Acceptability of Condom Promotion and Distribution Among 10-19 Year-Old Adolescents in Mpwapwa and Mbeya Rural Districts, Tanzania.

\ud The HIV/AIDS pandemic remains a leading challenge for global health. Although condoms are acknowledged for their key role on preventing HIV transmission, low and inappropriate use of condoms persists in Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa. This study assesses factors affecting acceptability of condom promotion and distribution among adolescents in Mpwapwa and Mbeya rural districts of Tanzania. Data were collected in 2011 as part of a larger cross-sectional survey on condom use among 10-19 year-olds in Mpwapwa and Mbeya rural districts of Tanzania using a structured questionnaire. Associations between acceptability of condom promotion and distribution and each of the explanatory variables were tested using Chi Square. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine independent predictors of the acceptability of condom promotion and distribution using STATA (11) statistical software at 5% significance level. Mean age of the 1,327 adolescent participants (50.5% being males) was 13.5 years (SD = 1.4). Acceptance of condom promotion and distribution was found among 37% (35% in Mpwapwa and 39% in Mbeya rural) of the adolescents. Being sexually active and aged 15-19 was the strongest predictor of the acceptability of condom promotion and distribution (OR = 7.78, 95% CI 4.65-12.99). Others were; not agreeing that a condom is effective in preventing transmissions of STIs including HIV (OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.20-0.56), being a resident of Mbeya rural district (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.28-2.19), feeling comfortable being seen by parents/guardians holding/buying condoms (OR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.40-3.46) and living with a guardian (OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.08-2.04). Acceptability of condom promotion and distribution among adolescents in Mpwapwa and Mbeya rural is low. Effect of sexual activity on the acceptability of condom promotion and distribution is age-dependent and was the strongest. Feeling comfortable being seen by parents/guardians buying or holding condoms, perceived ability of condoms to offer protection against HIV/AIDS infections, district of residence and living arrangements also offered significant predictive effect. Knowledge of these factors is vital in designing successful and sustainable condom promotion and distribution programs in Tanzania.\u

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge and Perceptions of Health Risks Associated with Arsenic and Mercury Contamination from Artisanal Gold mining in Tanzania.

An estimated 0.5 to 1.5 million informal miners, of whom 30-50% are women, rely on artisanal mining for their livelihood in Tanzania. Mercury, used in the processing gold ore, and arsenic, which is a constituent of some ores, are common occupational exposures that frequently result in widespread environmental contamination. Frequently, the mining activities are conducted haphazardly without regard for environmental, occupational, or community exposure. The primary objective of this study was to assess community risk knowledge and perception of potential mercury and arsenic toxicity and/or exposure from artisanal gold mining in Rwamagasa in northwestern Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey of respondents in five sub-villages in the Rwamagasa Village located in Geita District in northwestern Tanzania near Lake Victoria was conducted. This area has a history of artisanal gold mining and many of the population continue to work as miners. Using a clustered random selection approach for recruitment, a total of 160 individuals over 18 years of age completed a structured interview. The interviews revealed wide variations in knowledge and risk perceptions concerning mercury and arsenic exposure, with 40.6% (n=65) and 89.4% (n=143) not aware of the health effects of mercury and arsenic exposure respectively. Males were significantly more knowledgeable (n=59, 36.9%) than females (n=36, 22.5%) with regard to mercury (x²=3.99, p<0.05). An individual's occupation category was associated with level of knowledge (x²=22.82, p=<0.001). Individuals involved in mining (n=63, 73.2%) were more knowledgeable about the negative health effects of mercury than individuals in other occupations. Of the few individuals (n=17, 10.6%) who knew about arsenic toxicity, the majority (n=10, 58.8%) were miners. The knowledge of individuals living in Rwamagasa, Tanzania, an area with a history of artisanal gold mining, varied widely with regard to the health hazards of mercury and arsenic. In these communities there was limited awareness of the threats to health associated with exposure to mercury and arsenic. This lack of knowledge, combined with minimal environmental monitoring and controlled waste management practices, highlights the need for health education, surveillance, and policy changes

Heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance profiles of gram negative bacteria isolated from Lake Victoria, Kenya

Pollution and increased levels of heavy metals in the Lake Victoria Wetlands are suspected to be negatively influencing the biota in one of the world most important freshwater resources. In this study, fecal contamination of water in the Lake Victoria wetlands was investigated using the standard coliform test. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated by plating on Mackonkey's and EMB media. Isolates were characterized, and their ability to grow in the presence of heavy metals tested. Isolates were also tested for resistance to commonly used antibiotics. The study was conducted both in the dry and wet seasons. Fecal contamination was detected in all tested water samples, as evidenced by the isolation of Escherichia coli both in the wet and dry seasons. Coliform counts of above 1100 MPN/100 ml were detected. Ninety-five and forty-five gram-negative bacterial isolates were obtained in the dry season and wet seasons, respectively. Isolates from the dry season were resistant to nalidixic acid (66%), ampicillin (54%), and tetracycline (28%). They were however largely sensitive to gentamycin (95%) and streptomycin (98%); 41.1% percent of the isolates showed multi-drug resistance. A similar antibiotic resistance pattern was detected in the wet season, and 31.1% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. Many of the isolates were resistant to Zinc and Copper (final conc. 1.6 g/l each), but largely sensitive to mercury (0.05 g/l; 52%) and lead (2 g/l; 89%). Although, tolerance to heavy metals is usually associated with plasmids, which also encode resistance to antibiotics, a direct correlation between antibiotic resistance and heavy metal tolerance by the isolates obtained in this study cannot be established. Further work needs to be conducted to establish the molecular basis of resistance. Constant monitoring of antibiotic resistance levels in bacteria from Lake Victoria wetlands is essential, considering the prevalence of water borne diseases in the area. Keywords: Lake Victoria, fecal pollution, Gram Negative bacteria, Heavy metal tolerance J. Trop. Microbiol. Biotechnol. Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 20-2