44 research outputs found
Incidence of home delivery among women living with HIV in Lira, Northern Uganda: a prospective cohort study
Background
Home delivery has been associated with mother-to-child transmission of HIV and remains high among HIV-infected women. Predictors for home delivery in the context of HIV have not been fully studied and understood in Northern Uganda. We therefore aimed to find out the incidence and risk factors for home delivery among women living with HIV in Lira, Northern Uganda.
Methods
This prospective cohort study was conducted between August 2018 and January 2020 in Lira district, Northern Uganda. A total of 505 HIV infected women receiving antenatal care at Lira regional referral hospital were enrolled consecutively and followed up at delivery. We used a structured questionnaire to obtain data on exposures which included: socio-demographic, reproductive-related and HIV-related characteristics. Data was analysed using Stata version 14.0 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas, U.S.A.). We estimated adjusted risk ratios using Poisson regression models to ascertain risk factors for the outcome of interest which was home delivery (which is delivering an infant outside a health facility setting under the supervision of a non-health worker).
Results
The incidence of home delivery among women living with HIV was 6.9% (95%CI: 4.9–9.5%). Single women were more likely to deliver at home (adjusted risk ratio = 4.27, 95%CI: 1.66–11). Women whose labour started in the night (night time onset of labour ARR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.18–0.86) and those that were adherent to their ART (ARR = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.13–0.86) were less likely to deliver at home.
Conclusion
Home delivery remains high among women living with HIV especially those that do not have a partner. We recommend intensified counselling on birth planning and preparedness in the context of HIV and PMTCT especially for women who are: separated, divorced, widowed or never married and those that are not adherent to their ART.publishedVersio
“Your heart keeps bleeding”: lived experiences of parents with a perinatal death in Northern Uganda
Background: Worldwide, two million babies are stillborn and 1.8 million babies die before completing seven days of life. Approximately 4% of pregnant women in Uganda experience perinatal death. The response following a perinatal death tends to be socio-culturally constructed. Investigating the unique personal experiences of parents from a low-income setting with unique cultural beliefs and practices is crucial for the design and implementation of appropriate interventions.
Objective: To describe the lived experiences of parents following perinatal death in Lira district, Northern Uganda.
Methods: A qualitative study was carried out drawing on the tenets of descriptive phenomenology. We conducted 32 in-depth interviews in Lira district, Northern Uganda between August 2019 and September 2020 with 18 women and 14 men who had experienced a stillbirth or an early neonatal death within the preceding 2 years. Participants were selected from different families and interviewed. A local IRB approved the study. All in-depth interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and data were analysed using a content thematic approach. Key findings were discussed based on Worden’s Four Tasks of Mourning theory.
Results: The themes that emerged from the analyses included reaction to the perinatal loss and suggestions for support. The participants’ immediate reactions were pain, confusion, and feelings of guilt which were aggravated by the unsupportive behaviour of health care providers. Men cumulatively lost financial resources in addition to facing multiple stressful roles. Delayed reactions such as pain and worries were triggered by the sight of similar-age-babies, subsequent pregnancy losses, and marital challenges. Participants recommended emotional support and management of postnatal complications for parents faced with perinatal loss.
Conclusion: Losing a baby during the perinatal period in a resource-constrained setting negatively affected both gender. In addition, men suffered the loss of financial resources and the burden of multiple stressful roles. Acknowledging the pain and offering support to the grieving parents reinforce their coping with a perinatal loss. In addition to family and community members, health care providers need to provide emotional support and postnatal care to parents who experience perinatal death.publishedVersio
Inequity in utilization of health care facilities during childbirth: a community-based survey in post-conflict Northern Uganda
Aim
To assess inequity in utilization of health care facilities during childbirth and factors associated with home births in Lira district, Northern Uganda.
Subjects and methods
In 2016, we surveyed 930 mothers with children under the age of 2 years in Lira district, Northern Uganda. We used multiple correspondence analysis to construct the wealth index in quintiles, based on household assets. The concentration index is the measure of socioeconomic inequality used in this article, which we calculated using the Stata DASP package. We also conducted multivariable logistic regression to assess factors associated with home births.
Results
A third of mothers (n = 308) gave birth from home [33%, 95% confidence interval (CI) (26%–41%)]. Giving birth at a health facility was pro-rich with a concentration index of 0.10 [95% CI (0.05–0.14)]. Upon decomposing the concentration index, the most important determinant of inequity was the mother's residence. Factors associated with home births in multivariable logistic regression included rural residence [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.1, 95% CI (1.8–5.3)], precipitate labor [AOR 4.18, 95% CI (2.61–6.71)], and labor starting in the evening or at night. Mothers who had previously given birth from home were more likely to give birth at home again [AOR 40.70, 95% CI (18.70–88.61)], whereas mothers who had experienced a complication during a previous birth were less likely to give birth at home [AOR 0.45, 95% CI (0.28–0.95)].
Conclusion
There was inequity in the utilization of health facilities for childbirth. Programs that promote health facility births should prioritize poorer mothers and those in rural areas.publishedVersio
Vaginal colonization with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria among women in labor in central Uganda: prevalence and associated factors
Background
According to WHO ( CISMAC. Centre for Intervention Science in Maternal and Child health), the antimicrobial resistant bacteria considered to be clinically most important for human health and earmarked for surveillance include extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B -resistant vancomycin-resistant (VRSA) Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). If these bacteria are carried in the female genital tract, they may be transmitted to the neonate causing local or systemic neonatal infections that can be difficult to treat with conventionally available antimicrobials. In order to develop effective treatment strategies, there is need for updated information about the prevalence of colonization with important antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
Objective
We sought to estimate the prevalence of vaginal colonization with potentially pathogenic and clinically important AMR bacteria among women in labour in Uganda and to identify factors associated with colonization.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-1 and HIV-2 negative women in labour at three primary health care facilities in Uganda. Drug susceptibility testing was done using the disk diffusion method on bacterial isolates cultured from vaginal swabs. We calculated the prevalence of colonization with potentially pathogenic and clinically important AMR bacteria, in addition to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, defined as bacteria resistant to antibiotics from ≥ 3 antibiotic classes.
Results
We found that 57 of the 1472 enrolled women (3.9% prevalence; 95% Confidence interval [CI] 3.0%, 5.1%) were colonized with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceace, 27 (1.8%; 95% CI 1.2%, 2.6%) were colonized with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and 85 (5.8%; 95% CI 4.6%, 7.1%) were colonized with MRSA. The prevalence of colonization with MDR bacteria was high (750/1472; 50.9%; 95% CI 48.4%, 53.5%). Women who were ≥ 30 years of age had higher odds of being colonized with MDR bacteria compared to women aged 20–24 years (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1, 2.2).
Conclusion
Most of the women included in our study were vaginally colonized with potentially pathogenic MDR and other clinically important AMR bacteria. The high prevalence of colonization with these bacteria is likely to further increase the incidence of difficult-to-treat neonatal sepsis.publishedVersio
Perinatal death in Northern Uganda: incidence and risk factors in a community-based prospective cohort study
Background: Perinatal mortality in Uganda remains high at 38 deaths/1,000 births, an estimate greater than the every newborn action plan (ENAP) target of ≤24/1,000 births by 2030. To improve perinatal survival, there is a need to understand the persisting risk factors for death.
Objective: We determined the incidence, risk factors, and causes of perinatal death in Lira district, Northern Uganda.
Methods: This was a community-based prospective cohort study among pregnant women in Lira district, Northern Uganda. Female community volunteers identified pregnant women in each household who were recruited at ≥28 weeks of gestation and followed until 50 days postpartum. Information on perinatal survival was gathered from participants within 24 hours after childbirth and at 7 days postpartum. The cause of death was ascertained using verbal autopsies. We used generalized estimating equations of the Poisson family to determine the risk factors for perinatal death.
Results: Of the 1,877 women enrolled, the majority were ≤30 years old (79.8%), married or cohabiting (91.3%), and had attained only a primary education (77.7%). There were 81 perinatal deaths among them, giving a perinatal mortality rate of 43/1,000 births [95% confidence interval (95% CI: 35, 53)], of these 37 were stillbirths (20 deaths/1,000 total births) and 44 were early neonatal deaths (23 deaths/1,000 live births). Birth asphyxia, respiratory failure, infections and intra-partum events were the major probable contributors to perinatal death. The risk factors for perinatal death were nulliparity at enrolment (adjusted IRR 2.7, [95% CI: 1.3, 5.6]) and maternal age >30 years (adjusted IRR 2.5, [95% CI: 1.1, 5.8]).
Conclusion: The incidence of perinatal death in this region was higher than had previously been reported in Uganda. Risk factors for perinatal mortality were nulliparity and maternal age >30 years. Pregnant women in this region need improved access to care during pregnancy and childbirth.publishedVersio
Impact of early continuous positive airway pressure in the delivery room (DR-CPAP) on neonates < 1500 g in a low-resource setting: a protocol for a pilot feasibility and acceptability randomized controlled trial
Background
Preterm birth is the leading cause of childhood mortality, and respiratory distress syndrome is the predominant cause of these deaths. Early continuous positive airway pressure is effective in high-resource settings, reducing the rate of continuous positive airway pressure failure, and the need for mechanical ventilation and surfactant. However, most deaths in preterm infants occur in low-resource settings without access to mechanical ventilation or surfactant. We hypothesize that in such settings, early continuous positive airway pressure will reduce the rate of failure and therefore preterm mortality.
Methods
This is a mixed methods feasibility and acceptability, single-center pilot randomized control trial of early continuous positive airway pressure among infants with birthweight 800-1500 g. There are two parallel arms: (i) application of continuous positive airway pressure; with optional oxygen when indicated; applied in the delivery room within 15 min of birth; transitioning to bubble continuous positive airway pressure after admission to the neonatal unit if Downes Score ≥ 4 (intervention), (ii) supplementary oxygen at delivery when indicated; transitioning to bubble continuous positive airways pressure after admission to the neonatal unit if Downes Score ≥ 4 (control). A two-stage consent process (verbal consent during labor, followed by full written consent within 24 h of birth) and a low-cost third-party allocation process for randomization will be piloted. We will use focus group discussions and key informant interviews to explore the acceptability of the intervention, two-stage consent process, and trial design. We will interview healthcare workers, mothers, and caregivers of preterm infants. Feasibility will be assessed by the proportion of infants randomized within 15 min of delivery; the proportion of infants in the intervention arm receiving CPAP within 15 min of delivery; and the proportion of infants with primary and secondary outcomes measured successfully.
Discussion
This pilot trial will enhance our understanding of methods and techniques that can enable emergency neonatal research to be carried out effectively, affordably, and acceptably in low-resource settings. This mixed-methods approach will allow a comprehensive exploration of parental and healthcare worker perceptions, experiences, and acceptance of the intervention and trial design.
Trial registration
The study is registered on the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) PACTR202208462613789. Registered 08 August 2022. https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=23888
Maternal and umbilical cord blood lactate for predicting perinatal death: a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial.
BackgroundIn high resource settings, lactate and pH levels measured from fetal scalp and umbilical cord blood are widely used as predictors of perinatal mortality. However, the same is not true in low resource settings, where much of perinatal mortality occurs. The scalability of this practice has been hindered by difficulty in collecting fetal scalp and umbilical blood sample. Little is known about the use of alternatives such as maternal blood, which is easier and safer to obtain. Therefore, we aimed to compare maternal and umbilical cord blood lactate levels for predicting perinatal deaths.MethodsThis was secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of sodium bicarbonate on maternal and perinatal outcomes among women with obstructed labour at Mbale regional referral hospital in Eastern Uganda. Lactate concentration in maternal capillary, myometrial, umbilical venous and arterial blood was measured at the bedside using a lactate Pro 2 device (Akray, Japan Shiga) upon diagnosis of obstructed labour. We constructed Receiver Operating Characteristic curves to compare the predictive ability of maternal and umbilical cord lactate and the optimal cutoffs calculated basing on the maximal Youden and Liu indices.ResultsPerinatal mortality risk was: 102.2 deaths per 1,000 live births: 95% CI (78.1-130.6). The areas under the ROC curves were 0.86 for umbilical arterial lactate, 0.71 for umbilical venous lactate, and 0.65 for myometrial lactate, 0.59 for maternal lactate baseline, and 0.65 at1hr after administration of bicarbonate. The optimal cutoffs for predicting perinatal death were 15 0.85 mmol/L for umbilical arterial lactate, 10.15mmol/L for umbilical venous lactate, 8.75mmol/L for myometrial lactate, and 3.95mmol/L for maternal lactate at recruitment and 7.35mmol/L after 1Â h.ConclusionMaternal lactate was a poor predictor of perinatal death, but umbilical artery lactate has a high predictive value. There is need for future studies on the utility of amniotic fluid in predicting intrapartum perinatal deaths
Universal antiretroviral therapy for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Northern Uganda : Studies on determinants, adherence, breastfeeding and viral load
Background:
Uganda’s decrease in mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) has
stagnated, making it almost impossible to achieve the target of zero new HIV infections.
Objectives:
The aim of this study has been to determine, among a group of HIV infected women enrolled on universal antiretroviral treatment in Lira, Northern Uganda, the prevalence and factors associated with: a) unintended pregnancy, b) detectable viral load, c) infant nevirapine prophylaxis, and d) exclusive breastfeeding.
Methods:
A survey of 518 HIV-infected pregnant women in 2018 was to determine the prevalence and predictors for unintended pregnancy. Of the 518, 420 had their viral load monitored, from which we determined the risk factors for detectable viral load. These women were followed up on delivery and at 6 weeks when 472 mothers and their babies
were included in a prospective cohort analysis to measure barriers and enablers of adherence to infant nevirapine prophylaxis. The mother-infant pairs were followed up until 14 weeks, at which point the incidence and risk factors for non-exclusive breastfeeding were
longitudinally measured. Data were analysed using logistic regression models and generalised estimation equations for the Poisson family.
Results:
Of the 518 women enrolled in the study, 213 (41.1%) had unintended pregnancy (95% Confidence interval (CI): 36.8% - 45.5). Risk factors for unintended pregnancy were being single (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.74, 95% CI: 1.67 – 8.34), higher parity (parity of ≥5; AOR= 2.79, 95% CI: 1.85 – 4.22) and long-term ART (≥10 years; AOR=3.69, 95%
CI: 1.57 – 8.67). Detectable viral load (>50 copies/ml) was prevalent among 120 women [120/420; 30.7%: 95% CI: 26.3 - 35.4%)] and viral non-suppression (>1000 copies/ml) was at 8.1% (34/420; 95% CI: 5.7 – 11.1%). Factors associated with detectable viral load that
did not belong to the Lango ethnicity were: (other ethnicity: AOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.05 – 3.90), and taking a second-line regimen (protease inhibitor-based: AOR = 4.41, 95% CI: 1.13 – 17.22). A number of the infants did not keep to their nevirapine prophylaxis at 6 weeks of age (70/472; 14.8%, 95% CI: 11.7-18.4%). Barriers to infant adherence were
younger maternal age (≤20 years; adjusted risk ratio (ARR) =1.55; 95% CI: 1.1 – 2.2), did not take a viral load test during pregnancy (ARR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1 – 1.7), and mothers not receiving nevirapine syrup for the baby after childbirth (ARR = 6.2; 95% CI: 5.1 – 7.6).
Enablers were maternal characteristics including: having attained ≥14 years of schooling Mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Northern Uganda (ARR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5 – 0.9), taking a nevirapine-based regimen (ARR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4 – 0.9), being on long-term ART (≥ 60 months ARR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.6 – 0.9), being accompanied by a husband to hospital during labour and childbirth (ARR = 0.5; 95% CI:
0.4 – 0.7) and labour pains starting at night (ARR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.6 – 0.8). The rate of exclusive breastfeeding decreased with increasing age of the infants, and by 14 weeks of age almost half were not exclusively breastfeeding (200/466; 42.9%, 95% CI: 38.3-47.5%). Risk
factors for non-exclusive breastfeeding included the mother: belonging to the highest socioeconomic strata (ARR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.01 – 2.1), delivering under the supervision of a non-health worker (ARR=1.6, 95% CI: 1.01 – 2.7), and the mother not adhering to her ART during pregnancy (ARR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.7).
Conclusion: HIV infected women at risk of infecting their infants include the younger age
group, unmarried, non-native to Lira, non-adherent to ART, have recently just began taking ART, had deliveries unsupervised by a health worker, and those that did not receive nevirapine syrup for their infant after childbirth. We recommend that attention should be focused on these critical groups during the implementation of PMTCT programs in Lira, Northern Uganda and in contexts similar to it
Annual burden of disease in Nakaale, Karamoja: A descriptive, cross-sectional study.
Even with global Sustainable Development Goals aimed at reducing poverty by reaching those furthest behind first and reducing inequalities within countries, regions like Karamoja continue to score low on many health indices. To understand the Karamoja context, we aimed to systematically describe the burden of disease in Nakaale, which is a hard-to-reach parish in Nakapiripirit District, through disaggregated data. This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2019. We relied on secondary data collected from all clients seen at Akisyon a Yesu Presbyterian Clinic's outpatient department in Nakaale. Data was extracted from Uganda's Health Management Information System records using Excel and exported to Stata for analysis. We labelled, categorised, and estimated frequencies and proportions for the variables. We estimated the means and medians for normally distributed or skewed variables respectively. A total of 14,685 observations, different diagnoses (n = 163) and residential locations or villages (n = 189) were extracted and included in the analysis. Nearly half (48.9%) of the clients were under the age of five years. Infectious diseases (42%), respiratory diseases (19%), and gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases (17%) were most commonly reported. While many clients (42%) reside in the sub-county where the health facility is located, a larger proportion (58%) came from further away, including 15% from outside of the local district. In conclusion, Akiyson a Yesu Presbyterian Clinic serves a very young population in a catchment area well beyond what is expected of a Health Centre II, in breadth of diagnoses, geographically, and in sheer numbers. Data gathered in this study will inform policy at the clinic, subcounty, and district levels enabling accurate health service delivery for the local context
Treatment outcome of the implementation of HIV test and treat policy at The AIDs Support Organization (TASO) Tororo clinic, Eastern Uganda: A retrospective cohort study.
BackgroundUganda has been making progress towards universal HIV test and treat since 2013 and the 2016 test and treat policy was expanded from the 2013 guidelines. The expanded policy was rolled out in 2017 across the country. The treatment outcomes of this new policy have not yet been assessed at program level. The objective of this study was to determine the treatment outcome of the HIV test and treat policy in TASO Tororo Clinic, Eastern Uganda.MethodologyThis was a retrospective cohort study using secondary data. The study involved 580 clients who were newly diagnosed HIV positive in TASO Tororo clinic between June 2017 and May 2018, who were then followed up for ART initiation, retention in care, viral load monitoring and viral load suppression. The data was analyzed using Stat 14.0 version statistical software application.ResultsOf the 580 clients, 93.1%(540) were adults aged ≥20 years. The uptake of test and treat was at 92.4%(536) and 12 months retention was at 78.7% (422). The factors associated with retention in care were a) being counselled before ART initiation, AOR 2.41 (95%CI, 1.56-3.71), b) having a treatment supporter, AOR 1.57 (95%CI, 1.02-2.43) and having an opportunistic infection, AOR 2.99 (95%CI:1.21-7.41). The viral load coverage was 52.4% (221) and viral load suppression rate was 89.1% (197) of clients monitored. Age ConclusionThis study found high uptake of ART under test and treat policy, with very low viral load coverage, and a high viral load suppression rate among those monitored. The study therefore highlights a need to differentiate viral load testing based on the population needs and ensure each client testing positive receives pre-ART initiation counselling so as to improve retention in care