Maternal death surveillance and response system evaluation in Makonde District, Zimbabwe, 2021.

Background: Maternal mortality is of global concern, almost 800 women die every day due to maternal complications. The maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) system is one strategy designed to reduce maternal mortality. In 2021 Makonde District reported a maternal mortality ratio of 275 per 100 000 and only sixty-two percent of deaths recorded were audited.

Tuberculosis cohort analysis in Zimbabwe: The need to strengthen patient follow-up throughout the tuberculosis care cascade.

Introduction: Globally people with tuberculosis (TB) continue to be missed each year. They are either not diagnosed or not reported which indicates possible leakages in the TB care cascade. Zimbabwe is not spared with over 12000 missed cases in 2020.

Factors associated with COVID-19 fatality among patients admitted in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe 2020-2022: a secondary data analysis.

Introduction: approximately 15% of COVID-19 patients develop symptoms necessitating admission. From 2020 to 2022, Mashonaland West Province had an institutional case fatality rate of 23% against a national rate of 7%. Therefore, we evaluated the COVID-19 admissions in the province to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 mortality.

Anthrax outbreak investigation in Tengwe, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe, 2022.

Background: Anthrax continues to be a disease of public health concern in Zimbabwe. Between December 2021 and February 2022, Tengwe reported 36 cases of human anthrax. Gastrointestinal anthrax has the potential to cause serious outbreaks leading to loss of human life.

Evaluation of the measles case-based surveillance system in Kwekwe city, 2017-2020: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Introduction: in 2011, WHO African region set a target for elimination of measles by 2020. During period 2017-2020, Kwekwe city, with an estimated population of 117,116, detected one case of suspected measles. This was against a target of 2 cases per year.

An evaluation of the isoniazid preventive therapy program performance for under-fives in Kwekwe City, January 2019 - December 2020: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is underserved in resource-constrained endemic areas. Zimbabwe National Tuberculosis Program recommends tuberculosis prevention treatment for children aged <5 years who are close contacts of smear-positive TB cases. The Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) program performance had never been evaluated since its inception in 2010.

An evaluation of the notifiable disease surveillance system in Chegutu District, Zimbabwe, 2020: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: in 2018-2019 Chegutu District had one notification form Tally 1 (T1) that was completed instead of seven for detected notifiable diseases. Different figures of cholera were reported through weekly rapid disease notification system with 106 patients and Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NDSS) with 111 patients, causing data discrepancy. We evaluated the NDSS to determine reasons for underperformance and data discrepancy.

Risk factors for contracting watery diarrhoea in Mzilikazi, Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe, 2020: a case control study.

Introduction: Mzilikazi clinic had an upsurge of diarrhoea cases with 41 cases from the 28 to the 30 of September 2020, against a threshold of 11. We therefore, investigated the risk factors associated with this outbreak to recommend prevention and control measures.

Methods: we conducted a 1:1 unmatched case-control study.

An evaluation of childhood tuberculosis program in Chegutu District, Zimbabwe, 2020: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is a major global public health concern contributing to significant child morbidity and mortality. A records review of the TB notification for Chegutu District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) showed a low childhood TB case detection rate. For 2018 and 2019, childhood TB notifications were 4% and 7% respectively against the annual national childhood 12% case detection rate.

Factors associated with a malaria outbreak at Tongogara refugee camp in Chipinge District, Zimbabwe, 2021: a case-control study.

Background: Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among forcibly displaced populations, including refugees, approximately two-thirds of whom reside in malaria endemic regions. Data from the rapid disease notification system (RDNS) reports for Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe showed that despite implementation of malaria control initiatives, there was an increase in number of malaria cases above action thresholds at Tongogara refugee camp in Chipinge district during weeks 12-14 of 2021. An investigation that described the outbreak by person, place and time was conducted.

Investigation of an anthrax outbreak in Makoni District, Zimbabwe.

Background: Anthrax continues to be a disease of public health importance in Zimbabwe, with sporadic outbreaks reported annually in many parts of the country. A human anthrax outbreak occurred in wards 22 and 23 of Makoni District from mid-June 2013 to end of January 2014, following cattle deaths in the wards. Laboratory tests confirmed anthrax as the cause for the cattle deaths.

Trends in antimicrobial resistance of bacterial pathogens in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2012-2017: a secondary dataset analysis.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious public health threats of the twenty-first century. The implementation of AMR surveillance in Zimbabwe is limited. However, data from a private laboratory in Harare revealed increasing resistance rates to common antibiotics like ampicillin (i.

Utilization and outcomes of cervical cancer screening services in Harare City, 2012-2016: a secondary data analysis.

Background: Visual inspection with acetic acid and cervicography (VIAC) is a method used to screen for cervical cancer. VIAC can be used as part of a "see and treat" strategy. Nine Harare city council health facilities offer VIAC free of charge with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer.

Evaluation of sexual and gender-based violence program in Harare City, Zimbabwe, 2016: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Introduction: In Zimbabwe, there is a gap between sexual violence (SV) survivors' health care needs versus the existing facilities. Harare city started Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) project in 2011, with the aim to reduce SV morbidity.Only 592 (42%) of 1425 SV survivors reported for medical services within 72 hours in 2015.

Evaluation of the acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance system in Mwenezi district, Masvingo, 2018: a descriptive study.

Objectives: Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease caused by the polio virus which affects mostly young children below the age of 15 years. For surveillance children with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) are tracked. In Zimbabwe every district should report two cases per 100,000 population of children under the age of 15 years old.

Virological failure among adolescents on ART, Harare City, 2017- a case-control study.

Background: Zimbabwe is on track towards achieving viral suppression among adults (87%). However, adolescents have only achieved 44% by 2016. In Harare city, 57% of adolescents had attained viral suppression after 12 months on ART compared to 88% among adults.

Early Infant Diagnosis Sample Management in Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe, 2017.

Background: In 2016, Mashonaland West Province had 7.4% (520) dried blood spot (DBS) samples for early infant diagnosis (EID) rejected by the Zimbabwe National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL). The samples were suboptimal, delaying treatment initiation for HIV-infected children.

Evaluation of the adverse events following immunizations surveillance system in Harare City, Zimbabwe, 2016: a descriptive cross sectional study.

Introduction: Vaccines safety are monitored by looking for Adverse Events Following Immunizations (AEFIs). A review of the 2014 Harare City consolidated monthly return form (T5) revealed that 28 AEFIs were seen in 2014. However, only 21 were reported through the system.

Food borne illness amongst health care workers, at a Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe, 2016: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Health care workers (HCW) at a Central Hospital, were served lunch at the hospital canteen on 12 December 2016. On 12 December 2016 at 1700 h, there was a sudden onset of symptoms suggestive of gastrointestinal illness among HCW. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the cause and the factors associated with illness among the HCW at the hospital.

Evaluation of the maternal mortality surveillance system in Mutare district, Zimbabwe, 2014-2015: a cross sectional study.

Introduction: In Zimbabwe the integrated disease surveillance and response guidelines include maternal mortality as a notifiable event reported through the Maternal Mortality Surveillance System (MMSS). A preliminary review of the MMSS data for Mutare district for the period January to June 2014 revealed that there were some discrepancies in cases notified and those captured on the T5 monthly return form. There were also delays in reporting of some maternal deaths.

Clinical care given to victims of sexual assault at Kadoma General Hospital, Zimbabwe: a secondary data analysis, 2016.

Background: Despite the guidelines for managing sexual assault being in place, victims of sexual assault attended to at Kadoma General Hospital consistently raised complaints related to the quality of care offered. Medicolegal data for sexual assault has been collected at the hospital since 2012. However, no analysis had been done regardless of complaints having been raised.

Evaluation of severe malaria case management in Mazowe District, Zimbabwe, 2014.

Introduction: Malaria is a preventable and curable disease. Mazowe district had been experiencing a lower malaria transmission rate in comparison to other districts in the Mashonaland Central province but it experienced a huge outbreak in the 2013-2014 rainy seasons with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.21%.

Malaria morbidity and mortality trends in Manicaland province, Zimbabwe, 2005-2014.

Introduction: Zimbabwe targets reducing malaria incidence from 22/1000 in 2012 to 10/1000 by 2017, and malaria deaths to near zero by 2017. As the country moves forward with the malaria elimination efforts, it is crucial to monitor trends in malaria morbidity and mortality in the affected areas. In 2013, Manicaland Province contributed 51% of all malaria cases and 35% of all malaria deaths in Zimbabwe.