Interpersonal mistreatment in the workplace: implications for target's identities, emotions and behaviour

The program of research presented herein investigates some fundamental aspects of the relationship between targets’ experiences of interpersonal mistreatment, and targets’ identities. Extending ideas from Identity Theory, I propose and test a perceptual control system model of the interpersonal mistreatment-identity-outcome relationship in which I argue (i) that different acts of interpersonal mistreatment activate the different bases of targets’ identities: the person, social, and role identities, and (ii) that interpersonal mistreatment results in the non-verification – a form of identity threat – of these activated identities. Furthermore, I situate targets’ negative emotional responses both as an outcome of the perceived non-verification of targets’ identities, and a mediator of the relationship between identity non-verification and targets’ subsequent behavioral responses. I examine three behavioral responses: avoidance, retaliation, and reconciliation. Additionally, I explore how a property of targets’ identities - identity centrality - influences targets’ negative affective reactions, paying a closer look at the discrete emotions evoked by such experiences. Two different kinds of experimental techniques – a vignette study and an experiential sampling method (ESM) – were used to test the various hypothesized relationships. Findings from the present research reveal that interpersonal mistreatment activates and threatens each of the three identity bases that form targets’ self-concepts and as such, poses a variety of implications for targets’ identities, emotions and behaviors

Prevalence, morphological characterization, and associated factors of anemia among children below 5 years of age attending St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu District, Northern Uganda

Apollo Ocan,1 Caesar Oyet,1 Fred Webbo,1,2 Bashir Mwambi,1 Ivan Mugisha Taremwa1 1Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Clarke International University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Lancet Laboratories, Kampala, Uganda Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, severity, morphological characterization, and the associated factors of anemia among children under the age of 5 years at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu District, Northern Uganda.Materials and methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to each participant’s parent/caregiver to collect data on sociodemographic factors, feeding pattern, and history of chronic illness. Hemoglobin (Hb) estimation was performed using a HemoCue 201+ analyzer. Peripheral thin and thick blood films were made from venous blood and stained with Giemsa to morphologically characterize red blood cells (RBCs) and investigate hemoparasites, respectively. We collected and examined stool specimens from each participant using wet preparations and formol–ether concentration technique for intestinal parasites. Descriptive statistics was used to describe study participants and to determine the prevalence of anemia. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine the factors associated with acquiring anemia at a P-value≤ 0.05.Results: The study enrolled 343 children below the age of 5 years. Of these, 62.7% (N=215) were females. The IQR, median, and mean Hb levels were 5.1±3.2 g/dL, 8.2 g/dL, and 7.9 g/dL, respectively. Overall, 160 (46.6%, 95% CI: 42.1–51.46) children had anemia. The magnitude of severe, moderate, and mild anemia was 11.9%, 58.8%, and 29.4%, respectively. Morphologic characterization of anemia revealed hypochromic-microcytic (65.4%, N=106), hypochromic-macrocytic (15.4%, N=25), and normochromic-microcytic (19.1%, N=31) anemia. Factors associated with anemia were parasitic infestation, history of chronic disease, lack of complementary foods, complementary feeding for not more than twice a month, and households’ with annual income less than 200,000 Ugandan Shillings.Conclusion: We report the high prevalence of anemia among children below 5 years of age in Gulu District, Northern Uganda. Thus, strategies geared at addressing the etiologic causes (such as, nutrient deficiency and parasitic infections) are key to reduce it in the region. Keywords: anemia, associated factors, children below 5 years, Uganda&nbsp

Prevalence of RhD variants among blood donors at Gulu Regional Blood Bank, Gulu, Northern Uganda

Polycarp Ojok,1,2 Caesar Oyet,1 Fred Webbo,1,3 Bashir Mwambi,1 Ivan M Taremwa1 1Institute of Allied Health Sciences, International Health Sciences University, Kampala, 2Gulu Regional Blood Bank, Gulu, 3Lancet Laboratories, Kampala, Uganda Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of RhD variant ­phenotypes among voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRBDs) at Gulu Regional Blood Bank (GRBB), Northern Uganda. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, in which the first 4.0 mL of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood samples were collected from VNRBDs and typed for their ABO and RhD blood group status using IgM and IgG monoclonal typing antisera, respectively. Blood samples that tested as RhD negative were further investigated for RhD variant phenotypes using indirect antihuman globulin hemagglutination technique. Results: We assayed 138 RhD-negative blood samples obtained from VNRBDs. Of these, 66.7% (n=92) were males. Their median age was 24.4 years (range, 14–33 years). Majority of the participants were of ABO blood group O (62.8%, n=86), followed by A (19.7%, n=27), then B (13.9%, n=19) and least AB (3.6%, n=6). The prevalence of RhD variant phenotypes was 0.7% (n=1; 95% confidence interval, 0.5–0.9). There was no statistical association of RhD variant phenotypes with donor gender, tribe and their ABO blood groups. Conclusion: This study has revealed a high prevalence of RhD variant among blood donors at GRBB in Northern Uganda. It further highlights a potential risk of alloimmunization, as the present blood typing practices do not identify RhD variant phenotypes. Keywords: Rh blood group, D variants, D antigen, weak D, partial D, Uganda&nbsp

Asymptomatic Plasmodium Infections in Children in Low Malaria Transmission Setting, Southwestern Uganda

A survey of asymptomatic children in Uganda showed Plasmodium malariae and P. falciparum parasites in 45% and 55% of microscopy-positive samples, respectively. Although 36% of microscopy-positive samples were negative by rapid diagnostic test, 75% showed P. malariae or P. ovale parasites by PCR, indicating that routine diagnostic testing misses many non–P. falciparum malarial infections