Quality assessment of the antenatal program for anaemia in rural Tanzania.

Objective: To assess the quality of antenatal care with respect to anaemia, a common health problem, in a developing country.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Rufiji rural district, coastal Tanzania.

Respiratory symptoms and dust exposure among male workers in small-scale wood industries in Tanzania.

Few studies have assessed respiratory symptoms and dust exposure levels in small-scale wood industry workers in Africa. We interviewed 546 workers exposed to wood dust and 565 control subjects using a respiratory health questionnaire. Inhalable dust measurements were collected for 106 workers.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of amodiaquine, chloroquine and their monodesethyl metabolites in biological samples.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of amodiaquine (AQ), desethylamodiaquine (DAQ), chloroquine (CQ) and desethylchloroquine (DCQ) in human whole blood, plasma and urine is reported. 4-(4-Dimethylamino-1-methylbutylamino)-7-chloroquinoline was used as internal standard. The drugs and the internal standard were extracted into di-isopropyl ether as bases and then re-extracted into an acidic aqueous phase with 0.

Tetanus immunity among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

This study was conducted to investigate immunity to tetanus among pregnant women with verbal histories or documentation of having been vaccinated under the current five-dose tetanus toxoid (TT) schedule. It examined sera from 176 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tetanus antitoxin level of 0.

Risk factors for syphilis among HIV-1 infected pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

This study was conducted to determine the risk factors for recent (active) syphilis among HIV-1 seropositive pregnant women (N = 1058) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Recruitment of study participants (N = 1058) was done between April 1995 and June 1997 at four main prenatal clinics in Dar es Salaam city. Study subjects were interviewed to obtain information about potential risk factors, and blood and genital specimens were collected for detection of syphilis and other genital infections. The prevalence of active syphilis was 5.

Emergence of permanent teeth in Tanzanian children.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the emergence of permanent teeth among Tanzanian children.

Methods: A total of 869 Tanzanian children were recruited from 16 schools in age groups 3.5-5, 6.

The epidemiology of diabetic limb sepsis: an African perspective.

We review the epidemiology of foot and hand sepsis in adult diabetes patients in Africa. Limb sepsis in these patients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of diabetic foot infections in these patient populations appears to be similar to that for patients in industrialized countries -ulcers and underlying peripheral neuropathy being the most important risk factors.

Immunity to tetanus in male adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objective: To determine immunity to tetanus in male blood donors with previous diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT)/tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination.

Design: A cross sectional study, conducted in September 1999.

Setting: Blood bank, Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Odontogenic tumours and tumour-like lesions in Tanzania.

Objectives: To retrospectively document the pattern of occurrence of odontogenic tumours in Tanzania over fifteen years.

Design: The histologic types, site, age and sex distribution of odontogenic tumours in Tanzania from 1982 to 1997 were reviewed. Records of patients who presented to the four referral centres in Tanzania and who had histologically proven oral tumours and tumour-like conditions were examined.

In vitro evaluation of the quality of essential drugs on the Tanzanian market.

We evaluated the in vitro availability and its stability under simulated tropical conditions of various formulations of four essential drugs marketed in Tanzania. We obtained 22 formulations (containing paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, chloroquine or sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine) from wholesale pharmacies in Dar es Salaam and the Medical Stores Department (Tanzania). The drug content, in vitro availability (dissolution) and its stability under simulated tropical conditions were determined using methods specified in the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) 24 monograph of the respective drugs.

Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine monotherapy in Tanzanian children gives rapid parasite clearance but slow fever clearance that is improved by chloroquine in combination therapy.

Following widespread chloroquine (CQ) resistance, sulfadoxine plus pyrimethamine (SP) is now the first line antimalarial drug in a number of African countries including Tanzania. Unlike CQ, SP has no antipyretic effects, a feature that might delay fever clearance, and by acting on late stage parasites, SP could theoretical be slow in parasite clearance. We therefore assessed the antipyretic effects of CQ in therapeutic combination with SP, and the speed of parasite clearance by SP in an open-labelled, randomized trial of CQ alone (n=39), SP alone (n=39), SP plus CQ (n=37) and SP plus paracetamol (PCM) (n=38) in children with uncomplicated malaria.

Validity of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 amongst HIV-positive pregnant women in Tanzania.

Objective: To validate the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) for use as a depression screen amongst human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) positive pregnant women.

Method: Amongst 903 (mean age 24.8 years) HIV-positive pregnant women, a two-phased design included measures for health-related quality of life, perceived social support, and the HSCL-25 screen for depressive (HSCL-15 subscale) and anxiety symptoms.

Clinical outcome of diabetes patients hospitalized with foot ulcers, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Aims: To determine the prevalence rate, clinical features, risk factors, and clinical outcome of foot ulcers in diabetes patients admitted to Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of newly hospitalized, adult diabetes patients with foot ulcers was conducted during January 1997 to December 1998 (study period). Detailed clinical and epidemiological data were recorded for each patient, followed by a comprehensive physical examination.

A review of studies of sexual behaviour of school students in sub-Saharan Africa.

Aims: This is a review of articles on sexual behaviour of school students in sub-Saharan Africa published between 1987 and 1999. The objective was to describe what is known in this regard and identify gaps in knowledge.

Methods: Literature search using electronic databases and a thumb search of relevant journals identified 47 articles reporting sexual behaviours of school-based young persons aged between 14 and 24 years.

Dental caries and periodontal conditions among primary school children in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.

Objective: To describe the occurrence of dental caries and periodontal conditions among standards three and four primary school children in Morogoro municipality and compare the obtained oral health indicators with the goals stipulated in the National Plan for Oral Health by the year 2002.

Design: Cross sectional study of the oral health status among eight to 15-year old primary school children.

Setting: Primary schools in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania.

HIV infection in elderly medical patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and presentation of HIV-infection among medical admissions aged 55 years and above.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Comparative bioavailability of oral sugar-coated and plain formulation of chloroquine phosphate marketed in Tanzania.

The bioavailability of chloroquine from a single oral dose (10 mg/kg body weight) of a sugar-coated (Dawaquin) and a plain formulation (Shellyquine) of chloroquine phosphate were compared in two groups of 10 volunteers each, following an overnight fast. Whole blood chloroquine concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and bioavailability was determined by measuring area under the blood chloroquine concentration curve (AUC ng mL(-1) h) and the peak blood chloroquine concentration (Cpmax ng/mL). The AUC and Cpmax for Shellyquine were 4396.

Expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors, Ki-67, p53 and BCL-2 proteins, cathepsin D, urokinase plasminogen activator and urokinase plasminogen activator-receptors in carcinomas of the female breast in an African population.

Objective: To determine the expression of oestrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR), Ki-67, p53, bcl-2 proteins and the proteolytic enzymes cathepsin D (CD), urokinase-plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPA-R) in primary carcinomas of the breast from indigenous Tanzanian female patients by immunohistochemistry.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Developing a theoretical framework on postpartum care from Tanzanian midwives' views on their role.

Objectives: to describe a theoretical framework developed from the views of midwives in relation to provision of systematic postpartum care.

Design: qualitative focus group study using grounded theory approach.

Setting: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Oral tumours in Tanzanian children based on biopsy materials examined over a 15-year period from 1982 to 1997.

Aim: To provide information on the types and distribution of oral tumours and tumour-like lesions occurring in a Tanzanian child population aged 0-16 years.

Design: Retrospective study of biopsy results from hospital records from 1982-1997.

Setting: Department of Histopathology, the Muhimbili Medical Centre (MMC) in Dar es Salaam.

Prescribing habits in church-owned primary health care facilities in Dar Es Salaam and other Tanzanian coast regions.

Objective: To assess prescribing practice of Primary Health Care (PHC) workers in church owned health care facilities using WHO drug use indicators.

Design: A cross-sectional study in which twenty primary health care facilities were randomly selected. Prescribing indicators were obtained by analysing outpatient records retrospectively for the past 14 months between January 1997 and February 1998.

Pathogenic isolates in meningitis patients in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objectives: To determine, from laboratory records, the spectrum of bacterial and fungal pathogens isolated from cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) of in-patients with meningitis at Muhimbili Medical Centre (MMC) in Dar es Salaam and to ascertain the laboratory results (based on microscopy and culture) using the latex agglutination technique.

Design: A retrospective study based on laboratory records of CSF samples investigated between November 1999 and June 2000 and a cross-sectional study involving investigation of 60 freshly collected CSF samples by conventional (microscopy and culture) and antigen detection by latex agglutination technique (LAT).

Setting: Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

A longitudinal study of occlusal caries among schoolchildren in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objectives: To describe the clinical caries status and the radiographic progression of occlusal caries lesions in permanent first and second molars among primary schoolchildren in Dar es Salaam over a 3-year period.

Methods: Clinical and radiographic diagnosis of caries in first and second permanent molars in 223 children aged 8-16 years were carried out annually from 1994 to 1997. The drop-out rates from the baseline in 1994 to the follow-up examinations in 1995, 1996 and 1997 were 16.

Case management of malaria in under-fives at primary health care facilities in a Tanzanian district.

Objective: To study case management of malaria in children under 5 years of age at primary health care facilities in Kibaha district, Tanzania and to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported mothers'/guardians' information on chloroquine use in children.

Method: A random sample of 652 mothers/guardians with sick children under 5 years of age attending 10 primary health care facilities was observed and interviewed. Blood samples for determination of chloroquine levels were taken from all children and thick smears for detection of malaria parasites were taken from the children who were prescribed chloroquine.

Tanzanian midwives' views on becoming a good resource and support person for postpartum women.

Objectives: to explore midwives' views in relation to the provision of systematic postpartum care.

Design: qualitative focus group study using grounded theory approach.

Setting: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.