To explore the experiences of different stakeholders on the balance of package training and deployment of highly skilled Human Resources for Health for specialised services in Tanzania.

An exploratory qualitative case study was used as part of a larger tracer study conducted by Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) for its postgraduate programmes being a requirement for quality assurance. Semi-structured interview guides were used for in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Qualitative content analysis was adopted to analyse the data.

The trace study was carried out in all seven geopolitical zones of the Tanzania mainland and Unguja in Zanzibar.

We conducted 14 FGDs and 301 IDIs. Participants included alumni, immediate supervisors at employment sites, MUHAS faculty, continuing students at MUHAS and management of professional councils in Tanzania.

Key findings revealed variations in demands and recognition within the scheme of services, even after registration by professional councils. Five main themes emerged from the qualitative interviews: Package training to improve service provision, Unprofessional collegial relationships or issues related to professionalism within interdisciplinary teams, Silence of scheme services on super specialisation in the medical cadre, Silence of scheme services on specialisation in the nursing cadre, Integrated scheme of services for specialties in pharmacy.

The findings highlight the demand for specialised training, challenges with professionalism and inconsistencies in the recognition and remuneration of specialists across medical, nursing and pharmacy cadres within existing service schemes. There is a need for harmonisation between specialisation/super specialisation and the scheme of services. This harmonisation is crucial to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services. Furthermore, harmonisation requires multistakeholder engagement to realise universal health coverage strategies.

Heroin users have a high burden of respiratory morbidity, including premature lung function impairment. Further, methadone treatment has been found to aggravate lung function impairment and can independently cause asthma. However, the lung function status among heroin users on medication-assisted therapy (MAT) in Tanzania is yet to be studied. This study aimed to assess the magnitude, pattern and factors associated with lung function impairment among heroin users on MAT.

This was a quantitative, analytical cross-sectional study.

This study was conducted at MAT Clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Individuals aged 18 years or above with heroin use disorder on stable dose of methadone without heroin withdrawal symptoms (Maintenance Phase of Treatment) were recruited.

Participants were enrolled through systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire, and lung functions were measured using a spirometer. Lung function impairment was defined as the percentage of participants with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)

We enrolled 302 participants into the study (mean age of 42.78±7.56 years). Lung function impairment was observed in 28.5% of participants, with an average age of 44±8 years. Restrictive lung disease was the most common pattern of lung function impairment affecting 13.2% of the participants. The predictors of lung function impairment were being underweight (OR) 4.73, 95% CI) 2.61–8.59, p

Heroin users on MAT have a high magnitude of lung function impairment. Routine lung function testing is recommended.

To evaluate and compare documentation completeness of HIV-related data by age group (children, adolescents and adults) in Haiti’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.

Cross-sectional evaluation.

EMR data for 36 965 enrolment visits, and 123 608 return visits from 58 facilities in Haiti (from 2016 to 2022).

Children, adolescents and adults accessing HIV care and treatment services in Haiti.

Health facility attendance for HIV-related healthcare.

Level of data completeness, as a measure of data quality. We developed Composite Completeness Scores (CCS scores) to measure data completeness. Lower scores meant lower completeness. Generalised linear models were used to investigate factors associated with completeness.

At the enrolment visit, most patients were adults (81.6%) and female (56.7%). Most facilities were health centres (75.9%). The overall average enrolment visit CCS score was 54.0%. At enrolment, being a child (CCS score difference=–7.08, 95% CI: –11.31 to –2.86) and a more recent year of enrolment (–6.01, 95% CI: –11.69 to –0.33) were significantly associated with lower completeness scores than being an adult and having an earlier year of enrolment, respectively. The overall average return visit CCS score was 49.6%. At the return visit, children (–6.76, 95% CI: –10.07 to –3.45) had significantly lower average completeness scores than adults. For first viral load documentation, children had lower odds of completeness compared with adults (adjusted OR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.28). Sex, year of enrolment, facility ownership (public, private, mixed), total patient volume and duration of EMR use were not significantly associated with completeness of documentation at the enrolment and return visits.

We observed disparities in electronic data completeness by age group, which may be indicative of digital health disparities. Documentation was particularly poor among children and declined over time for enrolment visits. Further research is needed to understand and address these documentation gaps.