Formation of a Widows\u27 Association: Empowering Women in the Local Church in the Kabwe East and West Districts of the Central Zambia Conferance

Problem The failure to meet the basic needs of life for the many widowed women in Kabwe East and West Mission District of the Adventist Church has affected the faith of widows in God’s ability to help them meet their physical needs and has eroded their confidence in the ability of the local church to help, as well as the genuineness of purpose the local church has in helping its needy members. The many widowed women in this region of Zambia, represented as 50% by some researchers, make responding to the problem urgent. Method Literature on leadership and community efforts to solve the needs of life was surveyed. Investigation of the biblical and Spirit of Prophecy teachings on the feasibility and possible advantages of teaming up in small or larger associations was done. Indirect- participant-observer cases were used to shed light on the nature of the problem and possible solutions. Their suggested solutions were scrutinized for application. The resulting observations were evaluated for strategic implementation in solving the problem. Results Women have recovered the will to enthusiastically fight against life problems, the will to win and the will to live in the hope of faith. The widows association was formed and their constitution was approved by the church and registered in the National Register of Societies of Zambia. As a result, their dependence on non-Adventist sources for help has decreased drastically and the witness that the church cares is evident. Conclusions The study establishes that by setting aside our differences as well as our feelings of hopelessness and working together for a common cause our differences tend to vanish and our desperation gives way to victory. Two-member teams as well as larger teams provide a basis for explosive evangelism and are effective machineries of need alleviation

A study of the Effectiveness of the Monetary Policy Rate as a Tool of Inflation Control in Zambia

The importance of a stable and favorable rate of inflation cannot be over emphasized. The main aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the Bank of Zambia Policy Rate in maintaining favorable inflation levels in Zambia. This study investigated the relationship between the policy rate and the rate of inflation in the country. This study included the analysis of specific economic data for the period April 2012 to December 2014. The study involved the review Bank of Zambia fortnightly reports for the stated period; Monetary Policy Rate, Inflation Rate and Exchange Statistics were extracted from the reports and two models were built to mimic the period before the implementation of the policy rate and the period after. Exchange rates were used as a control variable. The interpretation of the models showed that the policy rate had little or no impact on the rate of inflation as the variations in the rate of inflation due to those in the policy rate were already explained by variations in exchange rates. The study further proposed recommendations to improve the management of inflation. Keywords: Monetary policy rate, Inflation control, Monetary Polic

An evaluation of the effects of a lifestyle intervention on eating and physical activity behaviours of urban adolescents in junior public secondary schools in Botswana: a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is an increasing health problem among adolescents due to unhealthy eating habits and inadequate physical activity. There are 434,000 (21%) adolescents aged 10-19 years in Botswana. The prevalence of overweight among adolescents aged 12-18 years in 2011 in urban private secondary schools in Botswana was 27.1% (192/702) and 13.1% (93/702) in public secondary schools. There is, however, a paucity of data on eating habits and physical activity behaviours and no published evidence was located on the prevalence of overweight among 13-15 year old adolescents in public junior urban secondary schools in Botswana. The determinants of adopting a healthy lifestyle such as information (knowledge), motivation (intentions) and behavioural skills (self-efficacy) have been identified in cross-sectional studies in other countries, but not in Botswana. A culturally suited lifestyle intervention program aimed at motivating adolescents to adopt a healthy lifestyle was not located in the published literature. In the absence of such a lifestyle intervention program for adolescents, the development, implementation and evaluation of the intervention for this study was guided by the Information, Motivation and Behavioural skills (IMBs) model to measure change in eating habits and physical activity behaviours of adolescents in Botswana. Methods: A 2-part study was conducted from 1 November 2015 to18 March 2016. Study One - three research designs were employed: 1) a descriptive design for development of a 3-part questionnaire from existing published literature; 2) a mixed methods approach to validate the prototype questionnaire by determining the index of content validity (n=10 respondents), face validity by cognitive interviewing (n=33 respondents who were scholars), and reliability by test-retest pilot testing (same 33 respondents); and 3) a cross-sectional survey by validated questionnaire of n= 252 respondents' (scholars) eating habits, physical activity behaviours and weight, height and waist circumference to determine the prevalence of overweight. Results from the cross-sectional survey provided baseline data for Study Two. For Study Two a descriptive design was employed to develop and describe a lifestyle intervention movement (LIMO) program followed by a pragmatic randomised controlled trial for implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of the LIMO program (n=25 respondents in the intervention trial arm; n=21 in the control arm from Study One). Null hypothesis: A lifestyle intervention movement (LIMO) program guided by the Information, Motivation and Behavioural skills (IMBs) model will not result in less fatty and sugar intake, an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, engaging in physical activity 6 or more times a week and doing exercises, a reduction in sedentary behaviour and an increase in nutrition knowledge (P≥0.05). Alternate hypothesis: A lifestyle intervention movement (LIMO) program guided by the Information, Motivation and Behavioural skills (IMBs) model will result in less fatty and sugar intake, an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, engaging in physical activity 6 or more times a week and doing exercises, a reduction in sedentary behaviour and an increase in nutrition knowledge (P≥0.05). Results: Study One: Good response rate of 95%. The mean age of the respondents was 14.3 years (SD 0.79); mean body mass index (BMI) was 20.1 kg/m2 (SD 3.9) and mean waist circumference score was 71.2 cm (SD 8.71). There were more females in the sample (147/252, 58.3%) than males (105/252, 41.7%). Most of the respondents (153/252, 53.6%) had a low socio-economic status as categorised by the present study. The majority (188/252, 74.6%) had a normal BMI and few (22/252, 8.7%) were underweight. Twenty-seven (10.7%) respondents were overweight, 4/252 (1.6%) were obese and 11/252 (4.4%) were obese with risk. Although few respondents had an abnormal waist circumference (females 17/252, 6.7%; males 14/252, 5.6%) more females (131/252, 52%) than males (90/252, 35.7%) had a normal waist circumference. The most frequently eaten foods were sweets (132/252, 52.4%) and snacks (92/252, (38.1%). Television adverts were sometimes (137/252, 62.3%) considered to be honest. Parents controlled slightly more than half (128/252, 50.8%) of the respondents' food choices whereas peers had little influence (21/252, 8.3%). Of the food types, most ate breakfast comprising of coffee and bread (115/252, 45.6%). Dinner was mostly eaten at home with the whole family (181/252, 71.8%). Of the listed foodstuffs, the majority preferred foods that contained sugar (41/252, 16.3%). Slightly more than half (135/252, 53.6%) of the respondents walked 6 or more times per day each week and more (150/252, 58.7%) reported that they did get exercise. Many intended to change their eating habits (220/252, 87.3%) and physical activity behaviours (143/252, 56.7%) and reported self-efficacy to do so (180/252, 71.4% and 174/252, 69.1% respectively). The majority of respondents (142/252, 56.3%) failed (≤49%) the nutrition knowledge test. The prevalence of overweight was 16.7% (42/252) by body mass index (BMI) and 12.3% (31/252) by waist circumference (WC) respectively. Study Two: There was no statistically significant difference in eating habits between the trial arms (fruit P=0.275, vegetables P= 0.604, sweets P=0.066, fatty foods P=0.402); although there was a difference in sugar consumption this was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in physical activity (walking 6 times or more a day each week) between trial arms (P=0.267), in doing exercise (P=0.288) and in sedentary behaviour (P=0.362). There was a difference in nutrition knowledge between trial arms but it was not statistically significant (P=0.079). Conclusion and recommendations: Although adolescents had good intentions and self-efficacy to change their eating and physical activity behaviours they engaged in unhealthy behaviours. The LIMO program demonstrated minimal but promising effects on changing behaviours. However further research is needed to determine the best intervention to impact behaviour change

Factors that influence low utilisation of natural family planning methods among child bearing women (aged 15-49 years) in Mongu urban district Zambia

The purpose of this study was to explore and analyse factors that influence the low utilisation of natural family planning methods. A theoretical framework adapted from Betty Neuman\u27s Systems Model was used to guide the study. Using Betty Neuman\u27s Systems Model the person or client\u27s behaviour influenced by the continuous interaction with the environment. The factors investigated were the women\u27s personal characteristics, age, occupation, marital status and education, cultural influences which included the relationship between the husband and wife and the religious belief of the women. The last factor investigated was the influence of the info1111ation practices and family planning methods by the health personnel. A descriptive survey design using a personal interview schedule and focus group discussion was used to collect data. The target population consisted of women of child bearing age (15-49 years) living in Mongu urban district, a western province of Zambia. One hundred women participated in the personal interview in their own homes. Twenty women of the same group participated in two focus group discussions conducted at two health centres. Data were analysed and presented using frequency distribution statistics, cross tabulation and content analysis of main themes for open ended questions in categories. The major findings were that age, marital status, occupation, the husband at1d the practices of health performed had either facilitative or disruptive effects on whether the women used natural family planning methods. For example, the results strongly demonstrated that older women had mere knowledge of, and used natural family planning more than younger women. Employed women had more knowledge of, and used natural family planning more than the housewives; those at school and at home. Some women did not use natural family planning because their husbands were not willing. Other women did not use natural family planning because it was not encouraged by the health personnel. Education had very little influence on use of natural family planning methods in this study, compared to previous research studies which had indicated that women with higher education used family planning methods more than those less educated. Although the results could not be generalised due to the convenience sample used, they supported some of the factors identified in previous research studies. A number of implications for nursing practice were outlined and nurses need to be trained in natural family planning in order to increase the number of health professionals who can teach natural family planning methods. The husbands need to be involved in the issues of natural family plannin

The impact of the community-based rehabilitation strategy on people with disabilities and their families : a case of the Oniipa Constituency, Namibia

Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) emerged as a response to the failure of the conventional rehabilitation system in developing countries. CBR involves service provision to People with Disabilities (PWDs), changing community attitudes towards disability and transferring knowledge and skills to PWDs, their families and their community. The study investigated the impact of the CBR strategy on PWDs and their families within the Oniipa Constituency in Namibia. The study used a mixed methods research approach and adopted explorative and descriptive research designs. It determined that CBR has initiated positive change processes in community attitudes and increased social integration of PWDs. The study recommends reviewing the definition of CBR, providing financial incentives to CBR Volunteer Workers and reviewing the current legislations on disability in Namibia. A final recommendation is that government should formalise disability studies in the country through the provision of accredited training courses to ensure greater assistance to PWDs and their families.Public AdministrationM.P.A

Central Bank Independence in the Southern African Development Community: Legal Reform Progress and Prospects

Public commitments by political leaders to fast-track economic integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been at variance with the extremely slow pace of domesticating the 2009 SADC Central Bank Model Law. This paper identifies specific legislative gaps in the national central bank laws that member states need to address in order to enhance institutional uniformity and promote central bank independence in the SADC region. Countries with recent amendments have made adjustments for more compliance, while others have not done so. The paper recommends that member states should speedily effect the needed legislative alignments if the frequently delayed economic integration agenda is to move apace

Central Bank Independence in the Southern African Development Community: Legal Reform Progress and Prospects

Public commitments by political leaders to fast-track economic integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been at variance with the extremely slow pace of domesticating the 2009 SADC Central Bank Model Law. This paper identifies specific legislative gaps in the national central bank laws that member states need to address in order to enhance institutional uniformity and promote central bank independence in the SADC region. Countries with recent amendments have made adjustments for more compliance, while others have not done so. The paper recommends that member states should speedily effect the needed legislative alignments if the frequently delayed economic integration agenda is to move apace