Abortion In Tanzania Research Articles

Social Causes of Abortion in Tanzania

The article "Social Causes of Abortion in Tanzania" explores the multifaceted social factors contributing to abortion rates in the country. It highlights the interplay of cultural, educational, and systemic challenges that influence the decision to terminate a pregnancy. Juvenile delinquency and truancy, compounded by a lack of comprehensive sex education, create an environment where adolescents are ill-prepared to navigate sexual health. The pressures of academic achievement further complicate this landscape, as many young people feel compelled to prioritize schooling over parenting. Limited access to reproductive health services exacerbates the issue, with many women unable to obtain necessary information or support.Fear of stigma and discrimination plays a crucial role, as societal attitudes towards single motherhood and abortion lead to social exclusion and negative stereotypes, increasing the burdens felt by women. Additionally, peer pressure, along with familial and relationship dynamics, such as pressure from boyfriends or physicians, further complicates personal decision-making. The article also discusses the implications of timing and the physician's role in oversimplifying abortion procedures, contributing to the dilemma faced by women. By examining these intertwined social causes, the article aims to shed light on the broader societal context influencing abortion in Tanzania, ultimately calling for more inclusive policies and support systems that address these pressing issues. Through a deeper understanding of these factors, stakeholders can better advocate for reproductive and comprehensive health education, fostering a more supportive environment for the lives of women and youth.

Prospective cohort study reveals unexpected aetiologies of livestock abortion in northern Tanzania

Livestock abortion is an important cause of productivity losses worldwide and many infectious causes of abortion are zoonotic pathogens that impact on human health. Little is known about the relative importance of infectious causes of livestock abortion in Africa, including in subsistence farming communities that are critically dependent on livestock for food, income, and wellbeing. We conducted a prospective cohort study of livestock abortion, supported by cross-sectional serosurveillance, to determine aetiologies of livestock abortions in livestock in Tanzania. This approach generated several important findings including detection of a Rift Valley fever virus outbreak in cattle; high prevalence of C. burnetii infection in livestock; and the first report of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, and pestiviruses associated with livestock abortion in Tanzania. Our approach provides a model for abortion surveillance in resource-limited settings. Our findings add substantially to current knowledge in sub-Saharan Africa, providing important evidence from which to prioritise disease interventions.

Provision of harm-reduction services to limit unsafe abortion in Tanzania.

To investigate the feasibility of providing harm-reduction services to reduce unsafe abortion in Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 women who received harm-reduction counseling at a public health center in Dar es Salaam between February 10 and October 10, 2014. Background and clinical information was collected for all women; a subgroup (n=50) undertook a semi-structured survey that measured the type of services women received, women's perception of the services, and pregnancy outcome. The main study outcomes were attendance at the follow-up visit, type and quality of information women received on both visits, and misoprostol use for pregnancy termination. Overall, 55 (50.0%) women attended follow-up services. Misoprostol was used for induced abortion among 54 (98.2%); 38 (70.4%) of these women had obtained contraception at the follow-up visit. Likelihood of attendance for follow-up was increased among women who were older than 34years (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1-35.8), were married (OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.8-5.7), and had a post-primary education level (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.8-5.3). On average, 44 (87.0%) women received all required information at the initial counseling session and none reported major complications that required hospitalization. Harm-reduction services for unsafe abortion are feasible and acceptable, and could provide an excellent opportunity to fight abortion-related morbidity and mortality in Tanzania.

Incidence of Induced Abortion and Post-Abortion Care in Tanzania.

BackgroundTanzania has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world, and unsafe abortion is one of its leading causes. Yet little is known about its incidence.ObjectivesTo provide the first ever estimates of the incidence of unsafe abortion in Tanzania, at the national level and for each of the 8 geopolitical zones (7 in Mainland plus Zanzibar).MethodsA nationally representative survey of health facilities was conducted to determine the number of induced abortion complications treated in facilities. A survey of experts on abortion was conducted to estimate the likelihood of women experiencing complications and obtaining treatment. These surveys were complemented with population and fertility data to obtain abortion numbers, rates and ratios, using the Abortion Incidence Complications Methodology.ResultsIn Tanzania, women obtained just over 405,000 induced abortions in 2013, for a national rate of 36 abortions per 1,000 women age 15–49 and a ratio of 21 abortions per 100 live births. For each woman treated in a facility for induced abortion complications, 6 times as many women had an abortion but did not receive care. Abortion rates vary widely by zone, from 10.7 in Zanzibar to 50.7 in the Lake zone.ConclusionsThe abortion rate is similar to that of other countries in the region. Variations by zone are explained mainly by differences in fertility and contraceptive prevalence. Measures to reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion and associated maternal mortality include expanding access to post-abortion care and contraceptive services to prevent unintended pregnancies.

First isolation, identification, phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Brucella abortus biovar 3 from dairy cattle in Tanzania.

BackgroundBrucellosis is a disease of worldwide public health and economic importance. Successful control is based on knowledge of epidemiology and strains present in an area. In developing countries, most investigations are based on serological assays. This study aimed at investigating a dairy herd experiencing abortions in order to establish within-herd seroprevalence to Brucella spp., identify, characterize Brucella strains by Multiple Loci Variable Number of Tandem Repeats Analysis (MLVA-VNTR) and investigate possible spillover to other species.ResultsThe within-herd seroprevalence in cattle (n = 200) was 48 % (95 % CI 41–55), using an indirect ELISA, while the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) yielded lower prevalence (21.5 %; 95 % CI 16–27). Two sheep (n = 35) and one goat (n = 50) were seropositive using ELISA while none of the dogs (n = 6) was positive with the RBT. Three Brucella were isolated from an aborted fetus and associated membranes. Real time PCR (IS711), Bruce-ladder and classical biotyping classified the isolates as B. abortus biovar 3. MLVA-VNTR revealed two different but closely related genotypes. The isolates showed unique profiles, providing the first genotypic data from Tanzania. These genotypes were not related to B. abortus biovar 3 reference strain Tulya originally isolated from a human patient in Uganda in 1958, unlike the genotypes isolated and characterized recently in Kenya. High within-herd prevalence, isolation of the pathogen and abortion confirm that B. abortus is circulating in this herd with cattle as reservoir hosts. A low seroprevalence in sheep and goats suggests a spillover of B. abortus from cattle to small ruminants in the herd.ConclusionsThis is the first isolation and characterization of B. abortus biovar 3 from a dairy cow with abortion in Tanzania. The origin of the Tanzanian genotypes remain elusive, although they seem to be related to genotypes found in Europe, Turkey and China but not related to B. abortus biovar 3 reference strain or genotypes from Kenya. Importantly, replacement heifers are commonly sourced from large farms like this to smallholder farmers, which poses risk of spread of bacteria to other herds. B. abortus is a significant zoonotic risk and animal health problem in this production system, therefore further studies on humans is recommended.

Unsafe abortion in urban and rural Tanzania: method, provider and consequences

To describe unsafe abortion methods and associated health consequences in Tanzania, where induced abortion is restricted by law but common and known to account for a disproportionate share of hospital admissions. Cross-sectional study of women admitted with alleged miscarriage: 278 in rural Tanzania and 473 in urban Tanzania. Women who had undergone a clandestinely induced abortion were identified by an empathetic approach and interviewed in detail about the procedure. Information about complications was obtained from the patient file. Sixty-two per cent in rural Tanzania and 63% in urban Tanzania stated that they had had an unsafe induced abortion. The abortion had been induced by an unskilled provider in 46% of rural women and 60% of urban women. Herbs and roots had commonly been used for induction, in 42% of rural and 54% of urban women. The method most often associated with abortion complications was catheter/roots, whereas the method least often associated with complications was herbs. The large number of women identified as having had unsafe abortion together with the prevalent use of herbs calls for attention.

Unsafe Abortion in Tanzania and the Need for Involving Men in Postabortion Contraceptive Counseling

Targeting male partners involved in unsafe abortions for contraceptive counseling could be an important strategy for decreasing the incidence of unwanted pregnancies, yet few postabortion-care programs have attempted to involve these men. To assess the need for and determine the content of postabortion contraceptive counseling for men, this study examined the contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices of male partners of women who have had an unsafe abortion. A survey was administered to 213 men accompanying female partners receiving hospital care after having undergone an unsafe abortion in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and 20 of these men participated in in-depth interviews. Sixteen percent of the men surveyed accompanied an extramarital partner, and of those, only 44 percent reported having practiced contraception in the last six months, compared with 81 percent of the men accompanying their wives and 83 percent accompanying their girlfriends. In general, the men wished to support their partners in practicing contraception, and the majority were willing to participate in contraceptive counseling. These findings suggest that male partners should be included in postabortion contraceptive counseling, which should be sensitive to the nature of the partners' relationship, the risk of HIV transmission, and the importance of promoting gender

From teenage unwanted pregnancy to induced abortion: who facilitates links?

Through use of a semi-structured interview schedule, the abortion decision-making process of 150 Dar es Salaam adolescents (mean age, 17.5 years) admitted with abortion-related complications was analyzed, with particular emphasis on the involvement of social networks. The male partner was the most frequent (47.3%) first confidant after pregnancy was suspected, followed by close relatives (35.1%) and girlfriends (14.0%). 62.0%, 41,7%, and 68.8% of these confidants, respectively, advised the teen to terminate the pregnancy; the remainder tended to express a lack of interest in her predicament. The link to an abortionist was provided by mothers, sisters, or aunts in 33% of cases, by the male partner in 32% of cases, and by girlfriends in another 24%. Male partners were more likely to provide funds for the abortion--especially if the woman was a student--than to help her access an abortionist. When abortion-related complications created a need for hospitalization, only 18% of male partners provided assistance; this burden fell upon female relatives. It is postulated that male involvement, beyond the provision of money, is inhibited by the potential legal and social consequences of illegal abortion in Tanzania.