Publications by authors named "Dionis Shimbi"
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, kidney failure has a high morbidity and mortality. Despite this, population-based estimates of prevalence, potential etiologies, and awareness are not available.
Methods: Between January and June 2014, we conducted a household survey of randomly-selected adults in Northern Tanzania.
Article Synopsis
- Traditional medicines play a significant role in healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Northern Tanzania, where a mixed-method study was conducted to understand their usage and cultural importance.
- The study involved focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, followed by a survey of 655 adults, revealing that 68% knew someone using traditional medicines and 56% had used them themselves within the past year for various health issues.
- Key factors influencing traditional medicine use included the credibility of traditional practices, cultural identity, individual health conditions, and understanding of diseases, highlighting the need for public health programs to incorporate these insights.
Introduction: Non-communicable diseases are a growing global burden, and structured surveys can identify critical gaps to address this epidemic. In sub-Saharan Africa, there are very few well-tested survey instruments measuring population attributes related to non-communicable diseases. To meet this need, we have developed and validated the first instrument evaluating knowledge, attitudes and practices pertaining to chronic kidney disease in a Swahili-speaking population.
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