Listening to Black African Psychologists’ Experiences of Social and Academic Inclusion: Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into the Curriculum

The aim of the current study was to explore Black African registered and intern psychologists’ experiences of academic and social inclusion during their professional training. In particular, the study examined how and if indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) were part of the curriculum. The participants’ experiences of social and cultural inclusion during professional training were also explored. Fourteen registered and intern psychologists participated in the study: 10 females and four males. Purposive and snowball sampling were used. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and were analysed using thematic analysis. The majority of the participants expressed a deep sense of academic and social exclusion during their training. They indicated that there was little coverage of indigenous knowledge systems in their training, with limited or no exposure to psychological perspectives that derive from Africentric or African-centred theoretical, epistemological or axiological frameworks. They detailed the challenges they experienced due to the complex group/racial dynamics between the black and white students, where the majority of the training staff are white. Another challenge was the use of English as the language of instruction, both in terms of their understanding of psychological concepts and their ability to translate these concepts into practice. This resulted in young psychologists experiencing difficulties with their professional identity during and after training. The paper discusses these findings and makes recommendations for the meaningful incorporation of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), into professional training

Students views on the inclusion of multicultural perspectives into the psychology curriculum at two South African universities : an Afrocentric analysis.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.This research investigated students‘ views on the inclusion of multicultural perspectives into the psychology curriculum at two South African universities.54 students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and a university in the Gauteng province participated in the research. The age of the participants ranged from 20-40 years. Purposive sampling was used to collect the data. Using a competency scale adjusted to suit a South African context participants were asked their views on a) the practice and supervision of psychology b) diversity in student representation c) students were also asked to rate how competent they were in multicultural issues d) research considerations e) if the physical environment reflected diversity. The students were of the view that South African universities have not adequately incorporated multicultural issues, African perspectives in particular, into the curriculum. The recommendations for future research, including curriculum transformation, are highlighted

Food shortage in Zimbabwe: Can wild cereal grains be an alternative source of nutrition?

Cereals are used as staple food in most countries all over the world including Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, poor rainfall patterns have hampered the production of traditional cereals like maize and wheat leading to poverty especially in third world countries. Five wild cereal grains namely; Amaranthus hybridus, Brachiaria brizantha, Panicum maximum, Rottiboellea cochinchinensis and Sorghum arundinaceum were studied to determine their nutritional value because of their drought tolerance. Two domesticated cereals were used for comparison. The macro nutrients determined were proteins, carbohydrates, fats and minerals. Amaranthus hybridus, a wild cereal, had the highest protein and fat content of 21.44% and 11.50% respectively, compared to all the other cereal grains.  Brachiaria brizantha had the highest fibre content of 30.34% while the red variety of Sorghum bicolor had the least fibre content of 2.51%. Phosphorus was detected in all the cereal grains studied. Calcium was detected in all the cereal grains except in red variety of Sorghum bicolor. The nutritional composition of the cereal grains makes them potential alternative food sources

Inappropriate use of promethazine and promethazine-containing products in children under the age of three years in Harare, Zimbabwe

A journal article on Inappropriate use of Promethazine and Promethazine-containing products in children under the age of three years in Zimbabwe.In Zimbabwe, promethazine, Stopayne® and Goldgesic® syrups are classified as pharmacy drugs (P) by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). A pharmacy drug, according to the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act (1991),8 is a medicine that is to be sold only, by a pharmacist, any person under the continuous personal supervision of a pharmacist, from licensed pharmacies or by a wholesale dealer with a valid wholesale dealer's permit. Promethazine, Stopayne® and Goldgesic® syrups are available over-the-counter (OTC), without need for a prescription

A review of the integration of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine into the curriculum of South African medical schools

Background: Traditional, complementary and alternative (TCAM) medicine is consumed by a large majority of the South African population. In the context of increasing overall demand for healthcare this paper investigates the extent to which South African medical schools have incorporated TCAM into their curriculum because of the increased legislative and policy interest in formally incorporating TCAM into the health care system since democracy in 1994. Methods: Heads of School from seven South African medical schools were surveyed telephonically. Results: One school was teaching both Traditional African Medicine (TM) and CAM, five were teaching either TM or CAM and another was not teaching any aspect of TCAM. Conclusions: In conclusion, there is a paucity of curricula which incorporate TCAM. Medical schools have not responded to government policies or the contextual realities by incorporating TCAM into the curriculum for their students. South African medical schools need to review their curricula to increase their students' knowledge of TCAM given the demands of the population and the legislative realities

Nutritional composition, antioxidant activity and bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds in selected wild cereal and pseudo-cereal grains found in Zimbabwe

The nutritional composition of five wild and two domesticated cereal grains was determined using standard analytical methods. It was hypothesised that wild cereal and pseudo cereal grains found in Zimbabwe contained macro and micronutrients which are beneficial to humans.The wild cereal grains that were used in the study were Brachiaria brizantha, Panicum maximum, Rottboellia cochinchinensis, Sorghum arundinaceum and Amaranthus hybridus, a pseudo cereal was studied. The domesticated cereal grains used were Eleusine corocana and a red variety of Sorghum bicolor. Samples were collected from fields in Harare and some in Buhera, a district in Manicaland province of Zimbabwe. Phenolic compounds were extracted from the cereal grains and were quantified. The phenolics were characterised, the antioxidant properties studied and the bioaccessibility of the phenolic compounds was determined using a gastrointestinal model system assay. Macronutrients determined were proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Minerals were determined as well. A. hybridus, a wild pseudo-cereal, had the highest protein and fat content of 21.44 ± 0.05 % and 11.50 ± 0.03 % respectively, compared to all the other cereal grains. B. brizantha had the highest fibre content of 30.43 ± 0.01 % while the red variety of S. bicolor had the least fibre content of 2.51 ± 0.07 %. The values were comparable to those reported elsewhere for traditional cereal grains. Phosphorus was detected in all cereal grains studied. Calcium was detected in all cereal grains except in red variety of S. bicolor. The mineral values obtained were lower than those reported elsewhere for traditional cereal grains like wheat. E. corocana and S. arundinaceum had significantly higher total phenolic compounds than all other cereal grains studied. S. arundinaceum had the highest concentration of total flavanoids while A. hybridus had the lowest. The highest amounts of proanthocyanidins were determined in S. arundinaceum with 12.2 ± 0.08 % followed by S. bicolor with 4.6 ± 0.03 % proanthocyanidins content. The HPLC method was used to tentatively identify the constituent phenolic compounds in the cereal grain extracts. Ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were detected in all cereal samples. Caffeic acid, catechin, gallic acid, p- hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, protocatechuic acid, qeucertin, syringic acid and vanillic acid were detected but were not common to all the samples. The ability of the cereal grains to quench the DPPH radical was assayed. E. corocana and S. arundinaceum had the highest ability and statistically, there was a positive correlation between the concentration of phenolic compounds and the ability to scavenge for DPPH radicals. The ability of extracts to reduce ferrous ions increased as the amount of extract added was increased. Cereal grain extracts were found to delay/halt lipid peroxidation and the extracts of all the cereal grains were also found to prevent the bleaching of β-carotene to varying extents. The bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds was generally high for all cereal grains. A. hybridus had the highest intestinal bioaccessibility percentage of 95.4 ± 0.01 % while the cereal with the lowest intestinal bioaccessibility was R. cochinchinensis with 81.85 ± 0.03 %. The research work demonstrated the importance of wild cereal and pseudo cereal grains as a potential source of nutrition and industrially utilisable natural products.,University of Zimbabwe Research Board, WF Kellog’s Foundation, DFID and The German Academic Exchange programme (DAAD)

Methodological complexities in the study of health tourism: A study of the appropriation of indigenous herbal sexual stimulants and fertility enhancers in Zimbabwe (A review paper)

The study of health tourism based on the consumption of traditional herbal sexual stimulants and fertility enhancers is an exceptional ordeal. Research 10 in this field has proved methodologically complex as the population constitute the hard-to-reach group (hidden populations). Consumers of these traditional herbal prescriptions generally are floating populations and socially invisible thus getting hold of them poses major methodological complexities. This paper focuses on highlighting the issues underlying the study of hidden populations, with a particular focus on tradi- 15 tional herbalists and the consumers of indigenous sexual stimulants and fertility enhancers. Certain specific methodological challenges are faced by researchers working with hidden populations, and this paper explores these in the field of health tourism based on the consumption of indigenous herbal medicine. Particular focus is paid to the methodological challenges involved. The paper’s main contribution is to highlight and emphasize the methodological problems that emerge whenstudying socially invisible populations and to showcase the inadequacy of some existing methods to recruit these hidden populations

Inappropiate use of Promethazine and Promethazine-containing products in children under the age of three years in Harare, Zimbabwe

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Ethnomedicinal use and pharmacological potential of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) birds` meat and eggs, and its potential implications on wild quail conservation in Zimbabwe: A review

A logical review of literature was conducted on Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) farming, consumption and potential of quail egg constituents for pharmacological use. While there is potential to tap on nutritional and therapeutic benefits from Japanese quail meat and eggs to foster food security and pharmacological improvements, there is no consensus among Zimbabwean communities concerning authenticity of the purported benefits. The role of quail eggs and meat as wealthy nutrient sources and functional foods is undermined. This work examined: nutritional composition and ethnomedicinal benefits of quail meat and eggs, drivers of Japanese quail farming in Zimbabwe, and implications of Japanese quail farming on wild quail conservation. Reviewed literature stated that quail eggs and meat contain nutrient compounds with therapeutic properties useful in prevention and treatment of various diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Japanese quail is regarded as an important agricultural bird for meat and egg production motivated by nutritional and medicinal benefits in many parts of the world. Japanese quail farming is also described as a cost effective poultry enterprise due to lower production cost requirements. However, some quail farming and harvesting practices may be incompatible with ecosystem integrity and threaten wild quail conservation. Conclusively, Japanese quail consumption may benefit human health and present a practical solution to protein shortages in developing countries. Information generated by this work is important in demystifying controversies surrounding Japanese quail farming in Zimbabwe. Characterization of bioactive compounds in Japanese quail eggs and meat to describe their physiological mechanism for disease curing is recommended