Anitha Menon
University of Zambia, Psychology department, Faculty Member
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Objective: This paper attempts to summarise the global state with regard to the criminalisation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission. Method: A comprehensive analysis of both global and Zambian publications, legislation and... more
Objective: This paper attempts to summarise the global state with regard to the criminalisation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission. Method: A comprehensive analysis of both global and Zambian publications, legislation and case laws was conducted. Results: Proponents of criminalisation of HIV transmission argue that criminalization would serve as a deterrent to the culprit and others to engage in prohibited conduct in future while the opponents argue that that there are no well-founded evidences that criminalization of HIV transmission will lead to a reduction in new infections. Conclusion: The onus is on the government and other institutions to critically look at the positive and negative aspects of criminalization of HIV in so far as the legal approach to the fight against the pandemic is concerned. A combination of effective evidence-based approaches should be adopted to expand targeted efforts in preventing new HIV infections in Zambia.
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Gender disparity in academic performance and general access to educational *opportunities globally and particularly in Zambia has been evident for a long time. This led to the Zambian Government coming up with affirmative action policies... more
Gender disparity in academic performance and general access to educational *opportunities globally and particularly in Zambia has been evident for a long time. This led to the Zambian Government coming up with affirmative action policies to enable more females’ access equal educational opportunities. However, the dynamics of the specific academic performance of each sex, especially at tertiary level has not received much attention in terms of research. Hence it was the aim of this *paper to examine the academic performance through a thorough review of literature. *An example of the academic performance of the psychology degree students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) has been used to discuss the literature. Through the comprehensive analysis of literature, we found four factors emerged that can influence performance, namely: socio- economic factors, course of study, innate differences and Psychological factors. It was also found that over a period of *five years from 2009 to 2013 female psychology students at UNZA consistently obtained a better classification of degrees than the males in psychology. It is possible to speculate that the female students gravitate towards registering for psychology because of their intrinsic liking for the Psychology courses. It is therefore possible to present the argument that the affinity of female students for psychology courses would make them study psychology more than their male counterparts and therefore perhaps achieve better results.
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This research focuses on exploring the theoretical foundations of knowledge management (KM) and internal marketing (IM) and their relationship, to enhance organisational performance. The study investigates the impact of effective KM... more
This research focuses on exploring the theoretical foundations of knowledge management (KM) and internal marketing (IM) and their relationship, to enhance organisational performance. The study investigates the impact of effective KM practices and IM efforts on organizational performance in healthcare organizations. The research adopts a mixedmethods approach, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, to collect data from healthcare professionals in two hospitals in the United Arab Emirates. The findings aim to contribute to the existing body of knowledge in healthcare management, providing insights into how organizations can effectively manage knowledge resources, motivate employees, and achieve superior performance. The study offers practical recommendations for healthcare organizations to optimize their knowledge management,internal marketing, and overall organizational had performanced.
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Background Globally, complications due to preterm birth are the leading contributor to neonatal mortality, resulting in an estimated one million deaths annually. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has been endorsed by the World Health... more
Background Globally, complications due to preterm birth are the leading contributor to neonatal mortality, resulting in an estimated one million deaths annually. Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation as a low cost, safe, and effective intervention in reducing morbidity and mortality among preterm infants. The objective of this study was to describe the implementation of a KMC model among preterm infants and its impact on neonatal outcomes at a tertiary level hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods We conducted a prospective descriptive study using data collected from the KMC room at the University Teaching Hospital between January 2016 and September 2017. Mothers and government nurses were trained in KMC. We monitored skin-to-skin and breastfeeding practices, weight at admission, discharge, and length of admission. Results We enrolled 573 neonates into the study. Thirteen extremely low weight infants admitted to the KMC room had graduated to Group...
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Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a trauma that creates havoc in the personal and social lives of CSA survivors. The survivors in Kerala, India, struggle amidst the cultural background that silences CSA. Rehabilitation efforts in... more
Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a trauma that creates havoc in the personal and social lives of CSA survivors. The survivors in Kerala, India, struggle amidst the cultural background that silences CSA. Rehabilitation efforts in the state are channelized through government-run shelter homes that serve as the second home for CSA survivors. Aim: This study aims to examine the role of emotional health and sociodemographic factors in predicting resilience among CSA survivors under institutional care in Kerala. Method: We used a correlational research design with purposive sampling. From shelter homes in Kerala, 267 female participants (age range: 10-18 years, mean age: 16 years) were recruited. A personal data sheet and an emotional health questionnaire (EHQ) were used to collect data. Spearman rank correlation coefficient, linear regression, Kruskal–Wallis H test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Dunn’s post hoc test were used to analyze data. Results: Positive relationships among the e...
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The objective of this study was to validate the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) in Zambian children with and without HIV-infection. Children living with HIV and HIV-exposed, uninfected (HEU) children completed traditional... more
The objective of this study was to validate the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) in Zambian children with and without HIV-infection. Children living with HIV and HIV-exposed, uninfected (HEU) children completed traditional neuropsychological and NIHTB-CB tasks. Using pairwise correlation and a linear regression model we measured associations between traditional measure composite scores and parental ratings of children’s abilities, and NIHTB-CB scores. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was developed to identify participants with impairment. 389 children, 8–17 years old participated. NIHTB-CB and traditional measures converged well as a whole and when comparing analogous individual tests across the two batteries. The NIHTB-CB composite score discriminated between the groups and was positively associated with external criteria for cognitive function: parental ratings of intelligence and school performance. Some English vocabulary and/or an unfamiliar cultural context presented challenges. NIHTB-CB was associated with children’s everyday cognitive abilities, though future use may require linguistic and cultural adaptation.
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This scoping review assessed how the term ‘self-management’ (SM) is used in peer-reviewed literature describing HIV populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic... more
This scoping review assessed how the term ‘self-management’ (SM) is used in peer-reviewed literature describing HIV populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. OVID Medline, Embase, CAB Abstracts, and EBSCO CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched up to September 2021 for articles with SM in titles, key words, or abstracts. Two team members independently screened the titles and abstracts, followed by the full-text. A data extraction tool assisted with collecting findings. A total of 103 articles were included. Since 2015, there has been a 74% increase in articles that use SM in relation to HIV in LMIC. Fifty-three articles used the term in the context of chronic disease management and described it as a complex process involving active participation from patients alongside providers. Many of the remaining 50 articles used SM as a strategy for handling one’s care by oneself, with or without the help of community or family members. This demonstrates the varied conceptualizations and uses of the term in LMIC, with implications for the management of HIV in these settings. Future research should examine the applicability of SM frameworks developed in high-income settings for LMIC.
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Abstract To elaborate the negative impacts of sexual and gender minority (SGM)-related legislation for the HIV epidemic in Zambia, we reviewed Zambian legislation that restricts the rights of SGM people and synthesized its consequences.... more
Abstract To elaborate the negative impacts of sexual and gender minority (SGM)-related legislation for the HIV epidemic in Zambia, we reviewed Zambian legislation that restricts the rights of SGM people and synthesized its consequences. We retrieved legal documents through the National Assembly of Zambia and the Zambia Legal Information Institute and conducted a critical review based on four academic databases following thematic synthesis methodology. Eighteen literature records and six Zambian laws were included in the review. Existing laws criminalize same-sex sexual behavior and restrict same-sex marriage and the adoption of children. Anti-SGM legislation has limited legal protections for SGM people and increased vulnerability of criminal prosecution and HIV exposure, persistent stigma/discrimination, insufficient public health resources, and lessened access to HIV-related services. We recommend enacting legal protections for SGM people, decriminalizing anti-SGM laws, rectifying misinformation to destigmatize SGM people, targeting health care for SGM people, and including SGM people in the national HIV strategy.
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BackgroundPlace-based inequalities, such as exposure to violence and access to nutritious food and clean water, may contribute to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated cognitive impairment. In this study, we investigated... more
BackgroundPlace-based inequalities, such as exposure to violence and access to nutritious food and clean water, may contribute to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated cognitive impairment. In this study, we investigated neighborhood effects on cognition in children and adolescents with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study of 208 children with perinatally acquired HIV (ages 8–17) and 208 HIV-exposed uninfected controls. Participants underwent neuropsychological testing and interviews assessing socioeconomic status. Geographic regions with clusters of participants with HIV and cognitive impairment were identified using quantitative geographic information systems (QGIS) and SaTScan. Associations between location of residence and cognitive function were evaluated in bivariable and multivariable regression models. Mediation analysis was performed to assess direct and indirect effects of location of the residence on cognitive impairment.ResultsResi...
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Objective: To explore the effects of Pulmonary Tuberculosis on neurocognitive functions in HIV+ adults in Lusaka, Zambia. Materials and methods: In a retrospective and prospective case-control study, Global Deficit Score (GDS) was used as... more
Objective: To explore the effects of Pulmonary Tuberculosis on neurocognitive functions in HIV+ adults in Lusaka, Zambia. Materials and methods: In a retrospective and prospective case-control study, Global Deficit Score (GDS) was used as an overall measure for cognitive impairments between groups and also within the PTB+/HIV+ group, and Domain Deficit Scores (DDS) were used to summarize cognitive impairments within each of the seven domains. To examine group differences in neurocognitive status, we used Wilcoxon ranked sum tests to compare the performance between groups on neuropsychological test battery. Results: Out of 324, only 244 were studied. Results indicated significant neurocognitive impairment in PTB+/HIV+ group than PTB-/HIV+ in the GDS, p<.001, significant lower CD4 cell count with a mean of 323 cells/μl compared to 510 cells//μl for the control group. The PTB+/HIV+ group, CD4 cell count was in the range 201-499 cells//μl compared to their cohort CD4 cell count above...
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Goal commitment typically relates to successful goal realization. Yet, individuals differ in how much their goals correspond to their implicit motives. We hypothesized that for those adolescents high in a given implicit motive, goal... more
Goal commitment typically relates to successful goal realization. Yet, individuals differ in how much their goals correspond to their implicit motives. We hypothesized that for those adolescents high in a given implicit motive, goal commitment and goal success in the corresponding motive domain (i.e., achievement, affiliation, power) are more closely related than for those low in the implicit motive. Data were assessed in an individualistic (Germany) and a collectivistic cultural context (Zambia) on two measurement occasions (i.e., T1: Picture Story Exercise for implicit motives; T1 and T2: GOALS questionnaire for goal commitment and success, respectively). Goal success at T2 was reliably predicted by goal importance and goal success at T1, respectively. The hypothesized interaction was found only for the implicit power motive but not for the implicit needs of achievement and affiliation, respectively. Results were equivalent across adolescents’ cultural backgrounds. Findings are di...
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This study aimed at investigating the differences in attachment levels to the caregiver and the differences in interpersonal relational competence between adolescents raised in the home environment and those raised in orphanages. It was... more
This study aimed at investigating the differences in attachment levels to the caregiver and the differences in interpersonal relational competence between adolescents raised in the home environment and those raised in orphanages. It was hypothesized that adolescents raised in orphanages would be less attached to their caregivers than adolescents raised in the home environment with regard to trust, communication and alienation. It was also hypothesized that adolescents raised in orphanages would have a lower interpersonal relational competence in comparison to adolescents raised in the home environment. Both the adolescents raised in the home environment and the orphanage-raised adolescents were from Lusaka, Zambia. Stratified sampling technique was used to obtain the sample of 97 adolescents, 48 raised in orphanages and 49 raised in the home environment, between the ages 11 and 14 (M=12.27, S.D= 0.94). The Inventory of Parent Peer Attachment (IPPA) was administered to all participa...
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BackgroundChild marriage persists in many countries and has severe impacts on health, education, economic and social status of girls. Child marriage has many interlinked causes. This study aimed to explore the drivers of child marriage in... more
BackgroundChild marriage persists in many countries and has severe impacts on health, education, economic and social status of girls. Child marriage has many interlinked causes. This study aimed to explore the drivers of child marriage in specific contexts in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.MethodsThe study combined a household survey among youth (15-24 years) with focus group discussions and interviews conducted with youth (15-24 years) and parents. A variety of community stakeholders were interviewed as well. Logistic regression was done to explore associations between individual and family-level characteristics of young women and the occurrence of child marriage. Transcripts were analysed using an inductive approach. Narratives on the main drivers of child marriage across study contexts were written and inspired by the theory of normative spectrum.ResultsA lack of education was associated with the occurrence of child marriage in Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambi...
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ABSTRACT While a substantial number of studies have shown that perceived parenting plays an important role in identity formation, research employing a multi-informant and cross-cultural approach is still lacking. Attempting to fill this... more
ABSTRACT While a substantial number of studies have shown that perceived parenting plays an important role in identity formation, research employing a multi-informant and cross-cultural approach is still lacking. Attempting to fill this gap, we hypothesized that adolescent-reported parenting mediates the link between parent-reported parenting and identity dimensions (i.e., commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment) in German and Zambian samples. In total, 731 adolescents (n Zambia = 244; M Age = 14.68; 47% female) and their parents (M Age = 45.55; 82% female) completed questionnaires on parenting (Alabama Parenting Questionnaire) and identity (Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale; adolescents only). Regarding positive parenting, in both the German and the Zambian sample, an indirect effect of parent-reported parenting via adolescent-reported parenting on commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment was found. For negative parenting, there were indirect effects on in-depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment, but no indirect effect was found for commitment. Taken together, our results suggest that adolescents’ subjective experience of parenting represents the significant element that impacts adolescents’ identity formation.
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Background Although African Americans have the lowest rates of smoking onset and progression to daily smoking, they are less likely to achieve long-term cessation. Interventions tailored to promote use of cessation resources in African... more
Background Although African Americans have the lowest rates of smoking onset and progression to daily smoking, they are less likely to achieve long-term cessation. Interventions tailored to promote use of cessation resources in African American individuals who smoke are needed. In our past work, we demonstrated the effectiveness of a technology-assisted peer-written message intervention for increasing smoking cessation in non-Hispanic White smokers. In this formative study, we have adapted this intervention to be specific for African American smokers. Objective We aimed to report on the qualitative analysis of messages written by African American current and former smokers for their peers in response to hypothetical scenarios of smokers facing cessation challenges. Methods We recruited African American adult current and former smokers (n=41) via ResearchMatch between April 2017 and November 2017. We asked participants to write motivational messages for their peers in response to smo...
Research Interests: Communication, Health Communication, Race and Ethnicity, Qualitative Research, Medicine, and 12 moreThematic Analysis, Health Information Technology, Smoking Cessation, African American, Smoking, Intervention, Substance Abuse and Addiction, Psychological Intervention, Peer to Peer, Guidance and Counseling Intervention Programs, CESSATION, and Psychiatry and Psychology
Previous research has demonstrated increased comorbidities related to the chronic effects of HIV. Rehabilitation science offers a useful approach for studying chronic illness. This longitudinal qualitative study used a rehabilitation... more
Previous research has demonstrated increased comorbidities related to the chronic effects of HIV. Rehabilitation science offers a useful approach for studying chronic illness. This longitudinal qualitative study used a rehabilitation science approach to explore the experiences over time of women and men living with HIV and on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the high HIV-prevalence setting of Lusaka, Zambia. Thirty-five participants participated in a total of 99 in-depth interviews from 2012 to 2015. The central pattern that emerged across the participants&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; narratives was the paradoxical experience of profound optimism alongside significant new challenges. Participants&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; stories of hopefulness in the face of ongoing struggles played out in three interconnected themes: (1) impacts on my body and life; (2) interventions I am grateful to have and new interventions I need; and (3) stigma reduced and created by ART. Results reflected the ups and downs of life with HIV as a chronic illness. Participants, whilst committed to and healthier on ART, typically experienced multiple physical, psychological and sensory impairments that varied in type, severity and trajectory. Participants valued improved relationships enabled by ART, but yearned for support for living long-term with HIV. Frequently participants reflected that their needs were overlooked related to managing side-effects, exercise, family planning and healthy sexuality. ART strengthened acceptance by self and others through improved health and productivity and through becoming a source of support for others. However, being on ART also led to stigma, driven by persistent associations with sickness, death, lack of productivity and uncertainty. This study points to shortcomings in the current focus of HIV care in Zambia and the region, which centres on initiating and adhering to ART. Findings call for evolution of the HIV care continuum to embrace a more holistic and long-term approach to living with HIV as a chronic and episodic condition.
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This is a study of neuroAIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, involving 266 Zambian adults infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), clade C. All HIV+ participants were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (CART), and were... more
This is a study of neuroAIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, involving 266 Zambian adults infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), clade C. All HIV+ participants were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (CART), and were administered a comprehensive neuropsychological (NP) test battery covering seven ability domains that are frequently affected by neuroAIDS. The battery was developed in the U.S. but has been validated in other international settings and has demographically-corrected normative standards based upon 324 healthy Zambian adults. Compared to the healthy Zambian controls, the HIV+ sample performed worse on the NP battery with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.64). 34.6 % of the HIV+ individuals had global NP impairment and met criteria for HIV associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). The results indicate that the Western-developed NP test battery is appropriate for use in Zambia and can serve as a viable HIV and AIDS management tool.
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Background Health protective behaviours are crucial in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, particularly in university students who typically live and study in large groups. Depression and anxiety are common in students and can... more
Background Health protective behaviours are crucial in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, particularly in university students who typically live and study in large groups. Depression and anxiety are common in students and can impact young people’s motivations to follow health advice. The study aims to assess the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 health-protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood. Methods The study was a cross-sectional, online survey of Zambian university students. Invitation emails were sent explaining the study aims and directed students who self-identified as having low moods in the past two weeks to an online survey. Measures included COVID-19 preventive behaviours, COVID-19-related self-efficacy and Hospital and Anxiety Depression scale. Results A total of 620 students (n = 308 female, n = 306 male) participated in the study, with a mean participant age of 22.47 ± 3.29 years (range 18–51). Students reporte...
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Objective: To examine whether HIV-positive women in Lusaka District, Zambia, displays a higher degree of PTSD-symptoms than a HIV-negative control group. Method: The study targeted 50 HIV-positive women from four ART-clinics and 42... more
Objective: To examine whether HIV-positive women in Lusaka District, Zambia, displays a higher degree of PTSD-symptoms than a HIV-negative control group. Method: The study targeted 50 HIV-positive women from four ART-clinics and 42 HIV-negative women from corresponding VCT-units. All sites were located in Lusaka District, Zambia. The HIV-positive women were compared with the control group in regard for PTSD, PTSD-symptoms, dissociative symptoms and history of traumatic experiences. The instruments used were PCL-C, DES-T and LYLES-A. Prior to the main study, the validity of the instruments were assessed with a pilot-sample. Results: Three participants in the HIV-positive group fulfilled the criteria for clinical PTSD (10.7 %), as compared to none in the control group. The HIV-positive group also displayed a significantly higher degree of PTSD-symptoms and previous traumatic experiences, with strong effect sizes, but not for dissociative symptoms. The significant difference in PTSD-...
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Positively and negatively evaluated life events are associated with individuals’ life satisfaction. In the present study, we tested whether the link between individuals’ evaluations of life events in the social domain and their... more
Positively and negatively evaluated life events are associated with individuals’ life satisfaction. In the present study, we tested whether the link between individuals’ evaluations of life events in the social domain and their satisfaction with life is moderated by their implicit affiliation motive. Adolescent participants were recruited in Germany and Zambia. First, data on the implicit affiliation motive and life satisfaction were gathered. Approximately six to eight months later, adolescents reported on their life satisfaction again and indicated the recent occurrence of life events in the social domain. Moreover, they reported on the affective quality of those events. Analyses showed that positive evaluations of social life events predict life satisfaction only among adolescents characterized by a strong affiliation motive. This moderation effect was not qualified by individuals’ cultural background. Findings are discussed with respect to universal effects of implicit motives o...
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This paper looks at the current status of HIV infection in Zambia. The results show that Zambia is among the worst affected with a prevalence of 14.3% in the age group of 15-49 (ZDHS, 2011). Further it is noted that Prevention and control... more
This paper looks at the current status of HIV infection in Zambia. The results show that Zambia is among the worst affected with a prevalence of 14.3% in the age group of 15-49 (ZDHS, 2011). Further it is noted that Prevention and control of HIV and AIDS has been a priority of the Zambian Government however only 63 percent of those eligible have access to ART. We also found that women are more susceptible to HIV infection than men. This could be due to a number of socioeconomic and cultural factors such as loopholes in enforcement of laws regarding property ownership, economic opportunities and autonomy, inheritance, marriage and sexual negotiations with their husband or partners that have yet to be fully addressed. These inequalities have the potential to cause negative psychosocial problems. In rural communities due to long distances to health posts it is still difficult for people to access treatment for psychosocial concerns. This further compromisesthe immune functioning of HIV...
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Aim: To explore the experiences of children exposed to domestic violence in Lusaka District, Zambia. Study Design: A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted for this study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study took place in... more
Aim: To explore the experiences of children exposed to domestic violence in Lusaka District, Zambia. Study Design: A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted for this study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study took place in Lusaka district over a period of 8 months. The study population included domestic violence survivor children and their parents. The study sample consisted of fifty-two participants divided into thirty children (boys and girls), sixteen parents or guardians, and six key informants. Data was collected using detailed interviews with children and key informants, while focus group discussions were conducted with the parents or guardians. Results: The findings of the study revealed that children were exposed to different forms of domestic violence including physical abuse, emotional (verbal) abuse, and economic abuse. The children were both witnesses and victims of domestic violence. The study also revealed that exposure to violence had negative effects on t...
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The study was conducted to explore the perspectives understanding and reporting patterns of sexual harassment among staff and students at the University of Zambia (UNZA). The participants included 76 academic staff 128 non academic staff... more
The study was conducted to explore the perspectives understanding and reporting patterns of sexual harassment among staff and students at the University of Zambia (UNZA). The participants included 76 academic staff 128 non academic staff and 885 students who were randomly selected from the different schools at UNZA. A self-reported questionnaire was developed and piloted for use in this study. The results indicated that sexual harassment occurred among different categories of the UNZA community with 37% of all the participants reporting to have been sexually harassed. There was found to be a discrepancy in the understanding of the term sexual harassment with majority of the participants only recognizing overt acts such as “subtle or overt pressure for sexual favors” to be acts of sexual harassment. Reporting of sexual harassment was found to be minimal with only a quarter of those who were sexually harassed having told someone about the act. The majority of those who were sexually h...
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This study evaluates the effectiveness of a peer support intervention on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related information and self-management in HIV positive adolescents. Adolescents in this study referred to children in the age... more
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a peer support intervention on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related information and self-management in HIV positive adolescents. Adolescents in this study referred to children in the age group 11 to 16 years. An intervention study, with outcomes assessed the intervention and immediately post-intervention. Participants aged 11 to 16 years (N = 114) were recruited from three antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinics in Lusaka, and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Information on HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was given using an information leaflet entitled 'Let’s Talk about HIV and Living positively; How can young people with HIV live normally?’ After the intervention, the findings showed that 96% of the participants were knowledgeable that unprotected sex was the most common route of transmission of HIV. The belief that people with HIV should stop ART when they feel better; and that ART can have unw...
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Aim and Objectives: To sequentially assess the levels of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of HIV and AIDS among students at the University of Zambia and the extent to which this information can be used in HIV programming on Campus to... more
Aim and Objectives: To sequentially assess the levels of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of HIV and AIDS among students at the University of Zambia and the extent to which this information can be used in HIV programming on Campus to plan for appropriate interventions. Design: A cross-sectional exploratory survey design was used. The 2005 survey involved only first year students at the University of Zambia, while the 2006 followup survey was conducted among students from all schools on main campus, with the exception of the School of Medicine on a separate campus. All participants signed informed consent. Main outcomes: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices regarding HIV and AIDS among University of Zambia students. Measures: Data was collected using validated selfadministered standardized semi-structured questionnaire on knowledge, attitude and practices regarding HIV/AIDS. Results: Among the 844 first year students who took part in the 2005 baseline 642 (76.1%) felt that they had h...
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Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the training initiative to identify the challenges of immunisation at the district level in Zambia. The secondary objective was to assess the immediate impact of... more
Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the training initiative to identify the challenges of immunisation at the district level in Zambia. The secondary objective was to assess the immediate impact of the training on the perceived competence of trainees who attended the Mid Level Management (MLM) course on immunisation. Methods: A needs assessment of the EPI programme in Zambia was conducted. Participants were assessed on their ability, competence, knowledge and skills in areas such as understanding the Reach Every District (RED) strategy, vaccine management, cold chain management, and immunisation monitoring. Based on these assessments, 12 areas were identified as of particular relevance, and the World Health Organisation MLM course manual was adapted to reflect them. Two groups of 25 participants were assessed at two different time points with an interval of six months. Results: There was a significant increase (p<0.05) after training in the...
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Objectives: Hypertension has been reported as one of the most important etiologic factors in cardiovascular disease. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of hypertension on neurocognitive functioning and quality of... more
Objectives: Hypertension has been reported as one of the most important etiologic factors in cardiovascular disease. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of hypertension on neurocognitive functioning and quality of life. Design: The study was cross sectional, and clinic based. The sample comprised of 50 adult Zambians aged 4065years. Main outcomes: The main outcomes were neurocogntive functioning and quality of life. Measures: The measures used in this study were the Zambian neurobehavioral test battery as a measure of neuro cognitive functioning and the SF12 Health survey as a measure of quality of life. Results: There was no significant difference in neuropsychological test performance on all the seven ability domains measured. On Global Deficit Scores impairment index, Chi square showed more impairment in the hypertensive group; however this was not statistically significant. Pearson's correlations test showed that at 0.05 sig. side effects correlated n...
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Background: Young people are most vulnerable to acquiring HIV Infection in Zambia and they are at increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders which if left unchecked can have behavioural and health consequences. It's from this... more
Background: Young people are most vulnerable to acquiring HIV Infection in Zambia and they are at increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders which if left unchecked can have behavioural and health consequences. It's from this background that this study aimed at evaluating the impact of HIV information and peer support intervention on the psychiatric outcomes of HIV positive youths. Methods: A total of 130 participants were recruited from three anti-retroviral (ART) clinics in Lusaka, 80 were randomized to intervention group. The Hamilton Depression Scale for children was administered to the intervention group (n= 80) at baseline and after 10 weeks intervention by a psychiatrist who was a member of the research team. Results: The results indicated that 42 percent of the subjects had depressive symptoms. However, after intervention, only 15 percent of these, were diagnosed with depressive symptoms; representing 65 percent intervention efficacy. Conclusion: HIV information ...
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Objectives: To assess the mental health of HIV positive Zambian adolescents by comparing with Zambian school sample and an age matched British normative sample. Design: This was a cross-sectional study of adolescents from school in the... more
Objectives: To assess the mental health of HIV positive Zambian adolescents by comparing with Zambian school sample and an age matched British normative sample. Design: This was a cross-sectional study of adolescents from school in the age range of 11-15 and HIV positive adolescents from clinics in Lusaka. Main outcomes: Mental health of HIV positive Zambian adolescents. Measures: Mental health was assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results: When compared to the school sample it is found that both the groups are almost similar in the SDQ scales. Although the HIV group seem to have more peer problems, the difference does not reach a level of significance. The HIV sample was also less likely to be in the abnormal range for conduct problems (OR = 1.8). But when compared to a British community sample the Zambian HIV positive adolescents had increased emotional symptoms (OR= 3.6) and peer problems (OR= 7.1). Conclusion: Zambian HIV positive adolescents had...
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Research on child sexual abuse (CSA) suggest that support and protection from the caregiver provide the child an effective platform for quick recovery and improvement in mental health and social functioning. Nonetheless, not all... more
Research on child sexual abuse (CSA) suggest that support and protection from the caregiver provide the child an effective platform for quick recovery and improvement in mental health and social functioning. Nonetheless, not all caregivers are supportive of survivors; recent research findings, instead, show that incidents of CSA have debilitating psychological impact on survivors' caregivers which impair their functioning. This study explored whether a systematic link exists between an incident of CSA and psychological changes in caregivers, thereby justifying their psychological care. The objectives of the study were to 1) explore if a relationship exists between an incident of CSA and changes in mental health of primary caregivers of abused children and 2) identify symptoms of the psychological impact of CSA on primary caregivers of abused children. Participants in the study were 34 caregivers of CSA survivors from at Victim Support Unit (VSU), Young Women's Christians Ass...
Research Interests: Psychiatry, Sexual Abuse, Medicine, Anxiety, Population, and 2 morePsychosocial and ANXIETY(Psychosocial and ANXIETY)
(Psychosocial and ANXIETY)
Objective : To find out if Sexual Harassment existed at a higher institute of learning and explore perception of sexual harassment in the university community and to make recommendations based on the findings. Methodology : This was a... more
Objective : To find out if Sexual Harassment existed at a higher institute of learning and explore perception of sexual harassment in the university community and to make recommendations based on the findings. Methodology : This was a cross sectional study that collected both primary and secondary data. The participants included 913 students, 90 academic staff and 97 non-academic staff who were selected from within the university community. Questionnaires were administered in class for the students and individually with staff members after obtaining informed consent. Secondary data records from 1996 to 2006 on issues to do with sexual harassment from Registrar's department, Deans of students, counselling center, at the university clinic and records from staff and students were collected. Results : The study found that the majority of the participant (54.1%) knew what sexual harassment was. It was Further found that Fifty seven (57%) of the respondents acknowledged that Sexual H...