Access and Use of E-Resources in Tanzanian Academic and Research Institutions: A Summary of Survey Report

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An Appraisal of the Consortium of Tanzania University and Research Libraries

This study investigated factors constraining effective growth of the Consortium of Tanzania University and Research Libraries (COTUL). A mixed research design was employed to gain a deeper insight into the subject matter. Data was collected using interviews, questionnaires and observations. Fifty-eight (58) purposively selected professional librarians participated in this study. The study investigated, among other things: the librarians' level of awareness of COTUL, its organizational structures, strengths and challenges. The findings revealed that librarians’ awareness of COTUL is minimal, hence constraining its growth and that the existing organization structures are not conducive for COTUL to function satisfactorily. A number of challenges were identified including weak sustainable financial base, researchers’ low level of awareness of e-resources, lack of e-resource searching skills and lack of office space. Based on these findings, it is recommended that COTUL should look for permanent and reliable funding sources, sensitize all library staff and top administrators, form an Advisory Board and set up a full-time secretariat and a permanent office premises

Mutations in dhfr in Plasmodium falciparum infections selected by chlorproguanil-dapsone treatment.

Treatment with the novel antifolate drug combination chlorproguanil-dapsone effectively cleared asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections in 246 (93.5%) of 263 children in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania during the course of a 2-week follow-up. Samples from 71 recurrent infections, collected over a 9-week follow-up, showed selection for parasites with the triple mutant Ile(51)-Arg(59)-Asn(108) in dihydrofolate reductase. There was no selection for mutations in dihydropteroate synthetase, the target enzyme of dapsone. Search for complete identity in the highly polymorphic genes coding for merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 in parasite samples collected before and after treatment indicated that the majority of recurrent parasitemias were new infections. These observations on selection in Tanzania and the lack of selection reported from a less endemic area suggest that the active metabolite of chlorproguanil, which has a short half-life in the blood, may persist in the liver, where it exerts selective pressure on growing preerythrocytic stages

The Status of Social Rights Protection in Tanzania (2001-2012)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 facilitated and strengthened a number of developments necessary in internationalization of human rights.  As a result, protection of human rights has acquired global status and importance and has grown tremendously both in conception and content over the years. One dimension of human right which has achieved growth is Social rights. Michael, K (2013), asserts that, social rights are human rights which guarantee a social system whereby the state assumes primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens in matters such as adequate health care, quality education, safe and clean water, enough food, housing and social security. This paper starts by providing an understanding of social rights and how they are being protected in Tanzania. It gives an overview of social rights guaranteed as well as impediments to full realization in promotion and protection of such rights caused by prevailing legal framework. Furthermore, the paper used results from Afro-barometer to analyze trend of protection of social rights in Tanzania over the period of 12 years (2001 – 2012). Findings reveal that, the status of the state in assuming its primary responsibility for the welfare of its citizens is deteriorating. As such the proportion of citizens with access to and who affords adequate food, enough fuel for cooking, safe water, appropriate medical care, and quality education has been declining. The paper argues that although Tanzania is a signatory to major international human rights instruments, which are also involved in promoting and protecting of social rights; large-scale human rights abuses still exist in the country and social rights have become a neglected category of human rights. It also prescribes roles which the government and NGOs must play so as to ensure optimal realization on promotion and protection of social rights within the country. Keywords: Human Rights, Social Rights Protection, Tanzania

Consumption Of Indigenous Fruits In Uluguru North And Ruvu North Forest Reserves, Tanzania

The study was conducted between 1998 and 2000 to compare the number, types and consumption of indigenous fruit species by sex and age classes in the Uluguru North Forest Reserve (UNFR) and Ruvu North Forest Reserve (RNFR). Data were collected through household interviews and forest inventory. A total of 120 households from six villages (3 bordering the RNFR and 3 near the RNFR) were randomly selected for interviews. Plots with the size of 0.1 ha were established along the transects after every 400m during forest inventory for the purpose of identifying fruit plants. A total of 25 indigenous fruit species were identified in the study areas. 20 and 16 species were identified in the UNFR and the RNFR respectively. 9 species were only found in UNFR while 5 were identified in RNFR. 11 species were identified in both study areas. Responses on consumption by age showed that, in both sites, children consumed more indigenous fruits than any other age group followed by adult women. The consumption of these fruits in UNFR was 64% (children), 47% (adult women) and 25% (adult men) while in RNFR consumption was 46% (children), 39% (adult women) and 23% (adult men). Seasonality and availability of exotic species had effect on consumption of indigenous fruits. The consumption of indigenous fruits appeared to be much higher when the supply of exotic fruits was low and vice versa. TJFNC Vol. 75 2004: pp. 65-7

Acceptability, Sources and Types of Sex Education Messages Received by Young People in Rural Areas: A Case of Maswa District, Tanzania

The study intended to explore parents’ feelings and beliefs on issues related to sex education and establish whether parents are ready to discuss with their children or willing to allow sex related information reach their children as a means of reducing the risks of HIV infections. A cross-sectional research design was employed in collecting data from 210 respondents (150 youths and 60 parents) from three community secondary schools namely Sukuma, Malampaka and Kinamwigulu, six primary schools (one from each village) namely Hinduki, Mwadila, Malampaka, Kinamwigulu, Dodoma and Lali. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square were used to test the statistical significance of categorical data. The result reveal that parents and religious leaders are the most common sources of messages on sex education to young people, and which is aimed at combating the spread of HIV and AIDS. Other sources (arranged in the order of importance) were open air campaigns, politicians, other adults, the media and teachers.  The most popular message in sex education was abstinence. Other types of sex education messages (arranged from the most popular to the least popular) include abiding by ABC strategy, use of condoms and delaying sex debut. Parents have positive attitudes towards sex education which is given to their children as part of HIV and AIDS prevention. The result reveals that parents and religious leaders are the most common sources of messages on sex education to young people. Parents have good knowledge of HIV and AIDS. However, among young people the level of awareness decrease with age. Attitudes of religious leaders and male parents with regard to HIV and AIDS should be re-addressed. Serious steps should be taken to raise the level of HIV awareness among younger people

Social Economic Factors Affecting Consumption of Sweet Potato Products: An Empirical Approach

The objective of the study was to analyze factors affecting consumption of value added products of sweet potato. The study was conducted in Shinyanga rural and Mwanza urban. Using cross sectional design, the study employed individual interviews, focused group discussions; review of relevant practical documents and discussions in data collection from a total of 200 surveyed households. Data collected was summarized using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) windows versions 18.0.Analyses of the factors hypothesized to influence the consumption of sweet potatoes was carried out using multiple regression analysis. The goodness of fit of the model which is high as measured using coefficients of determination (R2). The higher value of R2 suggests that variables included in the model explained about 73% of the variations in the dependent variable. The F –Value is significant, indicating that the explanatory variables were statistically significant in explaining variation in the dependent variable. Furthermore, Variation Inflation Factor confirms absence of serious collinearity problem. Similarly, Durbin Watson test confirms the absence of autocorrelation. Furthermore, the data revealed that the sizes of land owned and education level are highly statistically significant at (p < 0.01) and statistically significant (p < 0.05) respectively. Hence there is need for farmers to increase the land area for sweet potatoes production to medium scale. Regarding to sweet potato prices it was found to vary from one node to another. However, there are a number of challenges facing the development of the sweet potato industry in Tanzania. The chronic shortage of seed is the most important challenge that needs to be dealt with (33.1%). Others were lack of capital (26.8%) unpredicted weather and pests/insect attack were the most critical challenges facing the subsector. Keywords: Sweet potato, value added products, consumption, Michembe, Matobolw

Provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling in Mbeya City, south-western Tanzania: knowledge and practice of health care providers

Provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) is a routine HIV counseling and testing offered to adult clients attending at health care facilities. In Tanzania PITC started in 2007, with the aim of increasing early HIV diagnosis and timely access to care, treatment and support services. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and practice of health care providers on PITC. This cross sectional study was conducted in April-May 2010 among nurses and clinicians working in the government health care facilities in Mbeya City, south-western Tanzania. Self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from the study participants. A total of 402 (95% response rate) care providers were interviewed. Their mean (± SD) age was 41 ± 9.5 years. The majority 304 (76%) were nurses. Their duration of practice ranged from 4 months to 39 years. All the care providers reported to be aware of PITC services. However, 35% of them had inadequate knowledge of PITC and 269 (67%) reported to have ever offered PITC services. Median number of clients attended per week was 3 (IQR, 1-6 clients). Participants who had attended special training on PITC were 6-fold more likely to offer PITC services [OR = 6.2, 95% CI = 3.7-10.2; P<0.001] than those who had not attended. In conclusion more than one-third of health providers do not routinely offer PITC in Mbeya City, leading to missed opportunity for early HIV diagnosis. On job and in-service training to improve PITC knowledge and supportive supervision for those trained is required

Sensory evaluation of different preparations of cassava leaves from three species as a leafy vegetable

Cassava leaves are largely consumed in Africa and are among the top three African indigenous vegetables rich in nutrients. Leaves from bitter (Manihot utilissima), sweet (Manihot dulcis) and wild (Manihot glaziovii) species of cassava were cooked by boiling in salted (sodium bicarbonate and table salt) water with the addition of palm oil and ground-nut paste, following processing by “pounding”, “pounding and then drying” and, “drying and then pounding”. The drying was done in tunnel solar drier at temperature of 65°C on average. Nine samples (three species x three processing methods) were evaluated by 31 panelists, using a five point hedonic scale, where 5 = like very much and 1= dislike very much. Cassava species affected significantly (p = 0.0047; 0.0206) scoring for texture and overall acceptability, respectively, but not for colour, aroma and taste. Processing method highly significantly (p< 0.0001) affected all the sensory attributes scoring. Leaves from all three  species were liked as leafy vegetable, except when pounded after drying.Key words: Cassava leaves, cassava species, sensory characteristics, tunnel solar drying, processing methods, Rwanda

Prevalence and risk factors for HIV among people aged 50 years and older in Rombo district, Northern Tanzania

Background: It is estimated that over ten percent of the 36.7 million people living with HIV (PLWHIV) globally, are those aged ≥50 years. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for HIV among adult aged 50 years and above in Rombo district, northern Tanzania.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted from April to June 2015 among older adults aged ≥50 year in Rombo district. Interviews were conducted to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive and sexual health characteristics of the participants, knowledge on HIV transmission, prevention and risk perception and on awareness and knowledge on voluntary and counselling testing services. In addition, a blood sample was taken for HIV diagnosis.Results: A total of 600 people were enrolled. Their age ranged from 50 to 90 years with mean of 64.9 (±SD 10.3) years. The HIV prevalence was 1.7% (n=10) and it was higher among women (2.1%) than men (1.3%). Sixty-percent (n=350) were knowledgeable on HIV transmission and only 40% (n=216) on HIV prevention. In bivariate analysis, age of partner <50 years, ever use of condoms, poor knowledge on HIV prevention and perception of risk on HIV were significantly associated with HIV. However, only partner’s age of <50 years remained significant after controlling for confounders.Conclusion: HIV prevalence and overall knowledge on its transmission among older adults in this rural population were low. There is a need for strategies to improve HIV preventive knowledge and testing in this group in order to continue keeping the transmission at low levels