foodways, subsistence strategies, and environments depends on the accurate identification of animals in the archaeological record. The high rates of fragmentation and often poor preservation of animal bones at many archaeological sites across sub-Saharan Africa have rendered archaeofaunal specimens unidentifiable beyond broad categories, such as “large mammal” or “medium bovid”. Identification of archaeofaunal specimens through Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS), or peptide mass fingerprinting of bone collagen, offers an avenue for identification of morphologically ambiguous or unidentifiable bone fragments from such assemblages. However, application of ZooMS analysis has been hindered by a lack of complete reference peptide markers for African taxa, particularly bovids. Here we present the complete set of confirmed ZooMS peptide markers for members of all African bovid tribes. We also identify two novel peptide markers that can be used to further distinguish between bovid groups. We demonstrate that nearly all African bovid subfamilies are distinguishable using ZooMS methods, and some differences exist between tribes or sub-tribes, as is the case for Bovina (cattle) vs. Bubalina (African buffalo) within the subfamily Bovinae. We use ZooMS analysis to identify specimens from extremely fragmented faunal assemblages from six Late Holocene archaeological sites in Zambia. ZooMS-based identifications reveal greater taxonomic richness than analyses based solely on morphology, and these new identifications illuminate Iron Age subsistence economies c. 2200–500 cal BP. While the Iron Age in Zambia is associated with the transition from hunting and foraging to the development of farming and herding, our results demonstrate the continued reliance on wild bovids among Iron Age communities in central and southwestern Zambia Iron Age and herding focused primarily on cattle. We also outline further potential applications of ZooMS in African archaeology.

The Impact of Youth Unemployment on the Zambian Economy

This research looks at the issue of youth unemployment and how this affects the Zambian economy. The paper focuses on examining how the productive age in Zambia has been disadvantaged by the introduction of some regulations and policies. The paper brings into perspective the shrinking employment opportunities for the youth and how this effects productivity in key economic sectors such as mining, agriculture and the private sector. The findings indicate that the increase in the pensionable age disadvantages the youth and further increases the unemployment rate for the youth and women. The findings have also brought out the challenges that are faced by the unemployed youth and how they have been forced to engage in crime and political violence in order for them to make a living. The youth in Zambia represent 60% of the total employable age yet instead of being in well-paying and productive jobs; they are involved in crime, prostitution, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. The research outcomes also indicate that the definitions of a youth in the Zambian youth policy and the definitions of a youth by the United Nations are different and this may pose a challenge in terms of statistics and planning purposes. The paper takes a secondary research approach by reviewing research findings that have been drawn from analysing the different opinions, facts and findings from researchers on the topic of youth unemployment and government policies and laws on youth employment. Indicators from the findings are that youth unemployment is a global problem, which affects even rich countries such as the UK that has a huge GDP than that of Zambia. The conclusion in the paper is that there is a direct connection between youth unemployment and economic growth and that governments must ensure that they put youth employment at the centre of national economic planning. Keywords: unemployment, youth, government, economy, policy, labour, productivity DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-6-09 Publication date: March 31 st 2020

A root cause analysis of sub-optimal uptake and compliance to iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy in 7 districts of Zambia

BackgroundIron and Folic Acid are two of the micronutrients recommended for pregnant women to support optimal maternal outcomes with regard to preventing anaemia and foetal birth defects. It is difficult to establish if women provided with iron and folic acid supplementation in Zambia benefit from it and how well it is implemented. The overall objective of this study was to determine the levels of uptake and compliance to iron and folic acid in pregnancy among women of child-bearing age in Zambia, with a focus on both supply and demand factors.MethodsA cross sectional, mixed method study was done. Data was collected in August and September 2015 from six of the 14 districts in which Scaling Up Nutrition interventions were being undertaken as well as Lusaka district. A household survey covering 402 males and females of child-bearing age, 27 key informant interviews amongst key stakeholders and 12 focus group discussions at community level were conducted.ResultsAntenatal clinic attendance was almost universal (98.7%); the majority of both men (92.1%) and women (97.4%) had heard messages about iron and folic acid supplementation; the majority (96.5%) of women reported having taken iron and folic acid tablets during their last pregnancy, with 61.3% starting in the second trimester, 27.2% during the first trimester, and 7.7% in their third trimester. Eighty-five per cent (80.5%) of the women reported that they had taken all the tablets they were given with about 13.4% not taking all the tablets received.ConclusionsRoot cause analysis, using both qualitative and quantitative findings, showed that the main challenges faced were long distances to health facilities and high transport costs; some women not being reached with supplementation messaging; lack of formalised and uniform training around delivery of antenatal messages across health care workers; women not attending antenatal monthly to replenish supplements; and forgetfulness to take the drugs daily. While male involvement may be a supportive factor, it sometimes hinders women from accessing antenatal services. Results showed that both uptake and compliance to iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy in Zambia were sub-optimal.

Increase in Obesity Among Women of Reproductive Age in Zambia, 2002-2014.

Objective: To describe trends in obesity in Zambian women of reproductive age and to identify factors that may have contributed to changes in trends and nutrition outcomes. Materials and Methods: We obtained data on body mass index and individual factors of women from the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey for the period 2002 to 2014. From these data, we calculated descriptive statistics and examined the extent to which factors link to the odds of obesity over time. We also reviewed primary and secondary data sources, such as government documents, theses, and search engines to identify factors that may have contributed to trends and changes in nutrition outcomes. Results: The proportion of obesity doubled from 2002 (12.5%) to 2014 (22.3%). The odds were higher among educated, currently married and wealthy women, and it increased with age. Rural residence and working in agricultural-related jobs were linked to lower odds for obesity. This disparity varies by province. In addition, despite the presence of many nutrition policies and strategies, the increase in obesity occurred within the past two decades when urbanization and other factors (e.g., sedentary work, a proliferation of fast food restaurants, and advertisements) may have affected changes in nutrition outcomes for women. Conclusions: We identified increasing trends in obesity in women of reproductive age over time. The rapid urbanization and other factors that occurred in Zambia during this period are significant risk factors for obesity in Zambian women. The findings will be of interest to countries that are undergoing a nutrition transition.

Measles and rubella serosurvey identifies rubella immunity gap in young adults of childbearing age in Zambia: The added value of nesting a serological survey within a post-campaign coverage evaluation survey

BackgroundSerological surveys can potentially complement vaccine coverage surveys, such as post-vaccination campaign coverage evaluation surveys (PCES), by providing direct information on population immunity within and outside the target age range of the mass vaccination campaign. We estimate age-specific population immunity to measles and rubella viruses in Southern Province, Zambia, and assess the value of adding serological data to vaccination coverage estimates by nesting a serological survey within a PCES. MethodsDried blood spots (DBS) from fingerprick blood were collected from all individuals ages nine months or older in households participating in the PCES and tested for measles and rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) by enzyme immunoassay (Siemens Enzygnost, Marburg, Germany). ResultsOverall seroprevalence was 95.5% (95% CI: 92.8, 97.2) for measles virus-specific IgG and 97.7% (95% CI: 96.0, 98.7) for rubella virus-specific IgG. Rubella seroprevalence was 98.4% (95% CI: 95.9, 99.4) among children eligible for the MR vaccination campaign, significantly higher than the reported measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign coverage of 89.8% (p = 0.003), and higher than the 91.3% rubella seroprevalence for adolescents and adults 16–30 years of age (p = 0.049). ConclusionSeroprevalence to measles and rubella viruses in children younger than 16 years of age was significantly higher than expected from vaccination coverage estimates, likely reflecting exposure to wild-type viruses and underreporting of vaccination. The serosurvey revealed rubella immunity gaps among women 16–30 years of age, precisely the age group in which protection from rubella is most important to prevent congenital rubella syndrome. Nesting serological surveys within existing surveys can leverage resources and infrastructure while providing complementary information important to immunization programs.

Factors associated with stunting among children below five years of age in Zambia: evidence from the 2014 Zambia demographic and health survey

BackgroundStunting continues to be a major public health problem globally. Stunting is a manifestation of many factors including inadequate food intake and poor health conditions. However, poor quality nutritional diets during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood lead to inadequate nutrient intake. The prevalence of stunting in Zambia has been over 40% and remains unacceptably high. There is limited information on factors associated with stunting in Zambia. Thus to better understand factors contributing to the high stunting levels, the 2013/14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) data was analysed.MethodsData was extracted using a data extraction tool and analysed using Stata version 13. Sample data of 12, 328 children aged 0–59 months was analysed. The analysis involved simple and multiple logistic regression to find associations between independent variables and stunting.ResultsThe prevalence of stunting among under five children in Zambia is 40%. From the 4937 children who were stunted, stunting was higher among male children as compared to female children (42.4 and 37.6% respectively). Additional analysis revealed that children whose source of drinking water was improved (33.7%) were less likely to be stunted compared to children whose source of drinking water was poor (47.7%). Stunting was associated with sex and age of a child; mother’s age and education; residence; wealth and duration of breastfeeding. For instance, children whose mothers had higher education showed a 75% reduction of odds compared to children whose mothers had no education (AOR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.22, 0.54; p < 0.05). Similarly, wealth status showed an inverse relationship. Children who came from rich households showed a 32% reduction of odds compared to children who came from poor households (AOR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.57, 0.82; p < 0.05).ConclusionThe study established that the major predictors of stunting among children under 5 years old in Zambia were sex and age of the child; mother’s age and level of education; wealth status; improved source of drinking water; duration of breastfeeding and residence. Therefore, multiple measures targeted at reducing child stunting should be taken in a bid to influence policy and conceiving of programmes.

Estimating levels of HIV testing coverage and use in prevention of mother-to-child transmission among women of reproductive age in Zambia

BackgroundMother to child transmission of HIV (MTCT) still remains a challenge affecting many countries. Globally, an estimated 150,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2015, over 90% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa through MTCT. In Zambia approximately 500,000 babies are born and 40,000 acquire the infection vertically if there is no intervention annually. This study estimated the HIV testing coverage and associated factors among Zambian women of reproductive age 15–49 years.MethodsA cross-sectional study based on data extracted from the Zambia Demographics and Health Survey [Zambia Demographic and Health Survey. Central Statistical Office (CSO), Ministry of Health (MOH), Tropical Diseases Research Centre (TDRC), University of Zambia, and Macro International Inc. 2009. 2014]. Women aged 15–49 years, 15,388 who reported having ever tested for HIV or not comprised the de facto eligible sample. Extracted data comprised women’s demographic characteristics; their full birth history and records of antenatal care for the most recent birth within a 5 year period preceding the survey. A weighted multiple logistic regression model was done to determine factors associated with the odds of HIV testing coverage among women of reproductive age.ResultsOut of 15,388 women in the study, 12,413 (81%) reported ever tested for HIV. Of the 6461 women who attended antenatal care (ANC) 6139 (95%) reported ever tested for HIV. Additionally, 6139 (95%) out of 6461 of the women were given information on PMTCT during ANC sessions. Testing coverage was higher among women aged 20–24 years compared to women aged 15–19 years [AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.14–3.84; p = 0.017]. Women with higher socio-economic status had 6.6 times the odds of having ever tested compared to women with lower status [AOR 6.6, 95% CI 3.04–14.14; p < 0.001].ConclusionsIn this study we have demonstrated that HIV testing coverage is higher among women of reproductive age. HIV testing among women attending ANC is also higher. Older women with higher socio-economic status are more likely to take up HIV testing compared to their young counterparts.

Educational Attainment as a Predictor of HIV Testing Uptake Among Women of Child-Bearing Age: Analysis of 2014 Demographic and Health Survey in Zambia.

Background: Globally, an estimated 150,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2015, over 90% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, ~500,000 babies are born to HIV positive mothers every year, and without intervention 40,000 of them would acquire the infection. Studies have shown a strong association between education and HIV prevalence, but in Zambia, this association has not been demonstrated. There is little published information on the association between educational attainment and HIV testing uptake among pregnant women, which is fundamental in understanding the mother to child transmission of HIV. This study investigated whether educational attainment was associated with uptake of HIV testing among women of reproductive age in Zambia.Methods: Data were taken from Zambia Demographic and Health Survey in 2014 (ZDHS14). The analysis consisted of all women aged 15–49 years, who responded to the question on HIV testing in the ZDHS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine whether educational attainment was associated with uptake of HIV testing among women of reproductive age in Zambia.Results: Educational attainment was strongly associated with HIV testing among 15,388 women of child bearing age [AOR 3.8, 95% CI 1.7–8.2; p = 0.001]. HIV testing differed greatly by socioeconomic social status with an increased uptake among women with higher wealth index [AOR 4.4, 95% CI 1.9–9.9; p = 0.001]. Additionally, HIV testing was observed to be higher among the older women 25–34 years compared to the young women 15–19 years [AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.3; p = 0.007].Conclusions: This study revealed educational attainment to be a strong predictor of HIV testing among women of child bearing age in this population. High HIV testing uptake among educated pregnant women indicated that low-educated women may not fully realize the benefits of testing for HIV. Therefore, strengthening HIV testing in rural health facilities and providing initiatives to overcome barriers to testing among women with no formal education may help reduce vertical transmission of HIV.

Demographic, cultural and environmental factors associated with frequency and severity of malnutrition among Zambian children less than five years of age

Under-nutrition prevents growth and development in children and is the leading factor to illness and death among children less than five years of age in developing countries. The objective of the study was to determine associations of demographic, cultural and environmental factors with frequency and severity of malnutrition among children less than five years of age in Zambia. We used data from the Zambia multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) from years of 1999 to 2000. Altogether 6,142 children participated in the survey. The prevalence rates for being stunted and wasted were 17.6, 37.5 and 4.1%, respectively. Compared to children from Western province, those from Luapula, Northern, and North-West provinces were more likely to be underweight. Children from Lusaka, Southern, Copperbelt, Eastern, and Central provinces were less likely to be underweight compared to those from Western province. Other factors associated with children malnutrition included sex, low educational level of householder and mother, poverty, vaccination status and type of toilet. The data acquired in this study may be used in developing interventions to prevent and mitigate children malnutrition. Special attention may have to be given to the provinces where children are more likely to suffer from malnutrition. Key words: Malnutrition, underweight, stunted, wasted, children under 5 years of age, Zambia.

Women and AIDS in Zambia: a review of the psychosocial factors implicated in the transmission of HIV.

Women are at high risk for HIV infection in Zambia. There are several interrelated factors to account for this including the economic, cultural and educational status of women. This paper explores these factors and suggests that these factors need to be thoroughly understood before preventive strategies are designed and implemented.

The Iron Age in Zambia: New evidence and interpretations (summary)

The Iron Age in Zambia: New evidence and interpretations (summary)

Early congenital syphilis: clinico-radiologic features in 202 patients.

Venereal syphilis is highly prevalent among women of child-bearing age in Zambia. It is estimated to contribute 25-30% of the perinatal mortality rate of 50 per 1,000 births at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. Because of multisystem involvement, early congenital syphilis, the offshoot of maternal syphilis, has varied criteria for its diagnosis. Therefore, in an attempt to draw guidelines for an easier and more reliable diagnosis, the authors analyzed the clinico-radiologic features of congenital syphilis in 202 patients. Although all infants were under the age of six months, there were several significant differences in the manifestations of the disease among neonates and the postneonates. The younger infants had a higher incidence of jaundice and mortality, whereas joint swellings, skin rash, snuffles, anemia, and periosteal reaction visible in x-rays of long bones were typical findings among the older group. The radiologic changes were seen in greater than 95% of patients in both groups. About 84% of mothers had attended prenatal clinics, but less than 20% of the women had been tested for syphilis. Since early congenital syphilis is common in many parts of the world and since all serologic tests have limitations, awareness of appropriate diagnostic criteria is recommended for all medical personnel.

New results on the stratigraphy and structure of the Rhodesian Lomagundides

Results obtained during detailed geological investigations in the Silverside area of the Lomagundi District, Rhodesia, call for certain changes in the stratigraphical sequence of the late Precambrian Lomagundi System. They confirm in principle a new sequence, established by J. B. E.Jacobsen (1962). A basal tillite is followed by a series of carbonatic rocks, partly of stromatolitic nature, which is overlain by an arenaceous series of great thickness. The system rests unconformably on volcanic rocks, for which the retention of the term “Deweras System“ is proposed in contrast to the recently established term “Deweras Series“ as lowermost portion of the Lomagundi System. The System is covered unconformably by much younger sediments, for which the term, “Hunyani System“ is suggested. These sediments were so far included in the Lomagundi System. A correlation between the Lomagundi System and systems of similar age in Zambia and Katanga by J. B. E.Jacobsen (1962) is quoted.

The Early Iron Age in Zambia—Regional Variants and some Tentative Conclusions

The Early Iron Age people appear to have been responsible for the introduction into Zambia of pot-making, metallurgy and, less certainly, food production. Recent research has greatly increased the known number of Early Iron Age sites in Zambia and a number of regional variants have been defined, based largely on the typology of the associated pottery. Radiocarbon dates suggest that these groups are all to be dated to the first millennium a.d. and that they are contemporary with, and related to, the earliest known Iron Age in Rhodesia and some East African sites. It is suggested that the Early Iron Age people slowly spread into eastern Africa from an area west of Lake Tanganyika during the first few centuries a.d. Some related sites are known from this westerly region. This hypothesis can be compared with Oliver's interpretation of Guthrie's linguistic evidence; but the use of archaeological and linguistic arguments together is impossible until proof is available that the Early Iron Age people spoke Bantu languages.