Academic literature on the topic 'Lusaka district'

Rabies remains endemic in Zambia. Despite conducting canine vaccinations in Lusaka district, the vaccination coverage and actual seropositivity in the dog population in Lusaka district are rarely evaluated. This study estimated the seropositivity-based immunization coverage in the owned dog population in Lusaka district using the expanded program on immunization cluster survey method. The time-series trend of neutralizing antibodies against rabies in vaccinated dogs was also evaluated. Of 366 dogs in 200 dog-owning households in Lusaka district, blood samples were collected successfully from 251 dogs. In the sampled dogs, 42.2% (106/251) had an antibody titer ≥0.5 IU/mL. When the 115 dogs whose blood was not collected were assumed to be seronegative, the minimum immunization coverage in Lusaka district’s owned dog population was estimated at 29.0% (95% confidence interval: 22.4–35.5). It was also found that a single vaccination with certified vaccines is capable of inducing protective levels of antibodies. In contrast, higher antibody titers were observed in multiple-vaccinated dogs than in single-vaccinated dogs, coupled with the observation of a decline in antibody titer over time. These results suggest the importance of continuous booster immunization to maintain herd immunity and provide useful information to plan mass vaccination against rabies in Zambia.

For many years, studies to do with the aged and how they survive ‘economically’, were enshrined in mystery and stereotype. As a result of that, many old people in Zambia have been subjected to abuse and destitution; which is partially attributed to lack of systematic studies that would elucidate facts about the aged. It is for this reason that this study was instituted. The study comprised of 97 senior citizens who were purposively selected from Chongwe and Lusaka Districts. 84 senior citizens were subjected to a structured interview, while 13 participated in the two focus group discussions. Therefore, structured interview guides and two focus group discussions were used to collect data in Chongwe and Lusaka Districts. The study established that several types of survival strategies were used by the aged in rural and urban areas. The findings revealed that senior citizens in Chongwe and Lusaka Districts were involved in trade men and women. Others depended on their extended family members for support and care. This was the case for majority of the respondents from Chongwe District compared to their counterparts in Lusaka. There were a number of senior citizens who were also assisted financially and materially by local churches, charitable organizations and well wishers within and outside their communities. Although majority senior citizens were business men and women, their businesses, according to the finding, were not capital intensive, hence less lucrative. Consequently, majority senior citizens in the two Districts resorted to eating once or twice a day in order to conserve food for subsequent days. The situation was exacerbated further in Lusaka, as opposed to Chongwe, because senior citizens there had a lot of dependents. As a result and except for a few most of the aged scraped a living on less than a dollar per day in the two districts.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis is a highly contagious enteric disease of young dogs. Limited studies have been done in Zambia to investigate the prevalence of CPV in dogs. Blood was collected from dogs from three veterinary clinics (clinic samples, n=174) and one township of Lusaka (field samples, n=56). Each dog’s age, sex, breed, and vaccination status were recorded. A haemagglutination assay using pig erythrocytes and modified live parvovirus vaccine as the antigen was used. Antibodies to CPV were detected in 100% of dogs (unvaccinated or vaccinated). The titres ranged from 160 to 10240 with a median of 1280. Vaccinated dogs had significantly higher antibody titres compared to unvaccinated (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in titres of clinic samples compared to field samples (p<0.0001) but not within breed (p=0.098) or sex (p=0.572). Multiple regression analysis showed that only age and vaccination status were significant predictors of antibody titres. The presence of antibody in all dogs suggests that the CPV infection is ubiquitous and the disease is endemic, hence the need for research to determine the protection conferred by vaccination and natural exposure to the virus under local conditions.

Child sexual abuse is a universal problem that affects both boys and girls. In Zambia,
 like many other African countries, there are certain conditions and circumstances
 that put children at risk of sexual abuse. However, these risk factors remain explored
 (Chiroro et al., 2006). This study, therefore, was aimed at investigating risk factors and
 exploring child sexual abuse in Lusaka District. Specifically, it focused on identifying
 the forms of sexual abuse; examine the factors that put children at risk for sexual
 abuse; find out the grooming tactics used by sexual abusers; find out the disclosure
 rate for child sexual abuse cases; examine the abuser-victim relationships; and make
 recommendations for child sexual abuse prevention. Participants were 200 secondary
 school pupils (86 males and 114 females), who were randomly selected. Their ages
 ranged from sixteen to twenty-one years. Data was collected using a structured selfreport
 questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Data analysis was done
 using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
 The results show an overall prevalence rate of child sexual abuse to be 43.5 per cent
 (n=87). Of the 87 victims, 41.1 per cent (n=36) were males and 58.6 per cent (n=51)
 were females. Among the forms of sexual abuse, sexual touch/arousal had the highest
 frequency (n=54, 62.1%). Most of the subjects (75.6%, n=19) did not disclose their
 sexual experiences, whereas only 24.4 per cent (n=19) did. Most abusers were found
 to be family members (n=39, 44%).
 Six risk factors for sexual abuse were examined, and the most powerful one was
 parental absence (n=63, 73.3%); having punitive parents (n=57, 68.7%); alcohol
 intake by a parent or other guardian (n=30, 34.5%); poor parent-child relationship
 (n=20, 23.7%); parental conflict (n=19, 22.4%); and presence of a stepparent (n=13,
 13.1%).
 Furthermore, the results obtained from the FGDs show that the most frequently used
 trick for sexual abuse is the offer of money and/other gifts (n=21, 67.8%). Fifty-six
 (69%) of the victims lacked knowledge to know that the grooming they experienced
 would result into sexual abuse. The study tested two hypotheses:
 (a) alcohol intake by the parent or guardian is not a significant risk factor for child
 sexual abuse;
 (b) in Lusaka District, children and adolescents that are sexually abused have
 adequate knowledge of the grooming tactics used by abusers.
 The results showed that:
 (a) there is a significant relationship (p=0.004) between child sexual abuse and
 parental or guardian intake of alcohol;
 (b) there is a significant relationship (p=0.000) between child sexual abuse and
 children’s lack of knowledge of the grooming tactics used by sexual abusers.
 Recommendations made include:
 (a) teacher training in the area of child sexual abuse;
 (b) encouragement of research culture among Zambian scholars in the area of
 child sexual abuse; and
 (c) active involvement of children, parents, teachers and the government in the
 prevention of child sexual abuse.

As The Proportions Of People Living With HIV Who Do Not Know Their HIV Infection Status Decrease, Reaching The Last Mile Of Those Who Are Asymptomatic And Not In Contact With The Health Care System Becomes A Critical Challenge. This Project Will Use An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study Design. It Will Be Conducted In Three High-Volume Health Facilities In Matero Sub-District 3 Of Lusaka District In Zambia Over A Period Of One Year. The Specific Objectives Are: To Understand The Perceived Facilitators And Barriers To HIV Partner Testing From The Perspective Of The Health-Care Provider; To Propose Interventions Necessary For Improved HIV Case Finding; And To Reach High Risk But Hard To Reach Populations In HIV Programs Such As Middle-Aged Men And Adolescent Girls And Young Women (AGYW). The Permission To Conduct This Study Will Be Obtained From The Lusaka Provincial Health Office Before Its Commencement. Ethical Clearance Will Be Sought And Obtained From The ERES Converge Research Ethical Committee. The Authority To Conduct Research Will Be Sought From The National Health Research Authority. The Expected Main Findings Following The Address Of The Identified Challenges Are: Increased Number Of Recipients Of Care Indexed, Increased Index Contact Elicitation Ration From 1:1 To At Least 1:2, Improved Rate Of Contacts Tested On Time, Improved HIV Case Finding Through Index Testing, And Overall, Increased HIV Index Testing Positivity Rate From Below 25% (Baseline) To Above 40% (At The End Of The Project).

Issues to do with gender imbalances and inequality of women in general and single women in particular in the political arena and entrepreneurship are nowadays a burning issue in all the countries worldwide. This is a major aspect of modern democratic governance such that low levels of female participation in politics are a major concern worldwide. The steps were taken by the United Nations Convention on stopping all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and other international organizations have laid the concrete basis for the emergence of women’s participation in politics and entrepreneurship. In Lusaka, Zambia, women’s political participation is not proportional to the 50% of the country’s population which women represent, thereby not translating into equal representation in political leadership positions. The study employed questionnaires to collect data. The findings demonstrate that there exists a significant gender gap in the political participation of women in all the wards in the Lusaka district and that factors affecting their effective participation were social, economic, political, cultural, and religious-based. The study, therefore, recommended the change of perception of the people, equal representation in governance, support from everyone, and also stopping of discriminatory practices to ensure the equal and full participation of women.