Tanzania Demographic Health Survey Research Articles

Women’s empowerment and its influence on the uptake of breast cancer screening in Tanzania: an analysis of 2022 Tanzania demographic health survey data

BackgroundBreast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with a high mortality rate in developing countries, including sub-Saharan Africa. Screening is one way to ensure early detection and management of breast cancer, and it is influenced by several factors. Education and socio-economic status may also affect the utilization of breast cancer screening services as these impact decision-making. This study aimed to investigate women’s empowerment and its influence on the uptake of breast cancer screening among women in Tanzania.MethodsThis study utilized the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey data, and included 4216 women aged 20 to 49 years. Women empowerment variables used include social independence, decision-making, ownership of assets, and attitude towards violence. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 was used for data cleaning and analysis. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were done, including a multivariate logistic regression to assess the level of association between independent variables with breast cancer screening.ResultsFindings indicate that the prevalence of breast cancer screening is 5.2%. Age, education level, literacy, ownership of assets, attitude towards violence, and decision making are associated with ever going for breast cancer screening. Women aged 45 to 49 years (AOR = 6.28, 95% CI = 6.27–6.28), those with secondary or higher education (AOR 1.1, 95% CI = 1.05–1.06), literate women (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.13–1.13), those who own a house (AOR = 3.08, 95% CI = 3.08–3.09), who jointly decide on their healthcare with partners on healthcare (AOR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.18–1.19) had significantly higher odds of going for breast cancer screening.ConclusionWomen’s empowerment is significantly associated with the likelihood of engaging in breast cancer screening. Empowered women are more likely to undergo screening. Focus should be on empowering women through education, businesses, and community involvement. Country-specific interventions and breast cancer screening awareness campaigns should include empowerment initiatives to promote screening uptake.

Socio-economic Factors Associated with Desired Number of Antenatal Care Visits in Tanzania

This study analyses socioeconomic factors associated with the desired number of Antenatal Care (ANC) visits in Tanzania. The data are extracted from the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey and Malaria Indicator. The study employed Multilevel Logistic Regression analysis using TDHS-MIS 2022. The findings show that more than two-thirds of women attended at least 4 visits (desirable), while one-third of women attended less than 4 visits (undesirable). Over half of women attained primary education, while the majority had health insurance. About half of women were aged between 25 and 34 years, and 41.2% were economically classified as poor. Furthermore, the study revealed that the place of residence, educational level, distance to the health facility, access to health insurance, marital status, husband/partner's education level, birth order, women’s age, wealth index, work status, and family size indicated associations with the number of ANC visits. The study findings recommend that policymaking should focus on formulating policies and programmes that address factors reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and birth. There is a need to carry out a qualitative survey to assess how and why social, cultural, and community factors influence desired number of ANC visits among women.

Examining the Period-Based Changes in the Effect of Socioeconomic Status in Maternal Healthcare Utilization Across Regional and Residential Contexts in Postcolonial Tanzania (1991–2016)

ABSTRACT Applying dependency theory, this manuscript uses data from the six cross-sectional Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys from 1991 to 2016 (n = 30,028) to explore temporal variations in the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on maternal healthcare (MHC) utilization across different residences and regions. Research in this area is nonexistent in Tanzania. The results suggest a notable gap in using Tanzanian MHC based on SES and location (i.e. residence, regions). Results suggest that women from underserved groups, such as those living in rural areas or all-other (i.e. unprivileged) regions with lower SES, may have less access to MHC in the underdeveloped world. There were statistically significant socioeconomic variations in MHC use observed between residencies and regions, with stronger differences seen between residencies than regions. These findings further highlight the idea that lower use of MHC in the Global South is inseparable from economic dependency on metropolitan and Global North countries. This research calls for policymakers to recognize the roles of interactions between location and socioeconomic inequalities as factors exacerbated by higher dependency when crafting policies to modify healthcare utilization among women in underdeveloped countries.

Prevalence and factors associated with early postnatal care utilization among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: analysis of Tanzania demographic health survey 2015/16.

postnatal care (PNC) is critical for the health and survival of the mother and the newborn. The timing of the first postnatal checkup is crucial for the early identification and treatment of complications. Late or zero attendance of postnatal checkups negatively influences the health of the mother and the newborn. The study's purpose is to determine the prevalence and factors associated with early postnatal care utilization among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Tanzania. this is an analytical cross-sectional study, using Tanzania demographic health survey data for 2015/16. Women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who gave birth 5 years prior the survey were analyzed. Data analysis was performed using Stata software Version 15. The Poisson regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with early PNC. the prevalence of early PNC utilization in Tanzania was 36%. The identified determinants for early PNC were geographical zone, place of residence, access to media, place of delivery and mode of delivery. The prevalence of early PNC was higher among mothers with access to media, with caesarian delivery and to those with facility delivery. The prevalence was low among mothers who lived in rural areas, from southwest and lake zones. the coverage of early PNC was found to be low in Tanzania. Interventions informed by the identified factors need to be designed and implemented to improve the coverage of early PNC.

Socioeconomic inequalities in maternal healthcare utilization: An analysis of the interaction between wealth status and education, a population-based surveys in Tanzania.

Limited scientific, evidence has so far described the interactions between socioeconomic factors and the gap of inequalities in maternal healthcare utilization. This study assessed the interaction between wealth status and education to identify women with greater disadvantage. This analysis used secondary data from the three most recent rounds (2004, 2010, and 2016) of the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (TDHS). Maternal healthcare utilization was assessed based on six services (outcomes) which are i) booking during the first trimester (bANC), ii) at least four antenatal visits (ANC4+), iii) adequate antenatal care (aANC), iv) facility-based delivery (FBD), v) skilled birth attendance (SBA), vi) cesarean section delivery (CSD). The concentration curve and the concentration index were used to measure socioeconomic inequality in maternal healthcare utilization outcomes. The interaction coefficients suggest that each unit increase in the wealth status is significantly associated with higher odds of utilizing all maternal healthcare services for women with primary and secondary or higher education compared to those with no education (booking during the first trimester [AOR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.08-1.57], at least four antenatal visits [AOR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01-1.33], facility-based delivery [AOR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.12-1.48], skilled birth attendance [AOR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.15-1.49]). The highest wealth-related inequality in bANC (EI: 0.166), at least four antenatal visits (EI: 0.259), FBD (EI: 0.323) and skilled birth attendance (EI: 0.328) (P < 0.05) was observed among women with primary and secondary or higher education. These findings provide strong evidence that there is an interaction effect between education attainment and wealth status in socioeconomic inequalities of maternal health services utilization. Therefore, any approach which will address both women's education and wealth status might be the first step to reducing socioeconomic inequalities in maternal health services utilization in Tanzania.

Intersectionality and Dependency Lenses in Neonatal Mortality: Evidence of Regional, Residential, and Socioeconomic Inequalities from Post-colonial Tanzania, 1991–2016

While neonatal mortality is a critical measure of national health and well-being, efforts to reduce it in post-colonial, global south national contexts continue to yield unsatisfactory (sometimes worsening) odds of such events. This paper applies the intersectionality framework and dependency theory to time-based changes in neonatal mortality in Tanzania from 1991 to 2016 as a new model for understanding these persistent odds of neonatal mortality in the underdeveloped world. Analysis of data from the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (from 1991 to 2016) discloses an unambiguous intersection between residence, region, and socioeconomic status in Tanzania. At the national level, neonatal mortality decreased slightly between 1991 and 2016. However, the likelihood of neonates dying increased during that time for women living in rural and unprivileged areas with lower socioeconomic status. An intersectionality framework and dependency theory contextualize these findings by considering structural elements within Tanzania from 1991 to 2016. This new model affords fresh insights, recommendations, and policy discussion for reducing neonatal mortality in Tanzania and other post-colonial, global south nations.

Dependency Theory: An Evaluation of the Period-Based Changes in the Utilization of Maternal Health Care and Neonatal Mortality in Tanzania Between 1991 and 2016.

While efforts have been made to increase maternal health care (MHC) utilization and decrease neonatal mortality in Tanzania, much remains to be known about the effect of dependency (particularly on reproductive policy changes) on the use of MHC and neonatal health over time among varying socioeconomic groups. This study applied dependency theory to cross-sectional secondary data (collected by the Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys between 1991 and 2016) to investigate period-based changes in MHC and neonatal mortalities in Tanzania. Results from the data analysis found that while neonatal mortalities were decreasing in Tanzania (from 1991 to 2016), the odds of neonatal mortality were still greater in 2016. Also, a decline in the recommended skilled delivery assistance and 4 + antenatal care visits occurred in the data period. A significant increase in socioeconomic inequality around MHC use and neonatal mortality occurred during the study period as well. Policy recommendations to reduce these inequalities and move toward meeting Sustainability Development Goals for maternal and neonatal health in Tanzania are discussed.

Contribution of between region and neighborhood variation of socioeconomic factors on the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting: a multilevel analysis of Tanzanian national surveys.

This study aimed to assess to what extent differences in socioeconomic factors between regions correlate to dramatic disparities in the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) across Tanzania. The data from the 2004, 2010, and 2016 Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys were used in this analysis. The estimates from multilevel variance components for FGM/C were compared before and after adjusting for socioeconomic variables (residence, marital status, education, and wealth quintile) and age. The three-level structure of the sample sorted women into individual (level-1), neighborhood (level-2), and regional (level-3) categories. The pooled data included a total of 27587 women of reproductive age with a median age (IQR) of 29 (21-36) years. The random-effects results revealed that of the total age-adjusted variance in FGM/C, 76.7% was attributed to the between region and neighborhood differences. Despite the large between region variations, only 3.7% was explained by socioeconomic factors. Despite the large contribution of between region and neighborhood differences to variance in FGM/C prevalence, less of this variation was explained by socioeconomic factors. Therefore, it is possible that maternal and reproductive educational programs tailored to such neighborhood differences, beyond socioeconomic factors alone, could contribute to a radical shift in perspective for regions with high prevalence.

Household profiles of neglected tropical disease symptoms among children: A latent class analysis of built-environment features of Tanzanian households using the Demographic and Health Survey.

BackgroundWhile malaria and neglected tropical disease (NTD) morbidity and mortality rates among children <5 years old have decreased through public health efforts in the United Republic of Tanzania, associations between household environments and disease outcomes are relatively unknown.MethodsWe conducted latent class analysis (LCA) on 2015-2016 Tanzania Demographic Health Survey data from mothers with children <5 years old (N = 10 233) to identify NTD household risk profiles. The outcome of child NTD was assessed by mothers’ reports of recent diarrhoea, cough, treatment for enteric parasites, and fever symptoms. Household-built environment indicators included urban/rural designation, electricity access, water source, cooking fuel, flooring, wall, and roofing materials. External environmental covariates were considered to further differentiate profiles.ResultsFive profiles were identified in the sample: rural finished walls households (40.2%) with the lowest NTD risk; rural rudimentary households (20.9%) with intermediate-low NTD risk; finished material households (22.5%) with intermediate NTD risk; urban households (14.4%) with intermediate-high NTD risk and high likelihood of enteric parasites; rural finished roof/walls households (2.1%) with the highest overall NTD risk.ConclusionsThis study is among the first to use LCA to examine household environment characteristics to assess child NTD risk in Tanzania. This paper serves as a framework for community-level rapid NTD risk assessment for targeted health promotion interventions.

A Retrospective Study to Examine Nutrition Based Risk and Protective Factors in Relation to Diarrhoea Incidence in Children Aged Less Than Two Years in Tanzania

Background: Diarrhea disorders account for a significant portion of the morbidity and mortality burden among children in resource-constrained settings, and they are economically significant to both families and health systems. In real sense, any intervention that has shown the potential to reduce diarrhea-related mortality and morbidity is valuable in terms of the global child health agenda.&#x0D; Objective: To explore the role of nutrition based risk and protective factors on diarrhea morbidity among children aged less than two years in Tanzania.&#x0D; Methods: We analyzed household-based data on risks and preventive interventions including exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, water, sanitation hygiene, and vitamin A supplementation. Data from the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) of 2015/2016 were used to describe odds of diarrhoea morbidity in children aged 0-5 months and 6-23 months. Multivariate logic regression models were developed to identify risk factors.&#x0D; Results: Children aged less than 5 months, who were exclusively breastfed experienced a reduction in the odds of having diarrhoea by 72% (P-value &lt;0.001), compared to those who were not exclusively breastfed. Children aged between 6 months and less than 23 months, from families with detergent at hand washing facility, experienced a reduction in the odds of having diarrhoea by 37% (P-value &lt;0.01), compared to their peers in the other group. Diarrhoea odds were predicted to be higher in higher wealth quintile as compared to lowest group by 1.39 (P-value =0.028), 1.53 (P-value &lt;0.01), 1.74 (P-value &lt;0.01) and 1.78 (P-value =0.01) for second, middle, fourth to highest groups respectively.&#x0D; Conclusions: The data has demonstrated the important role of exclusive breastfeeding and sanitation on diarrhoea occurrence amongst children aged less than 23 months in Tanzania. Yet there are areas for which it remains inconclusive and requires further work to improve insights and strength of available evidence so far.

Determinants of Handwashing Without Soap in Tanzania: Evidence from the 2015/16 Tanzania Demographic Health Malaria Indicator Survey

Handwashing with soap can reduce pathogens, leading to a reduction in the spread of diarrhoea and other diseases. Handwashing with soap is insufficiently practised in Tanzania despite its potential health benefits. This study identifies the determinants of high levels of handwashing without soap in rural and urban areas of Tanzania. It used the 2015/16 Tanzania Demographic Health Survey - Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) dataset. A sample of 9,695 households—3,058 from urban areas and 6,637 households from rural areas—were used in the analysis. Pearson chi-square test and multivariate logistics regression analysis were used to determine the association between the independent and dependent variables. The study found that handwashing without soap was more prevalent in rural areas (46%) than in urban areas (28%). Exposure to the media (listening to the radio in rural areas and watching television in urban areas), and improved access to water sources decreased the probability of handwashing without soap, both in rural and urban areas. A household-headed by a female, and a household-head who was married, showed a decreased odd of handwashing with water only in rural areas; while households with 7 and more members showed increased odds of handwashing with water only in rural areas. The study concludes that exposure to the media and improved access to water sources can reduce high rates of handwashing without soap in Tanzania. Efforts to reduce handwashing without soap should target urban and rural communities since handwashing is a complex human behaviour.

Household Air Pollution from Cooking Fuels Increases the Risk of Under-Fives Acute Respiratory Infection: Evidence from Population-Based Cross-Sectional Surveys in Tanzania.

Background and Aims:Increased risk of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children has been linked with exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from solid biomass fuels. However, information is limited on the trend use of biomass fuels and their association with ARI among children in Tanzania. The current study analysed nationally representative data from the Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys of the years 2004, 2010, and 2015–16 to explore the prevalence of the trend of cooking fuels and ARI as well as ascertain their association among under-fives.Methods:A total sample of 20,323 under-fives were included in the current analysis. A mixed-effects multilevel logistic regression was fitted to assess the association between unclean fuels (solid biomass fuels and kerosene) and ARI among under-fives.Results:The use of solid biomass fuels has remained persistent high (98.6%) while ARI among under-fives has declined from 16% in 2004 to 9% in 2016; p < 0.001. Furthermore, under-fives exposed to unclean fuel combustion had a significantly higher incidence of ARI (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI, 1.31–9.21).Conclusion:Efforts should be made to switch to alternative sources of clean energy such as natural gas and biogas in Tanzania and other countries with similar settings.

Factors associated with changes in adequate antenatal care visits among pregnant women aged 15-49 years in Tanzania from 2004 to 2016

BackgroundAntenatal care (ANC) is crucial for the health of the mother and unborn child as it delivers highly effective health interventions that can prevent maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a minimum of four ANC visits for a pregnant woman with a positive pregnancy during the entire gestational period. Tanzania has sub-optimal adequate (four or more) ANC visits, and the trend has been fluctuating over time. An understanding of the factors that have been contributing to the fluctuating trend over years is pivotal in increasing the proportions of pregnant women attaining adequate ANC visits in Tanzania.MethodsThe study used secondary data from Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) from 2004 to 2016. The study included 17976 women aged 15-49 years. Data were analyzed using Stata version 14. Categorical and continuous variables were summarized using descriptive statistics and weighted proportions. A Poisson regression analysis was done to determine factors associated with adequate ANC visits. To determine factors associated with changes in adequate ANC visits among pregnant women in Tanzania from 2004 to 2016, multivariable Poisson decomposition analysis was done.ResultsThe overall proportion of women who had adequate ANC visits in 2004/05, 2010 and 2015/16 was 62, 43 and 51% respectively. The increase in the proportion of women attaining adequate ANC from 2010 to 2015/16 was mainly, 66.2% due to changes in population structure, thus an improvement in health behavior. While 33.8% was due to changes in the mother’s characteristics. Early initiation of first ANC visit had contributed 51% of the overall changes in adequate ANC attendance in TDHS 2015/16 survey.ConclusionEarly ANC initiation has greatly contributed to the increased proportion of pregnant women who attain four or more ANC visits overtime. Interventions on initiating the first ANC visit within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy should be a priority to increase proportion of women with adequate ANC visit.

Coexistence and correlates of forms of malnutrition among mothers and under-five child pairs in Tanzania.

Improving the health and well-being of mothers and children is a priority worldwide. The present study aimed to examine the coexistence and correlates of malnutrition among mothers and under-five child pairs using Tanzania Demographic Health Survey 2015-16 data. Height-for-age, height-for-weight and weight-for-age Z-scores were used to assess the nutritional status of children, while body mass index was used to assess the nutritional status of mothers. Correlates of forms of malnutrition were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Among 8083 pairs, 40⋅9% were normal, 30⋅3% were underweight, 17⋅5% overweight and 11⋅3% had double burden of malnutrition. The risk of being underweight is highest among the pairs with; children aged 13-59 months (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 2⋅33) and children with small birth weight (RRR = 2⋅67). Overweight is highest among pairs with; mothers aged 35-49 (RRR = 3⋅36), mothers with secondary education and above (RRR = 1⋅85), fathers aged 35+ (RRR = 1⋅38), professional fathers (RRR = 4⋅10) and richer households (RRR = 2⋅06). The double burden of malnutrition is highest among pairs with; children with small birth weight (RRR = 2⋅76), from rural households (RRR = 1⋅24) and from richer households (RRR = 1⋅41). There is a coexistence of forms of malnutrition among mothers and under-five child pairs in Tanzania. The study recommends using multidimensional approaches such as double-duty action for nutrition to eradicate all forms of malnutrition.

Prevalence and factors which influence early antenatal booking among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: An analysis of data from the 2015-16 Tanzania Demographic Health Survey and Malaria Indicators Survey.

Early initiation of the antenatal clinic is vital as it allows early detection, management, and prevention of problems that may occur during pregnancy time. The analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and factors which influence early antenatal booking among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. The study used data from the 2015-16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicators Survey (2015-16 TDHS-MIS). A total of 6924 women of active reproductive age from 15 to 49 were included in the analysis. Both univariate and multiple regression analyses were used to determine predictors of early antenatal booking. Only 1586 (22.9%) of pregnant women had early antenatal booking. After adjusted for the confounders, factors which influenced early antenatal booking were age of a woman [20 to 34 years, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.554 at 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.213-1.993, and more than 34 years, AOR = 1.758 at 95% CI = 1.306-2.368]; wealth status [rich, AOR = 1.520 at 95% CI = 1.282-1.802]; education level [higher education, AOR = 2.355 at 95% CI = 1.36-4.079]; parity [Para 2 to 3, AOR = 0.85 at 95% CI = 0.727-0.994 and Para 5+, AOR = 0.577 at 95%CI = 0.465-0.715]; zones [Unguja, AOR = 0.433 at 95% CI = 0.284-0.658 and Pemba, AOR = 0.392 at 95% CI = 0.236-0.649]. Early antenatal booking in Tanzania is extremely low. Women who were more likely to initiate antenatal visits within the first 12 weeks are those from well-off families, those with higher education, primiparity women, and those from Tanzania mainland urban. The innovative interventional study is highly recommended to come up with an effective strategy to improve timing for antenatal booking.

Addressing the huge poor-rich gap of inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care: A first step to achieving universal maternal health coverage in Tanzania.

Despite skilled attendance during childbirth has been linked with the reduction of maternal deaths, equality in accessing this safe childbirth care is highly needed to achieving universal maternal health coverage. However, little information is available regarding the extent of inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care in Tanzania. This study was performed to assess the current extent, trend, and potential contributors of poor-rich inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care among women in Tanzania. This study used data from 2004, 2010, and 2016 Tanzania Demographic Health Surveys. The two maternal health services 1) institutional delivery and 2) skilled birth attendance was used to measures access to safe childbirth care. The inequalities were assessed by using concentration curves and concentration indices. The decomposition analysis was computed to identify the potential contributors to the inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care. A total of 8725, 8176, and 10052 women between 15 and 49 years old from 2004, 2010, and 2016 surveys respectively were included in the study. There is an average gap (>50%) between the poorest and richest in accessing safe childbirth care during the study period. The concentration curves were below the line of inequality which means women from rich households have higher access to the institutional delivery and skilled birth attendance inequalities in accessing institutional delivery and skilled birth attendance. These were also, confirmed with their respective positive concentration indices. The decomposition analysis was able to unveil that household's wealth status, place of residence, and maternal education as the major contributors to the persistent inequalities in accessing safe childbirth care. The calls for an integrated policy approach which includes fiscal policies, social protection, labor market, and employment policies need to improve education and wealth status for women from poor households. This might be the first step toward achieving universal maternal health coverage.

Family Planning Uptake in Kagera and Mara Regions in Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Community Survey.

In Tanzania, 27.1% of all women of reproductive age are currently using modern contraception and 16.8% have an unmet need for family planning. We therefore examined factors associated with family planning uptake after giving birth in two regions of Tanzania. The survey, which collected information beyond that collected in the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey, used a two-stage, stratified-cluster sampling design, conducted in April 2016 in Mara and Kagera regions in Tanzania. A total of 1184 women aged 15–49 years, who had given birth less than two years prior to the survey were included. Logistic regression mixed effect modelling was used to examine factors associated with family planning uptake. A total of 393 (33.2%) women used family planning methods and 929 (79%) required prior approval from their partners. Participation of men in utilization of maternal health care was low, where 680 (57.8%) women responded that their partners accompanied them to at least one antenatal care (ANC) counselling visit and 120 (10%) responded that their partners participated in family planning counselling. Women who did not want to disclose whether they had discussed family planning with their partners, strikingly had the highest percentage of using family planning methods after birth. Factors independently associated with family planning uptake included: having discussed family planning with the partner (aOR 3.22; 95% CI 1.99–5.21), having been counselled on family planning during antenatal care (aOR 2.68; 95% CI 1.78–4.05), having discussed family planning with a community health worker (CHW) (aOR 4.59; 95% CI 2.53–8.33) and with a facility health care worker (aOR 1.93; 95% CI 1.29–2.90), having primary or higher educational level (aOR 1.66; 95% CI 1.01–2.273), and being in union (aOR 1.86; 95% CI 1.02–3.42). Educational interaction with community and facility health workers, as well as having a supportive partner as facilitator increased uptake of family planning. This needs to be prioritized in regions with similar socio-cultural norms in Tanzania and beyond.

The Regression Model of Risk Factors Associated with Maternal Mortality in Tanzania

Maternal mortality is one of the statistics showing the largest degree of disparity between the developed and developing countries. According to literature up to 2016 Tanzania was among the countries with unacceptably maternal mortality ratio and claimed to be still very far from reaching the Millennium developing goals. This study aimed at modeling of risk factors for maternal mortality using pre collected data Based on Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (TDH 2015 -16. Therefore secondary data were used to build the model. Data were reanalyzed by descriptive statistics using statistical software package STATA version 13. Based on data the result indicates that mortality was about 345 per 100,000 live births. The contributing factor was identified as education [OR= 0.81), Age group between 20 to 24 (OR = 2.84), distance to the health center (OR = 0.89), Marital status (OR = 1.39). It is concluded that, the risk factor of maternal death is age groups 20 – 24 and 25 – 29 years especially in the mainland rural. Keywords : Martenal Motility, Regression model, Prevalence on maternal DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/67-06 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

The Role of Prenatal Care and Systematic HIV Testing in Preventing Perinatal Transmission in Tanzania, 2011-2012

In 2012, the prevalence of HIV infection among Tanzanian women was 6.3%, and 18% of Tanzanian children were born infected with HIV. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of prenatal care attendance on comprehensive knowledge of HIV mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), HIV testing and counseling, and awareness of HIV testing coverage services in Tanzania. The study population was Tanzanian women of childbearing. Guided by the health belief model, this cross-sectional survey design used secondary data from the 2011–2012 Tanzania Demographic Health Survey. Factors of interest were comprehensive knowledge of HIV MTCT, HIV testing and counseling, and awareness of HIV testing coverage services; the outcome was prenatal care visit (PNCV) attendance. Findings showed that 69% of women had their first PNCV in the second trimester, meaning fewer than four visits. Multinomial logistic regression modeling assessed the association between factors of interest and outcome. Findings denoted that the factors of interest after controlling for married versus never married, maternal age, and wealth were associated with PNCV. These findings have positive social change implications by informing efforts to identify at-risk pregnant women through systematic HIV testing and counseling for early medical intervention and encourage them to start their PNCVs as scheduled.

Access to Communication Channels and Use of Family Planning among Women in Tanzania: Spatial and Socio-demographic Analysis

This study examined the relations and access to communication channels on the use of Family Planning (FP). Relationships between independent variables including access to communication channels and the use of FP services, and demographic characteristics were examined. This study used cross-sectional data from the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) of 2015-2016 from 11,127 women aged between 15-49 years. The sample was weighted to ensure representativeness. Univariate, bivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were used. Results in this study revealed a statically significant correlation between access to FP messages and use of family planning services (p&lt;.001). Access to radio, television, printed media, and mobile phones was observed more among women who were never in a union, those with tertiary education, women in urban areas and among those within a high wealth index. Use of FP services increased with the fluency of access to FP messages. Printed media predicted more likelihood in the use of FP at 0.460, p&lt;0.001; radio at 0.368, p&lt;0.001; health facilities at 0.284, p&lt;0.001 and education level at 0.276, p&lt;0.001. The study concludes that despite the fact that there was a correlation between access to FP messages and the use of FP, the use or not use of the same is also influenced by factors.