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The Impact of Intrahousehold Resource Distribution on Woman’s Bargaining Power – A Collective Model Approach.

2021-11-22T10:48:01Z

Title: The Impact of Intrahousehold Resource Distribution on Woman’s Bargaining Power – A Collective Model Approach. Authors: Ali, Syed; Simuchimba, Bupe; Ngongola, Christabel Abstract: This study was conducted in Kabwe city of Zambia during June to august 2017. The city was divided in to three zones – more developed, medium developed and backward. From each zone one area, i.e., Highridge, Katundo and Makululu, respectively, was selected. The purpose of study was to know the impact of intra-household resource distribution on woman’s bargaining power. Logit model was used to find out the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The study revealed positive impact of age and education on bargaining power of woman in the household. Asset ownership also had significant impact on the bargaining power of woman. The study recommended to constitute a new higher education policy to encourage women to pursue higher education and to reduce drop-outs. It is also recommended that the women should be made owners of assets in the household through legislation.

Cash or Food? Which Works Better to Improve Nutrition Status and Treatment Adherence for HIV Patients Starting Antiretroviral Therapy.

2021-11-22T10:08:24Z

Title: Cash or Food? Which Works Better to Improve Nutrition Status and Treatment Adherence for HIV Patients Starting Antiretroviral Therapy. Authors: Bwalya, Bupe B.; Manzinza, Kawana Beatrice; Musonda, Mofu, J.; Siamusantu, Ward S.; Kabwe, Kabaso F.; Tembo, Gelson; Goulden, Jay; Banda, Levyson Abstract: The overall objective of this DFID-funded study was to understand whether cash or food transfers were more effective for HIV-positive individuals starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in improving nutrition,health status and adherence to ART. HIV-positive individuals initiating ART at the St Francis Mission Hospital in Katete District, Eastern Province, were randomly allocated to two treatment groups (cash and food), and given a food basket or its cash equivalent monthly, for eight months. Both treatment groups saw significant increases (p-value <0.001) in Body Mass Index (BMI), Household Dietary Diversity Score, good adherence to ART, and in mean CD4 count, but there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in these measures. The study concluded that the provision of cash or food for eight months when clients start ART confers similar and significantly positive effects in improving clients’ nutrition and health. Providing cash is likely to be more cost-effective.

Nutritional Status Among Female adolescents aged (15 – 19 years) in Zambia: Why it Matters.

2021-11-22T09:07:45Z

Title: Nutritional Status Among Female adolescents aged (15 – 19 years) in Zambia: Why it Matters. Authors: Bwalya, Bupe B. Abstract: Background The improvement of adolescent (15 – 19) nutritional status may help address the reduction of all forms ofmalnutrition in a given country. This is because at this stage, they experience a growth spurt thus increasing the need for most nutrients, such as protein and vitamins which are needed for growth and also aids their future reproductive health. Therefore, the study aimed at assessing the levels of female adolescents’ nutritional status and their associated factors in Zambia. Methods The study utilised nationally representative sample of secondary data from the 2007 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey consisting of 1569 adolescents with weight and height taken. Results Adolescent girl underweight was measured using the 2007 WHO internationally agreed upon standards of BMI categorisation. Adolescent underweight was high 13.7 percent. When disaggregated by place of residence, education and wealth index differences were noticed the relationships between adolescents and the variables were also noticed. Adolescents in rural areas were more likely to be underweight (OR=0.704, 95%CI: 0.527, 0.941; p=0.018). In addition, adolescents with primary educational level (OR=0.538, 95%CI: 0.397, 0.728; p<0.001) and from poorest or poorer and middle households were more likely to differences exist between urban (M=3.63, SD=1.72) and rural (M=2.91, SD=1.43; t(222)=3.88, p<0.001) adolescents in terms of dietary intake. Further, consumption micronutrient rich foods such as vitamin A and haem-iron are very low with the exception of dark leaf vegetables. Conclusions Therefore, it can be seen that adolescent nutrition in Zambia requires urgent attention, and since there are multifaceted factors affecting it, strategies are required to improve diet diversification and socio-economic status of adolescents if better results are too be realised in future. Further, there is need for future research to assess the actual nutrient and mineral intake by female adolescents with disaggregation between rural and urban if effective interventions are to be made and positive changes in adolescent nutritional outcomes are to be seen for years to come.

Can HIV/AIDS be fought by targeting youths in Zambia? Analysis of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Sexual Behaviour among youths aged 15 – 24 years

2021-11-22T08:56:50Z

Title: Can HIV/AIDS be fought by targeting youths in Zambia? Analysis of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Sexual Behaviour among youths aged 15 – 24 years Authors: Bwalya, Bupe B.; Banda, Andrew; Jere, Starnley Jere; Funsani, Peter Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although people of any age are susceptible to HIV, youths aged 15 – 24 face a disproportionate risk of contracting the virus, presumably as a result of limited HIV- and AIDSrelated knowledge and attitudes and high-risk behaviours. Our aim was to assess the influence of demographics and socio-economic status on knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviour of 15 - 24 year old youths, with the goal of informing the fight against HIV and AIDS in Zambia. METHODS: The study utilised secondary data from a self-weighting nationally representative sample of the 2009 Zambia Sexual Behaviour Survey. Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression were carried out using SPSS version 18.0 and p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: General knowledge about HIV and AIDS was high (98 percent). However, comprehensive correct was considerably low among youths (43 percent). This is in spite youths full general knowledge and the ABCs of HIV and AIDS prevention. Attitudes towards PLHIV, Condom use and HIV counseling and testing were negative. Youths with comprehensive correct knowledge on HIV and AIDS had increased odds of having positive attitudes towards use of condoms during sexual intercourse (AOR=1.645; p<0.001). Female youths were (AOR=3.934; p<0.001) more likely to have tested for HIV than males. Youths without education had increased odds of not using a condom with their most recent sexual partner than those with secondary and higher education (AOR=6.635; P=). CONCLUSION: Though HIV and AIDS general knowledge by youths was high, comprehensive correct knowledge, positive attitudes and behaviour were considerably low or poor. Gender educational, age and place of residence acts as explanatory variables in the observed negative attitudes and behaviours among youths in Zambia.