ABSTRACT Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and eclampsia are the major health problem among the pregnant women and the main causes of the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality which accounts 19% of deaths in Tanzania. This study intended to assess knowledge and Myths about preeclampsia and eclampsia and its influence on antenatal care services utilization among expecting couples in Mtwara region. Method: A community based cross-sectional analyti...
ABSTRACT During the previous dispensation, health services were fragmented along ethnic lines and were curatively biased. To redress the above situation, the Ministry of Health and Social Services embarked on a health sector reform. Out of the previous four health directorates thirteen health regions were established to bring decision making and development to the people. The eight original directorates at the central level merged into five key functional units. The reform process in the heal...
ABSTRACT Background: Antenatal care services are amongst of determinants of maternal anemia during pregnancy. Maternal anemia is rated as a first indirect cause of maternal and neonatal death. This accounts for 50% of all pregnant women with inadequate ANC services utilization due to the lack of getting iron supplements during pregnancy. This study intended to assess the influence of ANC services utilization on prevention of anemia and its associated obstetric immediate outcomes among pregna...
ABSTRACT Background: Modes of delivery (birth of a baby) are spontaneous vaginal delivery and caesarean section. Throughout the modern obstetric and midwifery practice understanding, vaginal birth is and has been considered to be the preferred mode of delivery while caesarean birth is reserved only when it’s obstetrically indicated to save the life of the mother and/or the unborn baby and therefore, improve obstetric outcomes. The effect of mode of delivery on other outcomes, such as mater...
ABSTRACT Background: Unacceptable high maternal mortality rates remain a major challenge in many low-income countries. Early detection and management of antenatal risk factors and good preparation for birth and emergencies are critical for improved maternal and infant outcomes. The aim of this study was to understand the pattern and level of knowledge on obstetric and newborn danger signs, Individual Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (IBPACR) among pregnant women in Dodoma Munici...
ABSTRACT Back ground: Abortion is a termination of pregnancy at the gestational age of 20 weeks from whatever cause or before the fetus is capable of extrauterine life, it can be spontaneous or induced. Safe or unsafe abortion can lead to serious abortion complications. Individual awareness on abortion complications and the accessibility of comprehensive post abortion care services, are important predictors of the outcome treatment of abortion complications (Geleto & Markos, 2015). Objectiv...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Life styles during a pregnancy have long term effects on maternal and fetal outcomes. This study intended to assess life style behaviors and birth outcomes among post-delivery women with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy in Zanzibar. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design was employed; purposeful and convenience sampling was used to select 301post-delivery women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data o...
ABSTRACT Background: Over 50% of postpartum women have the risk of developing postpartum anaemia in the world. Postpartum anaemia contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality. In Tanzania, maternal anaemia contributes to 8.8% of all maternal deaths. The prevalence of postpartum anaemia is unknown in the country as little attention is given on it. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum anaemia among postnatal women in Dodoma City, Tanzania. Method: A cross-...
ABSTRACT Background: Birth asphyxia is reported to be higher in developing countries and sub Saharan Africa where neonates’ mortality rate is higher as 40-50/1000 live births. Methods: A matched case-control study of 517 random selected neonates was conducted in five districts in Kagera region from April to end of June 2018, controls were matched to the cases based on gestation age and birth weight of newborn with ratio 1:3 making a sample of 129 cases and 388 control. Partograph completene...
Abstract Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Seventy percent of deaths of cancer occur in low or middle-income countries, where the resources to provide cancer treatment and care are minimal. Tanzania currently has very inadequate facilities for cancer treatment as there are only five sites, some with limited services; two are in Dar es Salaam and one each in Mwanza, Kilimanjaro and Mbeya that offer cancer treatment. Despite cancer being a pre...
ABSTRACT Background: Despite a national target of 80% cervical cancer screening for all women from 30 to 50 years old by 2020, Mara Region managed to screen only 4% of all eligible women. In spite of several efforts to scale up cervical cancer screening the uptake is still low. Basing on these reasons, client based reasons for low uptakes on cervical cancer screening are to be addressed. . Methods: This study employed across-sectional design where by 296 women of reproductive age 18-49 years ...
ABSTRACT Background Implementing the recommended management protocols for Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is a key for delivery quality maternal care. Appropriate care to pregnant women is needed to reduce the risk of complications related to this condition. Early detection, careful monitoring and appropriate treatments of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is required for the better maternal outcome. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the quality of antenatal care for hypert...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Postnatal period is the most crucial period for the survival of mothers and neonates. This study, used the Health Belief Model in explaining the association between postnatal services utilization and the associated prevalence of neonatal illnesses in Zanzibar. Methods: Community based analytical cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 395 of post-delivery women and their neonates were randomly selected. The study used the Health Belief components to de...
ABSTRACTS Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is rapidly increasing worldwide. Globally, 17.8 million pregnancies are complicated by GDM. Recently, Tanzania has experienced a dramatic increase in the prevalence of GDM ranging from 0% in 1993 to 19.5% in 2017 in different parts. GDM screening is not part of the routine antenatal services in Tanzania. This contributes to scarcity of data addressing the magnitude and predictors of GDM in Tanzania. Objectives: To determine the preva...
ABSTRACT Background: Tanzania is experiencing post-caesarean surgical site infections, which increases maternal morbidity and mortality. Poor wound care is reported to contribute to these infections and yet there is scanty research to inform about the community knowledge on wound care practice among post cesarean section women. This study attempts to address this gap by assessing the knowledge and practice of wound care and their influence on the presence of surgical site infections among pos...