A Dissertation Report Submitted to the School of Public Administration and
Management in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award Degree of
Master of Health Systems Management (MHSM) of Mzumbe University
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a medical and clinical challenge as it has a cost on
lives of many people worldwide. The incidence and prevalence of CKD has increased in
the recent years in both developed and developing countries, including Sub – Saharan
Africa. In Tanzania for instance, the CKD prevalence has been reported to be 14 %.
Studies have revealed that there was an alarmingly high prevalence of CKD among the
Tanzanian adult diabetics attending outpatient clinic with more than 80% of diabetic
outpatients having CKD.
This study, adopted a cross-sectional study design. Data were collected from 3 selected
hospitals namely; TMJ, Herbert Kairuki, Acces located in Dar es Salaam region. Data
were collected from 91 CKD patients by means of filling the questionnaires. A semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data. Secondary data were obtained from reviewing patient’s registers and files from Renal, Cardiac and Diabetic clinics in
selected hospitals. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 19.
The results showed that majority of the patients with CKD were males who accounted
for 63.7% and aged people (61 years and above) accounted for 33%. Moreover, it
showed that married people and those employed/and or retired they accounted for 81.3%
and 64.8% respectively. Furthermore, it was revealed that patients with CKD had little
knowledge about the factors that influence the CKD. While the results furhter revealed
that 92.3% of the patients with CKD had not acquired health education about the
prevention of CKD before being sick, 88.6% of all patients with CKD who responded
had the view that health education provided on kidney disease is not enough. Finally,
about 48.4% of respondents had the view that socio-economic status is responsible for
the CKD.
This study concludes that lack of knowledge is one of the key drivers to the increased
prevalence of CKD among the patients who were enrolled in the study. In addition,
health education provided about CKD was found to be insufficient and wherever
provided reached few people.
This study strongly recommends that education should be given on how to prevent and
control kidney disease, education on eating behaviors as well on physical activities.
Finally education and health promotion should also be provided to the community on
diseases that lead to development of kidney problems