Population Council Research that makes a difference

Banner photo: Women in Zimbabwe carrying firewood because of gas shortages.

Overview

The Population Council has worked in Zimbabwe to improve the quality of care of family planning services and to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Currently, the Council is providing technical assistance to a PEPFAR initiative in several countries in Africa, including Zimbabwe, to strengthen the delivery of comprehensive services, including postexposure prophylaxis, to victims of sexual violence.

Highlights of past and present work

  • Providing technical assistance to the Africa Regional Sexual and Gender-based Violence Network
  • Worked with the Zimbabwe Family Planning Council, the country's oldest program for community-based distribution of family planning, to develop recommendations for broadening the role of community agents, including adding HIV and AIDS education to their portfolio of duties.
  • Developed and administered a quantitative survey for a cross-sectional sample of orphans and vulnerable children to explore psychosocial wellbeing and psychosocial support programs. 
  • Assessed how microfinance can mitigate the adverse affects of HIV on people living with HIV and their households.
  • Conducted quantitative and qualitative analysis of female and male condom use as impacted by a social marketing campaign for the female condom.  

Banner photo: © Antony Kaminju/IRIN

Projects

Audio Computer-assisted Self-interviewing (ACASI) and Microbicides (more)
Council researchers are using ACASI to conduct behavioral and social science research about microbicides.
(1/2006 - ongoing)
Microbicides

Enabling Access to High-quality PMTCT Services by Community and Facility Strengthening in Zimbabwe (more)
Through intensive facility and community-level interventions, the Council and its partners seek to increase prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe.
(9/2010 - 2/2013)
HIV and children; HIV prevention; PMTCT and pediatric HIV

Developing a Multisectoral and Comprehensive Response to Sexual and Gender-based Violence in East and Southern Africa (more)
The Council is working to alleviate sexual and gender-based violence in seven sub-Saharan African countries.
(8/2006 - 12/2012)
Sexual and gender-based violence

Africa Regional Sexual and Gender-based Violence Network (more)
The Population Council is providing technical assistance to a PEPFAR initiative to strengthen the delivery of comprehensive services, including postexposure prophylaxis, to victims of sexual violence.
(8/2006 - 12/2008)
Integrating health services; Sexual and gender-based violence

Resources

Rape sentencing study: A review of statutory sentencing provisions for rape, defilement, and sexual assault in East, Central, and Southern Africa (PDF
Thompson,Jill; Simmonds,Felly Nkweto
Publication date: 2012


Comprehensive responses to sexual violence in East and Southern Africa: Lessons learned from implementation (PDF
Keesbury,Jill; Askew,Ian; Wanjiru,Monica; Chiyaba,Grace; Wilson,Kate; Simmonds,Felly Nkweto
Policy Brief
Publication date: 2011


Comprehensive responses to gender-based violence in low-resource settings: Lessons learned from implementation (PDF
Keesbury,Jill; Askew,Ian
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Improving the lives of orphans and other children affected by AIDS, Horizons studies 1998 to 2007 (PDF
Schenk,Katie D.; Michaelis,Annie P.; Nelson,Tobey C.; Brown,Lisanne; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Promoting gender equity to fight HIV, Horizons studies 1999 to 2007 (PDF
Pulerwitz,Julie; Michaelis,Annie P.; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people (HTML
Series of 51 data guides by country
Publication date: 2009


Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Zimbabwe 2005/06 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2009


In our own hands: SWAA-Ghana champions the female condom (PDF
Cravero,Kathleen; Skaer,Michelle; Ebin,Victoria; Brady,Martha
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 17)
Publication date: 2006


Orphans and vulnerable youth in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: An exploratory study of psychosocial well-being and psychosocial support (PDF
Gilborn,Laelia; Apicella,Louis; Brakarsh,Jonathan; Dube,Linda; Jemison,Kyle; Kluckow,Mark; Smith,Tricia; Snider,Leslie M.
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2006


Microcredit and households coping with HIV/AIDS: A case study from Zimbabwe (abstract) (HTML
Barnes,Carolyn
Journal of Microfinance 7(1): 55-77
Publication date: 2005


What is youth friendly? Adolescents' preferences for reproductive health services in Kenya and Zimbabwe (abstract
Erulkar,Annabel S.; Onoka,Charles J.; Phiri,Alford
African Journal of Reproductive Health 9(3): 51-58
Publication date: 2005


Condom use and abstinence among unmarried young people in Zimbabwe: Which strategy, whose agenda? (PDF
Marindo,Ravai; Pearson,Steve; Casterline,John B.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 170)
Publication date: 2003


Evaluation of United Nations-supported pilot projects for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Overview of findings (PDF
Rutenberg,Naomi; Baek,Carolyn; Kalibala,Sam; Rosen,James
HIV/AIDS Working Paper
Publication date: 2003


Microfinance and households coping with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: An exploratory study (PDF
Barnes,Carolyn; Keogh,Erica; Nemarundwe,Nontokozo; Nyikahadzoi,Loveness; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2003


Programme recommendations for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: A practical guide for managers (PDF
Rutenberg,Naomi; Kalibala,Sam; Baek,Carolyn; Rosen,James
HIV/AIDS Working Paper
Publication date: 2003


Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds (HTML
Annexes by country to Facts about Adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical Tables for Program Planning
Publication date: 2003


Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds: Zimbabwe (PDF) (HTML
Annex to "Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning"
Publication date: 2003


Excess capacity and the cost of adding services at family planning clinics in Zimbabwe (abstract) (PDF
Janowitz,Barbara; Johnson,Laura; Thompson,Andrew; West,Caroline; Marangwanda,Caroline S.; Maggwa,Baker Ndugga
International Family Planning Perspectives 28(2): 59-66
Publication date: 2002


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Zimbabwe 1999 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2002


Microfinance and households coping with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: An exploratory study (PDF
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2002


Syndromic method poor at detecting STIs in women (PDF
Population Briefs, Spring 2002 (HIV/AIDS edition)
Publication date: 2002


The female condom: Dynamics of use in urban Zimbabwe (PDF
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2002


Tools and training strengthen African AIDS groups (PDF
Population Briefs, Spring 2002 (HIV/AIDS edition)
Publication date: 2002


Zimbabwe: CBD roles modified to address Zimbabwe's HIV/AIDS crisis (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 29)
Publication date: 2002


An assessment of the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council's community based distribution programme (PDF
Maggwa,Baker Ndugga; Askew,Ian; Marangwanda,Caroline S.; Nyakauru,Ronika; Janowitz,Barbara
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2001


Constraints faced by sex workers in use of female and male condoms for safer sex in urban Zimbabwe (abstract
Ray,Sunanda; van de Wijgert,Janneke; Mason,Peter R.; Ndowa,Francis; Maposhere,Caroline
Journal of Urban Health 78(4): 581-592
Publication date: 2001


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning (HTML
Series of DHS data tables by country
Publication date: 2001


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Zimbabwe 1994 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2001


Intravaginal practises in Zimbabwe: Which women engage in them and why (abstract
van de Wijgert,Janneke; Mbizvo,Michael T.; Dube,Sabada; Mwale,Magdalene; Nyamapfeni,Prisca; Padian,Nancy F.
Culture, Health and Sexuality 3(2): 133-148
Publication date: 2001


Effect of intravaginal practices on the vaginal and cervical mucosa of Zimbabwean women (abstract
van de Wijgert,Janneke; Chirenje,Zvavahera M.; Iliff,Virginia; Mbizvo,Michael T.; Mason,Peter R.; Gwanzura,Lovemore; Shiboski,Stephen; Padian,Nancy F.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 24(1): 62-67
Publication date: 2000


Experiences of youth in urban Zimbabwe: Results of a baseline survey 
Phiri,Alford; Erulkar,Annabel S.
Publication date: 2000


Is audio computer-assisted self-interviewing a feasible method of surveying in Zimbabwe? (abstract) (PDF
van de Wijgert,Janneke; Padian,Nancy F.; Shiboski,Stephen; Turner,Charles
International Journal of Epidemiology 29(5): 885-890
Publication date: 2000


Men's attitudes towards a potential vaginal microbicide in Zimbabwe, Mexico and the USA (abstract
Coggins,Christiana; Blanchard,Kelly; Friedland,Barbara A.
Reproductive Health Matters 8(15): 132-141
Publication date: 2000


Overview of youth centre assessments in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Ghana 
Publication date: 2000


The female condom: Dynamics of use in urban Zimbabwe (PDF
Kerrigan,Deanna; Mobley,Steve; Rutenberg,Naomi; Fisher,Andrew A.; Weiss,Ellen
Horizons Report
Publication date: 2000


Assessing the potential demand for and effectiveness of integrating STI/HIV management services with Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council's clinic-based family planning services (PDF
Maggwa,Baker Ndugga; Askew,Ian; Dube,Hazel M.B.; Marangwanda,Caroline S.; Simba,Sithokozille; Latif,Ahmed
Africa OR/TA Project II
Publication date: 1999


The costs of integrating reproductive health services: An example using syndromic management of STIs in family planning clinics in Zimbabwe (PDF
Maggwa,Baker Ndugga; Askew,Ian; Marangwanda,Caroline S.; Janowitz,Barbara; Johnson,Laura; Thompson,Andrew; West,Caroline
Africa OR/TA Project II
Publication date: 1999


The female condom in Zimbabwe: The interplay of research, advocacy, and government action (PDF
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 1999


Zimbabwe: Les méthodes de dépistage des IAR chez les femmes sont chères et inefficaces (PDF
FRONTIERES Résumés de Recherche Opérationnelle (no. 1)
Publication date: 1999


Zimbabwe: Los métodos de detección de ITR en mujeres no son cost-efectivos (PDF
FRONTERAS Resúmenes de Investigación Operativa (número 1)
Publication date: 1999


Zimbabwe: RTI screening methods for women are not cost-effective (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 1)
Publication date: 1999


A study of women's preferences regarding the formulation of over-the-counter vaginal spermicides (PDF
Coggins,Christiana; Elias,Christopher J.; Atisook,Ronachai; Bassett,Mary T.; Ettiegne-Traore,Virginie; Ghys,Peter D.; Jenkins-Woelk,Laura; Thongkrajai,Earmporn; VanDevanter,Nancy L.
Robert H. Ebert Program on Critical Issues in Reproductive Health Publication Series
Publication date: 1998


A situation analysis of the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council's youth centres: Baseline assessment 
Phiri,Alford; Erulkar,Annabel S.
Publication date: 1997


Using situation analysis data to assess the functioning of family planning clinics in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe (abstract
Mensch,Barbara S.; Fisher,Andrew A.; Askew,Ian; Ajayi,Ayorinde
Studies in Family Planning 25(1): 18-31
Publication date: 1994


Zimbabwe Fast Facts

Population (millions)12.6
Total fertility rate4.1
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births57
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births790
Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%)30.5
HIV/AIDS prevalence (%)14.3
Living below US $2 per day (%)

Country statistics from Demographic and Health Surveys, 1987–2011; UNAIDS and UNICEF websites (accessed 10/22/2012); "World Population Data Sheet" (Population Reference Bureau, 2012)
 

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