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Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that leads to a variety of complications, including stroke. The use of hydroxyurea (HU) is reported to lessen the frequency and burden of stroke in SCD patients. However, less is known about the prevalence of stroke in SCD patients pre- and during the use of HU in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Therefore, the study assessed stroke prevalence before and during uses of hydroxyurea among SCD patients in Tanzania. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the sickle cell clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from April 2023 to May 2023. A total of 228 participants were recruited, and data on demographic and clinical characteristics, HU use, and history of stroke were collected using a checklist from the respective patients’ medical records and verbal communication with the patients or caregivers. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 25, and findings are summarized using frequency and percentages. Out of 228 enrolled SCD patients, 124 (54.4%) were females, 109 (47.8%) were aged between 6 and 12 years, 226 (99.1%) were not married, 181 (79.4%) had primary education, and 209 (95%) were unemployed. The prevalence of stroke pre-HU use was 28 (12.3%) and 6 (2.6%) after starting using HU. Out of 6 with stroke after starting using HU, 3 (50%) had a history of stroke pre-HU uses. The study showed that the prevalence of stroke among SCD patients is significantly reduced after HU use. The findings suggest the need for stakeholders to implement measures to ensure eligible SCD patients are kept on HU.

Background: People living with HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are reported to experience challenges in accessing affordable and high-quality NCD care services. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends care integration of NCDs within the HIV services in resource-limited regions. The available opportunities and challenges need to be understood and addressed for an effective integration process. This study explored opportunities and challenges for integrating NCDs within HIV care and treatment services in Tanzania., Methods: An exploratory qualitative case study was conducted in Tanzania between April and July 2022. A total of 22 key informants working at the ministerial level, supervising the provision of healthcare services in Tanzania, were recruited purposefully for in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was employed during the study., Results: Several opportunities were identified in the study for HIV/NCD services integration including the existence of an integration policy, the availability of regulations and guidelines, the existence of donor support, the presence of physical space and reliable information and communication systems, human resources adequacy, and political will to support the process. However, participants voiced concerns over the costs related to service integration, difficulties in reallocating donor funds, and hesitance of the healthcare providers as likely challenges to effective integration., Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore that the effective and sustainable care integration of NCDs within HIV services relies on the availability of policy, funds, infrastructures, human resources, and stakeholders' willingness to support the process.

The East African Society of Physiological Sciences (EASPS) identified many problems associated with the practice and impact of physiology training and graduates within the region. The EASPS, in conjunction with the African Association of Physiological Sciences (AAPS), resolved to tackle those identified problems in the region by organizing a regional conference in Tanzania between November 29, 2023, and December 1, 2023. The conference was successful with remarkable achievements, including production of Physiology Curriculum for African Universities (PhysioCAFUN); launching of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) African Physiology Mentoring Program; educational workshops on physiology teaching and skills acquisition; plenary sessions on various inspiring scientific topics for advancement of research capacities and current trends in physiological sciences; presentation of abstracts by authors and publishing of the abstracts as edited conference proceedings in the Journal of African Association of Physiological Sciences ; presentation of awards to the top 10 abstracts and 7 other key Local Organizing Committee members and partners; first annual general meeting of the EASPS members; networking of participants within and beyond Africa; and recognition of the formation processes of national physiological societies in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The joint East African Society of Physiological Sciences (EASPS)-African Association of Physiological Sciences (AAPS) conference in Tanzania was a successful event where we launched the Physiology Curriculum for African Universities (PhysioCAFUN) and the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Physiology Mentoring Program in Africa. We also organized educational workshops on physiology functional tests that equipped participants with practical skills. Authors presented their peer-reviewed abstracts, which have now been published in the Journal of African Association of Physiological Sciences . Participants attended from 24 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and United States.

Background: Jaundice is common among neonates and if untreated can lead to kernicterus. Diagnosing neonatal jaundice (NJ) using Kramer's method (visual assessment) is considered user-friendly in resource-limited areas. However, there are conflicting findings on reliability of the Kramer's method in the diagnosis of NJ, particularly of black descent. Therefore, study aimed to determine the accuracy of Kramer's method in comparison to the total serum bilirubin (TSB) test in the diagnosis of NJ among neonates of black descent in Tanzania., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2020 at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. A total of 315 neonates were recruited consecutively. In each neonate, jaundice was assessed using Kramer's method and TSB test. NJ A total of 315 neonates were recruited i. A 2 X 2 table was created for the determination of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive and negative likelihood ratios (+LR/-LR), and diagnostic accuracy (effectiveness) of Kramer's method. Cohen kappa (κ) was used to analyze the agreement between Kramer's method and TSB. Association between independent variables and presence of jaundice were assessed using the chi-square test and the p < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant., Results: The prevalence of NJ was 49.8% by Kramer's method and 63.5% by TSB. The Sensitivity, Specificity, PPV, and NPV of Kramer's method were 70.5, 86.1, 89.8, and 62.6%, respectively. The +LR and -LR were 5.07 and 0.34, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of Kramer's method was 76.1%. There was a moderate agreement between Kramer's method and TSB results (κ = 0.524, P<0.001). No significant relationship was observed between the independent variables and the presence of NJ., Conclusion: Kramer has a good positive predictive value. However, due to low sensitivity and NPV one cannot say that overall predictive ability is good. Also, clinical assessment by Kramer's method should not be used for screening of NJ. Further studies are needed to investigate the utility of other non-invasive techniques in detecting NJ among neonates of black descent., (© 2021. The Author(s).)