Knowledge; attitude and acceptability of spermicidal contraception among university students in Dar Es Salaam

"Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge; acceptability and attitude towards the use of spermicides among students of University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over four-month period among UDSM students. A random sample of students was recruited from all three university campus namely University College of Land and Architectural Studies (UCLAS); Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS) and Mlimani Campus (MC). Questionnaires with both closed and open end-questions were used for data collection in which knowledge; attitude; and acceptability of spermicides were determined. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/PC+ version 10.0; 1999 computer package. Results: A total of 300 students participated in this study; out of which 154 (51.3) were females and 146 (48.7) males. Majority of the students 276 (92) had poor knowledge of spermicidal products; and out of these; 146 (53) were absolutely unable to describe the use of spermicides. Ninety-three percent of the students had never used spermicides. Of those who had never used spermicides; 84 (30) said because they used other contraceptive means; 50 (17.8) said they are expensive; 29 (10.3) attributed this to unavailability of the products; 3(1.1) to fear of ""contracting"" cancer and 13(4.6) to the unreliability. Furthermore; a few who had used them didn't trust the products as ideal means of contraception. Conclusion: The respondents had poor knowledge of spermicides. Spermicides were not accepted by the students because of the presumed side-effects; being very expensive and unreliable for contraception purpose. However; the respondents accepted spermicides usage as an ideal alternative to condom and effective means for a female-controlled method to prevent/reduce unwanted pregnancy and HIV risk. The study recommends that the Government/responsible authorities should encourage spermicides usage; particularly when coupled with microbicides; in reduction of unplanned pregnancies; sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV infection inclusive.). Only 185 (56.1) of all patients reported their willingness to disclose and a freedom to talk about the disease. Risk factors for cancer staging were sex; patient's education status; awareness and knowledge of disease symptoms. Conclusions: Interventions targeted to improve health care seeking behaviour among cancer patients need to include health education and sensitization specifically of cancer disease; establish a strong referral mechanisms at primary health level and to start a population cancer registry for monitoring and evaluation purposes."

Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella typhi and Candida Albicans isolates in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial susceptibility testing patterns of Candida albicans and Salmonella typhi isolates. Fifteen isolates of each microorganism were collected from three hospitals located in Dar es Salaam region within a 3-month period in the year 2005. Candida albicans and Salmonella typhi isolates were purified by sub-culturing on appropriate culture media in order to obtain pure cultures of the assayed microorganisms. Candida albicans isolates were identified by Gram staining technique and germ tube test; while S. typhi isolates were also identified by Gram staining technique followed by sub-culturing in various selective and differential culture media; then confirmed by immunological (agglutination) test. In-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the assayed microbial isolates were determined by the disk diffusion technique of Stokes. The disk strength and tentative sizes of zones of inhibition (ZI) were interpreted in accordance with American National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard (NCCLS). Antifungal susceptibility patterns for C. albicans isolates showed that azoles are more efficacious than other assayed antifungal agents. Results of antibacterial susceptibility revealed that all the assayed S. typhi isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole; but were sensitive to ciprofloxacin; gentamicin; ampicillin; doxcycline and ceftriaxone. Therefore; this study finding calls for a need to review the current prescription and dispensing practices of antimicrobial agents in both hospitals and pharmacies respectively. Furthermore; it is recommended that a nationwide study on antimicrobial susceptibility pattern should be conducted in order to come up with national policy on rational use of antibiotics

Microbial Quality of Drinking Water in Dar Es Salaam and Use of Waterguard as Disinfectant

Water borne diseases are alarmingly high in urban areas like Dar es Salaam. Hence the importance of chlorine-based water disinfectant solutions such as Waterguard that consists of 0.75sodium hypochlorite. Waterguard has been in the market in Dar es Salaam for about 4 years. Despite this; prevalence of waterborne diseases like cholera; dysentery and typhoid are still high. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Waterguard in disinfecting drinking water; and determine the level of fecal coliform contamination of water from four sources viz. taps; streams; shallow wells and deep wells located within Dar es Salaam city. The investigation on the efficacy of the agent was carried out in water samples collected in the city during a 4-month period.Sixty-four water samples were randomly collected and analyzed by the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique based on coliform counts for both untreated and treated water samples. Negative (distilled water) and positive (distilled water contaminated with feces)controls were also included. Results show that three out of the four water sources were heavily contaminated with the exception of deep wells. But appropriate use of Waterguard reduces the level of microbial contamination significantly. In this study the assayed Waterguard was found to be 100efficacious in treating the samples to a level within the WHO safety standards; hence is fit for disinfecting water for human use