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Investigating the extent to which demand and supply side factors affect women’s access to financial services from microfinance institutions: a case of women entrepreneurs in Lusaka Zambia.
(The University of Zambia, 2024) Muchimba, Elijah
This research focused on assessing the extent to which demand side and supply side factors affect women’s access to financial services from microfinance institutions: a case of women entrepreneurs in Zambia. The study was carried out in Lusaka and the main objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which demand side and supply side factors impede women entrepreneurs’ access to financial service; and to find out measures that can be used to curb the demand side and supply side factors affecting women entrepreneurs’ access to financial services. Therefore, the study followed a mixed research design to answer the research question on the factors affecting women’s accessibility to financial services from microfinance institutions among women entrepreneurs in Zambia. Data was collected using a questionnaire and interview guide. The research data was qualitatively analyzed using themes and also quantitatively analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) 24. According to the study findings, it was established that demand side and supply side factors impede women entrepreneurs’ access to financial services. This is because the findings revealed that demand side and supply side factors such as lack of collateral, limited personal capacity, high interest rates, failure to understand financial services, limited access to financial institutions, lack of education, few financial institutions supporting women, lack of property, lack of confidence and the type of business management among others affected women accessibility to financial services among micro financial institutions. To counter the above factors, the study revealed that there are measures that can be used to curb the factors that affect women’s accessibility to financial services from microfinance institutions. These include building the business case for equal economic opportunities for men and women; promoting financial support from micro financial institutions; empowering women as a priority focus; educating women on financial institutions and financial services provided and increasing the number of micro financial institutions supporting women among others. Furthermore, recommendations arising from the study among others included the need for financial institutions to become more responsive to the specific needs of women entrepreneurs and develop products and services that address these needs and the need to not only increase the branch network of the various financial institutions involved in lending money to women entrepreneurs, but also diversify the delivery modes.
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Psycho-social experiences of healthcare staff on management of COVID -19 patients at a selected public University teaching hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.
(The University of Zambia, 2023) Zulu, Josephine Chelelwa
This study aimed at exploring the psycho-social experiences of healthcare staff on management of Covid-19 patients at a selected public university teaching hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. The study’s objectives were: establish the psycho-social experiences of healthcare staff involved in the management of Covid 19 patients at a study institution, explore how identified psycho-social experiences affect the wellbeing of health staff at the study institution and ascertain mitigation measures in place to improve the psycho-social wellbeing of health staff in the care of Covid-19 patients at the study institution. The study employed a case study research design. A case study was considered appropriate because it is used to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world subject. The study’s population was drawn from selected public University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia because of high numbers of COVID-19 cases in their facility. The sample size thus comprised of 28 respondents. Grouped as follows: Medical doctors 5, nurses 10, pharmacists 5, those dealing with oxygen supply 2 and other support staff seen like drivers 6. Data was collected using interview guides while analysis was through thematic analysis. The study revealed a number of psycho-social experiences in the management of COVID-19 pandemic, among these include: stress, fear, anxiety, handling unexpectedly high workloads, longer working hours, insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), and being separated from family during quarantine. These aspects psychologically and socially negatively affected their well-being as they continued to care for COVID-19 patients at the study institution. The study recommended that, healthcare facility should always prepare staff for possible pandemics such as COVID-19, make sure facility had sufficient PPE and other medical equipment in readiness for situations like COVID-19 and have sufficient staff to reduce on high workload experienced during COVID-19 period. In order to motivate healthcare staff, management should provide sufficient information, regularly hold team meetings and ensure employees are psychologically and socially supported through positive reinforcement by providing counseling services not only to patients but staff as well during pandemic period or demanding situations at the facility.
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Exploring child abuse and protection interventions amidst public health emergency in Lusaka district, Zambia.
(The University of Zambia, 2023) Matafwali, Marien
The study explored child abuse risks and protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lusaka District, Zambia. It employed Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological model and a mixed-methods approach. An exploratory sequential research design was adopted for the current study. Data were collected from a total of 193 respondents and comprised 92 child protection Service Providers, 54 parents or caregivers and 47 children.Questionnaire and interview guide and were used to collect data. Qualitative data underwent thematic analysis to identify codes and common themes. The data were coded into categories which included Service Providers (SP), parents (P), children (C), and focus group discussions (FGD). While quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to generate frequencies, percentages and one-way ANOVA tests to assess significance. Multiple regression and T-test were also used to test the hypothesis as well as Pearson correlation. Key findings indicated a significant decrease in reported child abuse cases during the pandemic (t-value = -7.315, p = .006). Child neglect and sexual abuse were prevalent, emphasising girls’ vulnerability. Child protection services played a crucial role but 48 per cent of providers reported unpreparedness for emergencies. Child risk factors included age (46.1%), community substance abuse (45%), and parental absence (40%). Child neglect was high during COVID-19 (45% and 43% in 2020 and 2021), followed by sexual abuse (32% and 30%). Re-integration showed a cyclic pattern, with differing perceptions among Service Providers, parents, and children. Recommendations included integrating child protection in emergency planning, investing in online services, collaborating with community organisations, implementing a national multi sectoral approach, and providing mandatory counseling for abused children.
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Developing a marketing strategy model to enhance performance of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Zambia.
(The University of Zambia, 2024) Ndhlovu, Scotch Musalela
The purpose of this study was to develop a marketing strategy model that could enhance performance in particular the sales growth of MSMEs in Zambia. The study was conducted out of the need to understand the role played by the marketing strategies on performance of MSMEs in Zambia taking into account that most MSMEs fail to survive and grow few years after their establishment. The objective was to present the results of a rigorous assessment of marketing strategies applied by the MSMEs and their influence on performance. From the research results, a marketing strategy model was to be developed. The study was guided by the bounded rationality theory and anchored in the positivist paradigm embracing the logic of induction and deduction. Two measures (a) marketing strategies and (b) sales growth were the main variables. The target population was 335 MSMEs from both Lusaka and Copperbelt province. Since each province had an association of registered members, the register for each province was used as a sampling frame. Data was collected using a descriptive research survey. The instrument used in this study was a structured questionnaire that was designed by the researcher. Yamane Taro’s sampling formula was used to determine the required sample. 177 respondents were enlisted in this study. Data was analysed using the SPSS statistical program, version 28 (SPSS Inc.). Ordinal logistic regression was performed to determine the influence of marketing strategies on sales growth. The key and major findings of study revealed that out of 14 marketing strategies that were assessed, only 5 were dominant in terms of use and these are; Whatsap ranked number 1, Facebook ranked number 2, Radio ranked number 3, Newspaper ranked number 4 and Face to Face (word of mouth, door to door) ranked number 5. Out of the 5 marketing strategies that were in use, 4 had significant high influence on sales growth and these are; Radio (Wald χ2(1) = 25.606, p = 0.001), WhatsApp (Wald χ2(1) =12.480, p = 0.001), Facebook (Wald χ2(1) =5.702, p = 0.017) and Newspaper (Wald χ2(1) =9.510, p = 0.001). The use of these four marketing strategies appear to be essential for increasing sales growth of the MSMEs. The study concludes that marketing strategies provide additional competitive edge to MSMEs by consistently enhancing sales growth. Therefore, MSMEs should pursue the consistent adoption of marketing strategies as a way of improving their performance in particular the sales growth. Further, the study revealed that the choice of marketing strategies that MSMEs applied was influenced by the MSME owner- managers’ cognitive capability, environment and availability of resources. The study recommends that the MSME Associations should disseminate information to members to appreciate and adopt marketing strategies to ehance their performance. The associations should also engage Government institutions such as the Ministry of Small Medium Enterprise and Development, Zambia Development Agency and Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission to regularly conduct training to their members on marketing strategies.
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Causes of teenage pregnancies in secondary schools: a study of Kamulanga secondary school, Lusaka district, Zambia.
(The University of Zambia, 2019) Singa, Elizabeth
The study attempted to establish the causes of teenage pregnancies in secondary schools, a study of Kamulanga Secondary School in Lusaka District of Zambia. The study focused on ascertaining possible causes of teenage pregnancies. The research used the descriptive survey design. Hence, the use of the descriptive design was used in this study to establish the factors factors leading to the continuation to the continuation of teenage pregnancies among secondary school girls despite the sensitisation on HIV/ AIDS pandemic and Abstinence, to establish the effects of teenage pregnancies on the girls` academic lives, to establish how school management help teenage pregnant girl to cope with their pregnancies and continue with their education and what can be done to prevent teenage pregnancies. A total population sample of 58 participated in the study at Kamulanga Secondary School. Hence, purposive sampling was done when selecting the 2 administrators and the 2 guidance and counselling teachers while, random sampling was used when selecting 12 class teachers, 4 teenage mothers, 4 parents/guardians and 40 other students. Participants were purposely selected for the study. The study used Microsoft Excel to analyse quantitative and qualitative data. Thus, literature review was reviewed both locally and internationally. The findings of the research were associated with the assertions made. With regards to the factors that cause the continuation in teenage pregnancies among secondary school girls the findings revealed that; there were inadequate counselling, sexuality education and no qualified guidance and counselling teachers to conduct counselling, no room from where counselling could be conducted. Also, inadequate parental guidance on sexuality issues, peer pressure and low social-economic issues. Hence, the study also showed that the effects for teenage pregnancies were, low self- esteem, stigma, dropping out of school and low grades in the subjects. Other findings on how management help the pregnant girls were, by informing parent in written form, putting girls on re-entry policy programme. Not much was being done to prevent teenage pregnancies though the administrators aimed at having adequate counselling for the girls in school and sensitising their parents on the importance of having discussions on sexuality issues with their teenage girls. It was therefore, recommended that the government through the Ministry of Education should ensure that they deploy qualified guidance and counselling teachers to schools and that management should ensure that parents and school children should be involved in the discussion of sexuality issues.