Severe preeclampsia and eclampsia have dire consequences for both maternal and neonatal health. The objective of this study was to identify determinants of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. Binary logistic regression showed the following were significantly associated with adverse maternal outcomes; mothers who had a baby born at 27–29+6 weeks of gestation were 8 times more likely to be associated with adverse maternal outcomes compared to mothers who gave birth at 37–39+6 weeks’ of gestation (OR 8.187, 95% CI 1.680–39.911, p = 0.02), holding other variables constant. Platelet count was also statistically significant for adverse maternal outcome. Mothers with platelet counts of 0–49 × 109/l were 46 times more likely to be associated with adverse maternal outcome compared to mothers with normal counts of more than 150 × 109/l (OR 46.429, 95% CI 17.778–121.253, p = 0.001). The following determinants were significantly associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Mothers with platelet counts of 0–49 × 109/l were 4 times more likely to be associated with adverse perinatal outcomes compared to mothers with platelet counts of above 150 × 109/l (OR 3.690, 95% CI 1.752–7.775, p = 0.001).

The aim of the study was to determine the various needs facilitators and schools lack for effective teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, in both the primary and secondary under-resourced rural schools. This survey was conducted from February 2019 to March 2019, in Lupane and Hwange Districts. A multi-stage sampling method was used for collecting data. Focus group discussions were also used in collecting data and were conducted prior to issuance of questionnaires for completion by the participants. In analyzing data, odds ratio (OR) were calculated to compare the relative odds between outcomes and variables of interest. The survey found out that female facilitators were lagging behind in the uptake and training of teaching of STEM subjects, which could be attributed to family responsibilities. It was established that some needs such as lesson delivery skills, research skills and capacitation were highly needed in primary schools as compared to secondary schools. While other needs identified were equally needed in both primary and secondary schools. These include but are not limited to conducting team teaching with other facilitators, linking topics and lessons across classes and lessons, application skills and STEM activities. It was highly recommended that primary and secondary school facilitators be funded to attend capacitation platforms in teaching of STEM subjects for effective teaching of STEM in rural schools and using locally available resources, as limited resources is the order of the day in rural schools. Schools must be equipped with tools and structures such as laboratories. If schools cannot build laboratories, it was recommended that mobile laboratories be established to improve teaching of STEM subjects in under-resourced rural schools. One mobile laboratory can service many schools in the district and improve the pass rate of STEM subjects.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially in low-resource settings. Identifying mothers and babies at greatest risk of complications would enable intervention to be targeted to those most likely to benefit from them. However, current risk prediction models have a wide range of sensitivity (42–81%) and specificity (87–92%) indicating that improvements are needed. Furthermore, no predictive models have been developed or evaluated in Zimbabwe. This proposal describes a single centre retrospective cross-sectional study which will address the need to further develop and test statistical risk prediction models for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in low-resource settings; this will be the first such research to be carried out in Zimbabwe. Data will be collected on maternal demographics characteristics, outcome of prior pregnancies, past medical history, symptoms and signs on admission, results of biochemical and haematological investigations. Adverse outcome will be defined as a composite of maternal morbidity and mortality and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Association between variables and outcomes will be explored using multivariable logistic regression. Critically, new risk prediction models introduced for our clinical setting may reduce avoidable maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality at local, national, regional and international level.

Early-onset severe preeclampsia is associated with significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality especially in low-resource settings, where women have limited access to antenatal care. This dataset was generated from a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out at Mpilo Central Hospital, covering the period February 1, 2016 to July 30, 2018. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of early-onset severe preeclampsia and eclampsia, and associated risk factors in a low-resource setting. The reason for examining the incidence of preeclampsia specifically in a low-resource setting; was to document it as women in these settings appear to suffer from poor outcomes. The dataset contains data of 238 pregnant women who had a diagnosis of early onset severe preeclampsia/eclampsia. There were 243 babies from singleton and twin gestations. There were five sets of twins. There were 21,505 live births during the study period giving an incidence of 1.1%. The dataset contains data on maternal socio-demographic, signs and symptoms, therapeutic interventions and mode of delivery, adverse outcomes characteristics, and fetal characteristics. This large dataset can be used to calculate the incidence and risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes or develop predictive models in severe preeclampsia/eclampsia.

The paper explores the factors, observable and non-observable, influential in implementation of continuous assessment learning activities strategy in Zimbabwean education system 5.0. This is an activity-based assessment of learners and was reviewed since its inception. Most qualitative researched found the barriers to implementation of continuous assessment learning activities like resources, preparedness of schools and skill but not the relationship and intensity of the influence. A stratified random sampling method was applied in Zimbabwean education institutions that involved educators, parents and learners from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Structural equation modelling was conducted to assess the relationship between continuous assessment learning activities implementation and other latent variables. Prior to structural equation modelling, exploratory factor analysis was done. The results obtained from this statistical evaluation indicated that teacher motivation, parental support and child performance were positively related to continuous assessment learning activities implementation. Child performance had a mediation effect in that the relationship of teacher motivation and parental support increased when child performance was included. Respective influence of teacher motivation and parental support were 0.152 and 0.220. Inclusion of child performance increase influence to 0.493, a more than 100% increase in each case. The study therefore recommends a holistic approach to continuous assessment learning activities implementation but with more emphasis on improving child performance.