The Role of Urban Agriculture in Alleviating Poverty Facing Women in Tanzania: A Review

This paper examines the role of urban agriculture in alleviating poverty facing women in Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. This is a review paper where different literatures including books, reports and journals have been surveyed to answer the identified specific objectives. The findings proved that women’s participation in urban agriculture contributes to food security, increases household income, offers employment and reduces poverty. This review paper also found that women engaged in urban agriculture are able to get an average net income of Tshs 58,356.2 per month. Urban farms make the life in the city much easier by creating jobs for women and other family members engaged in it. Urban agriculture offers ecological benefits by reducing the city waste, improving urban biodiversity and air quality, and reducing the environmental impact related to soil erosion and land degradation. Despite its contributions, there are number of bottlenecks facing women’s involvement in urban agriculture such as poor markets, water shortage, land shortage, seeds unavailability and lack of capital. Other constraints include unavailability of inputs, crude working tools (hand hoe), lack of government support, lack of water pumping machines for irrigation, poor storage facilities and lack of agricultural extension services. It is recommended that urban farmers should be assisted in transforming the practice of traditional farming into modern, sustainable and environmentally friendly ones in order to increase productivity

Small-scale land grabbing in Greater Gaborone, Botswana

Most of the studies on land grabbing tend to focus on the acquisition of large tracts of land by transnational companies interested in biofuel and/or food-crop production. The practice has been applauded for enhancing food security, creating cash employment for local communities, and providing renewable energy sources. It has also been criticised for benefitting a few local elites and disadvantaging the poor and marginalised communities. This article attempts to analyse the phenomenon of small-scale land grabbing in urban and peri-urban areas. A literature review method was adopted; searches included online databases, in particular Google Scholar, Web of Science and ResearchGate and the University of Botswana Catalogue (UBRISA). Relevant references cited in downloaded articles are reviewed, until additional searches did not lead to new findings. Using ‘land grabbing’ as a tool for analysis, the article makes an audit of two reports by presidential/judicial commissions of inquiry into problems of land allocations in and around Gaborone to uncover land-grab deals and processes in communal and state-owned land in Botswana. The audit revealed that land grabbing in Greater Gaborone is an imperceptible process carried out by politicians, chiefs, businessmen, the elite and other people who understand the market value of urban and peri-urban land. The process has compromised urban land governance, poor people’s rights to the city, housing, community, recreational facilities, and increased socio-economic inequalities in the city. Finally, the article underscores the need to undertake further studies and audits to collect empirical data on the exact nature and extent of land grabbing in urban and peri-urban areas

Utilisation of voluntary counselling and testing services among bar waitresses in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

 Background: Tanzania is among sub-Saharan countries severely affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic, with an increased burden among high-risk populations, such as bar waitresses. Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is among effective approaches to slow down the spread of HIV infection and minimize its impact. However, little information is available on the extent of utilisation of VCT services among bar waitresses. The study examined utilisation of VCT services and its influencing factors among bar waitresses in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods: We used an interview schedule to gather information on VCT utilisation from 378 bar waitresses, identified using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (Version 15.0). A p-value less than 0.05 was used as a cut-off value for availability of a statistical association between VCT utilisation and related independent factors. Logistic regression models were employed to assess independent correlates of VCT use.Results: The mean (standard deviation) age of the respondents was 26.1 (5.0) years. About 60% had never been married and about 70% had at least one child at the time of the survey. Majority of the bar waitresses (89.7%) affirmed to have ever utilized VCT services at some point in their lifetime. Despite the high level of knowledge on VCT (71.4%), the services were irregularly utilized with less than half (45.5%) of the respondents utilizing them within six months prior to the survey. Independent predictors for service utilisation included having a child, having higher knowledge on VCT, using a condom in the most recent sexual act as well as lack of fear of positive HIV results or stigmatization.Conclusions: Utilisation of VCT services is high among bar waitresses in Kinondoni district. However, the services are not utilised regularly as recommended for high-risk populations. Findings call for comprehensive strategies to enhance effective service utilisation and further studies based on a broader and more inclusive sample size.

Aetiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Bacteria Pathogens from Hospitalised Adult Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in North Eastern Tanzania

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a dynamic and a rapidly increasing health concern worldwide. However, it is unevenly distributed with limited data from the developing countries. In Tanzania, it is estimated that there is a higher prevalence of AMR pathogens among hospitalised patients in tertiary care hospitals than in lower level health facilities. This is associated with longer hospitalisation, increased health care costs and higher mortality rates. The aim of this study was to determine the aetiology and AMR pattern of bacteria isolates from adult patients admitted at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre.Methodology: A total of 487 participants were enrolled in a cross sectional study conducted from April 2018 to March 2019. Bacteria isolates were from blood 262 (52.4%), urine 147 (29.4%) and wounds 91 (18.2%). Conventional methods were used to determine bacteria species while antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by using the disc diffusion method.Results: The isolates were predominantly Gram-negative bacteria with Escherichia coli, the most common pathogen in blood 55 (21%) and urine 45 (30.6%) while Pseudomonas aureginosa18 (19.8%) was the most common isolate from wounds. There was 100% resistance to Ampicilin among E.coli, Klebsiella spp and Proteus spp.. Gentamycin resistance was high in E.coli 57/90 (56.7%), Klebsiella spp 27/58 (46.6%) and P. aureginosa 24/54 (44.4%) while resistance to Amikacin was low.There was high resistance to Ceftriaxone in E.coli 44/62 (70.9%) and Klebsiella spp21/36 (58.3%) and resistance to Ciprofloxacin was 67/92 (72.8%) and 26/55 (47.3%) in E.coli and Klebsiella spp respectively. A relatively lower Carbapenem resistance was observed.Conclusion: There is an alarming high AMR to commonly used antibiotics, leaving a few available options, which are more expensive and not easily available. Therefore there is an urgent need to strengthen efforts to curb AMR in this setting while focusing treatment on the local culture and sensitivity pattern

Sources of Microbial Contamination of Local Herbal Medicines Sold on the Open Market in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Four hundred traditional herbalists operating in an open air market in Ilala, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were interviewed using a questionnaire to establish the stage at which contamination takes place during the processesing of herbal medicine preparations. Among the interviewees, 82.0 % were true traditional medicine herbalists while the rest were vendors. Most of the practitioners had received primary school education while 17.0 % were illiterate. Seventy five percent of the herbalists displayed their medicines along the streets despite being aware of the potential hazards of microbial contamination at such locations. Of the true herbalists, 70 % personally processed the herbal medicines they sold. Most of these herbalists reported using boiled and cooled tap water in the preparation of liquid forms of the medicines. The containers in which the medicines were handled were washed using unboiled tap water and soap. Previous research has shown that the use of tap water in the processing of herbal medicines and exposure in the open market are possible sources of contamination. These results point to the need for educational intervention directed at traditional medicine practitioners to curb microbial contamination of herbal medicines.Keywords: Traditional herbalists, herbal medicine, microbial contaminationEast and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 12 (2009) 19-2

Predominance of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus -ST88 and New ST1797 causing Wound Infection and Abscesses.

Although there has been a worldwide emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), little is known about the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Tanzania. In this study, we characterized MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens at the Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania, between January and December 2008. Of 160 S. aureus isolates from 600 clinical specimens, 24 (15%) were found to be MRSA. Besides molecular screening for the Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes by PCR, MRSA strains were further characterized by Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) and spa typing. Despite considerable genetic diversity, the spa types t690 (29.1%) and t7231 (41.6%), as well as the sequence types (ST) 88 (54.2%) and 1797 (29.1%), were dominant among clinical isolates. The PVL genes were detected in 4 isolates; of these, 3 were found in ST 88 and one in ST1820. Resistance to erythromycin, clindamicin, gentamicin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole was found in 45.8%, 62.5%, 41.6%, 45.8% and 50% of the strains, respectively. We present the first thorough typing of MRSA at a Tanzanian hospital.  Despite considerable genetic diversity, ST88 was dominant among clinical isolates at the Bugando Medical Centre. Active and standardized surveillance of nosocomial MRSA infection should be conducted in the future to analyse the infection and transmission rates and implement effective control measures

Obstetric Outcome among Adolescent Primigravidae Delivering at Muhimbili National Hospital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The number of adolescent pregnancies has increased throughout the world, and these pregnancies are reported in association with a higher rate of maternal and fetal complications. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare obstetric outcome among adolescents and none- adolescents primigravidae. Methods: A prospective study was carried out during mid September to mid December 2001 at Muhimbili National Hospital to compare obstetric outcome of the first pregnancies of 190 adolescents with that of 20-34years old primigravidae who delivered atthe same period of the study. Results: Poor antenatal supervision and low frequency of antenatal check up were observed in adolescents. Adverse fetal outcome, like prematurity, low birth weight and perinatal mortality were significantly high in adolescents. Prolonged labor and premature rupture of membranes were also significantly higher in adolescents. Observed maternal complications in adolescents were anaemia, preeclampsia and eclampsia. Conclusion: The study findings show that young maternal age is associated with an increased risk of unfavourable fetal and maternal outcome. Thus adolescent pregnant mothers need improved prenatal care and close monitoring and care during labo

Educating Enough Competent Health Professionals: Advancing Educational Innovation at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania.

Sarah MacFarlane and colleagues share their lessons engaging in educational reform and faculty development with the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania and the University of California San Francisco

Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Plants Growing in Tanzania

Essential oils from eleven plant species belonging to the Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae and Myrothamnaceae families growing in Tanzania were screened for mosquito larvicidal and anti-candida activities, and were subjected to the brine shrimp lethality test. In the larvicidal and brine shrimp tests, the organisms were exposed to varying oil concentrations for 24 h, after which mortality was assessed. The anticandida activity was determined using the bioautography agar overlay method. All oils showed larvicidal activity with two Ocimum suave oil samples being the most active with LC50 values of 169.8 and 151.3 ppm. The same Ocimum suave oils also exhibited the highest brine shrimp mortality (LC50 4.0 and 12.6 ppm). Most of the oils showed anti-candida activity, with oils from Ocimum species being the most active compared to the others. Thus, Ocimum suave oils merit further investigation towards the development of safe and biodegradable larvicides. Furthermore, oils from Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum kilimandscharicum could offer useful alternatives for combating candidiasis, a common opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patients.Keywords: Ocimum species, larvicides, brine shrimp, Candida albicansEast and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 13 (2010) 85-9

Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses and syphilis infections among blood donors at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

BACKGROUND: According to the latest Tanzanian National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) report a total of 147,271 individuals donated blood during the year 2002. However, blood safety remains an issue of major concern in transfusion medicine in Tanzania where national blood transfusion services and policies, appropriate infrastructure, trained personnel and financial resources are inadequate. Most of the donated blood is screened for HIV alone. METHODS: We determined among blood donors at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and syphilis by donor type, sex and age and to determine association, if any, in the occurrence of the pathogens. The sample included 1599 consecutive donors, 1424(89.1%) males and 175 (10.9%) females, who donated blood between April 2004 and May, 2005. Most of them 1125 (70.4%) were replacement donors and a few 474 (29.6%) voluntary donors. Their age (in years) ranged from 16 to 69, and most (72.2%) were between 20–39 years. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty four (15.9%) of the donated blood had serological evidence of infection with at least one pathogen and 28 (1.8%) had multiple infections. The current seroprevalence of HIV, HBsAg, HCV and syphilis among blood donors at MNH in Dar es Salaam was found to be 3.8%, 8.8%, 1.5% and 4.7%, respectively. Respective seroprevalences among HIV seronegative blood donors were 8.7% for HBV, 1.6% for HCV and 4.6% for syphilis. The differences in the prevalence of HIV and syphilis infections between replacement and voluntary donors were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Syphilis was the only infection that occurred more frequently among HIV infected (12.1%) than non-infected (4.6%) blood donors (P < 0.05), and whose prevalence increased with age (X(2 )= 58.5 df = 5, P < 0.001). There were no significant sex differences in the occurrence of pathogens. Finally, there were significant associations in the occurrence of HBsAg and syphilis (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.1.-4.2) and HIV and syphilis (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–5.3). CONCLUSION: The high (15.9%) seroprevalence of blood-borne infections in blood donated at MNH calls for routine screening of blood donors for HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis and for strict selection criteria of donors, with emphasis on getting young voluntary donors and for establishment of strict guidelines for blood transfusions