Iatrogenic ureteric and bladder injuries in obstetric and gynaecologic surgeries

No Abstract. East African Medical Journal Vol. 83(2) 2006: 79-8

Comparative evaluation of the development of labour-intensive works technology programme in Namibia

1. Background A number of development programmes have been carried out in Namibia since independence. It is seldom that evaluation is undertaken after completion to assess the degree of success of the programmes implemented in relation to their objectives and other effects. Often, similar programmes or projects are undertaken without the benefit of lessons and experiences from past programmes or projects. The aim of his study was to evaluate one such post-independence development programme implemented in Namibia namely the Labour-Based Works Technology Development Programme (LBWP). This programme was initiated in 1991, and was largely completed in 2000. 2. Problem Statement Creation of employment and poverty eradication are two of the four broad goals of the National Development Plan 1 and II (NDP I and NDP II) of the Government of Namibia (GON). The LBWP was implemented during the period of NDP1. Programme objectives were two fold; the creation of employment opportunities in the rural areas; and the development of road infrastructure in the underdeveloped inaccessible areas of the country. Prior to this programme, labour-based works technology was unknown in Namibia. There is no comprehensive study undertaken as yet to examine the level of success of the LBWP in Namibia in relation to its objectives, and in comparison with other successful programs elsewhere. This study was carried out for this purpose. 3. Literature Review An extensive literature review was undertaken to establish the existing intellectual basis and the theoretical framework of labour-based works technology. Research that has already been done was analysed and compared to crystallise this study

An evaluation of the information architecture of the UCT Library web site

Web users are becoming more critical of the web sites they use. This dissertation evaluates the information architecture of the academic library web site at the University of Cape Town. The evaluation of the information architecture of an academic library web site is important because the web site functions as an international gateway to the institution's valuable library resources. A library may therefore be judged on the basis of its web site. It is no wonder that a lot of effort is put into ensuring a well-designed web site. A multi-approach evaluation was completed to evaluate the library web site. Firstly, a formal usability test was conducted with five users to establish the required site structure and to identify any possible problems with the usability of the site. Secondly, a heuristic evaluation with an expert was conducted to test the web site content, information architecture, and navigation design. Thirdly, a closed card sort analysis with ten participants was completed in order to establish the required site structure and terminology for the potential web site re-design. Fourthly, a comparative analysis of the previous versions of the university library web site was done to highlight the main differences and improvements. Reviewing "prior-art'1/previous versions of any web site guarantees the development of an improved information architecture. In addition to the aforementioned evaluation techniques, the study recommended the use of a requirements document that was developed for the purposes of this study that details a set of standard guidelines for the academic library site maintenance. In an attempt to improve the navigation problems identified on the library web site, a site map was developed for the web site as well. 11l This research found that the library web site had an overall usable web site with users rating their satisfaction with the site between good and very good. The site however exhibited a few problems with the terminology used, there were also problems identified with the navigation design. Issues relating to identifying specific information were also identified. This dissertation presents recommendations to handle the aforementioned problems. The study also encourages continual web site evaluation

Effects of Seasons and Zonation on Biochemical Contents of Two Seagrass Species along Dar es Salaam Coast, Tanzania

Accumulation and allocation of biochemicals in plants are affected by various factors. The influence of seasons and vertical zonation on biochemical contents of seagrasses Cymodocea rotundata and Thalassia hemprichii from Mjimwema seagrass meadow along the coast of Dar es Salaam were assessed. Samples were collected in 2016 during wet/rainy (April–May) and dry (June–July) seasons. Concentrations of crude protein, soluble carbohydrates, phosphorus, lipid, and proline were determined using standard methods. Significant higher levels of phosphorus, lipid, protein and proline were observed during the dry season than in wet season (p < 0.05). Likewise, seagrass population occurring at the shore zone expressed higher levels of biochemical contents than those found at the subtidal zones. The highest concentration of protein was recorded in Thalassia hemprichii (5.8 mg/g dw)), while those of lipid and carbohydrates (27.1 and 53.1 mg/g dw, respectively) were recorded in Cymodocea rotundata. The two species studied did not vary significantly in their biochemical concentrations in both seasons. Generally it was observed that the concentrations of studied biochemicals were up-regulated during the dry season and varied depending on the locations where the seagrass grow. Thus, both season and zonation played roles in biochemical accumulation in the seagrasses understudy, however not interactively. Keywords:  Biochemical composition; Cymodocea rotundata; Thallasia hemprichii; Seagrass meadows

Seasonal variation and nutrient levels influence phenolic contents in seagrass Thalassia hemprichii along Dar es Salaam coast

Seasonal variation in total phenolics in Thalassia hemprichii from four different sites with varied nutrient loading along Dar es Salaam coast was studied. Besides few studies existing on phenolics in seagrass species done to assess status of the seagrass meadows, there is paucity of information for seagrass species along the coast of Indian Ocean in Dar es Salaam. In this study, Thalassia hemprichii shoots were collected from four different sites having different levels of anthropogenic pressure during dry and rainy seasons. The total phenol contents of above and belowground parts of the seagrass were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu method. Results indicates significant differences in total phenol from different sites in both above and below ground tissues, ranging from 2.7 to 35.7 µgGAE/mg and 1.9 to 142.9 µgGAE/mg, respectively. The highest concentration of total phenol during dry season was recorded in samples collected from Kunduchi site and the lowest being at Oysterbay site. Similarly, during rainy season significant variation in concentration of total phenols were observed among sites ranging from 2.3 to 26.4 and 12.7 to 77.0 µgGAE/mg for above and belowground parts, respectively. Generally in all sites, a significant higher concentration of total phenol in the belowground parts was observed than in the above ground parts in both seasons and was higher in dry than in rainy season. There was negative correlation between concentration of phenol in the tissues of seagrass and the concentration of nutrients in water. Our finding shows that variation in seasons and nutrient levels influence the accumulation of phenolic compounds in the studied seagrass. Thus phenol content could be used as early warning biological marker for assessing the status of seagrass meadows subjected to multiple environmental pressures.Key words:    Phenolic content, Thalassia hemprichii, Seagrass, Nutrient levels, Dar es Salaam coast

Challenges in using Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment by Postgraduates and Academic Staff Accessing Educational Materials: The Case of Open University of Tanzania.

The study focused on challenges in using Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (MOODLE) by postgraduate students and the teaching staff for accessing education materials and it was applied at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). Specifically, the study intended to examine the accessibility of MOODLE platform; to describe the extent which MOODLE platform was used; to examine challenges in using MOODLE and to overcome the identified challenges in using MOODLE by postgraduates and the academic staff for accessing educational materials. The study involved postgraduate students and OUT academic staff. The study employed a cross sectional approach, the sample was obtained through purposive, convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The data were collected through questionnaire, observation and interview and analysed through thematic analysis and the focus was on emerging themes and sub themes. The findings revealed both postgraduate students and the academic staff face closely related challenges in using MOODLE like; lack of Internet, low bandwidth and poor economic on cost of purchasing Internet bundle. The findings also established means to address the prevailing challenges such as the Open University of Tanzania to improve its Internet connectivity provide adequate training in general on the use of MOODLE and improve infrastructure to ensure reliable access to MOODLE. Lastly, the study recommended that the Open University of Tanzania should come up with special software that would be accessed free by the students and the academic staff, else the university should purchase or subsidies bundle for its staff and target students in each semester for them to access the MOODLE. Keywords: Learning Management System, MOODLE, Educational Resources, Academic

Socio-Technical Perspective for Electronic Tax Information System in Tanzania

Socio-technical systems theory has rarely been used by system architects in setting up computing systems. However, the role of socio-technical concepts in computing, which is becoming social in nature, has made the concepts more relevant and commercial. Tax information systems are examples of such systems because they are influenced by external variables such as the political environment, technological trends, and social environment, introducing complexity in their deployment and determining the type of e-services and their delivery to a diverse group of people. It was observed that in Tanzania there is resistance, reluctance and minimal use of electronic tax system because of insufficient end-user support and their involvement in constructing the system. Therefore, there is need to develop an electronic tax information system using socio-technical systems perspectives to ensure design of an efficient user-friendly tax administration system. The research used the qualitative approach, featuring case studies in Korea, Chile, Tanzania, and Denmark. The study used best practices from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to benchmark Tanzania Revenue Authority current practices. It was found that tax models implemented are techno-centric push models, which don’t attract its use by tax payers and requiring human intervention in its operation, hence not cost-effective. As the first and relevant phase in socio-technical system development, this paper presents the problem definition and analysis of e-Tax collection system in Tanzania

abundance and diversity of seagrass and macrofauna in the intertidal areas with and without seaweed farming activities in the east coast of Zanzibar

The diversity and abundance of seagrass and associated macrofauna were studied in transects with and without seaweed farms at Chwaka Bay and Jambiani, in the East Coast of Zanzibar. Eight seagrass species, namely Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Thalassia hemprichii,Thalassodendron ciliatum, Syringodium isoetifolium, Halodule uninervis, Halophila ovalis and Enhalus acoroides were recorded in the transects. The mean total biomass of seagrass at Chwaka Bay ranged from 142.4 ± 70.71 to 1652 ± 772.7 g dw/m2 and 212.9 ± 146.2 to 1829 ± 1692 gdw/m2 in station with and without seaweed farms, respectively. At Jambiani, the mean total biomass ranged from 880.4 ± 336.8 to 3467 ± 549.9 and 203.4 ± 102.4 to 3810 ± 2770 g dw/m2 in station with and without seaweed farms, respectively. The overall total biomass of seagrasswas significantly lower (KW = 108.7, p < 0.0001) in station with seaweed farms than in stations without seaweed farms. A total of 93 macrofauna species representing 60 families were encountered and the mean density ranged from 910 to 6990 individuals/m2 at Chwaka Bay andJambiani in stations with and without seaweed farms respectively. The most common macrofauna species were Codakia punctata, Meropesta nicobarica, Echinometra mathaei, Pinna muricata and Clibanarius emystemus. It was shown that the macrofauna abundance and diversity was higher in stations without seaweed farms than in the stations with seaweed farms, which could be due to activities associated with seaweed farming which contributed to the loss of diversity and biomass of flora and macrofauna of the seagrass meadows

Challenges in the Management of Road Safety in Tanzania: The Need for an Integration Framework

Tanzania is hardest hit by daily accident deaths and casualties on the roads. Although various measures have been taken by the government, enforcement agencies and NGOs, accidents and fatalities keep growing at a rate above that of killer diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. The main causes observed were that road safety has multiple key autonomous stakeholders having different fragmented information systems which are not inter-operable because of being proprietary in nature, thus inhibiting the timely and coordinated sharing of information among them. This paper presents the lessons learned from different stakeholders following a series of workshops and meetings with these key stakeholders to understand the problem from their institutional contexts. Hence, anintegration framework is developed and implemented to facilitate enforcement of road traffic regulations and to enable the different stakeholders cooperate and share information efficiently and with transparency in sustained road safety regulations enforcement. It is envisaged that if the integrated platform is successfully adopted, it can reduce the heavy duplication of efforts and investment in incoherent data systems by individual stakeholders in terms of hardware, consumables and personnel resources. The integrated platform for the road safety management system is in place, however, it needs a policy direction from the government to galvanise the major stakeholders