The Contribution Professional Codes of Conducts on Secondary Education Teacher’s Professionalism: A Case of Bukoba District Council, Kagera Region, Tanzania

The main purpose of this study was to examine The Contribution of professional codes of conducts on secondary education teacher’s professionalism: A Case of Bukoba District Council, Kagera Region, Tanzania. The study was guided by deontological and utilitarianism theories. The research employed a mixed research approach under convergent parallel research design. The study used a population of 238 with the sample size of 149 comprising of 1 DSEO, 13 WEOs, 13 Head of Schools, and 122 Teachers. The sample was obtained by simple random sampling and purposive sampling technique, and data were gathered by using questionnaires and interview guide. What’s more, cronbach alpha coefficient approach was used to ensure the reliability of the instruments. Obtained finding were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 computer package. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics and the findings were presented by using frequency tables and pie-charts. Also, part of qualitative data wascodedand categorized by thematic analysis of which description were employed to present data in chapter four. The findings indicated that in teaching professionalism there is ethical and moral practice, moral development and moral values which are caused professional codes of conducts to teachers.In addition, it was found that professional codes of conducts raise the standards of teaching professionalism, brings about respect, integrity and obedience to laws. The study recommended that the government and other educational authorities to put more emphasize on the moral development to teachers because it is one of the important that contribute to ethical practice

Public Knowledge, Perceptions and Practices in Relation to Infectious and other Communicable Diseases in Tanzania: Lessons Learnt from Babati District

We report public knowledge, perceptions and practices on selected infectious diseases in Tanzania using a study done in Babati district, and identify policy related messages in light of health promotion strategies instituted for communicable disease control. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with individual household members and focus group discussions with other residents in several villages; in-depth interviews with health workers, local government leaders, and district health managers. Many villagers associated malaria transmission with people’s exposure to intense sunrays; TB and brucellosis with people drinking raw-milk, animal blood and meat; sharing a bed or utensils with TB/brucellosis patients; TB with smoking or inhaling cigarette smoke; leprosy with witchcraft; and lymphatic filariasis and schistosomiasis with people contacting dirty-water or through sexual intercourse. Occasional shortage of drugs and laboratory services, lack of reliable transport facilities, low public use of latrines, unaffordable bednet prices, and common sale of counterfeit drugs by unregulated retailers were perceived to perpetuate the existence and widespread communicable diseases. Use of traditional medicines to treat these diseases was reported to be a common practice. Culturally rooted knowledge and beliefs about diseases influence people’s health care seeking practices and may perpetuate prevalence and transmission of diseases. There should be educational policy program considerations among the strategies aimed at effective disease control.\u

Prevalence of undernutrition and risk factors of severe undernutrition among children admitted to Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a major public health problem in developing countries including Tanzania, contributing up to 50 % of under-five mortality. East Africa region was among the three United Nations (UN) subregions with the highest prevalence of stunting in 2011. In resource limited countries, the available little resources in hospitals are likely to be used focusing the primary clinical problem that led to admission of children leaving moderate and mild malnutrion unattended. This work was conducted to determine the prevalence of under-nutrition and risk factors associated with severe malnutrition among undernourished children aged 6–60 months admitted to Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) paediatric wards. METHOD: This was a hospital-based cross sectional study where by 720 children were screened in order to determine their nutritional status. Data were collected through measurement of weight/length or height, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and interpretation was done using Z-score (mild malnutrition ≤1SD, moderate malnutrition ≤2SD and severe malnutrition ≤3SD). The socio-demographic data were obtained using a questionnaire that was completed by interviewing children’s parents/caregiver. RESULTS: Out of 720 screened children, 402 (55.8 %) were undernourished. Severe malnutrition was found in 178 (24.7 %) children and among these 97 (54.5 %) had marasmus. Risk factors associated with severe malnutrition were children with age less than 2 years, lack of vaccination, taking unbalanced diet, low maternal education and single parent, with p-value (<0.001, < 0.001, <0.001, 0.02, < 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSION: This study show a high prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized children and the majority was marasmic. The risk factors associated with severe malnutrition were described. We recommend improving the screening for undernutrition in all admitted patients so that proper management of this problem can be done concurrently with the primary clinical disease that led to admission

Using Community-Owned Resource Persons to Provide Early Diagnosis and Treatment and Estimate Malaria Burden at Community Level in North-Eastern Tanzania.

Although early diagnosis and prompt treatment is an important strategy for control of malaria, using fever to initiate presumptive treatment with expensive artemisinin combination therapy is a major challenge; particularly in areas with declining burden of malaria. This study was conducted using community-owned resource persons (CORPs) to provide early diagnosis and treatment of malaria, and collect data for estimation of malaria burden in four villages of Korogwe district, north-eastern Tanzania.In 2006, individuals with history of fever within 24 hours or fever (axillary temperature ≥37.5°C) at presentation were presumptively treated using sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine. Between 2007 and 2010, individuals aged five years and above, with positive rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were treated with artemether/lumefantrine (AL) while under-fives were treated irrespective of RDT results. Reduction in anti-malarial consumption was determined by comparing the number of cases that would have been presumptively treated and those that were actually treated based on RDTs results. Trends of malaria incidence and slide positivity rates were compared between lowlands and highlands. Of 15,729 cases attended, slide positivity rate was 20.4% and declined by >72.0% from 2008, reaching <10.0% from 2009 onwards; and the slide positivity rates were similar in lowlands and highlands from 2009 onwards. Cases with fever at presentation declined slightly, but remained at >40.0% in under-fives and >20.0% among individuals aged five years and above. With use of RDTs, cases treated with AL decreased from <58.0% in 2007 to <11.0% in 2010 and the numbers of adult courses saved were 3,284 and 1,591 in lowlands and highlands respectively. Malaria incidence declined consistently from 2008 onwards; and the highest incidence of malaria shifted from children aged <10 years to individuals aged 10-19 years from 2009. With basic training, supervision and RDTs, CORPs successfully provided early diagnosis and treatment and reduced consumption of anti-malarials. Progressively declining malaria incidence and slide positivity rates suggest that all fever cases should be tested with RDTs before treatment. Data collected by CORPs was used to plan phase 1b MSP3 malaria vaccine trial and will be used for monitoring and evaluation of different health interventions. The current situation indicates that there is a remarkable changing pattern of malaria and these areas might be moving from control to pre-elimination levels

Prevalence of clindamycin inducible resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania

Abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been recognized world wide as an important causative agent of nosocomial and community acquired infections. Clindamycin has been considered as analternative drug for the treatment of such strains. However, the possibility of clindamycin inducible resistance complicates the choice of treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of clindamycininducible resistance of MRSA at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in Mwanza Tanzania. A total of 600 clinical specimens of pus, wound swabs and aspirates from patients admitted at BMC surgical wards were processedover a period of 4 months. Of these, 160 of S. aureus clinical isolates were analysed. MRSA was identified using cefoxitin disc, oxacillin disc and oxacillin agar. Inducible clindamycin resistance was detected usingerythromycin (15&mu;g) and clindamycin (2&mu;g) discs placed 15mm apart on Muller Hinton agar. Of the 160 isolates, 26 (16.3%) were found to be MRSA. Overall prevalence of inducible clindamycin resistance (iMLSB)was 28.8% (46/160), with 22% (30/134) of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and 61% (16/26) of MRSA exhibiting inducible clindamycin resistance (P=0.0001). Constitutive resistance (cMLSB) was found in 1 (3.7%) of the MRSA isolates and was not detected among MSSA. MSB phenotype was detected in 1 (3.8%) of MRSA isolates and 2 (1.5%) of MSSA. Eight (29.6%) of the MRSA isolates were sensitive to both clindamycin and erythromycin. In conclusion, a high prevalence of inducible clindamycin resistance was observed among S. aureus with significant association between MRSA and inducible clindamycin resistance. It is important that susceptibility test of staphylococci is routinely done to facilitate early detection of clindamycin inducible resistance in the country

Pattern and spatial distribution of plague in Lushoto, north-eastern Tanzania

A review of plague records from 1986 to 2002 and household interviews were carried out in the plague endemic villages to establish a pattern and spatial distribution of the disease in Lushoto district, Tanzania. Spatial data of households and village centres were collected and mapped using a hand held Global Positioning System and Geographical Information System. During the 16-year period, there were 6249 cases of plague of which 5302 (84.8%) were bubonic, 391 (6.3%) septicaemic, and 438 (7.0%) pneumonic forms. A total of 118 (1.9%) cases were not categorized. Females and individuals aged 7-18 years old were the most affected groups accounting for 54.4% (95% CI: 52.4–56.0) and 47.0% (95% CI: 45–49) of all reported cases, respectively. Most cases were found in villages at high altitudes (1700-1900m); and there was a decline in case fatality rate (CFR) in areas that experienced frequent outbreaks. Overall, there was a reduction in mean reporting time (from symptoms onset to admission) to an average of 1.35 days (95% CI: 1.30–1.40) over the years, although this remained high among adult patients (>18 years). Despite the decrease in the number of cases and CFR over the years, our findings indicate that Lushoto district experiences human plague epidemic every year; with areas at high altitudes being more prone to outbreaks. The continued presence of plague in this focus warrants further studies. Nonetheless, our findings provide a platform for development of an epidemic preparedness plan to contain future outbreaks.. Keywords: plague, epidemics, pattern, spatial distribution, Tanzania Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 9 (1) 2007: pp. 12-1

Malaria and nutritional status in children living in the East Usambara

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kwelumbizi and Shambangeda villages, in the East Usambara Mountains, in north-east Tanzania, to determine the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and nutritional status in children &#8804; 11 years old. In addition, knowledge and practice on malaria among the households were determined using questionnaires and focus group discussions. The results showed that prevalence of malaria (48.5 - 51.0%) and parasite density levels was similar in both villages. A significantly higher malaria prevalence was observed in children &#8805; 5 years old than in the < 5 years old (P=0.01). This correlated with the higher spleen rate in the same age group (P=0.022). However, higher anaemia prevalence (both severe and moderate), lower haemoglobin levels were found in children < 5 years old. There was no variation in most of the clinical history/symptoms among children with malaria in the two villages. However, coughing (P=0.014) was frequently observed among children in Shambangeda. The use of mosquito nets was more common among the residents of Shambangeda than Kwelumbizi (P=0.001). Children &#8805; 5 years old were significantly malnourished in all levels of measurement. Wasting was more frequently observed among females in the < 5year old while stunting and underweight were more observed among males in all age groups. Malaria, anaemia and malnutrition are prevalent in the East Usambara Mountains. Efforts to address these conditions are urgently needed. Keywords: malaria, anaemia, nutritional status, children, Tanzania Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 8 (2) 2006: pp. 56-6

Supply chain management of laboratory supportive services and its potential implications on the quality of HIV diagnostic services in Tanzania

Background: Reliable supply of laboratory supportive services contributes significantly to the quality of HIV diagnostic services. This study assessed the status of supply chain management of laboratory supportive services and its potential implications on the quality of HIV diagnostic services in selected districts of Tanzania.Methods: The study was conducted in 39 health facilities (HFs) from eight districts in four regions of Tanzania, namely Iringa, Mtwara, Tabora and Tanga. Facilities with care and treatment centres for HIV/AIDS patients were purposively selected for the study. The study utilized a quantitative method of data collection. A questionnaire was administered to heads of laboratories to obtain information on laboratory supply chain management.Results:  A total of 39 health facilities (HF) were included in the study. This included 23 public and 16 private facilities. In 82% of the HFs, ordering of supplies was performed by the laboratory departments. The information commonly used to forecast requirements of the laboratories included the number of tests done (74.4%; n=29), current stock levels (69.2%; n=27), average monthly consumption (64.1%, n=25) and minimum and maximum stock levels (10.2%, n=4). Emergency orders were significantly common in public than private facilities (73.9% vs. 56.3%, p=0.004).  Delivery of ordered supplies took 1 to 180 days with a significantly longer period for public than private facilities (32.5 vs. 13.1 days, p=0.044). Most of the public HFs ordered supplies from diverse sources compared to private facilities (68.2% vs. 31.8%).Conclusion: There was a weak inventory management system and delays in delivery of supplies in the majority of HFs, which are likely to impede quality of HIV care and treatment. Strengthening capacity for data management and ensure constant supply will potentially improve the quality of HIV diagnostic services

Self-perceived halitosis among students of higher learning institutions in Rwanda

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-perceived halitosis (SPH), its effects and associated factors among students of higher learning institutions in Kigali, Rwanda.Materials and methods: A self-administered structured questionnaire was distributed to 354 students. Data was entered into excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Chi-square test was performed and p&lt;0.05 was considered significant.Results: Out of 354 questionnaires distributed, only 329 were completely filled and used for analysis of which 48.6% were filled by females. The prevalence of perceived bad breath was 23.1%, and was similar in both sexes. About 23% reported that breath had interfered with their social life at school during the month of the study, while 13.1% and 19.7% respectively reported to have lost their friends at school and avoided other people from feeling that they had bad breath. Respondents who reported to have cavities in their teeth; gum bleeding; white or yellow deposits on their tongue; and dry mouth were more likely to report perceived bad breath than their counterparts (x2-= 18.21, p&lt; 0.001; x2-= 28.03, p&lt; 0.001; x2-= 28.19, p&lt; 0.001, x2-= 4.55, p&lt; 0.033 respectively). The oral habits that were associated with perceived bad breath were “not brushing teeth every day” (x2-= 5.51, p= 0.019); “tobacco smoking” (x2= 31.91, p= 0.001); “drinking alcohol regularly” (x2= 7.73, p= 0.005); and “using chewing gum every day” (x2 = 28.03, p&lt; 0.001).Conclusion: A substantial proportion of students in institutions of high learning in Rwanda reported to have bad breath. Tooth cavities, gum bleeding, white or yellow deposits on tongue, infrequent tooth brushing; tobacco smoking and regular alcohol consumption were significantly associated with perceived bad breath.Keywords: Self-perceived halitosis, associated factors, social life, Student

Race, Ethnicity and Higher Education in the African Diaspora: Guest Editors\u27 Introductory Note

Authors in this issue of Alliance for African Partnership Perspectives, Race, Ethnicity, and Higher Education in the African Diaspora, responded to a Call for Thought Pieces from anywhere in the world—urgent, critical reflections of issues around race and ethnicity in higher education institutions and key stakeholder and collaborator organizations in Africa and the African Diaspora.https://scholarworks.smith.edu/afr_books/1008/thumbnail.jp