Infant mortality in the Gwembe Valley

Abstract

The Gwembe Valley lies in the Southern Province of Zambia and has been the subject of intense sociological and anthropological study (Colson 1967,Scudder 1968). The site of this survey was the upper Gwembe Valley, a relatively infertile area with low rainfall. The area lies between 1500 feet and 2000 feet and the main food crop is millet. Malaria is endemic. In January,1973, this hospital began four new Mobile Health Clinics in the Valley. The clinics were held near primary schools at Jamba, Siamwinga, Moonga and Sinadabwe. Previously no medical personnel had visited these areas except for periodic visits to schools by Government vaccination teams. No care at all had been given to Under Fives except at Jamba which had been visited once in 1972 by a team from Lusitu Rural Health Clinic. A few of the children at Jamba thus had Under Fives cards when we first visited.