Failure to Attain HIV Viral Suppression After Intensified Adherence Counselling-What Can We Learn About Its Factors?

Background: Introduction and expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have turned the tide of HIV pandemic, thus helping people living with HIV (PLHIV) achieve viral suppression. This success may need to be complemented by intensified adherence counseling (IAC) to improve adherence to treatment. However, some PLHIV still face higher than acceptable viral loads despite being on treatment.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection, anti-HCV antibodies and HIV and knowledge among people who use drugs attending methadone therapy clinic in Tanzania; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Methadone therapy clinics have been recently introduced in Tanzania, aiming at reducing risk behaviors and infection rates of viral hepatitis and HIV among people who use drugs. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence, associated factors and knowledge level of these conditions among people who use drugs attending a methadone clinic in Tanzania.

Methods: We enrolled 253 People who using drugs receiving Methadone therapy.

The magnitude and determinants of antepartum depression among women attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary hospital, in Mwanza Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: there is an increased vulnerability for the development of common mental disorders during the peripartum period as evidenced in depressive disorder.

Methods: a cross sectional study was used to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), a tertiary level hospital in Mwanza Tanzania. A total of 380 pregnant women were recruited and interviewed by using Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale.

Schistosoma mansoni-related periportal fibrosis; can we use APRI and PSDR levels in the real-time selection of patients for targeted endoscopy in a resource-limited setting? A case-control study.

Background: Schistosoma mansoni related hepatic fibrosis is usually associated with hemodynamic alteration with increased mortality due to bleeding varices. The diagnosis of varices before bleeding imposes a big challenge in resource-limited countries using endoscopy. Published evidence on the utility of non-invasive clinical tools in predicting the presence of varices among patients with S.

Building sustainable research capacity at higher learning institutions in Tanzania through mentoring of the Young Research Peers.

Background: Sustainability of research culture in Sub-Saharan Africa is threatened in part by the lack of a critical mass of young researchers with the requisite skills and interest to undertake research careers. This paper describes an intensive mentorship programme combining hierarchical (vertical) and peer-to-peer (horizontal) mentoring strategies among young researchers in a resource limited setting in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: A consortium of three partnering large Tanzanian health training institutions (MUHAS, CUHAS and KCMUCo) and two collaborating US institutions (UCSF and Duke University) was formed as part of the five-year Transforming Health Professions Education in Tanzania (THET) project, funded by the NIH through Health Professional Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI).

Can Early Diagnosis of Varices, Regular Praziquantel, and Reduction of Hepatitis Coinfection Reduce Mortality among Patients Attended for Periportal Fibrosis in Northwestern Tanzania? A Case-Control Study.

Background: is highly endemic in the Lake Zone part of Tanzania and most people are chronically infected. Periportal fibrosis (PPF) is the commonest complication of chronic infection documented in up to 42% of studied participants in the community-based studies. These patients are at high risk of mortality since most of them are diagnosed late with bleeding varices.

Morbidity and Mortality Due to Related Periportal Fibrosis: Could Early Diagnosis of Varices Improve the Outcome Following Available Treatment Modalities in Sub Saharan Africa? A Scoping Review.

Schistosomiasis affects about 240 million people worldwide and alone affects over 54 million people leaving 400 million at-risk especially in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). About 20 million people are currently suffering from complications of chronic infection and up to 42% of those infected have been found with periportal fibrosis (PPF). About 0.

The magnitude and correlates of esophageal Varices among newly diagnosed cirrhotic patients undergoing screening fibre optic endoscope before incident bleeding in North-Western Tanzania; a cross-sectional study.

Background: Bleeding esophageal varices is a deadly complication of liver cirrhosis. Guidelines recommend an early diagnosis of esophageal varices before incident bleeding by screening all patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Though it has been reported elsewhere that the presence of esophageal varices varies widely among cirrhotic patients this has not been assessed in Tanzania since endoscopy is not readily available for routine use in our setting.

Magnitude and correlates of virological failure among adult HIV patients receiving PI based second line ART regimens in north western Tanzania; a case control study.

Background: With a growing access to free ART, switching of ART to second line regimen has also become common following failure of first line ART regimens. Patients failing on first line ART regimens have been shown to stand a high risk of failing on subsequent second line ART regimens. The magnitude of those who are failing virologicaly on second line ART is not documented in our setting.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among healthcare workers in northern Tanzania.

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is a global health problem with the highest prevalence in East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of infected people, including healthcare workers are unaware of their status. This study is aimed to determining seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among healthcare workers in northern Tanzania.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Active TB among Adult HIV Patients Receiving ART in Northwestern Tanzania: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Although ART has improved the outcome of people living with HIV/AIDS, still some patients develop TB while receiving ART. The literature on the magnitude of this problem is still scarce in our setting especially northwestern Tanzania. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of active TB among HIV patients on ART and assess its potential risk factors.

Client satisfaction with family planning services in the area of high unmet need: evidence from Tanzania Service Provision Assessment Survey, 2014-2015.

Background: Client satisfaction has been found to be an important factor for the uptake and continuation of family planning services. This study aimed to examine the current status of and factors associated with client's satisfaction with family planning services in Tanzania, which has a high unmet need for family planning.

Methods: The study used data from the Tanzania Service Provision Assessment survey of 2014-2015.

Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Tanzania: Current Status and Challenges.

Hepatitis B is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world with high prevalence in most of sub-Saharan Africa countries. The complexity in its diagnosis and treatment poses a significant management challenge in the resource-limited settings including Tanzania, where most of the tests and drugs are either unavailable or unaffordable. This mini review aims at demonstrating the current status of the disease in the country and discussing the concomitant challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Incidentally Diagnosed Prostatic Carcinoma among Patients Who Had Transurethral Prostatectomy in Tanzania: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Prostatic carcinoma carries a high morbidity and mortality if it is not diagnosed early. In resource limited countries, patients are at increased risk of being diagnosed late as they are operated for presumed benign prostatic hyperplasia. The information on the magnitude and risk factors of this problem in our setting could assist in the overall optimization of care of patients at risk.

Control of Hypertension among Diabetic Patients in a Referral Hospital in Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Hypertension is common among diabetic patients. The co-existence of two conditions carries an excessive risk of severe complications and mortalities. Limited information exists on the determinants of poor hypertension control among these patients.

HIV Epidemic in Tanzania: The Possible Role of the Key Populations.

HIV remains a public health concern in Tanzania and other Eastern and Southern African countries. Estimates show that there were about 1.4 million people living with HIV in Tanzania in the year 2013.

Liver Fibrosis and Hepatitis B Coinfection among ART Naïve HIV-Infected Patients at a Tertiary Level Hospital in Northwestern Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Liver fibrosis which is a common complication of chronic hepatitis B infection is rarely diagnosed in low-resource countries due to limited capacity to perform biopsy studies. Data on the utilization of noninvasive techniques which are feasible for diagnosis of liver fibrosis in these settings among HIV-infected patients is scarce. The objective of this study was to establish the magnitude of liver fibrosis by using both aspartate-aminotransferase-to-platelets ratio and fibrosis-4 scores with associated hepatitis B coinfection among antiretroviral therapy naïve HIV-infected patients.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Mortality among Adult HIV Patients Initiating ART in Rural Setting of HIV Care and Treatment Services in North Western Tanzania: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: HIV still causes high mortality despite use of ART. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of mortality among HIV patients receiving ART in northwestern rural Tanzania.

Methods: A retrospective study of HIV patients on ART was done at Sengerema in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Delayed Sputum Conversion among Patients Treated for Smear Positive PTB in Northwestern Rural Tanzania: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Smear positive TB carries high morbidity and mortality. The TB treatment aims at sputum conversion by two months of antituberculous. Patients who delay sputum conversion remain potentially infectious, with risk of treatment failure, drug resistance, and mortality.

Prevalence and risk factors of poor immune recovery among adult HIV patients attending care and treatment centre in northwestern Tanzania following the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy: a retrospective study.

Background: Highly Active Antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reverses the effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) by durably suppressing viral replication. This allows CD4 gain to levels that are adequate enough to restore the body's capability to fight against opportunistic infections (OIs). Patients with poor immune recovery have been shown to have higher risk of developing both AIDS and non AIDS related clinical events.

Cytopenias among ART-naive patients with advanced HIV disease on enrolment to care and treatment services at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania: A cross-sectional study.

Background: HIV/AIDS causes high morbidity and mortality through both immunosuppression and complications not directly related to immunosuppression. Haematological abnormalities, including various cytopenias, occur commonly in HIV through immune and non-immune pathways. Though these complications could potentially cause serious clinical implications, published literature on the magnitude of this problem and its associated factors in Tanzania is scarce.

Accuracy of WHO immunological criteria in identifying virological failure among HIV-infected adults on First line antiretroviral therapy in Mwanza, North-western Tanzania.

Background: Optimal HIV treatment monitoring remains a big challenge in resource limited settings. Guidelines recommend the use of clinical and immunological criteria in resource limited settings due to unavailability of viral load monitoring; however their utility is questionable. This study aimed at assessing the accuracy of immunological criteria in detecting treatment failure among HIV infected Tanzanian adults receiving first line ART.

Magnitude and correlates of moderate to severe anemia among adult HIV patients receiving first line HAART in Northwestern Tanzania: a cross sectional clinic based study.

Introduction: Moderate to severe anemia is an important clinical problem in HIV patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. The rate of progression and mortality in this sub group of patients is high compared to non anemic patients. In sub Saharan Africa with scale up of Anti retroviral therapy, the magnitude of this problem is not known especially in Tanzania.

Immunological and Clinical Responses following the Use of Antiretroviral Therapy among Elderly HIV-Infected Individuals Attending Care and Treatment Clinic in Northwestern Tanzania: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background. Limited information exists on adults ≥50 years receiving HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa despite their increasing number. We aimed at studying immunologic and clinical responses to ART in this population.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis presenting as acute severe respiratory distress in a newly diagnosed HIV patient in Tanzania: a case report.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is a common condition in HIV-infected patients which is frequently missed or misdiagnosed in resource-limited countries. We report a case of HIV/AIDS patient who was misdiagnosed with a fatal outcome. There is a need to implement screening tools to be used where the diagnosis may not be confirmed.