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The present study was conducted in Mozambique, or, more specifically, in the province of Zambezia, in the primary schools of the Gilé and Ile districts. Taking into account that teacher absenteeism in the two above-mentioned districts is widespread, it is urgent to question its implications for the teaching and learning process. Specifically, the study discusses the causes and types of teacher absenteeism from school; proposes some solutions to overcome it. For these reasons, the relevance of the text lies, on the one hand, in its possibility of denouncing the practice of school absenteeism within Mozambican education at the primary schools and, on the other, in awakening the development of new research leading to the understanding of the phenomenon and its causes. From the methodological point of view, the study was based on an exploratory research, based on a qualitative and quantitative approach and on bibliographic and documentary consultation. The results indicate that primary school teachers' absenteeism in schools in the abovementioned districts has two dimensions: one, linked to individual motivations; another, inherent in institutional questions. On the other hand, absenteeism in Mozambican education has contributed negatively to the quality of education and the increase in dropout rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are an efficacious intervention for malaria prevention. During a national immunization campaign in Mozambique, vouchers, which were to be redeemed at a later date for free ITNs, were distributed in Manica and Sofala provinces. A survey to evaluate ITN ownership and usage postcampaign was conducted. Methods: Four districts in each province and four enumeration areas (EAs) in each district were selected using probability proportional to size. Within each EA, 32 households (HHs) were selected using a simple random sample. Interviews to assess ownership and usage were conducted in each of the selected HHs using personal digital assistants. Results: Valid interviews were completed for 947 (92.5%) (440 in Manica and 507 in Sofala) of the 1,024 selected HHs. Among participating HHs, 65.0% in Manica and 63.1% in Sofala reported that at least one child under five years of age slept in the house the previous night. HH ownership of at least one bed net of any kind was 20.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.9%-43.6%) and 35.6% (95% CI: 27.8%-44.3%) pre-campaign; and 55.1% (95% CI: 43.6%-66.1%) and 59.6 (95% CI: 42.4%-74.7%) post-campaign in Manica and Sofala, respectively. Post-campaign HH ownership of at least one ITN was 50.2% (95% CI: 41.8%-58.5%) for both provinces combined. In addition, 60.3% (95% CI: 50.6%-69.2%) of children under five years of age slept under an ITN the previous night. Conclusions: This ITN distribution increased bed net ownership and usage rates. Integration of ITN distribution with immunization campaigns presents an opportunity for reaching malaria control targets and should continue to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]