Browsing by Author "Moshi, Fabiola V."

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    Cervical cancer awareness among women in Tanzania: an analysis of data from the 2011-12 Tanzania HIV and Malaria indicators survey
    (Hindawi, 2018) Moshi, Fabiola V.; Vandervort, Elisa B.; Kibusi, Stephen M
    Awareness about cervical cancer is a first step in the process of screening and early treatment. The purpose of this study was to provide better understanding of basic knowledge about cervical cancer among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Method. Data were analyzed from the 2011-2012 Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicators Survey (THMIS) and a sample of 5542 sexually active women from 15 to 49 years of age were included in the analysis. Overall knowledge about cervical cancer was high among interviewed women. Only 30.9% of women had never heard about cervical cancer. The predictors of awareness were having secondary or more level of education (AOR = 3.257, 95% CI 2.328–4.557), residing in urban (AOR = 1.365, 95% CI 1.093–1.705), being affluent (AOR = 2.685, 95% CI 2.009–3.587), having one to four children (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.032–1.793), and age of 30–34 years (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI 2.353–4.220), 35–39 years (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.831–3.308), and 40–44 years (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI 2.497–4.784). While the cervical cancer landscape in Tanzania has evolved since this survey, coverage has not yet been achieved and access to cervical cancer prevention services for rural women and girls remains a concern. Women who were least likely to be aware of cervical cancer were rural women, less affluent women, those with limited education, and those with limited access to the formal economy. Arguably, these are the women who are most at risk for cervical cancer. To close this gap, Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to increase access to high-quality cervical cancer prevention services for all women at risk are commendable.
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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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    The impact of community based continuous training project on improving couples’ knowledge on birth preparedness and complication readiness in rural setting Tanzania;:A controlled quasi-experimental study
    (PLOS, 2021) Moshi, Fabiola V.; Kibusi, Stephen M.; Fabian, Flora Masumbuo
    It is widely accepted that community-based interventions are vital strategies towards reduction of maternal and neonatal mortalities in developing counties. This study aimed at finding the impact a Community Based Continuous Training (CBCT) project in improving couples’ knowledge on birth preparedness and complication readiness in rural Tanzania.The quasi-experimental study design with control was adopted to determine the impact of CBCT in improving knowledge on birth preparedness and complication readiness. The study was conducted from June 2017 until March 2018. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to obtain 561couples. Pre-test and post-training intervention information were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The impact of CBCT was determined using both independent t-test and paired t-test. Linear regression analysis was used to establish the association between the project and the change in knowledge mean scores. The effect size was calculated using Cohen’s d. At post-test assessment, knowledge mean scores were significantly higher in the intervention group among both pregnant women (m = 14.47±5.49) and their male partners (m = 14.1 ±5.76) as compared to control group among both pregnant women (m = 9.09±6.44) and their male partners (m = 9.98±6.65) with large effect size of 0.9 among pregnant women and medium effect size of 0.66 among male respondents. When the mean scores were compared within groups among both pregnant women and male partners in the intervention group, there were a significant increase in knowledge mean scores at post-test assessment as compared to pre-test assessment with large effect size of Cohen’s d = 1.4 among pregnant women and 1.5 among male partners. After adjusting for the confounders, the predictors of change in knowledge among pregnant women were the CBCT project (β= 0.346, p<0.000) and ethnic group [Mambwe (β= -0.524, p = 0.001)] and the predictors of change in knowledge among male partners were the CBCT project (β= 1.058, p<0.001) and walking distance [more than five kilometers (β= -0.55, p<0.05)]. This interventional study which focused on knowledge empowerment and behavior change among expecting couples was both feasible and effective on improving knowledge about birth preparedness and complication readiness in rural settings of Tanzania.
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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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    The magnitude of teenage pregnancy and its associated factors among teenagers in Dodoma Tanzania: a community-based analytical cross-sectional study
    (BioMed Central Ltd (BMC), 2023) Moshi, Fabiola V.; Tilisho, Olympia
    Background: Teenage pregnancies cause serious health, social and economic consequences including death among adolescent girls worldwide. It is estimated that in 2019 about 55% of unintended pregnancies among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years ended up in abortions, which are often unsafe in developing countries. Little was known about the magnitude of teenage pregnancy and its associated factors in Dodoma Tanzania. Therefore, the study aimed at establishing the magnitude and factors associated with teenage pregnancies among adolescents in Dodoma Region Tanzania. Method: It was a community-based analytical cross-sectional study that included 539 adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 years old. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed by using SPSS v23. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the distribution of the entire study variable while the inferential statistics helped to establish factors associated with teenage pregnancy among adolescent girls and the level of significance was set at two sides of less than 0.05. Results: The magnitude of teenage pregnancy in Dodoma was 29%. After controlling for possible confounders, factors associated with teenage pregnancy were; urban residence [AOR: 3.02, 95%CI: (1.60–5.68), p = 0.001], low mothers’ education status [AOR: 3.46, 95%CI: (1.47–8.11), p = 0.004]; Poor knowledge on sexual and reproductive health [AOR: 2.09, 95%CI: (1.2–3.63), p = 0.009]; Low family economic status [AOR: 3.83, 95%CI: (1.77–8.30), p = 0.001]; Peer group [AOR: 2.92, 95%CI: (1.33–6.40), p = 0.007]; Early marriage [AOR: 2.58, 95%CI: (1.57–4.26), p < 0.0001]; and Sexual abuse [AOR: 13.56, 95%CI: (7.98–23.06), p < 0.0001]. Conclusion: This study found a high magnitude of teenage pregnancy among youth in Dodoma. Teenagers who were more likely to teenage pregnancy were those with limited knowledge about sexual and reproductive health living in urban, from families with low economic status, their mothers had a low level of education, from a culture that encourage early marriages, with the influence of peer and who experienced sexual abuse. An innovative intervention study to come up with a cost-effective strategy to address the challenge of teenage pregnancy in Dodoma is highly recommended.
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    Prevalence and factors which influence early antenatal booking among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: an analysis of data from the 2015-16 Tanzania demographic health survey and malaria indicators survey
    (Public Library of Science, 2021) Moshi, Fabiola V.
    Early initiation of the antenatal clinic is vital as it allows early detection, management, and prevention of problems that may occur during pregnancy time. The analysis aimed to deter- mine the prevalence and factors which influence early antenatal booking among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. The study used data from the 2015–16 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicators Survey (2015–16 TDHS-MIS). A total of 6924 women of active reproductive age from 15 to 49 were included in the analysis. Both univariate and multiple regression analyses were used to determine predictors of early antenatal booking. Only 1586 (22.9%) of pregnant women had early antenatal booking. After adjusted for the confounders, factors which influenced early antenatal booking were age of a woman [20 to 34 years, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.554 at 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.213– 1.993, and more than 34 years, AOR = 1.758 at 95% CI = 1.306–2.368]; wealth status [rich, AOR = 1.520 at 95% CI = 1.282–1.802]; education level [higher education, AOR = 2.355 at 95% CI = 1.36–4.079]; parity [Para 2 to 3, AOR = 0.85 at 95% CI = 0.727–0.994 and Para 5 +, AOR = 0.577 at 95%CI = 0.465–0.715]; zones [Unguja, AOR = 0.433 at 95% CI = 0.284– 0.658 and Pemba, AOR = 0.392 at 95% CI = 0.236–0.649]. Early antenatal booking in Tanzania is extremely low. Women who were more likely to initiate antenatal visits within the first 12 weeks are those from well-off families, those with higher education, primiparity women, and those from Tanzania mainland urban. The innovative interventional study is highly recommended to come up with an effective strategy to improve timing for antenatal booking.