Association between dietary diversity with overweight and obesity: A cross-sectional study conducted among pastoralists in Monduli District in Tanzania

Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rising at a rapid pace and is associated with negative health consequences like cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Obesity is a multifactorial problem that develops mainly from lifestyle factors including physical inactivity and poor dietary intake. Dietary diversity is a simplified method for assessing the adequacy and quality of diet and is associated with nutritional need and overall health status. Therefore, we conducted this study to synthesize the associations between consumption of a diversified diet and overweight/ obesity among adults living in pastoral communities in Monduli district in Tanzania. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 510 adults aged ≥ 18 years old in the Monduli district, Arusha region in Tanzania. We conducted face-to-face interviews to collect information about socio-demographic characteristics, 24-hours dietary recall, and anthropometric measurements. The dietary diversity score (DDS) was constructed and used to determine the diversity of the diet consumed. We performed the multivariate Poisson regressions to determine the prevalence ratio (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The dependent variables were overweight and general obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI), abdominal obesity measured by waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC). Results The prevalence of general obesity based on BMI was 20.2% (95%CI; 16.9–23.9), abdominal obesity based on WHR was 37.8% (95%CI; 33.7–42.1), and WC was 29.1% (95%CI; 25.2–33.1). More than half (54.3%) of the participants consumed an adequate dietary diversity (DDS ≥4). After adjustment for potential confounders, the prevalence of abdominal obesity by WHR decreased with higher DDS among male (APR = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22–0.77) and female participants (APR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.94). There were inconsistent positive associations between DDS and prevalence of overweight and general obesity among male and female. There was no association between DDS and abdominal obesity by WC. Conclusion More than half of the pastoralists have consumed an adequate diversified diet. Given the inconsistent findings on associations between dietary diversity and obesity measures, this study suggests that targeting dietary diversity as an overweight/obesity prevention strategy requires careful consideration.

Effect of School Environment on Students’ Commitment toward Learning among Secondary Schools in Monduli District, Tanzania

This study sought to investigate the effect of school environment on students’ commitment toward learning among Secondary Schools in Monduli District, Tanzania. The study employed the quantitative approach in collecting and analyzing data from 346 respondents across five secondary schools in the District. The findings revealed that students’ perception were negative on the school environment as they tended to disagreed with the items. The study further indicates that students were committed toward learning. Finally, the study established the existing relationship between school environment and students’ commitment toward learning. Therefore, effective school environment predicts the rate of students’ commitment toward learning. The study therefore recommends that school management teams should work hard to improve the identified school environment factors as the factors are essential for effective learning to take place. The identified students’ commitment toward learning needs to be rewarded for students to maintain such a spirit as it is a key factor for effective learning to take place. Furthermore, school administrators should find ways to create conducive learning environment.

Prevalence and determinants of hypertension among pastoralists in Monduli District, Arusha region in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Background Hypertension is among the growing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in developing countries and the leading cause of death worldwide. Pastoral areas have been identified to be at a higher risk of diseases due to challenges in their daily food production, livelihoods or mobility. Unfortunately, the prevalence of hypertension and the risk factors particularly affecting rural and pastoral populations are not fully understood, making intervention efforts challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and identify the risk factors among adults living in Monduli district in Tanzania. The findings will be useful for the provision of tailored interventions focused on community-specific nutritional and behavioral practices. Methods We conducted a community based cross-sectional study involving a sample of 510 adults aged above 18 years selected using a multistage cluster sampling in the Monduli district of Arusha region, Tanzania. Data were collected by using interviewer-administered questionnaires containing socio-demographic, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption. Anthropometry, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels were measured. A one-day 24 h diet recall was conducted to evaluate the dietary habits of all participants. Both linear and logistic regression analysis were used to identify the independent predictors for hypertension and blood pressure levels. Results The prevalence of hypertension in this study was 25.7% (n = 131, 95% CI; 22.1–29.7). The odds of hypertension increased with being male (AOR = 1.75, 95%CI, 1.06–2.88), belonging to the older age group of 30–39 year olds (AOR = 3.3, 95%CI, 1.76–6.38), 40–59 year olds (AOR = 3.34, 95%CI, 1.75–6.37) and ≥ 60 year olds (AOR = 4.2, 95%CI, 2.02–8.87), being overweight or obese (AOR = 3.37, 95%CI, 1.18–9.62), have more hours spent sedentary (AOR = 3.19, 95%CI, 1.61–6.32), and consumption of fatty foods (AOR = 2.23, 95%CI, 1.27–3.93). The odds for hypertension was significantly reduced among participants who reported higher income (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI, 0.25–0.91), high level of physical activity (AOR = 0.55, 95%CI, 0.31–0.96) and those reported to consume fruit (AOR = 0.37, 95% CI, 0.18–0.77). Consumption of cereals was negatively associated with levels of SBP (β = − 17.4, 95% CI, − 23.8; − 11.0) and DBP (β = − 6.6, 95% CI, − 11.5,-1.79). Conclusion About one in every four adults living in pastoral communities have been found to have hypertension in this study. Our findings suggest that older age, obesity or overweight, low physical activity, low income, and consumption of fatty foods increase the risk of hypertension among study population. Their diet was dominated by cereals with moderate intake of meat and milk and low fruits. There is a need to promote physical activities and consumption of fruits in the study population in order to fight against hypertension. Further research should be done to confirm the associations.

The Effect of Home Environmental Factors on Students’ Academic Achievement: A Case of Community Secondary Schools in Monduli District, Tanzania

This study investigated on the effect of home environmental factors on students’ academic achievement among secondary schools in Monduli District, Tanzania using a descriptive design. A sample of 318 students from seven schools participated by filling the questionnaire. Validity of the instrument was ensured through expert judgment and the Cronbach’s Alpha in all three variables was above 0.6. Analysis of data employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The study established existence of parental involvement in pupils’ academic affairs. This was indicated by the facts that parents were committed to monitor students’ learning activities and give all kind of supports needed. Parents’ social economic status afforded to facilitate school needs of their children. Lastly, the study established a direct correlation between parental involvement and academic achievement, between social economic status and academic achievement and between social economic status and parental involvement. Based on these conclusions the researchers recommend that there is need to encourage parents to continue their parental involvement in their children’s academic affairs as this is a way of improving academic achievement. Furthermore, parents should be encouraged to come up with strategies that will help to improve their income, as this will enable sustainable provision of basic and school needs.

Occurrence of haemoparasites in cattle in Monduli district, northern Tanzania

Haemoparasite infections are among the most economically important cattle diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study investigated the occurrence of haemoparasites in 295 indigenous cattle from five villages (Mswakini, Lake Manyara, Naitolia, Makuyuni and Nanja) of the Monduli district, a wildlife-domestic animal-human interface area in northern Tanzania. The data showed that the overall occurrence of haemoparasites in the sampled cattle was 12.5% (95% CI: 8.7% – 16.3%), involving single and mixed infections with Theileria parva, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei. The highest haemoparasite occurrence was recorded in Lake Manyara (18.3%; 95% CI: 8.5% – 28.1%), and the lowest was recorded in Nanja (6.5%; 95% CI: 0.4% – 12.6%). This preliminary study, furthermore, provided evidence of the possible arthropod vectors (ticks and tsetse flies) that may be involved in the transmission of haemoparasites to cattle in the Monduli district. It is envisaged that this survey will stimulate more studies to determine the prevalence of haemoparasites in livestock by using more sensitive molecular techniques.