Views and opinions of mass media key informants on coverage of issues related to maternal, newborn and child health in Lake Zone, Tanzania

In Tanzania, the mass media is a primary means of communicating health information to urban and rural populations. While unsafe abortion is the leading cause of maternal deaths and complications in Tanzania, this has increased the high unintended pregnancy rate. Journalists, editors, program managers and producers play a significant role in determining the health-related issues reported. In the present study, the views, and opinions of mass media key informants on coverage of issues related to maternal, newborn and child health in Lake Zone were investigated. This qualitative study was conducted with key informants from 24 mass media outlets that covered the Lake Zone in Tanzania. Twenty-seven key informants from media outlets (radio, television, and newspapers) were recruited to participate in the study. Results revealed that most key informants identified breastfeeding, antenatal care (ANC) visits, facility deliveries and malaria as essential and the MNCH issues covered mainly by mass media. In MNCH issues identified, breastfeeding and ANC visits were more likely to be endorsed as issues covered in the media compared to facility deliveries and malaria. Mass media campaigns were the most effective and popular way of disseminating MNCH-related information

Common Preventable Health and Social Problems Encountered by Elderly in Shinyanga Region in the Northern Part of Tanzania

In Tanzania elders are respected as repositories of inherited wisdom, experienced and principal decision makers in the community. However, evidence shows that such repositories are no longer considered important in most societies. As a result elders are neglected with some mistreatment in terms of provision of health and social services for instance; at times they get denied and ignored of their obvious rights, ignoring their retirement benefits and the rights onto free social services as per the Tanzania National Ageing Policy of 2003. Elders are therefore faced with physical, psychological and geriatric social suffering. It is on this basis that this study tries to explore the common preventable health and social problems encountered by elderly in Shinyanga Region in northern part of Tanzania. Across sectional community based study of 465 subjects randomly selected was done in three wards of Kahama District. The district was selected randomly out of 8 districts of Shinyanga Region, structured questionnaires with both closed and opened endower used; the information was collected from house to house and other information collected from health facilities within the wards as every ward had one public health facility; subjects (respondents) were obtained using purposive sampling technique aiming at elderly with 60 years of age and above. Kahama district has a population of approximately 36,014 of which 1500 (4%) are in the elderly age group of 60 years and above. The study population was 465 which is 30% (465/1500) of the geriatric population of Kahama. Among this group 5% were female while 41% were male and 53% (248/465) were married. 64% (297/465) were taking care of themselves, 32% (150/465) cared by relatives and 4% (18/465) cared by the community. Among the respondents, 40% (185/465) were affected by HIV/AIDs in one way or another either living with orphans whose parents died of HIV/AIDS or asking care of the infected patients within the family. It was also found that 73% of the geriatrics were not exempted from medical treatment fees so they had to pay for their medical care. However, only 32% were aware of getting free treatment and 61% of the study populations were not satisfied with the medical care provided at the public health facilities. The common diseases affecting this age group are: Eye problem 59% (273/465); Arthritis 52% (241/465); Dental problems 27% (124/465); Hypertension 23% (107/465); Backache 22% (105/465); Malaria 28% (132/465); Hearing problems 26% (121/645); Urinary tract Infection 35% (165/465); Depression 8% (36/465). Dementia was also a problem though we had no tools to confirm the diagnosis; some of the geriatrics had more than two diseases. The majority of the elderly age group in Kahama District are not aware of their rights that they deserve free treatment according to Tanzania policy, furthermore for assessment and screening of health problems. A majority of the elderly die prematurely due to preventable diseases and more than half of the diseases affecting geriatrics are preventable

Access and utilization of water and sanitation facilities and their determinants among pastoralists in the rural areas of northern Tanzania

Introduction: Lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene remains one of the most pressing global health issues of our time. Water and sanitation-related improvements are crucial in meeting the Global Sustainable Development Goals. This study was conducted to determine the access, utilization, and determinants of access to sanitation facilities among pastoral communities in rural areas of northern Tanzania.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Ngorongoro District in northern Tanzania. The survey included key measures adapted from the Joint WHO/UNICEF Core Questions on drinking-water and sanitation for Household Surveys. An observation checklist was also completed at each household. Geographical positions of the households were recorded using a Global Positioning System.Results: A total of 175 households participated in the study. More than half (61.7%, n=108) of the participants reported access to an improved water source throughout the year. The majority (50.3%, n=88) of the households reportedly practised open defecation. The multivariate analysis identified that the key determinants to access a sanitation facility at a household were socio-economic status, family size, the presence of under-five years of age in the household, history of diarrhoeal diseases – self-reported of an adult, having ever received education on sanitation and motivation for improvement in defecation place.Conclusion: There is limited access to water and sanitation facilities in communities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Individual and community factors are key determinants for a household to own a sanitation facility. Findings from this study indicate a need for interventions to improve access to water and sanitation facilities in the area.

Geophagy Practices and the Content of Chemical Elements in the Soil Eaten by Pregnant Women in Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining Communities in Tanzania.

Geophagy, a form of pica, is the deliberate consumption of soil and is relatively common across Sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, pregnant women commonly eat soil sticks sold in the market (pemba), soil from walls of houses, termite mounds, and ground soil (kichuguu). The present study examined geophagy practices of pregnant women in a gold mining area of Geita District in northwestern Tanzania, and also examined the potential for exposure to chemical elements by testing soil samples. We conducted a cross sectional study using a convenience sample of 340 pregnant women, ranging in age from 15-49 years, who attended six government antenatal clinics in the Geita District, Tanzania. Structured interviews were conducted in June-August, 2012, to understand geophagy practices. In addition, soil samples taken from sources identified by pregnant women practicing geophagy were analysed for mineral element content. Geophagy was reported by 155 (45.6%) pregnant women with 85 (54.8%) initiating the practice in the first trimester. A total of 101 (65%) pregnant women reported eating soil 2 to 3 times per day while 20 (13%) ate soil more than 3 times per day. Of 155 pregnant women 107 (69%) bought pemba from local shops, while 48 (31%) consumed ground soil kichuguu. The estimated mean quantity of soil consumed from pemba was 62.5 grams/day. Arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel and zinc levels were found in both pemba and kichuguu samples. Cadmium and mercury were found only in the kichuguu samples. Based on daily intake estimates, arsenic, copper and manganese for kichuguu and copper and manganese for pemba samples exceed the oral Minimum Risk Levels designated by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. Almost 50% of participants practiced geophagy in Geita District consistent with other reports from Africa. Both pemba and kichuguu contained chemical elements at varying concentration, mostly above MRLs. As such, pregnant women who eat soil in Geita District are exposed to potentially high levels of chemical elements, depending upon frequency of consumption, daily amount consumed and the source location of soil eaten

A box plot showing the distribution of lead levels based on location and geophagy practices.

A box plot showing the distribution of lead levels based on location and geophagy practices.</p

Socio-demographic status among the study participants (N = 1056).

Socio-demographic status among the study participants (N = 1056).</p

STROBE statement—checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.

STROBE statement—checklist of items that should be included in reports of observational studies.</p

Inclusivity-in-global-research-questionnaire.

Neither artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) or geophagy practices have received substantial attention related to blood lead levels despite the well documented deleterious effects of lead. This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to document the risk of lead exposure from geophagy and mining-related occupational activities for pregnant women. The study recruited 1056 pregnant women (883 in an ASGM area and 173 in a non-ASGM area) between April 2015 –April 2017. Generalized Linear Model with an identity link function was used to model the association between blood lead levels (BLLs) and geophagy practices and involvement in gold mining. The prevalence of geophagy was 36.2% (95% CI: 33.6, 39.4%) and 6.3% engaged in mining as a primary occupation. Practicing geophagy increased BLLs by 22% (β = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.116, 1.309, p</div

Recruitment, exclusion, and eligibility of pregnant women in ASGM and non-ASGM areas.

Recruitment, exclusion, and eligibility of pregnant women in ASGM and non-ASGM areas.</p