Co-incidence or collusion: an analysis of the relationship between the proposal to ban the use of contraceptives and lowering the age of consent in Zimbabwe

A research paper on sexuality and development in Zimbabwe.In this study, a look at developmental pronouncements made by public officials titled Proposal A and Proposal B which suggest: a) the banning of the use of contraceptives to encourage rapid population growth which the public official believes could in turn, drive the growth of the economy, and, b) lowering of the age of consent to twelve years are made. Both proposals by these experts in their separate fields do not appear focussed on children's best interests as is inherent in the Zimbabwe Constitution (2013), the African Children's Charter and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Zimbabwe is a signatory to both charters. The present paper, taking a social psychological approach, examines the combined ramifications of the two suggestions to find out to what extent these policies are child sensitive and how any enactment of these potential proposals could impact on girl children in particular and Zimbabwean society at large. While both proposals were intended as panaceas for the two unrelated social situations, it was found that that, if passed into law, the two proposals would severely affect children's sexual rights and also swell the already dangerous levels of poverty in Zimbabwe

Formulation and acceptability of local nutrient-dense foods for young children: A formative study for the Child Health, Agriculture and Integrated Nutrition (CHAIN) Trial in rural Zimbabwe.

Stunting affects almost one-quarter of children globally, leading to reduced human capacity and increased long-term risk of chronic disease. Despite intensive infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions, many children do not meet their requirements for essential nutrients. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing an IYCF intervention utilizing nutrient-dense powders from egg, biofortified sugar beans and Moringa oleifera leaf in rural Zimbabwe. A mixed-methods formative study was conducted comprising the following: (i) a recipe formulation trial, (ii) trials of improved practices to assess acceptability of the intervention, and (iii) a participatory message formulation process to develop counselling modules for the IYCF-plus intervention. Twenty-seven mother-baby pairs were recruited between November 2019 and April 2020. Key domains affecting IYCF practices that emerged were time, emotional and physical space, cultural and religious beliefs, indigenous knowledge systems and gender dynamics. Household observations and sensory evaluation indicated high acceptability of the new ingredients. Recipe formulation and participatory message formulation by participants instilled community ownership and served to demystify existing misconceptions about the new food products. Families noted the potential for intervention sustainability because the foods could be grown locally. Supplementing complementary foods with nutrient-dense local food ingredients as powders has the potential to sustainably address nutrient-gaps in the diets of young children living in rural lower- and middle-income countries. Comprehensive IYCF counselling utilizing a gender-lens approach, family support and indigenous knowledge systems or resources are key elements to support positive behaviour change in complementary feeding interventions