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Management of a prenatally diagnosed congenital anomaly and comparison of management in developed and developing countries: A case report
(EC Paediatrics, 2024-08-12) Rutachunzibwa, Fredy F.
Abstract
Introduction: Congenital anomalies are structural or functional anomalies that occur during intrauterine life. These conditions may
be identified before birth or after.
Case Report: A 23-year-old female was referred to University of Miyazaki Hospital. Ultrasound showed polyhydramnios, intrauterine
growth restriction, single umbilical artery and dilated fetal bowel loops. Numerical chromosomal anomalies were ruled out by
amniotic fluid analysis. The baby was born at 35 weeks, abdominal X-ray showed features of small intestinal atresia. On day two of
life the baby underwent surgery and had a good prognosis.
Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis is important to ensure timely management of anomalies.
Environmental factors associated with diarrhoea among under-five children attending at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania
(Tanzania J Clin Nur Rep, 2024-06-30) Mathias, Victor A.
Generally, diarrhoea is still a second major reason of death and illness in children below the age of five years. It
holds breathes of around half a million under five children every year and causes million more to be admitted. Every
year diarrhoea kills around 525000 children under five years. Globally there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of child-
hood diarrhoea disease every year. Unfortunately, environmental factors associated with diarrhoea among under
five children in Tanzania have not yet well addressed. Therefore, this study aimed to determine environmental factors
associated with diarrhoea among under-five children attending at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), in Tanzania.
A quantitative cross-sectional study design of 100 simple randomly selected participants was applied. Questionnaires
were used to collect data from mothers/ carers with a child of under-five children suffering from diarrhoea admitted at
MNH. Data were analysed using SPSS. Environmental risk factors associated with diarrhoea were determined with a
p value of ≤ 0.05. Unsuitable infrastructure for grey water disposal, improper hand washing before feeding the baby
and hand washing without using clean water and soap had strongly association with diarrhoea in under-five children
attending at MNH with P-value of 0.001, 0.001, and 0.01 respectively. Identified risk factors for diarrhoea among
under-five children call for the importance of providing health education to the caregivers on the causes, prevention,
and treatment on the problem.
Tanzanian mothers’ cultural beliefs and misinformation regarding the reasons for their cesarean sections
(International Journal of Childbirth, 2019) Mathias, Victor A.
BACKGROUND: In Tanzania, cesarean section (CS) rates have been steadily increasing, yet little is
known about mothers’ understanding of the medical rationale for their CSs.
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AIM: To identify mothers’ cultural understandings of the rationale for their CSs.
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METHODS: Design: A qualitative descriptive design was employed.
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Setting: A government hospital in the western region in Tanzania.
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Participants: A total of 117 mothers were interviewed using convenience sampling post CS.
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FINDINGS: Forty percent of the mothers were younger than 18 years, with more than 50% having had
five or more live babies. Among multigravida women, 40.2% had had one or more previous CSs.
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The emergent themes were lack of dietary knowledge, use of local herbs, delays in coming to hospital,
avoiding stressful labor pains and no ability to exercise, and no personal preferences of “push or go for an
operation.”
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CONCLUSION: Pregnant women in Tanzania need improved health education to make informed
choices about childbirth and be involved all processes of antepartum care decision making to achieve
optimal birth outcomes.
Knowledge and practice on early breastfeeding initiation among postpartal mothers at Amana Hospital, Tanzania.
(International Journal of Childbirth, 2021-12) Mathias, Victor A.
BACKGROUND: Early breastfeeding initiation refers to putting the newborn to the breast within 1 hour of birth. However, rates of exclusive breastfeeding are low both globally (42%) and in Tanzania (51%). AIM: To assess knowledge about, attitudes toward, and practice of early breastfeeding initiation among postpartal mothers in Tanzania. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design. Simple random sampling was used to recruit 100 postpartal mothers who had delivered within the previous 48 hours at Amana Regional Referral Hospital, which is in the Eastern zone of Tanzania. FINDINGS: Of the participating postpartal mothers, 65% were knowledgeable about early breastfeeding initiation and the remaining 35% were not knowledgeable. Most mothers (62%) had positive attitudes toward early breastfeeding initiation, and 38% had negative attitudes. Furthermore, 45% of participating mothers had initiated early breastfeeding (within 1 hour), whereas 55% had delayed initiation of early breastfeeding (after 1 hour). Mothers' age was positively associated with knowledge about breastfeeding (p =.048), but the association between knowledge about early breastfeeding and education was non-significant (p =.514). Associations between attitude toward early breastfeeding and age and education were also nonsignificant (p = 1.000 and p =.132, respectively). Furthermore, associations between the practice of early breastfeeding and age and education were nonsignificant (p = 1.000 andp =.204, respectively). CONCLUSION: Postpartal mothers may benefit from being informed about the health benefits of early initiation of breastfeeding after delivery for both mother and baby. Improving their knowledge and attitudes toward this practice may help to avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality among newborns.
Situation analysis of healthcare standards and criteria that contribute to the care of residents in homes for older people in Tanzania
(Sage publication, 2022-12) Mathias, Victor A.
Problems experienced in homes for older people in Tanzania highlighted the need for a situation analysis of healthcare standards to identify the baseline of care provided to residents in these homes. This study conducted a situation analysis of structure healthcare standards and associated criteria with the aim of contributing to improved quality of care for residents in homes for older people in Tanzania. Thirty-two homes for older people in Tanzania were audited using an audit instrument that included seven fields, 26 structure standards, and 262 associated criteria. The analysis showed that overall, the homes were non-compliant with healthcare structure standards and associated criteria. The Tanzanian Government should urgently introduce measures to address the missing standards and associated criteria.