Browsing by Author "Petrucka, Pammla"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Dietary pattern as a predictor of colorectal cancer among general health population in Arusha Tanzania: A population based descriptive study
    (Academic Journals, 2017) Katalambula, Leonard Kamanga; Ntwenya, Julius Edward; Ngoma, Twalib; Buza, Joram; Mpolya, Emmanuel; Petrucka, Pammla; Paul, Edwin
    Proper diet is important in preventing many diseases, and colorectal cancer is no exception. The aim of this study was to identify major dietary patterns among the general population in Arusha Tanzania to determine whether diet is one of the predictors contributing to the observed pattern and distribution of colorectal cancer in Tanzania. A population based cross-sectional study recruited a sample of selfreported healthy individuals residing in four wards of the City of Arusha, Tanzania. A total of 549 participants were recruited on a voluntary basis. The Food Frequency Questionnaire and the World Health Organization (WHO) Step® survey tool were used to collect data. Factor analysis, Pearson correlation (Pearson’s r), and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.Two major dietary patterns, namely “healthy” and “western”, and one minor pattern existed among the study population. The "healthy" pattern was generally associated with females (56.2%, p=0.074), people with primary level of education (62.7%, p=0.667), age category of 25 to 44 (66.3%, p= 0.370), normal range body mass index (BMI) (42.4%, p=0.967), self-employed (78.5%), non-smokers (86.6%) and non-alcohol drinkers (51%), although the differences were not statistically significant. "Western" dietary pattern adherence was associated with area of residence (p=0.0001), gender (p=0.003) and BMI status (p=0.04) in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, higher odds were observed in individuals aged 25 to 34 (OR=1.104, 95%, CI (0.537-2.2267) and 45 to 54 OR=1.091, 95%, CI(0.521-2.283), alcohol drinkers (OR=1.2, 95%, CI(0.767-1.877), people with college or high levels of education (OR=0. 853, 95%, CI(0.260-2.803) and OR=0.550, 95%,CI(0. 159-1.897), smokers (OR=1.030, 95%, CI(0.519-2.044) and overweight or obese (OR=2.676, 95%, CI (0.981-7.298) and OR=2.045, 95%, CI (0.767-5.454). These data support our previous hypothesis that diet could be an important potential predictor of the previously observed pattern and distribution of colorectal cancer in Tanzania.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Factors associated with low antiretroviral therapy enrollment of children in the Simiyu region A cross-sectional Creswell mixed-methods sequential explanatory design
    (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2023) Mageda, Kihulya; Kulemba, Khamis; Kapologwe, Ntuli; Katalambula, Leonard; Petrucka, Pammla
    Despite substantial antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage in other groups with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Tanzania, there is a progressive decline in ART enrolment among HIV-infected children. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting the enrolment of children with HIV in ART and to identify an effective, sustainable intervention to address children’s ART care enrolment. To achieve this, we conducted a cross-sectional study using a mixed-method sequential explanatory design, including children with HIV aged 2 to 14 years in the Simiyu region. Stata™ and NVIVO™ software were used to perform quantitative and qualitative data analyses, respectively. In the quantitative analyses, we considered 427 children, with a mean age of 8.54 ± 3.54 years and a median age of 3 years (interquartile range: 1–6 years). The mean length of ART initiation delay was 3.71 ± 3.21 years. Additionally, independent child enrolment predictors included distance to the facility (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.14–9.58), caregivers’ income (AOR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.07–0.43), and fear of stigma (AOR: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.14–10.35). In qualitative analyses, 36 respondents reported that stigma, distance, and lack of HIV-positive status disclosure to their fathers were causes for low enrolment in ART. Overall, this study demonstrated that a caregiver’s income, distance to obtain HIV care services, HIV-positive status non-disclosure to the father, and fear of stigma played a significant role in children’s enrolment in HIV care. As such, HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome programs would benefit from having intensive interventions to address distance, such as scaling up care and treatment centers, as well as techniques to reduce stigma in the population.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Pattern and distribution of colorectal cancer in Tanzania: a retrospective chart audit at two National hospitals
    (Hindawi, 2016) Katalambula, Leonard K.; Ntwenya, Julius Edward; Ngoma, Twalib; Buza, Joram; Mpolya, Emmanuel; Mtumwa, Abdallah H.; Petrucka, Pammla
    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing public health concern with increasing rates in countries with previously known low incidence. This study determined pattern and distribution of CRC in Tanzania and identified hot spots in case distribution. Methods. A retrospective chart audit reviewed hospital registers and patient files from two national institutions. Descriptive statistics, Chi square (x2) tests, and regression analyses were employed and augmented by data visualization to display risk variable differences. Results. CRC cases increased sixfold in the last decade in Tanzania. There was a 1.5% decrease in incidences levels of rectal cancer and 2% increase for colon cancer every year from 2005 to 2015. Nearly half of patients listed Dar es Salaam as their primary residence. CRC was equally distributed between males (50.06%) and females (49.94%), although gender likelihood of diagnosis type (i.e., rectal or colon) was significantly different (P=0.027). More than 60% of patients were between 40 and 69 years. Conclusions. Age (P=0.0183) and time (P=0.004) but not gender (P=0.0864) were significantly associated with rectal cancer in a retrospective study in Tanzania. Gender (P=0.0405), age (P=0.0015), and time (P=0.0075) were all significantly associated with colon cancer in this study. This retrospective study found that colon cancer is more prevalent among males at a relatively younger age than rectal cancer. Further, our study showed that although more patients were diagnosed with rectal cancer, the trend has shown that colon cancer is increasing at a faster rate.