Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39761293›Full record

ArticlePLOS global public health2025

Emergency care knowledge, utilization, and barriers in Northern Tanzania: A community-based survey.

Frida Shayo, Gregory Goodluck Zaccheus, Francis Sakita, Thiago Rocha Hernandes, Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci, Alexander Gordee, Maragatha Kuchibhatla, Michael Kiremeji, Linda Minja, Blandina T Mmbaga and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLOS global public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Frida ShayoKilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0779-8209
Gregory Goodluck ZaccheusKilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9675-9081
Francis SakitaKilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania.
Thiago Rocha HernandesDepartment of Health Analysis, Metrics and Evidence, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Joao Ricardo Nickenig VissociGlobal Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation (GEMINI) Research Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
Alexander GordeeDepartment of Biostatistics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9205-2948
Maragatha KuchibhatlaDepartment of Biostatistics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
Michael KiremejiEmergency Preparedness and Response, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Linda MinjaKilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania.
Blandina T MmbagaKilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania.
Catherine A StatonGlobal Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation (GEMINI) Research Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.
Elizabeth M KeatingDivision of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5263-6612
Anjni P JoinerGlobal Emergency Medicine Innovation and Implementation (GEMINI) Research Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8907-182X

Funding

P-KIDs CARE: An Intervention to Address Health Systems Delays to Care for Injured Children in TanzaniaK23HD112548 · NICHD · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · PI Elizabeth Marie Keating · 2023 to 2026
$695k
NICHD NIH HHS K23 HD112548
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEmergency care systems are critical to improving care for time-sensitive emergency conditions. The growth and development of these systems in Sub-Saharan Africa is becoming a priority. Layperson knowledge and recognition of emergency symptoms and subsequent care-seeking behavior are key to achieving timely access to care and appropriate treatment. This study aimed to assess community knowledge of emergency conditions as well as barriers to accessing the emergency care system in Northern Tanzania.

methodsThis was a cross-sectional study of households in three districts in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania from June to September 2021. The primary outcome was an inappropriate response to any of five hypothetical emergency conditions. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of household emergencies and delay in care access for those with emergency conditions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Associations between the outcome of interest and select household characteristics were analyzed using Fisher's Exact tests for categorical measures and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous measures.

resultsA total of 539 households were interviewed with 2,274 participants. The majority (46.8%) were from Moshi District Council. 73.7% used cash and/or had no insurance. The mean monthly household income was 226,107.6 Tanzanian Shillings. 76 (14.1%) households reported experiencing an emergency condition in the past year and 225 (41.7%) of respondents had an inappropriate response to at least one hypothetical emergency condition. A higher proportion of those with delayed access to healthcare paid with personal cash and a lower proportion had national health insurance. A higher proportion of those with inappropriate responses to hypothetical emergency conditions lived in rural districts, were uninsured, and had a lower mean income.

conclusionCommunity-dwelling adults in Northern Tanzania have significant gaps in understanding of emergency care conditions and delayed access to care for these conditions. Distance to the healthcare facilities, cost, and lack of insurance may contribute to care delays. Increasing insurance coverage and developing emergency medical services may improve access to care.

Identifiers

PMID39761293
PMCPMC11703045

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.