Impact of school health programme on urinary schistosomiasis control in schoolchildren in Kilosa, Tanzania

No Abstract. Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 7(3) 2005: 198-20

Influence of timing of sexual debut and first marriage on sexual behaviour in later life: findings from four survey rounds in the Kisesa cohort in northern Tanzania

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate quality of sexual debut and first marriage data, measure trends and study the association of risky sexual behaviour in youth with adult risk behaviour. METHODS: Reports on age at first sex (AFS) and age at first marriage (AFM) from the Kisesa cohort study, 1994-2004, were evaluated for consistency and used to describe trends in median age-at-event and time spent single but sexually active in different birth cohorts. The association of these variables with marital stability and numbers of partners at later ages was explored using statistical regression techniques. RESULTS: AFS and AFM were inconsistently reported by 32% and 33% of respondents, respectively, but there was no general tendency to report lower or higher ages at a later report date. In 10-year birth cohorts born between 1950-9 and 1980-9, male median AFS declined from 18.1 to 17.0 years and female median AFM rose from 16.2 to 16.6 years. Young people of both sexes currently spend longer sexually active but unmarried than previously. Early marriage is statistically associated with remarriage and polygamy; longer time between sexual debut and marriage is associated with higher numbers of partners at later stages of life. CONCLUSION: Inconsistent reporting of age-at-event introduces noise but does not bias estimates of population level indicators. Lengthening time spent single and sexually active suggests that men and women entering first marriage will have been exposed to increased numbers of non-marital partners. Successful youth interventions may also influence adult behaviour

Non Conventional Livestock for Better Livelihood: Prospects of Domestic Cavy in Mixed Production Systems of Tanzania

Similar to majority of Sub-Saharan African countries, Tanzania depends largely on small and large ruminants, poultry and seafood to meet its animal protein needs. While most of the nonconventional protein sources are hunted, domestication of some of the species is equally promoted because hunting harvests cannot provide sustainable and affordable meats. Meanwhile, there have been growing demands for white meats, especially among the middle and high income population classes, exacerbated by changes in eating and living habits. Recent reports have identified domestic cavy (Cavia porcellus L.) as a right delicacy. This small pseudo ruminant that is also referred to as guinea pig or as Pimbi or Simbilisi in Kiswahili, is adopted in rural and urban households in Tanzania. This paper highlights on prospects of production of cavies focusing on the mixed production systems of Central Tanzania, where identified farmers keep a few cavy families either in own pens in a compound or within living houses of owners. Results indicated that farmers have such major reasons as keeping cavies for food (37%) or cash income (33%). Inadequate knowledge on improved husbandry practices was the most limiting constraint (38%) in the study sites where cavy keeping hinges on local knowledge and locally available feed resources. Therefore, innovative approaches and more attention from research and extension services are called for to improve production, consumption and marketing of cavies and other non-conventional meat sources as stipulated in the national livestock policy

Levels and causes of adult mortality in rural Tanzania with special reference to HIV/AIDS

Data from a longitudinal study in northwest Tanzania were used to assess the levels of adult mortality and the leading causes of death. Adult mortality in this rural area was high and 42 per cent of persons aged 15 will die before their sixtieth birthday at current mortality rates. Mortality in this population with an HIV prevalence of about six per cent in 1994-95, has increased by about one-third because of HIV/AIDS, and further increase is likely. Other infectious diseases cause nearly a quarter of deaths and non-communicable diseases are still a relatively minor cause. The occurrence of the AIDS epidemic may have further delayed the onset of the epidemiological transition in many parts of Africa

Prevalence and risk factors for HIV among people aged 50 years and older in Rombo district, Northern Tanzania

Background: It is estimated that over ten percent of the 36.7 million people living with HIV (PLWHIV) globally, are those aged ≥50 years. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for HIV among adult aged 50 years and above in Rombo district, northern Tanzania.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted from April to June 2015 among older adults aged ≥50 year in Rombo district. Interviews were conducted to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive and sexual health characteristics of the participants, knowledge on HIV transmission, prevention and risk perception and on awareness and knowledge on voluntary and counselling testing services. In addition, a blood sample was taken for HIV diagnosis.Results: A total of 600 people were enrolled. Their age ranged from 50 to 90 years with mean of 64.9 (±SD 10.3) years. The HIV prevalence was 1.7% (n=10) and it was higher among women (2.1%) than men (1.3%). Sixty-percent (n=350) were knowledgeable on HIV transmission and only 40% (n=216) on HIV prevention. In bivariate analysis, age of partner <50 years, ever use of condoms, poor knowledge on HIV prevention and perception of risk on HIV were significantly associated with HIV. However, only partner’s age of <50 years remained significant after controlling for confounders.Conclusion: HIV prevalence and overall knowledge on its transmission among older adults in this rural population were low. There is a need for strategies to improve HIV preventive knowledge and testing in this group in order to continue keeping the transmission at low levels

Rain-Fed Farming System at a Crossroads in Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania: What Roles do Climate Variability and Change Play?

Positive changes, like adopting drought resistant crop varieties, in the rain-fed farming system (RFFS) in response to climate variability and change enhance system’s ability to support people’s living as opposed to negative changes, like lack of pastures, which put the system at risk of failure in supporting the living. Using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and household survey, this paper examined the roles of climate variability and change in triggering changes in RFFS. Specifically, the paper: (i) assessed dominant crop and livestock farming system; (ii) assessed the change element of crop and livestock production systems; and (iii) examined factors for the changes in RFFS. A random sample of 388 households was used. Qualitative data analysis was done through content analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to assess factors that explain changes on RFFS. The results showed that dominant crops were different in each village. Secondly, some changes in crop varieties and in livestock grazing arrangements were noted in response to climate variability and change. Unlike the hypothesis (P>0.05), the results demonstrated that warming (ß = -10.61, Wald = 36.26, P ? 0.001) showed highest significant impact on likelihood of adopting new crop varieties relative to other factors. Similarly, drought (ß = 2.16, Wald = 6.82, P ? 0.009) showed highest impact on the likelihood of changing a grazing place. Yet, the changes were constrained by factors like natural resources protective policies, failure of crop varieties to withstand warming and drought, and poor land use management. Therefore, the RFFS was at a crossroads with implications on system sustainability and livelihoods. The government and private interventions should support farmers and agro-pastoralists to manage risks related to the changes in RFFS in response to climate variability and change. Keywords: Climate change, agro-pastoralism, livelihoods, semi-arid, Tanzani

The impacts of COVID-19 and its policy response on access and utilization of maternal and child health services in Tanzania: A mixed methods study.

The SARS-Cov-2 virus (COVID-19) has had a global social and economic impact. Despite the growing evidence, its effects on access and delivery of maternal and child health services in low-income countries are still unclear. This cross-sectional case study was conducted in Mjini Magharibi, Chake Chake, and Ilala districts in Tanzania to help fill this gap. The study combined qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, providing an account of the evolution of the pandemic and the associated control measures in Tanzania. We drew from 34 in-depth interviews, 60 semi-structured interviews, and 14 focus group discussions with key informants, patients, and health providers, and complemented the findings with a review of pandemic reports and health facility records. We followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) to provide an account of the findings. Our account of the pandemic shows that there was at times an inconsistent policy response in Tanzania, with diverse control measures adopted at various stages of the epidemic. There was a perception that COVID-19 services were prioritized during the epidemic at the expense of regular ones. There were reports of reorganisation of health facilities, reallocation of staff, rescheduled antenatal and postnatal clinics, and reduced time for health education and child monitoring. Scarcity of essential commodities was reported, such as vaccines, equipment, and medical supplies. Such perceptions were in part supported by the routine utilization evidence in the three districts, showing a lower uptake of antenatal, postnatal, family planning, and immunization services, as well as fewer institutional deliveries. Our findings suggest that, although the policy response in Tanzania was erratic, it was rather fear of the pandemic itself and diversion of resources to control COVID-19, that may have contributed most to lower the utilization of mother and child services. For future emergencies, it will be crucial to ensure the policy response does not weaken the population's demand for services

Immunohaematological reference values in human immunodeficiency virus-negative adolescent and adults in rural northern Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The amount of CD4 T cells is used for monitoring HIV progression and improvement, and to make decisions to start antiretroviral therapy and prophylactic drugs for opportunistic infections. The aim of this study was to determine normal reference values for CD4 T cells, lymphocytes, leucocytes and haemoglobin level in healthy, HIV negative adolescents and adults in rural northern Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross sectional study was conducted from September 2006 to March 2007 in rural northern Tanzania. Participants were recruited from voluntary HIV counselling and testing clinics. Patients were counselled for HIV test and those who consented were tested for HIV. Clinical screening was done, and blood samples were collected for CD4 T cell counts and complete blood cell counts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We enrolled 102 participants, forty two (41.2%) males and 60 (58.8%) females. The mean age was 32.6 ± 95% CI 30.2–35.0. The mean absolute CD4 T cell count was 745.8 ± 95% CI 695.5–796.3, absolute CD8 T cells 504.6 ± 95% CI 461.7–547.5, absolute leukocyte count 5.1 ± 95% CI 4.8–5.4, absolute lymphocyte count 1.8 ± 95% CI 1.7–1.9, and haemoglobin level 13.2 ± 95% CI 12.7–13.7. Females had significantly higher mean absolute CD4 T cell count (p = 0.008), mean absolute CD8 T cell count (p = 0.009) and significantly lower mean haemoglobin level than males (p = 0.003)</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Immunohaematological values found in this study were different from standard values for western countries. Females had significantly higher mean CD4 T cell counts and lower mean haemoglobin levels than males. This raises the issue of the appropriateness of the present reference values and guidelines for monitoring HIV/AIDS patients in Tanzania.</p