University of Zambia

About: University of Zambia is a education organization based out in Lusaka, Lusaka, Zambia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 2593 authors who have published 4402 publications receiving 122411 citations. The organization is also known as: UNZA.

Protecting essential health services in low-income and middle-income countries and humanitarian settings while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract: In health outcomes terms, the poorest countries stand to lose the most from these disruptions. In this paper, we make the case for a rational approach to public sector health spending and decision making during and in the early recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on ethics and equity principles, it is crucial to ensure that patients not infected by COVID-19 continue to get access to healthcare and that the services they need continue to be resourced. We present a list of 120 essential non-COVID-19 health interventions that were adapted from the model health benefit packages developed by the Disease Control Priorities project.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma sp. in cattle from Tanzania estimated by conventional PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP).

Abstract: This study compared the prevalence of trypanosome infections estimated by PFR-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. One hundred forty eight cattle blood samples were collected from Robanda village, Mara region, Tanzania in April 2008. In conventional PCR, four sets of primers, specific for the detection of Trypanosoma sp., Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Trypanosoma vivax, and Trypanozoon, as well as a modified LAMP were used. Conventional PCR detected no infection or up to 8, 1, and 3 infections with Trypanosoma congolense savannah, Trypanozoon, and T. vivax, respectively, whereas LAMP detected additional 44 Trypanozoon positive cases. Our results clearly indicate that the prevalence of Trypanozoon spp. in cattle in Robanda village estimated by PFR-LAMP (30.4%) was significantly higher than the estimates by PCR assays (0.6-2%). As such, future studies should target epidemiological surveys of Trypanozoon and T. brucei rhodesiense infections in possible reservoir animals by LAMP to further elucidate the actual prevalence of these parasites.

The Brain Drain Myth: Retention of Specialist Surgical Graduates in East, Central and Southern Africa, 1974-2013.

Abstract: This study assesses the retention of specialist surgical graduates from training programmes across eight countries in East, Central and Southern Africa from 1974 to 2013. It addresses the gap in existing data by analysing retention rates of surgical graduates by comparing graduating institution to current location. Data were assessed by country, region, specialty and gender with a view to informing national and regional healthcare and education strategies. Twenty-five institutions train surgeons in the ten countries covered by the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA)—24 Universities and the College itself. These institutions were requested in November 2014 to supply details of graduates from their postgraduate surgical training programmes. Complete graduate lists were returned by the College and 14 universities by March 2016. These surgical graduates were compared against the database of current practising surgeons in the region held by COSECSA. Data were cross-checked against medical council registers, surgical society records, and with members and fellows of COSECSA. Data were incomplete for 126 surgical graduates. Of the remaining 1038 surgical graduates, 85.1% were retained in the country they trained in, while 88.3% were retained within the COSECSA region. Ninety-three per cent (93.4%) were retained within Africa. Of the eight countries, Malawi had the highest retention rate with 100% of surgical graduates remaining in country, while Zimbabwe had the lowest rate with 65.5% remaining. High surgical graduate retention rates across the region indicate that the expansion of national surgical training initiatives is an effective solution to addressing the surgical workforce shortage in East, Central and Southern Africa and counters long-held arguments regarding brain drain in this region.

Does it really matter where women live? A multilevel analysis of the determinants of postnatal care in Nigeria.

Abstract: Although postnatal care is one of the major interventions recommended for the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths worldwide, almost two-third (56 %) of women in Nigeria do not receive postnatal care. Attempts to explain this situation have focused on individual and household level factors, but the role of community characteristics has received less attention.This study examines community factors associated with the receipt of postnatal care in Nigeria and the moderating effects of community factors on the association between individual factors and postnatal care. Data was drawn from the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, and a sample of 17,846 women aged 15-49 years was selected. We employed a multilevel logistic regression analysis to identify community factors associated with postnatal care. Our findings showed that significant variations in receiving postnatal care exist across communities. Specifically, Nigerian women's likelihood of receiving postnatal care is a function of where they reside. Living in communities with a high proportion of educated women (OR = 2.04; 95 % CI = 1.32-3.16; p < 0.001) and a high proportion of those who have had a health facility delivery (OR = 17.86; 95 % CI = 8.34-38.24; p < 0.001) was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of receiving postnatal care. Community women's education moderated the association between ethnic origin and postnatal care. Community variance in postnatal care was significant (τ = 10.352, p = 0.001). Community interventions aimed at improving postnatal care should take into account the community context in which women live. To close the gap in community variations in postnatal care, secondary and higher education for women, and health facility delivery should be increased in disadvantaged communities.

Antenatal clinic-based HIV prevalence in Zambia: declining trends but sharp local contrasts in young women.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES To describe regional variation in human immunodefffeciency virus (HIV) prevalence trends in the period 1994-2002 and to assess the effects on prevalence trends of residence, educational level and age, and potential interaction between these variables. METHODS The data were from the national HIV sentinel surveillance system comprising information collected using interviews and unlinked anonymous testing of blood among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in 22 sites in 1994, 1998 and 2002. RESULTS There was a decline in HIV prevalence in the age group 15-24 years in the period 1994-2002 both in rural (by 11%) and urban (by 26%) areas. The decline was strongest among highly educated women. However, this overall decline masked striking differences at community (site) levels with clearly declining epidemics in many sites contrasted by increasing epidemics in some and stability in others. Urban/rural residence, age, educational attainment, marital status and parity were factors closely associated with HIV infection. Having born many children was associated with lower risk of being infected by HIV, even in the age group 15-24. CONCLUSIONS The HIV prevalence decline in young women is likely to reflect a drop in incidence during the period. However, there were sharp geographical contrasts in trends. Such local contrasts probably indicate differences in effectiveness of preventive interventions. Understanding factors and mechanisms explaining the differences will be of critical importance to better guide preventive interventions.