Mwanza City Research Articles

Accumulation characteristics and ecological implications of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria.

The distribution of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn and their fraction characteristics (except Hg) were investigated in surface sediments of the Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria. The ecological risks, bioavailability, and mobility of the metals were also evaluated by using enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (Cf), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk index (RI), risk assessment code (RAC), individual contamination factor (ICF), and global contamination factor (GCF). Results showed that there were moderate accumulations of heavy metals in sediments from the southern part of the gulf. The mean Cf of heavy metals ranged from 1.19 (Ni) to 2.85 (Hg) suggesting moderate contamination of heavy metals in the sediments while Igeo results showed that the sediments are mainly contaminated by As, Cr, and Hg. The average potential ecological risk of heavy metals in sediments of the Mwanza Gulf is at moderate level (RI 205.49). Hg and Cd posed considerable or moderated risks with mean ecological risk of 114.18 and 44.16, which accounted for 51.08% and 21.54% of the total RI, respectively. High bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals were found in sediments near Mwanza city, particularly Zn and Cd, of which the bioavailability risks were at medium to high levels. Given the biological and environmental importance of the Mwanza Gulf and Lake Victoria, emission paths and bioaccumulation of heavy metals through food webs should be studied carefully to ensure the safety of food and the health and well-being of humans.

Parental and Health Professionals’ Awareness and their Roles in Speech-Language Therapy for Effective Intervention among Children with Communication Disorders in Selected Hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania

The study aimed to assess parental and health professionals’ awareness and their roles in speech and language therapy services in selected hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania. A study used both qualitative and quantitative approach with descriptive survey design. The study used sample size of 85 parents of children with communication disorders and 15 health professionals with total of 100 respondents. The study used closed ended questionnaires for parents, semi-structure interview for health professionals and document analysis to get respondents parents and their children in the selected hospitals. the study was conducted at Bugando Medical Center and Sekou-toure Regional Referral Hospital in Mwanza, city, Tanzania. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of parents in the selected hospitals were not aware of speech and language therapy services in the country and majority of them have very limited awareness of their roles in intervention process. Many of them don’t know individual professional concern with speech-language therapy and many parents raise awareness about speech-language problem when it is very late. It also revealed that many health professionals have limited awareness of the roles they play in speech and language intervention process.

Parental and Health Professionals' Awareness and their Roles in Speech-Language Therapy for Effective Intervention among Children with Communication Disorders in Selected Hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania

Parental and Health Professionals' Awareness and their Roles in Speech-Language Therapy for Effective Intervention among Children with Communication Disorders in Selected Hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania

Parental and Health Professionals' Awareness and their Roles in Speech-Language Therapy for Effective Intervention among Children with Communication Disorders in Selected Hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania

Parental and Health Professionals' Awareness and their Roles in Speech-Language Therapy for Effective Intervention among Children with Communication Disorders in Selected Hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania

Parental and Health Professionals' Awareness and their Roles in Speech-Language Therapy for Effective Intervention among Children with Communication Disorders in Selected Hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania

Parental and Health Professionals' Awareness and their Roles in Speech-Language Therapy for Effective Intervention among Children with Communication Disorders in Selected Hospitals, Mwanza City, Tanzania

The Practice of Research Innovation in Higher Learning Institutions: Implication for Quality Education Mwanza-Tanzania

This study explored practice of research innovation in higher learning institutions; implication for quality Education. Higher learning with high provision of research activities would attract finance from different agencies. Globally, research exploration contributes significant benefits to society. The study posed three objectives: to identify roles of research in higher learning institutions in Mwanza, determine areas for research innovation in higher learning, to examine possible strategies to curb challenges facing research innovation. Three higher learning institutions in Mwanza city were involved. The research adopted mixed paradigms. A number of 140 respondents were involved in the study. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design, which allows the researcher to visit the field in a single point of time, collect both narrative and quantitative information concurrently, analyze separately and merge it at the end of the study. Data gathering were questionnaires, descriptive guide, and observation. Instruments were validated, piloted; the result indicated 0.81 Cronbach Alpha demonstrating that tools were acceptable. Information was coded using descriptive statistics with the assistance of the package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21. Narrative data was subjected to word clouds program. Various themes emerged and used in report writing. The findings displayed that; research enables learners to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, empower the youths, gives self-confidence, it gives autonomy and provides monetary funds. However, were varieties of challenges facing research innovation as monetary capital, lack of institutional partnership and low learners registration. Hence, government should set policy that would ensure research is given paramount priority in all learning.

Depression and Alcohol Use Behaviours among Primary and Secondary School Teachers in Mwanza, Tanzania; A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Depressive disorders and alcohol use disorders are highly prevalent in the workplace and have an enormously negative impact on work performance, productivity, absenteeism, and disability costs. Little is known about the burden among primary and secondary school teachers in Tanzania. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Mwanza City in the Lake and Western zones of the United Republic of Tanzania aimed at determining the prevalence and factors associated with depression and alcohol use behaviours among teachers where primary and secondary school teachers from both private and public schools were involved. A total of 300 teachers were recruited and interviewed using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). A systematic sampling approach was used to select both schools and participants. Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.1 (SD = 8.465), the majority of the participants were from primary and public schools, 60.67% and 55.67%, respectively. Using cut-off points of four and eight for PHQ-9 and AUDIT, respectively, 51% of the participants had symptoms of depression, and 16% had harmful alcohol use. While the male gender, being married, having a low number of children, and degree level of education was statistically less likely to be associated with depression, on the other hand, male gender, age group of 41-50, being married and having a high number of children were statistically more likely to be associated with harmful alcohol use. Limitations: A cross-sectional study was used, which relies on self-report of symptoms which could lead to recall bias. Despite that, the study was done among both public and private primary and secondary school teachers from the largest city in the lake and western zone of Tanzania, which serves a diverse population still, and regional differences could be there. Conclusion: Depression and alcohol use disorders are high among a sample of our teachers in Mwanza Tanzania; further studies are needed to explore and measure the incidence, causal inference and the association between outcomes and risk factors.

Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Lactose Fermenting Bacteria Colonizing Children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sickle Cell Disease and Diabetes Mellitus in Mwanza City, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Rectal carriage of extended spectrum β-lactamase-lactose fermenters (ESBL-LF) is the major risk factor for the development of subsequent endogenous infections. This study determined the patterns and factors associated with the rectal carriage of ESBL-LF among children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Diabetes Mellitus (DM), and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) attending clinics at different health care facilities in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children living with HIV (n = 236), DM (n = 42) and SCD (n = 126) between July and September 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Rectal swabs/stool samples were collected and processed to detect the rectal carriage of ESBL-LF following laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs). Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted using STATA 13.0. The overall prevalence of ESBL-LF carriage was 94/404 (23.3%). Significantly higher resistance was observed to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline among Enterobacteriaceae isolated from HIV infected children than in non-HIV infected children (p < 0.05). The commonest ESBL allele 45/62 (72.6%) detected was blaCTX-M. Generally, a parent’s low education level was found to be associated with ESBL-LF colonization among children living with HIV; (OR 4.60 [95%CI] [1.04–20], p = 0.044). A higher proportion of ESBL-LF from DM 10/10 (100%) carried ESBL genes than ESBL-LF from HIV 37/56 (66.1%) and SCD 15/28 (53.6%), p = 0.02. There is a need to collect more data regarding trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT) prophylaxis and antibiotic resistance to guide the decision of providing SXT prophylaxis in HIV-infected children especially at this time, when testing and treatment is carried out.

Investigating Farmer Perspectives and Compost Application for Soil Management in Urban Agriculture in Mwanza, Tanzania

African countries are urbanizing at a rapid rate. Research on urban agriculture may be key to ensuring urban food and soil security. This study aimed to evaluate pathways for integrated soil fertility management using a mixed methods approach to consider both social perspectives and soil quality in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania. The social component of urban agriculture was explored using semi-structured interviews with urban farmers (n=34), through judgement and snowball sampling. Qualitative analyses showed that urban farmers range in age and gender, as well as in experiences and cultivation practices, though all use hand tools. Farmers reported reliance on rainy seasons for cultivating. However, farmers also raised concerns about a changing climate and unpredictability of rain, which impacts crop productivity. Most interviewed farmers (82%) would like to improve their soils, and many use manure as an amendment stating that animal manure is the best way to improve soil. Additionally, most urban farmers (62%) have not tried any form of food waste compost but responded positively to try it if they had access and were taught how to use it. For the second aspect of this study a field trial was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of organic and inorganic amendments on soil quality and crop productivity over the short-term. The results from the field trial determined that organic amendments (poultry manure and food waste compost) improved soil water holding capacity by 14 to 19% and enhanced microbial biomass 1.7 to 4 times compared to treatments with inorganic nitrogen fertilizer. Crop productivity with organic amendments was comparable to that in treatments with nitrogen fertilizer. We conclude that urban agriculture is an integral aspect of Mwanza City, and the application of organic amendments improves urban soil quality compared to the application of inorganic fertilizer, which has implications for urban soil security, land use planning, and food sovereignty in developing countries.

Abstract 252: 12 Months Outcomes For Heart Failure Patients Attending Outpatient Clinics In Tanzania.

Introduction: The burden of cardiovascular disease is growing at an alarming pace in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Heart failure (HF) in SSA is associated with higher rates of rehospitalization, poor quality of life and high mortality. In SSA, it is estimated that 3-7% of all admissions to hospitals are due to HF. For inpatient HF patients in Tanzania, studies have found greater than 50% mortality rate at 12 months post discharge. In developed countries, outpatient HF clinics have been associated with reduction of 30-day readmission and mortality rates. However, there is limited published data on HF outcomes for HF patients seen at outpatient clinics in SSA. The purpose of this study was to determine frequency of hospitalization, occurrence of stroke, and mortality at two HF outpatient clinics in Mwanza city, Tanzania. Methods: From February 2017 to September 2018 HF patients at Bugando Medical Center and Sekou Toure Regional Hospital outpatient clinics were recruited and followed for 12 months. HF was confirmed by Framingham criteria and the severity was determined by New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. Participant’s data were collected in four waves over the course of 12 months. Demographic data were collected at baseline and data on hospitalization, occurrence of stroke, and mortality were collected during the follow up period. Results: Four hundred and eighteen patients were enrolled and 369 were included in the final analysis. Most were female (n=264, 63%), small scale farmers (n=278, 66.5%) and from Mwanza City (n=299, 71.5%). More than two-thirds did not have health insurance (n=295, 70.6%) and the majority were in the NYHA I and II classification (n=267, 64.7%) during the study period. Twenty-one, 25, 11 and 13 HF patients were hospitalized at least once in the 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th data collection periods respectively. Fifty patients died (14%) and 7 sustained stroke (2%) over the 12 months period. Conclusion: Moderate levels of hospitalization, mortality, occurrence of stroke was reported in this study compared published inpatient studies in Tanzania. Interventions are needed to improve the long-term health and survival of HF patients attending HF outpatient clinics in Mwanza City.

Factors Contributing to the Escalation of Feminine Entrepreneurs in Tanzania: A Case of Mwanza City

The study aimed at exploring the examined factors contributing to the escalation of feminine entrepreneurs in Tanzania specifically in Mwanza city. One hundred and eighty (180) women were selected from four wards, namely Kirumba, Mirongo, Buhongwa, and Pasiansi using the purposive random sampling technique. The range of their ages was between 20 and 60 years. A cross-sectional design was adopted. The questionnaires and focus group discussion were adopted as methods of data collection in this study. Results of the study show that there are numerous factors that escalate the increase of feminine entrepreneurs in Mwanza city which include access to capital, education, political influence, social network, peace and security, the legitimacy of entrepreneurship, the need for lifetime achievement and development, livelihood diversification and family planning. These factors play a noteworthy role in influencing women's entrepreneurship. Other factors such as skills in entrepreneurship and internal motivation and creativity, social factors, and psychological factors were also discovered as the main factors behind the influence of women to join entrepreneurship. The study concludes that women engaged as entrepreneurs need to be assisted with the fundamental skills required establishing and running a successful business venture. The study recommends that the gender roles policy is not fully implemented, that is why there are still some jobs termed as for men and others for women.

Impacts of Traditional Extraction of Building Materials on Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihoods of Residing Communities in Mwanza City- Tanzania

Traditional extraction of building material is one of the economic activities in Mwanza City that supplies aggregates, sands, gravels, and stones. This study aimed at investigating the impacts of traditional extraction of building materials on biodiversity conservation and the livelihood of residing communities. Purposive sampling was used to obtain mining sites. Data were collected using households survey, focus group discussions, field visits, and the experiment. The sample size was 180 respondents. The sampling unit was people near mining sites, miners and ward leaders. The study revealed positive and negative impacts on biodiversity conservation and residing communities. The noted positive impacts included a source of income and a strategy for levelling building sites. On another hand, the perceived negative impacts were found to be land degradation, the disappearance of biodiversity, air pollution, uncovered areas/lands, effects on human health, and is the source of conflict. The study concluded that traditional extraction of building materials in residential has impacts on biodiversity and livelihoods of residing people. The study recommends that the government should develop an efficient and effective legal framework with strict laws. In addition, ward and wards leaders should be involved in the inspection and verification of genuine permits.

Is lack of health insurance a predictor of worsening of heart failure among adult patients attending referral hospitals in Northwestern Tanzania?

Health insurance coverage is critical for persons living with chronic conditions such as heart failure. Lack of health insurance may affect the ability to access regular healthcare appointments, pay for medication refills which can result in frequent hospitalization that is associated with poor clinical outcomes. In scarce resource locations such as sub-Saharan Africa, where uptake of health insurance is still suboptimal, the effect of health insurance on chronic conditions such as heart failure is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to assess the association of health insurance on the severity of heart failure for patients attending outpatient clinics at tertiary hospitals in Mwanza, Tanzania. As part of a larger cohort study, patients with heart failure were recruited from Bugando Medical Center (BMC) and Sekou Toure Regional Hospital (STRH) in Mwanza City, Tanzania. Heart failure was based on Framingham criteria and the severity was determined by New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to describe the study participants and to assess the association between health insurance status and the severity of heart failure at baseline. 418 patients were enrolled, and majority were female (n = 264, 63%), small scale farmers (n = 278, 66.5%) and were from Mwanza City (n = 299, 71.5%). More than two-thirds of patients did not have health insurance (n = 295, 70.6%) and the majority were in the NYHA I and II classification (n = 267, 64.7%). There was no association between health insurance status and the severity of heart (aOR 0.97; 95% CI 0.84-1.60). Being male, small-scale businessperson and those seen at STRH was associated with higher odds of being in NYHA Class III/IV (aOR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.21-3.17), (aOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.27-5.34) and (aOR 1.91 95% CI: 1.17-3.13) respectively. Having secondary and college education was associated with lower odds of being in Class III/IV (0.42; 95% CI: 0.18-0.98) and (aOR = 0.23 95% CI: 0.06-0.86) respectively. In this study, only a third of the patients had health insurance. Health insurance was not associated with the severity of heart failure. Since heart failure is a chronic condition patients who do not have health insurance may incur out of pocket expenses, future research should focus on the effect of out-of-pocket expenditures on clinical outcomes.

Administrative Challenges Preventing Effective Curriculum Implementation in Public Secondary Schools in Nyamagana District - Mwanza City, Tanzania

Administrative challenges can disrupt effective implementation of curriculum in secondary schools. Literature review shows that many administrative challenges hinder the implementation of curriculum in secondary schools. In order to implement the curriculum effectively, school administrators need to provide support to teachers since they are crucial to ensuring that curriculum is delivered consistently, effectively, and efficaciously to enhance learners’ academic achievement and growth. This study sought to examine the effect of administrative challenges on curriculum implementation in public secondary schools in Nyamagana District – Mwanza City, Tanzania. The study adopted a convergent parallel design under a mixed method research approach and a sample size of 172 respondents. Data were collected using questionnaires and interview guide. Validity and reliability of the instruments were tested and were reliable to be given to the respondents for data collection. The findings of this study revealed that the school administrators face many challenges which make the curriculum not to be implemented effectively. The challenges which were mentioned include: lack of fiscal infrastructure, lack of guidelines for the implementation of the curriculum, insufficient funds, overcrowded classrooms, heavy workloads, teachers’ lack of commitment, complexity of managing curriculum, and school heads’ inability to supervise curriculum delivery. It is recommended that government should provide more funds whenever it rolls out an education innovation so as to enable the schools to effectively implement the innovation. There is also need to conduct seminars and workshops for school administrators to enable them to effectively implement curriculum innovations in secondary schools

Examining the Roles of Automatic Teller Machines in Banking Services Delivery in Tanzania: A Case of Commercial Banks in the Mwanza City, Tanzania

The study was conducted in Mwanza region to assess the roles of information and communication technologies to effective and convenient bank services delivery in Tanzania. Specifically, the study analysed the infrastructures, updated information technology, adequate security system and performance of ATM technology on banking service delivery. The study used exploratory research design and it was carried out in commercial banks found in Ilemela and Nyamagana administrative districts of Mwanza region. Convenient and purposive sampling were adopted to select participants with undisputed knowledge on ICT banking. The sample of 215 bank customers, 52 bank employees and 2 representatives from the regulatory bodies were involved in this study. The data were collected by using observation, interview and questionnaires tools. Data was analysed statistically using the Inferential statistics with an aid of SPSS. According to findings 62.8% of all respondents, own ATM cards and 34.6% and 76.6% of all respondents agreed that ATM is useful in banking services delivery, 92.9% of respondents that ATM services are convenient, 66.2% stated that ATM transaction costs are reasonable and fair. Also, 80.6% of respondents agreed that ATM are reliable all day and night.

Staying a ‘Real Man’: Sexual Performance Concerns and Alternative Masculinities Among Young Men in Urban Tanzania

ABSTRACT Despite anthropology’s interest in masculinity and sexuality, little emphasis has been put on the alternative masculinities of young men experiencing sexual performance concerns. This paper explored different forms of enacting alternative ways of masculinities and how the concepts of ‘field’ and ‘failing bodies’ account for simultaneous enactment of masculinities, depending on the situation in which young men find themselves. Drawing on findings from my ethnographic research among young men in Mwanza city, I argue that when young men’s intentions of performing masculinities, which are centred on sexual aspects, are disrupted by (perceived) changes in their sexual performances, then these young men are prompted to take an ‘alternative outlook’ and experience ‘new’ feelings, thoughts and enactments of being a ‘real man’ in relation to their partners. For instance, while some young men in urban Mwanza developed more intimate relationship with their partners by becoming very close, humble, polite and obedient, others simultaneously enacted multiple and potentially contradictory forms of masculinities such as becoming very aggressive to their sexual partners, increasing their intimacy with their sexual partners, emotional expression, love and care. In summary, my findings indicate that alternative forms of masculinities are not fixed but fluid, dynamic, ambivalent, and they differ depending on the context in which young men find themselves. This fact draws our attention to the importance of further exploring how young men enact masculinities and have sexual intercourse despite virility concerns.

High prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among asymptomatic women opting for the intrauterine contraceptive device use in Mwanza, Tanzania: An urgent call for control interventions.

Objective:Placement of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) in asymptomatic woman infected with sexually transmitted infection (STIs) can lead to pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) and infertility if not well treated. The current study investigated the magnitude of sexually transmitted infections among women opting for IUCD use in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania.Methods:A cross-sectional study involving 150 asymptomatic women was conducted from August to December 2017. Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen from endocervical swabs was done using immunochromatographic rapid tests while sera were used for detection of Treponema pallidum, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV-2) antibodies.Results:The overall prevalence of STIs was 45/150 (30%, 95% CI: 22–37) while that of individual STIs were 27.3%, 5.3%, and 2.6% for C trachomatis, T pallidum, and HSV-2, respectively. History of dysuria (aOR 6.6; 95% CI 2.3–18.8; p < 0.001) and history of STIs (aOR 4.6; 95%CI 1.0–20.8; p = 0.049) independently predicted presence of STIs.Conclusions:Prevalence of STIs among women opted for IUCD use in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania is alarmingly high and is predicted by past history of dysuria and history of partner’s STIs, calling for the need of screening of the STIs among high-risk women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) opting for IUCD use.

Effect of Advertising Media on Sales Performance of Cable TV Network Firms in Mwanza City, Tanzania

The study aimed to investigate the impacts of advertising media on sales performance of firms in Cable TV network sector in Mwanza city, Tanzania. Specifically, this study concentrated in determining how digital marketing affects sales performance, determining effect of TV/Radio on sales performance of firms, assessing effect of outdoor (out of home) on sales performance.. This study employed quantitative methodology. The targeted population of the study was about 414 network managers from the six Cable TV network service providers and A sample of 83 network managers, selected from a population of 414 Cable TV network firms and were selected using simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire and documentary review are used to collect data. The study employed descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results revealed that all the advertising media namelydigital marketing, TV/Radio and outdoor had a significantly positive effect on sales performance of Cable Network firms. The study further found that mobile marketing had the highest effect of firms’ ales performance followed by outdoor adverting, then social media marketing and lastly TV/Radio. The study lastly recommends that management should create readiness of the company in terms of ensuring products and organization area, and establish a great team. The study also recommended that Cable TV firms should use more of modern advertising especially mobile marketing and social media marketing as they can be accessed by customer 24/7/365 and will reach more people. The marketing/Advertising department should develop marketing plan for advertising to assist measuring effectiveness of each advertising media and hence this can help in developing effective marketing activities.

Effects of Inventory Control Management Systems on Organization Performance in Tanzania Manufacturing Industry- A Case Study of Food and Beverage Manufacturing Company in Mwanza City

AI Publications is an open access peer review international journal to publish the article in the field of Agriculture, Horticulture, Food science, Rural Development, Environment and Health Research, Chemistry, Mathematics,Physics.

The “Nets and Anchors” on the Indian Community in Mwanza City (Tanzania): Ethnographic Challenges and Encounters

Abstract The use of “nets and anchors” framework requires a researcher to get a broad perspective of life in the case-study area through everyday observations and conversations with its residents before attempting an in-depth perspective of life as it is narrated by the key respondents of community groups. This framework was adopted in a study conducted among the Indians living in Mwanza City, Tanzania during the period of COVID-19 pandemic. This paper discusses the challenges encountered when conducting ethnographic research on the socio-cultural practices of Indians in Mwanza. The paper points out that COVID-19 pandemic among other factors hindered the process of collecting data through participant observation and interviews on the Indian community in Mwanza City.