Seroprevalence, knowledge, and practices of Dengue and Chikungunya in Dar es salaam and Zanzibar: selected hospital-based cross-sectional study
Loading...
Date
2022-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
NM-AIST
Abstract
The potential shift of significant causes of febrile illnesses from malaria to non-malarial febrile
illnesses, including arboviral diseases such as Chikungunya and Dengue, is of great concern. Two
cross sectional studies were conducted at Mnazi mmoja in Zanzibar and Temeke hospital in Dar es
Salaam Tanzania. The first study assessed the prevalence, knowledge, and practices regarding
Chikungunya and Dengue, among individuals attending outpatient departments at Mnazi mmoja in
Zanzibar and Temeke hospital in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The second study involved serological
testing of blood samples from the blood bank at Temeke Referral Hospital in Dar es Salaam and
the National Blood Bank Unit in Zanzibar was conducted. Seropositive IgM samples from Temeke
hospital in Dar es Salaam were 3/101 (2.97%) for Chikungunya and 1/101 (0.9%) for Dengue,
while samples from Zanzibar were all IgM negative for both viruses. Chikungunya IgG
seropositivity was significantly higher (p≤0.05) in Temeke hospital in Dar es Salaam 21/101
(21.2%) than Zanzibar 22/180 (12.2%). There was no significant difference in Dengue IgG
seropositivity between Temeke hospital in Dar es Salaam 44/101 (43.5%) and Zanzibar 68/180
(37.8%). A total of 332 patients were recruited through a systematic random sampling technique
from Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam hospitals. Participants from Dar-es-Salaam had demonstrated
lower preventive practices as compared to those from Zanzibar. Only 10.2% of all participants had
high knowledge of Dengue and Chikungunya, while only 4.5% were aware of preventive practices.
Our results show continuing exposure of Dengue and Chikungunya virus in Tanzania, it associates
with low awareness and poor preventive practices. If steps are not taken, may act as a template for
big outbreaks when an appropriate condition occurs. Therefore the inclusion of Dengue and
Chikungunya in active surveillance program is proposed.
Sustainable Development Goals
A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master's in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
Technology
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES