Home About us Contact | |||
Dar Es (dar + e)
Selected AbstractsFlashblood: blood sharing among female injecting drug users in TanzaniaADDICTION, Issue 6 2010Sheryl A. McCurdy ABSTRACT Aims This study examined the association between the blood-sharing practice of ,flashblood' use and demographic factors, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and variables associated with risky sex and drug behaviors among female injecting drug users. Flashblood is a syringe-full of blood passed from someone who has just injected heroin to someone else who injects it in lieu of heroin. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants One hundred and sixty-nine female injecting drug users (IDUs) were recruited using purposive sampling for hard-to-reach populations. Measurements The association between flashblood use, demographic and personal characteristics and risky sex and drug use variables was analyzed by t -test and ,2 test. The association between flashblood use and residential neighborhood was mapped. Findings Flashblood users were more likely to: be married (P = 0.05), have lived in the current housing situation for a shorter time (P < 0.000), have been forced as a child to have sex by a family member (P = 0.007), inject heroin more in the last 30 days (P = 0.005), smoke marijuana at an earlier age (P = 0.04), use contaminated rinse-water (P < 0.03), pool money for drugs (P < 0.03) and share drugs (P = 0.000). Non-flashblood users were more likely to live with their parents (P = 0.003). Neighborhood flashblood use was highest near downtown and in the next two adjoining suburbs and lowest in the most distant suburbs. Conclusions These data indicate that more vulnerable women who are heavy users and living in shorter-term housing are injecting flashblood. The practice of flashblood appears to be spreading from the inner city to the suburbs. [source] Multivitamin supplementation in HIV-positive pregnant women: impact on depression and quality of life in a resource-poor settingHIV MEDICINE, Issue 4 2007MC Smith Fawzi Objectives The primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin supplementation on health-related quality of life and the risk of elevated depressive symptoms comparable to major depressive disorder (MDD) in HIV-positive pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods From April 1995 to July 1997, 1078 HIV-positive pregnant women were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. We examined the effects of vitamin supplementation on quality of life and the risk of elevated depressive symptoms, assessed longitudinally every 6,12 months. Results A substantial prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (42%) was observed in HIV-positive pregnant women. Multivitamin supplementation (B-complex, C and E) demonstrated a protective effect on depression [relative risk (RR)=0.78; P=0.005] and quality of life [RR=0.72 for social functioning (P=0.001) and vitality (P=0.0001); RR=0.70 for role-physical (P=0.002)]; however, vitamin A showed no effect on these outcomes. Conclusions Multivitamin supplementation (B-complex, C and E) resulted in a reduction in risk of elevated depressive symptoms comparable to MDD and improvement in quality of life in HIV-positive pregnant women in Tanzania. [source] Oral hygiene practices, periodontal conditions, dentition status and self-reported bad mouth breath among young mothers, TanzaniaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DENTAL HYGIENE, Issue 4 2006EGS Mumghamba Abstract:,Objectives:,To determine the oral hygiene practices, periodontal conditions, dentition status and self-reported bad mouth breath (S-BMB) among young mothers. Study participants and methods:,This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A total of 302 postpartum mothers, aged 14,44 years, were interviewed on oral hygiene practices and S-BMB using structured questionnaire. Oral hygiene, dentition and periodontal status were assessed using the Community Periodontal Index probe and gingival recessions (GR) using Williams Periodontal probe. Results:,Tooth brushing practice was 99%; tongue brushing (95%), plastic toothbrush users (96%), chewing stick (1%), wooden toothpicks (76%), dental floss (<1%); and toothpaste (93%). The prevalence of plaque and gingival bleeding on probing was 100%, gum bleeding during tooth brushing (33%), calculus (99%), probing periodontal pocket depth (PPD) 4,5 mm (27%), PPD 6+ mm (3%), GR 1+ mm (27%) and tooth decay (55%). The prevalence of S-BMB was 14%; the S-BMB had higher mean number of sites with plaque compared to the no S-BMB group (P = 0.04). Factors associated with S-BMB were gum bleeding on tooth brushing (OR = 2.4) and PPD 6+ mm (OR = 5.4). Conclusion:,Self-reported bad mouth breath is a cause of concern among young mothers, and associated significant factors were gum bleeding on tooth brushing and deep periodontal pockets of 6+ mm. Further research involving clinical diagnosis of bad mouth breath and intervention through oral health promotion and periodontal therapy are recommended. Clinical relevance:,This study provides baseline information on oral health status and the complaint on bad mouth breath which necessitates in the future need for objective assessment, diagnosis and management of bad mouth breath for enhanced social and professional interaction without embarrassments. [source] Risk factors for injuries to maxillary permanent incisors and upper lip among schoolchildren in Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 2 2009FEBRONIA KOKULENGYA KAHABUKA Background.,, Dental trauma is common among children, and the maxillary permanent central incisors are the most often affected teeth. Aim.,, This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for injury to maxillary permanent incisors and the upper lip among Tanzanian schoolchildren aged 8,14 years. Design.,, A cross-sectional study involving 1119 children. The risk variables investigated included age, gender, lip competence, and overjet. The corresponding proportions of injuries and the relative risk (with 95% confidence interval) were calculated and tested by Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression was applied to ascertain the strength and direction of the association of the risk variables to injuries, and backward selection was used to test significant risk factors. Results.,, About 24% of the children had trauma to maxillary incisors, 45% had incompetent lip whereas 31% had increased overjet. Age, gender, overjet, and lip competence showed significant association with injuries to upper lip and maxillary incisors. Boys had sustained more injuries than girls, with a higher relative risk for luxation injuries. Enamel fracture was associated with overjet combined with lip competence, whereas enamel dentine fracture without pulp involvement was related to gender. Luxation injuries were associated with gender, tooth avulsion with overjet, and lip competence. Injury to the upper lip was associated with age. Conclusion.,, Male gender, increased overjet, and lip incompetence were the main risk factors of getting trauma to maxillary incisors, whereas age was the risk factor for injury to the upper lip. [source] Assessing mothers' concerns in the postpartum period: methodological issuesJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 3 2004Helen I. Lugina MN PhD RN RM Aim., This paper reports a study evaluating the sensitivity of a semi-structured interview schedule and card sort methods in assessing postpartum concerns of women. Background., Several methods have been used to assess postpartum maternal concerns and the process of becoming a mother, but few studies have evaluated the methods with respect to their sensitivity for obtaining information. Method., A cohort of mothers was followed-up at one (n = 110) and 6 weeks (n = 83) after childbirth in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Women with a minimum of 7 years of primary education were interviewed and they also sorted cards. Those with less fewer than 7 years of primary education were interviewed only. The methods were used in alternate order to assess method interaction. Results., In the interviews at 1 week, mothers more often expressed worry and interest related to the baby or themselves when they had sorted cards first. The extent to which women expressed worry and interest about specific baby- and mother-related topics was generally higher for women who had sorted cards before the interview at both 1 and 6 weeks. Independent of whether they were interviewed only, interviewed after sorting cards or before, mothers more often expressed a higher degree of interest than of worry about the baby and self at both 1 and 6 weeks. The order of the data collection methods did not influence the way women sorted cards as being worries and interests. Conclusion., Compared to interview using a semi-structured interview schedule, our findings suggest that the card sort is more sensitive in obtaining information about women's concerns. Although the interview method has the advantage of reaching less educated people, the card sort is a technique that is associated with fewer barriers and is a more participatory method for those who can use it. [source] AMPFlSTR® IdentifilerÔ STR Allele Frequencies in Tanzania, AfricaJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 1 2008Bryan W. Forward M.S. POPULATION:, Identifiler,Employees and students of Muhimibili University College of Health Sciences in Dar es Salaam representing 19 widely distributed administrative districts and 42 tribes within the country. [source] Perception and conceptualisation of urban environmental change: Dar es Salaam CityTHE GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008CAMILLUS J SAWIO First page of article [source] Population, environment and development in Kinondoni District, Dar es SalaamTHE GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008MILLINE J MBONILE First page of article [source] Anti-TB drug resistance levels and patterns among Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from newly diagnosed cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaAPMIS, Issue 4 2009MECKY MATEE Anti-tuberculosis drug resistance levels and patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) isolated from newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB) patients in Temeke district in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were investigated. A total of 226 Mtb isolates from 564 TB suspects with no previous history of anti-TB treatment were tested for drug resistance against rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin and ethambutol on Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium using the proportion method. Of the 226 isolates, 22 (9.7%) were resistant to any one of the four anti-TB drugs; nine (3.99%) isolates were isoniazid mono-drug resistant and eight (3.54%) isolates were streptomycin mono-drug resistant. Multi-drug resistance, defined as resistance to both rifampicin and isoniazid, was observed in three (1.3%) isolates and two were also resistant to streptomycin and ethambutol. One (0.44%) isolate had poly resistance to isoniazid and streptomycin. The level of anti-TB drug resistant Mtb in Temeke, an HIV endemic area, remained constant between 1995 and 2007. The level of resistance to any one of the four anti-TB drugs was between 9.0% and 10%, resistance to individual drugs <4% and multi-drug resistance <2%. [source] Seagrass,sea urchin interaction in shallow littoral zones of Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue S1 2009Florence Mamboya Abstract 1.Seagrasses biomass, canopy height, shoot density, percentage cover, and sea urchin abundance were intermittently (between July and November 2007) studied at four littoral sites in the Dar es Salaam area (Mjimwema, Mbweni, Bongoyo Island and Mbudya Island) in order to investigate the seagrass,sea urchin association. 2.Seagrass biomass ranged from 126.7±65.62,g,dwt,m,2 in the upper sub-tidal area at Bongoyo Island to 508.1±133.4,g,dwt,m,2 in the upper sub-littoral area at Mbudya Island. Canopy height ranged from 6.51±2.76,cm in the mid-littoral zone at Mjimwema to 23.8±8.93,cm in the upper sub-littoral zone at Mbudya Island. Shoot densities ranged from 363.6±268.9 shoots m,2 in the mid-littoral zone at Mjimwema to 744.0±466.9 shoots,m,2 in the lower littoral zone at Mbudya Island. 3.Seagrass biomass, canopy height and percentage cover differed significantly among study sites (P=0.001, 0.0001, 0.008 respectively). However, there was no significant difference in shoot density among the sites (P=0.376). 4.Ten species of sea urchins were recorded, Echinometra mathaei being the most abundant followed by Tripneustes gratilla. Total sea urchin abundance was significantly different among the study sites (P=0.001). Seagrass,sea urchin interaction was depicted by significant negative correlations between sea urchin densities with seagrass biomass, canopy height, shoot density and percentage cover. This suggests that grazing by sea urchins might have contributed to the reduction of above ground seagrass biomass in locations with higher sea urchin densities. However, further studies are required to corroborate the present results and assess effects of other factors (e.g. light, nutrients and currents), which also influence seagrass growth. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Microbial and nutrient pollution in the coastal bathing waters of Dar es SalaamAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue S1 2009Thomas J. Lyimo Abstract 1.The objective of the present study was to assess the microbial and nutrient quality of coastal beach waters used for bathing in the city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Concentrations of traditional and alternative microbial indicators of faecal pollution and nutrients were assessed over a 1 year period (August 2005 to August 2006) using standard methods and the results were compared with the WHO water quality guidelines. 2.Faecal indicator bacteria values varied in a consistent fashion and correlated significantly with eachother, reflecting the presumed human faecal pollution. 3.The maximum counts (MPN per 100,mL) were observed on the site close to the city centre (Ocean Road) throughout the sampling period where values ranged from 1700 to>240 000 total coliform (TC), 200 to 92000 faecal coliform (FC) and 11 to 4900 enterococci (ENT). Other sites showed less predictable results with a range of values from 0,920, 0,540 and 0,46 for TC, FC and ENT, respectively. Furthermore, the faecal indicator bacteria concentration varied significantly with sampling time (P<0.05) and between sampling points (P<0.05). 4.Similarly, nutrients were significantly higher (P<0.05) at Ocean Road where concentration (µmolL,1) ranges were 0.2,54 (NO3), 0.0,20 (NO2) and 0.3,45 (PO4). 5.The levels of faecal indicator bacteria and nutrients were higher during the rainy seasons than the dry seasons, showing the inclusion of rain run-off as a source of contamination. The faecal indicator bacteria correlated positively with nutrients in both 1 year and daily data sets (P<0.01). Positive relationships were also observed among faecal indicators. This strongly suggests that an important role is played by sewage contamination in the extent of microbial pollution at the studied urbanized coastal beaches. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Linkage disequilibrium and natural selection for mimicry in the Batesian mimic Hypolimnas misippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the AfrotropicsBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 1 2010IAN J. GORDON On two occasions, on opposite sides of the African continent (Cape Coast, Ghana, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania), high adult population densities in the polymorphic butterfly Hypolimnas misippus (a presumed mimic of Danaus chrysippus) were followed by linkage disequilibrium in combinations of fore- and hindwing colour patterns. On both occasions, disequilibrium was caused by significant changes in morph frequencies favouring rarer and more mimetic forms. Recaptures were too few for analysis at Dar, although the changes there took place within a single generation and must have been the result of differential survival. Recapture rate data and survival rate estimates at Cape Coast support the hypothesis that selective predation was responsible, as does the observation of synchronous linkage disequilibrium at Dar in the model D. chrysippus, indicating parasitic mimicry. There was clear selection for the perfection of mimicry for forewings at Dar and for hindwings at Cape Coast. Disequilibrium is also reported for two other sites, Legon (Ghana) and Boksburg (South Africa) and, in all four sites, it was associated with an increase in the most mimetic forms. New chemical evidence is presented to support the contention that D. chrysippus is a defended model. Although all the evidence leads to the conclusion that H. misippus is a Batesian mimic of D. chrysippus, many questions remain, particularly with regard to the identity of predators, the episodic nature of selective predation events, and their apparent lack of lasting and significant impact on overall gene frequencies. We conclude that H. misippus presents both challenges and opportunities for studies on mimicry, and we suggest that linkage disequilibrium can be a useful generic indicator for Gestalt predation on polymorphic prey. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100, 180,194. [source] ,Finding a Life' Among Undocumented Congolese Refugee Children in TanzaniaCHILDREN & SOCIETY, Issue 4 2010Gillian Mann The majority of undocumented Congolese refugee children living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, experience extreme poverty and social exclusion, harassment and discrimination. Their fear of deportation, forcible removal to refugee camps and imprisonment is coupled with a strong feeling that they are unwelcome in Tanzania. These realities require that most children devote a huge amount of their energy to survival, both literally, in terms of physical needs such as food and water, and figuratively, in terms of maintaining their sense of self-worth, dignity and purpose. This article is based on extensive fieldwork with more than 100 young people aged 7,18 years. I explore the ways children cope with the challenges posed by the conditions of everyday life and the strategies they employ in their quest to ,find a life', or make a future for themselves. I argue that by imagining a future, they are fighting against not only what war has done to them and their families but also against the very fact of being a refugee. [source] Caries risk factors in the permanent dentition of Tanzanian children: a cohort study (1997,2003)COMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Flemming Scheutz Abstract Objective:, The aims of the cohort study were to study the association between permanent dentition caries and malnutrition and other risk factors or indicators in a group of children with little or no access to restorative and preventive dental care. Methods:, The study was conducted at two primary schools in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in the period 1997,2003. One school recruits its children from affluent families and the other school is attended by the children of poor families. The children attended grade 1 at the first examination and had a mean age of 7.6 years (SD = 0.4); when the study was completed, the mean age was 13.3 years. Two-hundred and eighteen children examined in 1997 were re-examined in 1999; 147 of the children were examined in 1997 as well as in 2003, and 122 children were examined in all three years. An age- and sex-based body mass index (BMI) was computed to determine the nutritional status of each child. Each year, the same standard methods were used to determine the count of lactobacilli and mutans streptococci, stimulated flow rate and buffering capacity of saliva, and caries. Risk ratios were computed with generalized linear models using the tooth as the unit of analysis. Results:, Mean annual caries increment was 0.27 in the period 1997,1999 and 0.80 in the period 1999,2003 with most children developing no caries at all. Malnutrition at baseline in 1997 was insignificantly predictive for the development of caries, whereas a low stimulated flow rate of saliva (,0.7 ml/min) and a high count of lactobacilli (,100 000/ml) at baseline in 1997 were significantly associated. However, the generalized linear models for the two time periods 1997,1999 and 1999,2003 presented a confusing picture with different risk ratios and without consistency of the associations between the exposure variables and the development of caries. In accordance with this finding, the consistency of the exposure variables over time for the individuals was very low. Conclusions:, The results were inconclusive and left us with more questions than answers. The findings do, however, support the view that our methods for predicting caries are inappropriate or nonexistent. [source] Applicability of an abbreviated version of the oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) scale for use among Tanzanian studentsCOMMUNITY DENTISTRY AND ORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003J. R. Masalu Abstract , Objectives: The objective was to examine the applicability of an abbreviated version of the oral impact of daily performances (OIDP) inventory to Tanzanian adults attending the University of Dar es Salaam. Method: A total of 1123 students (mean age 26.4 years, response rate 58%) completed a survey instrument designed to measure subjective oral health indicators including the eight-item OIDP frequency scores. After a period of 4 weeks, 228 students (mean age 24.6 years, response rate 65%) were examined clinically for the presence or absence of oral disorders. Results: A total of 51% of the participants reported that an oral problem had affected them on at least one daily performance in the 6 months preceding the survey. Cronbach's alpha for the OIDP frequency items was 0.83 and 0.87 on the first and second administration of the questionnaire. A reliability coefficient (Spearman's rho) of 0.87 was obtained for the OIDP frequency scores. For five of the eight OIDP frequency items, the kappa values ranged from 0.60 to 1.0, whereas one scale item had the less satisfactory value of 0.22. Construct validity was demonstrated in that the OIDP frequency scores were statistically significantly associated in the expected direction with clinically observed oral problems and a global self-report indicator of oral health status, respectively. Conclusion: The OIDP frequency scale seems to have acceptable psychometric properties in the context of a descriptive questionnaire survey among Tanzanian university students. [source] |