University of Zimbabwe

About: University of Zimbabwe is a education organization based out in Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The organization has 4378 authors who have published 6800 publications receiving 160720 citations. The organization is also known as: UZ & University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Menstrual and premenstrual experiences of women in a developing country

Abstract: The menstrual and premenstrual experiences of black Zimbabwean women were examined Twenty‐five professional women and twenty‐five domestic workers were interviewed using semistruc‐tured, open‐ended interviews designed to explore their experiences An analysis of consensual data indicated a number of predominant themes, including secrecy associated with menstruation, the negativity surrounding menarche, the breakdown of the traditional family network that passes on information about menstruation, and the acceptance of menstrual cycle experiences by the women The main differences between the two groups concerned explanations of the functions and purpose of menstruation and the reporting of physical and affective symptoms These differences are suggestive of the impact of educational level on experiences of menstruation

Prevalence of hiv/aids and psychiatric disorders and their related risk factors among adults in epworth, zimbambwe

Abstract: Objectives: To examine the prevalence of HIV infection, neuropsychiatric disorders, psychiatric symptoms/signs, alcohol use/misuse, CD4 cell counts and risk factors in adult patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Epworth, which is about 15km on the southeastern part of Harare, Zimbabwe. Subjects: Two hundred subjects were included in the study out of which six were excluded beacause of HIV-1 indeterminate results. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 200 subjects recruited in a crosssectional study in Epworth, Zimbabwe. Six subjects had indeterminate HIV-I antibody results and were excluded from the study. The remaining 194 subjects of whom 101 (52.1%) knew about their sero-status and were consecutively recruited, whereas, 93 (47.9%) did not know about their sero-status and were recruited by a systematic random sampling method (1-in-3). They were then interviewed about neuropsychiatric disorders using BPRS, MADRS, AUDIT and MINI Mental State Test, including the risk factors related to HIV infection. After ELISA tests' results, the two groups were combined and then categorised into HIV positive (n=115) and HlV negative (n=79) subjects. Main outcome measures: Prevalence, neuropsychiatric disorders, increased CD4 cell counts and risk factors associated with HIV infection. Results: The findings were that the overall point prevalence of the HIV infection was 59.3% (115/194). Comparative analyses between seropositive and seronegative HIV/AIDS subjects showed: over two thirds (71.3%) of the HIV positive subjects suffered from psychiatric disorders, more than those with HIV negative 44.3% (OR= 3.12, 95% Cl= 1.64-5.95, P=0.0002), and subjects aged 35 years and less were mostly HIV seronegatives (n= 77.2%, OR= 2.34, 95% CI= 1.18-4.75, P=0.014). The overall prevalence of alcohol use/misuse was 41(21.1%), with higher prevalence rate among HIV positive subjects, 28 (24.3%) than those who were HIV negative, 13 (16.5%). The commonest psychiatric symptoms/signs (P<0.05) were emotional withdrawal, depressed mood, suspiciousness, apparent sadness, reduced sleep and suicidal thoughts (specially among women). Conclusion: There is very high point prevalence of HIV/AIDS and psychiatric disorders, including a moderate prevalence rate of alcohol use/misuse in this less affluent community that warranted intervention.

COVID-19: Unpacking the low number of cases in Africa

Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected over nineteen million people globally with over 700 ​000 fatalities as of 9 August 2020. To date, Africa has recorded the least amount of COVID-19 confirmed cases. As of 9 August 2020, Africa has 1, 037, 135 cases compared to 10, 615, 855 in Americas and 3, 061, 264 in Europe. In this piece, the authors unpack the low numbers of laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa - is it a case of limited testing capacity due to poor health systems or otherwise?

Relationship between bladder cancer incidence, Schistosoma haematobium infection, and geographical region in Zimbabwe.

Abstract: Bladder cancer is common in Zimbabwe, possibly due to the high prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection in some areas. We undertook a correlational study based on retrospective medical record review to see whether the number of bladder cancers could be related to geographical region and prevalence of S. haematobium infection. We also determined patient demographic characteristics and tumour histology. Of 483 patients identified (1984-1987), 69% with available histology had squamous cell carcinomas. The remainder had transitional cell carcinomas. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma were younger than patients with transitional cell carcinomas (50% vs 20% under 50 years old, P less than 0.05) and had a sex ratio of one. There was a positive geographical relationship between S. haematobium prevalence and the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder: provinces with high prevalence of S. haematobium had more bladder cancer cases with a predominance of squamous cell carcinoma (r = 0.87, P less than 0.01). These data support a casual relationship between S. haematobium infection and squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Gigantic tongue lipoma: a case report.

Abstract: Lipomas are among the most common tumors of the human body. However, they are uncommon in the oral cavity. In the oral cavity they present as a slow growing, painless, and asymptomatic yellowish submucosal mass. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice with recurrence not expected. They have been known to grow to large sizes causing mastication and speech difficulties. The usual lesions consist of a well circumscribed, lobulated mass of mature fat cells. In other situations the covering mucosa becomes ulcerated and presents difficulties in diagnosis. The present report is of a patient who presented with a gigantic lipoma on the tip of the tongue which had been present for 3 years. She now had difficulty with speech and mastication as the tongue tumor now completely filled the oral cavity. An incision biopsy confirmed the tumor as lipoma. The tumor was surgically excised with restoration of normal tongue function, speech and masticatory capacity. Histopathologic examination of the excised tumor confirmed that it was a lipoma.