PRACTICE OF WOMEN AGED 25-49 YEARS IN RELATION TO CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING IN ENTEBBE MUNICIPALITY, WAKISO DISTRICT, UGANDA. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among Ugandan women of reproductive age. Unfortunately, despite the evidence of methods for prevention, most of the women remain unscreened. In addition, current estimates indicate that 6,413 Ugandan women are diagnosed annually with 4301 deaths. The main purpose of this study was to investigate practice in relation to Cervical Cancer Screening among women aged between 25-49 years in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso district. Method:  This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed practices in relation to Cervical Cancer screening among women aged between 25-49 years in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District; Proportionate sampling was used to select 246 participants from each division for interviews. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the study participants. Collected data was cleaned, coded, and entered in MS Excel spreadsheet 2013 and it was then exported to EPI- INFO Version 7 statistical software for Windows for analysis. The study findings were then presented using tables, graphs, and charts Results:  Only 17.07% of Women in Entebbe Municipality had screened for Cervical Cancer. 76.7% screened only once, 38.88% screened because of awareness that is created, and 30% screened during outreaches. Conclusion:  Cervical cancer screening is still low among women in Entebbe Municipality thus leading to poor actual practice. Recommendation: There is a need to further educate women and the general public on the availability and need for Cervical Cancer screening

Predictors of sleeping under cost-free mosquito bed nets among children under-five years in Mbarara, Uganda: a household survey

Background: In 2010, Uganda Malaria Control Programme distributed cost-free mosquito bed nets to households with children under-five years and pregnant women in selected sub-counties. We assessed the factors associated with sleeping under costfree mosquito nets among children under-five years in Nyakayojo sub-county, Mbarara District, Uganda. Methods: 381 households with at least a child under-five years and benefited from cost-free bed nets in Nyakayojo were randomly selected. Caregivers of children were interviewed using a questionnaire. Results: 74% children slept under bed nets a night before the study. Children from households with 652 nets [aOR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.09-2.81, p=0.02], female caregiver [aOR=2.11; 95% CI: 1.16-3.79, p=0.01] and children from households that did not face problems (skin irritation, torn nets, suffocation, night sweating, nasal congestion and candle fire) when sleeping under bed nets [aOR=1.81; 95% CI: 1.10-2.98, p=0.02] were more likely to use nets. Main reason for not sleeping under a net was damage to the net (47.1%). Conclusion: The proportion of children sleeping under nets was comparable to MDG target. Improvements in use of mosquito nets by children can be achieved through increasing number of nets in a household. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.7 Cite as: Andinda M, Mulogo E, Turyakira E, Batwala V. Predictors of sleeping under cost-free mosquito bed nets among children under-five years in Mbarara, Uganda: a household survey. Afri Health Sci. 2019;19(1): 1353-1360. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i1.

Using Action Research to Address Poor Waste Management at Kijjabwemi C/U Primary School in Kijjabwemi Suburb, Masaka City.

Background: This action research (AR) project was carried out at Kijjabwemi C/U Primary school at Kijjabwemi suburb of Kimaanya-Kabonera division of the newly formed Masaka City to identify, analyze, prioritize and identify solutions to address a health problem of priority at this setting using the locally accessible and available resources. Methodology: A participatory rural appraisal approach (PRA) guided how this research achieved its objectives right from the collection of information about the health challenges faced by this school. Data was collected using Focus group discussions, interviewing, and transect walk methods. Although the majority of data is qualitative, quantitative data is as well used especially where voting on an issue took place. At prioritization, a two-phase approach conceptualized by 1) multi-level voting techniques and 2) the Hanlon method of specifying criteria, PEARL testing, and Priority scoring was adopted to priorities the most urgent, serious, and feasible problem. The five Why/What for the root cause analysis was used to analyze the problem. Results: Out of the twelve health problems enlisted as urgent and serious by over 50% of stakeholders in the first phase, Poor waste management was identified as a major and priority problem caused by the excessive distance between generation and final disposal point, lack of designated collection points as well as containers, time and irregularity of disposal, shallow waste disposal pit and lack of well develop enforceable guidelines. Conclusion and recommendation: Stakeholder-centered- learning about excellent waste management practices, utilizing transferable plastic bins of 40ml capacity, increasing the depth of the disposal pit as well as fencing it, and developing settings-oriented guidelines to increase vigilance for waste generation reduction, frequency of disposal, and burning of waste was implemented as interventions