Substance Use Disorder Among Patients with Primary Mental Illnesses in Southwestern Uganda.

: Substance use is common among people with primary mental illness especially schizophrenia and bipolar disorder compared to the general population and complicates treatment outcomes. We enrolled 385 patients with primary mental illnesses in southwestern Uganda between June and August 2022. We collected information on alcohol and cannabis use, social support, religiosity, adherence to treatment and sociodemographic characteristics.

Validation of Pediatric Self-Report Pain Scales in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Context: Pediatric self-report pain scales must be validated in cultural/language contexts to provide optimal pain management. Sub-Saharan Africa included vast numbers of people groups, cultures, and languages.

Objective: This systematic review sought to identify studies that validated a self-report pediatric pain scale within a sub-Saharan African context.

Antibiotic prescription, dispensing and use in humans and livestock in East Africa: does morality have a role to play?

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human and livestock health. Although AMR is driven by use of antimicrobials, it is often attributed to "misuse" and "overuse", particularly for antibiotics. To curb resistance, there has been a global call to embrace new forms of moral personhood that practice "proper" use, including prescription, dispensing and consumption of antimicrobials, especially antibiotics.

New admissions and asymptomatic TB cases seem to fuel TB epidemic in prisons, a cross sectional survey in Tanzania.

There is an increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease progression in prison settings. TB prevalence in prisons in low- and middle-income countries have been measured to be up to 50 -times higher than in the general population. The aim of the study was to perform active TB screening and estimate the burden of TB in central prisons in Tanzania mainland.

Hepatitis B infection: Evaluation of demographics and treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in Northern-western Tanzania.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still a major public health problem. In response to the World Health Organization (WHO), Tanzania implemented immunization and treatment to achieve the eradication of HBV infection by 2030. To achieve this goal, frequent updates of demographic data, antiviral therapy eligibility, and uptake are essential.

Geriatric spontaneous trans-mesenteric herniation leading to death. Case report.

Introduction And Importance: Spontaneous trans-mesenteric hernia is a rare entity in adults. Its pre-operative diagnosis is challenging even with Computed Tomography Scanning. Most cases are diagnosed as incidental findings during laparotomy or postmortem.

The socio-cultural contexts shaping health-seeking behaviours among community members regarding childhood cancer in Tanzania: A qualitative study.

Background: Timely diagnosis of childhood cancer, early hospital presentation and completion of treatment significantly improve outcomes. Unfortunately, in Tanzania, thousands of children die of cancer each year without ever being diagnosed or treated. To reduce childhood death from cancer, it is important to understand the social-cultural context, values and beliefs that influence healthcare-seeking behaviours among the Tanzanian community.

Improving care and survival of newborns with surgical conditions in Tanzania (TINY Tanzania): a focus on gastroschisis.

Purpose: Gastroschisis is associated with over 90% mortality in many sub-Saharan African countries. The introduction of the Gastroschisis Care Bundle at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) increased survival up to 60%. We aim to explain the impact of using implementation science methods to decentralize the care of babies with gastroschisis to other parts of Tanzania.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Potassium Abnormalities Among Outpatients with Heart Failure Taking Diuretics in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Tanzania.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic progressive condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's need for blood and oxygen. Globally, about 64 million people are affected with HF. This study was undertaken to determine the magnitude and factors associated with potassium abnormalities in heart failure patients on diuretics in Tanzania.

The bioefficacy of a novel VECTRON™ T500 indoor residual spray formulation in an experimental huts trial against Anopheles gambiae s.l. populations.

The emergence of insecticide resistance and its spread through populations of malaria vectors has decreased the number of insecticides available for control. Insecticide resistance has been observed in vector populations across sub-Saharan Africa in malaria endemic areas. Therefore, new compounds with different modes of action are needed that can be used in the management of resistance.

Exploring drivers of self-treatment with antibiotics in three agricultural communities of northern Tanzania.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Self-treatment with antibiotics, the practice of using antibiotics without professional guidance, is often considered an important contributor to the emergence and spread of AMR.

Method: This study investigated the drivers of self-treatment in three common types of agricultural communities in northern Tanzania.

Virological impact of HIV drug-resistance testing in children, adolescents, and adults failing first-line ART in Tanzania.

Background: Prospective data on the effectiveness of resistance testing in informing treatment decisions and outcomes in with first-line failure in these settings is limited. This study aimed to assess the virological impact of HIV drug-resistance testing in patients with virological failure in Tanzania.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either the control or the experimental group.

Efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine against uncomplicated falciparum malaria infection in Tanzania, 2022, a single arm clinical trial.

Background: Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the first line anti-malarial drug for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Tanzania. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regular efficacy monitoring of anti-malarial drugs to inform case management policy decisions. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of AL for treating uncomplicated P.

Epidemiological distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus genotypes and associated factors among patients with esophageal carcinoma at Bugando medical center in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: Esophageal carcinoma is a growing concern in regions that have a high incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection such as East Africa. HPV, particularly the high-risk genotypes, is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for esophageal carcinoma. We set out to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of high-risk HPV in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks with esophageal carcinoma at Bugando Medical Center, a tertiary referral hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania, East Africa.

Association between fetal hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, and disease severity in patients with sickle cell disease at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Introduction: There is a wide range of clinical manifestations in sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite having the same condition, each person's response to disease complications differs greatly. Individuals can be categorized according to the severity of their diseases to determine which group they fall into and receive the appropriate care based on their needs.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacteria colonizing the external ocular surfaces of patients undergoing ocular surgeries at Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Objective: Understanding microbiota colonizing ocular surfaces is key to expedite antibiotic prophylactic options for ocular surgeries, and therefore, prevent subsequent surgical site infections (SSIs). To fill this critical gap, we aimed at determining the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacteria colonizing the external ocular surfaces of 224 patients undergoing ocular surgeries at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in Mwanza, Tanzania between May and August 2023.

Results: The study participants had a median age of 62.

Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with Burkitt lymphoma treated in Tanzania following the implementation of the 2016 National Treatment Guidelines: Poor outcomes to current standard-of-care therapy.

Background: Despite the excellent outcomes achieved in the treatment of pediatric Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in high-income countries (HICs), outcomes remain poor in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Efforts to improve BL outcomes in Tanzania included the creation of National Treatment Guidelines in 2016. However, disease outcomes in Tanzania following the creation of these guidelines have not been reported to date.

Equivalence between physicians and associate clinicians in the frequency of iatrogenic urogenital fistula following cesarean section in Tanzania and Malawi.

Background: Physicians and associate (non-physician) clinicians conduct cesarean sections in Tanzania and Malawi. Urogenital fistulas may occur as complications of cesarean section. Location and circumstances can indicate iatrogenic origin as opposed to ischemic injury following prolonged, obstructed labor.