Background: It is estimated that 1 million babies die each year due to birth asphyxia. Globally, it is approximated that 10 million babies cannot do it by themselves and need assistance. Helping babies breathe is a key component in reducing neonatal mortality due to birth asphyxia. Methods:A cross-sectional design was used, A total of 330 respondents included in the study.Simple random sampling by lottery was used to select the 2 regions and health facilities. The participants were selected through convenient. Data were collected using standard semistructured questionnaire. Chi-square and Binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data.Results: Out of 330 participants, Those who working in hospital and were more likely to have adequate knowledge (AOR= 3.227, P< 0.001) and practice (AOR= 43.807, P<0.001) than those working in Health Centers; Enlored nurses were more likely to have adequate knowledge (AOR= 3.118,P<0.05) than AMO/MD;Those with 1 year and above of experience in labor ward were more likely to have adequate practice(AOR=15.418,P<0.001) than those with less than 1 year of experience in labor ward; those who attended once on neonatal resuscitation training were adequate knowledge (AOR=1.778,P<0.05) than those who had never attended.Those with Enough equipment of neonatal resuscitation had adequate practice (AOR=4.355, P<0.001) than with no enough equipment. Conclusion:Regarding the findings of the current study, it was revealed that working facility, Professional/ qualification, and training was significant predictor of knowledge while working facility, experience, and equipment was significant predictor of practice. There is a need to find effective measures on how to reduce those factors which affect knowledge and practice on helping babies breathe.

Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of modes of delivery and associated maternal and newborn outcomes among singleton primigravidae in the Iringa region of Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional, analytical hospital-based study was conducted in the Iringa region among 356 singleton primigravidae between April and August 2018. Convenience sampling and consecutive collection of data using a face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire was done. Results A total of 356 singleton primigravid women with a mean age of 22.0 years (range: 15–49) participated in the study. The majority of the participants (73.0%, n = 250) were in the 20–35 age group. Caesarean and vaginal delivery were performed in 41.3% (n = 147) and 58.7% (n = 209) of the cases, respectively. The maternal height and weight of the newborn were significantly associated with caesarean delivery; ( p = 0.001) and ( p = 0.029), respectively. After adjusting for all variables, birth asphyxia (AOR = 3.25, 95% CI: 1.867–5.646, p = 0.000) and low birth weight (AOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.003–0.211, p = 0.001) were associated with caesarean delivery. Conclusions The findings of our study indicated the prevalence of caesarean section to be three times more than that recommended by the World Health Organization. Pregnant women with a height of less than 150 cm should be considered for caesarean section. Therefore, it is necessary for stakeholders in the health sector to formulate guidelines for absolute indications for caesarean section.

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the global public health problem which has been associated with increasing prevalence of modifiable CVDs risk factors. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and knowledge of modifiable CVDs risk factors among vulnerable population of Central Tanzania. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 749 participants were interviewed. The socio-demographic information and modifiable CVDs risk factors (behavioral and biological) were measured using a modified World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach for chronic disease risk factor surveillance. Knowledge of modifiable CVDs risk factors was measured by comprehensive heart disease knowledge questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the knowledge and prevalence of modifiable CVDs risk factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with adequate knowledge of CVDs risk factors. Results The prevalence of béhavioral risk factors were; current smokers and alcohol consumers were 4.4% and 18.0% respectively, use of raw salt was 43.7%, consumption of fruit/vegetables < 5 days per week was 56.9%. The prevalence of Biological CVDs risk factors was as follows: Overall, 63.5% (33.3% overweight and 29.9% obese) were overweight or obese, 4.5% were diabetic and 43.4% were hypertensive. Only 35.4% of participants had adequate knowledge of CVDs risk factors. Being a male (AOR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.01–2.06, p < .05), having primary education (AOR = 6.43, 95%CI = 2.39–17.36, p < .0001), being employed (AOR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.00-2.52, p < .05), ever checked blood pressure (AOR = 0.59, 95%CI = 0.42–0.84, p < .001), family history of hypertension (AOR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.25–0.57, p < .0001) determined adequate knowledge of CVDs risk factors. Conclusions This study has revealed a high prevalence of modifiable CVDs risk factors and low knowledge of CVDs risk factors. Community health promotion interventions to increase population knowledge of CVDs risk factors are recommended for the efficacious reduction of CVDs in the country.

Up to April 24th 2020, the Government of Tanzania announced 284 cases of COVID-19, among them 7 were in intensive care, 37 recoveries, 10 deaths and the rest in stable condition while Dar es Salaam region was leading in number of infected cases followed by Mwanza, Arusha and Dodoma regions. This study was conducted to evaluate level of COVID-19 knowledge among healthcare workers in selected regions of Tanzania in order to identify the existing gap of knowledge in combating COVID-19. This study applied a quantitative analytical cross-sectional survey design in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Dodoma regions of Tanzania from 24th of August till 3rd October, 2022. A total of 596 healthcare workers from 40 healthcare facilities were involved. Frequencies and percentages were analyzed for categorical variables. Association between categorical variables were analyzed by using Chi-square and variables were significant at P-value < 0.05. This study found that, healthcare workers have an average of 79.4% correct answers with overall level of knowledge at 70%, 24% and 6% of healthcare workers holding good, moderate and low levels of knowledge respectively. Multinomial logistic regression showed significant associations with service experience of 1-5 years (OR = 0.093, 95% CI, 0.011-0.759, P-value= 0.027) when good and poor knowledge compared. This study found moderate knowledge among healthcare workers. Significant association with level of knowledge reported in age, field profession, level of education, category of healthcare facility and situation of caring COVID-19 patients in facility.

Tanzania is experiencing the rise of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and associated risk factors including hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus. Health education and healthy lifestyle promotion is an effective approach toward primary prevention of the risk factors and can be achieved through community-based intervention. The objective of this protocol is to test the effectiveness of community-based lifestyle education intervention in reducing CVDs risk factors among vulnerable population in Dodoma City. This protocol is designed as a cluster-randomized controlled trial with a quantitative approach in which participants aged from 31 years will be assigned randomly to a control or intervention group. A total of 800 participants will be recruited in the study. The study will consist of six stages (baseline, first to fourth follow-up, and end-line surveys) in 6 months for both the intervention and the control group. The intervention will be implemented twice-monthly for the first 3 months, then monthly for the last 3 months. In each stage, participants from all groups will be measured for biological and behavioral CVDs risk factors. Health education and a healthy lifestyle promotion for prevention of CVDs risk factors will be provided to the intervention group only during each stage. The main outcome measures will be changes in body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, dietary habits, and physical exercise in the intervention compared with the control group. Independent and paired t-tests will be employed to make comparisons between and within groups. P-values of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

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