Community myths and misconceptions about sexual health in Tanzania: Stakeholders' views from a qualitative study in Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

Introduction: Sexual and reproductive health problems are one of the top five risk factors for disability in the developing world. The rates of sexual health problems in most African countries are overwhelming, which is why HIV and other STIs are still such a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Talking about sex in most African countries is a taboo, leading to common myths and misconceptions that ultimately impact community sexual health.

Fear of childbirth: validation of the Kiswahili version of Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire versions A and B in Tanzania.

Background: Fear of childbirth is common both before and after childbirth, often leading to complications in mother and new-born. The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaires (W-DEQ) are commonly used to measure fear of childbirth among women before (version A) and after childbirth (version B). The tools are not yet validated in the Tanzanian context.

Perceptions of Sexual Healthcare Provision in Tanzania: a Key Informant Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Sexual health care services must be standard and unbiased, guided by a structured health care system. There is a scarcity of data on how sexual health care is delivered in Tanzania.

Methods: To address this gap, in July 2019 we interviewed eleven key informants: cultural and public health experts, and political, religious, and community leaders, selected from different organizations in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Would you offer contraception to a 14-year-old girl? Perspectives of health students and professionals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Background: Rates of unplanned adolescent pregnancy and unsafe induced abortions are very high in Sub-Saharan African countries including Tanzania. Despite their availability and accessibility, modern family planning methods are reported to be critically underutilized by adolescents. This study is part of a broader study that aims to develop a curriculum that will be used in training health professionals by investigating the sexual health training needs of health providers and students in Tanzania.

How communication can help women who experience a maternal near-miss: a qualitative study from Tanzania.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore experiences of communication as an element of quality of care, among women surviving a maternal near-miss event, thus women who nearly died but survived haemorrhage, or pre-eclampsia complication during pregnancy, childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy.

Design: A descriptive, phenomenological, qualitative study using semistructured interviews with women who survived a maternal near-miss in Southern Tanzania.

Setting: The participants were recruited from two selected hospitals in Mtwara Region, where women sought child birth care and developed near-miss condition.

Predictors of fear of childbirth and depressive symptoms among pregnant women: a cross-sectional survey in Pwani region, Tanzania.

Background: Many women experience fear of childbirth (FoB) and depressive symptoms (DS) during pregnancy, but little is known about FoB among Tanzanian women. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of FoB and DS among pregnant women and determine predictors of each and both, focusing on sociodemographic and obstetric predictors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at six health facilities in two districts in Tanzania between 2018 and 2019.

Postpartum Green Star family planning decision aid for pregnant adolescents in Tanzania: a qualitative feasibility study.

Background: The use of a decision aid in clinical settings has been beneficial. It informs and educates patients about the available treatment options that can help them reduce decision-making conflicts related to feeling uninformed compared with routine care. There is a scarcity of published data about using a decision aid during family planning counseling with postpartum women focusing on long-acting reversible contraception in Tanzania.

Clinical Care of Victims of Interpersonal Violence and Rape in Tanzania: A Qualitative Investigation.

Introduction: Africa has high rates of interpersonal violence and rape, although little is known about how these cases are handled in the clinical setting.

Methods: We enrolled 121 health care professionals and students in Tanzania from the fields of midwifery, nursing and medicine, and conducted 18 focus group discussions stratified by both professional and clinical experience. Two clinical scenarios were presented across all groups and participants were asked to give their opinions on how the hospital they worked in would manage the cases.

Health systems factors impacting the integration of midwifery: an evidence-informed framework on strengthening midwifery associations.

Introduction: Midwifery associations are organisations that represent midwives and the profession of midwifery. They support midwives to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity by promoting the overall integration of midwifery in health systems. Our objective was to generate a framework for evidence-informed midwifery association strengthening.

Cultural and clinical challenges in sexual health care provision to men who have sex with men in Tanzania: a qualitative study of health professionals' experiences and health students' perspectives.

Background: Health care providers across sub-Saharan Africa continue to face challenges while delivering sexual health care services. We explored the experiences, views and challenges of health care professionals and health students across different disciplines in Tanzania, towards delivery of sexual health services to men who have sex with men.

Methods: Utilizing a qualitative approach, we recruited 121 health care professionals (providers) and students from the fields of midwifery, nursing and medicine in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Curricular Limitations and Recommendations for Training Health Care Providers to Respond to Intimate Partner Violence: An Integrative Literature Review.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a well-known public health problem occurring worldwide. With a multisectoral approach being emphasized in addressing IPV, the health sector has a key role to play due to many IPV victims who appear in health facilities without their needs being met. A well-designed and implemented IPV curriculum is necessary for effectively training health care professionals to provide quality IPV care and related services.

Factors associated with the awareness of contraceptive methods, understanding the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the perception of HIV/AIDS risk among secondary school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

To assess the awareness of contraceptive methods, understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention and the perception of HIV/AIDS risks among secondary school students in Tanzania. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among secondary school students in Tanzania. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of contraceptive methods, an understanding of HIV/AIDS prevention, and the perception of HIV/AIDS risks.

Self-reported disrespect and abuse by nurses and midwives during childbirth in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Facility-based childbirth has increased globally. Unfortunately, there have also been reports of women experiencing disrespect and abuse by healthcare providers during childbirth. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of self-reported disrespect and abuse (D&A) by healthcare providers of women during childbirth in health facilities in Tanzania, and to clarify the factors related to D&A.

Nurses' and midwives' awareness of intimate partner violence-related mental healthcare and associated factors in Tanzania.

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem in Tanzania, the country's system to provide IPV-related mental healthcare is not sufficiently prepared to respond to IPV care needs. This study aimed to assess nurses' and midwives' awareness of IPV-related mental healthcare and associated factors to encourage care provision. A cross-sectional, anonymous, self-administered survey was conducted among nurses and midwives in health facilities in the Mbeya region, from December 2018 to January 2019.

Knowledge, attitude, and preparedness toward IPV care provision among nurses and midwives in Tanzania.

Background: With increasing recognition of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a public health challenge, nurses and midwives are recognized for their crucial role in providing front-line healthcare services for IPV. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and preparedness related to IPV care provision in health facilities among nurses and midwives in Tanzania.

Methods: A self-administered anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses and midwives working in health facilities in the Mbeya region between December 2018 and January 2019.

Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Delivery of Sexual Health Care in Tanzania.

Tanzania is a country with multiple sexual health challenges including high rates of HIV/STIs, early sexual debut, forced sex, sexual dysfunction, and teen pregnancy. Training in sexual health care is limited, while courses on how to address the ethical aspects of sexual health are non-existent. To address this gap, this paper explores legal and ethical challenges to providing sexual health care in Tanzania.

A family-oriented antenatal education program to improve birth preparedness and maternal-infant birth outcomes: A cross sectional evaluation study.

Background: In Tanzania, the information on Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness is insufficiently provided to pregnant women and their families. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal and infant outcomes of a family-oriented antenatal group education program that promotes Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness in rural Tanzania.

Methods: Pregnant women and families were enrolled in a program about nutrition and exercise, danger signs, and birth preparedness.

Effect of the competency-based (HMS BAB) training on maternal morbidity: a cluster-randomised trial in 20 districts in Tanzania.

Background: Training health providers is an important strategy to improve health. We conducted a cluster-randomised two-arm trial in Tanzania to assess the effect of a 1-day competency-based training 'Helping Mothers Survive Bleeding after Birth (HMS BAB)' followed by eight weekly drills on postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)-related morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Twenty districts in four purposefully selected regions in Tanzania included 61 facilities.

Stronger together: midwifery twinning between Tanzania and Canada.

This article describes a twinning relationship between the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and the Tanzania Midwives Association (TAMA). It argues that the twinning relationship strengthened both associations. The article briefly reviews the existing literature on professional associations and association strengthening to demonstrate that professional associations are a vital tool for improving the performance of healthcare workers and increasing their capacity to contribute to national and international policy-making.

Evaluation of a family-oriented antenatal group educational program in rural Tanzania: a pre-test/post-test study.

Background: To increase births attended by skilled birth attendants in Tanzania, studies have identified the need for involvement of the whole family in pregnancy and childbirth education. This study aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a family-oriented antenatal group educational program to promote healthy pregnancy and family involvement in rural Tanzania.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental 1 group pre-test/post-test study with antenatal education provided to pregnant women and their families in rural Tanzania.

Evaluation of an assessment instrument for a sexual health curriculum for nurses and midwifery students in Tanzania: The sexual health education for professionals scale (SHEPS).

We assessed the structure and content of a new scale, the SHEPS, to assess change in sexual health confidence, knowledge and attitudes in nursing and midwifery students following an intervention (a 2-day standardized workshop on sexual health). Students were 78 Tanzanian nursing and midwifery students attending a University of Health Sciences, who were assessed immediately before and after the workshop on matched pre- and post-workshop questionnaires. Data confirmed significant changed pre- and post-test on knowledge and confidence on topics taught in the workshop, with the effect also extending to some topics not or minimally covered, suggesting that there was a general increase in confidence and a perception of increased knowledge following the workshop.

Midwives' respect and disrespect of women during facility-based childbirth in urban Tanzania: a qualitative study.

Background: Over the last two decades, facility-based childbirths in Tanzania have only minimally increased by 10% partly because of healthcare providers' disrespect and abuse (D&A) of women during childbirth. Although numerous studies have substantiated women's experience of D&A during childbirth by healthcare providers, few have focused on how D&A occurred during the midwives' actual care. This study aimed to describe from actual observations the respectful and disrespectful care received by women from midwives during their labor period in two hospitals in urban Tanzania.

Randomized controlled pilot of a group antenatal care model and the sociodemographic factors associated with pregnancy-related empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: The links between empowerment and a number of health-related outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa have been documented, but empowerment related to pregnancy is under-investigated. Antenatal care (ANC) is the entry point into the healthcare system for most women, so it is important to understand how ANC affects aspects of women's sense of control over their pregnancy. We compare pregnancy-related empowerment for women randomly assigned to the standard of care versus CenteringPregnancy-based group ANC (intervention) in two sub-Saharan countries, Malawi and Tanzania.

Implementation challenges and outcomes of a randomized controlled pilot study of a group prenatal care model in Malawi and Tanzania.

Objective: To identify implementation challenges associated with conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of group prenatal care (PNC) and report outcomes of the pilot.

Methods: A multi-site randomized pilot was conducted in Malawi and Tanzania between July 31, 2014, and June 30, 2015. Women aged at least 16 years with a pregnancy of 20-24 weeks were randomly assigned using sealed envelopes (1:1) to individual or group PNC.