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Efficacy of Iron-Rich Snacks in Improving Iron Status Among Adolescent Girls (10‒19 Years): A Systematic Review
(Elsevier Inc., 2025-10-29) Masanja, Hope; Martin, Haikael; Jumbe, Theresia; Gichohi-Wainaina, Wanjiku
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common form of anaemia and the leading cause of years lived with disabilities (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) among adolescents. Recently, various iron-rich snacks have been developed as interventions to improve iron status among adolescents. This review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of natural, non-commercially fortified iron-rich snacks in improving iron status among adolescent girls aged 10–19 years. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experiments was conducted, focusing on iron status indicators including hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), transferrin saturation (TSAT), and soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR). Searches were performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, Research4Life, and Google Scholar. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane tools, and study quality was evaluated with GRADE. Ten studies (five RCTs and five quasi-experiments) involving 24 to 211 participants were included. Nine studies had moderate risk of bias, mainly due to performance, detection, and reporting issues; one had high selection bias. Iron content of snacks varied, with nine studies out of ten reported Hb increases ranging from 0.45 to 2.28 g/dL. Only one study reported improvements in serum iron (from 25.482 ± 0.036 g/dL to 41.511 ± 0.033 g/dL) and ferritin (from 10.827 ± 0.192 ng/mL to 14.016 ± 0.103 ng/mL). These results indicate the potential of locally developed snacks to improve iron and Hb levels in adolescents. This review synthesizes evidence on food-based interventions, focusing on natural, non-fortified iron-rich snacks for adolescent girls. The findings demonstrate promising potential for these snacks to improve iron status and haemoglobin concentrations, underscoring their value as culturally acceptable, cost-effective, and sustainable complement to existing nutrition strategies. Although results are promising, more rigorously designed trials with comprehensive iron biomarkers are needed to confirm efficacy and support integration into adolescent nutrition programs.
Biophysical Challenges to Pastoral Mobility in Northern Tanzania
(Elsevier Inc., 2026) Treydte, Anna; Kilawi, Amana; Mngulwi, Janeth; Lendii, Gladys
Rangelands, covering almost 50% of our global land surface, provide essential natural resources for pastoralists and their livestock. Most pastoralists follow a nomadic or seminomadic lifestyle, which is increasingly hampered due to high human and livestock populations as well as environmental, social, and
political challenges. In eastern Africa, rangeland health is additionally threatened by overgrazing, land
erosion, and increasing climatic extremes. Little is known about how pastoralists perceive these challenges, what their adaptation strategies are, and whether the latter are fostering new risks and challenges. Our mixed-methods approach used semistructured interviews with 69 pastoralists in Longido and
Monduli districts, northern Tanzania. We also conducted four focus group discussions of both men and
women pastoralists, combined with secondary data and expert interviews on livestock populations and
mortalities from governmental offices. We applied statistical analyses (t test, analysis of variance, and
Pearson’s correlation) and mapped rangeland use and movements in a geographic information system.
We found that most pastoralists are well aware of declining pasture quality and have adapted to climatic and environmental challenges. The most frequent response was moving further with cattle while
small livestock (goats and sheep) stayed at homesteads during severe droughts. Both female and male
pastoralists mentioned that these longer movement routes bore risks of conflict, diseases, and famine.
These novel, drought-triggered migration routes were up to 644 km long, directed North into Kenya or
South into central or coastal Tanzania. Most pastoralists additionally used supplemental feed for livestock
during difficult times. We conclude that, as rangeland quality declined, routes and movement in search
of pasture increased in Tanzania, leading to increasing challenges and risks associated with drought, conflicts, encountering dangerous animals, and exposure to zoonotic diseases while crossing landscapes. A
holistic way of addressing these risks is urgently needed for long-term land use planning and sustainability of pastoral systems in eastern Africa.
A systematic review on computer vision-based methods for cervical cancer detection
(Elsevier, 2026) Mbelwa, Hope; Leo, Judith; Kahesa, Crispin; Mkoba, Elizabeth
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women globally, especially in regions where access to
timely screening remains a challenge. With such concerns, accurate detection of cervical lesions is essential for
effective diagnosis and treatment. This review aimed to explore the application of computer vision-based
methods for detecting cervical cancer, identifying their potential, setbacks and areas for future development.
A comprehensive literature search across Scopus, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and Google Scholar identified 96 relevant studies published between 2014 and August 2025. These studies applied computer vision methods including
CNNs, Vision Transformers, and multimodal models to cervical cancer detection using Pap smear, colposcopy,
and histopathology images. They were analyzed based on the techniques employed, datasets used, evaluation
metrics adopted, and reported results. This review highlights significant advancements in the field, particularly
in lesion classification, precise segmentation of affected regions, and accurate detection of cancerous regions.
However, some challenges were identified, including limited image datasets with insufficiently distributed
normal and abnormal cases, aggravated by privacy issues and accurate labeling of medical images, which is
critical and rigorous, often leading to annotation inconsistencies. Lastly, this study revealed that integrating
Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision can enhance cervical cancer diagnosis through multi-modal
models that combine both clinical text and imaging data. Additionally, this study proposes the use of techniques
like annotation-efficient learning to manage limited labeled datasets using methods such as semi-supervised and
transfer learning as well as the use of federated learning to ensure privacy in computer-aided diagnostic systems.
Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Promoting Biodiversity Conservation Outside Protected Areas
(Springer Nature, 2026-01-03) Tarimo, Florence; Kelly, Claire; Moyo, Francis; Munishi, Linus
We assessed traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) across different age and gender groups, focusing on selected plant species within major terrestrial ecosystems in Tanzania. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select ethnic groups, representative plant species, and participants for focus group discussions (FGDs). We conducted 24 FGDs and walk-in-the-woods exercises to verify the presence of documented species and assess their traditional uses. Additionally, we examined how TEK varied by gender and age. The data analysis included both descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 550 plant species were validated, with some species appearing in multiple locations under different vernacular names and primary uses. Of these, 52.0% were used for food, 30.2% for medicine, 16.4% for materials, and 1.4% for ritual purposes. We observed variations in TEK across age groups, ecosystems, and use categories, with older individuals demonstrating greater knowledge in all areas. The diversity of used species generally reflects overall plant diversity, highlighting that conserving traditionally valued species can help protect broader biodiversity, especially outside protected areas (OPAN areas). Understanding the importance and scope of TEK at the ecosystem level will enhance community capacity to promote biodiversity conservation beyond protected areas and further benefit from their resources.
Gender, Feeding Practices and Hygiene Factors Linked to Early Stunting in Iringa, Tanzania: Paradox of Food Abundance
(John Wiley & Sons, 2026-01-03) Modern, Grantina; David, , Aneth; Mwaikono, Kilaza; Lyimo, Beatus; Lyantagaye, Sylvester
Aim
Stunting, defined as low height-for-age, impairs growth, cognitive development and contributes to long-term poverty through poor school performance and health outcomes. In Tanzania, 28% of children under 5 are stunted, with Iringa Region showing the highest prevalence (57%). It is unclear why such high incidences occur despite the region being a leading food producer.
Methods
To explore underlying factors, a community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in four districts of Iringa in September–October 2024, involving children under 2 years. Data were collected using household questionnaires covering feeding practices, water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH), vaccination, illness and socio-demographic factors.
Results
The median age was 14 months and 205 (51%) were male. Overall, out of 397, 59% were stunted, though most had normal underweight (89%) and wasting status (97.5%). Additionally, 94% met minimum dietary diversity, confirming diet alone does not explain the high stunting rate. Bivariate analysis identified nine significant variables: gender, underweight status, toilet sharing, child hand wash before and after feeding, continued breastfeeding, measles vaccination, vitamin A supplementation and feeding diversity, of which five (5) remained significant in multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed male children had 2.2 times higher odds of stunting; risk also increased among underweight children but was lower in those under 1 year. Continued breastfeeding after 6 months reduced odds of stunting by 61%. Children in households sharing toilets had almost half the odds.
Conclusion
Findings highlight the need to promote breastfeeding beyond 6 months, strengthen nutrition and WaSH programs and target interventions for male and underweight children.