J R Mwanga
Biographic Data
| ID | 279590 |
|---|---|
| NAME | J R Mwanga |
| GIVEN NAMES | J R |
| FAMILY NAME | Mwanga |
| SIGNATURE | MWANGA J R |
| AFFILIATIONS | National Institute for Medical Research |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0277-227X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 8 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1998 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Unpacking ‘irrational’ behaviours
Stewardship of antibiotic medicines will likely play a key role in curtailing the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally. In East Africa, drug sellers are a critical group for interventions because they often dispense without prescription and violate regulations designed to facilitate antibiotic stewardship. Currently, measures to tackle regulatory avoidance are often rooted in individuated cognitive-behavioural approaches that label sel…
Treatment seeking behaviours, antibiotic use and relationships to multi-drug resistance
Antibacterial resistance (ABR) is a major public health threat. An important accelerating factor is treatment-seeking behaviour, including inappropriate antibiotic (AB) use. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) this includes taking ABs with and without prescription sourced from various providers, including health facilities and community drug sellers. However, investigations of complex treatment-seeking, AB use and drug resistance in …
Treatment seeking and antibiotic use for urinary tract infection symptoms in the time of Covid-19 in Tanzania and Uganda
Background: There is still little empirical evidence on how the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated regulations may have disrupted care-seeking for non-COVID-19 conditions or affected antibiotic behaviours in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to investigate the differences in treatment-seeking behaviours and antibiotic use for urinary tract infection (UTI)-like symptoms before and during the pandemic at…
Challenges in accessing health care and socio-protection services among children living and working in streets in northwestern Tanzania
The escalating number of Children Living and Working in Streets (CLWS) in Tanzania has become one of the neglected Public Health issues. It is of more concern that, most of the CLWS hardly have access to health care and socio-protection services as a result, increase their vulnerability to infections and engagement in risky behaviors such as early unprotected sex. Currently, efforts by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to work with and assist CL…
Monitoring, reporting and regulating medicine quality
In 2012, the WHO launched its Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) for substandard and falsified medicines, with the aim of improving the quality of reporting and using the data to inform post-market surveillance and build regulatory capacity. However, from a regulatory governance perspective, its effectiveness depends on the willingness and ability of actors ‘on the ground’ to identify, report and investigate possible infringements a…
Community knowledge, perceptions and water contact practices associated with transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in an endemic region
Use of Schistosoma haematobium contaminated water sources for daily domestic and recreational use facilitated contraction of urinary schistosomiasis among community members in Shinyanga district. People's perceptions of urinary schistosomiasis as a less priority health problem promoted persistence of the disease. Future efforts to control urinary schistosomiasis should take into account integrated approaches combining water, sanitation and hygien…
The application of Signalling Theory to health-related trust problems
In contexts where healthcare regulation is weak and levels of uncertainty high, how do patients decide whom and what to trust? In this paper, we explore the potential for using Signalling Theory (ST, a form of Behavioural Game Theory) to investigate health-related trust problems under conditions of uncertainty, using the empirical example of 'herbal clinics' in Ghana and Tanzania. Qualitative, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted over an eight-mo…
Feasibility and acceptability of delivering adolescent health interventions alongside HPV vaccination in Tanzania
BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination offers an opportunity to strengthen provision of adolescent health interventions (AHI). We explored the feasibility of integrating other AHI with HPV vaccination in Tanzania. METHODS: A desk review of 39 policy documents was preceded by a stakeholder meeting with 38 policy makers and partners. Eighteen key informant interviews (KIIs) with health and education policy makers and district officials …
Acceptability of medical male circumcision in the traditionally circumcising communities in Northern Tanzania
There is a shift of preference from traditional male circumcision to medical male circumcision in this traditionally circumcising population. However, this preference has not changed the circumcision practices in the communities because of the community social pressure. Male circumcision national program should take advantage of this preference of medical male circumcision by introducing safe and affordable circumcision services and mobilising co…
Policy environment and male circumcision for HIV prevention
Findings from the situation analysis in Tanzania have shown that despite the absence of a specific policy on MC, basic elements of enabling policy environment at national, regional, district and community levels are in place for the implementation of MC scale up programme
"Half plate of rice to a male casual sexual partner, full plate belongs to the husband"
HIV prevention efforts can succeed by addressing sexual behaviour and its socio-economic and cultural contexts. More innovative, interdisciplinary and productive structural approaches to HIV prevention need to be developed in close collaboration with affected communities and be closely related to policy-making and implementation; to go beyond the limited success of traditional behavioural and biomedical interventions to particularly address the u…
Knowledge, attitudes and practices about malaria among communities
Residents of Muleba district have high level of knowledge on malaria. However, this knowledge has not been fully translated into appropriate use of available malaria interventions. Our findings suggest that household location, ineffective usage of insecticide treated nets and knowledge gaps on malaria transmission, signs and symptoms, prevention and control predisposed communities in the district to malaria epidemics. It is important that health …
School children as health change agents in Magu, Tanzania
The feasibility of an action-oriented and participatory educational approach, where school children function as health change agents, in a rural community of (Magu district) Tanzania was explored. Observations, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with pupils, teachers and parents were undertaken. Findings showed that study participants favoured an approach where school children played an active role as health change agents in a combin…
Schistosomiasis-Related Perceptions, Attitudes and Treatment-Seeking Practices in Magu District, Tanzania
A study on perceptions, attitudes and treatment-seeking practices related to schistosomiasis was conducted among the Wasukuma in the rural Magu district of Tanzania at the shore of Lake Victoria where Schistosoma haematobium and mansoni infections are endemic. The study applied in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and a questionnaire survey among adults and primary school children. The perceived symptoms and causes were incongruous with t…
Experience from Video-Recorded Focus Group Discussion on Schistosomiases in Magu, Tanzania
Video-recorded focus group discussions were conducted to explore common perceived illnesses in a rural community coendemic for urinary and intestinal schistosomiases in Magu District, Tanzania. The ultimate goal was to construct a morbidity questionnaire on schistosomiases to be used as a screening tool in endemic communities. The findings suggest that video-recorded FGD was very instrumental in exploring community perceptions, attitudes, and pra…
The application of Signalling Theory to health-related trust problems
In contexts where healthcare regulation is weak and levels of uncertainty high, how do patients decide whom and what to trust? In this paper, we explore the potential for using Signalling Theory (ST, a form of Behavioural Game Theory) to investigate health-related trust problems under conditions of uncertainty, using the empirical example of 'herbal clinics' in Ghana and Tanzania. Qualitative, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted over an eight-mo…
Experience from Video-Recorded Focus Group Discussion on Schistosomiases in Magu, Tanzania
Video-recorded focus group discussions were conducted to explore common perceived illnesses in a rural community coendemic for urinary and intestinal schistosomiases in Magu District, Tanzania. The ultimate goal was to construct a morbidity questionnaire on schistosomiases to be used as a screening tool in endemic communities. The findings suggest that video-recorded FGD was very instrumental in exploring community perceptions, attitudes, and pra…
Schistosomiasis-Related Perceptions, Attitudes and Treatment-Seeking Practices in Magu District, Tanzania
A study on perceptions, attitudes and treatment-seeking practices related to schistosomiasis was conducted among the Wasukuma in the rural Magu district of Tanzania at the shore of Lake Victoria where Schistosoma haematobium and mansoni infections are endemic. The study applied in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and a questionnaire survey among adults and primary school children. The perceived symptoms and causes were incongruous with t…
School children as health change agents in Magu, Tanzania
The feasibility of an action-oriented and participatory educational approach, where school children function as health change agents, in a rural community of (Magu district) Tanzania was explored. Observations, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with pupils, teachers and parents were undertaken. Findings showed that study participants favoured an approach where school children played an active role as health change agents in a combin…
Knowledge, attitudes and practices about malaria among communities
Residents of Muleba district have high level of knowledge on malaria. However, this knowledge has not been fully translated into appropriate use of available malaria interventions. Our findings suggest that household location, ineffective usage of insecticide treated nets and knowledge gaps on malaria transmission, signs and symptoms, prevention and control predisposed communities in the district to malaria epidemics. It is important that health …
Acceptability of medical male circumcision in the traditionally circumcising communities in Northern Tanzania
There is a shift of preference from traditional male circumcision to medical male circumcision in this traditionally circumcising population. However, this preference has not changed the circumcision practices in the communities because of the community social pressure. Male circumcision national program should take advantage of this preference of medical male circumcision by introducing safe and affordable circumcision services and mobilising co…
Policy environment and male circumcision for HIV prevention
Findings from the situation analysis in Tanzania have shown that despite the absence of a specific policy on MC, basic elements of enabling policy environment at national, regional, district and community levels are in place for the implementation of MC scale up programme
"Half plate of rice to a male casual sexual partner, full plate belongs to the husband"
HIV prevention efforts can succeed by addressing sexual behaviour and its socio-economic and cultural contexts. More innovative, interdisciplinary and productive structural approaches to HIV prevention need to be developed in close collaboration with affected communities and be closely related to policy-making and implementation; to go beyond the limited success of traditional behavioural and biomedical interventions to particularly address the u…
Feasibility and acceptability of delivering adolescent health interventions alongside HPV vaccination in Tanzania
BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination offers an opportunity to strengthen provision of adolescent health interventions (AHI). We explored the feasibility of integrating other AHI with HPV vaccination in Tanzania. METHODS: A desk review of 39 policy documents was preceded by a stakeholder meeting with 38 policy makers and partners. Eighteen key informant interviews (KIIs) with health and education policy makers and district officials …
The application of Signalling Theory to health-related trust problems
In contexts where healthcare regulation is weak and levels of uncertainty high, how do patients decide whom and what to trust? In this paper, we explore the potential for using Signalling Theory (ST, a form of Behavioural Game Theory) to investigate health-related trust problems under conditions of uncertainty, using the empirical example of 'herbal clinics' in Ghana and Tanzania. Qualitative, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted over an eight-mo…
Community knowledge, perceptions and water contact practices associated with transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in an endemic region
Use of Schistosoma haematobium contaminated water sources for daily domestic and recreational use facilitated contraction of urinary schistosomiasis among community members in Shinyanga district. People's perceptions of urinary schistosomiasis as a less priority health problem promoted persistence of the disease. Future efforts to control urinary schistosomiasis should take into account integrated approaches combining water, sanitation and hygien…
Monitoring, reporting and regulating medicine quality
In 2012, the WHO launched its Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) for substandard and falsified medicines, with the aim of improving the quality of reporting and using the data to inform post-market surveillance and build regulatory capacity. However, from a regulatory governance perspective, its effectiveness depends on the willingness and ability of actors ‘on the ground’ to identify, report and investigate possible infringements a…
Challenges in accessing health care and socio-protection services among children living and working in streets in northwestern Tanzania
The escalating number of Children Living and Working in Streets (CLWS) in Tanzania has become one of the neglected Public Health issues. It is of more concern that, most of the CLWS hardly have access to health care and socio-protection services as a result, increase their vulnerability to infections and engagement in risky behaviors such as early unprotected sex. Currently, efforts by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to work with and assist CL…
Treatment seeking behaviours, antibiotic use and relationships to multi-drug resistance
Antibacterial resistance (ABR) is a major public health threat. An important accelerating factor is treatment-seeking behaviour, including inappropriate antibiotic (AB) use. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) this includes taking ABs with and without prescription sourced from various providers, including health facilities and community drug sellers. However, investigations of complex treatment-seeking, AB use and drug resistance in …
Treatment seeking and antibiotic use for urinary tract infection symptoms in the time of Covid-19 in Tanzania and Uganda
Background: There is still little empirical evidence on how the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated regulations may have disrupted care-seeking for non-COVID-19 conditions or affected antibiotic behaviours in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to investigate the differences in treatment-seeking behaviours and antibiotic use for urinary tract infection (UTI)-like symptoms before and during the pandemic at…
Unpacking ‘irrational’ behaviours
Stewardship of antibiotic medicines will likely play a key role in curtailing the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) globally. In East Africa, drug sellers are a critical group for interventions because they often dispense without prescription and violate regulations designed to facilitate antibiotic stewardship. Currently, measures to tackle regulatory avoidance are often rooted in individuated cognitive-behavioural approaches that label sel…
Medicine (12 works) · Tanzania (12 works) · Nursing (10 works) · Public health (9 works) · Socioeconomics (9 works) · Environmental health (7 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Biostatistics (5 works) · Family medicine (5 works) · Geography (5 works)