Publications by authors named "Athanas Mhina"
Objective: In onchocerciasis-endemic areas, limited access to antiseizure medications (ASMs) contributes to a high epilepsy burden. This study evaluated the impact of a community-based epilepsy care program in Mahenge, Tanzania, an onchocerciasis-endemic area with high epilepsy prevalence.
Methods: A baseline survey (2017-2018) identified persons with epilepsy (PWE) in four rural villages.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the link between Onchocerca volvulus (causing onchocerciasis) and epilepsy in Mahenge, Tanzania, focusing on the prevalence of both conditions after 25 years of ivermectin treatment.
- A cross-sectional survey of 56,604 individuals was conducted, revealing onchocerciasis prevalence among children at 11.8%, higher in medium-altitude villages, and epilepsy incidence at 21.1 cases per 1,000 persons, also more prevalent in medium altitudes.
- Female gender, middle altitudes, and positive OV16 antibodies were associated with a higher likelihood of having epilepsy, highlighting ongoing public health challenges despite long-term ivermectin use.
Article Synopsis
- Malaria remains a significant public health issue in Tanzania, with over 93% of the population still at risk, despite a decline in cases over the past two decades; understanding community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) could improve control efforts.
- This study utilized qualitative methods, including interviews and focus group discussions across 16 villages in high transmission areas, to assess community and health service providers' KAP regarding malaria.
- Findings revealed that while many participants had good foundational knowledge of malaria, misconceptions about its causes and prevention methods—such as believing that it arises from bathing or drinking un-boiled water—hampered effective control, along with barriers like inadequate health resources and reliance on traditional remedies.
Background: Community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi) is used to eliminate onchocerciasis. However, despite 25 years of annual CDTi in Mahenge, Tanzania, the prevalence of onchocerciasis and onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy remained high in certain rural villages. Therefore, in 2019, bi-annual CDTi was introduced in the area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nodding syndrome (NS) has been consistently associated with onchocerciasis. Nevertheless, a positive association between NS and a Mansonella perstans infection was found in South Sudan. We aimed to determine whether the latter parasite could be a risk factor for NS in Mahenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite 20 years of ivermectin mass distribution in the Mahenge area, Tanzania, the prevalence of onchocerciasis and epilepsy has remained high in rural villages.
Objectives: We investigated the efficacy of ivermectin in reducing Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae and predictors for parasitic load following ivermectin treatment in persons with (PWE) and without epilepsy (PWOE).
Methods: Between April and September 2019, 50 PWE and 160 randomly selected PWOE from Msogezi and Mdindo villages participated in a follow-up study.
Background: It has been more than 20 years since the malaria epidemiologic shift to school-aged children was noted. In the meantime, school-aged children (5-15 years) have become increasingly more vulnerable with asymptomatic malaria prevalence reaching up to 70%, making them reservoirs for subsequent transmission of malaria in the endemic communities. Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in schoolchildren (IPTsc) has proven to be an effective tool to shrink this reservoir.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe investigated a dengue outbreak in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 2014, that was caused by dengue virus (DENV) serotype 2. DENV infection was present in 101 (20.9%) of 483 patients.
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