Tamara Chansa-Kabali

• PhD
• Researcher at University of Zambia

What this papers adds: • Prevalence of cerebral palsy remains unknown in Zambia • Perinatal factors and birth methods are major risk factors for CP • Nutrition and cognitive stimulation remain challenges. • Psychosocial challenges and abuse are common among children with CP • Access to care and support remains a challenge, especially in rural area...

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, in particular, its Sustainable Development Goal no. 4, underline the relevance of quality education that translates into long‐term benefits for all learners. This article reports findings of a collaborative research study that piloted an inclusive practice index to investigate inclusio...

Despite a great deal of research on the relations between preschool executive functions (EF) and demographic variables such as age, sex and school variables (classroom organization and teacher behaviours including quality of educational instruction, planning, organization and teacher-learner relationships), not much is known about these association...

Contextual diversity in early childhood development present challenges and opportunities for holistic child development. This study explored home and parental factors associated with early childhood developmental outcomes in rural communities. Using purposive sampling, 175 families with children aged 0–8 (87 girls and 88 boys) were recruited to par...

Mining is an integral component of many national economies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Even though mining can contribute substantially to local livelihoods and regional and national economic growth, it has also been linked to many negative sustainability impacts. The aim of this chapter is to contribute to ongoing discourses on mining sustainabili...

The nutritional and economic potentials of livestock systems are compromised by the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. A major driver of resistance is the misuse and abuse of antimicrobial drugs. The likelihood of misuse may be elevated in low- and middle-income countries where limited professional veterinary services and inadequatel...

Experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in sub-Saharan Africa are characterized with lots of uncertainty, including lack of awareness and knowledge. This study examined ASD awareness and knowledge among 488 University of Zambia undergraduate students using an autism awareness and knowledge survey. Study findings on awareness revealed a hi...

The nutritional and economic potentials of livestock systems are compromised by the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. A major driver of resistance is the misuse and abuse of antimicrobial drugs. The likelihood of misuse may be elevated in low- and middle-income countries where limited professional veterinary services and laissez fai...

Introduction Like most African economies, Zambia remains highly dependent on commodity production and trade. Mining, for example, continues to provide more than 80% of the country's total foreign earnings. Besides being an important foreign exchange earner and major employer, mining has been instrumental in spurring the emergence and development of...

A four-year research and development program at CAPOLSA (the Centre for the Promotion of Literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa) was inspired by widespread dissatisfaction with poor literacy outcomes of mass basic schooling in Zambia and sought to test the generalizability of a scientifically grounded, computer-mediated instructional resource developed in...

Inequalities on child cognitive outcomes exist as children enter the first grade. These differences are even wider for children in low-income families. This article aims to examine the extent to which home factors account for variation in early literacy outcomes in the first year of schooling. A total of 72 first graders and their parents from low-...

Many colonised countries have found themselves embracing the language of their colonial masters. Zambia, colonized by Britain, has had shifts in its language policy, now adopting the local language policy for early primary schooling (Preschool to Grade Four). In an attempt to investigate parents’ experiences with the local language as the language...

This study examined the nature and influence of parental involvement in children's early schooling exhibited by low income parents in an African City−Lusaka in Zambia. The sample consisted of seventy-two first graders, their parents and forty-five teachers. Using self report questionnaires, parents rated their own levels of involvement and extent t...

GraphoGame (GG) is originally a technology-based intervention method for supporting children with reading difficulties. It is now known that children who face problems in reading acquisition have difficulties in learning to differentiate and manipulate speech sounds and consequently, in connecting these sounds to corresponding letters. GG was devel...

This study examined the effect of home environment factors in the acquisition of early reading skills (orthographic awareness and decoding competence). To assess these factors, a sample of seventy-two (72) first grade learners (females = 55%; age range = 7–8 years) and their maternal parents (age range 26–61 years old) from low SES in Zambia's capi...

This intervention study was conducted to document conditions under which a computer based literacy game (GraphoGame TM) could enhance literacy skills of first grade students in an African city. The participants were first grade students from Government schools (N = 573). These students were randomly sampled into control (N = 314) and various interv...

This paper reports findings from the study that examined the role of family in children’s acquisition of early reading skills. We recr uited 72 first - grade learners and their parents from low - income Zambian families for the study. In response to a home literacy questionnaire, parents reported on their reading attitudes and family literacy envir...

Within the context of global research, international collaborative research is becoming increasingly desirable by researchers, and international collaboration seems to be a way to progress in Universities in the developing countries. Collaboration is encouraged at a policy level since it would lead to improved access of facilities and resources as...

An innovative curriculum designed to foster the development of social responsibility among pre-adolescent children was introduced at a rural Zambian primary school. The curriculum invoked Child-to-Child principles focusing on health education, advancing a synthesis of Western psychological theories and African cultural traditions. The teacher sough...