Effect of Load Shedding on Small Scale Entrepreneurs: A Case of Kitwe District of Zambia

Electricity is one of the key factors that are critical for accelerating the growth of the economy of the country. Without electricity, a number of sectors are affected. From 2014, Zambia has been facing serious load shedding which has an effect on the lives of people from academia to industry. The study was designed to determine the effect of load shedding on small scale entrepreneurs in Zambia. The approach for the study was mixed research. The sample for the study consisted of 200 people working in bars, salons, barbershops and in cafes. Simple random sampling was used to come up with 200 participants. Data for the study were collected through questionnaire and face to face interviews. Data for the study were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance. The null hypothesis was tested at 5% significance level. The findings of the study revealed that load shedding has negative effect on small scale entrepreneurs in Zambia

An Investigation on the Relationship between the Level of Education and Monthly Income: A Case of Kitwe District of Zambia

Reducing high level of poverty and hunger, and achieving universal primary education in many developing countries are some of the Millennium Development Goals. The current study was designed to investigate the relationship between the level of education and monthly income in the city of Kitwe in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. The design of the study was descriptive and quantitative.  Simple random sampling was used in this study to come up with the sample of  informal and formal employees who participated in the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the relationship between the level of education and monthly income. Data was analysed using Chi-square test of independence.  (The null hypothesis) was tested at  level of significance. Results of the study shows that there is a significant relationship between the level of education and monthly income in Zambia. The study recommended that a number of studies should be conducted in Zambia regarding the relationship between the level of education and monthly income to further confirm the results

Inteligencia emocional y rendimiento académico en estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Enfermería, UNSAAC- 2019

El presente trabajo de investigación aborda a la inteligencia emocional como un aspecto importante para el éxito académico y personal del estudiante de enfermería. El presente trabajo de investigación titulado: “Inteligencia emocional y rendimiento académico en estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Enfermería, UNSAAC – 2019”, tiene como Objetivo: determinar la relación entre inteligencia emocional y rendimiento académico en los estudiantes de la escuela profesional de enfermería. Metodología: estudio correlacional, descriptivo y transversal, la población de estudio estuvo conformada por 288 estudiantes de la Escuela Profesional de Enfermería. Se aplicó el instrumento TMMS-24 (Trait Meta Mood Scale) para identificar el nivel de inteligencia emocional y la ficha de recolección de datos para la obtención de datos de rendimiento académico. Hallándose los siguientes Resultados: 92.1% de los estudiantes son de sexo femenino; 85.5% fluctúan entre el rango de edad menores de 18 a 24 años; 68.5% de los estudiantes solo se dedica a estudiar; 98.2% de estudiantes están considerados dentro del estado civil soltero, en la variable de inteligencia emocional el 50.9% indica tener una baja percepción emocional; 58.2% de los estudiantes tiene una baja comprensión emocional; 63.6% de los estudiantes presenta una adecuada regulación emocional, en cuanto al rendimiento académico el 80.0 % de los estudiantes obtiene un rendimiento académico regular. Conclusión: el presente trabajo de investigación permite concluir que existe una correlación moderada y directa entre la inteligencia emocional y el rendimiento académico, expresada mediante el coeficiente de correlación de Tau de Kendall alcanzando un valor de (0,476)

Impact of the coronavirus disease on the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia: a cross-sectional study

Background: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a serious global health problem that has negatively impacted the mental health of students.Methods: We conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study among 273 undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Zambia from August to September 2020. A partial proportional odds regression model was used to determine the predictors of anxiety. All statistical tests were set at 95% confidence level (p<0.05).Results: A response rate of 70% was obtained with the majority of the students being female 51.6%. Of the 273 respondents, 23.8% did not experience anxiety, 34.4% experienced mild anxiety, 24.9% experienced moderate anxiety while 16.9% experienced severe anxiety about COVID-19. It was also found that 61.2% of students reported that their attention to mental health increased during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas 44.3% reported an increased resting time with a significant reduction in relaxation 51.3% and physical activity 45.4% time. Factors that affected mental health included; reduced family care (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.09-4.74), not changing attention to mental health (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.18-0.62), being in the final year of study (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.84), reduced time of resting (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.26-3.50) and feeling helpless (OR: 0.42; 95% CI:0.23-0.75).Conclusions: COVID-19 negatively impacted the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. This can have negative health and academic outcomes for students going forward. Higher learning institutions and key stakeholders should implement measures to aid students to recover from the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and physical activity

Characterization of foot-and-mouth disease viruses in Zambia-implications for the epidemiology of the disease in southern Africa

The livestock industry supports livelihood and nutritional security of at least 42% of people in the Southern African Development Community region. However, presence of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease poses a major threat to the development of this industry. Samples collected from FMD outbreaks in Zambia during 2015–2020, comprising epithelial tissues samples (n = 47) and sera (n = 120), were analysed. FMD virus was serotyped in 26 samples, while 92 sera samples tested positive on NSP-ELISA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed notable changes in the epidemiology of FMD in Zambia, which included: (i) introduction of a novel FMDV SAT-3 (topotype II) causing FMD cases in cattle in Western Province; (ii) emergence of FMDV serotype O (topotype O/EA-2) in Central, Southern, Copperbelt, Western, Lusaka Provinces; and (iii) new outbreaks due to SAT -2 (topotypes I) in Eastern Zambia. Together, these data describe eight different epizootics that occurred in Zambia, four of which were outside the known FMD high-risk areas. This study highlights the complex epidemiology of FMD in Zambia, where the country represents an interface between East Africa (Pool 4) and Southern Africa (Pool 6). These changing viral dynamics have direct impacts on FMD vaccine selection in the SADC region.The Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Department of Veterinary; the UK Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra SE2944) and the European Union.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/virusespm2022Veterinary Tropical Disease

Genetic characterisation of African swine fever virus from 2017 outbreaks in Zambia: Identification of p72 genotype II variants in domestic pigs

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious haemorrhagic disease associated with causing heavy economic losses to the swine industry in many African countries. In 2017, Zambia experienced ASF outbreaks in Mbala District (Northern province) and for the first time in Isoka and Chinsali districts (Muchinga province). Meanwhile, another outbreak was observed in Chipata District (Eastern province). Genetic analysis of part of the B646L gene, E183L gene, CP204L gene and the central variable region of the B602L gene of ASF virus (ASFV) associated with the outbreaks in Mbala and Chipata districts was conducted. The results revealed that the ASFV detected in Mbala District was highly similar to that of the Georgia 2007/1 isolate across all the genome regions analysed. In contrast, while showing close relationship with the Georgia 2007/1 virus in the B646L gene, the ASFV detected in Chipata District showed remarkable genetic variation in the rest of the genes analysed. These results suggest that the Georgia 2007/1-like virus could be more diverse than what was previously thought, underscoring the need of continued surveillance and monitoring of ASFVs within the south-eastern African region to better understand their epidemiology and the relationships between outbreaks and their possible origin

Post awakening salivary cortisol secretion and trait well-being: The importance of sample timing accuracy

Indices of post awakening cortisol secretion (PACS), include the rise in cortisol(cortisol awakening response: CAR) and overall cortisol concentrations (e.g. area under the curve with reference to ground: AUCg) in the first 30—45 min. Both are commonly investigated in relation to psychosocial variables. Although sampling within the domestic setting is ecologically valid, participant non-adherence to the required timing protocol results in erroneous measurement of PACS and this may explain discrepancies in the literature linking these measures to trait well-being (TWB). We have previously shown that delays of little over 5 min(between awakening and the start of sampling) to result in erroneous CAR estimates. In this study, we report for the first time on the negative impact of sample timing inaccuracy (verified by electronic-monitoring) on the efficacy to detect significant relationships between PACS and TWB when measured in the domestic setting.Healthy females (N = 49, 20.5 ± 2.8 years) selected for differences in TWB collected saliva samples (S1—4) on 4 days at 0, 15, 30, 45 min post awakening, to determine PACS. Adherence to the sampling protocol was objectively monitored using a combination of electronic estimates of awakening (actigraphy) and sampling times (track caps).Relationships between PACS and TWB were found to depend on sample timing accuracy. Lower TWB was associated with higher post awakening cortisol AUCg in proportion to the mean sample timing accuracy (p 5 min between awakening and collection of sample 1 (median = 8 min delay), negatively impacts on the sensitivity of analysis to detect associations between PACS and TWB

Informing prevention of stillbirth and preterm birth in Malawi:development of a minimum dataset for health facilities participating in the DIPLOMATIC collaboration

OBJECTIVE: The global research group, DIPLOMATIC (Using eviDence, Implementation science, and a clinical trial PLatform to Optimise MATernal and newborn health in low Income Countries), aims to reduce stillbirths and preterm births and optimise outcomes for babies born preterm. Minimum datasets for routine data collection in healthcare facilities participating in DIPLOMATIC (initially in Malawi) were designed to assist understanding of baseline maternal and neonatal care processes and outcomes, and facilitate evaluation of improvement interventions and pragmatic clinical trials. DESIGN: Published and grey literature was reviewed alongside extensive in-country consultation to define relevant clinical best practice guidance, and the existing local data and reporting infrastructure, to identify requirements for the minimum datasets. Data elements were subjected to iterative rounds of consultation with topic experts in Malawi and Scotland, the relevant Malawian professional bodies and the Ministry of Health in Malawi to ensure relevance, validity and feasibility. SETTING: Antenatal, maternity and specialist neonatal care in Malawi. RESULTS: The resulting three minimum datasets cover the maternal and neonatal healthcare journey for antenatal, maternity and specialist neonatal care, with provision for effective linkage of records for mother/baby pairs. They can facilitate consistent, precise recording of relevant outcomes (stillbirths, preterm births, neonatal deaths), risk factors and key care processes. CONCLUSIONS: Poor quality routine data on care processes and outcomes constrain healthcare system improvement. The datasets developed for implementation in DIPLOMATIC partner facilities reflect, and hence support delivery of, internationally agreed best practice for maternal and newborn care in low-income settings. Informed by extensive consultation, they are designed to integrate with existing local data infrastructure and reporting as well as meeting research data needs. This work provides a transferable example of strengthening data infrastructure to underpin a learning healthcare system approach in low-income settings.DIPLOMATIC is funded by the UK National Institute for Health Research

Towards a greater dialogue on disability between Muslims and Christians

Attitudes to disability and disabled people by Muslims – focusing on attitudes in the Middle East and North Africa - and Christians – focusing on the West (here taken to mean Europe, North America and Australasia) - were examined through a grounded theory literature search, with the study being divided into three phases of reading and analysis. The aims of study were to develop a dialogue on disability between the two cultures, to inform an understanding of the attitudes to disability in the two cultures, and to inform cultural practice in promoting support and equality in both cultures. The study finds that Islam and Christianity have much in common and are a force for good in promoting and developing disability equality in both Muslim and Christian cultures