Digital Commons Network^™

Improvement Of Community Health Worker Counseling Skills Through Early Childhood Development (Ecd) Videos, Supervision And Mentorship: A Mixed Methods Pre-Post Evaluation From Tanzania, Josephine Pascal Ferla, Michelle M. Gill, Teopista Komba, Amina Abubakar, Pieter Remes, Ola Jahanpour, Gretchen Antelman

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Background: Community health workers (CHWs) play significant roles in improving health practices in under- resourced communities. This study evaluated an early childhood development (ECD) project in Tanzania assessing the effect of mobile video use, supervision and mentorship to improve quality of CHW counseling skills.

Methods: CHWs participating in the Malezi Project in Tabora Region were enrolled in a mixed methods pre-post evaluation. CHWs previously trained in UNICEF’s Care for Child Development package were further trained in counselling caregivers on nurturing care and father engagement using videos. Health providers were trained to provide ECD-focused supervision/mentorship of CHWs in facilities and …

Determinants Of First‐Ever Stroke Severity In West Africans: Evidence From The Siren Study, Oladimeji Adebayo, Onoja Akpa, Osahon J. Asowata, Adekunle Fakunle, Fred S. Sarfo, Albert Akpalu, Kolawole Wahab, Reginald Obiako, Morenikeji Komolafe, Philip Adebayo

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Baseline stroke severity is probably partly responsible for poor stroke outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is a paucity of information on determinants of stroke severity among indigenous Africans. We sought to identify the factors associated with stroke severity among West Africans in the SIREN (Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Networks) study.

Methods and Results: Stroke was diagnosed clinically and confirmed with brain neuroimaging. Severe stroke was defined as a Stroke Levity Scale score of ≤5. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to identify factors associated with stroke severity at 95% CI and a nominal cutoff of 5% …

Agricultural Shocks On Household Stability: A Case Study Of Tanzania Maize Farmers, Zimmi Silonda Ndlovu

Master's Theses

As the global populations grow, the need for stronger agricultural resilience in areas with high food insecurity like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a must. Crop failure due to climate related events has increased substantially over the past decade, raising the risks to vulnerable groups like subsistence farmers. Understanding the effects of climate variability on farmers and their crops is a pivotal step towards increasing resilience and productivity. In this paper I approach this question using a Linear Probability Fixed-effects Model on Tanzanian Panel Survey data with monthly temperature and precipitation for years 2008 to 2013. Results suggest a negative relationship …

Adapting A Dental Anxiety Measure To Encourage Empathy, Margaret Tajirian, Benjamin Juarez, Tomas Martinez

All Faculty Open Access Publications

Introduction. The aim of this study was to improve upon the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) by developing the empathy-based International-Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (I-MDAS). This new measure was then utilized to compare the dental anxiety of patients cross-culturally. Methodology. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study adapting the MDAS into the I-MDAS by adding the International scale. The study surveyed 465 participants from a dental clinic, SurveySwap, and distributed flyers. Data was collected through Qualtrics through the self-administered I-MDAS and analyzed through the SPSS computer software version 28. Participants were categorized into two subgroups where 41.3% received dental care …

Agricultural Shocks On Household Stability: A Case Study Of Tanzania Maize Farmers, Zimmi Ndlovu

Master's Theses

As the global populations grow, the need for stronger agricultural resilience in areas with high food insecurity like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a must. Crop failure due to climate related events has increased substantially over the past decade, raising the risks to vulnerable groups like subsistence farmers. Understanding the effects of climate variability on farmers and their crops is a pivotal step towards increasing resilience and productivity. In this paper I approach this question using a Linear Probability Fixed-effects Model on Tanzanian Panel Survey data with monthly temperature and precipitation for years 2008 to 2013. Results suggest a negative relationship …

Bukola Adebayo, Oral History Interview, 2023, You Li

Collective Memory of Women Journalists in COVID-19

Bukola Adebayo is an investigative journalist with over a decade of experience reporting health, science, politics, and education in Africa. She is now the West Africa correspondent for the Thomson Reuters Foundation (Nov. 2022 to now) covering human rights and issues around abuse and exploitation of everyday people in the big economy, environment, and tech space. During COVID, Bukola was the senior producer at the CNN Digital Bureau in Nigeria (Jan 2018- Aug 2021), where she covered many topics, including, human rights, women’s rights, social injustice, political uprisings, and the environment.

In this interview, Adebayo recalled her experience of covering …

Identification And Quantification Of Allelochemicals Associated With Weed Suppression In Sweetpotato, Varsha Varsha

Theses and Dissertations

Mississippi ranks among the leading states in sweetpotato production in the US. However, managing weeds in sweetpotato fields presents a significant challenge, and the limited availability of herbicides labeled for use in sweetpotato makes it even more challenging. The widespread and repeated use of herbicides has led to the development of weed resistance. In addition, herbicides are incompatible with the organic production system. Finding sustainable weed management strategies to provide weed control options for organic cultivation and detain the development of herbicide-resistant weeds under conventional crop production is imperative. The natural chemicals released by the plants, also called allelochemicals, can …

Integrated Neutrosophic Best-Worst Method For Comprehensive Analysis And Ranking Of Flood Risks: A Case Study Approach From Aswan, Egypt, Safa Al-Saeed, Nabil M. Abdelaziz

Neutrosophic Systems with Applications

This paper presents a comprehensive framework for the analysis and ranking of flood risks with respect to regional variations and data uncertainties under a Neutrosophic environment. The research introduces a novel approach to flood risk mitigation and management, bringing together the scientifically robust Best-Worst Method (BWM) and single-valued Neutrosophic set for the first time. The unique application of a single-valued Neutrosophic set allows us to better illustrate and manage uncertainty, imprecision, and vagueness in data. Additionally, we employ BWM, a multi-factor decision-making method, for discerning and ranking the most influential flood risk factors. Together, the integrated methodologies provide a balanced, …

Determinants Of The Decision To Adopt Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Among Smallholder Upland Farmers In Southeast Asia, Leila D. Landicho, Nam Le Van, Agusthino Ximenes

Forest and Society

This article argues that local adaptive capacity of the smallholder farmers determines their decision to adopt climate change adaptation strategies in the upland farming communities in the Philippines. This argument is based on the research conducted in the selected upland farming communities in the Philippines, Vietnam and Timor-Leste in 2017-2018 using the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework as the theoretical foundation. The study involved a survey of 637 upland farmers who were selected using simple random sampling; focus group discussion; key informant interviews; and, farm visits. Results revealed that the smallholder farmers across the three countries had low level of …

The Intercultural Communicative Meaning Of The Life Of Igbo Diaspora, Judith I. Udechukwu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In his novel, Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad describes the African continent as “the heart of darkness” and frames African cultural heritage as barbaric, uncivilized, outlandish and backwards.[1] Unfortunately, this view represents the position of many European scholars who consider these cultures as inimical to civilization. However, in the contemporary era, intercultural communication, postcolonial studies, globalization, and decolonization of methodology have proved the negative western portrayal of Africa and its traditions as wrong and can no longer adequately address the complexities of African culture. Thus, the postcolonial African studies from the perspective of Chinua Achebe challenges the colonial narrative …

Dengue Virus And Blood Safety: A Mini-Review Of Research Publications, Festus Mulakoli, George Gachara, Eric Ndombi, Samoel Khamadi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

The growing demand for donated whole blood and blood products to save lives has both health benefits and health risks for blood recipients at the same time. Dengue virus, a re-emerging viral disease poses a threat to blood safety, and it has spread to over 128 countries in the world. Several studies have documented transfusion-transmitted (TT) dengue, with the first cases being reported in China in 2002 and Singapore in 2008. To understand the magnitude and broader picture of the dengue virus and blood safety, we conducted a mini-review of published literature from the Scopus database. The review focused on …

Highlights From The Second Choosing Wisely Africa Conference: A Roadmap To Value-Based Cancer Care In East Africa (9–10 February 2023, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania), Rugengamanzi Eulade, Godwin Abdiel Nnko, Jerry Ndumbalo, Nazima Dharsee, Larry O. Akoko, Christian Ntizimira, Beda Likonda, Harrison Chuwa, Salum Lidenge, Verna Vanderpuye, Nazik Hammad, Sikudhani Muya, Rubagumya Rubagumya

Internal Medicine, East Africa

The ecancer Choosing Wisely conference was held for the second time in Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from the 9th to 10th of February 2023. ecancer in collaboration with the Tanzania Oncology Society organised this conference which was attended by more than 150 local and international delegates. During the 2 days of the conference, more than ten speakers from different specialties in the field of oncology gave insights into Choosing Wisely in oncology. Topics from all fields linked to cancer care such as radiation oncology, medical oncology, prevention, oncological surgery, palliative care, patient advocacy, pathology, radiology, clinical trials, research …

Maternal Health In The Context Of Social, Political, And Economic Change Among Hadzabe Foragers Of Tanzania, Kristen Herlosky

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Many low and middle-income countries have implemented new national policy measures aimed at reducing maternal morbidity and mortality due to globalized efforts to improve women’s maternal health. One of the main goals is to move childbirth into hospital facilities and improve health access and education outreach. For Indigenous communities around the world, these measures have fallen short of their goals. Indigenous women suffer from greater social, political, and economic disparities and inequalities, have poorer health indicators overall, and worse maternal health outcomes compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. For small-scale communities, we have limited data on reproductive health among women, specifically …

The Us War In Afghanistan And The War Powers Act: A Natural Experiment, Burrell Fletcher V

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

How Can the War Powers Act of 1972 be Reformed to Increase the Chances of Winning Wars?

This paper examines the effects of the War Powers Act of 1973’s Authorisation for Use of Military Force (AUMF) system on the conduct of war, especially regarding the ongoing War on Terror. The War on Terror, began in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks when President Bush invaded Afghanistan. Congress, using the War Powers Act, passed the 2001 AUMF in the weeks after the attacks. The 2001 AUMF has been used in twenty-two countries to justify anti-terror operations thus far (Savell, …

In This Issue (14:1), Stephen J. Langendorfer Ph.D.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

In This Issue 14:1 introduces and overviews the research and education articles and position statement associated with the first issue of the fourteenth volume of the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education.

Which Stroke Next? All Strokes Next! Part Two: Strokes For Intermediate And Advanced Swimmers, Robert Keig Stallman, Ebbe L. Horneman, Nils O. Vikander, Alexander Mwaipasi, Bente W. H. Laakso, Haakon - Paavo L. Nysted, Toni Ongala

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The primary goal of this two-part project is to answer the rhetorical question of which strokes should be taught first, and which later (Langendorfer, 2013, Stallman, 2014a). As you have seen in Part One, we emphasize (as have many others) the need for a firm foundation before any stroke is introduced. When the learner is ready for propulsive motor competencies, there is no stroke which suits all as their first. In Part One we explored the “beginning strokes” all of which are candidates for any given learner’s first stroke. We also argued that after mastering their very first stroke the …

Revisiting The Metaphorical Concept Of “No Strokes First - All Strokes First”: Part One - Beginning Strokes, Robert Keig Stallman Ph.D., Alex Mwaipasi, Ebbe Laakso Horneman, Nils Olof Vikander, Bente Wäinösdatter Horneman Laakso, Haakon-Paavo Laakso Nysted, Toni Ongala

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The aim of this article is to address the familiar question “Which swimming stroke should be taught first?” The discussion is usually focused on breaststroke versus crawl. Provoked by these naïve discussions of which stroke should be taught first (as if stroking equals swimming, which it emphatically does NOT), the question was answered metaphorically in an earlier article “No Stroke First – All Strokes First” (Stallman, 2008a). Here in Part I we identify and describe six strokes, all of which might be a candidate for any learners ‘very first’ stroke. We describe them as beginning strokes. Having identified and learned …

Marketing Of Information Services In Medical Libraries Of Public Universities In North West Zone Of Nigeria, Mudassir Abubakar Abule

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined the marketing of information services in Medical Libraries of Public Universities in the North-West zone of Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to identify the major services provided by the medical libraries and how to improve them. An explanatory sequential mixed method was used. The study involved medical libraries of four public Universities in the zone. A sample of 365 numbers of students and 4 numbers of heads f medical libraries were chosen for the study. Surveys, questionnaires, interviews and observation schedules were used as instruments for data collection. The findings reveal that current information services, …

The State Of Accessibility In Blackboard: Survey And User Reviews Case Study, Mohamed Wiem Mkaouer, Wajdi Aljedaani, Stephanie Ludi, Mohammed Alkahtani, Marcelo M. Eler, Marouane Kessentini, Ali Ouni

Articles

Context: Nowadays, mobile applications (or apps) have become vital in our daily life, particularly within education. Many institutions increasingly rely on mobile apps to provide access to all their students. However, many education mobile apps remain inaccessible to users with disabilities who need to utilize accessibility features like talkback or screen reader features. Accessibility features have to be considered in mobile apps to foster equity and inclusion in the educational environment allowing to use of such apps without limitations. Gaps in the accessibility to educational systems persist.

Objective: In this paper, we focus on the accessibility of the Blackboard mobile …

Contemporary Strategies In Marketing E-Resources Amongst Selected Technical University (Tu) Libraries In Ghana, Stephanie Owusu Ansah Mrs, Michael Oppong Mr., Maxwell Kwame Agbeli Mr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined Contemporary strategies in marketing e-resources amongst selected Technical Universities (TUs) in Ghana. 62 respondents were respectively drawn from all three selected Technical Universities ie Kumasi Technical University, Tamale Technical University, and Takoradi Technical University. Given that the population from the three TUs library staff was small, no sampling had to be done. The investigator sent out 62 questionnaires to the three TUs and received 39 responses representing 63 %. A descriptive survey design was employed to acquire data from the selected Technical University (TUs) libraries. Analysis of the data gathered was carried out using bar charts, pie …

Essays On The Provision Of Transportation, Lucas Conwell

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Chapter 1: Are There Too Many Minibuses in Cape Town? Privatized Provision of Public Transit Workers in low- and middle-income countries waste significant time commuting, partly due to gaps in public transit. In many African cities, privately-operated minibuses provide 50–100% of urban transit, at the cost of long wait times and poor personal safety for riders. Which externalities does the private provision of transit generate, and can policy interventions improve the market allocation? I build a micro-founded model of privatized shared transit subject to externalities in matching between buses and passengers, security provision, and road congestion. I then estimate the …

Nurses' Preparedness For Disaster Response In Rural And Urban Primary Healthcare Settings In Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Mary Lyimo, Yudas Ndungile, Elisha Robert

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Nurses are often on the frontline of disaster management, providing care to patients with emerging physical, mental, and emotional turbulence, and acting as educators for health promotion and disaster prevention in both rural and urban contexts. However, the literature suggests that nurses are inadequately prepared for disaster response. This study examined preparedness for disaster response among nurses in rural and urban primary healthcare settings in Tanzania.

Methods: This qualitative descriptive study involved purposefully selected qualified nurses and nurse administrators working in rural (n=20) and urban (n=11) primary healthcare facilities in Tanzania. Telephone-based interviews were conducted to gather …

Functional Status Among Patients With Established Copd Attending Tertiary Hospitals In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Peter M. Tumbo

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common, preventable and treatable non communicable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases and influenced by host factors including abnormal lung development. It is associated with a lot of risk factors such as smoking, biomass fuel use for cooking and air pollutants in general. Objectives The primary objective of this research was to determine the functional status of patients with COPD. The secondary objectives were to determine the factors influencing …

Connecting Their Stories: Black Educators’ Experiences Within Cultural Heritage Institutions That Document The Long Arc Of The Civil Rights Movement, Constance Marie Caddell

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to examine Black educators’ experiences within cultural heritage institutions that are documenting topics that include the long arc of the American Civil Rights Movement. Black educators are powerful conduits of the African American story because they align with African American cultural heritage institution’s goals to foster equality, identity, pride, and honor in the community. These shared goals lead to Black educators using teaching methods that liberate, advocate, and empower students. This allows them to share new knowledge, strategies, techniques, and concepts on diverse topics. Considering their fundamental mission, it is essential to gain an awareness of the …

Artisanal And Small-Scale Mining In Tanzania And Health Implications: A Policy Perspective, Mwemezi J. Rwiza, Erasto Focus, Jonas Bayuo, Joseph Modest Kimaro, Matthias Kleinke, Theresia J. Lyasenga, Jerry T. Mosses, Janeth Marwa

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

The mineral sector, especially its small-scale subsector, has become significant in the emerging economies of the Global South. Tanzania is the focus of this policy exposition paper because, aside from Ghana and South Africa, Tanzania is ranked 4th in Africa in terms of its mineral deposits and small-scale mining activities. The focus is also on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) because ASM operations have significantly increased in recent times across this mineral-rich country of East Africa. This is done against a negative backdrop-labelling of ASM as unsustainable, environmentally unfriendly, inefficient, and illegal. Tanzania has made some progress to respond to …

Evidence Of Distinct Genetic Stocks Of The Bottlenose Wedgefish (Rhynchobatus Australiae) In The Indo-West Pacific, Rehema J. Simwanza, Cyrus Rumisha

Tanzania Journal of Science

Populations of the bottlenose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae) in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP) have declined by nearly 80% in recent decades. In response, IWP countries are establishing sanctuaries to provide refuge for the fish. However, little is known about the genetic stock structure of the fish in the region. Hence, this study analysed partial sequences (610 base pairs) of the cytochrome oxidase subunit (COI) gene from eight bottlenose wedgefish populations in the IWP to assess the genetic stock structure of the fishery. The sequences revealed that Western Indian Ocean (WIO) populations are genetically distinct from those in the West Pacific (WP) …

Prevalence Of Endoparasites And Haematology In Redbelly Tilapia From A Shallow Tropical Reservoir In Ghana, Elliot H. Alhassan, Samuel A. Osei, Akwasi Ampofo-Yeboah, Samuel O. Dandi

Tanzania Journal of Science

The goal of this study was to assess common endoparasites on Tilapia zillii in the Tono Reservoir, as well as to investigate the mean intensity and prevalence of these parasites. A total of 175 fish specimens were examined during the study. Endoparasites of three metazoans and one protozoan were observed from the Tilapia zillii gills, intestines, and stomach. The findings showed that the most common endoparasites affecting Tilapia zillii are Ichthyopthirius multifiliis, Bothriocephalus sp., Contracaecum sp., and Dactylogyrus sp. Also, Contracaecum sp had the highest prevalence of 29.71, followed by Bothriocephalus sp (18.86), Ichthyopthirius multifiliis (12), and Dactylogyrus sp (6.86). …

A Cloud Based Model Symbiotic Organism Search Algorithm For Placement Of Distributed Energy Resources In The Electrical Secondary Distribution Networks, Shamte Kawambwa, Daudi Mnyanghwalo

Tanzania Journal of Science

Abstract The increased penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) technologies to residential users has fostered the need for DERs integration and control methods in the secondary distribution networks (SDN). In order to reap the potential advantages of DERs and achieve their inclusion in the electrical power system while avoiding their negative impacts, the DERs should be optimally placed and sized. Considering the nature of electrical networks and DER operations, the DERs placement is a nondeterministic polynomial hard (NP-hard) optimization problem. Metaheuristic algorithms are efficient for solving DER placement problems. Metaheuristic algorithms for DER placement in SDN involve high computational effort, …

Effects Of Vacuum Packaging And Chilling Storage On The Microbiological Changes Of The Superheated Steam Dried Sardines, Prissillah Antelm, Ibrahim Juma, Leonard M.P. Rweyemamu, Lillian Daniel Kaale

Tanzania Journal of Science

Fish are important sources of protein and micronutrients for combating malnutrition. Since fish are highly perishable, methods for processing and preserving them should be the main focus to increase their shelf life and maintain their quality. The present study assessed the effectiveness of the superheated steam dryer (SSD) in processing sardines, and examined the effects of packaging and storage conditions on their microbiological quality. Sardines collected from the Mafia Island were dried in SSD, air-packed and stored at room temperature (AR), air-packed and stored at chilling temperature (AC), vacuum-packed and stored at room temperature (VR), and vacuum-packed and stored at …

Predictors Of Attrition From Care And Treatment Centres Among Hiv-Positive Pregnant And Breastfeeding Adult Women In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Felix Elias, Nyimvua Shaban, Edwin Rutalebwa

Tanzania Journal of Science

In Tanzania, poor retention rates among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers continue to be a problem, contributing to a mother-to-child HIV transmission rate of 11% in 2019, compared to a global target of 5%. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of retention on clinical outcomes and identifying predictors of attrition among HIV-positive pregnant and breastfeeding women from follow-up care in Dar es Salaam. A retrospective cohort study included HIV-positive women who engaged in PMTCT services in public and private health facilities between January 2016 and December 2019. Secondary data were extracted from databases used for routine follow-up …