Assessment of Compassion International Tanzania (CIT) Support on Educational Achievement Among the Poor Households Beneficiaries in Kongwa District

This study was conducted aiming at assessing Compassion International Tanzania (CIT) support on educational achievement among the poor household’s beneficiaries in Kongwa district, Tanzania. It employed quantitative research approach using survey strategy. It was basically an explanatory research design conducted in five Compassion supported centres. The study was guided by main theory called Walberg theory for educational achievement supported by helping theory namely Socio-Economic Status theory. A total number of 181 respondents were involved in this study selected by using probability sampling design where by the structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. By considering the multiple regression model under 95% confidence intervals, The overall findings reveal that there is a positive relationship between predictors (Independent variables) to the outcome (ed) in variation (R2), that is an increase in efficiency of the independent variable, goes hand in hand with the increase of educational achievement, and the value of 12.65% implying that the variation in educational achievements explained by effectiveness support, effectiveness of caregivers’ roles and beneficiaries’ commitment jointly and the remaining percentage by other factors. Conclusively the results demonstrate the positive impact of these interventions on the beneficiaries' educational journey. This implies that CIT's efforts in providing financial and material assistance have yielded favorable outcomes in terms of educational attainment among the exited beneficiaries. Based on the positive findings, it is recommended that CIT continues its support initiatives and even explores opportunities to enhance the scope and depth of its interventions. Therefore, the study findings indicated significance (p<0.05) of CIT support on educational achievement. Keywords: Educational Achievement, CIT Support, Beneficiary, Caregive

Health System Factors Associated With Correct use of Artemether-Lumefantrine for Management of Uncomplicated Malaria in Rural Tanzania

Poor adherence to and inappropriate use of antimalarials leads to ineffective cure and promote development of drug resistance. We assessed quality of malaria case management in two areas with health and demographic surveillance systems in rural Tanzania to ascertain health worker and facility factors that influence correct prescription and correct dosing of an artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT); Artemether-Lumefantrine (ALu). Exit interviews were conducted to all patients attending for initial illness consultation at health facilities. We collected information about health worker’s training, supervision visits and inventoried facility capacity and availability of medical products related to care of malaria patients. Data were double entered in EPI data and analyzed in STATA version 10 We used logistic regression to assess association of different health system factors to correct use of ALu. The outcomes variables were correct treatment, correct dosing and receiving counselling messages, and the predictors were a range of health worker, health facility and patient factors. Total of 1471 patients were included in this analysis. Majority of patients were seen in dispensaries 70.5 %; (95% confidence interval (95%CI): 57.6-80.8) and in public health facilities 80.2% (95%CI: 72.4-86.1). Work experience seems to be a significant predictor of health workers’ compliance to treatment recommendation. Availability of medical products at health facility and patient characteristics are shown to influence correct use of treatment recommendations. The need to develop targeted interventions to address health system bottlenecks that affect quality of care; such as in-availability of medical products is becoming more apparent

Health Worker Factors Associated with Prescribing of Artemisinin Combination Therapy for Uncomplicated Malaria in Rural Tanzania.

Improving malaria case management is partially dependent on health worker compliance with clinical guidelines. This study assessed health worker factors associated with correct anti-malarial prescribing practices at two sites in rural Tanzania. Repeated cross-sectional health facility surveys were conducted during high and low malaria transmission seasons in 2010 and collected information on patient consultations and health worker characteristics. Using logistic regression, the study assessed health worker factors associated with correct prescription for uncomplicated malaria defined as prescription of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for patients with fever and Plasmodium falciparum asexual infection based on blood slide or malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) according to national treatment guidelines. The analysis included 685 patients with uncomplicated malaria who were seen in a health facility with ACT in stock, and 71 health workers practicing in 30 health facilities. Overall, 58% of malaria patients were correctly treated with ACT. Health workers with three or more years' work experience were significantly more likely than others to prescribe correctly (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-7.1; p = 0.019). Clinical officers (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.5; p = 0.037), and nurse aide or lower cadre (aOR 3.1; 95% CI 1.3-7.1; p = 0.009) were more likely to correctly prescribe ACT than medical officers. Training on ACT use, supervision visits, and availability of job aids were not significantly associated with correct prescription. Years of working experience and health worker cadre were associated with correct ACT prescription for uncomplicated malaria. Targeted interventions to improve health worker performance are needed to improve overall malaria case management

Defining operational strengths and gaps relevant to post licensure Group B Streptococcus vaccine effectiveness studies: an expert stakeholder evaluation of the United Kingdom and Uganda

A future Group B Streptococcal (GBS) vaccine for pregnant women to protect neonates is likely to be licensed based on evidence of vaccine induced protective antibody levels. Post licensure surveillance to monitor the impact of any future vaccine on GBS disease therefore needs to be clearly defined (in both high and low income settings). A priority research gap is understanding health system preparedness for a GBS vaccine evaluation This expert stakeholder evaluation aimed to describe the UK and Uganda's operational strengths and gaps relevant to post-licensure GBS vaccine studies

Considerations for post-licensure group B streptococcus vaccine effectiveness studies.

Post-licensure studies of a Group B streptococcal vaccines for pregnant women in low and middle-income countries will require investment in electronic health records

Intimate partner violence as seen in post-conflict eastern Uganda: prevalence, risk factors and mental health consequences.

BACKGROUND: Conflict and post-conflict communities in sub-Saharan Africa have a high under recognised problem of intimate partner violence (IPV). Part of the reason for this has been the limited data on IPV from conflict affected sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reports on the prevalence, risk factors and mental health consequences of IPV victimisation in both gender as seen in post-conflict eastern Uganda. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in two districts of eastern Uganda. The primary outcome of IPV victimisation was assessed using a modified Intimate Partner Violence assessment questionnaire of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. RESULTS: The prevalence of any form of IPV victimisation (physical and/or sexual and/or psychological IPV) in this study was 43.7 % [95 % CI, 40.1-47.4 %], with no statistically significant difference between the two gender. The factors significantly associated with IPV victimisation were: sub-county (representing ecological factors), poverty, use of alcohol, and physical and sexual war torture experiences. The mental health problems associated with IPV victimisation were probable problem alcohol drinking, attempted suicide and probable major depressive disorder. CONCLUSION: In post-conflict eastern Uganda, in both gender, war torture was a risk factor for IPV victimisation and IPV victimisation was associated with mental health problems

Using Population-Based Structures to Actively Monitor AEFIs during a Mass Immunization Campaign-A Case of Measles-Rubella and Polio Vaccines.

Active vaccine pharmacovigilance complements the standard passive or spontaneous surveillance system, which suffers from low reporting rates. This study aimed at utilizing population-based structures to report and profile adverse events following immunization (AEFI) with the measles and rubella vaccine (MR), or MR in combination with the bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV 1&3) (MR & bOPV), during mass vaccination in Uganda. Caretakers of children at home (less than 5 years) and schoolgoing children were followed up on and encouraged to report any AEFIs on day one, 2-3 days, 10 days, and 14 days after vaccination at school by their teachers and at-home, community-based village health teams. Out of 9798 children followed up on, 382 (3.9%) reported at least one AEFI, and in total, 517 AEFIs were reported. For MR, high temperature (21%), general feeling of weakness (19.3%), and headache (13%) were the most reported AEFIs, though there were variations on the days when they were reported. For the combination dose of MR & bOPV, high temperature (44%), rash (17%), general feeling of weakness (13%), and diarrhoea (8%) were the most common adverse events following immunization reported by caretakers. All 382 children cleared the AEFIs within 2 days, with 343 (90%) children reporting mild or moderate AEFIs and only 39 (10%) reporting severe AEFIs. The reported AEFIs are known and are mentioned in the vaccine leaflets with similar severity classification. Rates of AEFIs differed with the number of days after receiving the immunization. Conclusion: Active surveillance for AEFIs provides additional important information to national vaccine regulatory bodies. It reassures the public that vaccines are safe and that their safety is being taken seriously in Uganda, which would improve vaccine acceptability and confidence in the health system. Piggybacking on existing structures such as village health team members (for children at home) and teachers (for schoolgoing children) facilitates reaching vaccine recipients and increases reporting rates. Therefore, studies using active reporting of AEFIs should be conducted at regular intervals to report the overall incidence of AEs and to monitor trends and changes

Postneonatal under-5 mortality in peri-urban and rural Eastern Uganda, 2005-2015.

INTRODUCTION: Community and individual sociodemographic characteristics play an important role in child survival. However, a question remains how urbanisation and demographic changes in sub-Saharan Africa affect community-level determinants for child survival. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the Iganga/Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site was used to obtain postneonatal under-5 mortality rates between March 2005 and February 2015 in periurban and rural areas separately. Multilevel survival analysis models were used to identify factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: There were 43 043 postneonatal under-5 children contributing to 116 385 person years of observation, among whom 1737 died. Average annual crude mortality incidence rate (IR) differed significantly between periurban and rural areas (9.0 (8.1 to 10.0) per 1000 person-years vs 18.1 (17.1 to 19.0), respectively). In periurban areas, there was evidence for decreasing mortality from IR=11.3 (7.7 to 16.6) in 2006 to IR=4.5 (3.0 to 6.9) in 2015. The mortality fluctuated with no evidence for reduction in rural areas (IR=19.0 (15.8 to 22.8) in 2006; IR=15.5 (13.0 to 18.6) in 2015). BCG vaccination was associated with reduced mortality in periurban and rural areas (adjusted rate ratio (aRR)=0.45; 95% CI 0.30 to 0.67 and aRR=0.56; 95% CI 0.41 to 0.76, respectively). Maternal education level within the community was associated with reduced mortality in both periurban and rural sites (aRR=0.83; 95% CI 0.70 to 0.99; aRR=0.90; 95% CI 0.81 to 0.99). The proportion of households in the poorest quintile within the community was associated with mortality in rural areas only (aRR=1.08; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.18). In rural areas, a large disparity existed between the least poor and the poorest (aRR=0.50; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.92). CONCLUSION: We found evidence for a mortality decline in peri-urban but not rural areas. Investments in the known key health (eg, vaccination) and socio-economic interventions (education, and economic development) continue to be crucial for mortality declines. Focused strategies to eliminate the disparity between wealth quintiles are also warranted. There may be equitable access to health services in peri-urban areas but improved metrics of socioeconomic position suitable for peri-urban residents may be needed

Increased use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests improves targeting of anti-malarial treatment in rural Tanzania: implications for nationwide rollout of malaria rapid diagnostic tests.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends parasitological confirmation of all malaria cases. Tanzania is implementing a phased rollout of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for routine use in all levels of care as one strategy to increase parasitological confirmation of malaria diagnosis. This study was carried out to evaluated artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) prescribing patterns in febrile patients with and without uncomplicated malaria in one pre-RDT implementation and one post-RDT implementation area. METHODS: A cross-sectional health facility surveys was conducted during high and low malaria transmission seasons in 2010 in both areas. Clinical information and a reference blood film on all patients presenting for an initial illness consultation were collected. Malaria was defined as a history of fever in the past 48 hours and microscopically confirmed parasitaemia. Routine diagnostic testing was defined as RDT or microscopy ordered by the health worker and performed at the health facility as part of the health worker-patient consultation. Correct diagnostic testing was defined as febrile patient tested with RDT or microscopy. Over-testing was defined as a febrile patient tested with RDT or microscopy. Correct treatment was defined as patient with malaria prescribed ACT. Over-treatment was defined as patient without malaria prescribed ACT. RESULTS: A total of 1,247 febrile patients (627 from pre-implementation area and 620 from post-implementation area) were included in the analysis. In the post-RDT implementation area, 80.9% (95% CI, 68.2-89.3) of patients with malaria received recommended treatment with ACT compared to 70.3% (95% CI, 54.7-82.2) of patients in the pre-RDT implementation area. Correct treatment was significantly higher in the post-implementation area during high transmission season (85.9% (95%CI, 72.0-93.6) compared to 58.3% (95%CI, 39.4-75.1) in pre-implementation area (p=0.01). Over-treatment with ACT of patients without malaria was less common in the post-RDT implementation area (20.9%; 95% CI, 14.7-28.8) compared to the pre-RDT implementation area (45.8%; 95% CI, 37.2-54.6) (p<0.01) in high transmission. The odds of overtreatment was significantly lower in post- RDT area (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR: 95%CI) 0.57(0.36-0.89); and much higher with clinical diagnosis adjusted OR (95%CI) 2.24(1.37-3.67) CONCLUSION: Implementation of RDTs increased use of RDTs for parasitological confirmation and reduced over-treatment with ACT during high malaria transmission season in one area in Tanzania. Continued monitoring of the national RDT rollout will be needed to assess whether these changes in case management practices will be replicated in other areas and sustained over time. Additional measures (such as refresher trainings, closer supervisions, etc) may be needed to improve ACT targeting during low transmission seasons

Predictors of Antibiotics Co-prescription with Antimalarials for Patients Presenting with Fever in Rural Tanzania.

Successful implementation of malaria treatment policy depends on the prescription practices for patients with malaria. This paper describes prescription patterns and assesses factors associated with co-prescription of antibiotics and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) for patients presenting with fever in rural Tanzania. From June 2009 to September 2011, a cohort event monitoring program was conducted among all patients treated at 8 selected health facilities in Ifakara and Rufiji Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS).It included all patients presenting with fever and prescribed with AL. Logistic regression was used to model the predictors on the outcome variable which is co-prescription of AL and antibiotics on a single clinical visit. A cohort of 11,648 was recruited and followed up with 92% presenting with fever. Presumptive treatment was used in 56% of patients treated with AL. On average 2.4 (1 -- 7) drugs was prescribed per encounter, indicating co-prescription of AL with other drugs. Children under five had higher odds of AL and antibiotics co-prescription (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46 -- 0.85) than those aged more than five years. Patients testing negative had higher odds (OR = 2.22, 95%CI: 1.65 -- 2.97) of AL and antibiotics co-prescription. Patients receiving treatment from dispensaries had higher odds (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 0.84 -- 2.30) of AL and antibiotics co-prescription than those from served in health centres even though the deference was not statistically significant. Regardless the fact that Malaria is declining but due to lack of laboratories and mRDT in most health facilities in the rural areas, clinicians are still treating malaria presumptively. This leads them to prescribe more drugs to treat all possibilities