Exclusive breastfeeding practices in the Coast region, Tanzania

Background: Although breastfeeding in general is common and culturally accepted in many sub-Saharan countries, recommended exclusive breastfeeding infants to 6 months is rare. In rural Tanzania, data on infant feeding practices is rare.Objective: To examine and describe exclusive breastfeeding practices in rural settings (Coast Region) of Tanzania.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Coast Region of Tanzania involving 342 mothers. Only mothers with children aged between 6 and 23 months were interviewed in their residences. Data analyses included descriptive and logistic regression analyses.Results: The majority, 66%, of mothers reported to have breastfed their new born within the first hour of life. About 30% reported to have breastfed exclusively for up to at least six months. Those who did not practice complete exclusive breastfeeding mentioned insufficient milk as the main reason. Correlates of exclusive breastfeeding included maternal education and attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusion: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding in rural areas like the Coast Region of Tanzania is still very low. Programs aimed to promote exclusive breastfeeding must take multi-factorial considerations.Keywords: Exclusive breastfeeding, practice, rural, Tanzani

Exclusive breastfeeding practices in the Coast region, Tanzania.

Background: Although breastfeeding in general is common and culturally accepted in many sub-Saharan countries, recommended exclusive breastfeeding infants to 6 months is rare. In rural Tanzania, data on infant feeding practices is rare. Objective: To examine and describe exclusive breastfeeding practices in rural settings (Coast Region) of Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Coast Region of Tanzania involving 342 mothers. Only mothers with children aged between 6 and 23 months were interviewed in their residences. Data analyses included descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Results: The majority, 66%, of mothers reported to have breastfed their new born within the first hour of life. About 30% reported to have breastfed exclusively for up to at least six months. Those who did not practice complete exclusive breastfeeding mentioned insufficient milk as the main reason. Correlates of exclusive breastfeeding included maternal education and attitudes towards exclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding in rural areas like the Coast Region of Tanzania is still very low. Programs aimed to promote exclusive breastfeeding must take multi-factorial considerations

Knowledge, attitude and practices about dengue fever among adults living in Pwani Region, Tanzania in 2019

Background: Dengue fever (DF) is currently widespread in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Among the triggers of epidemic include urbanization and internal migrations. Within the past few years, there have been DF outbreaks in Tanzania. Although Pwani region is among the predicted risk areas for the DF, there is insufficient data about people\u2019s knowledge, attitude and practices towards prevention of DF in their settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practices about DF among adults in Pwani region in Tanzania. Methods: The cross-sectional study conducted in Mkuranga District, Pwani region in Tanzania. We used face-to-face interviews to collect data. The main analytical procedure was descriptive using frequencies. Results: The majority, 97.7%, were aware of DF. Nevertheless, almost 80% had a low knowledge on symptoms, transmission and vector control measures. Furthermore, less than 20% had positive attitude towards dengue fever prevention, severity of the illness and health seeking behavior. Conclusion: Lack of enough knowledge and positive attitude about disease transmission, symptoms and preventive measures put the population at high risk of contracting the disease. There is need to create and improve friendly, correct and simple information, education and education messages for the rural populations

Gender equitable men’s attitudes and beliefs to reduce HIV risk and gender-based violence in Tanzania

Background: While the prevalence of HIV in adults has slightly decreased in recent years, the variations in prevalence and risks to infection among men and women persist. These variations are partly explained by the social and structural conditions that predispose both sexes to HIV infection. Due to psychological and physiological conditions, literature indicates that HIV and gender based violence including intimate violence are related. This study aimed to assess how attitudes and beliefs respond to the spread of HIV and gender-based violence (GBV) in Tanzania.Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study with a sample of 1,620 adult women and men; with an approximate ratio of 1:2. A Gender Equitable Men’s scale was slightly modified to capture various psychometric domains on HIV related gender norms and attitudes among women and men.Results: We found a substantial higher proportion of men having positive gender equitable norms and consistently positive attitudes in all four domains (GBV, reproductive health and disease prevention, sexuality and domestic life and child care) we assessed on.Conclusion: Results from this study may probably imply that now men are taking positive roles in issues of domestic violence, reproductive health and disease prevention, sexuality and in domestic life and child care

Understanding the link between trafficking in persons and HIV and AIDS risk in Tanzania

The magnitude of trafficking in persons in Tanzania is unknown. Consequently, available information on health risks of persons trafficked for different forms of exploitation is extremely scanty. We conducted a baseline study in eight administrative regions of Tanzania using both qualitative and quantitative methods to generate data on the health conditions of trafficked persons to inform trafficking in persons control measures through HIV and AIDS interventions. Study participants included the national, regional and district community development officers, district medical officers, local government leaders, managers or representatives of non-governmental organizations involved in anti-trafficking in persons activities, members of the community and victims. Findings indicated that common forms of labour into which persons are trafficked include domestic services, agriculture (farming), construction, mining/quarrying, fishing, lumbering and manufacturing. Trafficked persons are reported to be exposed to risks like overcrowding, long working hours, psychological problems, physical injuries, impotence, breathing problems and sexually transmitted infections including HIV. It is concluded that the reported occupational hazards in industries where trafficked persons are forced into are not specific to trafficked persons as they affect all labourers. However, the underground nature of the trafficking in persons process increases health problems and risks, including the vulnerability to HIV infection. More tailored research is needed, especially to find means of how to reach out and provide services to this particular vulnerable population, validate labour forms of exploitation into which persons are trafficked to enable the integration or mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS and trafficking in persons at the policy and programmatic levels. In addition, findings would facilitate the understanding of the link between increased risk of HIV and trafficking in persons

Predictors of condom use among unmarried sexually active women of Reproductive age in Tanzania

Background: Condom is one of the methods for prevention against Human Immunodeficiency Virus and other Sexually Transmitted Infections. It is also considered an effective method for preventing unwanted pregnancies. Despite the several interventions that have been put to promote condom use, still a large proportion of women do not use condom during sexual intercourse. Objectives: This study aimed at determining predictors of condom use among unmarried sexually active women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Methods: This study used secondary data from the 2015-16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (2015-16 TDHS-MIS). It involved unmarried sexually active women aged 15-49 years. Multiple binary logistic regression was used to determine predictors for condom use at last sexual intercourse. Results: Overall, lower proportion (31.1%) of unmarried sexually active women used condom at last sexual intercourse. The odds of using condom during last sexual intercourse was lower aOR=0.67 and aOR=0.65 for women aged 20-24 and 25+ years respectively). Women who reported higher age (18+ years) at first sex had higher odds (aOR=1.65) of using condom compared to those started sex before 15 years old. Women owning telephone had higher odds (aOR=1.44) compared to women without telephone. Also, higher odds of using condom were observed for women in the Southern, South West highlands, and Eastern zones compared to the Central zone. Discussion: Age, marital union, parity, wealth, ownership of; mobile phone, television, access to newspapers, and radio significantly predicts condom use among unmarried sexually active women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Conclusion: The level of condom use among unmarried women in Tanzania is very low and varies by age, age at sex intercourse, ownership of phone and zones. Targeted interventions are needed to promote the condom use among unmarried women in order to mitigate the risk of HIV and un-intended pregnancies

Sexual practices among unmarried adolescents in Tanzania

\ud Sexual activities are increasingly changing from the cultural point of view what they used to be. Knowledge of these practices among adolescents may be a basis to create awareness among adolescents on practices that involve risks. This study aims to assess sexual practices among unmarried adolescents in Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among in-school and out-of-school but unmarried adolescents aged 10 to 19 in five locations in Tanzania. A questionnaire was used to collect information and to characterize sexual practices among these adolescents. About 32% of adolescents reported being sexually active; a higher proportion being males than females. The only inquired and reported sexual practices include vaginal sex, masturbation, oral and anal sex. About 15% of sexually active adolescents reported having multiple sexual partners. Significantly more males reported having multiple partners than females. Nearly 42% of sexually active adolescents reported having used a condom during most recent sexual act. Females reported older partners at first sexual act. Adolescents experience several sexual practices that include penetrative and non-penetrative. More males reported being sexually active than females. Despite adolescents reporting having multiple sexual partners, reported condom use during the most recent sexual act was low. We advocate for a more enhanced approach of reproductive health education that includes safer sex to adolescents without forgetting those in-schools.\u

Bacillus Calmette Guerin immunization coverage and the accuracy of the reported immunization data in Wanging’ombe District, Njombe Region, Tanzania

Background: Inaccuracy of the reported administrative immunization data and the corresponding coverage has been a concern for stakeholders and users of immunization data. Apart from coverage estimation, the number of doses administered for Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine is primarily used as a baseline for computing immunization indicators like dropout rate.Objectives: To estimate BCG coverage and determine the accuracy of the reported number of doses administered to children less than one year for the calendar year 2018.Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross- sectional study was conducted at 23 selected health facilities in Wanging’ombe district. Abstraction forms were used to collect data on the number of doses administered to children less than one year, number of reported doses in monthly summary forms and live births for the calendar year 2018. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software.Results: The estimated coverage was 177%. Of the 15 health facilities that were assessed for accuracy, seven had accurate data, five over reported and three under reported.Conclusion: The overall estimated coverage was unusually high. Though, the reported number of doses administered can be relied for decision making. Establishing and strengthening countrywide Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system (CVRS) may be a sustainable solution to the outstanding challenges in denominators. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with clear instructions for recording and reporting should be emphasized.Keywords: BCG, coverage, data quality, immunization, Tanzani