YASSIN MGONDA - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by YASSIN MGONDA
Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2021
Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of three of four disorders; hypertensio... more Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of three of four disorders; hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus type 2. The presence of anyone or two of these constitutes early markers of the syndrome. It occurs in children and adolescents but its magnitude has not been determined consistently in many countries including Tanzania. Detection of early clinical markers is an effective preventive strategy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of early clinical markers of metabolic syndrome among secondary school adolescents in Dar es Salaam. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. Structured questionnaires were used to record demographic data. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken using standard methods. Fasting blood samples were collected for blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. The Inter...
Collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners is now being accepted by m... more Collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners is now being accepted by many African countries south of the Sahara because of the increasing problem of HIV/AIDS. The key problem, however, is how to initiate collaboration between two health systems which differ in theory of disease causation and management. This paper presents findings on experience learned by initiation of collaboration between traditional healers and the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Arusha and Dares -Salaam Municipalities, Tanzania where 132 and 60 traditional healers respectively were interviewed. Of these 110 traditional healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS. The objective of the study was to initiate sustainable collaboration with traditional healers in managing HIV/AIDS. Consultative meetings with leaders of traditional healers' associations and government officials were held, followed by surveys at respective traditional healers' "vilinge" (traditional clinics). The findings were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings showed that influential people and leaders of traditional healers' association appeared to be gatekeepers to access potential good healers in the two study areas. After consultative meetings these leaders showed to be willing to collaborate; and opened doors to other traditional healers, who too were willing to collaborate with the Institute of Traditional Medicine in managing HIV/ AIDS patients. Seventy five percent of traditional healers who claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS knew some HIV/AIDS symptoms; and some traditional healers attempted to manage these symptoms. Even though, they were willing to collaborate with the Institute of Traditional Medicine there were nevertheless some reservations based on questions surrounding sharing from collaboration. The reality of past experiences of mistreatment of traditional healers in the colonial period informed these reservations. General findings suggest that initiating collaboration is not as easy as it appears to be from the literature, if it is to be meaningful; and thus we are calling for appropriate strategies to access potential healers targeted for any study designed with sustainability in mind.
Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2005
Due do limited coverage of conventional health care services in Tanzania, a number of HIV/AIDS pa... more Due do limited coverage of conventional health care services in Tanzania, a number of HIV/AIDS patients are consequently being cared for and managed by traditional healers. Knowledge of 132 traditional healers on HIV/AIDS was assessed through a questionnaire that sought among other things the symptoms that these traditional healers associate with HIV/AIDS. Seventy-seven (61%) healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS patients. Twenty-five percent (33 healers) had poor, 52.3% (69 healers) had moderate, 22.7% (30 healers) had good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Sixty-nine (52%) among the traditional healers mentioned six and thirty (23%) healers mentioned more than six symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS as outlined by the WHO clinical HIV staging system. Almost all the healers were aware that HIV/AIDS is spread sexually and through body fluid contact and claimed that precautionary measures are taken to avoid spread of the disease. Knowledge on HIV/AIDS infection from mother to child during pregnancy, at delivery and through breastfeeding was poor for most healers. It seems most traditional healers meet HIV/AIDS patients in their terminal stages when HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections are highly manifest, a situation exemplified by the recorded symptoms that were not specific or directly related to HIV/AIDS. There is a need to impart the appropriate knowledge in the identified deficient areas to avoid possibilities of further spread of the disease through the traditional medicine delivery system.
Hypertension, 1998
Insulin sensitivity was assessed using a glucose-insulin infusion test in 15 newly diagnosed non-... more Insulin sensitivity was assessed using a glucose-insulin infusion test in 15 newly diagnosed non-obese hypertensive black Tanzanians with normal glucose tolerance and in 15 normotensive control subjects matched for age, sex, and body mass index. The steady-state blood glucose and metabolic clearance rate of glucose (MCR) were used as measures of insulin sensitivity. The mean MCR (glucose) was significantly reduced (7.12Ϯ0.57 versus 9.50Ϯ0.69 mol/kg per minute; PϽ.05) and mean steady-state blood glucose was significantly elevated (5.0Ϯ0.3 versus 3.7Ϯ0.3 mmol/L; PϽ.01) in subjects with hypertension compared with the normotensive group. For all subjects there was a significant inverse correlation between MCR (glucose) and systolic (Pϭ.003) and diastolic (Pϭ.005) blood pressure; and a positive correlation was found between fasting serum insulin levels and systolic (Pϭ.005) and diastolic (Pϭ.004) blood pressure. These observations were independent of body mass index and serum lipid levels. These data indicate a strong association between insulin mediated glucose uptake and blood pressure in this population of normal weight untreated urban Africans.
BMC Public Health, 2009
Background HIV/AIDS is associated with a wide range of mucocutaneous disorders some of which are ... more Background HIV/AIDS is associated with a wide range of mucocutaneous disorders some of which are useful in the clinical staging and prognosis of the syndrome. There is paucity of information regarding the prevalence and pattern of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV infected children attending paediatric Care and Treatment Centres (CTC) in Dar es Salaam. Objective To determine the prevalence and pattern of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV infected children attending public paediatric 'Care and Treatment Centres' in Dar es Salaam. Methods This was a cross sectional descriptive study involving public paediatric 'Care and Treatment Centres' in Dar es Salaam. Clinical information was obtained using a questionnaire. Dermatological examination was carried out in daylight. Investigations were taken as appropriate. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 10.0. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were utilized. A p-value ...
BMC Public Health, 2010
Background: Dermatologic disorders are common in many countries but the spectrum varies greatly. ... more Background: Dermatologic disorders are common in many countries but the spectrum varies greatly. Many studies have reported a significant burden of skin diseases in school children. The objective of this study was to determine the current spectrum of dermatological disorders in primary school children in Dar es Salaam city. Methods: Primary school children were recruited by multistage sampling. Detailed interview, dermatological examination and appropriate laboratory investigations were performed. Data was analyzed using the 'Statistical Package for Social Sciences' (SPSS) program version 10.0 and EPI6. A p-value of < 0.5 was significant. Results: A total of 420 children were recruited (51% males; mean age 11.4 ± 2.8 years; range 6-19 years). The overall point prevalence of any skin disorder was 57.3% and it was 61.9% and 52.6% in males and females respectively (p = 0.05). Infectious dermatoses accounted for 30.4% with superficial fungal infections (dermatophytoses and pityriasis versicolor) being the commonest (20%). Dermatophytoses were diagnosed in 11.4% (48/420); the prevalence in males and females being 12.6% and 10.1% respectively (p = 0.41) and higher (21.8%) in the age-group 6-10 years (p = 0.045). Fungal cultures were positive in 42/48 children (88%). All three dermatophyte genera were isolated. Tinea capitis was the commonest disease among culture-positive dermatophytoses (30/42; 71.4%) with an overall prevalence of 7.1% (30/420) followed by tinea pedis (11/42; 26.1%) whose overall prevalence was 2.6%. Microsporum canis was common in tinea capitis (14/30; 46.7%) followed by Trichophyton violaceum (6/30; 20%). Trichophyton rubrum was common in tinea pedis (5/11; 45.5%). Thirty six children (8.6%) had pityriasis versicolor which was more prevalent (6/27; 22.l2%) in the age group 16-19 years (p = 0.0004). The other common infectious dermatoses were pyodermas (4%) and pediculosis capitis (3.6%). Common non-infectious dermatoses were: acne vulgaris (36.4%), non-specific dermatoses (10.7%), non-specific ulcers (5%) and atopic eczema (2.6%). Rare conditions (prevalence < 1%) included: vitiligo, alopecia areata and intertrigo. The majority of the affected children (67.2%) did not seek any medical assistance. Conclusions: Skin disorders are common in primary school children; infectious dermatoses are still rampant and many children do not seek medical assistance.
BMC Dermatology, 2011
Background: Skin diseases are underestimated and overlooked by most clinicians despite being comm... more Background: Skin diseases are underestimated and overlooked by most clinicians despite being common in clinical practice. Many patients are hospitalized with co-existing dermatological conditions which may not be detected and managed by the attending physicians. The objective of this study was to determine the burden of co-existing and overlooked dermatological disorders among patients admitted to medical wards of Muhimbili National hospital in Dar es Salaam. Study design and settings: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Muhimbili National hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Patients were consecutively recruited from the medical wards. Detailed interview to obtain clinicodemographic characteristics was followed by a complete physical examination. Dermatological diagnoses were made mainly clinically. Appropriate confirmatory laboratory investigations were performed where necessary. Data was analyzed using the 'Statistical Package for Social Sciences' (SPSS) program version 10.0. A p-value of < 0.5 was statistically significant. Results: Three hundred and ninety patients admitted to medical wards were enrolled into the study of whom, 221(56.7%) were females. The mean age was 36.7 ± 17.9 (range 7-84 years). Overall, 232/390 patients (59.5%) had co-existing dermatological disorders with 49% (191/390) having one, 9% (36/390) two and 5 patients (1%) three. A wide range of co-existing skin diseases was encountered, the most diverse being non-infectious conditions which together accounted for 36.4% (142/390) while infectious dermatoses accounted for 31.5% (123/390). The leading infectious skin diseases were superficial fungal infections accounting for 18%. Pruritic papular eruption of HIV/AIDS (PPE) and seborrheic eczema were the most common non-infectious conditions, each accounting for 4.3%. Of the 232/390 patients with dermatological disorders, 191/232 (82.3%) and 154/232 (66.3%) had been overlooked by their referring and admitting doctors respectively. Conclusion: Dermatological disorders are common among patients admitted to medical wards and many are not detected by their referring or admitting physicians. Basic dermatological education should be emphasized to improve knowledge and awareness among clinicians.
Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2021
Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of three of four disorders; hypertensio... more Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of three of four disorders; hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus type 2. The presence of anyone or two of these constitutes early markers of the syndrome. It occurs in children and adolescents but its magnitude has not been determined consistently in many countries including Tanzania. Detection of early clinical markers is an effective preventive strategy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of early clinical markers of metabolic syndrome among secondary school adolescents in Dar es Salaam. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. Structured questionnaires were used to record demographic data. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken using standard methods. Fasting blood samples were collected for blood glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. The Inter...
Collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners is now being accepted by m... more Collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners is now being accepted by many African countries south of the Sahara because of the increasing problem of HIV/AIDS. The key problem, however, is how to initiate collaboration between two health systems which differ in theory of disease causation and management. This paper presents findings on experience learned by initiation of collaboration between traditional healers and the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Arusha and Dares -Salaam Municipalities, Tanzania where 132 and 60 traditional healers respectively were interviewed. Of these 110 traditional healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS. The objective of the study was to initiate sustainable collaboration with traditional healers in managing HIV/AIDS. Consultative meetings with leaders of traditional healers' associations and government officials were held, followed by surveys at respective traditional healers' "vilinge" (traditional clinics). The findings were analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings showed that influential people and leaders of traditional healers' association appeared to be gatekeepers to access potential good healers in the two study areas. After consultative meetings these leaders showed to be willing to collaborate; and opened doors to other traditional healers, who too were willing to collaborate with the Institute of Traditional Medicine in managing HIV/ AIDS patients. Seventy five percent of traditional healers who claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS knew some HIV/AIDS symptoms; and some traditional healers attempted to manage these symptoms. Even though, they were willing to collaborate with the Institute of Traditional Medicine there were nevertheless some reservations based on questions surrounding sharing from collaboration. The reality of past experiences of mistreatment of traditional healers in the colonial period informed these reservations. General findings suggest that initiating collaboration is not as easy as it appears to be from the literature, if it is to be meaningful; and thus we are calling for appropriate strategies to access potential healers targeted for any study designed with sustainability in mind.
Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2005
Due do limited coverage of conventional health care services in Tanzania, a number of HIV/AIDS pa... more Due do limited coverage of conventional health care services in Tanzania, a number of HIV/AIDS patients are consequently being cared for and managed by traditional healers. Knowledge of 132 traditional healers on HIV/AIDS was assessed through a questionnaire that sought among other things the symptoms that these traditional healers associate with HIV/AIDS. Seventy-seven (61%) healers claimed to be treating HIV/AIDS patients. Twenty-five percent (33 healers) had poor, 52.3% (69 healers) had moderate, 22.7% (30 healers) had good knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Sixty-nine (52%) among the traditional healers mentioned six and thirty (23%) healers mentioned more than six symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS as outlined by the WHO clinical HIV staging system. Almost all the healers were aware that HIV/AIDS is spread sexually and through body fluid contact and claimed that precautionary measures are taken to avoid spread of the disease. Knowledge on HIV/AIDS infection from mother to child during pregnancy, at delivery and through breastfeeding was poor for most healers. It seems most traditional healers meet HIV/AIDS patients in their terminal stages when HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections are highly manifest, a situation exemplified by the recorded symptoms that were not specific or directly related to HIV/AIDS. There is a need to impart the appropriate knowledge in the identified deficient areas to avoid possibilities of further spread of the disease through the traditional medicine delivery system.
Hypertension, 1998
Insulin sensitivity was assessed using a glucose-insulin infusion test in 15 newly diagnosed non-... more Insulin sensitivity was assessed using a glucose-insulin infusion test in 15 newly diagnosed non-obese hypertensive black Tanzanians with normal glucose tolerance and in 15 normotensive control subjects matched for age, sex, and body mass index. The steady-state blood glucose and metabolic clearance rate of glucose (MCR) were used as measures of insulin sensitivity. The mean MCR (glucose) was significantly reduced (7.12Ϯ0.57 versus 9.50Ϯ0.69 mol/kg per minute; PϽ.05) and mean steady-state blood glucose was significantly elevated (5.0Ϯ0.3 versus 3.7Ϯ0.3 mmol/L; PϽ.01) in subjects with hypertension compared with the normotensive group. For all subjects there was a significant inverse correlation between MCR (glucose) and systolic (Pϭ.003) and diastolic (Pϭ.005) blood pressure; and a positive correlation was found between fasting serum insulin levels and systolic (Pϭ.005) and diastolic (Pϭ.004) blood pressure. These observations were independent of body mass index and serum lipid levels. These data indicate a strong association between insulin mediated glucose uptake and blood pressure in this population of normal weight untreated urban Africans.
BMC Public Health, 2009
Background HIV/AIDS is associated with a wide range of mucocutaneous disorders some of which are ... more Background HIV/AIDS is associated with a wide range of mucocutaneous disorders some of which are useful in the clinical staging and prognosis of the syndrome. There is paucity of information regarding the prevalence and pattern of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV infected children attending paediatric Care and Treatment Centres (CTC) in Dar es Salaam. Objective To determine the prevalence and pattern of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV infected children attending public paediatric 'Care and Treatment Centres' in Dar es Salaam. Methods This was a cross sectional descriptive study involving public paediatric 'Care and Treatment Centres' in Dar es Salaam. Clinical information was obtained using a questionnaire. Dermatological examination was carried out in daylight. Investigations were taken as appropriate. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 10.0. Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were utilized. A p-value ...
BMC Public Health, 2010
Background: Dermatologic disorders are common in many countries but the spectrum varies greatly. ... more Background: Dermatologic disorders are common in many countries but the spectrum varies greatly. Many studies have reported a significant burden of skin diseases in school children. The objective of this study was to determine the current spectrum of dermatological disorders in primary school children in Dar es Salaam city. Methods: Primary school children were recruited by multistage sampling. Detailed interview, dermatological examination and appropriate laboratory investigations were performed. Data was analyzed using the 'Statistical Package for Social Sciences' (SPSS) program version 10.0 and EPI6. A p-value of < 0.5 was significant. Results: A total of 420 children were recruited (51% males; mean age 11.4 ± 2.8 years; range 6-19 years). The overall point prevalence of any skin disorder was 57.3% and it was 61.9% and 52.6% in males and females respectively (p = 0.05). Infectious dermatoses accounted for 30.4% with superficial fungal infections (dermatophytoses and pityriasis versicolor) being the commonest (20%). Dermatophytoses were diagnosed in 11.4% (48/420); the prevalence in males and females being 12.6% and 10.1% respectively (p = 0.41) and higher (21.8%) in the age-group 6-10 years (p = 0.045). Fungal cultures were positive in 42/48 children (88%). All three dermatophyte genera were isolated. Tinea capitis was the commonest disease among culture-positive dermatophytoses (30/42; 71.4%) with an overall prevalence of 7.1% (30/420) followed by tinea pedis (11/42; 26.1%) whose overall prevalence was 2.6%. Microsporum canis was common in tinea capitis (14/30; 46.7%) followed by Trichophyton violaceum (6/30; 20%). Trichophyton rubrum was common in tinea pedis (5/11; 45.5%). Thirty six children (8.6%) had pityriasis versicolor which was more prevalent (6/27; 22.l2%) in the age group 16-19 years (p = 0.0004). The other common infectious dermatoses were pyodermas (4%) and pediculosis capitis (3.6%). Common non-infectious dermatoses were: acne vulgaris (36.4%), non-specific dermatoses (10.7%), non-specific ulcers (5%) and atopic eczema (2.6%). Rare conditions (prevalence < 1%) included: vitiligo, alopecia areata and intertrigo. The majority of the affected children (67.2%) did not seek any medical assistance. Conclusions: Skin disorders are common in primary school children; infectious dermatoses are still rampant and many children do not seek medical assistance.
BMC Dermatology, 2011
Background: Skin diseases are underestimated and overlooked by most clinicians despite being comm... more Background: Skin diseases are underestimated and overlooked by most clinicians despite being common in clinical practice. Many patients are hospitalized with co-existing dermatological conditions which may not be detected and managed by the attending physicians. The objective of this study was to determine the burden of co-existing and overlooked dermatological disorders among patients admitted to medical wards of Muhimbili National hospital in Dar es Salaam. Study design and settings: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Muhimbili National hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Patients were consecutively recruited from the medical wards. Detailed interview to obtain clinicodemographic characteristics was followed by a complete physical examination. Dermatological diagnoses were made mainly clinically. Appropriate confirmatory laboratory investigations were performed where necessary. Data was analyzed using the 'Statistical Package for Social Sciences' (SPSS) program version 10.0. A p-value of < 0.5 was statistically significant. Results: Three hundred and ninety patients admitted to medical wards were enrolled into the study of whom, 221(56.7%) were females. The mean age was 36.7 ± 17.9 (range 7-84 years). Overall, 232/390 patients (59.5%) had co-existing dermatological disorders with 49% (191/390) having one, 9% (36/390) two and 5 patients (1%) three. A wide range of co-existing skin diseases was encountered, the most diverse being non-infectious conditions which together accounted for 36.4% (142/390) while infectious dermatoses accounted for 31.5% (123/390). The leading infectious skin diseases were superficial fungal infections accounting for 18%. Pruritic papular eruption of HIV/AIDS (PPE) and seborrheic eczema were the most common non-infectious conditions, each accounting for 4.3%. Of the 232/390 patients with dermatological disorders, 191/232 (82.3%) and 154/232 (66.3%) had been overlooked by their referring and admitting doctors respectively. Conclusion: Dermatological disorders are common among patients admitted to medical wards and many are not detected by their referring or admitting physicians. Basic dermatological education should be emphasized to improve knowledge and awareness among clinicians.