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.

AIDS and older Zimbabweans: who will care for the carers?

Abstract: The AIDS pandemic has wrought havoc on family structures in Zimbabwe, leaving numerous children orphaned in its wake. Older people, grandparents in particular, play a critical role in looking after these children. However, what is not appreciated is the critical question of who will look after the old people in their time of need.

Home range - body mass relations: a field study on African browsing ruminants

Abstract: Home range data were collected concurrently from four syntopic browsing ruminant species in a conserved savanna ecosystem. Mean home range areas were: giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) 282 km2; kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) 21.9 km2; impala (Aepyceros melampus) 5.82 km2; steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) 0.62 km2. Home range area (A hr) scaled on body mass (M) as: A hr=0.024 M 1.38 (r 2=0.99).

Maize yield effects of conservation agriculture based maize–legume cropping systems in contrasting agro-ecologies of Malawi and Mozambique

Abstract: Sustainable intensification cropping systems involving improved maize and legume seeds and conservation agriculture (CA) are potential avenues towards improved productivity. This study evaluated CA based cropping systems effects on maize yields with respect to herbicide use, crop establishment techniques and legume rotations in four contrasting agro-ecologies of Malawi and Mozambique from 2010/11 to 2013/14. No significant (p > 0.05) yield differences, at 4100 versus 3900 kg ha−1 were observed in Malawi when CA was implemented with and without herbicides respectively, suggesting herbicides were not a precondition for CA’s success. CA basins depressed maize yields by 3 % in north-western Mozambique and also offered no advantages in Malawi’s lowland districts (Ntcheu and Salima). In contrast, significant yield gains (p < 0.05) emerged from dry Balaka (<600 mm year−1) with mean yields of 2400 from the CA basins compared to 1800 kg ha−1 from farmer practices, an effect also confirmed by the yield stability analysis showing CA basins superiority in unfavourable rainfall environments. Thus CA basins performance was site dependent with no benefits on waterlogged soils or high rainfall conditions where direct seeded dibble stick or jab planting provided a better crop establishment option. Across all agro-ecologies, soyabeans, cowpea and groundnuts rotation systems, significantly increased maize yield, amounting to 20, 38 and 54 % respectively, except for the maize–common bean rotations in north-western Mozambique, which failed to offer any yield advantages. Probabilities of achieving higher CA yield ranged from 58 to 71 %. The study suggests CA based cropping systems offer an opportunity for intensifying maize production in the region.

Mortality and morbidity among postpartum HIV-positive and HIV-negative women in Zimbabwe: risk factors causes and impact of single-dose postpartum vitamin A supplementation.

Abstract: Vitamin A deficiency is common among women in resource-poor countries and is associated with greater mortality during HIV. Fourteen thousand one hundred ten mothers were tested for HIV and randomly administered 400000 I vitamin A or placebo at less than 96 hours postpartum. The effects of vitamin A and HIV status on mortality health care utilization and serum retinol were evaluated. Four thousand four hundred ninety-five (31.9%) mothers tested HIV positive. Mortality at 24 months was 2.3 per 1000 person-years and 38.3 per 1000 person-years in HIV-negative and HIV-positive women respectively. Vitamin A had no effect on mortality. Tuberculosis was the most common cause of death and nearly all tuberculosis-associated deaths were among HIV-positive women. Among HIV-positive women vitamin A had no effect on rates of hospitalization or overall sick clinic visits but did reduce clinic visits for malaria cracked and bleeding nipples pelvic inflammatory disease and vaginal infection. Among HIV-negative women serum retinol was responsive to vitamin A but low serum retinol was rare. Among HIV-positive women serum retinol was largely unresponsive to vitamin A and regardless of treatment group the entire serum retinol distribution was shifted 25% less than that of HIV-negative women 6 weeks after dosing. Single-dose postpartum vitamin A supplementation had no effect on maternal mortality perhaps because vitamin A status was adequate in HIV-negative women and apparently unresponsive to supplementation in HIV-positive women. (authors)