Piloting the use of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) to assess undergraduate medical students' clinical competence in psychiatry in Zimbabwe.

This report describes a pilot project which involved undergraduate medical students' clinical competence in psychiatry assessed through objective structured clinical examinations for the first time in Zimbabwe. The pilot describes how gaps in medical education can be addressed by collaborative partnerships that allow sharing of knowledge by local institutions and international experts.

Mental health literacy of school-going adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: a regional systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Assessing mental health literacy has implications for the identification and treatment of mental health problems. Adolescents have been identified as a particularly important target group for initiating and improving mental health literacy. However, much of what we know about adolescent mental health literacy comes from high-income countries.

Mental health policy and system preparedness to respond to COVID-19 and other health emergencies: a case study of four African countries.

As a result of a long colonial history and subsequent developmental and economic challenges, many African countries have struggled to put in place adequate policies, systems, and associated infrastructures to address the health and social needs of their citizens. With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening human lives and livelihoods, concerns are raised about the preparedness and readiness of health policies and systems in African countries to deal with these kinds of health calamities. More particularly, questions can be asked about the preparedness or even existence of mental health policies and associated systems to help individuals and communities in Africa to deal with the consequences of COVID-19 and other health emergencies.

Factors that influence HIV status disclosure among the elderly: perspectives from Shurugwi, Zimbabwe.

Due to the widespread availability of antiretroviral medications, many people with HIV are living longer. Being an HIV-positive elderly, however, brings in complications as far as disclosure of status is concerned. This phenomenological study was carried out to explore factors that influence disclosure among the elderly.

Harmonizing religion and health: an exploration of religious reasons for defaulting ARVs among people living with HIV and AIDS in Gweru, Zimbabwe.

There has been a proliferation of faith healing organizations in Zimbabwe in the past decade. These organizations have been attracting many people especially those with chronic conditions as their leaders claim to have spiritual powers to heal illnesses. This has led to people with chronic conditions opting for spiritual healing over medical methods thereby defaulting ARVs.

Determinants of Weaning Practices Among Mothers of Infants Aged Below 12 Months in Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

Background: Poor weaning practices have been reported to contribute to high infant mortality and morbidity rates especially in developing countries.

Objectives: This study sought to determine factors related to weaning that predispose, reinforce and enable mothers of infants younger than age 12 months to comply or not to comply with the World Health Organization (WHO) 2009 guidelines on appropriate infant feeding.

Methods: The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional study.