Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seroconversion and Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Delivering at Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania

Background: Routine testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among pregnant women is done early during antenatal care (ANC) in Tanzania, but retesting for the women found negative is rarely done at term or during delivery. Aim: This study aimed at determining the magnitude and risk factors associated with HIV seroconversion among pregnant women delivering at Bugando Medical Center (BMC). Subjects and Methods: This cross.sectional study was conducted from January to March 2013 involving 400 pregnant women who tested HIV negative during ANC. These were re.tested during delivery, and those found positive (and their babies) were given antiretroviral therapy (ART) prophylaxis. All exposed babies were tested by polymerase chain reactions (DNAPCR) at 1 month of age. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire and patientsf files. Datawere analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 software.Results: Of 400 pregnant women (mean age 26.4 [5.73] years) enrolled, HIV seroconversion was found in 5.3% (21/400). Upon multivariate logistic regression analysis, polygamous marriage (P < 0.001) and history ofsyphilis during ANC visit (P < 0.001) were found to be independent predictors of HIV seroconversion among pregnant women delivering at BMC. One of the 21 babies (4.8%) born of HIV seroconverted women was confirmed to be HIV infected.Conclusion: The high rate of HIV seroconversion found in this study implies that HIV re.testing should be an enduring exercise. This will allow timely provision of ART prophylaxis to HIV seroconverted women and their exposed babies and thus, prevent mother to child transmission of HIV. Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion, Pregnant women, Tanzani

HIV Serostatus and Tumor Differentiation Among Patients with Cervical Cancer at Bugando Medical Centre.

Evidence for the association between Human immunodeficiency virus infection and cervical cancer has been contrasting, with some studies reporting increased risk of cervical cancer among HIV positive women while others report no association. Similar evidence from Tanzania is scarce as HIV seroprevalence among cervical cancer patients has not been rigorously evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between HIV and tumor differentiation among patients with cervical cancer at Bugando Medical Centre and Teaching Hospital in Mwanza, North-Western Tanzania. This was a descriptive analytical study involving suspected cervical cancer patients seen at the gynaecology outpatient clinic and in the gynaecological ward from November 2010 to March 2011. A total of 91 suspected cervical cancer patients were seen during the study period and 74 patients were histologically confirmed with cervical cancer. The mean age of those confirmed of cervical cancer was 50.5 ± 12.5 years. Most patients (39 of the total 74-52.7%) were in early disease stages (stages IA-IIA). HIV infection was diagnosed in 22 (29.7%) patients. On average, HIV positive women with early cervical cancer disease had significantly more CD4+ cells than those with advanced disease (385.8 ± 170.4 95% CI 354.8-516.7 and 266.2 ± 87.5, 95% CI 213.3-319.0 respectively p = 0.042). In a binary logistic regression model, factors associated with HIV seropositivity were ever use of hormonal contraception (OR 5.79 95% CI 1.99-16.83 p = 0.001), aged over 50 years (OR 0.09 95% CI 0.02-0.36 p = 0.001), previous history of STI (OR 3.43 95% CI 1.10-10.80 p = 0.035) and multiple sexual partners OR 5.56 95% CI 1.18-26.25 p = 0.030). Of these factors, only ever use of hormonal contraception was associated with tumor cell differentiation (OR 0.16 95% CI 0.06-0.49 p = 0.001). HIV seropositivity was weakly associated with tumor cell differentiation in an unadjusted analysis (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.04-1.02 p = 0.053), but strong evidence for the association was found after adjusting for ever use of hormonal contraception with approximately six times more likelihood of HIV infection among women with poorly differentiated tumor cells compared to those with moderately and well differentiated cells (OR 5.62 95% CI 1.76-17.94 p = 0.004).\ud Results from this study setting suggest that HIV is common among cervical cancer patients and that HIV seropositivity may be associated with poor tumour differentiation. Larger studies in this and similar settings with high HIV prevalence and high burden of cervical cancer are required to document this relationship

User fee in public libraries: perspectives, opportunities and challenges in Tanzania’s libraries

Journal ArticleThe user fee practiced in public libraries in Tanzania since 1996 and implications of the fee are examined in relation to the role of libraries in economic development. The paper aims at stimulating discussions among professionals and other stakeholders regarding the effects and controversies of the issue. Based on a survey of literature, brief and informal. discussions with eight library users and librarians in three public libraries in Tanzania, it looks into the fee concept and discusses' the experiences and implications of the fee to both the public and public libraries that so far are not optimally used. In addition, charged services in four public university libraries have been examined for possible lessons to be learnt. While recognizing the growing pressure to commercialize access to information resources as a strategy for coping with economic difficulties in the public sectors, the paper cautions that the practice may have more disadvantages than advantages. It is observed that while there may be other reasons preventing the public from using libraries, the fee may actually be a hindrance to developing positive attitudes towards use of libraries by the public for their socio-economic development. The authors see the existence of an opportunity for librarians to make tangible contribution in the society's development process by promoting the use of easily accessible information through public libraries rather than supporting restrictive rules. It is concluded that paying for basic library services may not necessarily be a solution to the library's economic constraints across the board. For this reason, Tanzania's libraries should consider the present period as a period for promotion, advocacy, and investment in the value and role of information for economic growth and in the expansion as well as creation of public library clientele. Among the recommendations put forward is the need for conducting in-depth studies that would profile the actual users of these libraries, determine membership trend and find out user opinion and attitude towards fee practices in Tanzania. The paper also recommends the use of participatory methods in order to make fair decision regarding access, use and sustainability of public libraries. The paper finally suggests some possible alternatives for economic sustainability of the libraries ..Sokoine University of Agricultur

The role of Community Information Centres (CIC) in enhancing farmers’ access to information: A case study of CIC models in Morogoro region, Tanzania

First COTUL annual conference-­2014This paper presents the findings of a study which was conducted in Morogoro region to identify farmers’ current information needs. It also examines an approach that could enhance farmers’ access to and use of agricultural information with a view to promoting the practice of proactive information acquisition for empowerment and improved livelihoods. The study set out a participatory action research to pilot models for stimulating the proactive practices in accessing and utilising agricultural information. The model which was employed for this study evolved from the Village Information Centres (VIC) model and gave way to Community Information Centres (CIC) given the realisation that VICs have application and relevance to broader communities that may not necessarily be village-based. The study found that farmers’ information needs are not necessarily related to agricultural activities taking place at that particular time in a particular area. In some cases, exposure to information brought about information needs that were not expressed in the first place. This also implies that in some situations exposure to information is needed to stimulate a demand for information. The content, presentation style and language used were among the determinants influencing the demand for particular information. The study found adequate levels of literacy among smallholder farmers such that they could effectively access and make use of printed information. The findings also demonstrate the presence of reading skills that are otherwise underutilised. In conclusion, the study advocates for “pulled information” phenomenon as opposed to “pushed information” in building sustainable knowledge acquisition skills among smallholder farmers

Factors influencing the use of information and communication technologies in accessing livestock information: A Case of Kinondoni and Morogoro Urban Districts, Tanzania

Journal of Continuing Education and Extension, 2014; 5(1): 545-676This paper presents findings of a study on the extent to which different Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are used by urban and peri-urban livestock keepers and factors that affect their use in accessing information on livestock. A mixed method approach was used to collect data for assessing the extent of using ICTs for livestock production and marketing in Kinondoni and Morogoro urban Districts. The findings revealed that most urban livestock keepers (94.1%) used different ICTs to access livestock information. Mobile phones were most frequently used (92.1%) compared to radio (21.7%), television (24.6%) and the internet (2.4%). Several . factors affected the use of ICTs in accessing livestock information, some of which are: limited awareness about relevant radio and television programmes on livestock keeping, high cost of communication using mobile phones and internet services, and computer illiteracy. The study concludes that urban livestock keepers use different ICTs, but there are many impeding factors limiting the potential of this technology for improving livestock production. The study recommends improving telecommunications services to facilitate better access to information using ICTs. Livestock keepers also need to be sensitized to use ICTs, which should also be integrated into extension services to improve access making it easier and cheaper to acquire information

Convergence of libraries and computer centres for African universities: A strategy for enhancing information services

Information Technology for Development 8 (1999) 221-229This paper aims at stimulating universities in Africa to work towards convergence of computer centres and library services as a strategy for enhancing information provision in these institutions. It highlights the convergence initiatives in the context of developed countries and gives advantages and benefits of such a strategy particularly in developing countries' constraints in both material and human resources. Despite possible obstacles that have also been pointed out, the paper concludes by stressing the timeliness for convergence of the two services in African universities where IT is now rapidly being adopted.Sokoine University of Agricultur

User fee in public libraries: perspectives, opportunities and challenges in Tanzania’s libraries

Journal ArticleThe user fee practiced in public libraries in Tanzania since 1996 and implications of the fee are examined in relation to the role of libraries in economic development. The paper aims at stimulating discussions among professionals and other stakeholders regarding the effects and controversies of the issue. Based on a survey of literature, brief and informal. discussions with eight library users and librarians in three public libraries in Tanzania, it looks into the fee concept and discusses' the experiences and implications of the fee to both the public and public libraries that so far are not optimally used. In addition, charged services in four public university libraries have been examined for possible lessons to be learnt. While recognizing the growing pressure to commercialize access to information resources as a strategy for coping with economic difficulties in the public sectors, the paper cautions that the practice may have more disadvantages than advantages. It is observed that while there may be other reasons preventing the public from using libraries, the fee may actually be a hindrance to developing positive attitudes towards use of libraries by the public for their socio-economic development. The authors see the existence of an opportunity for librarians to make tangible contribution in the society's development process by promoting the use of easily accessible information through public libraries rather than supporting restrictive rules. It is concluded that paying for basic library services may not necessarily be a solution to the library's economic constraints across the board. For this reason, Tanzania's libraries should consider the present period as a period for promotion, advocacy, and investment in the value and role of information for economic growth and in the expansion as well as creation of public library clientele. Among the recommendations put forward is the need for conducting in-depth studies that would profile the actual users of these libraries, determine membership trend and find out user opinion and attitude towards fee practices in Tanzania. The paper also recommends the use of participatory methods in order to make fair decision regarding access, use and sustainability of public libraries. The paper finally suggests some possible alternatives for economic sustainability of the libraries ..Sokoine University of Agricultur

Convergence of libraries and computer centres for African universities: A strategy for enhancing information services

Information Technology for Development 8 (1999) 221-229This paper aims at stimulating universities in Africa to work towards convergence of computer centres and library services as a strategy for enhancing information provision in these institutions. It highlights the convergence initiatives in the context of developed countries and gives advantages and benefits of such a strategy particularly in developing countries' constraints in both material and human resources. Despite possible obstacles that have also been pointed out, the paper concludes by stressing the timeliness for convergence of the two services in African universities where IT is now rapidly being adopted.Sokoine University of Agricultur