Neonatal hypothermia on admission to a special care unit in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania: a cause for concern

A CAJM journal article.Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for hypothermia among neonates on admission to the Neonatal Care Unit. Hypothermia in newborn babies is a problem in tropical countries despite warm environmental conditions and it contributes to a high neonatal morbidity and mortality. Methodology: A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of hypothermia and its association with early neonatal outcome among neonates admitted to the Neonatal Care Unit of Muhimbili Medical Centre . At admission all neonates were examined and axillary temperature recorded using a low-reading thermometer. Six-hourly temperature was taken in all infants: Those with a temperature below 36.5°C were recruited as cases and those with normal temperature served as controls. These neonates were followed up for early neonatal outcome. Results: Hypothermia on admission was found in 366 out of 1632 babies (22.4%). In none of these was hypothermia recorded or reported as a reason for admission. Thirteen percent of the hypothermic neonates had severe hypothermia, with body temperature below 32°C on admission. Hypothermia was significantly associated with deliveries from outside hospitals and with those who had operative or instrumental delivery in the same hospital. It was also associated with prematurity, low birth weight babies, time taken to transfer the baby and inadequate clothing after delivery. It was found that hypothermic infants had a three fold higher mortality and morbidity. These infants had a longer stay in the unit and had a higher post natal weight loss. There was no low-reading thermometer in the unit. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is cause for concern about hypothermia in the neonates at Muhimbili Medical Centre, Efforts should be made to sensitize and educate all levels of staff dealing with neonates, and low-reading thermometers should be part of the essential kit in the unit

Predictors of Stunting, Wasting and Underweight among Tanzanian Children Born to HIV-Infected Women.

Children born to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women are susceptible to undernutrition, but modifiable risk factors and the time course of the development of undernutrition have not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to identify maternal, socioeconomic and child characteristics that are associated with stunting, wasting and underweight among Tanzanian children born to HIV-infected mothers, followed from 6 weeks of age for 24 months. Maternal and socioeconomic characteristics were recorded during pregnancy, data pertaining to the infant's birth were collected immediately after delivery, morbidity histories and anthropometric measurements were performed monthly. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards methods were used to assess the association between potential predictors and the time to first episode of stunting, wasting and underweight. A total of 2387 infants (54.0% male) were enrolled and followed for a median duration of 21.2 months. The respective prevalence of prematurity (<37 weeks) and low birth weight (<2500 g) was 15.2% and 7.0%; 11.3% of infants were HIV-positive at 6 weeks. Median time to first episode of stunting, wasting and underweight was 8.7, 7.2 and 7.0 months, respectively. Low maternal education, few household possessions, low infant birth weight, child HIV infection and male sex were all independent predictors of stunting, wasting and underweight. In addition, preterm infants were more likely to become wasted and underweight, whereas those with a low Apgar score at birth were more likely to become stunted. Interventions to improve maternal education and nutritional status, reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and increase birth weight may lower the risk of undernutrition among children born to HIV-infected women

Detecting virological failure in HIV-infected Tanzanian children

Background. The performance of clinical and immunological criteria to predict virological failure in HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is not well documented.Objective. To determine the validity of clinical and immunological monitoring in detecting virological failure in children on ART.Methods. A total of 218 children were included in the study. All were from care and treatment clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Their mean age was 10.6 years, 122 (56.0%) were males, and the mean time on ART was 40.9 months. The study was conducted from August 2011 to March 2012. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and immunological and virological failure were based on World Health Organization definitions. Blood samples were collected for CD4+ T-cell count and viral load tests.Results. Of 217 children with available viral load results, 124 (57.1%) had virological failure (&gt;400 copies/mL), 25.0% immunological failure and 11.5% clinical failure. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of clinical criteria were 12.9%, 90.3%, 64.0% and 43.8%, respectively, those for immunological criteria 22.6%, 73.1%, 53.3% and 41.4%, and those for the combination of clinical and immunological monitoring 25.8%, 69.9%, 53.3% and 41.4%. Children who received nevirapine (NVP)-based regimens were two times more likely (odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.20 - 3.64) to have virological failure than those on efavirenz and protease inhibitor-based regimens. Conclusions. The study demonstrated poor performance of currently recommended clinical and immunological criteria for monitoring HIV-infected children on ART. Moreover, children on NVP-based regimens had a higher risk of developing virological failure than those on other regimens

Multivitamin Supplementation Improves Haematologic Status in Children Born to HIV-positive women in Tanzania.

Anaemia is prevalent among children born to HIV-positive women, and it is associated with adverse effects on cognitive and motor development, growth, and increased risks of morbidity and mortality. To examine the effect of daily multivitamin supplementation on haematologic status and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV through breastfeeding. A total of 2387 infants born to HIV-positive women from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, and provided a daily oral supplement of multivitamins (vitamin B complex, C and E) or placebo at age 6 weeks for 24 months. Among them, 2008 infants provided blood samples and had haemoglobin concentrations measured at baseline and during a follow-up period. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin concentrations <11 g/dL and severe anaemia <8.5 g/dL. Haemoglobin concentrations among children in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the placebo group at 12 (9.77 vs. 9.64 g/dL, p=0.03), 18 (9.76 vs. 9.57 g/dL, p=0.004), and 24 months (9.93 vs. 9.75 g/dL, p=0.02) of follow-up. Compared to those in the placebo group, children in the treatment group had a 12% lower risk of anaemia (hazard ratio (HR): 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79-0.99; p=0.03). The treatment was associated with a 28% reduced risk of severe anaemia among children born to women without anaemia (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.56-0.92; p=0.008), but not among those born to women with anaemia (HR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.79-1.54; p=0.57; p for interaction=0.007). One thousand seven hundred fifty three infants who tested HIV-negative at baseline and had HIV testing during follow-up were included in the analysis for MTCT of HIV. No association was found between multivitamin supplements and MTCT of HIV. Multivitamin supplements improve haematologic status among children born to HIV-positive women. Further trials focusing on anaemia among HIV-exposed children are warranted in the context of antiretroviral therapy

Nutritional Status and Other Baseline Predictors of Mortality among HIV-Infected Children Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Tanzania

BACKGROUND: We assembled a prospective cohort of 3144 children less than 15 years of age initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: The relationships of nutritional status and other baseline characteristics in relation to mortality were examined using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Compared with children with weight for age (WAZ) > -1, those with WAZ ≤ -2 to < -3 had a nearly double risk of death (relative risk [RR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-3.11), and among those with WAZ ≤ -3, the risk more than tripled (RR, 3.36; 95% CI, 2.12-5.32). Other baseline risk factors for overall mortality included severe anemia (P < .001), severe immune suppression (P = .02), history of tuberculosis (P = .01), opportunistic infections (P < .001), living in the poorest district (P < .001), and advanced World Health Organization stage (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: To sustain the obtained benefit of ART in this setting, interventions to improve nutritional status may be used as an adjunct to ART

Children's Medicines in Tanzania: A National Survey of Administration Practices and Preferences.

The dearth of age-appropriate formulations of many medicines for children poses a major challenge to pediatric therapeutic practice, adherence, and health care delivery worldwide. We provide information on current administration practices of pediatric medicines and describe key stakeholder preferences for new formulation characteristics. We surveyed children aged 6-12 years, parents/caregivers over age 18 with children under age 12, and healthcare workers in 10 regions of Tanzania to determine current pediatric medicine prescription and administration practices as well as preferences for new formulations. Analyses were stratified by setting, pediatric age group, parent/caregiver education, and healthcare worker cadre. Complete data were available for 206 children, 202 parents/caregivers, and 202 healthcare workers. Swallowing oral solid dosage forms whole or crushing/dissolving them and mixing with water were the two most frequently reported methods of administration. Children frequently reported disliking medication taste, and many had vomited doses. Healthcare workers reported medicine availability most significantly influences prescribing practices. Most parents/caregivers and children prefer sweet-tasting medicine. Parents/caregivers and healthcare workers prefer oral liquid dosage forms for young children, and had similar thresholds for the maximum number of oral solid dosage forms children at different ages can take. There are many impediments to acceptable and accurate administration of medicines to children. Current practices are associated with poor tolerability and the potential for under- or over-dosing. Children, parents/caregivers, and healthcare workers in Tanzania have clear preferences for tastes and formulations, which should inform the development, manufacturing, and marketing of pediatric medications for resource-limited settings

Risk factors for mortality among Tanzanian infants and children

BACKGROUND: During the era of the Millennium Development Goals, under 5 mortality rates decreased significantly worldwide; however, reductions were not equally distributed. Children in sub-Saharan Africa still account for more than 50% of the world’s annual childhood deaths among children under 5 years of age. Understanding upstream risk factors for mortality among children may reduce the large burden of childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective was to identify risk factors for mortality among infants and children in Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data pooled from two randomized-controlled micronutrient supplementation trials. A total of 4787 infants were enrolled in the two trials (n = 2387 HIV-exposed and n = 2400 HIV-unexposed). Predictors of mortality were assessed using unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs). RESULTS: There were 307 total deaths, 262 (11%) among children who were HIV-exposed and 45 (2%) among children who were HIV-unexposed (P < 0.001). The most common cause of death was respiratory diseases (n = 109, 35.5%). Causes of death did not significantly differ between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed children. In adjusted regression analyses, children with birth weight < 2500 g (aHR 1.75, 95% CI 1.21–2.54), Apgar score of ≤7 at 5 min (aHR 2.16, 95% CI 1.29–3.62), or who were HIV-exposed but not infected (aHR 3.35, 95% CI 2.12–5.28) or HIV-infected (aHR 27.56, 95% CI 17.43–43.58) had greater risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Infection with HIV, low birthweight, or low Apgar scores were associated with higher mortality risk. Early identification and modification of determinants of mortality among infants and children may be the first step to reducing such deaths.http://10.0.4.162/s41182-020-00233-8Published versio

EN-BIRTH Data Collector Training - Supporting Annexes

The EN-BIRTH study aims to validate selected newborn and maternal indicators for routine facility-based tracking of coverage and quality of care for use at district, national and global levels. The item contains consent forms and participant information, in addition to standard operating procedures (SOP) for adverse clinical events, and managing distress in interviews. The full complement of annex files used during the training can be requested via this site if required

EN-BIRTH Data Collector Training - Handbook and Manual

The EN-BIRTH study aims to validate selected newborn and maternal indicators for routine facility-based tracking of coverage and quality of care for use at district, national and global levels. The item contains the EN-BIRTH_Trainer's Manual (14 June 2017) and EN-BIRTH_Training Handbook (23 May 2017)

Low CD4 count plus coma predicts cryptococcal meningitis in Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Largely due to the lack of diagnostic reagents, the prevalence and clinical presentation of cryptococcal meningitis in Tanzania is poorly understood. This in turn is limiting the impact of increased fluconazole availability.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We evaluated a cohort of 149 consecutive HIV-infected adult inpatients presenting with headache or altered mental status for clinical features, CD4 count, cryptococcal infection, and outcome. Cryptococcal meningitis was diagnosed via India ink and latex agglutination assay of CSF (<it>n </it>= 24 and 40 positive, respectively). Associations between cryptococcal meningitis and clinical features were evaluated by t-test. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood ratio of such features were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cryptococcal meningitis was associated with confusion, social withdrawal, seizures, fever, tachycardia, meningismus, oral candidiasis, and low Glasgow coma scales and CD4 count. CD4 count < 100/μl provided the highest sensitivity for the diagnosis (93%), coma (Glasgow coma scale ≤ 8) provided the highest specificity (84%), and the combination provided the highest positive likelihood ratio (3.8). All cryptococcal meningitis patients were initiated on 800 milligrams of fluconazole daily and 50% survived to discharge, however no clinical or laboratory findings correlated with prognosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Cryptococcal meningitis is common among Tanzanian HIV inpatients presenting with headache or altered mental status. Purely clinical features are insensitive for establishing the diagnosis or prognosis. We advocate expanding laboratory capacity for cryptococcal antigen testing to maximize survival.</p