Magister Public Health - MPH / Background and Rationale The World Health Organization (WHO) has shown that the provision of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Health Care Facilities (HCFs) of many low and middle-income countries is poor. This is compounded by the lack of national plans and consolidated data on WASH in HCFs. This study assessed the availability and adequacy of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in 13 mission hospitals spanning 13 districts in Zambia. The objectives of this study were to identify the different kinds of WASH infrastructure available, and their adequacy, and factors influencing the status of WASH infrastructure and services in the selected hospitals. Methodology This study had a mixed methods design with semi-quantitative, descriptive and qualitative components. Assessments were conducted of the WASH infrastructure on the hospital property, and specifically in the male medical wards and outpatient facilities as two tracer areas, using a WHO checklist adapted and administered by the researcher. Checklist items were assigned scores (0=absent/bad to 2=on target/good) and total WASH scores for each facility compiled. For the qualitative component, individual semi-structured interviews using an interview guide were conducted, also by the researcher, with the facility managers and the head staff of the male medical wards. Results Overall coverage with an improved water source was reasonably good with 11 of the 13 hospitals reporting availability of improved water sources within the facilities. Hand washing basin coverage was similarly good. In contrast, coverage by well-functioning toilets was not as high, with 5 hospitals reporting toilets that were either broken, blocked, or having no running water and no toilet paper. Facility WASH scores varied from 22 (38%) to 57 (97%) out of a possible total of 58 points. Most of the Facility Managers indicated that the hospital WASH infrastructure was old, and with frequent breakdowns. This was worsened by lack of readily available spares and materials for repairing once there was a fault. Conclusion This study reveals an uneven coverage of WASH across facilities and elements, with poor sanitation a challenge across facilities. This is compounded by ongoing challenges in WASH infrastructure maintenance. Moving forward, there is need for government to develop a clear policy on WASH in HCFs. A national plan with resources and a monitoring framework need to be in place for streamlined support and tracking of progress by all stakeholders.

The overarching aim of this study was to explore the similarities and differences in communication and other cultural practices in encounters between black indigenous Zambians and white Western migrants living in Zambia and the implications of these similarities and differences. The research adopted a qualitative research design, and focus group discussions were used as a data collection tool, using a video recorder to capture the discussions. The focus group comprised of 6 black indigenous Zambians and 6 white Westerners. The collected data was then transcribed from the video records and analysed using thematic analysis. The conclusion to this study is that the culture of black indigenous Zambians and that of white Westerners have both similarities and differences as far as communication practices and other practices are concerned. These similarities and differences influence communication encounters between the people of the two cultures either positively or negatively rendering communication either effective or non-effective. / Communication / MA (Communication)

Magister Artium - MA (Women and Gender Studies) / Women with disabilities are marginalised in many aspects of societal participation. The majority of women with disabilities in Zambia do not have access to education and this has placed them amongst the poorest of people in the country. The study focuses on the experiences of women with physical disabilities and investigates the challenges they encounter in accessing education at tertiary level. The study comes at a time when the fight for gender equality has gained momentum and aims at promoting economic participation for all members of society without discrimination on the basis of sex or disability. The study engaged ten participants from a tertiary institution in Kamwala, Lusaka. I conducted a feminist qualitative research, which focused on the experiences of 19-30 year old female students with physical disabilities. I used semi-structured interviews in order to collect the data and drew on a qualitative thematic analysis to analyse the data. All standard ethical procedures were adhered to, including anonymity and confidentiality with respect to participants. The results of the study revealed that women with disabilities were often 'othered' due to myths and misconceptions that surrounded disability especially in the African- traditional context. The study also revealed that families played a very important role in ensuring that women and young girls with disabilities had a strong self-image, strong self-esteem and a strong sense of self and ensuring that they felt included within the homes and especially when accessing education. The study further revealed that where family support was lacking, participants faced challenges in accessing education compared to participants who received such support. More so, that educational opportunities in Zambia are generally gendered with more males than females in the education system, across the multiple levels. Access to the tertiary level for this group of women is compromised because challenges in accessing education start at the lower levels and have spill over effects in to the higher levels of education. Financial challenges experienced by women with disabilities and their families also led to fewer women with disabilities being able to participate in schooling. This is because where there were limited resources within the family, women, and girls with disabilities getting an education was not an option.

The aim of my thesis is to investigate three different reading projects, which have been set up to promote reading among school children in Zambia. I have used my field study together with some general observations to draw some lessons on the obstacles and challenges present in Zambia in relating literacy to culture among young people. In identifying these lessons, I have drawn on a theoretical framework which relates literacy to a cultural meaning system, addresses the importance of social interaction, as well as distinguishing between experienced and instrumental reading. My methods have been observations and semi-structured interviews with organisers, teachers and students involved in the three projects. The interviews have been based on four research questions. These have been used to solicit the opinions about the reading projects, what challenges they have confronted, what the participating children actually read, and the views and attitudes towards reading as reflected within the projects. In my study I found that two of the projects had adopted an approach in which social interaction was an essential element to promote reading. My study revealed that an instrumental attitude dominated towards reading, partly explained by what books were being supplied. I further concluded that one important obstacle for promoting literacy was related to the use of foreign language as an educational tool, and hence seen as providing a “social ladder”, as compared to the vernacular language.

Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv and Cons Biol) / There have been many cases reported of amphibian populations declining. These are often due to anthropogenic factors such as habitat destruction and pollution. However, some declines have not had an obvious cause and many of these have been investigated and found to be due to pathogenic disease. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a recently described pathogen of frogs. The population declines that have been associated with chytridiomycosis have occurred in relatively undisturbed areas such as national parks. The declines tend to occur at higher altitudes or in colder climates. This is thought to be because of the frog immune system being slower at lower temperatures. Chyt1id fungus has been found in frog populations throughout the world. Little research has been carried out in Africa although, chytridiomycosis has already been seen in Kenya and South Africa. In this project frogs were sampled from selected transects in the Western Cape and three sites in the Northern Cape. The effect of altitude on the occurrence of infection was tested in the Western Cape. It was found that 18 frogs were infected in the Western Cape and the effect of altitude was not significant. Large numbers of dead and dying frogs were found in two of the Northern Cape sites and the incidence of chytridiomycosis was high in these populations. Chytrid was found in two Bufogariepensis from the Eastern Cape and in Xenopus petersii from Kasanka National Park, Zambia. More research is needed on chytridiomycosis in these populations. The frogs in the Western Cape seem to survive with chytrid fungus infection whereas, the frogs in the Northern Cape are dying. This suggests another factor acting on the Northern Cape frog populations.

This study describes the results of a cross-sectional survey conducted in Mambwe district in the Eastern Province in Zambia. It uses a One Health approach to assess the impact of veterinary, medical, environmental and social determinants on animal and human health and wellbeing. One Health is defined as a holistic and interdisciplinary approach that describes the complexities between people, animals, the environment and their health. Human wellbeing is defined in this thesis as 'a condition in which all members of society are able to determine and meet their needs and have a large range of choices to meet their potential' (Prescott-Allen, 2001). As a first step, eight focus group discussions with the inhabitants followed by key informant interviews with stakeholders in the area were conducted to give a primary impression and narrow down the problems in relation to animal and human health of the area in general. Following this, a randomized selection of 210 households was visited and in each household blood samples were taken from all humans and all animals belonging to five animal species, namely cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and dogs. A third of the households did not keep any of the animal species chosen for sampling, but their inclusion was important for the social analysis. In all of these 210 households a wellbeing questionnaire was administered and, for every human and animal sampled, a health questionnaire. The study area falls within the tsetse-infested region of Zambia. It has a high wildlife density reflecting the proximity of several national parks and is historically endemic for both human and animal African trypanosomiasis (HAT&AAT). Therefore humans and animals were tested for trypanosomiasis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Since it is important as a differential diagnosis, malaria was tested for by a rapid diagnostic test in the field from human blood. Sera from mature individuals from all animal species except pigs were tested in a field laboratory for brucellosis using the Rose Bengal test. Additionally, cattle and dogs were tested for five genera of tick-borne infections (TBI) including Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Theileria, Babesia and Rickettsia using reverse line blot (RLB) in the laboratory at the University of Edinburgh (UoE). The blood samples for PCR and RLB analysis at UoE were stored on WhatmanTM FTA cards. A total of 1012 human samples were tested for HAT and none found positive. 1005 (seven people had been tested positive or treated against malaria shortly before the sampling) people tested for malaria showed an overall prevalence of 15% (95% CI 13.2-17.7). None of the 734 Rose Bengal tests showed up positive for brucellosis. The prevalence of AAT in 1275 samples tested was much lower compared to former samplings; in cattle 22% (95% CI 18-27.2), in goats 7% (95% CI 4.5-9.2), in pigs 6% (95% CI 3.2-9.4), in dogs 9% (95% CI 5.2-13.6) and no samples were found positive in sheep. The prevalence of TBIs is much more complex with many multiple infections. A total of 340 cattle and 195 dogs were tested. In cattle the number of samples positive for any microorganism was as follows; 92% (95% CI 88- 94.2). Overall there were fewer positive samples from dogs with 25% of animals infected (95% CI 19.2-31.8). The wellbeing and health questionnaires were designed to help to identify possible risk factors for the above-mentioned diseases and signs, such as fever, diarrhoea and seizures, indicative for several other diseases. The results of these surveys might also help to identify potential reasons for a lower or higher prevalence of trypanosomiasis and malaria found than expected from previous studies. Additionally, information on personal happiness, attitudes towards veterinary and medical services, medical treatments received, education, women's reproductive history, drug abuse, people's perceptions of changes in environment and agriculture, demography, poverty and migration were collected via the questionnaires alongside information on livestock demographics and fertility. One of the main conclusions is that both medical and veterinary health care systems suffer from a number of shortcomings. The distance to appropriate treatment and care facilities is far and the necessary drugs are often unavailable. Also, both the knowledge and technology for diagnosing selected diseases is not in place. This study suggests that neurocysticercosis (NCC) plays an important role in this area due to the high number of seizures reported in people, in whom treatment for epilepsy was unsuccessful. Samples taken from a few pigs indicated the presence of Taenia solium, the causal agent of NCC. Furthermore, many of the TBIs are of zoonotic nature and further investigations must be made to begin to assess the burden of these diseases in humans and animals. Environmental changes such as degradation of the vegetation are likely to have an influence on the prevalence of studied diseases and this aspect is being investigated further in other studies. Due to the nature of a cross-sectional study, only limited conclusions can be drawn on the causal relationships of disease prevalence, but the social analysis conducted in this study confirmed the interactions of selected factors related to health and wealth unique for this study area.

<p>HIV/Aids är ett av de största globala problemen och utmaningar av idag. Södra Afrika är särskilt drabbat och detta påverkar många olika delar av mänskligt liv. Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att söka ökad förståelse för hur maktstrukturer, utifrån fem rådgivares upplevelser, påverkar det preventiva HIV/Aids arbetet. Vilka faktorer som utgör möjligheter och hinder samt ifall maktstrukturer bidrar till att inte förändring av beteende sker trots kunskap om dess risker, har getts stort fokus. Det geografiska området för studien var södra Zambia. Det finns inget givet svar på vår forskningsfråga, utan resultatet visar snarare på motsatser och komplexitet. Vår utgångspunkt har varit att det inte finns något självklart rätt eller fel och inte heller en enda sanning. Dock är vår slutsats att de möjligheter som finns kan basera sig i att ta hänsyn till lokala förhållanden och maktstrukturer.</p>

<p>Tourism is one of Zambia’s undeveloped economic sectors, which if developed and marketed globally would provide employment, foreign exchange and international recognition. The purpose of this study was to find out how Zambia National Tourist Board could improve the awareness in Finland of Zambia's diverse tourism attractions and how Zambia is positioned in Finland as a tourist destination in Southern Africa. Primary data was collected by using long face to face interviews with members of the Association of Finnish Travel Agents, selected members from societies and clubs promoting adventure activities, staff at Zambia National Tourist Board and other tourism experts. Secondary data was derived from archival records. The data was analysed using inductive reasoning approach. The results of this study show that the image of Zambia in Finland is not strong and recognisable, there is a strong perception of poor safety for tourists, that Zambia is an expensive destination owing to the lack of direct flight connections, there is lack of promotional materials in local language, there is inadequate information on what Zambia as a tourist destination has to offer and that the positioning strategies adopted by Zambia National Tourist Board are ambiguous and are not structured. Consequently the recommendations are to set up a strategy to make available as much promotional materials. Furthermore, ZNTB must continue to position Zambia as an adventure tourist destination were one can enjoy exceptional wildlife and adventure. The Victoria Falls should be used as a unique feature around which an image can be developed.</p>

<p><font face="Arial"> <p align="left">The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors contributing to work-related musculoskeletal injuries amongst underground mine workers in Kitwe, Zambia.</p> </font></p>

Tourism is one of Zambia’s undeveloped economic sectors, which if developed and marketed globally would provide employment, foreign exchange and international recognition. The purpose of this study was to find out how Zambia National Tourist Board could improve the awareness in Finland of Zambia's diverse tourism attractions and how Zambia is positioned in Finland as a tourist destination in Southern Africa. Primary data was collected by using long face to face interviews with members of the Association of Finnish Travel Agents, selected members from societies and clubs promoting adventure activities, staff at Zambia National Tourist Board and other tourism experts. Secondary data was derived from archival records. The data was analysed using inductive reasoning approach. The results of this study show that the image of Zambia in Finland is not strong and recognisable, there is a strong perception of poor safety for tourists, that Zambia is an expensive destination owing to the lack of direct flight connections, there is lack of promotional materials in local language, there is inadequate information on what Zambia as a tourist destination has to offer and that the positioning strategies adopted by Zambia National Tourist Board are ambiguous and are not structured. Consequently the recommendations are to set up a strategy to make available as much promotional materials. Furthermore, ZNTB must continue to position Zambia as an adventure tourist destination were one can enjoy exceptional wildlife and adventure. The Victoria Falls should be used as a unique feature around which an image can be developed.