Western Tanzania Research Articles

Vocal communication in wild chimpanzees: a call rate study.

BackgroundPatterns of vocal communication have implications for species conservation: a change in calling behaviour can, for instance, reflect a disturbed habitat. More importantly, call rate is a parameter that allows conservation planners to convert call density into animal density, when detecting calls with a passive acoustic monitoring system (PAM).MethodsWe investigated chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) call rate during the late dry season in the Issa Valley, western Tanzania by conducting focal follows. We examined the socio-ecological factors that influence call production rate of savanna woodland chimpanzees.ResultsWe found that sex, proportion of time spent in a vegetation type, proportion of time spent travelling, time of the day, party size and swollen parous female presence had a significant effect on the call rate. Call rate differed among the different demographic classes with subadult and adult males vocalising twice as often as the subadult and adult females and three times as often as the juveniles.ApplicationsThe use of PAM and recent statistical developments to estimate animal density is promising but relies on our knowing individual call rate, often not available for many species. With the improvement in automatic call detection, we anticipate that PAM will increasingly be broadly applied to primates but also across taxa, for conservation.

Rapid Mapping of Hydrological Systems in Tanzania Using a Towed Transient Electromagnetic System.

Limited knowledge of local groundwater systems often results in the failure of boreholes to yield water of the required quantity and quality. This is particularly problematic in the developing world, where financial resources are often limited, and failed wells represent a significant financial burden. To enhance understanding of local hydrological systems, noninvasive geophysical methods can aid the understanding of hydrogeological structures and identification of groundwater sources needed to optimize siting of wells. Here, we highlight the utility of a relatively new towed-transient electromagnetic system, called tTEM. This system is a rapidly deployable mobile geophysical method well-suited to cost-efficient characterization of local-to-regional groundwater systems. Results from tTEM surveys conducted in two refugee camps and several host communities in western Tanzania demonstrate the capability of the method to characterize shallow aquifer systems with high lateral and vertical resolution, with data collection typically exceeding 15 to 20 line-kilometers (km) per day. This work focuses on tTEM's ability to provide semiquantitative insights into regional hydrogeological settings when supporting data required for more rigorous interpretation/modeling is lacking. The system provided useful data within communities with low density of electrification and near buildings with metal roofs and walls. tTEM-derived resistivity profiles were correlated with limited local borehole lithologic information to develop conceptual models of the local groundwater systems. These models were used to successfully guide the siting of a production well and to identify future drilling targets in the refugee camps and surrounding communities.

An assessment of the epidemiology and socioeconomic impact of the 2019 African swine fever outbreak in Ngara district, western Tanzania

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral transboundary animal disease affecting domestic pigs caused by ASF virus (ASFV). This study was conducted in order to determine the genetic characteristics, risk factors and socioeconomic impact of an ASF outbreak in 2019 in Ngara, western Tanzania. Tissue samples from dead domestic pigs with clinical picture suggestive of ASF infection were collected for ASF confirmation and genetic characterization of ASFV. Data on the risk factors and socioeconomic impact associated with the ASF outbreak were collected from consenting farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Disease confirmation was done by detection of genomic ASFV DNA using polymerase chain reaction. Partial amplification of the ASFV genome, dideoxynucleotide sequencing of the PCR products followed by bioinformatics analyses was conducted to determine the ASFV genotypes. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the variable 3′-end of the B646L gene clustered the ASFV isolate into genotype X. Analysis of the intergenic fragment sequences between 173R and 1329L genes showed that the viral strains TAN/19/Ngara and Kenya 1950 similarly lacked a 36 bp fragment that is present in strain Ken05/Tk1. Feeding pigs of uncooked swill was shown to be significantly associated with ASF spread (OR = 3.08, C.I.95% = 1.06–8.99, P = 0.0009). Occurrence of ASF outbreak resulted in loss of income and investment as most farmers kept pigs for the purpose of income generation. Food security was disturbed due to high pig mortality following occurrence of ASF outbreak. A total of 93,630,000 Tanzanian shillings (approximately 41,065 USD) was estimated to be lost as a result of pigs’ mortality in 219 households. The findings of the present study associate ASFV genotype X with the 2019 ASF outbreak in Ngara and feeding pigs with uncooked swill with spread of the disease.

Abundance and Diversity of Butterfly in Ntakata Forest, Western Tanzania

Abundance and Diversity of Butterfly in Ntakata Forest, Western Tanzania

Applicability and comparison of the sub-Saharan Africa and original WHO maternal near-miss criteria in a rural hospital in Western Tanzania

# Background After the introduction of the maternal near-miss (MNM) criteria by the World Health Organization (WHO), an adapted version for low-income countries was defined but has never been validated in a rural hospital in this setting. Aim of this study was to identify the occurrence of MNM by both the use of the WHO and the adapted sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) MNM tool and to compare the applicability of both versions. # Methods This cross-sectional study was done between November 2019 and July 2020 in Ndala Hospital, Tanzania. All pregnant women and women within 42 days after giving birth or termination of pregnancy were included when fulfilling at least one criterion according to either the WHO or the SSA MNM tool. # Results The SSA MNM criteria identified 47 near-miss cases and all seven maternal deaths. The WHO criteria identified ten near-miss cases and five maternal deaths. There were 948 livebirths, consequently leading to maternal near-miss ratio (MNMR) of 50 (95% CI 34-60) and 11 (95% CI 4 – 16) per 1,000 livebirths for the SSA criteria and respectively the WHO MNM criteria. The difference in these numbers seems to be primarily attributed to the addition of defined severe complications in the clinical criteria and the adapted threshold for blood transfusions. Eclampsia and severe malaria form roughly half of these complications. # Conclusions SSA MNM criteria are more suitable than the WHO criteria to identify patients with potentially life-threatening conditions (PLTC) in this rural hospital. The addition of clinical criteria and rejection of several unapplicable laboratory and management-based parameters in the SSA MNM tool seem appropriate adaptations for low-resource settings. However, some non-acute cases are discussable near-misses and the criterion “severe pre-eclampsia with ICU admission” seems not feasible in similar settings. Implementation of the SSA MNM criteria forms a strong basis for auditing. Better monitoring and documentation of patients will improve the use of the criteria and potentially the quality of audit sessions.

Changes in March to May rainfall over Tanzania during 1978–2017

AbstractThis study assessed the change in March to May (MAM) rainfall over Tanzania during 1978–2017. It is revealed that the MAM rainfall experienced more years of negative (positive) anomalies after (before) the late 1990s. The atmospheric and oceanic background underlying such a change in MAM rainfall was addressed. The results show that the recent decrease in MAM rainfall is associated with the reduction of water vapour transport from the Indian Ocean to Tanzania, the enhancement of tropospheric moisture divergence, and the decrease of convective activities over Tanzania. Changes of sea surface temperature (SST) in the 1990s from a cold phase to a warm phase over the southwestern Indian Ocean and western tropical Pacific Ocean and that from a warm phase to a cold phase over the southern Atlantic Ocean also have a significant contribution. Associated with the SST warming over the southwestern Indian Ocean, an anomalous cyclonic circulation prevails over the tropical Indian Ocean in the upper level, favourable for the increase of subsidence in Tanzania. Concurrently, the Mascarene High shifts eastward, which may weaken the water vapour transport from the southern Indian Ocean toward Tanzania. The warming of SST over the western tropical Pacific Ocean is linked to a Walker‐like circulation with the descending limb over the western Indian Ocean and Tanzania, conducive to the subsidence over Tanzania. Related to the SST cooling over the southern Atlantic Ocean, anomalous atmospheric convergence in the upper level is dominant over Tanzania, concurrent with the easterly outflow toward the Congo basin and the westerly and northerly outflow toward the western Indian Ocean from Tanzania in the low level, favouring the decrease of MAM rainfall.

Improving wellbeing by integrating health and conservation: findings from cross-sectional surveys

BackgroundSince 2011, Pathfinder International, The Nature Conservancy, and local government authorities in western Tanzania have partnered on the Tuungane project to support communities facing multiple challenges not solved by a single sector, including poor access to health services such as maternal health and family planning, as well as a declining natural resource base. Tuungane uses a population, health, and environment approach that hypothesises that by integrating health and conservation activities, it can achieve greater overall benefits to both people and nature than single-sector projects. We investigated whether integrating health and conservation services and information leads to greater understanding of the links between people's health and the environment, resulting in more behaviours that improve health and increase sustainable natural resource management. MethodsUsing data from cross-sectional surveys done at the household level in western Tanzania, we assessed health and natural resource knowledge, attitudes, and practices, comparing baseline data collected in July, 2011, from 487 households (of 7700 households) with midterm data collected 5 years later in August, 2016, from 1010 households (of 9568 households). Data from a smaller assessment done in December, 2020, will be available later. FindingsBetween the baseline survey and the midterm survey, we found improvements in indicators for health and conservation knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and overall wellbeing. For example, most common illnesses, such as typhoid, decreased. Familiarity with family planning increased from 45% to 59%. Women who wished they could have postponed a pregnancy decreased from 43% to 34%. Fishermen reported an increase from 8% to 33% in fish catch in the main target species compared with 5 years ago. In 2016, a majority of people agreed that the village forest should be protected (88%). The ability of people to meet daily needs increased from 6% to 20%. People used fewer loans to buy food and had more assets. InterpretationThe results from the surveys suggest that not only the health and natural resource use of local people improved from 2011 to 2016, but also their overall wellbeing. FundingNone.

Managing wetlands to solve the water crisis in the Katuma River ecosystem, Tanzania

The formerly perennial Katuma River in western Tanzania starts in a protected forest, it then flows through irrigated rice farms before reaching Lake Katavi, a floodplain wetland whose outflow regulates the river flow through the Katavi National Park (KNP) down to its outlet at Lake Rukwa, which has no outlet. In recent years, due to overexploitation of water for irrigation, the Katuma River dried out for up to four months per year and this greatly degraded the KNP ecosystem, the siltation of river lead to flooding of the adjacent areas during heavy rains, and the water level of Lake Rukwa has decreased by 4 m since 1992 while its fishery yield and water quality also deteriorated. In 2016, a total of 46 illegal weirs were removed from the Katuma River upstream of KNP. Following that, the river zero-flow periods were reduced by two months and Lake Rukwa water level rose by 1 m. We suggest that the construction of a low V-notch weir at the outlet of the Lake Katavi wetlands would further reduce the Katuma River zero-flow periods by an additional month, thus returning the river nearly to its former perennial status. The enforcement of regulations governing the construction of irrigation weirs is essential. These ecohydrology solutions do not eliminate the threats, but they amplify the opportunities for sustainable development at the basin scale. This example of active governance of water resources at the basin scale can be applied throughout Tanzania and in semi-arid East Africa in general.

Dung Beetle Diversity and Community Composition Along a Land Use Gradient in a Savannah Ecosystem of North Western Tanzania

Habitat loss and degradation are the most widely cited drivers of changes in species abundance and diversity. We explored changes in dung beetle species diversity and composition across different land uses in the north west Tanzanian savannah. We expected a negative response gradient in the diversity and composition of the dung beetle community, from land uses that preserve vegetation and hold native mammal diversity to livestock intensive and heavily grazed areas. Dung beetles were sampled in a protected area and two anthropogenically influenced land use types. Species richness and composition of each land use type, including differences in diversity and functional groups were analyzed and indicator species for each land use gradient were identified. As expected, diversity and community composition varied between areas with less environmental change compared to those impacted anthropogenically. We conclude that conservation of protected areas within African savannahs can provide a functionally rich dung beetle community and subsequently rich ecological functions. The dung beetle species identified by this study as eco-indicators can be used as a benchmark for future studies that use rapid monitoring to assess disturbance in African savannas.

Linguistic and Social Outcomes of Interactions of Hadzabe and Sukuma in North-Western Tanzania

Abstract Social and linguistic contacts of the Hadzabe speaking people with the Sukuma people in Maswa District (now Meatu District) in northern Tanzania have been under-reported in the existing literature, whereas the Hadzabe of eastern Tanzania have been researched in depth. Specialists have documented that in western Tanzania, the material culture of the Hadzabe differs significantly from what is found among their counterparts in the eastern region; so too the regional differences between their adaptations of kinship terms have been well documented. However, patterns of linguistic adaptation in the naming of plants and crops have yet to be analysed. Findings from Sungu Village in Meatu District reveal the significant influence of the Sukuma in the Hadzabe lexicon of plants and crops. It is understandable why the names of cultivated crops among the Hadzabe would demonstrate the Sukuma influence, since the Sukuma farmers introduced farming amongst the Hadzabe foragers. But it is unclear why the Hadzabe should have borrowed Sukuma names for wild plants as well, since the Hadzabe have depended upon their local biodiversity throughout their existence in the region, as has been documented for several decades now. We argue that despite their recency, communities which dominate through their sheer population density, such as the Sukuma, tend to influence the deeper lexicon of smaller communities like Hadzabe.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Stunting among Public Primary School Pupils in Kasulu District, Western Tanzania.

Background:Underfeeding of a child in the first 2 years of life results in irreversible growth damage. Globally, stunting has declined from 39.7% in 1990 to 26.7% in 2010 while in Africa has remained at 40% since 1990. However, stunting is little known in primary pupils.This study estimated the prevalence of stunting and contributing factors among public primary school pupils in Kasulu District.Method:Cross-sectional study was conducted among public primary pupils. Systematic random sampling was used to select study participants and then stratified to 5-7 and 8-12 years. Socio-economic factors, dietary practices, water, sanitation, and hygiene behaviours; school performance/attendance data were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Measurements were standardised to the World Health Organization HAZ-Scores for both girls and boys. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression were used to generate results.Results:A total of 400 pupils (100%RR) were recruited into the study, mean age of 7.51 (STD= 1.54) years and a half (50.3%) were boys. The prevalence of stunting was 127 (31.8%) (95% CI: 27.2%–36.6%), with no sex difference (63 (31.7%) – girls vs. 64 (31.8%) – boys; p = 0.969). Household wealth influenced stunting; lowest quintile (AOR= 28; 95% CI: 3.64 – 214.6; p<0.001) 2nd quintile (AOR = 17; 95%CI: 2.20 – 138.5; p<0.01), the 3rd quintile (AOR = 8.0; 95%CI: 0.99 – 64.67; p = 0.051) and 4th quintile (AOR = 4.2; 95%CI: 0.49 – 36.75; p = 0.191) when compared to 5th (highest) wealthquintile. Food insecurity (AOR = 10.6; 95%CI: 4.60 – 24.60; p< 0.001), less protein in meal were the risk for stunting (AOR = 14.6; 95%CI: 4.07 – 52.42; p<0.001). Inappropriate hand wash after toilets both at school, (AOR=3.5; 95%CI:1.62–7.58; p=0.001), and home (AOR = 13.0; 95%CI: 2.73 – 61.76; p = 0.001) were the risk for stunting. Stunted pupils had irregular school attendance (AOR = 9.4;95%CI: 4.42 – 19.93; p<0.001) and poor performance (AOR = 23.6; 95%CI: 10.24 –54.19; p<0.001). Food insecurity influenced poor performance (AOR = 3.9; 95%CI:1.67–8.92; p<0.01) and irregular school attendance (AOR=5.4, p=0.000).Conclusion:Stunting among public primary school pupils is very high despite the prevention effort. Low wealth, food insecurity, poor hand hygiene, and lack of protein in a meal significantly influence stunting. Also, it affects the pupils’ academic performance and attendance, availability of food in both quantity and quality, community nutrition

Combining Deforestation and Species Distribution Models to Improve Measures of Chimpanzee Conservation Impacts of REDD: A Case Study from Ntakata Mountains, Western Tanzania

Projects to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) are designed to reduce carbon emissions through avoided deforestation and degradation, and in many cases, to produce additional community and biodiversity conservation co-benefits. While these co-benefits can be significant, quantifying conservation impacts has been challenging, and most projects use simple species presence to demonstrate positive biodiversity impact. Some of the same tools applied in the quantification of climate mitigation benefits have relevance and potential application to estimating co-benefits for biodiversity conservation. In western Tanzania, most chimpanzees live outside of national park boundaries, and thus face threats from human activity, including competition for suitable habitat. Through a case study of the Ntakata Mountains REDD project in western Tanzania, we demonstrate a combined application of deforestation modelling with species distribution models to assess forest conservation benefits in terms of avoided carbon emissions and improved chimpanzee habitat. The application of such tools is a novel approach that we argue permits the better design of future REDD projects for biodiversity co-benefits. This approach also enables project developers to produce the more manageable, accurate and cost-effective monitoring, reporting and verification of project impacts that are critical to verification under carbon standards.

Screening of sweetpotato germplasm collections for sweetpotato weevil (Cylas spp.) resistance in Tanzania

Weevil damage caused by sweetpotato weevil (Cylas spp.) is a major constraint to sweetpotato production in Tanzania due to a lack of improved varieties with durable resistance. The objective of this study was to screen sweetpotato germplasm collections for weevil resistance and to select the best parents to be used in resistance breeding. Field studies involving 96 sweetpotato genotypes were conducted at two weevil hotspot sites in Western Tanzania using a 12 x 8 lattice design with three replications at each site. Data collected included yield and yield related traits, weevil reaction and weevil damage score. The tested genotypes differed significantly (P &lt; 0.01) for sweetpotato storage root number, root weight, root infestation and root damage score. Weevil infestation on storage roots significantly (P ≤0.05) correlated with total root number (r = 0.38) and weevil damage score (r = 0.79). Marketable root weight and total root weight were significantly correlated with infested root weight each with r = 0.45. The study identified nine sweetpotato genotypes expressing resistance and 10 genotypes with moderate resistance to weevil. Five genotypes including Magunhwa, Chuchu ya Nesi, Rugomoka, Tumauma and New Kawogo were selected with weevil resistance and desirable yield and yield-related traits. These genotypes can be used in future weevil resistance breeding programs of sweetpotato in Western Tanzania or related agro-ecologies.

Adoption and impacts of improved beehive technologies in the miombo woodland of Tanzania

This paper analyzes the adoption and impacts of improved beehives on households’ income using cross-sectional data sourced from a sample of 198 beekeepers in western Tanzania who adopted improved beehives. Propensity score matching and the endogenous switching regression model are used to assess the adoption and impacts. Results show that the adoption of improved beehives resulted in significant increase in beekeepers’ income. An analysis of the determinants of adoption revealed age of the household head, years of formal schooling, access to credit, access to extension services, training and experience in beekeeping as key factors influencing the adoption. There is a need to promote the use of improved beehives so as to enhance productivity and boost income among small-scale beekeepers. Efforts to improve access to and use of improved beehives technologies should be part and parcel of income poverty reduction strategies in the study areas where beekeeping is a key livelihood activity but adoption is low. Policies that enhance the diffusion and adoption of improved beehives should be central to income poverty reduction strategies in Tanzania.

Association between surgical technique, adhesions and morbidity in women with repeat caesarean section: a retrospective study in a rural hospital in Western Tanzania

BackgroundThe worldwide incidence of birth by Caesarean Section (CS) is rising. Many births after a previous CS are by repeat surgery, either by an elective CS or after a failed trial of labour. Adhesion formation is associated with increased maternal morbidity in patients with repeat CSs. In spite of large-scale studies the relation between the incidence of adhesion formation and CS surgical technique is unclear. This study aims to assess maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality after repeat CSs in a rural hospital in a low-income country (LIC) and to analyse the effect of surgical technique on the formation of adhesions.MethodsA cross-sectional, retrospective medical records study of all women undergoing CS in Ndala Hospital in 2011 and 2012.ResultsOf the 3966 births, 450 were by CS (11.3%), of which 321 were 1st CS, 80 2nd CS, 36 3rd CS, 12 4th and one 5th CS (71, 18, 8, 3 and 0.2% respectively). Adhesions were considered to be severe in 56% of second CSs and 64% of third CSs. In 2nd CSs, adhesions were not associated with closure of the peritoneum at 1st CS, but were associated with the prior use of a midline skin incision. There was no increase in maternal morbidity when severe adhesions were present. Adverse neonatal outcome was more prevalent when severe adhesions were present, but this was statistically non-significant (16% vs 6%).ConclusionsOur results give insight into the practice of repeat CS in our rural hospital. Adhesions after CSs are common and occur more frequently after midline skin incision at 1st CS compared to a transverse incision. Reviewing local data is important to evaluate quality of care and to compare local outcomes to the literature.

Quantifying the under-estimation of cervical Cancer in remote regions of Tanzania

BackgroundCervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in Sub-Saharan countries, including Tanzania. While early detection and diagnosis are available in some parts of this large country, radiotherapy has been only available at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), in the capital city of Dar es Salaam and is just starting in a few regions.MethodsThe objective of this study was to compare the observed incidence of cervical cancer for the two remote regions of Mwanza in western Tanzania and Mbeya in southern Tanzania, based on their patients treated at the ORCI from 2011 to 2014. Results: The number patients referred and treated at ORCI were (120 from Mwanza, and 171 from Mbeya, representing 24.6 and 32.8% of the patients histopathologically confirmed in the two sites, respectively. The results showed significant underestimation of cervical cancer in the two regions. The vast majority of patients who were histopathologically-confirmed in their local regions (73.92% from Mwanza and 65.1% from Mbeya), but did not receive the needed radiotherapy treatment at the ORCI. The estimated incidence for the two regions based on the number of patients treated at the ORCI were underestimated by 53.9% for Mwanza and 68.9% for Mbeya.ConclusionsLocal establishment of radiotherapy treatment facilities in remote regions in Tanzania and similar other low-income countries is essential for providing effective treatment and improving survival of diagnosed cervical cancer patients. Linkage between the records of local remote hospitals and the main cancer treatment center in the capital city can also help support the emerging the population-based cancer registry at ORCI.

Beyond adequate: Factors associated with quality of antenatal care in western Tanzania.

To determine quality of antenatal care (ANC). Most literature focuses on ANC attendance and services. Less is known about quality of care (QoC). Data were analyzed from the 2016 Kigoma Reproductive Health Survey, a population-based survey of reproductive-aged women. Women with singleton term live births were included and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to create an ANC quality index using linear combinations of weights of the first principal component. Nineteen variables were selected for the index. The index was then used to assign a QoC score for each woman and linear regression used to identify factors associated with receiving higher QoC. A total of 3178 women received some ANC. Variables that explained the most variance in the QoC index included: gave urine (0.35); gave blood (0.34); and blood pressure measured (0.30). In multivariable linear regression, factors associated with higher QoC included: ANC at a hospital (versus dispensary); older age; higher level of education; working outside the home; higher socioeconomic status; and having lower parity. Using PCA methods, several basic components of ANC including maternal physical assessment were identified as important indicators of quality. This approach provides an affordable and effective means of evaluating ANC programs.

Retinopathy in adults with hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Western Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Little is known about the retinal manifestations of arterial hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in Western Tanzania and how to maximise the utilisation of scarce eye health resources. To address this, we determined the prevalence of hypertensive and diabetic retinopathy (DR), associated risk factors and relevant patient knowledge. Adults with HTN or DM attending outpatient clinics at Bugando Medical Center (BMC) from June to August 2017 were enrolled. Fundus photographs were obtained, and data were collected on blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), blood sugar, visual acuity (VA) and responses to questions about the effects of HTN and DM on the eye. A total of 180 persons were screened. When only individuals with DR were considered, bivariate regression found systolic BP was significantly associated with severity of DR (P=0.034). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis using the maximum Youden index revealed the optimum cut-off using duration of DM to predict any DR was 8years (AUC=0.75, 95% CI 0.65-0.85). Fewer persons with HTN were aware of the effect of high BP on the eye (61.6%) than persons with DM who were aware of the effect of high blood sugar on the eye (74.4%) (P=0.048). Efforts should be made to vigorously treat HTN among adults with DM and refer adults with duration of DM of 8years or more for a dilated retinal examination. Additional efforts should be made to promote awareness of the sight threatening potential of HTN in resource-limited settings.

Fetishizing the Foot: Mobility and Meaning in Indian Ocean Sandals

Fetishizing the Foot: Mobility and Meaning in Indian Ocean Sandals

Fuel to the fire: The escalating interplay of attachment and maltreatment in the transgenerational transmission of psychopathology in families living in refugee camps.

Maltreatment by parents can be conceptualized as pathogenic escalations of a disturbed parent-child relationship that have devastating consequences for children's development and mental health. Although parental psychopathology has been shown to be a risk factor both for maltreatment and insecure attachment representations, these factors` joint contribution to child psychopathology has not been investigated. In a sample of Burundian refugee families living in refugee camps in Western Tanzania, the associations between attachment representations, maltreatment, and psychopathology were examined by conducting structured interviews with 226 children aged 7 to 15 and both their parents. Structural equation modeling revealed that children's insecure attachment representations and maltreatment by mothers fully mediated the relation between maternal and child psychopathology [model fit: comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.96; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.05]. A direct association between paternal and child psychopathology was observed (model fit: CFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.05). The findings suggest a vicious cycle, wherein an insecure attachment to a mother suffering from psychopathology may be linked to children's risk to be maltreated, which may reinforce insecure representations and perpetuate the pathogenic relational experience. Interventions targeting the attachment relationship and parental mental health may prevent negative child outcomes.