Ultraspinning limits and super-entropic black holes

By employing the new ultraspinning limit we construct novel classes of black holes with non-compact event horizons and finite horizon area and study their thermodynamics. Our ultraspinning limit can be understood as a simple generating technique that consists of three steps: i) transforming the known rotating AdS black hole solution to a special coordinate system that rotates (in a given 2-plane) at infinity ii) boosting this rotation to the speed of light iii) compactifying the corresponding azimuthal direction. In so doing we qualitatively change the structure of the spacetime since it is no longer possible to return to a frame that does not rotate at infinity. The obtained black holes have non-compact horizons with topology of a sphere with two punctures. The entropy of some of these exceeds the maximal bound implied by the reverse isoperimetric inequality, such black holes are super-entropic.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures; minor corrections as in published version, updated reference

Ultraspinning limits and rotating hyperboloid membranes

We apply the hyperboloid membrane limit to the general Kerr-AdS metrics and their recently studied super-entropic cousins and obtain a new class of rotating black holes, for which the rotational parameters in multiple directions attain their maximal value---equal to the AdS radius. These new solutions have a potential application in the description of holographic fluids with vorticity. They also possess interesting thermodynamic properties: we show that---despite the absence of Misner strings---the Bekenstein--Hawking entropy/area law is still violated, raising a question about the origin of this violation.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, REVTeX 4-

Integrated approach to malaria prevention at household level in rural communities in Wakiso district, Uganda: impact evaluation of a pilot project

Background: The integrated approach to malaria prevention, which advocates for the use of several malaria prevention methods at households, is being explored to complement other existing strategies. We implemented a pilot project that promoted the integrated approach to malaria prevention in two rural communities in Wakiso district, Uganda. Objectives: This paper presents the impact evaluation findings of the project carried out 2 years after implementation with a focus on changes in knowledge and practices on malaria prevention. Methods: The project evaluation was cross-sectional in design and employed both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The quantitative survey was conducted among 540 households (household heads being participants) while the qualitative component involved 4 focus group discussions among community health workers (CHWs). Chi-square test was used to compare quantitative results from the evaluation with those of the baseline while thematic analysis was employed for qualitative data. Results: There was a statistically significant positive change in malaria prevention practices in the evaluation compared with the baseline regarding indoor residual spraying (χ2 = 7.9, p = 0.019), mosquito screening of windows and ventilators (χ2 = 62.3, p = 0.001), and closing windows of houses before 6:00 pm (χ2 = 60.2, p < 0.001). The CHWs trained during the project were found to be highly knowledgeable on the various malaria prevention methods in the integrated approach, and continued to promote their use in the community. Conclusion: Findings of the impact evaluation give promise that utilisation of integrated malaria prevention can be enhanced if use of multiple methods is promoted in communities

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CURRENT USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS AMONG YOUNG MARKET WOMEN WORKING AT ST. BALIKUDDEMBE MARKET IN KAMPALA, UGANDA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background:  Despite increased access to modern contraception among young women globally, little is known about modern contraceptive use among women working in the informal sector who are usually missed out on in most national surveys. We assessed the factors associated with modern contraceptive use among young market women in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 343 young women aged 15-24 years, working at St. Balikuddembe Market in Kampala, the Capital City of Uganda. Data were collected on socio-demographic and behavior characteristics including the current use of modern FP methods. We computed the proportion of young women who reported the current use of modern FP methods and determined the factors associated with the current use of modern FP methods using a modified Poisson regression model.   Results:  Of 343 young market women, 56% (192) were food handlers. Nearly half of the women (48.4, n=166) had at least one biological child. Forty-seven percent (160) of the women reported the current use of modern FP methods. Having 1-2 living children (adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] =1.81, 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI]: 1.20, 2.72) or three or more living children (aPR=2.20, 95%CI: 1.33, 3.64), age 20-24 years (aPR=2.15, 95%CI: 1.46, 3.17), having secondary education (aPR=2.75, 95%CI: 1.05, 7.21), and having a positive attitude towards modern FP (aPR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.71) were positively associated with current use of modern FP methods. Conclusion:  The use of modern contraception among young market women remains sub-optimal. Having at least one living child, older age, and secondary education were the factors associated with modern contraceptive use in this population.  Recommendation:  Our findings suggest a need for innovative, target-specific FP interventions with a focus on several biological children, level of education, and age, to improve the uptake of modern contraceptive services among young market women in this setting. 

Factors associated with management of pneumonia among children by Community Health Workers in Abim district, Uganda

Introduction: Pneumonia is a leading cause of death among children under five years of age in Uganda. Community Health Workers (CHWs) can prevent pneumonia deaths if they know how to manage the disease correctly. We conducted a study to determine factors associated with management of pneumonia among under-five year children by CHWs in Abim district, Uganda. Methods: This was a cross sectional study. We obtained data from 374 CHWs using a training video, questionnaire, Sick Child Job Aid (SCJA) and case vignettes. We determined the proportion of CHWs that correctly managed pneumonia. Modified Poisson regression established factors associated with management of pneumonia in children by CHWs. We conducted four key informant interviews with CHWs focal persons, and five focus group discussions with community members. Results: We found that 15.5% of CHWs correctly managed pneumonia among children as per the SCJA. In addition, 73.8% of the CHWs respiratory rate counts were close to the respiratory count of the training video with +/- five range. Educational level (Adj. PR 2.06; 95% CI: (1.18-3.61) p-value 0.011), having a CHW register (Adj. PR 0.54; 95% CI (0.30-0.98) p-value 0.041) and drug stock outs (Adj. PR 4.24; 95% CI (1.37-13.13) p-value 0.012) were significantly associated with CHW management of pneumonia. Refresher training, availability of equipment and supplies, and support supervision were the main health facility factors influencing management of pneumonia. Perceptions that CHWs could not manage pneumonia among children, drug stock outs, and lack of trust were community factors influencing CHW management of pneumonia. Conclusion: A low proportion of CHWs correctly managed pneumonia among children. Strategies to improve provision of CHW registers, drugs, support supervision, refresher trainings, as well as recruiting CHWs with a minimum of secondary level of education are necessary to improve management of pneumonia among children. Communities also need to be sensitised on roles and responsibilities of CHWs in management of pneumonia

Factors Determining the Retention of Academic Staff in Universities

This paper examines the critical factors that determine the retention of academic staff at Makerere and Kyambogo universities in Uganda. The study was prompted by reportedly persistent low levels of academic staff retention in the two public universities in the recent past. The investigation followed the positivist research paradigm. The study employed the descriptive cross-sectional survey design where data were collected using an adapted self-administered questionnaire from 298 academic staff proportionately drawn from the two universities studied. The staff respondents were sampled through stratified random sampling technique. The data were analysed with the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations as well as inferential statistics like student t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and regression analyses. Study findings revealed that respondent’s marital status (F = 0.288; p = 0.750 &gt; 0.05), age (F = 0.748; p = 0.560 &gt; 0.05), experience (F= 0.270; p = 0.841 &gt; 0.05), education level (F = 0.528; p = 0.663 &gt; 0.05), and interpersonal relationships (B = 0.003; p = 0.957 &gt; 0.05) had statistically no significant effect on the retention of academic staff in the two universities. However, respondent’s gender (t = 2.556; p= 0.006 &lt; 0.05), terms of work (B = 0.163; p = 0.005&lt; 0.05) and work-life balance (B = 0.318; p= 0.000 &lt; 0.05) were found to have statistically significant effects on the retention of academic staff. Thus, it was concluded that certain factors were more critical than others in determining the retention of academic staff, other factors notwithstanding. The researchers therefore recommended that the management of the two universities should design engendered policies that would improve on the terms of work, favourably treat men and women, and allow for optimal work-life balance amongst their academic staff. Keywords: Academic staff, Retention, Factors, Demographic characteristics, Interpersonal relationships, Terms of work, Work-life balance DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-8-07 Publication date:March 31st 201

Malaria health seeking practices for children, and intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy in Wakiso District, Uganda

Background: Timely health care among children with suspected malaria, and intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) in pregnancy avert related morbidity and mortality in endemic regions especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria burden has steadily been declining in endemic countries due to progress made in scaling up of such important interventions. Objectives: The study assessed malaria health seeking practices for children under five years of age, and IPTp in Wakiso district, Uganda. Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 727 households. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were performed in STATA to ascertain factors associated with the place where treatment for children with suspected malaria was first sought (government versus private facility) and uptake of IPTp. Results: Among caretakers of children with suspected malaria, 69.8% sought care on the day of onset of symptoms. The place where treatment was first sought for the children (government versus private) was associated with participants’ (household head or other adult) age (p &lt; 0.001), education level (p &lt; 0.001) and household income (p = 0.011). Among women who had a child in the five years preceding the study, 179 (63.0%) had obtained two or more IPTp doses during their last pregnancy. Uptake of two or more IPTp doses was associated with the women’s education level (p = 0.006), having heard messages about malaria through mass media (p = 0.008), knowing the recommended number of IPTp doses (p &lt; 0.001), and knowing the drug used in IPTp (p &lt; 0.001).&nbsp; Conclusion: There is need to improve malaria health seeking practices among children and pregnant women particularly IPTp through programmes aimed at increasing awareness among the population. Keywords: Health seeking behaviour; intermittent preventive treatment; malaria; children; pregnancy; Uganda

Perceptions about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviours of adults in rural Uganda: a cross sectional study

Introduction: Medical male circumcision is currently recognized as an additional important HIV preventive intervention to reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV infection in men. However, sexual behaviours after medical circumcision can potentially reduce the expected benefits of the practice. This study explored the perceptions about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviours of adults in Kayunga district, Uganda.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 393 respondents using a semi structured questionnaire. In addition, four focus group discussions were conducted. Quantitative data was analysed using STATA 12. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Qualitative data was analysed thematically.Results: The study established various perceptions about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviours. Majority 247 (64.5%) did not perceive circumcision as a practice that can lead men to have multiple sexual partners. Males were 3 times more likely to think that circumcision would lead to having multiple sexual partners than females (AOR=2.99, CI: 1.93-4.61). Only 89 (23.2%) believed that circumcision would lead to complacency and compromise the use of condoms to prevent against infection with HIV. Respondents who had education above primary were less likely to think that circumcision would compromise the use of condoms (AOR=0.49, CI: 0.31- 0.79). The perception that circumcised youths were less likely to abstain from sexual intercourse was less held among those with education above primary (AOR=0.58, CI: 0.37-0.91) and those older than 30 years (AOR=0.59, CI: 0.38-0.92).Conclusion: There were gaps in knowledge and negative perceptions about MMC in the study community. Measures are needed to avert the negative perceptions by equipping communities with sufficient, accurate and consistent information about medical male circumcision and sexual behaviour.Keywords: Perceptions, circumcision, sexual behaviours, HIV/AIDS, preventio

Unlocking the power of communities to achieve Universal Health Coverage in Africa

Africa is at a critical time undergoing demographic, epidemiological, political and socio-economic transitions and faced with repeated outbreaks of emerging and remerging diseases amidst other broader challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and pollution testing the resilience of its health systems and hindering progress to achieve health for all. Five years into the journey towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the continent – similar to the rest of the world – has been gripped with the Corona virus disease pandemic that has caused significant morbidity and mortality as well as severely disrupted health systems and the underlying socioeconomic determinants of health. One of the most significant SDG targets is the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) where all people have access to quality health services they need without inflicting a financial hardship on them. However, progress towards this target has been slow on the continent and requires rethinking the current approaches employed. We argue that Africa’s key strength lies in the communities whose potential should be unlocked to build cost effective and sustainable bottom-up health systems founded on Primary Health Care (PHC). Such systems should be founded on community-based services, designed around individuals, families and the community involving community health workers and other actors, and capitalising on health promotion and disease prevention approaches. A strong community health system should be adequately linked to district, regional and national levels working together to empower and serve populations to make health for all a reality