Master of Public Health - MPH / Evidence on the benefits of breastfeeding for child survival, growth and development is published extensively. Breastfeeding is an "unequalled" way of providing ideal food to infants and young children to promote good health, growth, development and to attainment of their full potential. Despite initiatives and programmes to promote uptake of exclusive breastfeeding, this practice remains sub-optimal in Zimbabwe. This study explored factors that influence breastfeeding decisions and practices based on mothers' own breastfeeding experiences. Methodology: This study employed a phenomenological research design. Information collected from mothers using in-depth interviews was triangulated with that from key informants. Interviews were audio-tape recorded and transcribed verbatim in Ndebele and then translated to English. Thematic analysis was used to compare various accounts from study participants to identify similar and related themes. Findings: Mothers could not differentiate exclusive breastfeeding from predominant and partial breastfeeding. Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding were: (i) Poor understanding of exclusive breastfeeding and its benefits; (ii) Use of herbal infusions; (iii) Practice of giving babies water; (iv) Perceived insufficient breastmilk production; (v) Myths and misconceptions; (vi) Breast conditions; (vii) Tradition (viii) the HIV epidemic; and (ix) Employment. Enabling factors were: (i) Adequate food for the lactating mother; (ii) Family support; (iii) Support from husband; and (iv) Knowledge of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.

In this thesis the long-term sustainable yield of the Karoo sediment aquifer unit occurring in Dendera area of Kwekwe District is investigated, with the object of providing quantitative data on the sustained availability of groundwater for small-scale irrigation projects. Archaean Basement Schists and Pre-Cambrian gneissic granites, the Basement Complex rocks, underlie the entire study area. Overlying these are Upper Karoo sediments. Aeolian Kalahari sands unconformably mantle higher interfluves, while redistributed sands occur along valleys of major rivers and streams. The Karoo sediments, which predominantly consist of loosely cemented, fine- to medium-grained sandstone alternating with red siltstone and mudstone, constitute the main aquifer. The thickness of the Karoo sediment unit ranges from 30m to 80m. The hydraulic parameters of the Karoo sediment aquifer were characterised in the field by constant discharge pumping tests and slug tests. Pumping tests indicated unconfined conditions and thus the Neuman's method of analysis has been used. Transmissivities from pumping tests are within the range 4.7 m²/d to 13.6 m²/d with an average of 8.9m²/d. The low transmissivities seem to be a major limiting factor in the exploitation of the groundwater resources. Thus the sustainable borehole yields tend to be small, mean values ranging from 33 m²/d to 253 m²/d. Specific yield could not be determined from the pumping tests due to the lack of observation boreholes. Low chemical concentrations render the water suitable for irrigation of all crops, while neither total nor any individual concentrations present health hazards to human or livestock. An average recharge value of 47.7 mm/y was inferred from water table fluctuation method. Chloride mass balance technique in the same area indicates recharge value in the order of 67.4 mm/y. Because the chloride mass balance gives a long-term mean annual recharge, the recharge figure of 67.4 mm/y was adopted for the study area. Based on the abstractable proportion of recharge, the sustainably exploitable volume of groundwater of the order of 2.68 x 10⁷ m³/y was established. This volume is more than 100 times the estimated current demand for groundwater (1.35 x 10⁵ m³/d), implying that there are large volumes of surplus water, which can be utilised for irrigation.