The social and cultural meanings of infertility for men and women in Zambia: Legacy, family and divine intervention

Despite the high prevalence of infertility within the sub-Saharan sterility belt, infertility in Zambia is understudied, particularly from a social perspective. Furthermore, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa include the infertility experiences of men. This article seeks to fill this gap by qualitatively describing the ways in which infertility in Zambia is socially and culturally loaded for both men and women. Demonstrating fertility is necessary to be considered a full adult, a real man or woman, and to leave a legacy after death. People in Zambia, including medical professionals, currently lack the necessary information and access to (or ability to provide) care to effectively resolve fertility issues. Infertile people manage their experience through a variety of social, emotional, spiritual, and medical strategies. However, no solution is considered adequate unless the intervention results in childbirth. In this way, infertility is about producing babies and the social meaning of that process, rather than the raising of children

Thermodynamic effects of temperature during roasting of chromite for sodium chromate salts formation

This paper aims to assess the potential effects of roasting temperature on the formation of sodium chromate (Na2CrO4). To perform this task, chromite samples were complexed with NaCl at temperatures ranging from 900 °C to 1 200 °C in the presence of excess oxygen. These experimental conditions were set and assessed based on the predicted phase transformations using Facstage as a prediction tool. The scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) have revealed the roasting behaviour of chromite to be governed by a fully reacted outside layer and an unreacted core. As per the x-ray diffraction (XRD) results, at lower temperature settings, mineral phases such as hematite and chromium oxide reported as an indication of predicted oxidation of chromite. The key results indicate that the addition of NaCl reduces the equilibrium temperature, thereby fully decomposing the stable and refractory spinel structure of chromite at 1 200 °C

Sustainable Facilities Management Practices in Selected Universities in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

 Sustainable development is being pursued at a global level and acknowledged across all sectors of the economy including universities. In order to apply sustainable measures, universities need to be vigilant in their management approaches. This study aimed at assessing the extent to which the selected universities in Ado-Oda/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have incorporated sustainability principles into their facility management practices. The study adopted a qualitative case study approach where interviews were conducted with experts from Covenant University (CU) and Bells University of Technology (BUT) who were purposefully sampled. The study population was comprised of facility managers from the physical planning and development units of the two universities who were chosen because of their expertise and responsibility. The interview guide contained questions about the types of buildings in the universities, sustainable facilities management (SFM) strategies being used by the universities, factors influencing the adoption of SFM strategies at the universities and challenges to the adoption of SFM practices. Data was analysed using conventional content approach. The study found that the universities have partially implemented SFM practices. The common practice adopted by the universities includes energy management. The universities have also done well in waste management. Legislation and cost savings were the drivers for the adoption of SFM practices. Despite such being the case, there are challenges to the adoption and implementation of SFM. These include resource constraints, design constraints, and lack of knowledge about SFM. Therefore, the study recommends development of a system that monitors and evaluates progress of sustainable facilities management practices in the Universities in Ado-Odo/Ota LGA, Ogun State

Self-efficacy enhanced in a cross-cultural context through an initiative in under-resourced schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This paper discusses the Khanyisa Programme, an initiative in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where learners from under-resourced schools are supported by teachers and high achievers in Grade 11 and 12 from a previously advantaged state school under apartheid. A qualitative, evaluative study was undertaken to identify key elements in the ongoing success of the programme and collect participant suggestions for improvement. The findings, discussed within the framework of self-efficacy theory, identified enormous gains by Khanyisa learners, leading to vastly improved career prospects

The social and cultural meanings of infertility for men and women in Zambia: Legacy, family and divine intervention

Despite the high prevalence of infertility within the sub-Saharan sterility belt, infertility in Zambia is understudied, particularly from a social perspective. Furthermore, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa include the infertility experiences of men. This article seeks to fill this gap by qualitatively describing the ways in which infertility in Zambia is socially and culturally loaded for both men and women. Demonstrating fertility is necessary to be considered a full adult, a real man or woman, and to leave a legacy after death. People in Zambia, including medical professionals, currently lack the necessary information and access to (or ability to provide) care to effectively resolve fertility issues. Infertile people manage their experience through a variety of social, emotional, spiritual, and medical strategies. However, no solution is considered adequate unless the intervention results in childbirth. In this way, infertility is about producing babies and the social meaning of that process, rather than the raising of children

Are slum dwellers at heightened risk of HIV infection than other urban residents? Evidence from population-based HIV prevalence surveys in Kenya

In 2008, the global urban population surpassed the rural population and by 2050 more than 6 billion will be living in urban centres. A growing body of research has reported on poor health outcomes among the urban poor but not much is known about HIV prevalence among this group. A survey of nearly 3000 men and women was conducted in two Nairobi slums in Kenya between 2006 and 2007, where respondents were tested for HIV status. In addition, data from the 2008/2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey were used to compare HIV prevalence between slum residents and those living in other urban and rural areas. The results showed strong intra-urban differences. HIV was 12% among slum residents compared with 5% and 6% among non-slum urban and rural residents, respectively. Generally, men had lower HIV prevalence than women although in the slums the gap was narrower. Among women, sexual experience before the age of 15 compared with after 19 years was associated with 62% higher odds of being HIV positive. There was ethnic variation in patterns of HIV infection although the effect depended on the current place of residence

Community health impacts of the trident copper mine project in Northwestern Zambia: results from repeated cross-sectional surveys

The application of a health impact assessment (HIA) for a large-scale copper mining project in rural Zambia triggered the long-term monitoring and evaluation of determinants of health and health outcomes in communities living in proximity to the mine. Three consecutive cross-sectional surveys were conducted at intervals of four years; thus, at baseline (2011), four (2015) and eight (2019) years into the project's development. Using the same field and laboratory procedures, the surveys allowed for determining changes in health indicators at the household level, in young children (<5 years), school attendees (9-14 years) and women (15-49 years). Results were compared between communities considered impacted by the project and communities outside the project area (comparison communities). The prevalence of; Plasmodium falciparum; infection increased in both the impacted and comparison communities between 2011 and 2019 but remained consistently lower in the impacted communities. Stunting in children < 5 years and the prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in children aged 9-14 years mostly decreased. In women of reproductive age, selected health indicators (i.e., anaemia, syphilis, underweight and place of delivery) either remained stable or improved. Impacted communities generally showed better health outcomes than comparison communities, suggesting that the health interventions implemented by the project as a consequence of the HIA have mitigated potential negative effects and enhanced positive effects. Caution is indicated to avoid promotion of health inequalities within and beyond the project area

The feasibility of canine rabies elimination in Africa: dispelling doubts with data

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Canine rabies causes many thousands of human deaths every year in Africa, and continues to increase throughout much of the continent.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methodology/Principal Findings:&lt;/b&gt; This paper identifies four common reasons given for the lack of effective canine rabies control in Africa: (a) a low priority given for disease control as a result of lack of awareness of the rabies burden; (b) epidemiological constraints such as uncertainties about the required levels of vaccination coverage and the possibility of sustained cycles of infection in wildlife; (c) operational constraints including accessibility of dogs for vaccination and insufficient knowledge of dog population sizes for planning of vaccination campaigns; and (d) limited resources for implementation of rabies surveillance and control. We address each of these issues in turn, presenting data from field studies and modelling approaches used in Tanzania, including burden of disease evaluations, detailed epidemiological studies, operational data from vaccination campaigns in different demographic and ecological settings, and economic analyses of the cost-effectiveness of dog vaccination for human rabies prevention.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions/Significance:&lt;/b&gt; We conclude that there are no insurmountable problems to canine rabies control in most of Africa; that elimination of canine rabies is epidemiologically and practically feasible through mass vaccination of domestic dogs; and that domestic dog vaccination provides a cost-effective approach to the prevention and elimination of human rabies deaths.&lt;/p&gt