NuSpace

NuSpace is the official repository platform of the National University of Science and Technology that enables researchers in:

  • obtaining easy access to a wide range of academic materials,
  • promoting knowledge dissemination and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration.

Explore our repository to discover a wealth of knowledge across various disciplines.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 12

Recent Submissions

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Perceptions of Healthcare Workers on the Attributes of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System in Zimbabwe
(Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2024-05-07) Mteliso, F.; Adalier, A.; Malunguza, N.J.; Chiyaka, E.T.
Objective: To investigate healthcare workers’ perceptions of the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) strategy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers (HCWs) was conducted from December 2021 to June 2022 to assess their perceptions of the IDSR system attributes. Results: Of the 409 respondents, 12 (2.9%) reported no prior training on disease surveillance. The IDSR was deemed simple, acceptable, useful, and timely by most participants. There were sharp differences in perceptions of flexibility and simplicity between doctors and the other healthcare professionals. However, acceptability, timeliness, and usefulness were uniformly perceived. Healthcare workers with at least 11 years of experience perceived the usefulness of the IDSR system significantly higher than those with lesser years of experience. However, work experience did not have an impact on HCWs perceptions of the simplicity, timeliness, and flexibility of the IDSR system. Conclusions: Most healthcare workers have positive perceptions of the IDSR approach. However, there are reservations about how well the system can adapt to changing conditions and demands (flexibility) and how well it simplifies the implementation processes. These findings demonstrate the necessity of adopting cutting-edge strategies for capacity building as well as ongoing professional development of healthcare professionals responsible for the implementation of the IDSR strategy.
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Deposits and financial sustainability of deposit-taking microfinance institutions: evidence from low income Sub-Saharan Africa
(Afro-Asian Journal of Finance and Accounting, 2024) Moyo, Z.; Mukorera, S.; Nyatanga, P.
This study examined the relationship between deposits and financial sustainability of Deposit-taking Microfinance Institutions (DTMFIs) due to a number of such institutions having collapsed previously in Africa. Panel data spanning 2006 to 2017 from the Microfinance Information Exchange of 64 DTMFIs sampled across 18 Low Income Sub-Saharan Africa (LISSA) countries was utilised. Through probit regression, the study found that the likelihood of attaining financial sustainability by the LISSA DTMFIs is negatively affected by small scale deposits, unfavourable loan loss provisions, deteriorating loan portfolio quality and costly branch coverage. The study recommends low cost, large scale deposit operations, efficiency in managing operating expenses, credit enhancements and restrictive deposit-taking licencing.
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Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its control measures on women and children: A Zimbabwe case study
(medRxiv, 2024) Taruvinga, T.; Chingono, R.S; Olaru, I.D.; Masiye, K.; Madanhire, C.; Munhenzva, S.; Sibanda, S.; Mafuva, L.; O’Sullivan, N.; Osman, A.Y.; Deane, K.
COVID-19 presented countries with unprecedented health policy challenges. For low-income countries in particular, policymakers had to contend with both the direct threats posed by COVID-19 as well as the social, educational, and economic harms associated with lockdown and other infection prevention and control measures. We present a holistic and contextualised case study of the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on women and children, with some assessment of their uneven distribution across socio-economic, age and gender groups. We used different types of primary and secondary data from multiple sources to produce a holistic descriptive analysis. Primary data included: qualitative data obtained from 28 in-depth interviews of key informants, six focus group discussions; and 40 household interviews. We also extracted data from government reports and announcements, the District Health Information Software version 2 (DHIS2), newspaper articles and social media, as well as from published research articles. Our findings show that the direct and indirect adverse impacts of COVID-19 were compounded by many years of severe political economic challenges, and consequent deterioration of the healthcare system. The indirect effects of the pandemic had the most severe impacts on the poorest segment of society and widened age and gender inequalities. The pandemic and its accompanying infection prevention and control measures negatively affected health service delivery and uptake. The management of COVID-19 presented enormous challenges to policymakers and public health specialists. These included managing the greatest tension between direct and indirect harms; short-term and long-term effects; and the unequal distribution of harms across different segments of society.
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Exploring Barriers and Facilitators That Influence Uptake of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: Key Stakeholder’s Perspectives
(American Journal of Men's Health, 2023-12-08) Moyo, P.L.; Nunu, W.N.
The world has been on the path to ending HIV and AIDS as a global threat by 2030; despite these efforts, the rate of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men remains very high. This study sought to explore the perceptions of key stakeholders on the potential barriers and facilitators of pre-exposure prophylaxis use among this key population. An exploratory, descriptive (through interviews) qualitative study was conducted on 10 key informants who were purposively selected and snowballed based on their knowledge and experience toward pre-exposure prophylaxis programming among men who have sex with men. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and thematically analyzed on MAXQDA. Stated barriers were stigma, lack of information, wrong messaging around pre-exposure prophylaxis, hearing negative things about the pills, the burden of taking pills daily, negative attitudes from health care providers, non-friendly health care facilities, pre-exposure prophylaxis not being affordable, and lack of flexibility and privacy from public hospitals. Identified facilitators were correct messaging on pre-exposure prophylaxis, long-lasting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis, improved packaging, de-stigmatization, more friendly facilities, differentiated service approach, community groups, engagement, and partnership. To address these barriers and leverage the facilitators, it is imperative to have accessible, affordable services, non-judgmental health care providers, and peer support networks to empower men who have sex with men to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and reproductive health. Continued efforts to remove barriers and promote facilitators are crucial for maximizing the potential of pre-exposure prophylaxis as an effective HIV prevention tool among this population.
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Characterization, kinetics and thermodynamic evaluation of struvite produced using ferrochrome slag as a magnesium source
(South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2023-10-24) Moyo, L.B.; Simate, G.S.; Hobane, N.; Dube, C.
There is limited data on studies that have focused on the kinetics, thermodynamics, and characterization of struvite crystallization from alternative magnesium sources. This study focused on thermal analysis of struvite (produced using ferrochrome slag as a magnesium source) and the results indicated that the residual quantities of struvite were lower than the theoretical mass loss of struvite of 51.42%. When using ferrochrome slag (FCS) as the magnesium source, 47.9%, 47.4%, and 46.9% losses in mass were observed for heating rates of 5◦C/min; 10◦C/min and 15◦C/min respectively. The mean activation energies for struvite produced using FCS were deduced using isoconversional kinetic methods and ranged from 49.81to 56.20 kJ/mol which is very similar to the activation energies deduced using MgCl2. The study also focused on the surface morphology, and particle size of the final product at different pH and N:P ratios. The final particle size distribution of the product was significantly influenced by the solution pH. To improve the crystal growth kinetics for both MgCl2 and FCS, a high ratio of N:P molar ratios should be adopted. The product's highest median particle size was obtained using FCS as the magnesium source at a low pH. Median particle size increased with decrease in pH, at a pH of 7.5 the recorded median particle size was 96 µ m whilst, the lowest was 31 µ m at a pH of 9.5. The highest percent of fines (<10 µ m) was recorded at a pH of 9.5 using FCS as magnesium source in the metastable region of struvite precipitation whereas at a pH of 7.5 no fines (<10 µ m) were recorded. SEM images confirmed that the struvite underwent morphological changes when prepared with FCS in comparison to that produced using MgCl2. The surface morphology of the finished product demonstrated the presence of irregular shaped particles, due to presence of impurities. The kinetic data showed that struvite precipitation was limited by the chemical reaction step. Model fitting was used to determine the reaction control mechanism and the average activation energies obtained by four model free methods were FWO (56.2), KAS (51.67) Starink (49.61) and Tang (49.81) kJ/mol, indicating that the FWO method was the least accurate method. The thermodynamic data indicated that the thermal degradation of struvite crystals has a high degree of disorder, and the process is endothermic, irreversible, and non-spontaneous.