Prevalence of infestation and its associated factors among primary school children: A school-based cross-sectional survey in the Rufiji district, Tanzania.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of infestation and its associated factors among primary school children (PSC) in the Rufiji district.

Methods: A quantitative school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 447 PSC in the Rufiji district. The prevalence of scabies among PSC was determined by clinical examination and by microscopic examination of skin samples for the presence of .

Prevalence and factors associated with ongoing transmission of after 12 rounds of Praziquantel Mass Drug Administration among school age children in Southern Tanzania.

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic praziquantel Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to vulnerable populations, especially school-aged children, to reduce the risk of transmission. In the endemic Lindi region, on the southeastern coast of Tanzania, praziquantel has been distributed for more than a decade (12 rounds) in schools. However, there is a paucity of data on the current burden and factors perpetuating ongoing urogenital schistosomiasis among SAC.

The quality of malaria case management in different transmission settings in Tanzania mainland, 2017-2018.

Tanzania is undergoing an epidemiological transition for malaria transmission with some areas of the country having <10% (hypoendemic) and other areas 10% - 50% malaria prevalence (mesoendemic). It is not known whether there is a difference in the quality of malaria case management based on endemicity in Tanzania mainland. We examined the influence of endemicity on the quality of malaria case management at health facilities.

Burden and factors associated with onchocerciasis transmission among school-aged children after more than 20 years of Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin in Ulanga district, Tanzania: A school-based cross-sectional study.

Onchocerciasis transmission in the Ulanga District of Morogoro-Tanzania is still ongoing despite more than 20 years of Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) in the area. Even though surveys conducted over the years in the area have revealed a decrease in the prevalence of onchocerciasis, the prevalence of comorbidities suggested to be associated with this filarial infection, as epilepsy, is rising in endemic regions. This fact suggests continued transmission of Onchocerca volvulus and emphasizes the need for the evaluation of factors associated with it among school aged children.

Tungiasis infection among primary school children in Northeastern Tanzania: prevalence, intensity, clinical aspects and associated factors.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence, intensity, clinical aspects and factors associated with tungiasis infection among primary school children in Northeastern Tanzania.

Methods: A quantitative school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 401 primary school children. Participants were assessed through clinical examination to look for embedded in their hands, feet, arms and legs.

Intestinal schistosomiasis among secondary school students in Northern Tanzania: prevalence, infection intensity and associated risk factors.

Objective: Our study investigated the prevalence, infection intensity and associated risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis among secondary school students in Shinyanga Municipal Council, Northern Tanzania.

Methods: A quantitative school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2022 among 620 secondary students. One stool specimen per participant was collected and screened for ova by microscopy using the Kato-Katz technique.

Burden and risk factors for Schistosoma mansoni infection among primary school children: A quantitative school-based cross-sectional survey in Busega district, Northern Tanzania.

Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis is one of the most common neglected tropical diseases in Tanzania. Despite massive praziquantel administration, data from Northern Tanzania have reported a prevalence of up to 93.2%.

Adolescents and young adults excluded from preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis control in Northern Tanzania: are they at risk and reservoirs of infection? Prevalence and determinants of transmission in Northern Tanzania.

Objective: To investigate the magnitude of urogenital schistosomiasis and determinants of transmission among adolescents and young adults in Itilima district, Simiyu region, Northern Tanzania.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out using probability sampling strategies to select 433 secondary school students from five schools among the five wards of Itilima district, an area endemic for urogenital schistosomiasis. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to gather data on determinants, and urine samples were examined for macrohaematuria and the presence of using the standard urine filtration technique.

Prevalence and management of filarial lymphoedema and its associated factors in Lindi district, Tanzania: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the burden and management of filarial lymphoedema and its associated factors in Lindi district, Tanzania.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 954 community members who were screened for filarial lymphoedema by using a checklist. Moreover, lymphoedema patients were examined for the presence of entry lesions, staging of disease, and interviewed on acute dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA) attacks, and their current practices on lymphoedema management.

Prevalence and risk factors of urogenital schistosomiasis among under-fives in Mtama District in the Lindi region of Tanzania.

Introduction: Despite the ongoing intervention for schistosomiasis control among school-age children in the Lindi region of Tanzania, urogenital schistosomiasis continues to be a public health problem, presumably because other at-risk populations are not covered in praziquantel deworming campaigns. Evidence shows that under-fives become infected in their early life hence the need to understand the disease profile and the risk factors for exposure to infection so as to plan effective control strategies in this group. This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of urogenital schistosomiasis among under-fives in the Mtama district, Lindi region of Tanzania.

Persistence of Schistosoma haematobium transmission among school children and its implication for the control of urogenital schistosomiasis in Lindi, Tanzania.

Background: Despite twelve rounds of school-based preventive chemotherapy for schistosomiasis in endemic areas of Tanzania such as Mtama district, Lindi: the burden of Schistosoma haematobium infection has remained highly conceivable due to re-infections. The factors associated with continuity of S.haematobium transmission in Mtama district, Lindi have not been fully established.

Factors affecting uptake of ≥ 3 doses of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnancy in selected health facilities, Arusha region, Tanzania.

Background: Tanzania adopted the revised World Health Organization policy in 2013 recommending a minimum of ≥3 doses of Intermittent Preventive Treatment during pregnancy with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) to protect against malaria. A study in Tanzania in 2014 reported low (9%) uptake. We investigated health workers knowledge about IPTp-SP and factors that influenced uptake of > 3 doses of IPTp-SP among pregnant women.

Lymphatic filariasis transmission in Rufiji District, southeastern Tanzania: infection status of the human population and mosquito vectors after twelve rounds of mass drug administration.

Background: Control of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in most of the sub-Saharan African countries is based on annual mass drug administration (MDA) using a combination of ivermectin and albendazole. Monitoring the impact of this intervention is crucial for measuring the success of the LF elimination programmes. This study assessed the status of LF infection in Rufiji district, southeastern Tanzania after twelve rounds of MDA.

Interferon- and Interleukin-10 Responses during Clinical Malaria Episodes in Infants Aged 0-2 Years Prenatally Exposed to : Tanzanian Birth Cohort.

Background: Infants born to mothers with placental malaria are prenatally exposed to antigens. However, the effect of that exposure to subsequent immune responses has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed at determining the effect of prenatal exposure to on Interleukin-10 and Interferon- responses during clinical malaria episodes in the first 24 months of life.

Hyperparasitaemia during clinical malaria episodes in infants aged 0-24 months and its association with in utero exposure to Plasmodium falciparum.

Objective: Existing information has shown that infants who are prenatally exposed to P. falciparum are susceptible to subsequent malaria infections. However, the effect of prenatal exposure to P.

Lymphatic filariasis elimination efforts in Rufiji, southeastern Tanzania: decline in circulating filarial antigen prevalence in young school children after twelve rounds of mass drug administration and utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquito vectors, and in Sub-Saharan Africa it is caused by the nematode Wuchereria bancrofti. The disease has been targeted for global elimination with the annual mass drug administration (MDA) strategy. Vector control is known to play an important complementary role to MDA in reducing the transmission of LF.

Accuracy of clinical diagnosis and malaria rapid diagnostic test and its influence on the management of children with fever under reduced malaria burden in Misungwi district, Mwanza Tanzania.

Introduction: Malaria diagnosis is known to be non-specific because of the overlap of symptoms of malaria with other infectious diseases that is made worse with declining malaria burden. Though the use of malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) for malaria confirmation has universally been adopted, malaria decline may alter performance of mRDT. This study examined accuracy of clinical diagnosis and mRDT and its influence on prescription for febrile underfives.

Prenatal exposure to Plasmodium falciparum increases frequency and shortens time from birth to first clinical malaria episodes during the first two years of life: prospective birth cohort study.

Background: Prenatal exposure to Plasmodium falciparum affects development of protective immunity and susceptibility to subsequent natural challenges with similar parasite antigens. However, the nature of these effects has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of prenatal exposure to P.

Determinants of timely uptake of ITN and SP (IPT) and pregnancy time protected against malaria in Bukoba, Tanzania.

Objective: Insecticides treated nets (ITNs) and intermittent preventive therapy with two doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP IPTp) are the cornerstone for malaria control in pregnancy. Despite the coverage of these interventions being high, it is not known whether they confer optimal protection time against malaria in pregnancy. This study investigated the timing and determinants of timely uptake of SP(IPTp) and ITNs and the pregnancy time protected.

Community Knowledge and Perceived Effectiveness of Interventions to Reduce Malaria: Implications for Sustained Use of Malaria Interventions in Rufiji District, Southeastern Tanzania.

Insecticides treated-nets (ITNs) and artemether-lumefantrine (ALu), crucial for malaria elimination, depend on perceived effectiveness in reducing malarial fevers. We examined community knowledge and perceived effectiveness of ITNs and ALu for reducing malaria in Rufiji district. Heads of households were interviewed on causes of fever in underfives, fever history, and antimalarial use during the last 2 weeks, perceived effectiveness of, and willingness to continue using ALu and ITNs.

Impact of praziquantel mass drug administration campaign on prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haemamtobium among school children in Bahi district, Tanzania.

As part of the Tanzania National Schistosomiasis Control Programme, Bahi district in central Tanzania, received two annual rounds of praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA) to control urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren. The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of the two rounds of MDA on prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haemamtobium and the impact of MDA campaigns on knowledge of urinary schistosomiasis, safe water use and contact with potentially unsafe water bodies. A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out among schoolchildren in March and April, 2013.

Health workers perceptions on chloroquine and sulfadoxine/sulfalene pyrimethamine monotherapies: implications for the change to combination therapy of artemether/lumefantrine in Tanzania.

Objective: To describe, from health workers (HWs) perspectives, the potential and actual barriers to the implementation of the first change of policy from chloroquine (CQ) to Sulfadoxine / Sulfalane - Pyrimewthamine (SP) in preparation for the second change of policy to Artemisinin based Combination Therapies (ACTs).

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of HWs using questionnaire interviews was carried out in public and private health facilities in Songea Urban district. The interview concerned awareness and knowledge on the commonly used antimalarial drugs as given in the new policy, focusing on SP use and the associated side effects as well as perceptions on the potency and safety of SP versus CQ and the perceived alternative antimalarial drugs to non-response or reaction to SP.

The roles of the pfcrt 76T and pfmdr1 86Y mutations, immunity and the initial level of parasitaemia, in predicting the outcome of chloroquine treatment in two areas with different transmission intensities.

The resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine (CQ) is probably mediated by point mutations in two genes: pfcrt and pfmdr1. The aim of the present study was to investigate, in patients treated with CQ, the association between host factors, such as immunity and initial level of parasitaemia, and the ability to clear P. falciparum parasites carrying the key chloroquine-resistance (CQR) mutations, pfcrt 76T and pfmdr1 86Y.