Women's Perception of Using Modern Family Planning Methods in Wete District, Pemba, Tanzania.

Background: Only 11% of women use family planning in Pemba, Tanzania. Among them, 9% use modern family planning (FP). Inadequate use of modern FP in the area may result in rapid population increase and attendant negative impact on social and economic development in the country.

Secondary Cutaneous Endometriosis of the Umbilicus in Tanzania: A Case Report.

Introduction: Endometriosis is characterised by endometrial tissue outside the endometrial cavity. The implantation sites may be pelvic or extrapelvic in nature. Umbilical endometriosis is a rare type of cutaneous endometriosis, accounting for 0.

Prevalence and factors associated with substance use among HIV positive youth attending HIV care and treatment centers in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Background: Substance use among people living with HIV is associated with poor health, social, and psychological outcomes. This study assessed the prevalence of substance use and associated factors among youth attending HIV care and treatment centers (CTCs) in Dodoma, Tanzania.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Dodoma, Tanzania, from February to April 2020 among youth aged 15-24 attending HIV CTCs.

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.

Determining the Minimum Dataset for Surgical Patients in Africa: A Delphi Study.

Background: It is often difficult for clinicians in African low- and middle-income countries middle-income countries to access useful aggregated data to identify areas for quality improvement. The aim of this Delphi study was to develop a standardised perioperative dataset for use in a registry.

Methods: A Delphi method was followed to achieve consensus on the data points to include in a minimum perioperative dataset.

Patterns and predictors of fear of childbirth and depressive symptoms over time in a cohort of women in the Pwani region, Tanzania.

Background: Fear of childbirth (FoB) and depressive symptoms (DS) are experienced by many women and can negatively affect women during and after pregnancy. This study assessed patterns of FoB and DS over time and associations of postpartum FoB and DS with sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study at six health facilities in Tanzania in 2018-2019.

Total Liver Vitamin A Reserves, Determined With 13C2-Retinol Isotope Dilution, are Similar Among Tanzanian Preschool Children in Areas With Low and High Vitamin A Exposure.

Background: In Tanzania, some districts have single vitamin A (VA) interventions and others have multiple interventions. There is limited information on total liver VA reserves (TLRs) among preschool children (PSC) in Tanzania.

Objectives: We assessed total body VA stores (TBSs) and TLRs among PSC living in 2 districts with low and high exposures to VA interventions using 13C-retinol isotope dilution.

Prevalence and determinants of non-communicable diseases including depression among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objective: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are experiencing growing co-morbidities due to an increase in life expectancy and the use of long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART). The lack of integrated non-communicable diseases (NCDs) screening and management at the HIV care and treatment centres (CTCs) make it difficult to determine the trends of NCD co-morbidity among patients with HIV. This study aimed to assess the burden and determinants of common NCDs, including depression among patients with HIV.

Nutritional status of children under five years old involved in a seasonal malaria chemoprevention study in the Nanyumbu and Masasi districts in Tanzania.

Background: Malnutrition and malaria are common co-morbidities in low-income countries, especially among under-fives children. But the malnutrition situation in Masasi and Nanyumbu districts, its interaction with malaria infection and the influence of socioeconomic factors are not well understood.

Methods: Children aged between 3-59 months in Masasi and Nanyumbu were screened for nutritional status and malaria infection in the community.

Influence of placental and peripheral malaria exposure in fetal life on cardiometabolic traits in adult offspring.

Introduction: Fetal malaria exposure may lead to intrauterine growth restriction and increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. We investigated the extent to which fetal peripheral and placental malaria exposure impacts insulin sensitivity and secretion, body composition and cardiometabolic health 20 years after in utero malaria exposure.

Research Design And Methods: We traced 101 men and women in Muheza district, Tanga region whose mothers participated in a malaria chemosuppression during a pregnancy study in 1989-1992.

A single low dose of primaquine is safe and sufficient to reduce transmission of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes regardless of cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme activity in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania.

Background: Primaquine is a pro-drug and its active metabolite is potent against mature Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. Primaquine is metabolized by a highly polymorphic cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme. Mutations in the gene encoding this enzyme may lead to impaired primaquine activity.

Is it time for Africa to adopt primaquine in the era of malaria control and elimination?

Primaquine is a gametocytocidal drug known to significantly reduce malaria transmission. However, primaquine induces a dose-dependent acute hemolytic anemia (AHA) in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency that has led to a limited use of the drug especially in Africa where the condition is common. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends a single low dose (SLD) of primaquine (0.

Changes in brain network properties in major depressive disorder following electroconvulsive therapy: a combined static and dynamic functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and intractable mood disorder. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a common means of brain electrical stimulation for the treatment of MDD, but the neurobiological mechanism of its clinical symptom relief effect is still to be explored. This study aims to explore how ECT plays a role in depression remissions by investigating the changes of static and dynamic brain network characteristics in MDD patients before and after ECT.

Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of Second Trimester Omental Pregnancy in Limited Resource Settings: Case Report.

Background: Abdominal pregnancies are a rare occurrence and are associated with high maternal and perinatal mortality rates compared to intra-uterine and other ectopic pregnancies. Localization of sites of abdominal pregnancies and determining the gestational age at the time of diagnosis play a fundamental role in guiding the treatment approach and minimizing potential complications. However, the vague presentation coupled with low accuracy of ultrasound detection often leads to misdiagnosis of abdominal pregnancy, and hence delaying initiation of appropriate management.

Vascular Dysfunction in Malaria: Understanding the Role of the Endothelial Glycocalyx.

Malaria caused by results in over 400,000 deaths annually, predominantly affecting African children. In addition, non-falciparum species including vivax and knowlesi cause significant morbidity and mortality. Vascular dysfunction is a key feature in malaria pathogenesis leading to impaired blood perfusion, vascular obstruction, and tissue hypoxia.

Malaria infection and anemia status in under-five children from Southern Tanzania where seasonal malaria chemoprevention is being implemented.

Background: Malaria and anemia remain major public health challenges in Tanzania. Household socioeconomic factors are known to influence these conditions. However, it is not clear how these factors influence malaria transmission and anemia in Masasi and Nanyumbu Districts.

Analysis of Combined Effect of CYP2C19 Genetic Polymorphism and Proton Pump Inhibitors Coadministration on Trough Concentration of Voriconazole.

Purpose: To analyze the combined effect of CYP2C19 genetic polymorphism and PPIs coadministration on voriconazole trough concentration (VCZ-C) in Chinese patients with hematological disorders.

Patients And Methods: A prospective observational study involved 250 plasma samples from 114 adult patients receiving voriconazole with or without PPIs were analyzed. Demographics and clinical characteristics were obtained from patient's records.

Degradation of endothelial glycocalyx in Tanzanian children with falciparum malaria.

A layer of glycocalyx covers the vascular endothelium serving important protective and homeostatic functions. The objective of this study was to determine if breakdown of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) occurs during malaria infection in children. Measures of eGC integrity, endothelial activation, and microvascular reactivity were prospectively evaluated in 146 children: 44 with moderately severe malaria (MSM), 42 with severe malaria (SM), and 60 healthy controls (HC).

Factors hindering integration of care for non-communicable diseases within HIV care services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The perspectives of health workers and people living with HIV.

Background: Global mortality attributable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) occurs in more than 36 million people annually with 80% of these deaths occurring in resource limited countries. Among people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) studies have reported higher prevalence's of NCDs compared to the general population but most studies do report a narrow range of NCDs commonly hypertension, diabetes and neoplasms and not all. In addition, there is limited reporting, integration of systematic screening and treatment for all NCDs among PLHA attending care, suggesting the NCD burden among PLHA is likely an underestimate.

Prevalence and factors that are associated with elevated blood pressure among primary school children in Mwanza Region, Tanzania.

Introduction: hypertension (HTN) among children is reported to be increasing due to sedentary lifestyles. In developed countries the prevalence of paediatric HTN is recorded to be up to 21% while the magnitude of the same is up to 11% in Tanzania. This study aimed to determine the blood pressure profile and factors associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) among children of Mwanza region.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Pterins, Pterin-Dependent Neurotransmitters, and Mortality in Pediatric Cerebral Malaria.

Background: Cerebral malaria (CM) pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Having shown low systemic levels of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an enzymatic cofactor for neurotransmitter synthesis, we hypothesized that BH4 and BH4-dependent neurotransmitters would likewise be low in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in CM.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled Tanzanian children with CM and children with nonmalaria central nervous system conditions (NMCs).

Promotion of unproved and potential dangerous measures in fighting COVID-19 pandemic: urgent need for vigilant appropriate public communication and generation of scientific evidence.

The ultimate cure for COVID-19 has not yet been discovered, but there is a lot of promoted traditional and food supplements claimed to be effective against the disease. Some of the promoted measures are not only associated with other adverse health outcome, but also create a sense of false protection; leading to failure to follow appropriate measures. It is crucial to identify, correct this misinformation, and to conduct clinical trials to generate evidence among those which are scientifically sound.

Use of Haematological Changes as a Predictor of Dengue Infection among Suspected Cases at Kairuki Hospital in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: A Retrospective Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by female Aedes mosquitoes which are commonly found in tropical and subtropical areas. There is a dramatic increase in annual incidence rate of dengue attributed to urbanisation, poor environmental management as well as increased people mobility. Outbreak of dengue have been reported in Tanzania in recent years with Dar es salaam being the most affected region.

Community-based survey on helminth infections in Kwilu province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and implications for local control strategies.

To adequately plan mass drug administration campaigns, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) needs further support for the mapping and monitoring of schistosomiasis (SCH) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH). We conducted a community-based survey in the health districts of Mosango and Yasa Bonga of the Kwilu province, DRC. A stratified two-stage cluster random sampling method was used to include participants into three different strata: Preschool-aged children (PSAC), school-aged children (SAC), and adults who were further subdivided into women of reproductive age (WRA) and other adults.