Precision and geographical prevalence mapping of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis among school-aged children in selected districts of north-western Tanzania.

Background: The identification and mapping of at-risk populations at a lower administrative level than the district are prerequisites for the planning, resource allocation and design of impactful control intervention measures. Thus, the objective of the current study was to conduct sub-district precision mapping of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis in 29 districts of north-western Tanzania using the current recommended World Health Organization criteria.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 145 schools between March and May 2021.

Malaria vector feeding, peak biting time and resting place preference behaviors in line with Indoor based intervention tools and its implication: scenario from selected sentinel sites of Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, malaria incidence has significantly reduced in the past decade through the combined use of conventional vector control approaches and treatment using antimalarial drugs. However, the sustainability of this achievement is threatened by the shift in biting and resting behaviors and emergence of insecticide resistance by the primary malaria vector. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the behaviour of malaria mosquitoes in different sentinel sites is crucial to design effective prevention and control methods in the local context.

Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Presence of High-Risk Global Clones of Harboring Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Multiple Plasmids in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: is an important multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen, causing both community- and healthcare-associated infections. The resistance is due to the continuous accumulation of multiple antibiotic-resistance-genes (ARGs) through spontaneous genomic mutations and the acquisition of conjugative plasmids. This study presents antibiotics resistance genes, plasmids replicons, and virulence genes of isolates from clinical specimens in a tertiary hospital, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Multidrug-Resistant Uropathogens Causing Community Acquired Urinary Tract Infections among Patients Attending Health Facilities in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Unlabelled: In low-income countries, the empirical treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) without laboratory confirmation is very common, especially in primary health facilities. This scenario often leads to unnecessary and ineffective antibiotic prescriptions, prompting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. We conducted this study to examine the antibiogram of uropathogens causing community-acquired urinary tract infections among outpatients attending selected health facilities in Tanzania.

Assessment of snakebite management practices at Meserani Juu in Monduli District, Northern Tanzania.

Background: Snakebite envenoming represents a tragically neglected tropical disease mostly affecting poor people living in remote areas of developing countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Anti-snake venom (ASV) is the only approved specific treatment for systemic envenoming from snakebite, but it remains largely unavailable in many parts of developing countries. There is paucity of data on snakebite management practice in Tanzania.

The role of multidimensional poverty in antibiotic misuse: a mixed-methods study of self-medication and non-adherence in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Background: Poverty is a proposed driver of antimicrobial resistance, influencing inappropriate antibiotic use in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, at subnational levels, studies investigating multidimensional poverty and antibiotic misuse are sparse, and the results are inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the relationship between multidimensional poverty and antibiotic use in patient populations in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Health system strengthening using a : A community case study.

Introduction: Health system strengthening initiatives in low and middle-income countries are commonly hampered by limited implementation readiness. The uses a system "readiness" theory of change to address implementation obstacles. is documented based on field experiences, incorporating best practices, and lessons learned from two decades of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) programming in East Africa.

Merozoite Surface Proteins Polymorphisms and Treatment Outcomes among Patients with Uncomplicated Malaria in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: The severity of malaria infection depends on the host, parasite and environmental factors. Merozoite surface protein (msp) diversity determines transmission dynamics, immunity evasion, and pathogenesis or virulence. There is limited updated information on msp polymorphisms and their impact on artemether-lumefantrine treatment outcomes in Tanzania.

Seroprevalence of IgG Rubella among Infants with Features Suggestive of Congenital Rubella Syndrome at a Tertiary Hospital in North Western Tanzania.

Background: Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) is among the causes of infant mortality and lifelong disability due to severe birth defects. There has been an increasing number of neonates born with congenital abnormalities suggesting CRS, at the same time the rubella seroprevalence among pregnant mothers and healthy school children in the northwestern Tanzania has been noted to be alarmingly high. This study aimed to determine prevalence of rubella antibodies and associated factors among infants suspected to have CRS.

Depression and chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study based at Bugando Medical Centre, Northwestern Tanzania.

Introduction: psychosocial distress such as depression is prevalent among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. It is often overlooked despite of reducing the patient´s quality of life.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression among CKD patients, whereby a practical sampling technique was used among patients attending Bugando Medical Centre, a tertiary level hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Life with an Indwelling Urinary Catheter: Experiences from Male Patients Attending the Urology Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital in Northwestern Tanzania-A Qualitative Study.

Experiences from patients living with a long-term indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) at home among men attending urology clinics have not been reported. Evidence-based information on such experiences is important for improving nursing care in low- and middle-income countries such as Tanzania. Using a descriptive phenomenological qualitative research design, we observed two main themes: "", denoting that social interaction and psychological and spiritual support are important to positively live with the catheter, and "", considering intimacy and altered body image to significantly influence the ability to practice sex, leading to wives' self-sacrifice.

Effects of Schistosoma mansoni and praziquantel treatment on the lower gastrointestinal mucosa: A cohort study in Tanzania.

Schistosomes infect over 200 million people worldwide, but few studies have characterized the effects of Schistosoma mansoni infection and effective treatment on the lower gastrointestinal mucosa. In this prospective cohort study, we compared the clinical findings on sigmoidoscopy and laboratory measures in Tanzanian adults with and without S. mansoni infection at baseline and 6 months after praziquantel treatment.

Non-prescribed antibiotic dispensing practices for symptoms of urinary tract infection in community pharmacies and accredited drug dispensing outlets in Tanzania: a simulated clients approach.

Background: Antibiotic dispensing without prescription is a major determinant of the emergence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) which has impact on population health and cost of healthcare delivery. This study used simulated clients describing UTI like symptoms to explore compliance with regulation, variations in dispensing practices and drug recommendation, and quality of seller-client interaction on the basis of the gender of the client and the type of drug outlets in three regions in Tanzania.

Method: A total of 672 Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs) and community pharmacies were visited by mystery clients (MCs).

Farm costs and benefits of antimicrobial use reduction on broiler farms in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Of all animal derived-food, the demand for poultry meat is the most dynamic. The poultry sector can meet this demand only by introducing intensive production where antimicrobial use is inevitable. Bacterial infection prevention and control is an important factor in intensive livestock production.

Evaluation of a comprehensive maternal newborn health intervention in rural Tanzania: single-arm pre-post coverage survey results.

Background: In Tanzania, maternal and newborn deaths can be prevented via quality facility-based antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and postnatal care (PNC). Scalable, integrated, and comprehensive interventions addressing demand and service-side care-seeking barriers are needed.

Objective: Assess coverage survey indicators before and after a comprehensive maternal newborn health (MNH) intervention in Misungwi District, Tanzania.

Antimicrobial use in cattle and poultry production on occurrence of multidrug resistant . A systematic review with focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

Antimicrobial use in livestock production has been linked to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide; however, optimization of their use has been considered an important strategy in dealing with it. The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to assess the literature on antimicrobial usage (practices, frequency, class, type) in cattle and poultry production with regard to resistance in () including multidrug resistance (MDR) (b) summarize evidence for quantitative (volumes of active antimicrobial ingredients) and quality (identify and quantify active ingredient) and (c) to identify data gaps. Peer reviewed literature search was conducted by querying two online databases: PubMed and Google scholar from November 15, 2018 to February 2019.

Prevalence of HIV and associated risk factors among street-connected children in Mwanza city.

While on the street, HIV infection among street-connected children is a challenging issue due to the nature of transmission, distribution, and prevention. Lack of proper care and protection, insufficient knowledge of the danger of acquiring HIV, and insufficient or absence of health facilities serving street-connected children have left this vulnerable group engaging in high-risk behaviors exposing them to acquiring HIV. This cross-sectional study aimed at estimating the prevalence of HIV infection and its associated risk factors among street-connected children aged between 10 to17 years in Mwanza City.

Water sanitation problem in Pakistan: A review on disease prevalence, strategies for treatment and prevention.

The global water crisis is expected to worsen if urgent action is not taken in making sustainable amends. This applies to Pakistan as the entire country suffers massively from poor water sanitation. Waterborne diseases are rising exponentially attributed to rise in microbial infestations, trace elements and drug toxicity in many water bodies of Pakistan.

'Moving towards understanding', acceptability of investigations following stillbirth in sub-Saharan Africa: A grounded theory study.

Objective: To explore the views of women, partners, families, health workers and community leaders of potential investigations to determine the cause(s) of stillbirth, in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia.

Design: Grounded theory.

Setting: Tertiary facilities and community settings in Blantyre, Malawi, Mwanza, Tanzania and Mansa, Zambia.

The magnitude of prescribing medicines by brand names in a tertiary hospital, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: Globally, one of the most common causes of irrational use of medicines is brand-name prescribing. The consequence of prescribing medicines using brand names is an economic burden on patients and society. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the magnitude of prescribing medicines by brand names in a tertiary hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Healthcare Workers' Low Knowledge of Female Genital Schistosomiasis and Proposed Interventions to Prevent, Control, and Manage the Disease in Zanzibar.

This study was conducted to explore healthcare workers' knowledge of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) and describe proposed interventions to raise awareness about FGS and strengthen healthcare facilities' capacity to manage FGS cases. We conducted four cross-sectional focus group discussions and 16 key informant interviews with purposively selected healthcare workers in Zanzibar. Discussions and interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo software.

The Coverage and Acceptance Spectrum of COVID-19 Vaccines among Healthcare Professionals in Western Tanzania: What Can We Learn from This Pandemic?

The vaccination rate against COVID-19 remains low in developing countries due to vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy is a public health threat in curbing COVID-19 pandemic globally. Healthcare professionals have been found to play a critical role in vaccine advocacy and promotion campaigns in the general population.

High Prevalence of Anemia and Poor Compliance with Preventive Strategies among Pregnant Women in Mwanza City, Northwest Tanzania: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Anemia in pregnancy is prevalent in Tanzania despite the implementation of existing prevention strategies. This study aims to determine the level of compliance with anemia preventive strategies among pregnant women and the factors associated with poor compliance. A cross sectional study was conducted among 768 pregnant women who attended the Bugando Medical Center, Sekou-Toure Regional Hospital, Nyamagana District Hospital, and Buzuruga Health Center in Mwanza, Northwest Tanzania.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) among Women with Macerated Stillbirth: A Cross-Sectional Hospital-Based Study from Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: Stillbirth adversely affects pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Viral infections have been implicated as one of the causes of stillbirths. Despite high rates of stillbirths and high viral prevalence in LMICs, there is limited information regarding their association.