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Digital Technologies to Enhance Infectious Disease Surveillance in Tanzania: A Scoping Review
Get PDFA research article was submitted by Healthcare 2023, volume 11(4)Mobile phones and computer-based applications can speed up disease outbreak detection and control. Hence, it is not surprising that stakeholders in the health sector are becoming more interested in funding these technologies in Tanzania, Africa, where outbreaks occur frequently. The objective of this situational review is, therefore, to summarize available literature on the application of mobile phones and computer-based technologies for infectious disease surveillance in Tanzania and to inform on existing gaps. Four databases were searched—Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), PubMed, and Scopus—yielding a total of 145 publications. In addition, 26 publications were obtained from the Google search engine. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were met by 35 papers: they described mobile phone-based and computer-based systems designed for infectious disease surveillance in Tanzania, were published in English between 2012 and 2022, and had full texts that could be read online. The publications discussed 13 technologies, of which 8 were for community-based surveillance, 2 were for facility-based surveillance, and 3 combined both forms of surveillance. Most of them were
designed for reporting purposes and lacked interoperability features. While undoubtedly useful, the stand-alone character limits their impact on public health surveillanc
Ethnobotany and antibacterial effects of golden berry (physalis peruviana l.) on Salmonella typhi in Mbeya rural district, Tanzania
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master’s in Health and Biomedical Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and TechnologyMedicinal plants have been used worldwide in managing human and animal diseases. However,
their use and community-based formulation methods in many places, including Mbeya Rural
District in Tanzania, are rarely described or documented. This study assessed the ethnobotany
and antibacterial effects of Physalis peruviana in managing typhoid fever infections in Mbeya
Rural District. The research was conducted on five villages;108 key informants, including 93
household members and 15 traditional healers, were involved in the study. The agar diffusion
method evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous leaf extract of Physalis
peruviana. LC-MS/MS was used to identify the phytochemical compounds in the Physalis
peruviana leaf. Findings from this study indicate that all informants (100%) know the Physalis
peruviana leaves as a medicine for treating typhoid fever. Boiling and soaking of leaves showed
efficacy against the antibacterial activity of Salmonella typhi. The inhibitory activities of
soaking were 15.16 mm and 14.33 mm for dry and fresh leaf extracts respectively, while that
of boiled leaves was 3.66 mm. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of eight
compounds namely; quinaldic acid, 6-O-malonylglycitin, 4-hydroxyd-2,3,4,6-
tetramethoxychalcone,9,10-anthracenedione,1,4-diamino 5nitro, jatrorrhizine cation, 7-
hydroxycoumarin-3- carboxylic acid, isovitexin, and nicergoline. Out of these eight
compounds, four were identified to have antibacterial activity. This research adds to our
knowledge of the antibacterial effects of Physalis peruviana leaf. In addition, it provides further
studies on the isolation of compounds that can be used to develop useful antibiotics against
Salmonella typhi
Assessing the accessibility, conservation and production of fodder for livestock for the agro pastoral societies in Magu district, Tanzania.
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyThe access to adequate and high-quality livestock fodder has become a great challenge which
in turn threatens the sustainability of the agro pastoral societies in Magu district. This study
was done to assess the accessibility, conservation and production for the agro-pastoral
societies in Magu district, Tanzania. Systematic random sampling technique was used to
select the sample plots allocation and the households for interview in the study area. The
findings revealed that there are no significant differences in diversity and relative species
abundance between the highland and lowland agro-ecological zones (p = 0.009 and z = 45.5).
However, the results show significant differences in the diversity of fodder species between
the highland and lowland zones. Household survey was done to assess the accessibility,
conservation and production of livestock fodder. The results reveal that, seasonal variation
(dry and wet) shaped the accessibility of fodder within the agro-pastoral households.
Households land size, number of livestock, and physical capital indicated a positive influence
(p = 0.009, p = 0.083, p = 0.002 respectively) on the accessibility of fodder in the wet seasons
while, households’ land size, physical capital and the number of livestock (p = 0.000; p =
0.027; p = 0.075 respectively) indicated the negative influence during the dry season.
Households’ head level of education and income (p = 0.035; p = 0.087) show a greater
influence on the conservation of rangelands and fodder sources. Results also show that the
need for livestock feed and the need to protect the environment both motivate agro pastoralists to invest in fodder production however, poor assets households were more
interested in livestock feed than their counterparts. Therefore, this study suggests the need to
improve the community livelihood by enhancing households’ socioeconomic development
through extension services regarding fodder and livestock productio
Enhanced safety and automated wheelchair for patients with mobility disability: a case study of mount Meru referral hospital, Arusha, Tnzania
Get PDFA Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Embedded and Mobile Systems of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyPhysical disability remains a challenging problem in Tanzania. The number of people with
physical disabilities is increasing every day for a variety of reasons. A wheelchair is one of
the devices that assists these people in their daily lives. Various wheelchair designs have been
developed, but the prevailing issue is that the existing systems continue to fall short of
meeting the needs of the users. There is a great need for a design that can meet some of these
people's needs, with safety as a top priority. To address these issues, the study intends to
develop an enhanced safety and automated wheelchair for patients with mobility disabilities.
The proposed system was a solar-powered wheelchair with some unique safety features for
wheelchair users. The wheelchair was built with a joystick for mobility, an MQ-2, a Global
System of Mobile communication (GSM), a Global Positioning System (GPS), an Ultrasonic
sensor, a buzzer, a pushbutton, a solar panel, a lead-acid battery, and an Atmega 328P
processor. Based on some of the previously mentioned important components, the system
was able to detect fire once by making a sound via the buzzer, and family members were able
to obtain any message if the wheelchair user was in danger simply by pressing the push
button. Furthermore, the system was capable of tracking location based on wheelchair user
consent and detecting obstacles within a 10cm range. The newly built prototype has a quick
response time while maneuvering around with the joystick, and solar power can last for less
than 3 hour
Lablab purpureus: Evaluation and Selection of Drought-tolerant - High-yielding Accessions in Dry Farming Systems Based on Drought Tolerance Indices and Multi- environmental Yield Trials
Get PDFThis research article was published in Journal of Agricultural Sciences, volume 29, issue 2, 2023.Breeding for drought tolerance in crops requires responding knowledge on the moisture regimes of crops. This study was conducted to evaluate and select the drought tolerant - high yield Lablab accessions in the dry farming systems of Tanzania based on drought tolerance indices and field performance. Three sites from different agro-ecological conditions were selected for the study and each site involved trials with moisture stress-free (MSF) and early terminal moisture stress (TMS) conditions. The experimental design consisted of a randomized complete block design. The twelve accessions used in the study were the best genotypes selected from the former moisture screening experiment at the seedling stage. Data collections included days to 50% flowering and maturity, seed yield plant-1 and seed yield ha-1. The responses of the accessions to TMS conditions were quantified through ten developed indices whose correlation coefficients were computed from the mean of the seed yield plant-1 under MSF and TMS conditions. ANOVA and post-hoc tests were used to analyze the variation among the accessions and their field parameters as well as to compare their means, respectively. Based on this analysis, three indices; mean productivity, geometric mean productivity, and stress tolerance index were discovered with higher correlation coefficients (>0.5), and thus effective for selecting the TMS tolerant accessions with high seed yield plant-1 under both conditions. Through the combined rank mean method, D147, D363, HA4, D349, D352, D348, and D359 were generally selected as Lablab TMS tolerant accessions with high seed yield plant-1 across the evaluation sites. Although the significant difference (p<0.05) in field performance was noted among the accessions and across the sites, promising trends were found among the above selected TMS tolerant accessions. It is therefore suggested that, further evaluation of the above-selected accessions should involve farmers in their fields before releasing them as commercial varieties
Physical Methods for Reduction of Aflatoxins Exposure in Groundnuts in Some Low-Income Countries: A Review
Get PDFThis research article was published in the Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Vol. 11, No. (2), 2023Aflatoxin (AF) is a powerful carcinogen primarily produced by some strains
of the fungus Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which frequently
infest nuts and cereal crops. Groundnuts are among the most widely studied
substrates of Aspergillus spp., growth and AF contamination. Aflatoxin
contamination is a significant public health concern since chronic exposure is
linked to causing carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, hepatotoxicity, estrogenicity,
neurotoxicity, childhood growth impairment, and immunotoxicity in humans
and animals. Acute exposure to AF contamination is associated with fatal
aflatoxicosis due to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and convulsions.
Good agricultural practices, control of plant diseases, and favourable
storage conditions can limit AF contamination yet do not guarantee complete
elimination. Looking for an effective technique to reduce AF to an acceptable
regulatory limit has been a great subject among researchers. Physical
methods like manual visual sorting, screening, density, roasting, dehulling,
winnowing, and decortication can reduce AF contamination while maintaining
the quality of the kernel and render the kernels harmless to humans and
animals compared to AF degradation by chemicals. Therefore, the present
review article found that physical removal/visual sorting efficiently lowered
the mean AF content commonly used in low-income countries. We briefly
enumerated the effectiveness of various common physical methods in
reducing post-harvest AF contamination in groundnuts, particularly their
percentage AF reduction and outsort/loss, sufficient AF reduction evidence,
feasibility, and scalability. We also highlighted the merits and demerits
of these methods and essential information that could be helpful for further
investigatio
Mathematical model to study the impact of anthropogenic activities on forest biomass and forest-dependent wildlife population
Get PDFA research article was submitted to International Journal of Dynamics and Control (2023)This paper proposes and analyses a nonlinear mathematical model to study the impact of anthropogenic activities on forest biomass and forest-dependent wildlife populations using a system of differential equations. It is assumed that the growth of forest biomass, forest-dependent wildlife populations, and the human population follow logistic equations. The effect of forest biomass depletion on the survival of forest-dependent wildlife populations is investigated by introducing a function that denotes the dependence on forest biomass. The system’s behaviour near all ecologically acceptable equilibria is studied, and to confirm the analytical conclusions, a numerical simulation is performed. The model analysis shows that as forest biomass declines due to an increase in human population and its associated activities, the population of wildlife species also declines, and if no measures are taken, both forest biomass and the wildlife population may become extinct
Occurrence of aflatoxins and associated risk factors in dairy value chain in selected districts of three agro-ecological zones in Tanzania
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyAflatoxins are natural compounds produced by specific type of fungi, which contaminate foods
and animal feeds. This study assessed the occurrence of aflatoxins and associated risk factors
in livestock feeds and raw cow milk through a survey of the smallholder dairy farmers (SDFs)
and agrovet dealers from Mpwapwa, Serengeti, and Hai districts which represent three
agroecological zones (Semi-arid, Arid and Northern Highlands) in Tanzania. The findings
showed that the level aflatoxin awareness among SDFs (23.2%) and agrovet dealers (50%),
respectively. The prevalence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in livestock feeds from agrovet dealers,
and SDFs was 88.5 and 86.2%, with a concentration ranging from a limit of detection (LOD)
to 22.99 and 32.9 µg/kg, respectively. About 15% and 22% of feed samples from agrovet
dealers and SDFs respectively were detected with AFB1 at levels exceeding their respective
regulatory limits. The prevalence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in cow raw milk was 30.7%, and
about 27.9% exceeding the European Union (EU) maximum regulatory limits of 0.05 µg/L and
about 19.9% exceeding the Tanzania and East Africa maximum regulatory limits of 0.5 µg/L.
The risk factors associated with AFB1 and AFM1 were cattle feeding systems: zero-grazing
(Odds Ratio (OR) = 11.3) and mixed feeding (OR = 16.0); feed handling and storage practices:
(OR=2.0). Others are agroecological zones: semi-arid zone (OR=15.2) and northern highland
zone (OR=2.1) and level of education: primary (OR =16.0) and secondary (OR = 8.0) (p <0.05).
This study has revealed low level of awareness on aflatoxin contamination in animal feeds and
cow raw milk suggesting a potential health risk to consumers. It is therefore vital to raise
awareness and strengthen other intervention for aflatoxin control in order to control aflatoxin
contamination along the dairy value chain
Physicochemical and microbiological characterization and of hospital wastewater in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published in the Journal Total Environment Research Themes Volume 5-8, 2023Given the complex composition of hospital wastewater and the high risk of initiating disease outbreaks, comprehensive monitoring and treatment of hospital wastewater are required to prevent social and environmental consequences. This study investigated the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of wastewater from the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma Tanzania. The wastewater from this hospital is treated in a horizontal flow Constructed Wetland (CW) planted with Typha latifolia before being discharged into the environments. Wastewater samples were collected at the CW inlet and outlet from 02nd May 2022 to 25th July 2022. The results shows that the effluent discharged had pH 7.48 ± 0.63, electrical conductivity 2441 ± 623 µS/cm, Total dissolved solids 1305.5 ± 396 mg/L, Total suspended solids 49.17 ± 53.11 mg/L, Turbidity 9.1 ± 14.83 NTU, COD 170.4 ± 40.6 mg/L, BOD5 74.8 ± 33.5 mg/L, NO3-N 45.4 ± 39.97 mg/L and PO4-P 4.52 ± 2.30 mg/L. The CW removed TSS by 82% and turbidity 94%. COD, BOD and NO3-N were removed by 48%, 47% and 58% respectively. E. coli concentration in effluent samples ranged from 1.1 × 101 CFU/mL to 1.1 × 102 CFU/mL with an average of 1.77logCFU/mL. Average BOD5/COD ratio was 0.5 and 0.4 for influent and effluent respectively. The effluent contained higher levels of EC, TDS, and PO4-P than the influent. According to the findings of this study, most of the parameters of wastewater effluent discharged wasn't within the effluent discharge standards
Modelling elephant corridors over two decades reveals opportunities for conserving connectivity across a large protected area network
Get PDFA research article was published by PLOS ONE October 13, 2023Protected area (PA) connectivity is pivotal for the persistence of wide-ranging wildlife species, but is challenged by habitat loss and fragmentation. We analyzed habitat suitability and connectivity for the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) across PAs in south-western Tanzania in 2000, 2010, and 2019. We quantified land-use changes through remote sensing data; estimated habitat suitability through aerial survey data, remotely sensed variables and ensemble species distribution models; modelled least-cost corridors; identified the relative importance of each corridor for the connectivity of the PA network and potential bottlenecks
over time through circuit theory; and validated corridors through local ecological knowledge and ground wildlife surveys. From 2000 to 2019, cropland increased from 7% to 13% in the region, with an average expansion of 634 km2 per year. Distance from cropland influenced elephant distribution models the most. Despite cropland expansion, the locations of the modelled elephant corridors (n = 10) remained similar throughout the survey period. Based on local ecological knowledge, nine of the modelled corridors were active, whereas one modelled corridor had been inactive since the 1970s. Based on circuit theory, we prioritize
three corridors for PA connectivity. Key indicators of corridor quality varied over time, whereas elephant movement through some corridors appears to have become costlier over time. Our results suggest that, over the past two decades, functional connectivity across the surveyed landscape has largely persisted. Beyond providing crucial information for spatial prioritization of conservation actions, our approach highlights the importance of modeling functional connectivity over time and verifying corridor models with ground-truthed dat