Browsing by Author "Fabian, Flora"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Effect of income generating activities on primary school pupils’ attendance and academic performance
    (Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, 2019) Nemes, Joyce; Mlaki, Enedy; Fabian, Flora
    The study examined the effect of Income Generating Activities (IGAs) on primary school pupils’ attendance and academic performance in Rombo district of Tanzania. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches to data collection and analysis, the study found that 132 (83%) of the pupil respondents were engaged in IGAs mainly in farming activities in the border area. They used the money to buy school uniforms and other school essentials. Excessive alcohol drinking among parents, especially fathers while neglecting their family responsibilities contributed to pupils’ engagement in IGAs. The study found that 26 (16.4%) of the pupils were engaged in IGAs during school hours and 32 (20.1%) during school days and weekends. Overall, there is a negative correlation between pupils’ engagement in IGA and their school attendance. Moreover, the study found that pupils engaged in IGAs had below average academic performance compared to their non-IGA counterparts. As such, the study recommends empowering women who are bread-earners of the family to reduce their dependence on their children’s engagement in IGA for support in addition to enacting by-law to punish irresponsible parents.
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    The effectiveness of community-based continuous training on promoting positive behaviors towards birth preparedness, male involvement, and maternal services utilization among expecting couples in Rukwa, Tanzania: a theory of planned behavior quasi-experimental study
    (Hindawi Limited, 2018) Moshi, Fabiola V.; Kibusi, Stephen M.; Fabian, Flora
    Rukwa Region has the highest maternal mortality ratio, 860 deaths per 100,000 live births in Tanzania. The region has neonatal mortality rate of 38 deaths per 1,000 live births. Previous interventions to promote maternal and neonatal health targeted access to maternal services by removing financial barriers and increasing the number of health facilities. However, maternal service utilization remains very low, especially facility delivery. The proposed intervention was sought to address deep-rooted behavioral beliefs, normative beliefs, control beliefs, and knowledge empowerment to determine their effect on improving birth preparedness, male involvement, and maternal services utilization. The study tested the effectiveness of a Community-Based Continuous Training (CBCT) intervention that was based upon the theory of planned behavior and was sought to promote positive behaviors. The study used a quasi-experimental design. The design consisted of pre- and postintervention assessments of two non equivalent groups. Two districts were selected conveniently using criteria of high home birth. A district to hold intervention was picked randomly. Study participants were expecting couples at gestation age of 24 weeks and below. After obtaining informed consents, participants were subjected to baseline assessment. Expecting couples in the intervention group had two training sessions and two encounter discussions. The three primary outcomes of the study were changes in the level of knowledge about birth preparedness, male involvement, and use of maternal services. Data were collected at preintervention, mid intervention, and postintervention. Policy Implications of the Results. The aim of this paper was to describe the study protocol of a quasi-experimental study design to test the effectiveness of an interventional program on promoting positive behaviors on birth preparedness, male involvement, and maternal services utilization among expecting couples. This study has a potential to address the challenge of low birth preparedness, male involvement, and use of maternal health services in Rukwa Region
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    Exploring factors influencing pregnant Women’s attitudes, perceived subjective norms and perceived behavior control towards male involvement in maternal services utilization: a baseline findings from a community based interventional study from Rukwa, rural Tanzania
    (BMC, 2020) Moshi, Fabiola V.; Kibusi, Stephen M.; Fabian, Flora
    Although male involvement enhances obstetric care-seeking behaviour, the practice of male involvement in developing countries remains unacceptably low. Male involvement in maternal services utilization can be influenced by the attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behaviour control of their female partners. Little is known about factors influencing pregnant women’s attitudes, perceived subjective norms, and perceived behaviour control towards male involvement in maternal services utilization. A baseline community-based cross-sectional study whose target was pregnant women were performed from 1st June until 30th October 2017. A three-stage probability sampling technique was employed to obtain a sample of 546 pregnant women. A structured questionnaire that hinged the Theory of Planned Behavior was used. The questionnaire explored three main determinants of male involvement, which were: attitudes towards male involvement, perceived subjective norms towards male involvement, and perceived behaviour control towards male involvement. After adjusting for the confounders, factors influencing positive attitude towards male involvement were age at marriage [19 to 24 yrs.,(AOR = 1.568 at 95% CI =1.044–2.353), more than 24 yrs. (AOR = 2.15 at 95% CI = 1.150–1.159)]; education status [primary school (AOR = 1.713 at 95% CI = 1.137–2.58)] and economic status [earning more than one dollar per day (AOR = 1.547 at 95% CI = 1.026–2.332)]. Factors influencing perceived subjective norms was only age at marriage [19 to 24 yrs., (AOR = 1.447 at 95% CI = 0.970–2.159), more than 24 years, (AOR = 2.331 at 95% CI = 1.261–4.308)]; factors influencing perceived behaviour control were age at marriage [more than 24 years (AOR = 2.331 at 95%CI = 1.261–4.308)], and the intention to be accompanied by their male partners (AOR = 1.827 at 95%CI = 1.171–2.849). The study revealed that women who were married at an older age were more likely to have a positive attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behaviour control towards male involvement in maternal services utilization than those who were married at a young age. Pregnant women who had primary education and earn more than a dollar per day were more likely to have positive attitudes towards male involvement than poor and uneducated pregnant women. The study recommends an interventional study to evaluate the influence of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behaviour control on male involvement in maternal services utilization.
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    Knowledge on birth preparedness and complication readiness among expecting couples in rural Tanzania: differences by sex cross-sectional study
    (PLOS, 2018) Moshi, Fabiola V.; Kibusi, Stephen M.; Ernest, Alex; Fabian, Flora
    Inadequate knowledge of birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) among expecting couples delays timely access to maternal emergency services. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge on birth preparedness and complication readiness and how men and women differ" among expecting couples in a rural setting of Rukwa Region, Tanzania.A community-based cross-sectional study targeting pregnant women and their partners was performed from June 2017 to October 2017. A total of 546 couples were sampled using three-stage probability sampling techniques and then interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The mean score difference was sought using independent t-test. Multiple linear regressions were performed to determine the predictors of knowledge.There was a significant difference in mean knowledge scores between pregnant women (M = 5.58, SD = 4.591) and male partners (M = 4.37, SD = 4.285); t (1085) = -4.525; p<0.001. Among women, BPCR levels were positively influenced by age (β = 0.236; p<0.01), having ever heard about birth preparedness (β = 0.176;p<0.001), being of Mambwe ethnicity (β = 0.187; p<0.001), living near a health center rather than a dispensary (β = 0.101;p<0.05) and having had a prior preterm delivery (β = 0.086;p<0.05). Access to media through radio ownership negatively influenced BPCR levels among both women (β-.119; p<0.01) and men (β = -0.168; p<0.0001). Among men, the BPCR knowledge was only positively influenced by having ever heard about birth preparedness (β = 0.169;p<0.001), age at marriage (β = -0.103; p<0.05), and having completed either primary (β = 0.157;p<0.001) or secondary education (β = 0.131;p<0.01).Some important predictors of knowledge were revealed among women and men, but overall knowledge about birth preparedness and complication readiness was low. This study demonstrates inadequate knowledge and understanding at the community level about key elements of birth preparedness and complication readiness. In order to improve access to life-saving care for women and neonates, there is a pressing need for innovative community strategies to increase knowledge about birth preparedness and complication readiness. Such strategies are essential in order to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality in rural Tanzania.
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    Leveraging intelligent decision support system to promote inclusive remote teaching and learning in institutions of higher education in East Africa: Prototype development
    (Elsevier, 2023) Muchungi, Kendi; Mukami, Victoria; Mongi, Hector; Fabian, Flora; Ombui, Edward; Kiguru, Mary; Tandika, Pambas; Moshi, Fabiola; Ombeni, Joram
    The need for an intelligent system to support the decision-making process on remote teaching and learning during pandemics was realized during Covid-19. It was learned that during the pandemic most higher learning institutions could not respond as rapidly as the situation manifests to protect academic activities from disruptions. The objective of this paper is to describe the proposed prototype of an intelligent decision support system (IDSS) to inform the current and future remote teaching and learning in East African Higher Education in response to pandemics such as COVID-19. The research adopted the design science research approach to analysis, design, and development of the prototype. The development was preceded by understanding the situation where Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOCs) were analyzed. From the analysis, the requirements for the system were identified. Three stages were followed to develop the prototype. First, the development of a web interface or landing website, then designing the prototype framework with stakeholders' evaluation and actual development of the prototype. The SWOC analyses showed varying enabling environments within institutions in a country and between institutions in East Africa. Inadequate policy and legal and regulatory provisions for a rapid switch to remote teaching and learning during the pandemic were compounded by inadequate infrastructure, trained human resources, and organized rapid decision-making. Based on these findings, a prototype framework was then designed to support the decision-making on remote teaching and learning amid the pandemic in East Africa. The preliminary evaluation of the framework suggests that the system has great prospects to inform the decision-making process in the wake of pandemics thereby achieving the rapidity and efficiency of decisions. Further development and evaluation are ongoing.
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    Using the theory of planned behavior to explain birth in health facility intention among expecting couples in a rural setting Rukwa Tanzania: a cross-sectional survey
    (Springer, 2020) Mosh, Fabiola V.; Kibusi, Stephen M.; Fabian, Flora
    Background:According to the theory of planned behavior, an intention to carry out a certain behavior facilitates action. In the context of birth in health facility, the intention to use health facilities for childbirth may better ensure better maternal and neonatal survival. Little is known on the influence of the domains of theory of planned behavior on birth in health facility intention. The study aimed to determine the influence of the domains of theory of planned behavior on birth in health facility intention among expecting couples in the rural Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Methods:A community based cross-sectional study targeting pregnant women and their partners was performed from June until October 2017. A three-stage probability sampling technique was employed to obtain a sample of546 couples (making a total of 1092 study participants). A structured questionnaire based upon the Theory of Planned Behavior was used. The questionnaire explored three main domains of birth in health facility intentions.These three domains included; 1) attitudes towards maternal services utilization, 2) perceived subjective norms towards maternal services utilization and 3) perceived behavior control towards maternal services utilization. Results:The vast majority of study participants had birth in health facility intention. This included 499(91.2%) of pregnant women and 488(89.7%%) of their male partners partner. Only perceived subjective norms showed a significant higher mean score among pregnant women (M = 30.21, SD = 3.928) compared to their male partners(M = 29.72, SD = 4.349) t (1090) =−1.965 at 95% CI = -0.985 to−0.002;p< 0.049. After adjusting for the confounders, no intention to use health facility for childbirth decreased as the attitude [pregnant women (B =−0.091;p= 0.453); male partners (B =−0.084;p= 0.489)] and perceived behavior control [pregnant women (B =−0.138;p= 0.244); male partners (B =−0.155;p= 0.205)] scores increase among both pregnant women and their male partners. Conclusion:Despite the fact that majority of study respondents had birth in health facility intention, the likelihood of this intention resulting into practice is weak because none of the domains of theory of planned behavior showed a significant influence. Innovative interventional strategies geared towards improving domains of intention is highly recommended in order to elicit strong intention to use health facilities for childbirth.