Paediatrics and Child Health

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Browsing Paediatrics and Child Health by Author "Rutachunzibwa, Felician"

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    Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in children among adults attending selected health facilities in Kinondoni municipality; Dar es salaam, Tanzania: a cross sectional study
    (Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2024-03-13) Malasa, Leonard J.; Fataki, Maulid R.; Rutachunzibwa, Felician; Kalabamu, Florence S.
    Background: Safe and effective vaccines are crucial for controlling and containing COVID-19 pandemic. However, poor acceptance and hesitance to vaccinate limit effective utilization. In Tanzania, COVID-19 vaccines have been in use with adequate coverage in adults from 18-years old, however, the acceptability of their use in children is not well understood. This study was aimed at determining the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccination in children among adults in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Methods: A cross section study was conducted among adults attending outpatient clinic in Dar es salaam and were having children below 18-years at home. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect their demographic information and their opinions regarding COVID-19 vaccine use in their children. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). Level of acceptance and other categorical variables were calculated in frequency and percentages while factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination in children were determined using binary logistic regression analysis. A type II error of less or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 320 participants were recruited in the study. Among these, 289 (90.3%) were females. Out of all participants, 124 (38.57%) were willing for their children to receive COVID-19 vaccines upon availability and recommendation by respective authorities. Confidence in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines (Adjusted Odd Ratio= 0.03; 95% CI: 0.01-0.13; p=0.02, and perceived importance of COVID-19 vaccine use in children (AOR=0.29; 95% CI: 0.1-0.84; p=0.02) were independent factors associated with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in children. Conclusion: The level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination for children in this study was low (38.57%), with uncertainty around vaccine safety being the major concern. Therefore, to increase COVID-19 vaccines acceptance and uptake in children, effective public communication supported by data on safety and effectiveness of COVID19 vaccines should be emphasized. Keywords: Acceptance, COVID-19, children, Dar es Salaam, vaccines
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    Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among children 3 to 59 months of age in Kinondoni municipal, Dar es Salaam: a facility-based cross-sectional study
    (East Africa Science, 2023-05-23) Malasa, Leonard J.; Rutachunzibwa, Felician; Fataki, Maulidi R.; Kalabamu, Florence S.
    Background: Iron deficiency with subsequent iron deficiency anemia is the most common micronutrient disorder in children below 5 years of age worldwide. The developing countries bear more weight on the problem as the result of multifactorial factors including but not limited to recurrent infections such as malaria, helminths infestation, and inadequate food security. However, its magnitude in children living in Kinondoni Municipal in Dar es salaam is not well understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and how it is contributed by the presence of iron deficiency among children between 3-59months of age in the above-mentioned setting. Methods: A facility-based cross-section study was conducted among children 3-59months attending Reproductive and Child Health Services at Kairuki, Sinza Hospital, and Kambangwa dispensary. Children who met the criteria, their basic social demographic information, complete blood count and differentials as well as blood ferritin levels were collected to assess the level of anemia, erythrocytic indices, and iron deficiency. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS version 22). The magnitude of anemia and iron deficiencies were presented in percentages, and the relationship between hemoglobin and blood ferritin was assessed using Spearman’s correlation test for two continuous variables. The p-value of less or equal to 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 350 children were recruited for the study, 255 Children (72.9%) were anemic. Children below 24 months of age were more anemic compared to the older age group (X2 = 50, p <0.001). Furthermore, anemia was significantly associated with low ferritin levels (X2 = 65, p <0.001). Iron deficiency was found in 156 (44.6%) participants while iron deficiency anemia (low MCV, low ferritin, and low hemoglobin) was found in 138 (39.4%) participants. However, among 255 participants with anemia, 147(65.3%) had iron deficiency. There was a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and blood ferritin levels (Spearman’s correlation coefficient = 0.6; p<0.01. Conclusion: Prevalence of anemia was high among children and was highly associated with younger age and iron deficiency. To overcome this problem, appropriate interventions such as massive promotion of breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, and ensuring food security are warranted.
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    Prevalence and factors associated with hypothermia among neonates in regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
    (Global Journal of Health Science, 2022-10-31) Malasa, Leonard J.; Kalabamu, Florence S.; Rutachunzibwa, Felician; Fataki, Maulidi R.; Mashalla, Yohana J.
    Background: Neonatal hypothermia is a major cause of mortality. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with neonatal hypothermia in two regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out between March and May 2021 at the Mwananyamala and Temeke Regional Referral Hospitals. Simple random and stratified sampling procedures were used to select study sites and proportionate population samples from each hospital respectively. Body temperature was measured within 90 minutes post birth; knowledge of the WHO guidelines on thermal protection of new-borns was collected from the mothers and health care providers using questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between variables. SPSS version 25 was used to analyse the data and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Total of 296 mother-new-born pairs and 41 health care providers were enrolled in the study. 26 mothers did not consent for the study. 25.6% of the 270 studied neonates were hypothermic. Lack of skin-to-skin contact with the mother; early neonatal weighing and bathing increased likelihood of neonatal hypothermia. Knowledge of neonatal thermal protection among mothers and care-providers was inadequate. Conclusions: The prevalence of neonatal hypothermia among neonates in the referral hospitals is high. The findings suggest knowledge gaps of the WHO recommended guidelines on neonatal hypothermia are associated with neonatal hypothermia. Efforts to increase awareness of the WHO recommended thermal protection guidelines are needed.