BackgroundMonitoring gametocytes in the population can inform about the human infective reservoir... more BackgroundMonitoring gametocytes in the population can inform about the human infective reservoir, which greatly aids malaria transmission, and provide relevant data for transmission models. Using molecular techniques in preference to light microscopy to detect gametocytes may lead to most reliable results. Effective determination of gametocytes is inevitable to achieve the transmission-blocking interventions as a prime target to end malaria. We aimed to determine the prevalence of P. falciparum gametocytes in malaria-positive cases from Korogwe district hospital MethodologyArchived DNA samples collected from Korogwe district hospital collected in a cross-sectional study were used to determine the prevalence of P. falciparum gametocytes using specific primers for cPCR targeting a Pfg27 gene. Demographic data, including blood slides data were retrieved from the database for statistical analysis. ResultsWith light microscopy, prevalence of P. falciparum gametocytes was 9.8%; sensitivi...
Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are em... more Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are emerging and re- emerging in different parts of the world. Tanzania has experienced several dengue outbreaks since 2010. The present study aims to determine the seroprevalence and associated symptoms of dengue and chikungunya fever in the Moshi rural district during the 2019 dengue outbreak. Methodology: A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 15 health facilities in the Moshi Rural district. A total of 397 participants with malaria-like symptoms were enrolled. Participants were screened for seropositivity towards dengue and chikungunya Immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) using ELISA-based kits. Results: Out of 397 participants, 28 (7.1 %) and 8 (2.0%) were dengue IgM and IgG positive respectively. Chikungunya IgM positives were 34 (8.6%). The most commonly reported symptoms were; headache 189 (27.7%), joint pains 132 (19.4%) and muscle pain 106 (15.5%). Factors such as b...
<p>Demographic characteristics of participants who presente... more <p>Demographic characteristics of participants who presented for blood donation and type of participants (n = 14377).</p
Background: Numerous studies have revealed the association of the door handle and contamination o... more Background: Numerous studies have revealed the association of the door handle and contamination of pathogenic bacteria. Door handles of clinical and research laboratories have higher chances of contamination with pathogenic bacteria during closing and opening with contaminated gloves on, or sometimes after visiting the toilets without the use of disinfectant materials. There is limited epidemiological data regarding bacteria cross contamination of door locks of the Clinical laboratory at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. This study aimed at providing the proportions of bacteria contaminating medical laboratory doors Methods: A cross section laboratory-based study was conducted and it involved collection of swab samples from doors and working benches in the clinical laboratory Results: Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus, Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeroginosa and coliforms were (26%, 22%, 18%, 8%, 4% and 4% respectively. Conclu...
Global malaria epidemiology has changed in the last decade with a substantial increase in cases a... more Global malaria epidemiology has changed in the last decade with a substantial increase in cases and death being recorded. Over 90% of global cases and deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Tanzania accounts for about 4% of all cases and deaths reported in recent years. It is believed that several factors contribute to the resurgence of malaria, parasite resistance to antimalarials and mosquito resistance to insecticides being at the top of the list. The presence of sub-microscopic infections poses a significant challenge to malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDT), particularly in low-endemic areas. Our cross-sectional surveys in Handeni and Moshi, Tanzania assessed the effect of low parasite density on mRDT. A significant difference (P˂0.001) in malaria prevalence by mRDT, light microscopy (LM) and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was found among age groups. In comparison to all other groups, school-age children (5-15 years) had the highest prevalence of malaria. Based on th...
Background: Bloodstream infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in people of a... more Background: Bloodstream infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in people of all age groups, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, a recent report indicates that case fatality rate of 37% is attributed to bloodstream infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with bloodstream infections as well as to determine resistance pattern of bacterial isolates among patients visiting Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2019 at KCMC. A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Blood samples were collected for culture, malaria rapid test, typhoid and brucella tests. Clinical features, co-morbid conditions and patients' hospitalization data were recorded in the questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with bloodstream infections. Predictors of the outcome were considered significant at p<0.05. Resu...
Objective A community-based cross-sectional study was done to assess Plasmodium falciparum exposu... more Objective A community-based cross-sectional study was done to assess Plasmodium falciparum exposure in areas with different malaria endemicity in north-eastern Tanzania using serological markers; PfAMA-1 and PfMSP-119. Results Bondo had a higher seroprevalence 36.6% (188) for PfAMA-1 as compared to Hai 13.8% (33), χ2 = 34.66, p < 0.01. Likewise, Bondo had a higher seroprevalence 201(36.6%) for PfMSP-1 as compared to Hai 41 (17.2%), χ2 = 29.62, p < 0.01. Anti-PfAMA-1 titters were higher in malaria positive individuals (n = 47) than in malaria negative individuals (n = 741) (p = 0.07). Anti-PfMSP-1 antibody concentrations were significantly higher in malaria-positive individuals (n = 47) than in malaria-negative individuals (n = 741) (p = 0.003). Antibody response against PfAMA-1 was significantly different between the three age groups; < 5 years, 5 to 15 years and > 15 years in both sites of Bondo and Hai. Likewise, antibody response against PfMSP-119 was significantly di...
Background There are several unknown illnesses including chikungunya and dengue viruses that pres... more Background There are several unknown illnesses including chikungunya and dengue viruses that present with fever in children. Therefore there are many cases that are misdiagnosed. Consequently we performed a study to determine the clinical characteristics of dengue and chikungunya in order to assist clinicians in management. Methods A total of 196 children with history of fever for ≤ 10 days were enrolled prospectively at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre from September 2015 to May 2016. All cases were screened for chikungunya and dengue viruses by PCR as well as other febrile illnesses such as malaria, bacteria and HIV through other diagnostic method. We performed logistic regression to find association between clinical symptoms and chikungunya infection. Results In our study, 21.9% (43/196) of the cases received laboratory investigations and the diagnoses were as follows; malaria only (n = 1, 0.5%), bacterial infections only (n = 4, 2.0%), HIV/AIDS only (n = 37, 18.9%), as well ...
Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health a... more Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health attention. Dengue has historically been thought of as an urban disease that frequently occurs in rapidly urbanized settings. However, dengue has become more widespread in rural regions in recent years. Understanding the changing dengue epidemiology in different geographical settings is important for targeted intervention. In Tanzania, dengue fever is not frequently reported because of the poor surveillance infrastructure, underestimation, and a lack of consideration of dengue as a priority. Therefore, the true burden as well as the risk factors for increased transmission has not been fully ascertained, particularly in rural areas. A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in June 2021, involving a total of 362 participants of all age groups. We investigated the prevalence of acute dengue infection, seroprevalence, and associated factors among the community in three villages of...
Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are em... more Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are emerging and reemerging in different parts of the world. Tanzania has experienced several dengue outbreaks since 2010. The present study aims to determine the seroprevalence and associated symptoms of dengue and chikungunya fever in the Moshi rural district during the 2019 dengue outbreak. Methodology: A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 15 health facilities in the Moshi Rural district. A total of 397 participants with malaria-like symptoms were enrolled. Participants were screened for seropositivity towards dengue and chikungunya Immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) using ELISA-based kits. Results: Out of 397 participants, 28 (7.1 %) and 8 (2.0%) were dengue IgM and IgG positive respectively. Chikungunya IgM positives were 34 (8.6%). The most commonly reported symptoms were; headache 189 (27.7%), joint pains 132 (19.4%) and muscle pain 106 (15.5%). Factors such as being a farmer and history of travelling to outside regions was associated with dengue IgM seropositivity (p<.05). Conclusion: Aedes-borne illnesses appear to be endemic in the area, with IgG antibodies against the Chikungunya virus being more prevalent among study participants. These results provide an understanding of arboviral diseases as well as provide an early warning signal on the risk of transmission in north Tanzania. The results inform the allocation of local and national public health intervention to prevent future outbreaks.
Background. Bacteria possessing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), especially E. coli and K... more Background. Bacteria possessing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), especially E. coli and Klebsiella species, are problematic, particularly in hospitalized patients. Poultry meat vendors are at risk of carrying ESBL-producing bacteria when processing and handling meat products in an unhygienic environment. ere is limited information on the carriage rate of ESBL-producing pathogens among poultry meat vendors that necessitated the conduction of the study. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among poultry meat vendors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants provided rectal swabs in transport media upon instruction. e primary isolation of ESBL-producing bacteria was carried out using MacConkey agar supplemented with ceftazidime. Identification of isolates relied on conventional methods. Double-disk synergy was the method used to confirm ESBL-producing isolates. We performed descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. A total of 300 participants were recruited from five districts, with a mean age of 27.2 ± 6.7 years. e majority was male (67.3%), and 74.7% worked as poultry meat vendors for more than one year. Out of 300 participants, 107 (35.7%) had confirmed ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. e majority of confirmed ESBL-producing isolates was E. coli (78.5%). Participants from Ubungo District had significantly higher carriage of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. (48.0%, 95% CI: 34.8-47.7) than Temeke District (21.4%, 95% CI: 13.4-32.4). Only 28.0% of participants had access to latrines at the workplace, and all working areas lacked access to running water. Conclusion. e study revealed a relatively high fecal carriage rate of ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. among poultry meat vendors. Poor working environments and hygienic practices are risks for spread of these multidrug-resitant pathogens.
Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health a... more Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health attention. Dengue has historically been thought of as an urban disease that frequently occurs in rapidly urbanized settings. However, dengue has become more widespread in rural regions in recent years. Understanding the changing dengue epidemiology in diferent geographical settings is important for targeted intervention. In Tanzania, dengue fever is not frequently reported because of the poor surveillance infrastructure, underestimation, and a lack of consideration of dengue as a priority. Terefore, the true burden as well as the risk factors for increased transmission has not been fully ascertained, particularly in rural areas. A cross-sectional communitybased study was conducted in June 2021, involving a total of 362 participants of all age groups. We investigated the prevalence of acute dengue infection, seroprevalence, and associated factors among the community in three villages of the rural Handeni district. Te prevalence of acute dengue infection (based on PCR) was 2.2% (8/362). Dengue-specifc IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 3.3% (12/362) and 5.2% (19/362) of the participants, respectively. Adult participants who were having vegetation around their houses were more likely to be DENV seropositive (AOR � 2.4, CI � 1.88-4.18, p value � 0.05). Children living in houses with garbage pit around their households were less likely to be DENV seropositive (AOR � 0.13, CI � 0.03-0.56, p value <0.01). DENV continues to circulate in rural Tanzania, causes an alarming situation, and necessitates prompt public health action to enhance vector surveillance and control in rural communities.
Background: Antibiotic self-medication has been on the rise in different parts of the world. Anti... more Background: Antibiotic self-medication has been on the rise in different parts of the world. Antibiotic self-medication causes excessive antibiotic exposure to humans which is associated with many health risks including antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study was to assess practice and determine the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the practice and knowledge of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students. A total of 300 undergraduate students were purposively sampled. The association between categorical predictors and antibiotic self-medication waspresented as Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CIs) using logistic regression. Result: The prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students is 191(63.7%) with amoxicilli...
BackgroundMonitoring gametocytes in the population can inform about the human infective reservoir... more BackgroundMonitoring gametocytes in the population can inform about the human infective reservoir, which greatly aids malaria transmission, and provide relevant data for transmission models. Using molecular techniques in preference to light microscopy to detect gametocytes may lead to most reliable results. Effective determination of gametocytes is inevitable to achieve the transmission-blocking interventions as a prime target to end malaria. We aimed to determine the prevalence of P. falciparum gametocytes in malaria-positive cases from Korogwe district hospital MethodologyArchived DNA samples collected from Korogwe district hospital collected in a cross-sectional study were used to determine the prevalence of P. falciparum gametocytes using specific primers for cPCR targeting a Pfg27 gene. Demographic data, including blood slides data were retrieved from the database for statistical analysis. ResultsWith light microscopy, prevalence of P. falciparum gametocytes was 9.8%; sensitivi...
Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are em... more Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are emerging and re- emerging in different parts of the world. Tanzania has experienced several dengue outbreaks since 2010. The present study aims to determine the seroprevalence and associated symptoms of dengue and chikungunya fever in the Moshi rural district during the 2019 dengue outbreak. Methodology: A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 15 health facilities in the Moshi Rural district. A total of 397 participants with malaria-like symptoms were enrolled. Participants were screened for seropositivity towards dengue and chikungunya Immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) using ELISA-based kits. Results: Out of 397 participants, 28 (7.1 %) and 8 (2.0%) were dengue IgM and IgG positive respectively. Chikungunya IgM positives were 34 (8.6%). The most commonly reported symptoms were; headache 189 (27.7%), joint pains 132 (19.4%) and muscle pain 106 (15.5%). Factors such as b...
&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;Demographic characteristics of participants who presente... more &amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;Demographic characteristics of participants who presented for blood donation and type of participants (n = 14377).&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p
Background: Numerous studies have revealed the association of the door handle and contamination o... more Background: Numerous studies have revealed the association of the door handle and contamination of pathogenic bacteria. Door handles of clinical and research laboratories have higher chances of contamination with pathogenic bacteria during closing and opening with contaminated gloves on, or sometimes after visiting the toilets without the use of disinfectant materials. There is limited epidemiological data regarding bacteria cross contamination of door locks of the Clinical laboratory at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. This study aimed at providing the proportions of bacteria contaminating medical laboratory doors Methods: A cross section laboratory-based study was conducted and it involved collection of swab samples from doors and working benches in the clinical laboratory Results: Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus, Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeroginosa and coliforms were (26%, 22%, 18%, 8%, 4% and 4% respectively. Conclu...
Global malaria epidemiology has changed in the last decade with a substantial increase in cases a... more Global malaria epidemiology has changed in the last decade with a substantial increase in cases and death being recorded. Over 90% of global cases and deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Tanzania accounts for about 4% of all cases and deaths reported in recent years. It is believed that several factors contribute to the resurgence of malaria, parasite resistance to antimalarials and mosquito resistance to insecticides being at the top of the list. The presence of sub-microscopic infections poses a significant challenge to malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDT), particularly in low-endemic areas. Our cross-sectional surveys in Handeni and Moshi, Tanzania assessed the effect of low parasite density on mRDT. A significant difference (P˂0.001) in malaria prevalence by mRDT, light microscopy (LM) and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was found among age groups. In comparison to all other groups, school-age children (5-15 years) had the highest prevalence of malaria. Based on th...
Background: Bloodstream infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in people of a... more Background: Bloodstream infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality in people of all age groups, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, a recent report indicates that case fatality rate of 37% is attributed to bloodstream infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with bloodstream infections as well as to determine resistance pattern of bacterial isolates among patients visiting Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2019 at KCMC. A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Blood samples were collected for culture, malaria rapid test, typhoid and brucella tests. Clinical features, co-morbid conditions and patients' hospitalization data were recorded in the questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with bloodstream infections. Predictors of the outcome were considered significant at p<0.05. Resu...
Objective A community-based cross-sectional study was done to assess Plasmodium falciparum exposu... more Objective A community-based cross-sectional study was done to assess Plasmodium falciparum exposure in areas with different malaria endemicity in north-eastern Tanzania using serological markers; PfAMA-1 and PfMSP-119. Results Bondo had a higher seroprevalence 36.6% (188) for PfAMA-1 as compared to Hai 13.8% (33), χ2 = 34.66, p < 0.01. Likewise, Bondo had a higher seroprevalence 201(36.6%) for PfMSP-1 as compared to Hai 41 (17.2%), χ2 = 29.62, p < 0.01. Anti-PfAMA-1 titters were higher in malaria positive individuals (n = 47) than in malaria negative individuals (n = 741) (p = 0.07). Anti-PfMSP-1 antibody concentrations were significantly higher in malaria-positive individuals (n = 47) than in malaria-negative individuals (n = 741) (p = 0.003). Antibody response against PfAMA-1 was significantly different between the three age groups; < 5 years, 5 to 15 years and > 15 years in both sites of Bondo and Hai. Likewise, antibody response against PfMSP-119 was significantly di...
Background There are several unknown illnesses including chikungunya and dengue viruses that pres... more Background There are several unknown illnesses including chikungunya and dengue viruses that present with fever in children. Therefore there are many cases that are misdiagnosed. Consequently we performed a study to determine the clinical characteristics of dengue and chikungunya in order to assist clinicians in management. Methods A total of 196 children with history of fever for ≤ 10 days were enrolled prospectively at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre from September 2015 to May 2016. All cases were screened for chikungunya and dengue viruses by PCR as well as other febrile illnesses such as malaria, bacteria and HIV through other diagnostic method. We performed logistic regression to find association between clinical symptoms and chikungunya infection. Results In our study, 21.9% (43/196) of the cases received laboratory investigations and the diagnoses were as follows; malaria only (n = 1, 0.5%), bacterial infections only (n = 4, 2.0%), HIV/AIDS only (n = 37, 18.9%), as well ...
Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health a... more Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health attention. Dengue has historically been thought of as an urban disease that frequently occurs in rapidly urbanized settings. However, dengue has become more widespread in rural regions in recent years. Understanding the changing dengue epidemiology in different geographical settings is important for targeted intervention. In Tanzania, dengue fever is not frequently reported because of the poor surveillance infrastructure, underestimation, and a lack of consideration of dengue as a priority. Therefore, the true burden as well as the risk factors for increased transmission has not been fully ascertained, particularly in rural areas. A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in June 2021, involving a total of 362 participants of all age groups. We investigated the prevalence of acute dengue infection, seroprevalence, and associated factors among the community in three villages of...
Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are em... more Background: Diseases caused by Aedes-borne viruses, such as; dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are emerging and reemerging in different parts of the world. Tanzania has experienced several dengue outbreaks since 2010. The present study aims to determine the seroprevalence and associated symptoms of dengue and chikungunya fever in the Moshi rural district during the 2019 dengue outbreak. Methodology: A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 15 health facilities in the Moshi Rural district. A total of 397 participants with malaria-like symptoms were enrolled. Participants were screened for seropositivity towards dengue and chikungunya Immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) using ELISA-based kits. Results: Out of 397 participants, 28 (7.1 %) and 8 (2.0%) were dengue IgM and IgG positive respectively. Chikungunya IgM positives were 34 (8.6%). The most commonly reported symptoms were; headache 189 (27.7%), joint pains 132 (19.4%) and muscle pain 106 (15.5%). Factors such as being a farmer and history of travelling to outside regions was associated with dengue IgM seropositivity (p<.05). Conclusion: Aedes-borne illnesses appear to be endemic in the area, with IgG antibodies against the Chikungunya virus being more prevalent among study participants. These results provide an understanding of arboviral diseases as well as provide an early warning signal on the risk of transmission in north Tanzania. The results inform the allocation of local and national public health intervention to prevent future outbreaks.
Background. Bacteria possessing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), especially E. coli and K... more Background. Bacteria possessing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), especially E. coli and Klebsiella species, are problematic, particularly in hospitalized patients. Poultry meat vendors are at risk of carrying ESBL-producing bacteria when processing and handling meat products in an unhygienic environment. ere is limited information on the carriage rate of ESBL-producing pathogens among poultry meat vendors that necessitated the conduction of the study. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among poultry meat vendors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants provided rectal swabs in transport media upon instruction. e primary isolation of ESBL-producing bacteria was carried out using MacConkey agar supplemented with ceftazidime. Identification of isolates relied on conventional methods. Double-disk synergy was the method used to confirm ESBL-producing isolates. We performed descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. A total of 300 participants were recruited from five districts, with a mean age of 27.2 ± 6.7 years. e majority was male (67.3%), and 74.7% worked as poultry meat vendors for more than one year. Out of 300 participants, 107 (35.7%) had confirmed ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. e majority of confirmed ESBL-producing isolates was E. coli (78.5%). Participants from Ubungo District had significantly higher carriage of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. (48.0%, 95% CI: 34.8-47.7) than Temeke District (21.4%, 95% CI: 13.4-32.4). Only 28.0% of participants had access to latrines at the workplace, and all working areas lacked access to running water. Conclusion. e study revealed a relatively high fecal carriage rate of ESBL-producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. among poultry meat vendors. Poor working environments and hygienic practices are risks for spread of these multidrug-resitant pathogens.
Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health a... more Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health attention. Dengue has historically been thought of as an urban disease that frequently occurs in rapidly urbanized settings. However, dengue has become more widespread in rural regions in recent years. Understanding the changing dengue epidemiology in diferent geographical settings is important for targeted intervention. In Tanzania, dengue fever is not frequently reported because of the poor surveillance infrastructure, underestimation, and a lack of consideration of dengue as a priority. Terefore, the true burden as well as the risk factors for increased transmission has not been fully ascertained, particularly in rural areas. A cross-sectional communitybased study was conducted in June 2021, involving a total of 362 participants of all age groups. We investigated the prevalence of acute dengue infection, seroprevalence, and associated factors among the community in three villages of the rural Handeni district. Te prevalence of acute dengue infection (based on PCR) was 2.2% (8/362). Dengue-specifc IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 3.3% (12/362) and 5.2% (19/362) of the participants, respectively. Adult participants who were having vegetation around their houses were more likely to be DENV seropositive (AOR � 2.4, CI � 1.88-4.18, p value � 0.05). Children living in houses with garbage pit around their households were less likely to be DENV seropositive (AOR � 0.13, CI � 0.03-0.56, p value <0.01). DENV continues to circulate in rural Tanzania, causes an alarming situation, and necessitates prompt public health action to enhance vector surveillance and control in rural communities.
Background: Antibiotic self-medication has been on the rise in different parts of the world. Anti... more Background: Antibiotic self-medication has been on the rise in different parts of the world. Antibiotic self-medication causes excessive antibiotic exposure to humans which is associated with many health risks including antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study was to assess practice and determine the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the practice and knowledge of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students. A total of 300 undergraduate students were purposively sampled. The association between categorical predictors and antibiotic self-medication waspresented as Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CIs) using logistic regression. Result: The prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among undergraduate students is 191(63.7%) with amoxicilli...
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Papers by Debora Charles Kajeguka