Community Knowledge; Attitudes and Practices Related to Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever in Dodoma Rural District; Central Tanzania

Tick-borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) is a vector-borne disease of humans which causes serious illness; primarily for children under five years old and pregnant women. Understanding people's knowledge; attitude and practices on the disease is important in designing appropriate interventions. This study was conducted to explore community knowledge; attitudes and practices regarding TBRF transmission and control to provide baseline data for the planned scaling up of intervention in Dodoma rural District in central Tanzania. A total of 198 heads of households were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Of these; 94.5were aware of TBRF. Fever of unknown origin (69.5); body pain (8.5); headache (8.5); chills (4.5) and vomiting (3.5) were the most commonly mentioned symptoms. The domestic tick-infestation and tickbites was known to 82.8. High domestic tick infestation reported to occur during dry season (85.4). The majority believed that the disease spreads through tick-bites (85.9). Regular plastering of house floors and walls was the most common method used by the community to control domestic tick infestation (96.5). Majority (84.3) of the respondents preferred public healthcare facilities for treatment. Only a small proportion (15.7) preferred using traditional medicines. Poor knowledge of the study subjects about the disease and its control underscores the need for health educational campaigns if any control and/or elimination programme is to succeed

Knowledge and health information communication in Tanzania

Objective: To explore and identify gaps in knowledge and information communication at all levels of health delivery system in Tanzania. Methods: In-depth interviews and twelve Focus Group Discussions were conducted to capture information on the community knowledge on different health problems and the health information communication process. Interviews and discussions were also held with primary schoolchildren; traditional healers; health facility workers and district health management team members. Documentary review and inventory of the available health education materials at community; health facility and district levels; was made. Results: Major community health and health-related problems included diseases (61.6); lack of potable water (36.5); frequent famine (26.9) and lack of health facility services (25.3). Malaria; HIV/AIDS and diarrhoeal diseases were the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Most of the health communication packages covered communicable diseases and their prevention. Health care facility was the main (91.6) source of health information for most communities. Public meetings; radio and print materials were the most frequently used channels of health information communication. Major constraints in adopting health education messages included poverty; inappropriate health education; ignorance and local beliefs.Conclusion: This study has identified gaps in health knowledge and information communication in Tanzania. There is lack of adequate knowledge and information exchange capacities among the health providers and the ability to share that information with the targeted community. Moreover; although the information gets to the community; most of them are not able to utilize it properly because they lack the necessary background knowledge