Southern Province Of Zambia Research Articles

Prevalence and Correlates of Infectious Diarrhoea in Adults at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Zambia

Diarrhoea – defined as loose or watery stools for more than three times per day, is a common clinical problem. Worldwide, diseases causing infectious diarrhoea remain a major public health threat. Infectious diarrhoea in adults has been a major concern in developing countries, including Zambia. No study was conducted so far to estimate the infectious diarrhoeal load in the southern province of Zambia. Hence, the study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with infectious diarrhoea in adults at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital. This cross-section study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2020 using a structured data collection tool and random sampling technique to select participants for the research. Of the 4,977 participants that were recorded, 7.9% reported having episodes of diarrhoea. The prevalence of diarrhoea was significantly more in females (55.2%) compared to males (44.8%). Additionally, a slightly high prevalence of patients with diarrhoea did not know their HIV status (35.9%), and more of these patients were from the rural areas (52.7%), and a significantly higher prevalence had no other underlying medical conditions (81.2%). This study concluded that diarrheal diseases are significantly prevalent among adult patients reporting at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital. Age was highly associated with infectious diarrhoea.

The Relevance of Chitonga as a Regional Language of Instruction in the Multilingual Schools of Livingstone Urban in Southern Province of Zambia

The purpose of the study was to find out the relevance of Chitonga as a regional language of instruction from Grade 1 to 4 in multilingual schools of Livingstone. The study objectives were, to assess how teachers are teaching literacy to grade 1 to grade 4 using Chitonga in the multilingual classes of Livingstone and to establish the pedagogical challenges teachers face on the use of Chitonga as a language of instruction in Livingstone. The study used a phenomenological design on the population of Livingstone District. Data was collected using interview guide and classroom observation guide from three primary schools and sixteen (16) participants who included three (3) head teachers, twelve (12) grade 1 to 4 teachers (four (4) from each selected school) and one (1) official from the district education board. The findings revealed that teachers in Livingstone multilingual schools taught Literacy in Chitonga through translanguaging practices like translation and code switching. They also used flash cards, syllabic cards and talking walls. The findings also indicated that Chitonga was not the language of play in multilingual primary classrooms of Livingstone. It was also revealed that there were differences between the Chitonga spoken in Livingstone District and the one used in schools and books. Both teachers and pupils were not proficient in the standard Chitonga. The study concluded that Chitonga despite being the regional language, it was not relevant to the urban primary school learner of Livingstone town because the classrooms were multilingual hence translanguaging practices were used extensively. In the view of the findings, the study recommended that there should be training for primary teachers to teach in multilingual classrooms and schools need to buy more teaching and learning materials in Chitonga for primary schools to help teachers in multilingual classes.

The Relevance of Chitonga as a Regional Language of Instruction in the Multilingual Schools of Livingstone Urban in Southern Province of Zambia

The purpose of the study was to find out the relevance of Chitonga as a regional language of instruction from Grade 1 to 4 in multilingual schools of Livingstone. The study objectives were, to assess how teachers are teaching literacy to grade 1 to grade 4 using Chitonga in the multilingual classes of Livingstone and to establish the pedagogical challenges teachers face on the use of Chitonga as a language of instruction in Livingstone. The study used a phenomenological design on the population of Livingstone District. Data was collected using interview guide and classroom observation guide from three primary schools and sixteen (16) participants who included three (3) head teachers, twelve (12) grade 1 to 4 teachers (four (4) from each selected school) and one (1) official from the district education board. The findings revealed that teachers in Livingstone multilingual schools taught Literacy in Chitonga through translanguaging practices like translation and code switching. They also used flash cards, syllabic cards and talking walls. The findings also indicated that Chitonga was not the language of play in multilingual primary classrooms of Livingstone. It was also revealed that there were differences between the Chitonga spoken in Livingstone District and the one used in schools and books. Both teachers and pupils were not proficient in the standard Chitonga. The study concluded that Chitonga despite being the regional language, it was not relevant to the urban primary school learner of Livingstone town because the classrooms were multilingual hence translanguaging practices were used extensively. In the view of the findings, the study recommended that there should be training for primary teachers to teach in multilingual classrooms and schools need to buy more teaching and learning materials in Chitonga for primary schools to help teachers in multilingual classes.

Prevalence and correlates of Human Papillomavirus infection in females from Southern Province, Zambia: A cross-sectional study.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is strongly associated with cervical cancer with almost all cases being associated with the infection. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in Zambia and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. However, there is limited data on the burden and associated factors of HPV in sub-Saharan Africa. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of HPV infection in the Southern province of Zambia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) among 4,612 women from different districts of the southern province being screened for HPV infection between September 2021 and August 2022. Demographic and clinical data were collected from an existing laboratory programmatic database. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the factors associated with HPV infection. The study participants had a median age of 39 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30, 47]. The prevalence of HPV infection was 35.56% (95%CI). At multivariable analysis, the factors associated with a positive HPV result were younger age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-0.99; p. value 0.001), having provider collected sample (AOR 2.15; 95%CI 1.66-2.79; p. value <0.001) and living with HIV (AOR 1.77; 95%CI 1.22-2.55; p. value <0.002). The prevalence of HPV in women in the southern province of Zambia is high, and likely influenced by age and HIV status. Additionally, the outcome of the HPV test is affected by the sample collection method. Therefore, there is a necessity to enhance HPV and cervical cancer screening, especially among people with HIV.

Agricultural Assistants’ Perceptions towards their Roles: A Case Study from Southern Province of Zambia

Studies have been conducted in Africa to assess camp extension officers’ perception towards their roles, however, little is known about agricultural assistants' perceptions towards their roles, as per government job description in Zambia. It was a cross-sectional qualitative study undertaken from January to July 2023, in which questionnaires were administered to 100 agricultural assistants (AAs) to assess the AAs perception of their roles. The collected quantitative data was analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer program. The findings show that most of the interviewed AAs perceived their roles namely; training, technical support, and performance management as important. However, AAs are faced with challenges such as low camp extension officer to farmers ratio; inadequate support to extension service delivery; conflicting methodologies in extension service delivery between public and private sector players; poor extension planning, reporting, and feedback culture; and inadequate in-service and refresher training for AAs. Based on these findings, it is recommended that there is a need to work out all aspects that affect the performance of the AAs' mandated roles. To considerably address the challenges of AAs in Zambia, the study does, however, encourage the government to recruit additional AAs, organise in-service and refresher training for AAs to improve their knowledge and skills, and adequate support to extension delivery. This would assist AAs in carrying out their mandated responsibilities and, ultimately, improve the delivery of extension services for improving agricultural performance across the country.

MicroDoc: Developing a guide for managing infections in Zambian rural low-resource health settings

Abstract Lack of access to diagnostic tests and guidelines that are inappropriate for poorly resourced facilities can result in incorrect and excessive prescribing of antimicrobial therapy in rural healthcare settings. On Call Africa (OCA) and Virtual Doctors (VD) are two non-governmental organisations that work in healthcare in Zambia. Volunteers and staff from OCA and VD have collaborated with the Zambian Ministry of Health and local healthcare providers to design a guide to support decisions around management of infections specifically in rural primary healthcare settings in Zambia. Local staff were initially surveyed for their attitudes towards treatment of infections, the content they would like capacity building in, and preferred modes of learning. The team, comprising public health and infectious disease doctors and GPs from Ireland and the UK with experience working in Zambia, have created a guide called MicroDoc which encompasses workshops, PDFs, flowcharts and modules relating to management of infections and antimicrobial prescribing. All the content can be downloaded and accessed offline. The Zambian Standard Treatment Guidelines were consulted for antimicrobial choice, supplemented by NICE and WHO where necessary. Red flags for urgent hospital referral are also incorporated, as well as modules about risks of antimicrobial resistance. Early versions of the guide have been distributed to a range of facilities in Zambia's Southern Province, with promising feedback from healthcare providers. In collaboration with local partners and input from facility staff, MicroDoc will be finalised and rolled out to more health posts and health centres in the region, with a view to eventually expanding to other regions. The OCA team has been conducting clinical audits of prescribing practices in two rural health posts and it is hoped that the MicroDoc guide will contribute to improved antimicrobial stewardship as well as better outcomes for patients. Key messages • Management of infectious presentations is particularly challenging in rural low-resource primary healthcare settings in Sub-Saharan countries such as Zambia. • A team from On Call Africa and Virtual Doctors has created a guide called MicroDoc, in collaboration with Zambian health authorities, to support decision making in managing infections in primary care.

Effectiveness of Smallholder Farmers adaptation to climate extremes: Evidence from the Southern Province of Zambia

Climate extreme is one of Zambia's most pressing issues impacting socio-economic development. This paper assessed the impact of adaptation to climate extremes, as well as the effectiveness of adaptation strategies to mitigate the negative impact on food production. A total of 270 smallholder farmers were sampled. Descriptive analysis, and, the endogenous switching regression model were applied. According to the study's findings, adaptors and non-adaptors have a number of different characteristics. Furthermore, based on the estimates of the endogenous switching regression model, radio ownership, seed quantity and farming experience, had a positive relationship with adaptation. Also, the results showed that adaptors are ‘better producers’ than the non-adaptors. In light of the findings, some policy recommendations were made. When drafting policies (a) it is necessary to draw on the expertise and experience of farmers and local institutions, (b) consider the assets of the farmers and (c) enhance farmers’ access to more affordable agricultural inputs.

Examining Civic Education Learning and Assessment Strategies in Selected Secondary Schools in Zambia

Aims: This study explored learning and assessment of Civic Education from the pupils’ standpoint.&#x0D; Study Design: Employed a qualitative research paradigm, in particular a descriptive research design.&#x0D; Place and Duration: The study was conducted in selected rural secondary schools of Central, Lusaka and Southern provinces of Zambia, between April 2022 and April 2023.&#x0D; Methodology: It targeted 300 learners from 30 secondary schools in Central, Lusaka and Southern provinces. Schools and participants were systematically selected. Data was collected using a questionnaire with open-ended questions, analysed descriptively and thematically.&#x0D; Results: Findings show that teachers employ teacher-centered methods and neglect learner-centered methods which are ideal in teaching and learning Civic Education in schools. Findings also revealed that most learners like answering section A (multiple choice), followed by section B (one word or short phrased answers), with section C (essay writing) being the least. All participants contended that teachers could not prepare learners for section C during both formative and summative assessment.&#x0D; Conclusion: The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) should train all teachers of Civic Education as examiners so that they acquire knowledge, build and sharpen their assessment skills; and ECZ should consider including continuous assessment in Civic Education as part of grade 12 national examination to allow learners interact with the community through research projects when they are in grade 11.

Ecological Niche Modeling of Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes: A Risk Map for Chikungunya and West Nile Viruses in Zambia.

The circulation of both West Nile Virus (WNV) and Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) in humans and animals, coupled with a favorable tropical climate for mosquito proliferation in Zambia, call for the need for a better understanding of the ecological and epidemiological factors that govern their transmission dynamics in this region. This study aimed to examine the contribution of climatic variables to the distribution of Culex and Aedes mosquito species, which are potential vectors of CHIKV, WNV, and other arboviruses of public-health concern. Mosquitoes collected from Lusaka as well as from the Central and Southern provinces of Zambia were sorted by species within the Culex and Aedes genera, both of which have the potential to transmit viruses. The MaxEnt software was utilized to predict areas at risk of WNV and CHIKV based on the occurrence data on mosquitoes and environmental covariates. The model predictions show three distinct spatial hotspots, ranging from the high-probability regions to the medium- and low-probability regions. Regions along Lake Kariba, the Kafue River, and the Luangwa Rivers, as well as along the Mumbwa, Chibombo, Kapiri Mposhi, and Mpika districts were predicted to be suitable habitats for both species. The rainfall and temperature extremes were the most contributing variables in the predictive models.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE CHOICE OF ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE EXTREMES: THE CASE OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN SOUTHERN ZAMBIA

This study assesses smallholder farmers' adaptation to climate extremes and its contributing factors in Zambia's southern province. The study employed primary data from 270 smallholder farmers, constituting the sample size. According to the study's findings, change crop variety was adopted by 43% of the farmers. Other strategies of adaptation that were employed include; agricultural insurance, change sow/harvest date, crop diversification and soil conservation. The findings also showed that the various adaptation strategies (agricultural insurance, change sow/harvest date, crop diversification and soil conservation), correlated positively with age, education, distance, farming experience, radio ownership, an ox, a plough, and extension source. The study makes the following recommendations; (a) enhancing the education and awareness level of farmers towards climate extreme, (b) when drafting policy, asset formation should be considered, and (c) when developing and implementing adaptation strategies, indigenous knowledge should be taken into account.

Ethical dimensions of zoonotic disease research: Perspectives of traditional livestock keepers in Zambia.

Background: With the increase in zoonotic disease research using livestock belonging to traditional livestock keepers (LKs) as research subjects, careful attention to both animal and livestock keeper interests is critically important in Zambia and other similar contexts. Methods: The study aimed to explore ethics-related challenges during zoonotic disease research among LKs where their livestock are included as research subjects. The study was implemented in the Southern province of Zambia in July 2020. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) involving 30 adult male LKs living in livestock-wildlife interface areas where zoonotic diseases are likely to occur, were carried out. The FGDs were done in the local language and audio recorded. Thematic analysis was done using field notes and translated and transcribed recorded interviews. Results: The study found that trust between the researchers and LKs when their livestock are used as research subjects was very cardinal and depended on the continual presence of the local veterinary assistant (VA) during the conduct of research. Conclusions: The LKs could be considered a vulnerable population when their livestock were used as research subjects as, being resource poor, they were looking to researchers to provide benefits yet not fully understanding the research, and thus did not worry so much about consent procedures, bringing into question the validity of the oral consent obtained.The study also found that opportunities to strengthen trust and enhance the research experience could be exploited by researchers conducting research that is locally relevant and desired, being aware of procedural preferences for entering into livestock keeping communities, adequate disclosure of research procedures, respecting conventions and traditional cultural beliefs, and returning results of research.The findings of this study can be used by both researchers as they carry-out zoonotic disease research and by Research Ethics Committees.

Impact of beliefs on perception of newborn illness, caregiver behaviors, and care-seeking practices in Zambia's Southern province.

Despite reductions in the number of under-five deaths since the release of the Sustainable Development Goals, the proportion of neonatal deaths among all under-five deaths has remained high. Neonatal health is linked to newborn care practices which are tied to distinct cultural perceptions of health and illness. We assessed how community beliefs in Zambia's Southern Province influence newborn care behaviors, perception of illness, and care-seeking practices, using qualitative data collected between February and April 2010. A total of 339 women participated in 36 focus group discussions (FGDs), with 9 FGDs conducted in each of the four study districts. In addition, 42 in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with various key informants, with 11 IDIs conducted in Choma, 11 IDIs in Monze, 10 IDIs in Livingstone, and 10 IDIs in Mazabuka. The FGDs and IDIs indicate that beliefs among the Tonga people regarding postnatal illness prevention and management influence perceptions of newborn illness and care-seeking practices. Care seeking behaviors including when, why, and where parents seek newborn care are intimately tied to perception of disease among the Tonga people. These beliefs may stem from both indigenous and Western perspectives in Zambia's Southern Province. Findings are consistent with other analyses from Southern Province that highlighted the benefit of integrating local practices with Western biomedical care. Health systems models, led by policy makers and program designers, could aim to find synergies between community practices and formal health systems to support positive behavior change and satisfy multiple stakeholders.

Effect of parity on milk yield in lactating dairy cows

This study evaluated the effect of parity on milk yield among dairy cows fed maize stover improved using legume stover (LS) and feed grade urea fertilizer (UET). The main objective was to assess the effect of parity number on milk yield among dairy cows. The study was carried out at the Livestock Development Trust Centre (LDTC) of the Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust near Batoka in Southern Province of Zambia. Three feeding trials involving twelve (12) lactating dairy cows were conducted to assess the effect of parity on Daily Milk Yield (DMY). Feed supplements were offered to cows in form of chopped MS supplemented with chopped groundnut stover (cGS), chopped soybean stover (cSS), mineralized groundnut solution (mGS) and mineralized soybean solution (mSS). The mean daily DMYs for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd parities were (5.06ltrs ±2.33, 8.00 ltrs±3.23 and 6.89ltrs±4.00 respectively). These means differed significantly (p&lt;0.05). Results of the current study have indicated that milk yield is influenced by parity with cows in 2nd parity showing the highest milk yield of first three parities.

The Awareness and Adoption of Environmentally Sustainable Practices by Agricultural Cooperative Members in Zambia

As the world population is continuously growing, agricultural practices should be done sustainably to achieve food security, nutrition, and economic success. Due to the networking, economies of scale and improved access to information, collective actions and producers' cooperatives seem to be a good instrument for acquiring, sharing and promoting such practices. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to estimate the effect of cooperative membership on the awareness and adoption of environmentally sustainable practices. We purposively selected 210 members and 166 non-members of maize cooperatives in the Southern province of Zambia. To cater for both observed and unobserved bias in the study, we adopted the propensity score matching and endogenous treatment effect models. The study results confirm that cooperative membership positively influences the awareness and adoption of sustainable environmental practices used in the study but encourages the usage of synthetic fertilizers because of the government input subsidy.

Surveillance and Phylogenetic Characterisation of Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated from Wild Waterfowl in Zambia in 2015, 2020, and 2021

In recent years, the southern African region has experienced repeated incursions of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs), with wild migratory birds being implicated in the spread. To understand the profile of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulating in Zambia, we surveyed wild waterfowl for AIVs and phylogenetically characterised the isolates detected in 2015, 2020, and 2021. A total of 2,851 faecal samples of wild waterfowl were collected from Lochinvar National Park in the Southern Province of Zambia. During the study period, 85 (3.0%) low pathogenicity AIVs belonging to various subtypes were isolated, with H2N9, H8N4, and H10N8 being reported for the first time in avian species in Africa. The majority of the isolates were detected from glossy ibis (order Pelecaniformes) making it the first report of AIV from these birds in Zambia. Phylogenetic analysis of all eight gene segments of the 30 full genomes obtained in this study revealed that all the isolates belonged to the Eurasian lineage with their closest relatives being viruses isolated from wild and/or domestic birds in Bangladesh, Belgium, Egypt, Georgia, Mongolia, the Netherlands, and South Africa. Additionally, the Zambian viruses were grouped into distinct clusters based on the year of isolation. While no notifiable AIVs of the H5 or H7 subtypes were detected in wild birds in Zambia, viral internal protein genes of some viruses were closely related to H7 low pathogenicity AIVs. This study shows that periodically, a considerable diversity of AIV subtypes are introduced into the Zambian ecosystem by wild migratory waterfowl. The findings highlight the importance of continuous surveillance and monitoring of AIVs in wild waterfowl, including birds traditionally not considered to be major AIV reservoirs, for a better understanding of the eco-epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of AIVs in Africa.

Effectiveness of smallholder farmers' adaptation to climate extremes: Evidence from the Southern Province of Zambia

Effectiveness of smallholder farmers' adaptation to climate extremes: Evidence from the Southern Province of Zambia

Impact of a low-cost bundle of interventions on infection prevention and control during labour and delivery in rural health centres in Zambia: results from a quasi-experimental study

Infection remains an important cause of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality globally despite evidence that it can be reduced with adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. The implementation of IPC has been especially challenging in rural health centres. This pilot study used a non-randomised quasi-experimental design to examine the impact of a low-cost intervention bundle at five rural health facilities in Southern Province of Zambia. We used the Infection Control Assessment Tool (ICAT) and surveyed the incharge nurse, observed deliveries and reviewed logbooks to collect pre- and post-intervention data on healthcare worker IPC practices and maternal and newborn outcomes. The intervention bundle included education sessions, provision of alcohol hand rubs (AHRs), short message service (SMS) text messages and poster reminders, and monthly study visits. The overall ICAT score did not significantly increase after the intervention (64.0 vs. 71.8, maximum score 133, P = 0.28). There was a significant increase in the labour and delivery practices module score (12.5 vs. 16.6, maximum score 27, P = 0.04) and a trend towards improvement in the hand hygiene module (9.1 vs. 13.6, maximum score 23, P = 0.08). There were no differences in pre- or post-intervention outcomes amongst the 654 mothers who delivered and the 655 newborns during the study period. In conclusion, a low-cost bundle of interventions did neither overall improve healthcare workers’ IPC practices in rural Zambia nor significantly change the rates of newborn and maternal complications. Identified challenges included inconsistent supplies of AHRs, protective and sterile equipment, as well as heavy workload for healthcare workers, which inhibited preventative behaviours.

The Role of Rural Health Centres in the Detection and Management of Malaria Outbreaks in a Low Transmission Setting of Choma District, Zambia

The Southern Province of Zambia has been afflicted with malaria for many years, but in recent times, with the success of the national malaria control programme, malaria transmission has declined significantly and is now at low ebb. This success has been attributed to the effective use of indoor residual spraying, proper use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets provided to the people, as well as the use of artemisinin combination therapies in all rural health centres (RHCs) to treat clinical malaria cases at health facilities as well as in the communities by trained community health workers (CHWs). Despite this success and in trying to understand the epidemiology and control of malaria in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, it has been clear that local elimination is most unlikely due many challenges such as lack of incentives for CHWs who are the first link of the community to the health care system, inability of the officially approved rapid diagnostic tests to detect low level parasitemia in asymptomatic individuals, and anti-malaria stock-outs in RHCs, especially during the rainy season when most areas are unreachable due to impassable roads. This paper discusses the role of RHCs in the detection and management of malaria outbreaks in low transmission settings and the challenges of achieving elimination in Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia. These challenges could adversely impact malaria elimination if they remain unanswered.

Effects of Crop Insurance and Finance on Small-Scale Maize Productivity in Zambia

Productivity of maize is dependent on facilitative and competitive interactive effects on resource availability and other moderating factors. The study investigated the impact crop insurance and financing had on the productivity of small-scale maize farmers in Southern province of Zambia. It also sought to see the effect moderating factors have on maize productivity. The relationship between crop insurance and financing, and maize productivity was explored by interviewing 602 farmers in Mazabuka, Monze, Choma and Kalomo districts through a structured questionnaire. This also included interviews with insurance and finance providers. SPSS and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were used to evaluate the data after making some assumptions. The regression analysis was run to determine the relationship between maize productivity, loan, insurance and the interaction between loan and insurance over and above the control variables. The results showed that the relationship was not supported (t = -0.750, p &amp;gt; 0.05) and that insurance and financing in the four districts studied did not have any effect on productivity. There was no significant relationship between crop insurance and productivity (t = -1.741, p &amp;gt; 0.05). The model used to analyze the data excluded financing as it did not bring any additional significant information. The results further indicated that there was linearity as determined by partial regression plots, as well as residual independence as determined by the Durbin-Watson statistic of 1.745. Results showed no evidence of multicollinearity based on correlations and Variance Inflation Factors (VIFs) and that farmers relied heavily on the government subsidy program, the FISP which resulting in less or no effect of commercial crop insurance and financing on productivity.

Assessing the short, intermediate and long-term health effects of COVID-19 on the survivors in Zambia: a prospective quantitative study protocol

IntroductionLittle is known about the clinical course of COVID-19 following mild symptoms, and how the disease affects the survivors over time. Moreover, information on the severity of the long-term health...