East African Journal of Public Health

OBJECTIVE: Alloimmunization is a recognized complication of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion and causes delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions and provides problems sourcing compatible blood for future transfusions. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of RBC alloimmunization in SCD patients in Tanzania where pretransfusion screening for alloantibodies is not practiced. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, SCD patients at Muhimbili Hospital Sickle Cell Clinic, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were investigated...

BACKGROUNDS: Sixty percent of the global deaths and injuries occur in the developing world and mostly are due to Road traffic accidents (RTAs. looking at the etiological related factors which include, carelessness of the driver, condition of the vehicle or motorcycle, poor condition of roads, risky behavior of the driver, most of these factors can be prevented to some extent. This study therefore, determined the pattern of cases and deaths due to traffic road accidents in Mwanza City Tanzania...

BACKGROUND: Human resource for health (HRH) is an essential building block for effective and efficient health care system. In Tanzania this component is faced by many challenges which in synergy with others make the health care system inefficient. In vision 2025 the country recognizes the importance of the health care sector in attaining quality livelihood for its citizens. The vision is in its 13th year since its launch. Given the central role of HRH in attainment of this vision, how the HRH is trained and deployed deserves a deeper understanding...

BACKGROUND: There is insufficient documentation of the institutional frameworks for disaster management and resilience at different levels in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to describe the institutional framework for disaster management in Uganda, and to identify actionable gaps at the different levels. METHODS: This was part of a multi-country assessment in which 6 countries in Eastern Africa developed and applied a common tool. The assessment was qualitative in nature employing a mixed methods approach including review of documents, interviews with key informants from agencies involved in disaster management in Uganda, group discussions with stakeholder and synthesis meetings of the assessment team...

INTRODUCTION: Uganda is vulnerable to several natural, man-made and a hybrid of disasters including drought, famine, floods, warfare, and disease outbreaks. We assessed the district disaster team's performance, roles and experiences following the training. FINDINGS: The disasters most commonly experienced by the district teams were epidemics of diseases in humans (7 of 12), animals (epizoonotics) (3 of 12) and crops (3 of 12); hailstorms and floods (3 of 12). The capabilities viewed most useful for management of disasters were provision of health care services (9/12) and response management (8 of 12)...

BACKGROUND: The Eastern Africa region is regularly affected by a variety of disasters ranging from drought, to human conflict and population displacement. The magnitude of emergencies and response capacities is similar across the region. In order to strengthen public health disaster management capacities at the operational level in six countries of the Eastern Africa region, the USAID-funded leadership project worked through the HEALTH Alliance, a network of seven schools of public health from six countries in the region to train district-level teams...

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa is vulnerable to several natural and man-made disasters. We used the CDC Automated Disaster and Emergency Planning Tool (ADEPT) to develop all-hazards disaster management plans at district level in three eastern African countries. METHODS: During July 2008-February 2011, we used the automated disaster and emergency planning tool to conduct training on disaster planning and management in the three east African countries namely Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda...

INTRODUCTION: Rwanda has been experiencing quite a significant number of disastrous events of both natural and man-made origin in the last 2 decades. Many cases of disasters are particularly linked to the geographic, historical and socio-cultural aspects of the country. The overall objective of the present article is to perform a situation analysis of disasters in Rwanda and to highlight the institutional and legal framework of disaster management. METHODS: An assessment questionnaire focused on the current capacity, institutional frameworks and on-going initiatives for disaster management at country level and operational level was administered...

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to identify the achievements and challenges of a resource allocation process in a decentralized health system in Tanzania as they are perceived by national and district level officers. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted between May 2011 and July 2012 in two districts of Dodoma region: Kongwa and Bahi. Data were collected from 25 key people involved in policy, planning and management aspects for the allocation of financial resources from the central government to local government districts...

INTRODUCTION: This paper describes a situationanalysis on hazards in the Arid and semi-Arid lands of Kenya. The leading hazards affecting the Arid and semi-arid lands are mainly natural and include among others drought, floods, and landslides. Other hazards of importance were found to be war and conflict, HIV/AIDS and fires. Over 80% of these are weather related. OBJECTIVES: The overall objective of this study was to prioritize hazards in the ASAL region. Specifically, the study identified the top ten hazards in the ASAL Districts of Kenya, determined Probability of occurrence; Analyzed the potential impact of the hazard and utilizing multiplier effect prioritized the Hazards using a hypothetical model...

BACKGROUND: The growing need for disaster management skills at all levels in Eastern Africa requires innovative approaches to training planners at all levels. While information technology tools provide a viable option, few studies have assessed the capacity for training institutions to use technology for cascading disaster management skills. METHODS: The design was an explorative survey. A pre-training survey was conducted among 16 faculty members (9 academic staff and 7 information technology (IT) staff) from 7 schools of public health in Eastern Africa...

BACKGROUND: Although Uganda is a high burden country for epidemics of infectious diseases, the pattern of epidemics has not yet been adequately documented. The purpose of this study was to describe the distribution, magnitude and characteristics of recent epidemics in Uganda, as a basis for informing policy on priorities for targeted prevention of epidemics. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from the Epidemiological Surveillance Division of the Ministry of Health and the African Field Epidemiology Network through key informant interviews and a documents review...

INTRODUCTION: The Eastern Africa region is a hot-spot for epidemics of emerging zoonotic diseases ('epizoonotics'). However, the region's capacity for response to epidemics of zoonotic origin has not been documented. This paper presents a multi-country situational analysis on the institutional frameworks for management of zoonotic epidemics in the Eastern Africa region. METHODS: A multi-country assessment of 6 country teams was conducted (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, DRC and Rwanda)...

BACKGROUND: Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have not conducted a disaster risk analysis. Hazards and vulnerability analyses provide vital information that can be used for development of risk reduction and disaster response plans. The purpose of this study was to rank disaster hazards for Uganda, as a basis for identifying the priority hazards to guide disaster management planning. METHODS: The study as conducted in Uganda, as part of a multi-country assessment...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and associated factors for undernutrition among the beneficiaries of Kenya Cash Transfer Program compared to non-beneficiaries in Korogocho, Nairobi. Optimal nutrition reduces the prevalence of undernutrition and contributes to improved child survival and development. METHODS: A comparative descriptive cross-sectional study design in which a total of 336 children were sampled from the two groups each consisting 168 children. A questionnaire was administered to caregivers...

OBJECTIVES: To explore the overall implications for an enhanced health system administrative capacity that not only takes account of global and regional developments, but that is also seen as legitimate domestically and is well equipped theoretically to deliver quality health care services in Kenyan rural health facilities. METHODS: The study used public hospitals as test cases. A field study was undertaken in western Kenya where four institutions were identified as research sites...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of HIV-1 infection in Pemba and Zanzibar islands METHODS: We used an interviewer-administered questionnaire that consisted of pre-coded and open-ended questions consisting of 29 items. The questionnaire was developed in English and translated into Swahili language before use. The questionnaire was pilot tested and modified before use. A total of 30 Shehias were randomly selected for the survey out of a total of 248 Shehias...

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been associated with humans for millions of years and its association wih gastroduodenal diseases has well been established. Research explosion has added vastly to the current dimensions. The new and unusual pattern of involvement in the form of diffuse duodenal nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (DDNLH) due to specific strain of H. pylorii has been reported from Kashmir recently, which heckles early recognition and treatment and on the other hand, we continue to face challenges so far as the prevention of carcinoma of stomach, a worst sequlae of H...

The paper examines whether variables of HIV/AIDS related knowledge, attitude and beliefs of Dodoma University students (UDOM) can predict practices which risk HIV infection. A pre-designed questionnaire was administered in a sample of 547 (539 students and 8 staff members). Since variables involved were many and in many cases highly correlated and unobservable, data were analyzed using factor analysis. Multiple regression analysis were used to analyze factor scores obtained from factor analysis. Based on responses of students to practice questions, two factors emerged and were labeled as sex with high risk persons and common risk sexual behavior...

BACKGROUND: Condom use is an integral indicator of risky sexual behaviour and, as a result, is a potential predictor of future HIV infection rates. Consequently, documenting trends in condom use and exploring the factors associated with their utilisation are important for broadening the information base for the design of HIV intervention programmes. This paper aims to document Uganda's nationwide trends in condom use from 1995 to 2006 and seeks to understand some of the socio-demographic variables that may be associated with their use, using Uganda Demographic Health Surveys (UDHS)...