Knowledge; Attitudes; and Practices about Malaria and its Control in Rural Northwest Tanzania

Background. We assessed community knowledge; attitudes; and practices on malaria as well as acceptability to indoor residual spraying. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional survey was done in a community in Geita district (northwest Tanzania). Household heads (n=366) were interviewed Results. Knowledge on malaria transmission; prevention; and treatment was reasonable; 56of respondents associated the disease with mosquito bites; with a significant difference between education level and knowledge on transmission (P.001). Knowledge of mosquito breeding areas was also associated with education (illiterate: 22; literate: 59(P.001). Bed nets were used by 236 (64.5); and usage was significantly associated with education level (P.01). The level of bed net ownership was 77.3. Most respondents (86.3) agreed with indoor residual spraying of insecticides. Health facilities were the first option for malaria treatment by 47.3. Artemether-lumefantrine was the most common antimalarial therapy used. Conclusions. Despite reasonable knowledge on malaria and its preventive measures; there is a need to improve availability of information through proper community channels. Special attention should be given to illiterate community members. High acceptance of indoor residual spraying and high level of bed net ownership should be taken as an advantage to improve malaria control

Schistosomal peritonitis secondary to perforated appendicitis

In Tanzania, Schistosoma mansoni is endemic and causes intestinal schistosomiasis which affects various internal organs. However, worldwide there have been very few reports of cases of peritonitis due to schistosomal appendicitis. Here we report a rare case of schistosomal appendicitis with peritonitis in a 33 year-old male patient who recovered quickly after surgery.