Background: The economic crisis that intensified in Zimbabwe between 2004 and 2009 could have exposed children under the age of 5 at an elevated risk of dying. The study investigates the determinants of childhood mortality in the country 4 years preceding the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey of 2010-2011. Aims and Objectives: To establish child mortality determinants in Zimbabwe for the period 2006-2010 during the economic crisis. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study which used data from the ZDHS 2010-2011. Using logistic regression and survival analysis, the study estimates the odds of dying and the survivorship probabilities for the birth cohort of 2006-2010. Results: The results indicate that children born to mothers age 40-49 had 88% higher chances of dying compared to children born to mothers in the age group 15-19 in a model that controls for age of mother and gender of child. Female children had 23% lower chances of dying compared to male children in a model that controls for gender and age of mother and was statistically significant at p-value<.05. Children born to mothers with higher levels of education had 16% lower chances of dying compared to children born to mothers with lower levels of education in a model that controls for maternal education, age of mother and gender of child. Children residing in households with higher socio-economic status had 12% lower chances of dying than children residing in households with lower socio-economic status in a model that controls for household socio-economic status, maternal education, age of mother and child’s gender. Children residing in rural areas had 17% lower chances of dying than children residing in urban areas in a model that controls for area of residence, household socio-economic status, maternal education, age of mother and gender of child. Children residing in some of the country’s poorest provinces namely Matabeleland North and South had 72% and 70% lower chances of dying respectively and both were statistically significant at p-value<.05 in a model that controls for province of residence, area of residence whether rural or urban, age of mother, maternal education, gender of child and household socio-economic status. Conclusions: The study established some of the determinants of childhood mortality during the country’s economic crisis. / Thesis (M.A.)--University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Antiretroviral therapy is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. Implementation of such therapy depends on the identification of HIV-infected pregnant women. This study investigated how the biographical characteristics of the pregnant women (16-45 years) influenced their health decision-making in Bulawayo clinics. The study was guided by the theories of health behaviour. The study assumed that the respondents’ demographic characteristics will influence their attitudes towards PMTCT programme. Using a structured questionnaire, forty pregnant women who visited the Bulawayo clinics to have prenatal checkups were interviewed. The majority of respondents came from a poor, high-density township. Most of the respondents were married, but about a third were not married at the time data collection and 5% were separated. The survey items were demographic characteristics, knowledge of PMTCT, HIV risk perceptions and service utilisation. The levels of literacy among the respondents were high; more than 80% had completed primary education. Overall the respondents’ demographic characteristics influenced their attitudes towards PMTCT. Majority of the women knew that a mother with HIV can pass the virus to her child, during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The pregnant women’s health-seeking behaviour and their attitudes toward reproductive health services are influenced by their demographic situation. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV/AIDS))

Antiretroviral therapy is an important public health strategy to reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. Implementation of such therapy depends on the identification of HIV-infected pregnant women. This study investigated how the biographical characteristics of the pregnant women (16-45 years) influenced their health decision-making in Bulawayo clinics. The study was guided by the theories of health behaviour. The study assumed that the respondents’ demographic characteristics will influence their attitudes towards PMTCT programme. Using a structured questionnaire, forty pregnant women who visited the Bulawayo clinics to have prenatal checkups were interviewed. The majority of respondents came from a poor, high-density township. Most of the respondents were married, but about a third were not married at the time data collection and 5% were separated. The survey items were demographic characteristics, knowledge of PMTCT, HIV risk perceptions and service utilisation. The levels of literacy among the respondents were high; more than 80% had completed primary education. Overall the respondents’ demographic characteristics influenced their attitudes towards PMTCT. Majority of the women knew that a mother with HIV can pass the virus to her child, during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. The pregnant women’s health-seeking behaviour and their attitudes toward reproductive health services are influenced by their demographic situation. / Health Studies / (M.A. (Social Behavior Studies in HIV/AIDS))