Factors Affecting the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kinondoni Municipality

The study was undertaken on the Factors Affecting the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kinondoni Municipality. The study general objective was to evaluate factors affecting growth of SMEs in Kinondoni Municipality. The study was further guided by three specific objectives, to identify types of SMEs existing in Kinondoni Municipality, to examine factors affecting growth of SMEs in Kinondoni Municipality, to assess policies and practices guiding the practice of SMEs affecting their growth in Kinondoni Municipality. The study performed using both exploratory and explanatory research designs using causality testing approach in ensuring knowledge gathering and creation in filling the study gap. Data were specifically collected in Kinondoni Municipality from 100 SMEs owners existing using the questionnaire and interviews for the key informants. The information as facts to generate knowledge were assembled and computed in SPSS for generation of analytical tools to present the data. Descriptive statistics were first generated to show the characteristics of the respondents. Moreover, correlation and multiple regression analysis were performed to show the existing relationship between study variables. The results as findings were certain and clear that all three study hypotheses were positive and significant statistically on the growth of SMEs. The findings of this study show that the growth of SMEs in Tanzania is positively affected by several factors with internal and external influence and ethnic factor since were all found positive with only one factor as the being ethnic issue being insignificant. The study further recommends that the government must keep on creating and further establishing favourable environment for the operations and growth of the enterprises more for the greater good of the economy

Cervical cancer screening in rural Tanzania

Healthcare is complex, ever-changing, and unpredictable, and the healthcare system in Tanzania is susceptible to such complexities. As one of the poorest countries in the world, with approximately 75 percent of the 50,000,000 people residing in rural areas, increasing access to health services in remote regions is crucial. The leading cause of death among women is cervical cancer in Tanzania. This is due to limited preventive health services such as cancer screening programs, shortage of healthcare facilities in rural areas, vaccination programs for HPV, and simple lack of cervical cancer awareness in rural communities. As a starting point, a cervical cancer awareness and screening event was hosted in Iringa, Tanzania. The goal of this weeklong event was to screen at least 50 women free of charge, provide education about cervical cancer through half hour information sessions, and raise awareness about cervical cancer through the distribution of t-shirts and tote bags specifically designed and worded to encourage women to get screened. After the event, a total of 106 women were screened, 50 t-shirts were distributed as well as 50 tote bags. To continue the fight against cervical cancer, an NGO (Non Government Organization) called Mama Na Mwana Tanzania has been established. Mama Na Mwana will focus on establishing women\u27s health clinics in rural Tanzania and offering cervical cancer awareness and educational programs through seminars and radio broadcasting

Usage patterns of Open Access Institutional Repositories in Tanzania: A Case of Selected Public Universities

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usage patterns of OAIRs among university community members in Tanzania universities. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model used to guide this study. The study employed a cross-sectional research design. Systematic random and purposive sampling procedures were used to obtain a total of 292 respondents and eight key informants respectively. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed by using SPSS and qualitative data were analyzed by using content analysis. The study found that 54.5% of the respondents indicated the use of OAIRs are to collect, preserve and disseminate scholarly publications and 54.5% to provide information resources for teaching, learning, and research. The study found that faculty members are using OAIRs very often. 66.4% of the respondents indicated that factors motivate to use OAIRs are to enjoy access to articles without hindrance and charges, 54.5% provisional of open access to a wider audience of researchers and 47.4% to increase the impact of researchers’ work. The study found that challenges influencing the use of OAIRs are low level of awareness, lack of ICTs infrastructure and lack of skills in using OAIRs. The study concludes that there is still much to be done in Tanzanian universities to improve the extent of OAIRs usage. The study recommends for provisional of skills in using OAIRs, stable ICTs facilities such as enough computers, Internet, and creation of more awareness on the use of OAIRs

Application of Machine Learning Algorithms in Predicting Extreme Rainfall Events in Rwanda

Precipitation is an essential component of the hydrological cycle that directly affects human lives. An accurate and early detection of a future rainfall event can help prevent social, environmental, and economic losses. Traditional methods for accurate rainfall prediction have faltered due to their weakness in quantifying nonlinear climatic conditions as they involve numerical weather prediction using radar to solve complex mathematical equations based on contemporary meteorological data. This study aims to develop a precise rainfall forecast model using machine learning (ML), and this model focuses on long short-term memory (LSTM) to enhance rainfall prediction accuracy. In recent years, machine learning (ML) algorithms have emerged as powerful tools for predicting extreme weather phenomena worldwide. For instance, long short-term memory (LSTM) is a forecast model that effectively estimates the amount of precipitation based on historical data. We analyzed 85,470 pieces of daily rainfall data from 1983 to 2021 collected from each of four synoptic stations in Rwanda (Kigali Aero, Ruhengeri Aero, Kamembe Aero, and Gisenyi Aero). Advanced ML algorithms, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), gated recurrent units (GRUs), and LSTM, were applied to predict extreme rainfall events. LSTM outperforms the CNN and GRU with 99.7%, 99.8%, and 99.7% accuracy. LSTM’s ability to filter out noise showed important patterns by handling irregularities in rainfall data to improve forecast results. Our outcomes have significant implications for disaster preparedness and risk mitigation efforts in Rwanda, where frequent natural disasters, including floods, pose a challenge. Our research also demonstrates the superiority of LSTM-based ML algorithms in predicting extreme rainfall events, highlighting their potential to enhance disaster risk resilience and preparedness strategies in Rwanda

Immediate Seven Day Outcomes and Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight Neonates at Referral Hospitals in Mwanza City, Tanzania in October 2020

Background:Every year more than 20 million neonates worldwide are born with low birth weight (LBW) per year. Ninety-five percent of LBW births occur in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine Immediate Seven Day Outcomes and Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight Neonates at Referral Hospitals in Mwanza City.Materials and Methods:This was a hospital based observational prospective cohort study of neonates with LBW whom were followed up for seven days in the neonatal wards at referral hospitals in Mwanza city. Maternal social-demographic, newborns clinical data and vitality outcomes were collected. Categorical and continuous variables were summarized and presented in tables or bar charts. Any p-value of < 0.05, at 95% confidence interval was regarded as statistically significant.Results:Total of 200 neonates with median age of 0.8 days at baseline were enrolled. Amongst 148 (74 %) had prolonged hospitalization; due to sickness 88 (59%), and 60 (40%) due to poor weight gain. Whereas, the remaining 42 (21%) were discharged and 10 (5%) died within seven days. Prolonged hospitalization was associated with family income (p-value= <0.001) and place of delivery (p-value = <0.001). Neonatal death was associated with family income (p-value =0.035) and birth weight (p-value = 0.019). Early discharge associated with gestational age at first antenatal visit, family income, mode of delivery, APGAR score at one minute, time interval between delivery and admission and timing of medication initiation.Conclusion:LBW neonates are at high risk of death and prolonged hospitalization due to sickness or due to poor weight gain. Associated factors of these outcomes were family income, place of delivery, birth weight, gestation age during first antenatal visit, mode of delivered and low APGAR score. Keywords: Neonatal Outcomes, Low Birth Weight, Tanzani

Evaluation of an integrated intervention to reduce psychological distress and intimate partner violence in refugees:Results from the Nguvu cluster randomized feasibility trial

IntroductionThe complex relationship between intimate partner violence and psychological distress warrants an integrated intervention approach. In this study we examined the relevance, acceptability, and feasibility of evaluating a multi-sectoral integrated violence- and mental health-focused intervention (Nguvu).MethodsWe enrolled 311 Congolese refugee women from Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania with past-year intimate partner violence and elevated psychological distress in a feasibility cluster randomized trial. Women were recruited from local women's groups that were randomized to the Nguvu intervention or usual care. Participants from women's groups randomized to Nguvu received 8 weekly sessions delivered by lay refugee incentive workers. Psychological distress, intimate partner violence, other wellbeing, and process indicators were assessed at baseline and 9-weeks post-enrollment to evaluate relevance, acceptability, and feasibility of implementing and evaluating Nguvu in refugee contexts.ResultsWe found that Nguvu was relevant to the needs of refugee women affected by intimate partner violence. We found reductions in some indicators of psychological distress, but did not identify sizeable changes in partner violence over time. Overall, we found that Nguvu was acceptable and feasible. However, challenges to the research protocol included baseline imbalances between study conditions, differential intervention completion related to intimate partner violence histories, differences between Nguvu groups and facilitators, and some indication that Nguvu may be less beneficial for participants with more severe intimate partner violence profiles.ConclusionsWe found evidence supporting the relevance of Nguvu to refugee women affected by partner violence and psychological distress and moderate evidence supporting the acceptability and feasibility of evaluating and implementing this intervention in a complex refugee setting. A definitive cluster randomized trial requires further adaptations for recruitment and eligibility screening, randomization, and retention.Trial registrationISRCTN65771265, June 27, 2016

Post-discharge early assessment with remote video link (PEARL) initiative for patients discharged from hospital medicine services

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the availability and accessibility of outpatient care following hospital discharge. Hospitalists (physicians) and hospital medicine advanced practice providers (HM-APPs) coordinate discharge care of hospitalized patients; however, it is unknown if they can deliver post-discharge virtual care and overcome barriers to outpatient care. The objective was to develop and provide post-discharge virtual care for patients discharged from hospital medicine services. We developed the Post-discharge Early Assessment with Remote video Link (PEARL) initiative for HM-APPs to conduct a post-discharge video visit (to review recommendations) and telephone follow-up (to evaluate adherence) with patients 2–6 days following hospital discharge. Participants included patients discharged from hospital medicine services at an institution’s hospitals in Rochester (May 2020–August 2020) and Austin (November 2020–February 2021) in Minnesota, US. HM-APPs also interviewed patients about their experience with the video visit and completed a survey on their experience with PEARL. Of 386 eligible patients, 61.4% were enrolled (n = 237/386) including 48.1% women (n = 114/237). In patients with complete video visit and telephone follow-up (n = 141/237), most were prescribed new medications (83.7%) and took them as prescribed (93.2%). Among five classes of chronic medications, patient-reported adherence ranged from 59.2% (narcotics) to 91.5% (anti-hypertensives). Patient-reported self-management of 12 discharge recommendations ranged from 40% (smoking cessation) to 100% (checking rashes). Patients reported benefit from the video visit (agree: 77.3%) with an equivocal preference for video visits over clinic visits. Among HM-APPs who responded to the survey (88.2%; n = 15/17), 73.3% reported benefit from visual contact with patients but were uncertain if video visits would reduce emergency department visits. In this novel initiative, HM-APPs used video visits to provide care beyond their hospital role, reinforce discharge recommendations for patients, and reduce barriers to outpatient care. The effect of this initiative is under evaluation in a randomized controlled trial.</p

Postdischarge Video Visits for Adherence to Hospital Discharge Recommendations: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective: To determine whether a postdischarge video visit with patients, conducted by hospital medicine advanced practice providers, improves adherence to hospital discharge recommendations. Patients and Methods: We conducted a single-institution 2-site randomized clinical trial with 1:1 assignment to intervention vs control, with enrollment from August 10, 2020, to June 23, 2022. Hospital medicine patients discharged home or to an assisted living facility were randomized to a video visit 2-5 days postdischarge in addition to usual care (intervention) vs usual care (control). During the video visit, advanced practice providers reviewed discharge recommendations. Both intervention and control groups received telephone follow-up 3-6 days postdischarge to ascertain the primary outcome of adherence to all discharge recommendations for new and chronic medication management, self-management and action plan, and home support. Results: Among 1190 participants (594 intervention; 596 control), the primary outcome was ascertained in 768 participants (314 intervention; 454 control). In intervention vs control, there was no difference in the proportion of participants with the primary outcome (76.7% vs 72.5%; P=.19) or in the individual domains of the primary outcome: new and chronic medication management (94.1% vs 92.8%; P=.50), self-management and action plan (76.5% vs 71.5%; P=.18), and home support (94.1% vs 94.3%; P=.94). Women receiving intervention vs control had higher adherence to recommendations (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.08-2.91). Conclusion: In hospital medicine patients, a postdischarge video visit did not improve adherence to discharge recommendations. Potential gender differences in adherence require further investigation.Clinicaltrials.gov number, NCT04547803