Objective: Under nutrition especially among under-fives is a major public health challenge in Tanzania. However, the contribution of cultural practices to child under nutrition is often overlooked. This study aimed to explore the perceived socio-cultural factors contributing to the persisting under nutrition among under-fives in Tanzania.Methods: The study applied focus group discussion (FDGs) with forty practitioners to examine the sociocultural factors contributing to under nutrition during early childhood. The study participants were purposively selected and thematic analysis was used to identify themes within the data.Results: This study revealed that, under nutrition for under-fives is caused by a number of socio-cultural factors including existence of gender inequality related to dietary practices and qualities, women’s excessive workload, patriarchy social-norm, excessive alcohol use and cultural taboos prohibiting women and girls from eating certain types of nutrient dense foods.Conclusion: The study highlights the multiplicity of factors including socio-cultural perspectives contributing to under nutrition among under-fives, and calls for a concerted efforts in developing and implementing issue-specific and culturally sensitive strategies towards elimination of child under nutrition.

Recruitment of acceptable number of participants in a (public) health research with ‘hard to reach’/‘hidden’ populations is an old global problem, mostly challenging public health researchers in resource limited countries like Tanzania. Violence, stigma, criminalization of behaviors practiced by these groups, and potential participants’ suspicion toward the research and the researchers, further limit willingness to voluntarily participate. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and retrospective qualitative formative study with women who have sex with women in Dar-es-Salaam City region, Tanzania. The aim, among other objectives, was to understand women who have sex with women’s attitudes and willingness to participate in future female same sex public health research targeting this group. Findings indicate that all women we studied expressed willingness to participate in future health research targeting issues around female same sex relationships in the Tanzania context; an opportunity for (public) health professionals to prevent and control diseases in the country. To attain this goal, we recommend tailoring research protocols’ content, communication messages, and recruitment tactics to recognize, appreciate, and embrace the specific characteristics, backgrounds, and concerns of women who have sex with women in Tanzania.

Introduction: Women who have sex with women (WSW) have a right to access health care. Many studies have reported lower access to health services by sexual minorities in many parts of the world. This study explored WSW’s experiences in accessing health care in Tanzania with the intention of determining specific issues facing WSW when accessing health care services. Methods: This study was cross-sectional descriptive, and retrospective conduced in Dar-es-Salaam region, the largest commercial city in Tanzania. Study population included WSW aged 18 years and above who met inclusion criteria. Data was collected using focus group discussions (FGDs), in-depth interviews (IDIs), observation, and life stories. Data analysis applied thematic analysis. Results: Most WSW receive rightful health services from public and private health providers. However, transgender WSW face stigma, discrimination, and disrespect from some public health facilities. Private health care providers offer trust, privacy and confidentiality to WSW, although at a higher cost of services compared to public health facilities. Conclusion: Negative experiences with care may discourage WSW from seeking care or fully disclosing health concerns to providers limiting the extent of services offered.

Due to global advances in technology, image-based food record methods have emerged as an alternative to traditional assessment methods. The use of image-based food records in low and lower-middle income countries such as Tanzania is limited, with countries still using traditional methods. The current study aimed to determine the feasibility of using a new voice and image-based dietary assessment system (VISIDA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This mixed-method study recruited 18 nutritionists as participants who collected image-based records of food and drinks they consumed using the VISIDA smartphone app. Participants viewed an online demonstration of the VISIDA web platform and the analysis process for intake data collected using the VISIDA app. Then, participants completed an online survey and were interviewed about the VISIDA app and web platform for food and nutrient intake analysis. The method was reported as being acceptable and was found to be easy to use, although technical challenges were experienced by some participants. Most participants indicated a willingness to use the VISIDA app again for one week or longer and were interested in using the VISIDA system in their current role. Participants acknowledged that the VISIDA web platform would simplify some aspects of their current job. Image-based food records could potentially be used in Tanzania to improve the assessment of dietary intake by nutritionists in urban areas. Participants recommended adding sound-on notifications, using the VISIDA app in both Apple and Android phones, enabling installation from the app store, and improving the quality of the fiducial markers.

Background: Women who have sex with other women (WSW) have high chances of health-related problems stemming from their unsafe sexual behaviors and practices. Their awareness of risky sexual behaviors and the health-related consequences is limited by the covert nature of WSW relationships. However, we cannot generalize the level of awareness since WSW around the world has been subjected to different policies that either proscribe or accept their practices as their right. In view of the divergence, this study evaluated the level of awareness of the link between female same sex and other health-related problems among WSW in Tanzania. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and retrospective study, which was conducted in Dar es Salaam between January and February 2021. The participants of the study were WSW, proxy WSW, and women who at one time had female same-sex relationships. The study also used community members aged 18 years and above but only those who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through qualitative in-depth interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), interviews (KIIs), and life stories. All the data generated through the study were analyzed thematically. Results: The findings of the study suggest that women have limited knowledge of the health-related risk that come with practicing same-sex. Most study participants did not believe they could contact STIs and other health-related problems through unsafe sexual practices with fellow women partners. Conclusion: Most WSW has limited knowledge of the health consequences of unsafe same sex practices. The research sets precedent for wide scope studies to address transmission risks of STIs among these communities in Tanzania.