Community Perceptions on Health Conditions Related to Indoor Air Pollution Among Adults Living in Urban Informal Settlements in Mwanza City, Tanzania.

Introduction: Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) from biomass fuel is one of the major health threats globally. There is limited data on community awareness and perceptions of health conditions associated with IAP in urban informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa. We explored community perceptions of IAP-associated health conditions, risk behaviors, and potential interventions to reduce IAP in urban informal settlements. Methods: We used purposive sampling to recruit participants from households located in Mwanza urban informal settlements. We conducted 16 In-depth Interviews (IDIs), two Focused Group Discussions (FGDs), and four Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). Obtained data were then transcribed, translated, coded and analyzed thematically with Dedoose qualitative data analysis software. Results: Majority of participants were unaware of the health conditions associated with IAP. Participants perceived biomass fuel from charcoal as a safe fuel compared to other known fuels (firewood and gas). Indoor biomass fuel use for cooking and use of rubber and plastic materials for fire lighting were the commonly practices and risk behaviors for IAP. Moreover, poverty is what guides the choice of fuel use for cooking. Conclusion: Participants awareness health effects of biomass fuel was low, strategies to reduce poverty and health promotion on the health effects of IAP are urgently needed in the Mwanza urban informal settlements.

Developmental and Nutritional Changes in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Provided with n-3 Fatty Acids Improved Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and Psychosocial Support: A Pilot Study in Tanzania.

Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are at high risk of impaired development. Contributing causes include the inadequate intake of specific nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and a lack of adequate stimulation. We conducted a pilot study assessing developmental and nutritional changes in children with SAM provided with a modified ready-to-use therapeutic food and context-specific psychosocial intervention in Mwanza, Tanzania. We recruited 82 children with SAM (6-36 months) and 88 sex- and age-matched non-malnourished children. We measured child development, using the Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT), measures of family and maternal care for children, and whole-blood PUFA levels. At baseline, the mean total MDAT z-score of children with SAM was lower than non-malnourished children; -2.37 (95% confidence interval: -2.92; -1.82), as were their total n-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels. After 8 weeks of intervention, MDAT z-scores improved in all domains, especially fine motor, among children with SAM. Total n-3 and EPA levels increased, total n-6 fatty acids decreased, and DHA remained unchanged. Family and maternal care also improved. The suggested benefits of the combined interventions on the developmental and nutritional status of children with SAM will be tested in a future trial.