Objective: To determine the pooled estimate of risky sexual behaviour among university students in sub Saharan Africa. Methods: A meta analytic study conducted to identify predictors of risky sexual behavior among university students. Databases from PubMed, African Journals Online, Science Direct, Google Scholar were used to identify appropriate studies. The combined effect estimates for each outcome were computed in Meta XL using random effects. Results: The estimated pooled prevalence of sexual activity among university students was 51.0% (95% CI: 43.0% - 59.0%). Pooled prevalence for multiple sexual partners was 36.0% (95% CI: 30.0% - 42.0%), inconsistent condom use, 53.0% (95% CI: 46% - 61.0%) and for at least one risky sexual behavior, 65.0% (48.0% - 81.0%). Males were 3.36 times [OR: 3.05; 95% CI: 2.59 - 4.37] more likely to have multiple sexual partners than females. This review also indicated that males were 2.99 times [OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.40 - 6.40] more likely to engage in at least one risky sexual behavior than females. Conclusion: Inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual partners were the most rampant risky sexual behaviors in Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sustained risk communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health and youth friendly programs are highly recommended.

To investigate the changes in Viral Load(VL) during Enhanced Adherence Counselling (EAC) sessions and its determinants among ART clients with unsuppressed VLs in Monze district. Method: A Cross-sectional study involving 616 HVL ART clients from 15 health facilities in Monze district which was conducted between October 1 2019 and March 30 2021. Results Out of 616 clients analysed, there was an improvement in viral load suppression following completion of EAC with a final outcome of 61% suppression. 28.7% remained unsuppressed. A total of 9.1% had no final viral load results documented and 0.2 % had been transferred out of their respective facilities and were not included in the study. Collection of repeat Viral loads was done on 84% of the clients with high viral load results while 16% had no record of sample collection. A total of 56 results were not received giving a result return of 89% from repeat samples collected. Females had a 40% likelihood of being unsuppressed at 95% CI (41% to 86%) compared to the males. Conclusion EAC improves the outcomes of HVLs and should be encouraged on all high viral clients. Programs should be developed to improve suppression in females on ART

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the modern contraceptive use by women of childbearing age in Zambia. METHODS: The study was retrospective descriptive observational design. Secondary data of 13,683 women aged 15 - 49 who participated in the ZDHS 2018 were analysed. Data were extracted using a data extraction tool and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Since the ZDHS 2018 used numeric data, the study was quantitative research. The study examined the association between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and modern contraceptive use using Pearson, Chi-Square and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: In Zambia, the most used type of modern contraception were injectables (52%). Female condom is the most known type of modern contraceptives (55%). The significant factors associated with the use of modern contraceptives were age group 25-29 and 45-49 (AOR=1.41 95% CI=1.05, 1.90) and (AOR=0.41, 95% CI 0.28, 0.62), respectively. Being married and widowed (AOR=2.18, 95% CI 1.75, 2.71), and (AOR=0.50, 95% CI 0.31, 0.78), respectively. The likelihood utilization varied across the gradient of parity, educational attainment, and wealth. Educated and wealthy women were more likely to use modern methods compared to women with no education and in the poor category, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study established that factors such as age, marital status, the number of living children (parity), religion, and education level and wealth index remain significant issues in determining modern contraceptive use among childbearing women aged 15 to 49 in Zambia. Therefore, concerted efforts are required to increase use of modern methods of contraception by addressing these determinants.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe characteristics of occupational morbidity in Zambia over an eleven year period: 2008-2018. METHODS A descriptive retrospective observational study based on compensation claims database from the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) in Zambia over the period 2008 to 2018 was conducted. All the accepted compensation claims at WCFCB during the period 2008 to 2018 were reviewed. The reference population of the study was all workers in Zambia covered by WCFCB at the time. All the accepted compensation claims during the period were taken up into the study. Stata version 14 was used to analyze the data, and make descriptive tables and graphs. RESULTS The total number of reviewed and analyzed cases was 8,009. The gender most affected by occupational morbidity was males (94%). Married males were more affected (72%) compared to single males. However, single females were more affected than the married females at 4% and 2%, respectively. The major morbidity types were wounds (30%), fractures (29%), and amputations (17%). The biggest contributing industries to the cause of occupational morbidity were manufacturing (27%), and mining (19%). Lusaka and Copperbelt regions were the main epicenters at 49% and 34% respectively. CONCLUSION Wounds, fractures and amputations were the most prominent types of occupational morbidity. Traditional gender-based practices of married males seem to underlie their over-exposure to occupational hazards. Manufacturing sector which is poorly regulated compared to the mining sector, was the highest contributor to the occupational morbidity. The manufacturing sector should be subjected to stronger government regulation and inspectorate, with emphasis on compliance to relevant international occupational health and safety protocols.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and Practices among healthcare workers towards covid 19 preventive measures at Women and New-born Hospital of the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted at WNH-UTH, Lusaka. Convenient sample of 264 frontline healthcare workers responded to self-administered questionnaire to determine their knowledge, attitudes and practices on COVID 19 preventive measures. Results: Majority (31.9%) of the respondents were aged 25 : 29 years. The study revealed that 63.4% had a good knowledge, 60.3% had positive attitudes and 59.9% had a good practice. Attitude was positively related with practice (r = 0.524, p < 0.001) and knowledge (r = 0.469; p < 0.001). Further, knowledge was positively correlated with practice (r = 0.51; p < 0.001). Bivariate analysis results showed that only high knowledge score (75.6%; p < 0.001) and high attitude score (77.6%; p < 0.001) was associated with an increase in good practice among healthcare workers towards Covid 19 preventive measures. Conclusion: The study showed the need for continued assessment of Knowledge Attitude and Practice among healthcare workers towards Covid 19 preventive measures. It further showed the need of designing interventions aimed at encouraging sustained compliance to preventive measures among healthcare workers to prevent COVID 19 transmission.