Assessing prescribing practice in church-owned primary healthcare (PHC) institutions in Tanzania: a pilot study.

A retrospective survey of prescribing patterns in 10 church-owned primary healthcare (PHC) institutions in Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania, was carried out by trained research assistants in order to assess the prescribing practices of healthcare providers in these institutions. From a total of 15,000 prescriptions, 600 were recorded randomly from patient registers retrospectively. This work was carried out between April to September 1996.

Common mental disorders among those attending primary health clinics and traditional healers in urban Tanzania.

Background: Traditional healers provide a popular and accessible service across the African continent. Little is known of the characteristics or mental health status of those using these services.

Aims: To determine and compare the prevalence of common mental disorder among, and the characteristics of, those attending primary health care clinics (PHCs) and traditional healer centres (THCs) in Dar-es-Salaam.

Sexual behaviour among youths at high risk for HIV-1 infection in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objectives: To investigate sex specific sexual behaviour in youths visiting a youth clinic for sexual and reproductive health in Dar es Saalam.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered to a random sample of youths between 10 and 24 years of age attending the youth health clinic in Dar es Saalam. The clinical investigation included testing for syphilis and HIV-1 antibodies

Results: 1423 youths attended the clinic between September 1997 and August 1998.

Development of mental health services in Tanzania: a reappraisal for the future.

The article traces the historical development of mental health services in Tanzania from traditional practices through custodial institutions during the colonial period, efforts towards decentralization, including the development of innovative agricultural rehabilitation villages during the 60s and the introduction of primary mental health care during the 80s right up to the present. Available resources in Tanzania, including the traditional healing system, the family and ample arable land were examined as to how these might be used in the care of mental patients and the promotion of mental health in general. The article points to real opportunities and a possible course of action for the future.

Appendicitis in Dar es Salaam, histological pattern.

Histology of 378 appendicectomy specimens submitted to the Histopathology Department of Muhimbili Medical Centre from its surgical wards over a 10 year period (1985 to 1994) were reviewed. There were 185 cases (48.9 pc) of acute appendicitis, 101 cases (26.