How well does the process of screening and diagnosis work for HIV-infected persons identified with presumptive tuberculosis who are attending HIV care and treatment clinics in Harare city, Zimbabwe?

Background: Intensified TB case finding is recommended for all HIV-infected persons regularly attending HIV care and treatment clinics. The authors aimed to determine how well this system worked among HIV-infected patients diagnosed with presumptive TB in 14 health facilities of Harare province, Zimbabwe, between January and December 2016. Methods: Retrospective review using routine programme records. Results: Of 47 659 HIV-infected persons enrolled in HIV care, 102 were identified with presumptive TB through the programmatic electronic database. Of these, 23% (23/102) were recorded in presumptive TB registers and, of these 65% (15/23) were traced to laboratory registers. Of 79 patients not recorded in presumptive TB registers, 9% (7/79) were traced to laboratory registers. Of 22 patients in the laboratory register, all had negative sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli and 45% (10/22) had Xpert MTB/RIF assays with one positive result. Six patients altogether started anti-tuberculosis treatment, the median time from presumptive tuberculosis diagnosis to treatment being 12 days. The only significant risk factor for loss-to-follow-up between presumptive TB diagnosis and laboratory registration was not being recorded in presumptive TB registers. Conclusions: Follow-up mechanisms for presumptive TB cases diagnosed in HIV care clinics in Harare city need strengthening, particularly through improved documentation in presumptive TB registers and better Xpert MTB/RIF use

Global matrix 4.0 physical activity report card grades for children and adolescents : results and analyses from 57 countries

Background: The Global Matrix 4.0 on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents was developed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the global variation in children’s and adolescents’ (5–17 y) PA, related measures, and key sources of influence. The objectives of this article were (1) to summarize the findings from the Global Matrix 4.0 Report Cards, (2) to compare indicators across countries, and (3) to explore trends related to the Human Development Index and geo-cultural regions. Methods: A total of 57 Report Card teams followed a harmonized process to grade the 10 common PA indicators. An online survey was conducted to collect Report Card Leaders’ top 3 priorities for each PA indicator and their opinions on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted child and adolescent PA indicators in their country. Results: Overall Physical Activity was the indicator with the lowest global average grade (D), while School and Community and Environment were the indicators with the highest global average grade (C+). An overview of the global situation in terms of surveillance and prevalence is provided for all 10 common PA indicators, followed by priorities and examples to support the development of strategies and policies internationally. Conclusions: The Global Matrix 4.0 represents the largest compilation of children’s and adolescents’ PA indicators to date. While variation in data sources informing the grades across countries was observed, this initiative highlighted low PA levels in children and adolescents globally. Measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, local/international conflicts, climate change, and economic change threaten to worsen this situation

Nyunga: A clay figurine traditional game of the Kalanga ethinc group of Zimbabwe

This article describes a traditional game in Zimbabwe, with special reference to nyunga, a clay figurine throwing game that is indigenous to the Kalanga speaking people of Masendu, Zimbabwe. The Kalanga are a part of an ethnic group, which has its origin closely linked to the Shona ethnic group and constitute the people and language, which is spoken in South western parts of Zimbabwe in Bulilima and Mangwe Districts. Linguistically and culturally, they belong to the main Karanga tribe of Zimbabwe. Today they are linked to the Ndebele; an ethnic group, which took over their land in the mid-nineteenth century.Data for this study were collected from a sample of the Kalanga people in the district of Bulilima, a dichotomy of two districts, Bulilima and Mangwe in the west of Zimbabwe. The information on nyunga were sought through focus group discussions and individual interviews. The interviews were then followed by demonstrations of the game by villagers who were mostly the surrogates of Kalanga culuture. Observations, visual recordings and audio recordings assisted in capturing the skills, techniques and game patterns. The analysis of the game showed that nyunga is mostly a boys’ game, played in summer in rivers, at pools and ponds. Players used conically/cylindrically shaped clay figurines. The aim of the game is to cause the clay figurine make a smooth trajectory until it hits the water surface with the tapered end thus creating small splashes and ripples. The game has resemblances with ndale/changamala played by the Chewa/Ngoni of Malawi. Competence is premised on power, skill and technique, from which, nyunga/ndale can be classified as a game of physical skill. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were triangulated to verify and authenticate the information. It was concluded that the game has a lot of merit and can be easily introduced as recreational and leisure resorts with little costs.Key words: Nyunga, Ndale, Changamala, clay figurine, indigenous sport and game, recreation activity, Kalanga people

Body composition and somatotype of male Zimbabwean league basketball players

This study presents a profile of the body composition and somatotype characteristics of male Zimbabwean league basketball players, which information is lacking. Twenty six players aged 22.0±5.3 years were purposively sampled from the top teams of the Bulawayo Basketball Association. Anthropometric variables were measured using standardized procedures of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Measurements included body mass, stretch stature, skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, biceps, iliac crest, supraspinale, abdominal,front thigh and medial calf), girths (arm relaxed, arm flexed and tensed, waist, gluteal and calf) and bone breadths (humerus and femur). Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage body fat (%BF), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass index (FMI) and fatfree mass index (FFMI) were calculated as body composition variables. Heath-Carter somatotype method was used in determining the somatotype of the participants. The results indicated mean body mass of 68.39 ± 9.73 kg, height 1.79 ± 0.07m, sum of six skinfolds 50.4 ± 37.2 mm, %BF 8.92 ± 5.88, BMI 21.21 ± 2.36, WHR 0.80 ± 0.02, FM 6.61 ± 6.05 kg, FFM 61.78 ± 6.95 kg, FMI 2.01 ± 1.69, and FFMI 19.13 ± 1.65 among the participants. None of these values indicate a threat or proneness to hypokinetic health problems. There are no significant differences among the players at different playing positions in terms of all the variables, except height. The mean somatotype for the players was 1.7-3.9-3.7 (ectomorph-mesomorph). The major somatotype categories were 38% mesomorphic-endomorphs and 31% mesormorphic –ectomorphs. There are no significant differences in somatotype among players at different positions. The players were found to be shorter and lighter when compared with players elsewhere.Keywords: Basketball players, anthropometry, body composition, somatotype