MPH / Department of Public Health / Background: Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the major public health problems that has negatively impacted mostly orphans leaving in child-headed families in the world. A child- headed family is defined as a family, living under the same roof, which is headed by a person under the age of 18 years. Many of these children have become heads of households and they are obliged to look after themselves and siblings. As a result, some children drop out from school while looking for jobs to sustain the family. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore and describe the experiences of children in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families in Zimbabwe. Methodology: The researcher employed qualitative approach with explorative, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological designs. Nonprobability purposive sampling was used to select the participant. Children aged between 12-18 years were selected as they were able to narrate their life experiences. In-depth face to face individual interviews were used to collect data pertaining to experiences of children in HIV/AIDS child-headed families. Data was transcribed verbatim, and then translated from Shona to English. The data was then analysed following Tesch’s eight steps model. Findings: The findings of the study revealed that children in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families were lacking basic commodities such as food, clothing, shelter and clean water. The findings also revealed that children living in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families were being abused physically, sexually, emotionally and verbally. The findings of the study also revealed that children living in HIV/AIDS-affected child-headed families received support from the government, non-governmental organisations, community and relatives. / NRF

The research revolves on the emergence of globalisation, change, competition, work pressure, and risks among others which have exposed insurance employees to work stress that can interfere with home activities. The research purpose was to determine the relationship between work stress, work-home interference, and organisational culture among insurance employees in the Zimbabwean context. The sample consisted of 240 participants, from which data was collected from 190 employees who responded to the questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using SPSS, internal consistency reliability analysis, and the inter-correlation analysis. The inferential statistics used were multiple linear regression and one way ANOVA. Substantial positive and negative correlations were noted for the six sub-scales of the Occupational roles questionnaire (ORQ), negative work-home interference (NWHI) and positive work-home interference (PWHI) scales, and the three sub-scales of the Organisational culture index (OCI). The research concluded that different measures should be taken to manage work stressors, depending on the organisational culture, and its employees to prevent spill-over which contributes to negative work-home interference. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The research revolves on the emergence of globalisation, change, competition, work pressure, and risks among others which have exposed insurance employees to work stress that can interfere with home activities. The research purpose was to determine the relationship between work stress, work-home interference, and organisational culture among insurance employees in the Zimbabwean context. The sample consisted of 240 participants, from which data was collected from 190 employees who responded to the questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using SPSS, internal consistency reliability analysis, and the inter-correlation analysis. The inferential statistics used were multiple linear regression and one way ANOVA. Substantial positive and negative correlations were noted for the six sub-scales of the Occupational roles questionnaire (ORQ), negative work-home interference (NWHI) and positive work-home interference (PWHI) scales, and the three sub-scales of the Organisational culture index (OCI). The research concluded that different measures should be taken to manage work stressors, depending on the organisational culture, and its employees to prevent spill-over which contributes to negative work-home interference. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

MGS / Institute of Gender and Youth Studies / In most developing countries, poverty is concentrated in female headed households especially in rural areas. Notably, these rural areas are fast becoming female spaces, as most men migrate to urban areas and neighbouring countries. The critical role of rural women in eradicating poverty through agricultural labour force, subsistence farming and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa, has been recognised by scholars yet they are the poorest and their contribution has not been fully acknowledged by the community or governments. To understand this phenomenon this study investigated the socio-economic challenges faced by female headed households, causes of high vulnerability and their coping strategies in Manama village, Matabeleland South province, Zimbabwe. This study was informed by feminist theoretical approaches of conducting research as it employed several qualitative research methods, namely key participant individual in-depth interviews; Focus group discussions; field participatory observation and documentary reviews to collect data. The findings of the study were that, due to the country’s economic situation, constrained mobility and lack of collateral security to secure credit, women have a double burden of responsibility with numerous challenges such as unequal wages in hired labourer work, inadequate food for the family, financial burdens. However they have their own coping strategies such as voluntary community networks. This study concludes by making recommendations, for gender mainstreaming in policy, agricultural extension services for Female headed households, creation of markets, counselling and psychosocial support. This research contends that although these women find themselves in a patriarchal frame they have decided to outgrow it and be autonomous as they fight the socio-economic challenges they face. They have numerous socio-economic challenges but the participants themselves are self-asserted. They are not stopped by patriarchy and are exemplary as they work hard and venture outside the domestic space to engage in honest work to take care of their households. / NRF

This thesis examined husband immobility and the international migration of married women from Zimbabwe. Data was collected from husbands and wives in married couple households where the wife had migrated alone. Face-to-face semi structured interviews were conducted with migrant women’s husbands in Zimbabwe while migrant women were interviewed in countries of destination telephonically. Empirical results showed that migrant women and their husbands were middle aged. Preferred countries of destination were in the region and the United Kingdom. Having a wife’s own social contacts in the preferred destination encouraged migration by reducing financial and emotional costs. Husbands' immobility facilitated wifely migration. Many wives exercised agency in migration decision making with more wives than husbands having initiated the discussion on migration. There were also cases of joint and wife sole decision making. With a few exceptions decision making was consensual. The women migrated as a survival strategy. In several households remittances were the primary source of income. Husbands were the main recipients of remittances. Some wives gave instructions on how the remittances should be used. Overall, remittances were used for paying fees, buying assets and for household upkeep. Some of the women had not visited their families since their migration. The physical separation of spouses had caused emotional distress in some marital relationships. The majority of respondents cited loss of consortium as a major problem. / Sociology / D. Phil.

This thesis examined husband immobility and the international migration of married women from Zimbabwe. Data was collected from husbands and wives in married couple households where the wife had migrated alone. Face-to-face semi structured interviews were conducted with migrant women’s husbands in Zimbabwe while migrant women were interviewed in countries of destination telephonically. Empirical results showed that migrant women and their husbands were middle aged. Preferred countries of destination were in the region and the United Kingdom. Having a wife’s own social contacts in the preferred destination encouraged migration by reducing financial and emotional costs. Husbands' immobility facilitated wifely migration. Many wives exercised agency in migration decision making with more wives than husbands having initiated the discussion on migration. There were also cases of joint and wife sole decision making. With a few exceptions decision making was consensual. The women migrated as a survival strategy. In several households remittances were the primary source of income. Husbands were the main recipients of remittances. Some wives gave instructions on how the remittances should be used. Overall, remittances were used for paying fees, buying assets and for household upkeep. Some of the women had not visited their families since their migration. The physical separation of spouses had caused emotional distress in some marital relationships. The majority of respondents cited loss of consortium as a major problem. / Sociology / D. Phil.