Advanced Level Students' Perceptions Of The Causes And Effects Of HIV/AIDS:A Case Study Of Masvingo Urban High Schools, Zimbabwe

A ZJER article on Zimbabwe high school student's' perception on HIV/AIDS.The present study sought to establish A-level students’ perceptions of the causes and effects of HIV/AIDS. The rational for the study was to establish the extent to which A level students understand issues related to HIV/AIDS. The sample was made up of 100 A-level students - 68 males and 32 females. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. The 7.5 SPSS package was used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that students had a lot of accurate factual information about HIV/AIDS but at the same time they had some misconceptions. It was recommended that relevant stakeholders facilitate HIV/AIDS awareness and necessary attitude change among students both theoretically and practically. There is still more room for research on this aspect

Perceived Impact of Attitudes and Competencies of Lecturers on Academic Performance of Female Students at a University in Zimbabwe

This study sought to discover how lecturer attitudes and competencies influence academic performance of university female students, since they are generally lagging behind in academic performance at a university in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe. The transactional theory is the main theory that anchored this study. The population comprised all Part two to Part four female university students and all the lecturers that taught the female students who were at the institution. A sample of 25 female students and 5 lecturers in four faculties was selected using the convenience sampling strategy. The study employed a case study research design which involved use of individual interviews and focus group discussions to collect data. Data was analysed in narrative form and thematically. The study revealed that the academic performance of female university students was determined by lecturer attitudes and competencies. The study recommends the training of lecturers who are holders of non-teaching degrees in order to improve their competencies and in-service training for the old horses so as to renew, sharpen their minds and refine their skills

Barriers to the Utilisation of Provisions of the Zimbabwean Domestic Violence Act among Abused Christian Women in Zimbabwe

The Domestic Violence Act of Zimbabwe was enacted in response to an escalation in cases of domestic violence. In spite of the enactment of the Act, domestic violence continues and there is limited utilisation of the provisions of the law. This paper seeks to identify factors that militate against the utilisation of provisions of the Act by victims of domestic violence. Twenty-two Christian women who were abused by their male intimate partners participated in the study on which this paper is based. A qualitative design, influenced by the feminist perspective, was adopted for this study. Purposeful sampling was applied in selecting participants who took part in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Participants were given an opportunity to share their individual experiences. Data were analysed thematically. The study revealed that religious, cultural and economic reasons prevented most victims of domestic violence from seeking legal recourse. It was recommended that successful implementation of laws relating to domestic violence needs a coordinated response from all sectors. Recommendations for further research were also made

A Preliminary Survey Of Marital Adjustment Among Zimbabwe Open University Students

A ZJER survey.This study sought to establish the level of marital adjustment among 198 students (135 male and 63 female) of the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) at the Manicaland and the Masvingo regional campuses. These students were on the B.Sc. Counselling, B.Sc. Psychology and B.Sc. Special Education programmes. The adapted Locke’s Marital Adjustment Test (LMAT) was administered to collect data. The results showed that the bulk of the ZOU students were perfectly happy and only a small percentage was outright unhappy in their marriages. The former would remarry the same partner if thy were given a second-chance, while a high percentage of the latter would marry a different partner. The respondents in unhappy marriages predicted divorce, but those in happy marriages did not. Even those unhappy in their present marriages wished to remarry again if given a second chance, although, understandably, they would wish to marry different partners from those thy presently live with. Recommendations on overcoming marital maladjustment were given, and these are given as suggestions for comprehensive research studies in the area

School Counsellors’ Perceptions Of Headmasters’ Attitudes Towards Guidance And Counselling In Zimbabwe Secondary Schools

The study sought to find out school counsellors’ perceptions of headmasters’ attitudes towards the guidance and counselling programme in Zimbabwe Secondary schools. Two hundred and six (N=206) school counsellors participated in the study. A questionnaire was developed to collect the data. The SPSS 7.5 version was used to analyze the data. A t-test for independent samples was used. The results revealed that headmasters were perceived as having negative attitudes towards the guidance and counselling programme. There was no significant difference between male and female counsellors’ perceptions of headmasters’ attitudes towards the guidance and counselling programme. Recommendations for improving headmasters’attitudes were made

Stomatal control during dessication in the resurrection plant Xerophyta humilis

Stomatal apertures on leaves of the resurrection plant Xerophyta humilis were monitored microscopically in order to characterize stomatal regulation during a dehydration time course. In addition, the effect of exogenous application of the stress hormone ABA on stomatal regulation was followed. X humilis stomatal regulation appears to be initially similar to that typical of desiccation sensitive plants, but differed in that stomata did not all close at once but at a slower rate to control the drying rate of the plant, this gave time for protection mechanisms to be laid down. The signal hormone ABA was found to have strong stomatal control on the adaxial surfaces of leaves but weak control on the abaxial leaf surfaces, thus it is difficult to say that ABA regulates the process until RWC of below 50%, where stomatal apertures open as a result of shrinkage of guard cells due to loss of water

Financial development, health care system financing and health outcomes: Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa

Philosophiae Doctor - PhDThis thesis purposes to examine the impact of financial development on health outcomes, health care expenditure and financial protection in health in 46 selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 1995 to 2014. It also estimates the impact of health care expenditure on health outcomes. The thesis is premised on the hypothesis that health care expenditure is a critical transmission mechanism through which financial development leads to better health outcomes. The health care expenditure channel is conspicuously absent in the literature on financial development and health outcomes; hence the need for this study to fill the gap in the literature. The thesis explores the effects of both depth and access dimensions of financial development on health outcomes, expenditure and financial protection. Throughout the study, financial access is measured by the number of automated teller machines (ATMs) and commercial bank branches per 100 000 people, while financial depth is measured by the proportion of broad money and bank credit to the private sector, to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The study uses fixed and random effects and the Two-Stage Least Squares estimation approaches. The Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) is also used to estimate the impact of health care expenditure and health outcomes given the absence of valid instrumental variables. The results of the regression analyses show that financial development leads to increased health care expenditure and health outcomes. The analysis also shows that health care expenditure leads to better health outcomes. Additionally, the study indicates that financial development leads to financial protection in health care by reducing out-of-pocket health care expenditure. Well-developed financial systems provide financial protection from the risk of catastrophic health care expenditure and impoverishment resulting from illness. The study shows that health care systems financed through prepaid mechanisms reduce neonatal, infant and under-five mortality rates and increase life expectancy, while those relying on out-of-pocket expenditure have adverse effects on health outcomes

Perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS awareness and intervention programmes by people with disabilities in Uganda

The study investigated perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of HIV/AIDS awareness and intervention programmes by people with disabilities in Uganda. Participants (N=95) were made up of 15 leaders of disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and 80 people with disabilities (PWDs). A survey design which used both quantitative and qualitative research methods was adopted. A questionnaire was used for leaders of DPOs while focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with the rest of the participants. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. The qualitative data were analysed by means of a content analysis. The study found that although PWDs were aware of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, they felt discriminated against on HIV/AIDS issues. The PWDs had difficulties in accessing HIV/AIDS services because of mainly communication problems. Results further revealedthat the HIV/AIDS policy on disability was not very clear. The PWDs requested for full involvement in HIV/AIDS advocacy and training programmes. Recommendations were made

The utility of the Zimbabwean Domestic Violence Act : Christian and Muslim women's experiences

The study investigated Zimbabwean Christian and Muslim women who had experienced domestic violence with a view to finding out the extent to which these women used provisions of the Domestic Violence Act of 2006. The study was conducted in urban Masvingo and its surroundings. The methodology applied to the empirical investigation was qualitative and was informed by the phenomenological, feminist and pragmatic theoretical frameworks. Data was collected, by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews, from 30 participants, 22 Christian and 8 Muslim, who were selected using purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques. In investigating the women’s experiences, some questions guided the study. These include: Where and to what extent does a select group of Christian and Muslim women who fall victim to domestic violence normally seek help? How do religious and cultural beliefs and practices influence the response to domestic violence by the abused as well as those to whom they report? To what extent do religious communities prevent selected victims of domestic violence from seeking legal assistance? Data was analysed by coding responses according to themes. The study revealed that the participants perceived domestic violence as having diverse causes and most of them saw their religion as crucial in addressing their plight. It emerged that a majority of the participants sought help from their religious communities as well as relatives and friends. Mixed responses emanated from these sources of help. The most common response, based largely on religious and cultural beliefs, was to encourage participants to avoid reporting to authorities. It also emerged that most of the participants were not willing to seek help from the police, courts or legal practitioners to seek redress because of the advice they received as well as their own internalised beliefs. Religious, social, and economic factors prevented most participants from appealing to provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.It was concluded that the Zimbabwean Domestic Violence Act had limited usefulness for participants because of religious, social and economic factors. It was recommended that if relevant stakeholders could jointly work together, domestic violence would be alleviated. Recommendations for further research were also made.Religious Studies and ArabicD. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies

Exploring enablers of sexually transmitted infections among illegal gold miners in the midlands region of Zimbabwe

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa faces by far the highest rate of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Illegal mineworkers are considered at risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Men are generally not receptive to health promotion messages.Methods: This study explored the enablers of sexually transmitted infections. The study utilized a qualitative approach. A total of 40 participants were recruited. Semi structured interviews were used to collect data. A thematic approach was used to analyze the data. Zimbabwe, like any other country in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, has been affected by the epidemic of HIV/AIDS and other STIs, because of poor sexual health education.Results: The study found that the enablers of STIs included poor sexual health knowledge, substance misuse, prolonged stay from family, stigma, lack of entertainment, cultural status, and poor sexual health services.Conclusions: STIs among illegal gold miners is a public health concern that needs urgent attention in many developing countries