Tanzania journal of health research
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Tanzan J Health Res · Jan 2010
Perspectives of patients towards medical students' at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Medical students gaining experience in outpatient's clinics and admission wards are exposed to clinical clerkship as this is an important part of their training. There is paucity of reported patients' experiences and perceptions of medical students in low-income settings. The present study was conducted at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Malawi to describe patients' and perceptions of, and experience with medical students being present when patients are seen by a medical doctor or students' individual clerking. ⋯ The participants' who had been ever clerked by students felt motivated to be present for student learning for altruistic reasons as well as for mutual benefit between student and patient. Patients attending the QECH in Blantyre, Malawi are generally satisfied with the attention and support they obtain from students. Balancing the need for appropriate supervision of students, and facilitating the retention of this patient-cantered approach to care should be maintained.
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Tanzan J Health Res · Oct 2009
Menstrual discomfort and its influence on daily academic activities and psychosocial relationship among undergraduate female students in Nigeria.
Menstrual disorder is a common health problem among females in their reproductive years. It has psychosocial effects on the sufferer and her interactions with others during such periods. In Nigeria, menstrual disorder has received little research attention especially in the public health agenda. ⋯ Those with dysmenorrhoea reported one and a half times of depression than those without. However, menorrhagia appeared as the principal factor affecting their daily school activities and relationship with colleagues. Menstrual disorders prevalence is high among young undergraduates and appropriate enlightenment and treatment should be made available to young females.
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Tanzan J Health Res · Jan 2009
Alcohol use among school-going adolescents in Harare, Zimbabwe: results from the 2003 Global School-Based Health Survey.
Data from the Global School-Based Health Survey (2003) were analysed to estimate the proportions of relevant socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics. Of the 1997 students who participated in the survey, 15.6% (17.1% males and 14.0% females) reported alcohol consumption. Factors associated with consumption of alcohol use were being worried, bullied, smoking cigarettes, truant, and lack of parental supervision. ⋯ Compared to students who smoked cigarettes, non-smokers were 71% (AOR=0.29 [95% CI (0.21, 0.41)]) less likely to consume alcohol. Compared to students who always received parental supervision, students who rarely received parental supervision were more likely (AOR=1.85 [95% CI (1.19, 2.90)] to consume alcohol, and those students who sometimes received parental supervision were less likely (AOR=0.70 [95% CI (0.50, 0.98)] to consume alcohol. There is a need to implement public health interventions with special attention to the determinants of alcohol consumption in this age group.
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Tanzan J Health Res · Oct 2008
Challenges in malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa: the vaccine perspective.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease of public health importance, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that about 500 million cases of malaria occur annually and among these 1 million die annually. Children below five years and pregnant women are the most vulnerable groups. ⋯ The most promising vaccine candidate is RTSS which is currently tested in various countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including two sites in Tanzania. There is a hope that malaria vaccines could be developed and deployed in malaria endemic communities. This article highlights the challenges of developing and deploying malaria vaccines.
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Tanzan J Health Res · Jul 2008
Case ReportsChallenges in the diagnosis and management of sleeping sickness in Tanzania: a case report.
In Tanzania sleeping sickness presents a serious threat to human health with a country-wide average of 400 cases reported annually. Both wild and domestic animals have been found to play a significant role in the epidemiology of sleeping sickness. Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, has experienced a number of sleeping sickness epidemics since 1922. ⋯ The patient was treated successfully with melarsoprol. The results of this case study highlight the possibility of resurgence of sleeping sickness in the park hence calls for the need to create more awareness among the community and clinicians. There is need for early reporting to health facility and strengthening the diagnostic capacity of healthcare facilities in and around national parks endemic for sleeping sickness.