Assessing Accuracy and Precision of Hemoglobin Determination in Venous, Capillary Pool, and Single-Drop Capillary Blood Specimens Using three Different HemoCue® Hb Models: The Multicountry Hemoglobin Measurement (HEME) Study.

Background: Anemia prevalence estimates reported in population surveys can vary based on the blood specimen source (capillary or venous) and analytic device (hematology autoanalyzers or portable hemoglobinometers) used for hemoglobin (Hb) determination.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare accuracy and precision of Hb measurement in three blood specimen types on three models of hemoglobinometers against the results from venous blood from the same individuals measured on automated analyzers (AAs).

Methods: This multisite (Cambodia, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Tanzania) study assessed Hb measurements in paired venous and capillary blood specimens from apparently healthy women (aged 15-49 y) and children (aged 12-59 mo) using three HemoCue® Hb models (201+, 301, and 801).

Clinic presentation delay and tuberculosis treatment outcomes in the Lake Victoria region of East Africa: A multi-site prospective cohort study.

In the Lake Victoria region of East Africa, little is known about delays between tuberculosis (TB) symptom onset and presentation at a clinic. Associations between clinic presentation delay and TB treatment outcomes are also poorly understood. In 2019, we abstracted data from routine TB treatment records for all adults (n = 776) initiating TB treatment in a 6-month period across 12 health facilities near Lake Victoria.

Quality of Care is Perceived to be High with Community-based Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Services for Female Sex Workers in Tanzania: Qualitative Findings from a Pilot Implementation Science Study.

This qualitative study reports on female sex workers' (FSWs) perceptions of the quality of antiretroviral therapy (ART) services they received as part of a community-based ART distribution intervention compared to services received by FSWs in the standard of care (SOC) arm. In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 participants to explore their perceptions of the quality of ART services. Data was analyzed using a quality-of-care framework that included but was not limited to, domains of accessibility, effective organization of care, package of services, and patient-centered care.

Geographic mobility and treatment outcomes among people in care for tuberculosis in the Lake Victoria region of East Africa: A multi-site prospective cohort study.

Geographic mobility may disrupt continuity of care and contribute to poor clinical outcomes among people receiving treatment for tuberculosis (TB). This may occur especially where health services are not well coordinated across international borders, particularly in lower and middle income country settings. In this work, we describe mobility and the relationship between mobility and unfavorable TB treatment outcomes (i.

Receiving antenatal care components and associated factors in Northwestern Tanzania.

Introduction: Tanzania had an estimated 5.400 maternal deaths in 2020. Suboptimal quality of antenatal care (ANC) presents a major challenge.

Brief Report: Changes in Nocturnal Heart Rate Variability in People Living With HIV During the First Year of Antiretroviral Therapy Compared With HIV-Uninfected Community Controls.

Background: Higher nocturnal heart rate and lower nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with increased cardiovascular disease mortality. Longitudinal studies on nocturnal HRV in people living with HIV (PLWH) are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a 1-year prospective cohort study of adult PLWH and HIV-uninfected community controls in northwestern Tanzania.

The association of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with β-cell dysfunction, insulin resistance, and diabetes among adults in north-western Tanzania: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Research on the associations of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance among adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is limited. We assessed the association of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness with β-cell function, insulin resistance and diabetes among people living with HIV (PLWH) ART-naïve and HIV-uninfected Tanzanian adults.

Method: In a cross-sectional study, we collected data on socio-demography, anthropometry, fat mass and fat free mass and C-reactive protein.

Blood Pressure and Body Composition During First Year of Antiretroviral Therapy in People With HIV Compared With HIV-Uninfected Community Controls.

Background: Body composition changes may explain the rapid increase in blood pressure (BP) in people with HIV (PWH) during the first year of antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: We analyzed data from a cohort of PWH and HIV-uninfected adults from the same communities in Mwanza, Tanzania. Blood pressure (BP, mm Hg) and body composition data were collected at baseline and 12-month follow-up.

A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Traditional Healer-Delivered Counseling and Rapid HIV Testing in Tanzania.

Collaborations with traditional healers have been proposed to improve HIV testing uptake. We hypothesized that healer-delivered HIV testing would improve HIV testing uptake, compared with referral to clinic-based HIV testing. We conducted a cluster randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of traditional healers delivering counseling and HIV testing in Mwanza, Tanzania (ClinicalTrials.

Interventions to Increase HIV Testing Uptake in Global Settings.

Purpose Of Review: HIV testing is the critical first step to direct people living with HIV (PLWH) to treatment. However, progress is still being made towards the UNAIDS benchmark of 95% of PLWH knowing their status by 2030. Here, we discuss recent interventions to improve HIV testing uptake in global settings.

Association of sickle cell trait with β-cell dysfunction and physical activity in adults living with and without HIV in Tanzania.

This study aimed to investigate sickle cell trait (SCT) associations with physical activity, markers of insulin secretion and resistance, and glucose among people living with HIV infection (PLWH), both antiretroviral therapy (ART) naive and experienced, and HIV-uninfected adults. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Mwanza, Northwestern Tanzania. We used data of 668 participants attained from two sub-studies of CICADA study.

The association of Schistosoma and geohelminth infections with β-cell function and insulin resistance among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adults: A cross-sectional study in Tanzania.

Objectives: Data on the role of helminths on diabetes in Africa are limited. We investigated whether Schistosoma and geohelminth infections are associated with β-cell function and insulin resistance among adults.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults during 2016-2017.

Levels and correlates of physical activity and capacity among HIV-infected compared to HIV-uninfected individuals.

Introduction: In the HIV-infected individuals, physical activity improves physical strength, quality of life and reduces the risk of developing non-communicable diseases. In Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV-infected patients report being less active compared to HIV-uninfected individuals. We assessed the levels and correlates of objectively measured physical activity and capacity among HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive individuals compared to HIV-uninfected individuals in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Risk factors for impaired renal function in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adults: cross-sectional study in North-Western Tanzania.

Background: Although the burden of impaired renal function is rising in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), little is known about correlates of impaired renal function in the region. We determined factors associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and impaired renal function in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adults.

Methods: We undertook cross-sectional analysis of data from 1947 adults at enrolment for a cohort study on diabetes and associated complications in HIV patients in Mwanza, north-western Tanzania.

Prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection as measured by the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay and ESAT-6 free IGRA among adolescents in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is vastly higher than that of tuberculosis (TB) disease and this enormous reservoir of individuals with LTBI impacts the global TB control strategy. Adolescents are at greatest risk of TB infection and are thus an ideal target population for a potential effective TB vaccine to be added to the current BCG programme as it could reduce the number of latent infections and consequently the number of adults with TB disease. However, LTBI rates are often unknown for this population.

Prior undernutrition and insulin production several years later in Tanzanian adults.

Background: The prevalence, pathology, and existence of malnutrition-associated diabetes remain uncertain, especially with respect to adult-acquired undernutrition.

Objective: The aim was to investigate the association of prior undernutrition (low BMI, in kg/m2), acquired in adulthood and insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Methods: We followed up 630 adults recruited 7-14 y previously for other studies.

β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in relation to pre-diabetes and diabetes among adults in north-western Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Studies on phenotypes of diabetes in Africa are inconsistent. We assessed the role of β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance on pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Methods: We included 1890 participants with mean age of 40.

Influence of hemoglobinopathies and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency on diagnosis of diabetes by HbA1c among Tanzanian adults with and without HIV: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is recommended for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes. However, in people with sickle cell disease (SCD), sickle cell trait (SCT), α-thalassemia or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, HbA1c may underestimate the prevalence of diabetes. There are no data on the extent of this problem in sub-Saharan Africa despite having high prevalence of these red blood cell disorders.

Internalized stigma among people living with HIV: assessing the Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale in four countries.

Objective: Measuring internalized stigma is critical to understanding its impact on the health and quality of life of people living with HIV (PLHIV). The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale (IA-RSS).

Design: Secondary analysis of the six-item IA-RSS was conducted using data from four cross-sectional surveys implemented in Cambodia (n = 1207), the Dominican Republic (n = 891), Uganda (n = 391) and Tanzania (n = 529) between 2018 and 2019.

Diabetes prevalence by HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance test among HIV-infected and uninfected Tanzanian adults.

Background: The burden of diabetes is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, including among people living with HIV. We assessed the prevalence of diabetes and the roles of HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and traditional risk factors among adults in Tanzania.

Methods: We analysed diabetes-relevant baseline data from 1,947 adult participants in the CICADA study in Mwanza, Tanzania: 655 HIV-uninfected, 956 HIV-infected ART-naïve, and 336 HIV-infected persons on ART.

Effects on body composition and handgrip strength of a nutritional intervention for malnourished HIV-infected adults referred for antiretroviral therapy: a randomised controlled trial.

Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) may be beneficial for malnourished HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed the effect of adding vitamins and minerals to LNS on body composition and handgrip strength during ART initiation. ART-eligible HIV-infected patients with BMI <18·5 kg/m were randomised to LNS or LNS with added high-dose vitamins and minerals (LNS-VM) from referral for ART to 6 weeks post-ART and followed up until 12 weeks.

A Systematic Review on the Effect of HIV Infection on the Pharmacokinetics of First-Line Tuberculosis Drugs.

Introduction: Contrasting findings have been published regarding the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on tuberculosis (TB) drug pharmacokinetics (PK).

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of HIV infection on the PK of the first-line TB drugs (FLDs) rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol by assessing all published literature.

Methods: Searches were performed in MEDLINE (through PubMed) and EMBASE to find original studies evaluating the effect of HIV infection on the PK of FLDs.

Short-course High-dose Liposomal Amphotericin B for Human Immunodeficiency Virus-associated Cryptococcal Meningitis: A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: We performed a phase 2 noninferiority trial examining the early fungicidal activity (EFA) of 3 short-course, high-dose liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) regimens for cryptococcal meningitis (CM) in Tanzania and Botswana.

Methods: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults with CM were randomized to (i) L-AmB 10 mg/kg on day 1 (single dose); (ii) L-AmB 10 mg/kg on day 1 and 5 mg/kg on day 3 (2 doses); (iii) L-AmB 10 mg/kg on day 1 and 5 mg/kg on days 3 and 7 (3 doses); or (iv) L-AmB 3 mg/kg/day for 14 days (control). All patients also received oral fluconazole 1200 mg/day for 14 days.

Drug adherence and efficacy of smear microscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis after 2 months of medication in North-western Tanzania.

Objectives: The study aimed at assessing the Tuberculosis (TB) medication adherence level and the efficacy of smear microscopy in the diagnosing pulmonary TB at month 2.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the four sites located in the Northern-western Tanzania. New smear positive, pulmonary TB patients were followed up and their adherence to TB medication assessed after 2 months of the treatment.