Capacity of Healthcare Facilities in the Implementation of Direct Observed Treatment Strategy for Tuberculosis in Arumeru and Karatu Districts; Tanzania

Directly Observed Treatment Short course strategy (DOTS) has proved to have potential improvement in tuberculosis (TB) control in Tanzania. The objective of this cross sectional study was to assess the capacity of health facilities in implementing DOTS; in Arumeru and Karatu districts; Tanzania. Information sought included the capacity to offer TB service and availability of quali?ed staff and equipment for TB diagnosis. Information on availability and utilization of TB registers and treatment outcome for the year 2004 were also collected. A total of 111 health facilities were surveyed; 86 (77.5) in Arumeru and 25 (22.5) in Karatu. Only 23.4(26/111) facilities were offering TB treatment services in the two districts. Majority 17/26 (65.38) of them were government owned. Thirty eight (44.7) facilities were offering TB laboratory services. All facilities with TB services (TB laboratory investigation and treatment) had TB registers. Seventy two (85.0) of health facilities which do not provide any TB services had qualifed clinical offcers and at least a microscopy. Of the 339 cases notified in Arumeru in 2004; 187 (60.7) had treatment outcome available; 124 (66.3) were cured and 55 (29.4) completed treatment. In Karatu 638 cases were noti?ed in 2004; 305 (47.8) had treatment outcome available; 68 (22.3) cured and 165 (54.1) completed treatment. In conclusion; the overall capacity for implementing DOTS among the facilities surveyed is found only in about 20and 30for clinical and laboratory components of DOTS; respectively. The capacity to provide TB diagnosis and treatment in Karatu district was relatively lower than Arumeru. It is important that capacity of the facilities is strengthened concurrently with the planned introduction of community-based DOTS in Tanzania

Community knowledge and information communication gaps on HIV/AIDS in Iringa Municipality; Tanzania

This study was carried out to determine community knowledge and information communication gaps on HIV/AIDS in Iringa Municipality; Tanzania. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from both the community and health workers. Results showed that eighty-one percent of the respondents were knowledgeable of at least one mode of HIV/AIDS transmission. Sexual intercourse; sharing of sharp instruments; blood transfusion and mother to child transmission were known to be the most common ways on how HIV is transmitted. The community knowledge on the symptoms of AIDS was poor. The main sources of information on HIV/AIDS were health facilities; radio; televisions; religious leaders and relatives. The information covered in most of the health education programmes included prevention; treatment and care for AIDS patients. The understanding of HIV/AIDS messages was found to vary significantly between respondents with different levels of education and marital status. It was higher among those with at least a primary school education than in those without education. Singles and individuals with primary or post-primary education sought more new information than those who had no education at all. Among the respondents; 59.7reported to have difficulties in adopting and utilising HIV/AIDS educational messages. Singles had a better understanding of information provided than married respondents. However; the former had more difficulties in adopting and utilising health education information. Poor utilisation of the HIV/AIDS messages was attributed to culture; poverty; and illiteracy. The majority of the respondents; 370 (92.8) reported to often carry out discussions with their family members (including children) on HIV/AIDS. It is concluded that health education should identify community needs and address economic and socio-cultural barriers to facilitate education utilisation and behaviouralchanges required in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Tanzania