Consistent Condom Use and Dual Protection Among Female Sex Workers: Surveillance Findings from a Large-Scale, Community-Based Combination HIV Prevention Program in Tanzania.

In Tanzania, HIV infection remains much higher among female sex workers (FSWs) than among other adult women. In addition to HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy prevention are major concerns for FSWs in Tanzania. This study used a programmatic surveillance approach to examine protection against STIs/HIV and unintended pregnancy (dual method use) among FSWs in an outreach-based HIV prevention, care, and treatment program in Tanzania. 119,728 FSWs made a first visit to services served by the Sauti Project from January 2016 to September 2017. Of these 79,774 were current contraceptive users-of those, 4548 (5.7%) took a contraceptive as well as condoms, the study measure of dual family planning (FP) method use. Ninety-one percent (n = 4139) of FSWs taking dual FP methods were provided with an injectable in addition to condoms. Dual method use was lower in this study than in research studies in the region, highlighting potential differences between findings from research studies and evidence from a routine service provision setting. Self-reported consistent condom use among FSWs was 16.1%. The findings call for further research and programs to address FSW agency to increase dual protection against STIs/HIV and unintended pregnancy.

The psychometric properties of PHQ-4 anxiety and depression screening scale among out of school adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Literature suggests that most mental disorders have their onset in childhood and adolescence, but go undiagnosed until adulthood. Shorter versions of the screening tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire with four items (PHQ-4) may help to improve screening coverage. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the PHQ-4 in screening for core symptoms of depression and anxiety among out of school adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of data from a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted among AGYW between June and July 2018 in North-West Tanzania. Two thousand four hundred twenty-six out-of-school AGYW aged 15 to 23 years were included. Data were collected on tablets using audio computer-assisted self-interviews (ACASI). Cronbach's α was used to measure the reliability of the PHQ-4 while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were used for construct validity assessment. In CFA, three criteria were used to assess how well the model fits the data: Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR), the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) and 90% confidence interval for RMSEA. RESULTS: Of the 2426 participants, 33.8 and 35.5% screened positive for core symptoms of anxiety (GAD-2 ≥ 3) and depression (PHQ-2 ≥ 3), respectively. Cronbach's α of the PHQ-4 was 0.81. Both items-correlation and corrected items-correlation of the PHQ-4 had total correlations above 0.5 (p < 0.01). CFA showed that all items loaded significantly onto the single factor, and loadings were strong, ranging from 0.67 to 0.77 (p < 0.01). CFA indicates that the PHQ-4 scale stand for a unidimensional construct with good model fit (CFI = 0.995, SRMR = 0.013, RMSEA = 0.054 and 90% CI for RMSEA (0.031-0.079)). PCA confirmed two distinct components; GAD-2 (anxiety) and PHQ-2 (depression). Those who reported having suicidal thoughts and social function problems had significantly higher scores on PHQ-2, GAD-2, and PHQ-4 screening items (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the PHQ-4 scale can reliably and validly screen for core symptoms of depression and anxiety among out of school AGYW. This tool is short and easy to administer. Thus, the PHQ-4 scale can be very useful in screening for anxiety and depression symptoms in the community, primary health facilities, research and programmatic settings.

HIV seroconversion among female sex workers: retrospective cohort study from a large-scale HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health program in Tanzania.

Introduction: In 2016, UNAIDS set ambitious targets to reduce global HIV infections by 75% by 2020 and 90% by 2030, based on the 2.1 million new infections reported in 2010. However, by 2022, new HIV infections had only decreased by 38%, from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.3 million in 2022, raising concerns about reaching the 2030 goal. Female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa face a disproportionately high risk of HIV acquisition, contributing 5%-20% of all new infections in several countries in the region. This analysis investigates HIV seroconversion and associated factors among FSWs, offering insights into critical interventions for preventing HIV transmission in this population and advancing the goal of ending the HIV pandemic by 2030. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 17,977 FSWs who initially tested HIV negative upon enrollment in the Sauti project between October 2016 and September 2018. HIV incidence rates were calculated by dividing the number of new HIV cases by observed person-time within the cohort. Cox regression analysis identified factors associated with seroconversion. Results: The study revealed an HIV incidence rate of 8.6 per 100 person-years among FSWs [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.1-9.1]. Factors independently associated with HIV seroconversion included age 35 years or older [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.53; 95% CI: 2.03-3.14], unprotected sex (aHR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.13-1.42), STI symptoms (aHR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.67-2.38), and alcohol consumption before sex (aHR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.07-1.34). Conclusion: Targeted interventions are vital in curbing HIV transmission among FSWs, with a focus on expanding access to primary HIV prevention services, particularly for older FSWs who face heightened risk. Tailored sexual health education programs are imperative to encourage consistent condom use and enable informed decision-making. Accessible and timely STI screening and treatment services are crucial to mitigate HIV transmission risk. Collaborative partnerships between healthcare providers, community organizations, and government agencies are essential in implementing these interventions among FSWs.

Prevalence, predictors and reasons for home delivery amongst women of childbearing age in Dodoma Municipality in central Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to determine the prevalence, predictors and reasons for home delivery amongst women of childbearing age in Dodoma, Tanzania. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst women living in Dodoma Municipality. Data were collected using adapted questionnaires and analysed using SPPS version 23. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the independent predictors of home delivery. RESULTS: A total of 425 women of childbearing age were enrolled in this study. The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 28.7 (±7.1) years. The prevalence of home delivery was 35.5% (n=150, 95% CI 30.9 - 40.2). Women with secondary school and above had 93% less odds of home delivery than women who had no education (AOR=0.0795% CI: 0.03-0.18). Women who lived in rural areas (AOR=3.49, 95% CI: 2.12-5.75), and women living more than 5km from health facilities (AOR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.65-4.37) had higher odds of home delivery. The main reasons for home delivery were transportation cost, and long distance to the nearest health facilities. CONCLUSION: In this population, the prevalence of home delivery remained to be high. To address this more collaborative multisectoral effort like strengthening health education and strengthening maternity waiting homes are needed.

Maternal obesity and intrapartum obstetric complications among pregnant women: Retrospective cohort analysis from medical birth registry in Northern Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: In the last decade, Tanzania has observed a dramatic increase in overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age, a demographic shift that has been associated with intrapartum obstetric complications in high-income countries. Similar increases in maternal morbidity including postpartum haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and rates of caesarean delivery have not yet documented in Tanzania. This analysis describes intrapartum obstetric complications associated with maternal obesity among pregnant women delivering at teaching hospital in Northern Tanzania. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using the hospital's antenatal care (ANC) and birth registries from 2000 to 2015. The World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index (BMI) categories were applied to classify BMI status of pregnant women within 16 weeks of gestational age at their first ANC visit. Relative risk (RR) of obstetric complications with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable log-binomial regression, adjusting for clustering effect for the correlation between multiple deliveries of the same woman. RESULTS: Among 11 873 women who delivered babies in the hospital during the study period, 3139 (26.5%) fit the definition of overweight and 1464 (12.3%) women with obesity. Compared with women with normal weight, women with obesity were at over 2.6 times at risks of experiencing pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (RR: 2.66; 95% CI, 2.08-3.40), pregnancy-induced hypertension (RR 2.13; 95% CI, 1.26-3.62), and postpartum haemorrhage (RR 1.22; 95% CI, 1.00-1.49). Additionally, women with obesity had also higher risk of either elective (RR 2.40; 95% CI, 1.88-3.06) or emergency (RR: 1.53; 95% CI, 1.34-1.75) caesarean delivery. CONCLUSION: Maternal obesity is an emerging health problem in Tanzania. This study clearly demonstrates an association between increased risk of intrapartum complications and obesity. A review of guidelines around ANC screening and intrapartum care practices considering BMI, as well as appropriate messages for women with obesity, should be considered to improve maternal and newborn outcomes.

Unpacking Loss to Follow-Up Among HIV-Infected Women Initiated on Option B+ In Northern Tanzania: A Retrospective Chart Review.

BACKGROUND: In 2014, Tanzania adopted the Option B+ policy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), which stipulates lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, irrespective of CD4 count or WHO clinical staging. Loss to follow-up (LTFU) during pregnancy and the postpartum period may undermine the effectiveness of Option B+. Factors associated with no follow-up (NFU) care, may differ from those associated with LTFU at later time points. This study aimed to identify factors associated with NFU and LTFU among women who initiate ART under Option B+ in Moshi, Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients initiating ART on Option B+ between February 2014 and December 2015 in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania. Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to analyse factors associated with NFU. Kaplan-Meier survival functions were used to estimate time to LTFU. Multivariable Cox proportion hazards regression models were used to evaluate variables associated with time to LTFU. RESULTS: Among 468 women initiating ART under the option B+ programme, 109 (23.3%) had NFU after the initial appointment. Factors associated with increased risk of NFU were: age < 25 years (adjusted hazard ratio [aRR] 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.3), initiating ART at a hospital compared to a lower level health facilities (aRR 2.9; 95% CI, 2.1 to 3.9), and having no treatment supporter (aRR 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1). LTFU was higher in women aged < 25 years (aHR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.9), and in women with no treatment supporter (aHR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.3). In women who returned to the clinic after ART initiation, no factor was significantly associated with LTFU. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with NFU (being young, not having a treatment supporter, and being diagnosed at hospitals) reflect a vulnerable and potentially highly mobile population. Additional interventions are needed to support and retain this group at ART initiation on Option B+.

Adverse events in a large-scale VMMC programme in Tanzania: findings from a case series analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse events (AEs) rates in voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) are critical measures of service quality and safety. While these indicators are key, monitoring AEs in large-scale VMMC programmes is not without challenges. This study presents findings on AEs that occurred in eight years of providing VMMC services in three regions of Tanzania, to provide discussion both on these events and the structural issues around maintaining safety and quality in scaled-up VMMC services. METHODS: We look at trends over time, demographic characteristics, model of VMMC and type and timing of AEs for 1307 males who experienced AEs among all males circumcised in Tabora, Njombe and Iringa regions from 2009 to 2017. We analysed deidentified client data from a VMMC programme database and performed multivariable logistic regression with district clustering to determine factors associated with intraoperative and postoperative AEs among VMMC clients. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Among 741,146 VMMC clients, 0.18% (1307/741,146) experienced a moderate or severe AE. The intraoperative AE rate was 2.02 per 100,000 clients, and postoperative rate was 2.29 per 1000 return clients. Multivariable logistic regression showed that older age (20 to 29 years) was significantly associated with intraoperative AEs (aOR: 3.51, 95% CI: 1.17 to 10.6). There was no statistical significant difference in AE rates by surgical method. Mobile VMMC service delivery was associated with the lowest risk of experiencing postoperative AEs (aOR:0.64, 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.98). AE rates peaked in the first one to three  years of the programme and then steadily declined. CONCLUSIONS: In a programme with robust AE monitoring methodologies, AE rates reported in these three regions were very low and declined over time. While these findings support the safety of VMMC services, challenges in reporting of AEs in a large-scale VMMC programme are acknowledged. International and national standards of AE reporting in VMMC programmes are clear. As VMMC programmes transition to national ownership, challenges, strengths and learning from AE reporting systems are needed to support safety and quality of services.

Women's Experience of Facility-Based Childbirth Care and Receipt of an Early Postnatal Check for Herself and Her Newborn in Northwestern Tanzania.

Negative experiences of care may act as a deterrent to current and/or future utilization of facility-based health services. To examine the situation in Tanzania, we conducted a sub-analysis of a cross-sectional household survey conducted in April 2016 in the Mara and Kagera regions of Tanzania. The sample included 732 women aged 15⁻49 years who had given birth in a health facility during the previous two years. Log binomial regression models were used to investigate the association between women's experiences of care during childbirth and the receipt of early postnatal checks before discharge. Overall, 73.1% of women reported disrespect and abuse, 60.1% were offered a birth companion, 29.1% had a choice of birth position, and 85.5% rated facility cleanliness as good. About half of mothers (46.3%) and newborns (51.4%) received early postnatal checks before discharge. Early postnatal checks for both mothers and newborns were associated with no disrespect and abuse (RR: 1.23 and 1.14, respectively) and facility cleanliness (RR: 1.29 and 1.54, respectively). Early postnatal checks for mothers were also associated with choice of birth position (RR: 1.18). The results suggest that a missed opportunity in providing an early postnatal check is an indication of poor quality of the continuum of care for mothers and newborns. Improved quality of care at one stage can predict better care in subsequent stages.

Factors associated with institutional delivery: Findings from a cross-sectional study in Mara and Kagera regions in Tanzania.

In Tanzania, maternal mortality has stagnated over the last 10 years, and some of the areas with the worst indicators are in the Lake and Western Zones. This study investigates the factors associated with institutional deliveries among women aged 15-49 years in two regions of the Lake Zone. Data were extracted from a cross-sectional household survey of 1,214 women aged 15-49 years who had given birth in the 2 years preceding the survey in Mara and Kagera regions. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the influence of various factors on giving birth in a facility. About two-thirds (67.3%) of women gave birth at a health facility. After adjusting for possible confounders, six factors were significantly associated with institutional delivery: region (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54 [0.41-0.71]), number of children (aOR, 95% CI: 0.61 [0.42-0.91]), household wealth index (aOR, 95% CI: 1.47 [1.09-2.27]), four or more antenatal care visits (aOR, 95% CI: 1.97 [1.12-3.47]), knowing three or more pregnancy danger signs (aOR, 95% CI: 1.87 [1.27-2.76]), and number of birth preparations (aOR, 95% CI: 6.09 [3.32-11.18]). Another three factors related to antenatal care were also significant in the bivariate analysis, but these were not significantly associated with place of delivery after adjusting for all variables in an extended multivariable regression model. Giving birth in a health facility was associated both with socio-demographic factors and women's interactions with the health care system during pregnancy. The findings show that national policies and programs promoting institutional delivery in Tanzania should tailor interventions to specific regions and reach out to low-income and high-parity women. Efforts are needed not just to increase the number of antenatal care visits made by pregnant women, but also to improve the quality and content of the interaction between women and service providers.

Tracking facility-based perinatal deaths in Tanzania: Results from an indicator validation assessment.

BACKGROUND: Globally, an estimated 2.7 million babies die in the neonatal period annually, and of these, about 0.7 million die from intrapartum-related events. In Tanzania 51,000 newborn deaths and 43,000 stillbirths occur every year. Approximately two-thirds of these deaths could be potentially prevented with improvements in intrapartum and neonatal care. Routine measurement of fetal intrapartum deaths and newborn deaths that occur in health facilities can help to evaluate efforts to improve the quality of intrapartum care to save lives. However, few examples exist of indicators on perinatal mortality in the facility setting that are readily available through health management information systems (HMIS). METHODS: From November 2016 to April 2017, health providers at 10 government health facilities in Kagera region, Tanzania, underwent refresher training on perinatal death classification and training on the use of handheld Doppler devices to assess fetal heart rate upon admission to maternity services. Doppler devices were provided to maternity services at the study facilities. We assessed the validity of an indicator to measure facility-based pre-discharge perinatal mortality by comparing perinatal outcomes extracted from the HMIS maternity registers to a gold standard perinatal death audit. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of the HMIS neonatal outcomes to predict gold standard audit outcomes were both over 98% based on analysis of 128 HMIS-gold standard audit pairs. After this validation, we calculated facility perinatal mortality indicator from HMIS data using fresh stillbirths and pre-discharge newborn death as the numerator and women admitted in labor with positive fetal heart tones as the denominator. Further emphasizing the validity of the indicator, FPM values aligned with expected mortality by facility level, with lowest rates in health centers (range 0.3%- 0.5%), compared to district hospitals (1.5%- 2.9%) and the regional hospital (4.2%). CONCLUSION: This facility perinatal mortality indicator provides an important health outcome measure that facilities can use to monitor levels of perinatal deaths occurring in the facility and evaluate impact of quality of care improvement activities.

Maternal and fetal risk factors for stillbirth in Northern Tanzania: A registry-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Stillbirth is a major cause of perinatal mortality and occurs disproportionately in developing countries including Tanzania. However, there is scant information regarding the predictors of this condition in Tanzania. This study aimed to determine maternal and fetal risk factors for stilbirth in northen Tanzania. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study was performed using maternally-linked data from the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre birth registry. A total of 47681 women who had singleton delivery at KCMC between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed. Women with multiple gestations were excluded. Descriptive statistics were summarized using proportions and frequency. Chi-square test was used to determine risk factors for stillbirth in bivariate analysis. A multivariable regression model was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals for maternal and fetal factors associated with stillbirth. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The frequency of stillbirth was 3.5%. Pre-eclampsia (AOR 3.99; 95% CI: 3.31-4.81) and placental abruption (AOR 22.62; 95% CI: 15.41-33.19) were the strongest maternal risk factors associated with still birth. While non-cephalic presentation (AOR 6.05; 95% CI: 4.77-7.66) and low birth weight (AOR 9.66; 95%CI: 8.66-10.77) were the fetal factors with the greatest impact on stillbirth. CONCLUSION: The rate of stillbirth in our study was consistent with past studies of developing countries. Numerous maternal and fetal factors risk factors were identified. Early identification of at risk pregnancies and appropriate intervention may help to reduce the occurrence of stillbirth.

Frequency, Risk Factors, and Adverse Fetomaternal Outcomes of Placenta Previa in Northern Tanzania.

Background and Objective. Placenta previa (PP) is a potential risk factor for obstetric hemorrhage, which is a major cause of fetomaternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. This study aimed to determine frequency, risk factors, and adverse fetomaternal outcomes of placenta previa in Northern Tanzania. Methodology. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using maternally-linked data from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre birth registry spanning 2000 to 2015. All women who gave birth to singleton infants were studied. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals for risk factors and adverse fetomaternal outcomes associated with PP were estimated in multivariable logistic regression models. Result. A total of 47,686 singleton deliveries were analyzed. Of these, the frequency of PP was 0.6%. Notable significant risk factors for PP included gynecological diseases, alcohol consumption during pregnancy, malpresentation, and gravidity ≥5. Adverse maternal outcomes were postpartum haemorrhage, antepartum haemorrhage, and Caesarean delivery. PP increased odds of fetal Malpresentation and early neonatal death. Conclusion. The prevalence of PP was comparable to that found in past research. Multiple independent risk factors were identified. PP was found to have associations with several adverse fetomaternal outcomes. Early identification of women at risk of PP may help clinicians prevent such complications.