Real-Time Pharmacovigilance: Transforming Population-Based Monitoring of Post-Approval Vaccine Safety Through Rapid Cycle Analysis (RCA)-A Review of the Published Literature.

: Rapid cycle analysis (RCA) is an established and efficient methodology that has been traditionally utilized by United States health authorities to monitor post-approval vaccine safety. Initially developed in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) in early 2000s, RCA has evolved into a valuable approach for timely post-approval signal detection. Due to the availability of additional near real-time data sources and enhanced analytic approaches, the use of RCA has expanded.

Sinonasal extramedullary plasmacytoma: A case report and review of the literature.

Primary solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma is a malignant neoplasm characterized by the monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells outside the bone marrow. The tumor rarely occurs in the sinonasal tract, accounting for about 4% of all non-epithelial sinonasal tumors. Herein, the authors describe a rare case of sinonasal extramedullary plasmacytoma in a 33-year-old man who presented with a 3-month history of progressively increasing nasal mass, causing obstruction.

Seeking and receiving hypertension and diabetes mellitus care in Tanzania.

The rapid increase in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) poses a major challenge to already strained health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the factors associated with seeking and receiving NCD services in Tanzania, using a household survey and client exit interview data from Kilombero and Same districts. Both districts are predominantly rural, with one semi-urban area called Ifakara town and Same town.

The adequacy of ANC components received and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Tanzania.

Background: ANC continues to be a vital and crucial component of care for expectant mothers and their unborn children, not only by lowering maternal mortality but also perinatal deaths and connecting them to postnatal treatment. There are limited information about the adequate Antenatal Care (ANC) components coverage, therefore this study aimed at examining the proportion of ANC components coverage, distribution pattern and its associated factors obtained by women of reproductive age (WRA) in Tanzania.

Methods: This was analytical cross-sectional study among women of reproductive age in Tanzania, utilizing data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) 2022.

Predictors of breast cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: Evidence from DHS 2022.

Background: Breast cancer is a global concern, with 2.3 million new cases and 685,000 deaths recorded in 2020, and projections of reaching 4.4 million cases by 2070.

Patient's willingness to pay for improved community health insurance in Tanzania.

Globally, achieving universal health coverage remains significant challenge. Health insurance coverage in low- and middle-income countries is still low with only a few African countries managed to reach 50% coverage. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing patients' willingness to pay (WTP) for medication and various versions of the improved Community Health Insurance Fund (iCHF) in Tanzania.

Routine Immunization Status and Factors Associated with Immunization Coverage among Children Aged 12-23 Months in Tanzania.

Immunization has saved millions of lives globally from vaccine-preventable diseases. Childhood immunization is an effective public health strategy for decreasing morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. Tanzania has one of the highest rates of coverage of routine child immunization among sub-Saharan African countries.

The effect of vertical identification card laws on teenage tobacco and alcohol use.

We study the impact of vertical identification card laws, which changed the orientation of driver's licenses and state identification cards from horizontal to vertical for those under 21 years, on teenage tobacco and alcohol use. We study this question using four national datasets (pooled national and state Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, National Youth Tobacco Survey, Current Population Survey to Tobacco Use Supplements, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System). We improve previous databases of vertical ID law implementation by using original archival research to identify the exact date of the law change.

Healthcare Workers' Experiences and Challenges in Managing Gender-Based Violence Among HIV-Positive Women Living in Southern, Tanzania: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCW) play an important role in managing women living with HIV (WLHIV) with gender-based violence (GBV) experience, but little is known about their experience in screening and managing GBV among WLHIV. This study explored the perceptions and experience of the HCWs on screening and managing GBV cases among WLHIV.

Patients And Methods: We performed a descriptive phenomenological qualitative study to elicit the views and experience of HCW on GBV screening and management for WLHIV.

Acceptability of a Digital Adherence Tool Among Patients With Tuberculosis and Tuberculosis Care Providers in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The World Health Organization has recommended digital adherence tools (DATs) as a promising intervention to improve antituberculosis drug adherence. However, the acceptability of DATs in resource-limited settings is not adequately studied.

Objective: We investigated the acceptability of a DAT among patients with tuberculosis (TB) and TB care providers in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

A case of corrosive tracheoesophageal fistula: A complication of button battery ingestion.

Key Clinical Message: Button battery ingestion has been a common condition encountered by otorhinolaryngologists. Impaction in the esophagus can lead to serious and fatal complications such as tracheoesophageal fistula. Management involves a multidisciplinary team and varies from supportive therapy to surgical intervention.

Enhanced tuberculosis diagnosis with computer-aided chest X-ray and urine LAM in adults with HIV admitted to hospital (CASTLE study): A cluster randomised trial.

Background: People with HIV (PHIV) admitted to hospital have high mortality, with tuberculosis (TB) being the major cause of death. Systematic use of new TB diagnostics could improve TB diagnosis and might improve outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a cluster randomised trial among adult PHIV admitted to Zomba Central Hospital, Malawi.

Policies for type 2 diabetes and non-communicable disease management during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya and Tanzania: a desk review and views of decision-makers.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions in care that adversely affected the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally. Countries have responded in various ways to support people with NCDs during the pandemic. This study aimed to identify policy gaps, if any, in the management of NCDs, particularly diabetes, during COVID-19 in Kenya and Tanzania to inform recommendations for priority actions for NCD management during any future similar crises.

Challenges and Outcomes of the First Stem Cell Transplant Program in Tanzania, East Africa.

Introduction: Due to the significant resources involved in creating HSCT programs there is a significant disparity in the availability of this treatment modality between the developed and developing countries. This manuscript details the process and the outcomes of the first HSCT program in East Africa which was started at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Materials And Methods: Information and data were collected on the processes which had been implemented for starting the HSCT program at MNH.

Understanding the role of the Tanzania national health insurance fund in improving service coverage and quality of care.

Health insurance is one of the main financing mechanisms currently being used in low and middle-income countries to improve access to quality services. Tanzania has been running its National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) since 2001 and has recently undergone significant reforms. However, there is limited attention to the causal mechanisms through which NHIF improves service coverage and quality of care.

Same-day versus rapid ART initiation in HIV-positive individuals presenting with symptoms of tuberculosis: Protocol for an open-label randomized non-inferiority trial in Lesotho and Malawi.

Background: In absence of contraindications, same-day initiation (SDI) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended for people testing HIV-positive who are ready to start treatment. Until 2021, World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines considered the presence of TB symptoms (presumptive TB) a contraindication to SDI due to the risk of TB-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS). To reduce TB-IRIS risk, ART initiation was recommended to be postponed until results of TB investigations were available, and TB treatment initiated if active TB was confirmed.

Implementation bottlenecks of real time medication monitoring (evriMED) for improving adherence to anti-TB drugs among people with tuberculosis in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Introduction: Digital Adherence Tools (DATs), which include real-time medication monitoring and Short Message Service (SMS) reminders, have been reported to improve medication adherence among people with Tuberculosis (TB). Recently, in limited resource settings, DATs have been described as a promising tool to monitor patients' medication behaviour. We aimed to determine implementation bottlenecks of real-time medication monitoring using the evriMED device.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people with type 2 diabetes in Kenya and Tanzania: a mixed-methods study.

Background: People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at increased risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19. Vaccination can improve outcomes, but vaccine hesitancy remains a major challenge. We examined factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among people with T2D in two sub-Saharan Africa countries that adopted different national approaches to combat COVID-19, Kenya and Tanzania.

The impacts of family planning and HIV service integration on contraceptive prevalence among HIV positive women in Tanzania: a comparative analysis from the 2016/17 Tanzania HIV impact survey.

Background: Prevention of unplanned pregnancies through modern contraceptives among HIV-positive women is one of the essential strategies for reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Family planning and HIV services integration is a national strategy designed to scale-up modern contraceptives among HIV-positive women. This study aims to evaluate the success of a service integration strategy by comparing the prevalence of modern contraceptive use among HIV-positive women receiving ART within integrated services and those not on integrated services (HIV-negative women and HIV-positive women unaware of their status).

Healthcare workers' experiences with COVID-19-related prevention and control measures in Tanzania.

The ability of a health system to withstand shocks such as a pandemic depends largely on the availability and preparedness of health-care workers (HCWs), who are at the frontline of disease management and prevention. Despite the heavy burden placed on HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known regarding their experiences in low-income countries. We conducted a web-based survey with HCWs in randomly selected districts of Tanzania to explore their experiences with COVID-19-related prevention and control measures.

Giant pilomatrix carcinoma of the scalp with intracranial extension: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: A very rare skin cancer. Malignant variant of pilomatricoma. It is unique because of its highly aggressive behavior.

Developing contents for a digital adherence tool: A formative mixed-methods study among children and adolescents living with HIV in Tanzania.

Optimal adherence (>95%) to antiretroviral treatment (ART) remains a challenge among children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV). Digital adherence tools (DAT) with reminder cues have proven feasible among adult people living with HIV (PLHIV), with some concerns about the risk of HIV status disclosure. We aimed to assess the needs, contents and acceptability of an SMS-based DAT among CALHIV.

Catastrophic health care spending in managing type 2 diabetes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania.

COVID-19 disrupted health care provision and access and reduced household income. Households with chronically ill patients are more vulnerable to these effects as they access routine health care. Yet, a few studies have analysed the effect of COVID-19 on household income, health care access costs, and financial catastrophe due to health care among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), especially in developing countries.