Comparison of knowledge, attitude, practice and predictors of self-medication with antibiotics among medical and non-medical students in Tanzania.

Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is a widespread problem in developing nations, including Tanzania. This study compared knowledge, attitudes, practices, and factors influencing antibiotic SMA among medical and non-medical students. The prevalence of SMA among medical students was 49.

Barriers to access of maternal health commodities among pregnant women in public health facilities in Ubungo Municipal Council, Tanzania.

Background: Access to maternal health commodities improves maternal outcome and reduce maternal deaths. Tanzania has put in place the fee exemption policy for mothers to access maternal health commodities for free, however, the implementation of user fee exemption has been challenging. Therefore, this study explored the barriers to access of maternal health commodities among pregnant women in public health facilities at Ubungo Municipal Council, Tanzania.

Impact of COVID-19 on the supply chain of essential health commodities: a mixed method study, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 in the late 2019 led to major global health crises, including morbidities and mortalities. The pandemic has adversely affected the supply chain of essential health commodities globally. However, such data from sub-Saharan Africa including Tanzania are largely limited.

Self-initiation of antiretroviral therapy in the developing world: the involvement of private pharmacies in an HIV program.

Background: Self-initiation to antiretroviral treatment (ART) exposes the patient to the risk of drug toxicity, poor adherence to treatment, and escalates the development of drug resistance.

Objectives: To determine the sources of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs by unregistered human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and the extent of ARV self-medication.

Methods: Simulated clients were used to investigate availability and ARV dispensing practice in the private pharmacies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

An assessment of dispensing practices in private pharmacies in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Objectives: To assess medicine dispensing practices in private pharmacies in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and recommend interventions to improve practice.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey and observational study of dispensing practices among 70 pharmacies in metropolitan Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Key Findings: There were 1479 dispensing encounters recorded across the 70 pharmacies.

Plants used to treat epilepsy by Tanzanian traditional healers.

A cross-sectional study performed in Temeke District (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) showed that 5.5% of the traditional healers have knowledge for the treatment of epilepsy. Of the 100 healers interviewed, 30 (30%) believed that epilepsy was caused by witchcraft, while 19 (19%) thought epilepsy has a genetic origin which can be inherited.