The readiness of the national health laboratory system in supporting care and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania

Background

Strong health laboratory systems and networks capable of providing high quality services are critical components of the health system and play a key role in routine diagnosis, care, treatment and disease surveillance. This study aimed to assess the readiness of the national health laboratory system (NHLS) and its capacity to support care and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

Methods

A documentary review was performed to assess the structure of the health system with reference to the status and capacity of the NHLS to support HIV diagnosis. Key informant interviews were also held with laboratory staff in all levels of the health care delivery system in four regions with different levels of HIV prevalence. Information sought included availability and utilization of laboratory guidelines, quality and the capacity of laboratories for diagnosis of HIV.

Results

The findings indicate that a well-established NHLS was in place. However, the coordination of HIV laboratory services was found to be weak. Forty six respondents were interviewed. In most laboratories, guidelines for HIV diagnosis were available but health care providers were not aware of their availability. Utilization of the guidelines for HIV diagnosis was higher at national level than at the lower levels. The low level of awareness and utilization of guidelines was associated with inadequate training and supervision. There was a shortage of human resource, mostly affecting the primary health care level of the system and this was associated with inequity in employment and training opportunities. Laboratories in public health facilities were better staffed and had more qualified personnel than private-owned laboratories.

Conclusion

Tanzania has a well established national health laboratory network sufficient to support HIV care and treatment services. However, laboratories at the primary health care level are constrained by inadequate resources and operate within a limited capacity. Improving the laboratory capacity in terms of number of qualified personnel, staff training on the national guidelines, laboratory diagnostic tools and coordination should be given a higher priority.

     

Assessment of mouth-to-mask ventilation in resuscitation of asphyxic newborn babies. A pilot study

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of mouth-to-mask ventilation (MM) in neonatal asphyxia with bag-and-mask ventilation (BM). A new mouth-to-mask infant resuscitation system was constructed. The study was performed in two university clinics with different resources. The KEM Hospital in Bombay was well equipped and neonatologists took part in all resuscitations; Muhimbili Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam was understaffed and had no physicians available at resuscitation. Therefore, different protocols had to be used. In Bombay, the study period was limited to 5 minutes. If needed, mask ventilation was then replaced by intubation. In Dar es Salaam, MM ventilation was continued for up to 10 minutes, the inspiratory pressure was adjusted to 30 cmH₂O and the ventilation was slow (8–10 breaths/min). In Bombay, 30 babies were allocated to the BM and 24 to the MM groups. In Dar es Salaam 56 were in the BM and 64 in the MM groups. The results for term babies in Bombay and both term and pre-term babies in Dar es Salaam showed no significant differences between the two groups of treatment, as determined by Apgar score 4 at 5 and 10 minutes, number of babies with their first gasp, heart rate >130 beats/min or pulse oximeter values above 75%, all at 5 minutes. An Apgar score 4 at 5 minutes was achieved in more than 75% of all infants, irrespective of treatment. The rates of early neonatal mortality and neonatal convulsions did not differ between the two methods of resuscitation. In Dar es Salaam, the low respiratory frequency used in both groups was associated with a slow increase in heart rate above 130 beats per min. This result indicates that further studies will be needed before such slow respiratory frequencies are used. We conclude that, if adequate training is provided and the respiratory frequency is kept within the normal range, MM ventilation is an alternative to assisted ventilation when no bag and mask is available. However, further studies are necessary, since this method has proved to be tiring and uncomfortable for the resuscitating health personnel.     

A longitudinal study on different models of postabortion care in Tanzania

OBJECTIVE: To identify women having unsafe abortions and elucidate whether an acceptable follow-up rate among these women can be retrieved. STUDY POPULATION: One thousand three hundred and fifty-seven women attended Temeke Municipal Hospital, Dar es Salaam with an abortion-related diagnosis. METHODS: Women having unsafe abortions were identified by an empathetic dialogue, offered a contraceptive service and asked to return for follow-up. Three different ways of achieving follow-up information were tested. In phase 1, a combination of hospital-based and home-based interviews was utilized, in phase 2, an additional 1-month control visit was added to the protocol, and in phase 3, the contraceptive counseling and service was provided by technically well-skilled counselors. RESULTS: Seven hundred and eighty-eight women were identified as having had unsafe abortions and 491 women as spontaneous abortions. Women having unsafe abortions were younger, more often single and of higher parity than women having spontaneous abortions. The follow-up rate achieved varied from 47%-72%, being lowest in phase 1 and highest in phase 3. The two most common reasons for loss to follow-up were the interviewer's inability to locate the respondent's house either because of an unspecific or a remote address (58%) and migration (29%). CONCLUSION: If hospital-based and confidential home-based interviews are used combined and if the women having unsafe abortions are counseled by technically well-skilled counselors, it is possible to achieve a reasonable follow-up rate among women having unsafe abortions.     

Change in maternal concerns during the 6 weeks postpartum period: a study of primaparous mothers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The purpose of this study was to describe the postpartum concerns of primiparas. A cohort study included 79 mothers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Mothers sorted topics into worry, interest, and confidence. Trends of decreasing worry and increasing interest and confidence for baby-related and mother-related topics were observed from 1 to 6 weeks. At 1 week mothers worried about baby's eyes, respiration, temperature, safety, and crying; but, at 6 weeks only crying was a problem. Need for information was constant about general health, baby behavior, and care of the baby. At 1 week mothers worried about swollen perineum, and feeling tired and nervous. They wanted information about preventing hemorrhage and infection and taking care of the perineum, breasts, and nipples. Trends of increasing worry and decreasing confidence were observed with respect to family relationships. At 6 weeks, mothers worried about the husband/partner's reaction to themselves and to the baby. Confidence in relatives' reaction to themselves and the baby decreased. Being aware of the changes in the way concerns are expressed may guide nursing/midwifery interventions for mothers as to the content and timing.     

The prevalence of Parkinson's disease in rural Tanzania

The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) varies worldwide from 7 to 450 per 100,000, and appears low in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) but few data exist. We conducted a prevalence study of PD in rural Tanzania. A door‐to‐door study was conducted in the Hai district project area (population 161,071), using a screening questionnaire followed by structured history and examination of positive responders. Diagnosis was based on the UK PD Society Brain Bank Criteria. 33 (23 men) cases of PD were detected, with mean age 74 years (range 38–94). One patient died before the prevalence date. 78% were previously undiagnosed and untreated. Mean duration of symptoms was 5 years, and median Hoehn and Yahr stage 3. Crude prevalence rates were 30/100,000 (men), 11/100,000 (women) and 20/100,000 (combined). The direct age‐standardized prevalence rates compared with the UK population were 64/100,000 (men), 20/100,000 (women) and 40/100,000 (combined). These rates are higher than previously reported from SSA, but still lower than the developed world. Many PD patients in SSA may never be diagnosed or treated, with consequent reduction in their life expectancy and quality of life. With the world population ageing PD is predicted to become an increasing problem. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society     

The dilemma of promoting green products: what we know and don't know about biobased metalworking fluids

Advocates of "green products" argue that promoting these products can protect the environment, workers, and public health. Biobased metalworking fluids (MWFs) are among the products promoted as "green products." The main question is, what constitutes a green product? To answer this question, the authors compared and contrasted the health and safety aspects of biobased and petroleum-based MWFs in terms of their additives. These two product categories of MWFs derived from various feedstocks were investigated through interviews and literature review. Three classes of biobased MWFs and four classes of petroleum-based MWFs were identified and compared. The little information available on the individual constituents for biobased MWFs indicates that they had biocides and preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, extreme pressure, and antiwear components, which are also common additives in petroleum-based MWFs. Precautionary approaches should be taken when promoting biobased MWFs as "green products" until individual components are evaluated for their health and safety impacts.     

Quality assessment of the antenatal program for anaemia in rural Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of antenatal care with respect to anaemia, a common health problem, in a developing country. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Rufiji rural district, coastal Tanzania. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred and seventy-nine consecutively enrolled pregnant women from 16 randomly selected antenatal clinics, including 10 dispensaries, four rural health centres and two hospitals. METHODS: We noted availability of infrastructure for management of anaemia, observed provider-client interaction, and interviewed women who attended antenatal clinics. An observer and health workers measured haemoglobin levels and their measurements were compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of antenatal care, anaemia in pregnancy, and maternal satisfaction. RESULTS: Half of the rural health clinics had no instrument to measure haemoglobin. The majority (58%) of pregnant women were not checked for anaemia at all, 10% were clinically examined, and 37% had haemoglobin assessed. The agreement between health workers' (using Tallqvist) and the observers' (using HemoCue) measurements of haemoglobin was poor to fair. The prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 10.5 g/dl) and severe anaemia (< 7.0 g/dl) was 58% and 6.2%, respectively, but overall only 4% of the anaemic pregnant women had specific action taken within the antenatal care program. CONCLUSION: Deficiencies in quality of screening, diagnostic information, and individual counselling need to be addressed before any impact of the antenatal care programme on anaemia can be expected.     

Operational factors affecting maternal mortality in Tanzania

Identification of the main operational factors in cases of maternal death within and outside the health care system is necessary for safe motherhood programmes. In this study, a follow-up was done of all 117 cases of maternal deaths in Ilala district, Dar es Salaam, 1991-1993, at all levels of care. In all, 79% received some medical care whereas 11% arrived too late for treatment. For each case the major operational factors and all health care interventions were defined through interviews with family members and health care staff and from hospital records, and the avoidability of each case was determined. In the health institutions where the women had consulted, the available resources were assessed. It was found that in most cases the husband (29%) or the mother (31%) of the woman decided on her care in cases of complications, and together with the lack of transport, this often caused delay at home. Also, delay in transfer from the district hospital was common. Cases of abortion complications were often not managed on time because of the delay in reporting to hospital or misleading information. Suboptimal care was identified in 77% of the cases reaching health care. Inadequate treatment was identified by the district health staff in 61% and by the referral centres in 12% of their cases. Wrong decision at the district level and lack of equipment at the referral centre were the main reasons for inadequate care. It is concluded that although community education on danger signs in pregnancy and labour is important, provision of the core resources and supplies for emergency obstetric interventions, as well as clear protocols for management and referral, are absolutely necessary for improvement of maternal survival.