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.

Patterns of uptake of HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa in the pre-treatment era.

Abstract: Objectives To compare nationally representative trends in self-reported uptake of HIV testing and receipt of results in selected countries prior to treatment scale-up. Methods Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa were used to describe the pattern of uptake of testing for HIV among sexually active participants. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the associations between socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics and the uptake of testing. Results Knowledge of serostatus ranged from 2.2% among women in Guinea (2005) to 27.4% among women in Rwanda (2005). Despite varied levels of testing, univariate analysis showed the profile of testers to be remarkably similar across countries, with respect to socio-demographic characteristics such as area of residence and socio-economic status. HIV-positive participants were more likely to have tested and received their results than HIV-negative participants, with the exception of women in Senegal and men in Guinea. Adjusted analyses indicate that a secondary or higher level of education was a key determinant of testing, and awareness that treatment exists was independently positively associated with testing, once other characteristics were taken into account. Conclusion This work provides a baseline for monitoring trends in testing and exploring changes in the profile of those who get tested after the introduction and scale-up of treatment.

Crisis in Zimbabwe

Abstract: Zimbabwe entered a state of violent political crisis in the aftermath of the presidential elections held in two rounds on March 29 and June 27, 2008. President Robert Mugabe led a campaign of terror against the opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and its supporters in the lead up to the electoral process. State-sponsored violence resulted in massive human rights violations, including rape, torture, and forced disappearance. Despite winning the June election, President Mugabe continued to implement brutal attacks against the political opposition. Responses by the United Nations and the African Union failed to undertake effective measures to address the crisis. Civil society groups, such as Human Rights Watch and International Crisis Group, swiftly responded and condemned the repression and human rights abuses of the government. Despite the establishment of a unity government through the signing of the Global Political Agreement, the situation remained dangerous as political reforms were not implemented and Mugabe’s party, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) continued to engage in political violence.

Tenures in Transition, Tenures in Conflict: Examples from the Zimbabwe Social Forest1

Abstract: The landscapes of rural communities are commonly divided into areas in which distinctive resource uses are practiced and for which there exist particular types of property rights. Such tenure niches for different resources may overlap where those resources themselves occupy the same space (e.g., land and trees). Further, competing legal and utilization systems (e.g., national and local) may place the same resource in different incompatible tenure niches. Conflict may involve overlapping tenure niches. Co-management by conflicting right-holders may offer a solution.