Browsing by Author "Moyo, S."

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    Exploring digital competences in Zimbabwean secondary schools using a multimodal view: a hermeneutical phenomenography study
    (Cogent Education, 2024-07-30) Dabengwa, I.M.; Moyo, S.; Ncube, S.; Gashirai, T.B.; Makaza, D; Makoni, P.; Pasipamire, N.; Chademana, G.K.; Mafoti, M.; Mapfumo, S.; Mandaza, D.
    This paper presents a study that investigates digital competencies within the Zimbabwean secondary education system. Limited research has focused on Zimbabwe’s secondary schoolteachers’ digital literacy in online learning. The study utilised DigComp 2.2 as the framework, and employed a multi-method participative approach to collect data from secondary schools across the 10 provinces of the country. Thirty nine interviews were conducted across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, including 15 FGDs with learners, 21 in-depth interviews with teachers, and three key informant interviews with education directors, resulting in 215 participants. The results of a 3-dimensional modal analysis revealed a multifaceted situation in five key areas: problem-solving, safety and security, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, and information and data literacy. The study found that both teachers and learners were proficient in using applications such as WhatsApp, MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Computer Science students demonstrated specialised skills, particularly in programming. Although teachers aim to improve digital literacy by teaching critical evaluations of online content, challenges persist in rural regions because of limited access to ICT tools and infrastructure. Collaboration is facilitated through platforms such as WhatsApp; however, ensuring inclusive participation remains a challenge. Digital safety and security have been identified as the major concerns. While progress has been made in areas such as Communication and Collaboration and Information Literacy, challenges still exist in digital content creation, problem-solving, and safety and security. These findings offer policymakers insights into maximising the impact of integrating ICTs in education.
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    Optimisation of the Linear Probability Model for Credit Risk Management
    (2014-11) Nyathi, K.T.; Ndlovu, Siqabukile; Moyo, S.; Nyathi, Thambo
    One of the aims of the banking business is to provide loans to applicants. Credit risk management plays an important role in banks, as loans generally account for half to three quarters of the total value of bank assets. Credit scoring is a systematic method for evaluating credit risk and assists decision makers determine whether or not to provide loans to applicants. Scoring models are systematic means of evaluating the creditworthiness of a loan applicant. However, existing scoring models cause some loan applications to be rejected unnecessarily as their credit rates are lowered to rejection levels due to lack of information such as previous loan payment data. This might be refusal of good credit, which potentially can cause the loss of future profit margins. This study aims at optimising one such credit scoring model to ensure that it uses only the critical scoring criteria to determine a credit score. The optimised model will not only reduce the proportion of unsafe borrowers, but also identify profitable borrowers.
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    Praying until death: apostolicism, delays and maternal mortality in zimbabwe
    (PLOS ONE, 2016-08-10) Dodzo, Munyaradzi K.; Mhloyi, Marvellous; Moyo, S.; Dodzo, Masawi M.
    Religion affects people’s daily lives by solving social problems, although it creates others. Female sexual and reproductive health are among the issues most affected by religion. Apostolic sect members in Zimbabwe have been associated with higher maternal mortality. We explored apostolic beliefs and practices on maternal health using 15 key informant interviews in 5 purposively selected districts of Zimbabwe. Results show that apostolicism promotes high fertility, early marriage, non-use of contraceptives and low or non-use of hospital care. It causes delays in recognizing danger signs, deciding to seek care, reaching and receiving appropriate health care. The existence of a customized spiritual maternal health system demonstrates a huge desire for positive maternal health outcomes among apostolics. We conclude that apostolic beliefs and practices exacerbate delays between onset of maternal complications and receiving help, thus increasing maternal risk. We recommend complementary and adaptive approaches that address the maternal health needs of apostolics in a religiously sensitive manner.
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    Reducing maternal mortality: a 10-year experience at Mpilo Central Hospital, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
    (De Gruyter, 2023) Ngwenya, S.; Mhlanga, S.; Moyo, S.; Lindow, S.W.
    Objectives: Maternal mortality is one of the major Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the global health community. The aim of the SDG 3.1 is to reduce global maternal mortality ratio considerably by 2030. The objective of this study was to document the epidemiological trends in maternal mortality for Mpilo Central Hospital. Methods: This was a 10 year retrospective study using readily available data from the maternity registers. The International Classification of Diseases-Maternal Mortality (ICD-MM) coding system for maternal deaths was used. Results: The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined from 655 per 100,000 live births in 2011 to 203 per 100,000 live births by 2020. The commonest groups of maternal mortality during the period 2011–2020 were hypertensive disorders, obstetric haemorrhage, pregnancy-related infection, and pregnancies with abortive outcomes. There were 273 maternal deaths recorded in the period 2011–2015, and 168 maternal deaths in the period 2016–2020. There was also a decline in maternal deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage (53 vs. 34). Maternal deaths due to pregnancy-related infection also declined (46 vs. 22), as well as pregnancies with abortive outcomes (40 vs. 26). Conclusions: There was a 69% decline in the MMR over the 10 year period. The introduction of government interventions such as malarial control, the adoption of life-long Option B+ antiretroviral treatment for the pregnant women, the training courses of staff, and the introduction of strong clinical leadership and accountability were all associated with a significant decline in the causes of maternal deaths.
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    Resilience and vulnerability of maternity services in Zimbabwe: a comparative analysis of the efect of Covid-19 and lockdown control measures on maternal and perinatal outcomes, a single-centre cross-sectional study at Mpilo Central Hospital
    (Springer Nature, 2021-06-04) Shakespeare, C.; Dube, H.; Moyo, S.; Ngwenya, S.
    Background On the 27th of March 2020 the Zimbabwean government declared the Covid-19 pandemic a ‘national disaster’. Travel restrictions and emergency regulations have had significant impacts on maternity services, including resource stock-outs, and closure of antenatal clinics during the lockdown period. Estimates of the indirect impact of Covid-19 on maternal and perinatal mortality was expected it to be considerable, but little data was yet available. This study aimed to examine the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown control measures on non-Covid outcomes in a government tertiary level maternity unit in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, by comparing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality before, and after the lockdown was implemented. Methods This was a retrospective, observational study, using a cross-sectional design to compare routine monthly maternal and perinatal statistics three months before and after Covid-19 emergency measures were implemented at Mpilo Central Hospital. Results Between January-March and April-June 2020, the mean monthly deliveries reduced from 747.3 (SD ± 61.3) in the first quarter of 2020 to 681.0 (SD ± 17.6) during lockdown, but this was not statistically significant, p = 0.20. The Caesarean section rates fell from a mean of 29.8% (SD ± 1.7) versus 28.0% (SD ± 1.7), which was also not statistically significant, p = 0.18. During lockdown, the percentage of women delivering at Mpilo Central Hospital who were booked at the hospital fell from a mean of 41.6% (SD ± 1.1) to 35.8% (SD ± 4.3) which was statistically significant, p = 0.03. There was no significant change, however, in maternal mortality or severe maternal morbidity (such as post-partum haemorrhage (PPH), uterine rupture, and severe preeclampsia/eclampsia), stillbirth rate or special care baby unit admission. There was an increase in the mean total number of early neonatal deaths (ENND) (mean 18.7 (SD ± 2.9) versus 24.0 (SD ± 4.6), but this was not statistically significant, p = 0.32. Conclusions Overall, maternity services at Mpilo showed resilience during the lockdown period, with no significant change in maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes, with the same number of man-hours worked before and during the lockdown Maternal and perinatal outcomes should continue to be monitored to assess the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown measures as the pandemic in Zimbabwe unfolds. Further studies would be beneficial to explore women’s experiences and understand how bookings and deliveries at local clinics changed during this time.