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Conventional records management systems are mostly used to support court operations and service delivery in Tanzania despite the substantial development of ICTs. The objectives of this study were to: examine types of e-records managed, explore staff perceptions of the usefulness of e-records management, and analyse factors limiting electronic records management in selected courts. A survey design comprising qualitative and quantitative research approaches was employed to meet these objectives. Standardised questionnaires, followed by semi-structured interviews and observation were used to collect data. The findings of the study suggest that e-records management is still in its infancy stage in the courts studied, since the majority of records are still managed using manual systems. The findings further inform that even though the adoption of e-records is ineffective, staff positively perceive the approach. According to the study, ineffectiveness of e-records management is a result of inadequate qualified staff and training on e-records management, shortage of technical staff to support the use of e-records management systems, inadequate funds, ineffective e-records management legal frameworks, and poor implementation strategies. As such, the study recommends diversification of funding sources, capacity building through training and retraining, formulation of e-records management policies and standards, and motivation of court staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the coverage of adult education (AE) in Tanzania's print media between 2016 and 2021, focusing on four newspapers: Mwananchi, Habari Leo, The Citizen, and Daily News. These newspapers were selected for their diverse contents and national reach. The study adopted a mixed-method approach, combining the Agenda Setting theory with content analysis to examine news, features, editorials, and opinion articles related to AE. Moreover, an explanatory research design was employed, which involved engaging 50 key informants. AE coverage was event-driven, with 60.3% being news articles and 39.7% consisting of features, editorials, and opinions. This coverage contributes to a limited public comprehension of AE, hindering its recognition as an essential part of the national agenda. This study recommends enhancing awareness, providing specialized training and creating pull-outs for AE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed a descriptive research method to investigate the provision of information services for visually impaired students (VIS) at the University of Dar es Salaam. The research conducted a comprehensive examination by employing a census sampling technique, targeting a population of 25 VIS. Qualitative methodologies were utilized to collect data, with thematic analysis serving as the means to categorize and describe the gathered information. The study's findings revealed that VIS have specific information needs, notably necessitating orientation programs for university management and the acquisition of effective computer application skills to manage their studies proficiently. Additionally, the study identified commonly used equipment among VIS, including Perkins braille devices, braille embossers, typewriters, long white canes, and audio recorders. Furthermore, the research exposed limitations in inclusive education, which fails to adequately accommodate the information-seeking requirements of VIS. Limited access to modern facilities and challenges related to mobility stemming from less supportive infrastructure were identified as significant barriers affecting the information-seeking process. Generally, the study emphasized that VIS primarily center their information needs around academic requirements. This highlights the imperative of modern facilities and supportive infrastructure to ensure effective information provision for VIS. These insights emphasize the critical importance of addressing the specific information requirements and challenges faced by visually impaired students within the higher education context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sought to assess the understanding of climate change among the Maasai community in Ngerengere Division, Morogoro Region, in Tanzania. A recent study that involved 70 participants in an embedded case study design revealed that the Maasai pastoralists and farmers understand the weather patterns and can cope well with climatic variability typical of semi-arid areas. This understanding helps individuals and social groups to access and process climate information to the level that raises their capability to adopt relevant mitigation measures. Presented narratives obtained through the triangulation of data indicate that the Maasai people have established coping strategies to help them reduce the impacts of climate change in their contexts. Captured strategies include: shifting from livestock to small-scale farming, cattle raiding, and increasing the number of livestock. The paper uncovers that the target community has developed indicators that help individuals and social groups to access climate change knowledge in their area, and adopt necessary and useful measures. Cited indicators include; prevalence of new types of diseases, change in patterns of human activities, extreme fluctuations of Ngerengere river volume, and shifting of the river flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B vaccination for healthcare workers (HCWs) is a key component of the WHO Hepatitis B Elimination Strategy 2016-2021. Data on current hepatitis B vaccine coverage among health care workers in Sub-Saharan Africa are scarce, but these data are vital for effective programming. We assessed the proportion of HCWs vaccinated for hepatitis B and the factors associated with adequate vaccination coverage at a national hospital in Tanzania.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among consenting healthcare workers between 30th July and 30th September 2015. Vaccination histories were obtained through self-administered questionnaires. Means and proportions were used to summarize the data. Student's t and chi-squared tests were used as appropriate. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with vaccination.Results: A total of 348 HCWs were interviewed, of whom 198 (56.9%) had received at least one dose of hepatitis B vaccination, while only 117 (33.6%) were fully vaccinated. About half of the 81 HCWs with partial vaccination (49.4%) had missed their subsequent vaccination appointments. Among unvaccinated HCWs, 14 (9.3%) had either HBV infection or antibodies against HBV infection upon pre-vaccination screening. However, the remaining participants were not vaccinated and did not know their immune status against HBV. Nearly all respondents (347, 99.3%) had heard about the hepatitis B viral vaccine. The following reasons for non-vaccination were given: 98 (65.3%) reported that they had not been offered the vaccine; 70 (46.7%) observed standard precautions to ensure infection prevention and 60 (41.3%) blamed a low level of awareness regarding the availability of the hepatitis B vaccine.Conclusion: The current vaccination coverage among practicing healthcare workers at Muhimbili National Hospital is low, despite a high level of awareness and the acceptance of the vaccine. Expedited and concerted efforts to scale vaccine uptake should include improved access to the vaccine, especially for newly recruited HCWs. The extension of the study to private healthcare settings and lower-level facilities would be useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]