Teacher–Students Classroom Relationship in Selected Secondary School Civics Classes, in Kinondoni Municipality, Tanzania

Democratic teacher–students classroom relationship is crucial in deploying participatory pedagogy in the classroom teaching and learning. This paper shares experience on how secondary school teachers relate with their students when teaching Civics lessons in the classroom. Specifically, it investigates whether Civics teacher–students classroom relationship reflects the recommended participatory pedagogy. A qualitative approach was used to collect and analyse data from participants in purposively selected case schools. Data were generated and collected using non-participant classroom observation, whereby, each sampled Civics teacher (CT) was repeatedly observed (at least three times in different days) teaching Civics lessons in his/her classroom. Concurrently, a sound tape recorder was used to record the teacher–students’ oral interactions. The findings indicate that although, the CTs–students’ relationship was characterised by both kinds of interactions, the positive interactions were dominant. This means that teacher–students classroom relationship was mainly characterised by positive interactions which also suggests that CTs largely demonstrated democratic relationship with their students consistent to participatory pedagogy recommended by the Civics syllabus. Key words: Civics teachers, negative interactions, positive interactions, participatory pedagogy, teacher–students classroom relationship. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-8-08 Publication date: July 30th 202

Civics Teachers’ Choice of Teaching Methods in Kinondoni Municipal Secondary Schools, Tanzania

Any choice made about pedagogy or teaching methods for Civics will have a reflective impact on the students’ learning. This study sought to find out what influence Civics teachers’ (CTs’) choice of pedagogical strategies or teaching methods. This is important because it contributed to understanding of factors that influenced their choices and whether they reflect participatory pedagogy inherent in the Civics syllabus for Secondary Schools. The study employed the qualitative research approach, a single case study. The data were analysed using a content analysis framework described by Miles and Hurberman (1994), that is, data reduction, data display, and drawing and verifying conclusions. The findings indicate that CTs’ choices of teaching methods were influenced by classroom-based participative-active pedagogies. Such pedagogies include, the Civics syllabus, CTs’ mastery or knowledge of teaching methods, expertise in Civics, students’ developmental ability or ability to speak the English language and availability of library or teaching and learning materials. However, the Civics syllabus was dominant factor that influenced CTs’ choice of teaching methods. The implication is that participatory pedagogy inherent in the Civics syllabus largely influence CTs’ choices of teaching methods. Keywords: Choice, Civics teachers, Civics syllabus, teaching methods DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-11-01 Publication date: April 30th 2023

The Usage of Reference Management Software by Postgraduate Students: A Case of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College.

Reference Management Software (RMS) is a tool used to organize citations and references, and arrange citations in different styles for academic writing works. This study aimed to assess the usage of RMS by postgraduate students at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College. The specific objectives of this study were to identify the levels of awareness of postgraduate students about RMS; to examine its usage, and asses the challenges faced by postgraduate students when using RMS. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology underpinned the study, which utilized a mixed methods approach. The study involved 91 participants selected through simple random and purposive sampling techniques, and data were collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the results presented using tables and figures. Qualitative data were analysed using the content analysis technique. The findings revealed that the respondents were slightly aware of RMS in scholarly writing through their lecturers. The Mendeley was the most commonly used RMS by postgraduate students. However, postgraduate students encountered challenges when using RMS, including limited skills and knowledge and inadequate information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructures. The study recommends that universities should provide comprehensive training, workshops, and seminars on Reference Management Software together with online instructional materials at institutional or departmental levels. Librarians should be equipped with the knowledge, and skills on how to use research tools to assist postgraduate students. Also, the University management should increase the number of qualified librarians and ICT personnel. Keywords: Reference Management Software; Postgraduate Students; Citation Management Software; Research tool

The MTego trap: a potential tool for monitoring malaria and arbovirus vectors

BACKGROUND: Odour-baited traps are useful for vector surveillance and control. However, most existing traps have shown inconsistent recapture rates across different mosquito species, necessitating the need for more effective and efficient traps. The MTego trap with integrated thermal stimuli has been developed as an alternative trap. This study was undertaken to determine and compare the efficacy of the MTego trap to that of the Biogents (BG) modular BG-Pro (BGP) trap for sampling different mosquito species in a semi-field system. METHODS: Fully balanced Latin square design experiments (no-choice and dual choice) were conducted in semi-field chambers using laboratory-reared female Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, Anopheles funestus, Anopheles arabiensis, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. There were 16 replicates, and 50 mosquitoes of each species were released in each chamber per replicate. The evaluated traps were as follows: the MTego trap baited with PM6 (MT-PM6), the MTego trap baited with BG-Lure (BGL) (MT-BGL), and the BGP trap baited with BG-Lure (BGP-BGL). RESULTS: In the no-choice test, the MT-BGL and BGP-BGL traps captured a similar proportion of An. gambiae (31% vs 29%, P-value = 0.519) and An. funestus (32% vs 33%, P = 0.520). The MT-PM6 and BGP-BGL traps showed no significant difference in capturing Ae. aegypti (33% vs 31%, P = 0.324). However, the BGP-BGL caught more An. arabiensis and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes than the other traps (P < 0.0001). In the dual-choice test of MT-PM6 vs BGP-BGL, similar proportions of An. funestus (25% vs 27%, P = 0.473) and Ae. aegypti (29% vs 25%, P = 0.264) were captured in the traps, while the BGP-BGL captured more An. gambiae, An. arabiensis and Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes than the MT-PM6 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the MTego trap has potential as a tool that can be used interchangeably with the BGP trap for sampling anthropophilic mosquitoes including African malaria vectors An. gambiae and An. funestus and the principal arbovirus vector Ae. aegypti

The impact of dairy production on rural livelihoods in Hai district, Tanzania

MA-Thesis in Agricultural Education and ExtensionThis study was conducted in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region in order to determine the impact of milk production on rural livelihood. Specifically the study aimed to (i) determine levels of milk production among small scale dairy farmers (ii) explore market outlets of milk produced by dairy cattle keepers and (iii) assess impact of milk production on livelihoods. The study used both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from household survey in the study area using structured questionnaires. The collected secondary data included records of milk production, marketing and consumption. These were obtained from the District Livestock Development Office and from dairy cooperative office. Data were coded, entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 computer program. Descriptive statistics particularly frequencies and percentages were deployed in the analysis. Results of the study as per objective shows that, annual milk production ranged from a minimum of 600 litres per cow per year to a maximum of 3600 liters per cow per year. Furthermore, the result revealed that 37.1% of the respondents sold their milk to restaurant owners where 35.3% sold their milk to the dairy cooperative milk collection centers. Others sold their milk to milk vendor (19%), schools (6%) and 1.7% of them sold milk to other outlets including kiosk. Moreover, the study also showed that dairy production contributed directly to food security through consumption of milk and use of milk income to purchase food and household assets. It is therefore recommended that deliberate efforts should be made to promote small scale dairy cattle production. Furthermore, it is recommended that reliable market be provided to milk producer in order to encourage the smallholder farmers to increase milk production

Comparative analysis of adolescent pregnancy causes in Tanzania: A comprehensive review of literature

Teenage pregnancy remains a global challenge with profound implications, necessitating a thorough exploration of its causes and contributing factors. This study provides a comprehensive review of research studies conducted in Tanzania from 2019 to 2023, contributing to the ongoing discourse on the complex interplay of socio-cultural, economic, and educational factors shaping the experiences of Tanzanian adolescents. Twelve studies, comprising seven journals and five master theses, were purposefully selected to identify commonalities and disparities in their findings. The study systematically examines the identified studies, shedding light on the prevailing factors associated with teenage pregnancies in Tanzania. Several themes emerged from the reviewed literature, with all studies unequivocally pinpointing poor knowledge on sexual and reproductive health as a common factor contributing to teenage pregnancies. Moreover, a substantial majority, 75%, highlighted the significance of low economic status in this context, emphasizing the intersectionality of socio-economic factors. Furthermore, this comparative analysis delves into the nuanced findings of the selected studies, revealing that 50% of the reviewed research identified peer influence as a significant contributor to teenage pregnancies. These findings not only underscore the multifaceted nature of the issue but also highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing both individual knowledge gaps and broader socio-economic challenges

The impacts of family planning and HIV service integration on contraceptive prevalence among HIV positive women in Tanzania: a comparative analysis from the 2016/17 Tanzania HIV impact survey

Abstract Background Prevention of unplanned pregnancies through modern contraceptives among HIV-positive women is one of the essential strategies for reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Family planning and HIV services integration is a national strategy designed to scale-up modern contraceptives among HIV-positive women. This study aims to evaluate the success of a service integration strategy by comparing the prevalence of modern contraceptive use among HIV-positive women receiving ART within integrated services and those not on integrated services (HIV-negative women and HIV-positive women unaware of their status). Methods We used data from the Tanzania HIV impact survey (THIS) of 2016/17. THIS provided HIV counselling and testing with a return of results in over 30,000 adults over 15 years of age. Women tested positive self reported their enrollment into ARV with further confirmation through laboratory analysis for any detectible ARV in their blood. All non-pregnant women reported their contraceptive use. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the effect of accessing integrated services controlling for potential confounders. Results A total of 14,986 women were included in the analysis; HIV-positive women were 1,066 and HIV-negative women were 13,830. Modern contraceptive use prevalence was 35% among HIV-positive women and 30% among HIV-negative women. Among HIV-positive women, those enrolled in integrated services (ART) had a higher prevalence of modern contraceptive (40%) compared to HIV-positive women unaware of their status (27%, p-value = 0.0014). The most common contraceptive methods in HIV-positive women were injectables (32%) and male condoms (31%), while in HIV-negative women, injectables (39%) and implants (30%, n = 1032) were the most preferred methods. Among HIV-positive women, enrolment into integrated services (currently on ART) demonstrated an increase in the odds of modern contraceptives by 85% (AOD = 1.85, 95%CI: 1.27–2.71). Conclusion This study found relatively low modern contraceptive use among HIV-positive women in the general population despite the existance of service integration program and guidelines to guide its implementation.Our study therefore calls for the evaluation on the implementation of the integration programme to identify factors that constrain or facilitate programme effectiveness

Sexual Harassment in Clinical Practice—A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses and Nursing Students in Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction Sexual harassment (SH) at the workplace is a globally discussed topic and one deserving of scrutiny. It is an issue that is often avoided although around 25% of nurses worldwide have experienced some form of SH at their workplace. Consequences of SH at workplaces can be very serious and an occupation hazard for nurses around the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa there is also a need for more studies in the field. Objective The overall aim was to determine the prevalence, types, and consequences of sexual harassment among nurses and nursing students at a regional university hospital in Tanzania. Methods The study has a cross-sectional design. A study specific questionnaire was distributed to a total of 200 nurses and nursing students. Descriptive statistics were used for calculation of frequencies, prevalence, including gender differences, types, and consequences of sexual harassment. Results The result show that 9.6% of the participants had experienced some form of SH at their workplace. Regarding the female nurses and students, 10.5% had been sexually harassed at work, whereas the number for males was 7.8%, but 36% knew about a friend who had been sexually harassed. The most common perpetrator were physicians. The victims of SH were uncomfortable going back to work, felt ashamed and angry. Conclusions In conclusion, nearly 10% of the participants had been exposed to sexual harassment. However, an even greater number of victims was found when including by proxy victims of sexual harassment. SH can become a serious occupational hazard and stigmatization for nurses. Enhanced knowledge is needed, and hospitals and medical colleges should emphasize their possibilities to give support and assistance to the victims of SH. Education about SH in all levels and prevention methods should also be emphasized

The complete mitochondrial genome of Meller’s mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri)

AbstractMeller’s mongoose (Rhynchogale melleri) is a member of the family Herpestidae (Mammalia: Carnivora) and the sole species in the genus Rhynchogale. It is primarily found in savannas and open woodlands of eastern sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome for a female Meller’s mongoose collected in Tanzania, generated using a genome-skimming approach. The mitogenome had a final length of 16,644 bp and a total of 37 annotated genes. Phylogenetic analysis validated the placement of this species in the herpestid subfamily Herpestinae. Ultimately, the outcomes of this research offer a genetic foundation for future studies of Meller’s mongoose

Descriptive study of nursing scope of practice in rural medically underserved areas of Africa, South of the Sahara

Aims: The aims of this study are to describe the scope of “non-nursing duties” carried out by nurses, in rural low-resource regions of Tanzania, and describe how the role of nurses is viewed in their communities. Background: More than 70% of Tanzanians live in rural areas. Nurses are more likely than physicians to practice in these communities. As a result nurses are frequently forced to function beyond their educational preparation and expand their practice to meet the health needs of the community. Design: This exploratory study sampled two randomly selected district hospitals, with associated health centers and dispensaries (small village clinics), in each of the four target-regions (Tanga, Mtwara, Singida, and Shinyanga). Methods: In November 2014, members of the Faculty of Nursing at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University–College (KCMUCo) in Moshi, Tanzania interviewed nurses, health facility managers, non-nurse health professionals, and health service consumers. Results/findings: Nurses at all levels of education, with or without additional training, are prescribing for patients and performing minor surgical procedures, well beyond their educational preparation. The consensus by all participants is that nurses should receive training in skills to provide primary care as a solution to the lack of providers. Conclusion: Strengthening health services by advancing the nurses’ role is an innovative way to improve health care outcomes in Tanzania