Linda Beatrice Mlunde1, Bruno Fokas Sunguya2, Jessie Kazeni Kilonzo Mbwambo3, Omary Said Ubuguyu4, Akira Shibanuma5, Junko Yasuoka6, Masamine Jimba7. 1. Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Electronic address: lindasozy@gmail.com. 2. Department of Community Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: sunguya@gmail.com. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Muhimbili National Hospital, P.O. Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: jmbwambo@gmail.com. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Muhimbili National Hospital, P.O. Box 65000, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Electronic address: oubuguyu@yahoo.com. 5. Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Electronic address: shibanuma@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp. 6. Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Electronic address: jyasuoka@post.harvard.edu. 7. Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Electronic address: mjimba@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) suffer from a high burden of infectious disease. At the same time, they often have poor access to health care. As in other East African countries, the population of PWID is growing in Tanzania, but little is known about their contact with health care services. In this paper we examine patterns of health care use among PWID in Dar es Salaam and identify what factors are associated with regular contact with clinicians during illness. METHODS: We conducted a baseline cross-sectional study as part of a prospective cohort study involving PWID. We recruited 578 PWID, of whom 273 were newly enrolled on an integrated methadone-assisted treatment (MAT) program and 305 were community-recruited. At baseline, we interviewed the MAT program enrollees before they received services at the program clinics. We used bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses to identify the factors associated with seeking medical care when ill. RESULTS: Only 25.4% of 578 participants reported seeing clinicians regularly when they needed medical care. Participants were more likely to see clinicians regularly if they were employed, (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.28-3.98), had higher income levels (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.00-1.22), were parents (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.09-2.68), or knew where to seek affordable care (OR: 3.42, 95% CI: 2.12-5.52). CONCLUSION: PWID in Dar es Salaam generally did not seek health care when needed. To improve their health care seeking behaviour, it is important to advise PWID about where to seek affordable health care and to increase their income-generating skills.
BACKGROUND:People who inject drugs (PWID) suffer from a high burden of infectious disease. At the same time, they often have poor access to health care. As in other East African countries, the population of PWID is growing in Tanzania, but little is known about their contact with health care services. In this paper we examine patterns of health care use among PWID in Dar es Salaam and identify what factors are associated with regular contact with clinicians during illness. METHODS: We conducted a baseline cross-sectional study as part of a prospective cohort study involving PWID. We recruited 578 PWID, of whom 273 were newly enrolled on an integrated methadone-assisted treatment (MAT) program and 305 were community-recruited. At baseline, we interviewed the MAT program enrollees before they received services at the program clinics. We used bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses to identify the factors associated with seeking medical care when ill. RESULTS: Only 25.4% of 578 participants reported seeing clinicians regularly when they needed medical care. Participants were more likely to see clinicians regularly if they were employed, (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.28-3.98), had higher income levels (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.00-1.22), were parents (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.09-2.68), or knew where to seek affordable care (OR: 3.42, 95% CI: 2.12-5.52). CONCLUSION: PWID in Dar es Salaam generally did not seek health care when needed. To improve their health care seeking behaviour, it is important to advise PWID about where to seek affordable health care and to increase their income-generating skills.
Authors: Elia John Mmbaga; Germana Henry Leyna; Melkizedeck Thomas Leshabari; Britt Tersbøl; Theis Lange; Neema Makyao; Kåre Moen; Dan Wolf Meyrowitsch Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2019-11-06 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: August Kuwawenaruwa; Kaspar Wyss; Karin Wiedenmayer; Emmy Metta; Fabrizio Tediosi Journal: Health Policy Plan Date: 2020-04-01 Impact factor: 3.344
Authors: Germana Henry Leyna; Neema Makyao; Alexander Mwijage; Angela Ramadhan; Samuel Likindikoki; Mucho Mizinduko; Melkizedeck Thomas Leshabari; Kåre Moen; Elia John Mmbaga Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2019-12-11