Neglected Tropical Diseases in Tanzania: Local Community Knowledge and Health System Strategies

What is it about?

Tanzania has made major progress in reducing neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through education programs and mass drug administration (MDA). However, climate change is creating new challenges across East Africa. Changes in rainfall and rising temperatures are affecting where disease-carrying insects and other vectors live and how many there are. As a result, current approaches to preventing and controlling NTDs may become less effective over time. This study explored what communities need from NTD risk communication and how those needs compare with the strategies used by health workers and regional health leaders in two districts of northern Tanzania: Arusha and Monduli. The research team reviewed climate-related NTD communication materials used in the study area. They also held five focus group discussions with 44 people from peri-urban and rural communities and conducted 13 interviews in English and Swahili with doctors (3), nurses (3), veterinarians (2), and health administrators (5). The study identified how community members prefer to receive information about NTDs and examined how health professionals currently share this information. It also explored ways to better match community needs with health communication strategies as the climate continues to change.

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The findings show important gaps between the information communities want and the information they receive. They also highlighted major differences in the resources available to urban and rural communities, and recommend more equitable approaches to NTD risk communication.

Perspectives