FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HOME BASED CARE SERVICES IN THE CONTROL OF COVID-19 INFECTION IN SHEEMA MUNICIPALITY, SHEEMA DISTRICT. A RESTROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Introduction: Home care and home health companies offer a range of services to help people stay safe in their homes, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, personal care support, and transportation. Objective: The study analyzed COVID-19 suspects' use of Home Based Care (HBC), identified social, demographic, economic, and environmental factors, and established policies for HBC agencies. Methodology: A study involving 394 participants aged 10-80 with mild COVID-19 symptoms in home care examined factors related to home-based care services and COVID-19 infection control using logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 394 home care participants in the research, 80.2% were able to control their COVID infection. HBC-related factors were washing hands with soap and water, keeping a safe distance from coworkers, wearing masks, taking precautions, touching the mouth, nose, or eyes with dirty hands, and people who were unable to recall or found it difficult to break bad habits. Participants who used masks when they were out of the house most of the time (about 75% of the time) had a 95% lower chance of controlling their COVID-19 infection, according to the multivariate analysis (aOR=0.05; 95%CI (0.0-0.41); p=0.005). The odds of controlling a COVID-19 infection were 98% lower for participants who occasionally (about 25% of the time) used masks when they were outside (aOR=0.02; 95%CI (0.0-0.3); p=0.005) and 92% lower for participants who mainly (approximately 75% of the time) followed precautions when making purchases to prevent virus contamination. Conclusion: Home Based Care significantly impacted COVID-19 infection control, with 80.2% of participants using services, highlighting its importance in maintaining continuity of care, especially for vulnerable individuals. Recommendations: The study suggests that global implementation of evidence-based practice guidelines and federal policy changes can enhance preparedness for future disasters and pandemics. Uganda's Ministry of Health should strengthen these strategies, including home-based care services

Factors Associated with Utilisation of Post natal Care Services in Lwengo Sub- County, Lwengo District, Uganda: A Cross Sectional Study.

Introduction: Postnatal care is the support provided to mothers and their newborns from the time of birth up to six weeks afterward. This period is crucial because many mothers and babies die during these weeks. Despite being a vital part of mothers' and children's health, postnatal care (PNC) continues to be one of the most neglected aspects of reproductive health programs.  Objective: The main objective of the study was to examine the factors associated with utilization of post-natal care services from 2002 to 2025 in Lwengo sub-county, Lwengo District. Methods: The study was conducted in Lwengo Sub–County. A total of 370 mothers participated in this research. Quantitative data were gathered through questionnaires with 250 mothers, while qualitative data were obtained via semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 120 mothers and healthcare workers, using Simple Random Sampling. Quantitative data was analysed by logistic regression, and qualitative data by content from descriptions by participants. Results: Mothers who did not know the PNC services they were supposed to receive after birth were 59% less likely to attend compared to mothers who know the services offered after delivery. Mothers who had no check-ups at a health facility while pregnant were 65% less likely to attend the PNC services compared to those who had check-ups during pregnancy. The qualitative analysis of interviews reported the major obstacles to uptake for the PNC services by mothers from the key informant interviews included la ack of knowledge about PNC services, a lack of designated rooms purposely for postnatal services, behaviour of some midwives towards the mothers. Conclusion:  57.6% of participants used PNC services. Key determinants included awareness of PNC, proximity to health facilities, and facility readiness. Recommendations: Deploying more midwives, improving facility infrastructure, and enhancing community education on PNC by the Government of Uganda

Risk factors associated with recent and long-term HIV infections among newly identified HIV positive clients in Kyenjojo District, Western Uganda. A cross-sectional study.

Background Despite the implementation of many preventative efforts, new HIV infections among the general population continue to occur in Uganda. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the risk factors associated with recent & long-term HIV infections among newly identified HIV positive clients in Kyenjojo District, Western Uganda. Methods A cross-sectional study employing a quantitative approach. The collected data were analyzed using STATA. Data was presented in the form of text, tables, and graphs. Logistic regression was used to test for association, while an odds ratio was used as the measure of the association between the two variables, and data was presented in terms of text, tables, and pie-charts. Results A total of 211 respondents participated in the study; 91.9% of the participants were found to have long-term HIV infections. Recent HIV infection was significantly associated with being Christians (AOR = 15.01; 95% CI: 3.89–28.06; p = 0.005), earning less than 100,000 shillings per month (AOR = 3.88; 95% CI: 1.72–6.25; p= 0.020), perceived the waiting time at the health facility as long (AOR = 3.37; 95% CI: 1.12–6.82; p = 0.003), having the nearest health facility providing HIV/AIDS services (AOR = 13.96; 95% CI: 9.14–20.79; p = 0.002), and reporting that health workers were friendly and welcoming (AOR = 13.38; 95% CI: 4.13–41.90; p = 0.006). Conclusion Long-term HIV infection was in nine out of every ten participants, and recent HIV infection was associated with the facility providing HIV/AIDS services and the behaviors of the health workers. Recommendation The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with health facility administrators, should implement a comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategy to address recent HIV infections by targeting high-risk populations

Atherogenic Risk Assessment among Persons Living in Rural Uganda

Background. Hypertension and dyslipidemia are independent risk factors for coronary heart disease and commonly coexist. Cardiovascular risk can be reliably predicted using lipid ratios such as the atherogenic index, a useful prognostic parameter for guiding timely interventions. Objective. We assessed the cardiovascular risk profile based on the atherogenic index of residents within a rural Ugandan cohort. Methods. In 2011, a population based survey was conducted among 7507 participants. Sociodemographic characteristics, physical measurements (blood pressure, weight, height, and waist and hip circumference), and blood sampling for non fasting lipid profile were collected for each participant. Atherogenic risk profile, defined as logarithm base ten of (triglyceride divided by high density lipoprotein cholesterol), was categorised as low risk (0.24). Results. Fifty-five percent of participants were female and the mean age was 49.9 years (SD± 20.2). Forty-two percent of participants had high and intermediate atherogenic risk. Persons with hypertension, untreated HIV infection, abnormal glycaemia, and obesity and living in less urbanised villages were more at risk. Conclusion. A significant proportion of persons in this rural population are at risk of atherosclerosis. Key identified populations at risk should be considered for future intervention against cardiovascular related morbidity and mortality. The study however used parameters from unfasted samples that may have a bearing on observed results

Prevalence of the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines: A cross-sectional study among the students of Bishop Stuart University in South-western Uganda.

Background:  Different studies have been carried out on acceptance of Covid-19 vaccines, willingness to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and factors associated with the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines but very few studies have been carried out to find out the prevalence of the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines, especially among university students. The aim of this study, therefore, is to find out the prevalence of the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines among the students of Bishop Stuart University.   Methodology: A cross-sectional study design using qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed. Data was collected from a sample of randomly selected 370 respondents between 11th July and 3rd October 2022 from Bishop Stuart University. Qualitative and Quantitative data collection methods were employed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 was used during the analysis. Results: The prevalence of uptake of Covid-19 Vaccines among the students of BSU was 57.0% where the majority of the respondents were females, 52.2% (n=193), students aged ≤30 years, 59.2% (n=215), those from middle-income, 57.3% (n=212), Christians, 60.8% (n = 225) and undergraduates, 89.2% (n = 330). Conclusion: More than half of the students of Bishop Stuart University were vaccinated with at least one of the vaccines against COVID-19 vaccine; the general uptake of Covid-19 vaccines among these students with a full dose was low as shown by the results of those who took a full dose of AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson or any other Covid-19 vaccine. Recommendation:  The study recommended that effective sensitization and psycho-education should be carried out to educate the general public about the effectiveness of the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines.

Factors associated with the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines: A cross-sectional study among the students of Bishop Stuart University in South-western Uganda.

Background:  Numerous vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were approved and distributed globally. However, little information was available on the factors that affect the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Uganda. The aim of this study is to find out the Factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among the Students of Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara City. Methodology:  A cross-sectional study design using qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed. Data was collected from a sample of randomly selected 370 respondents from Bishop Stuart University. Qualitative and Quantitative data collection methods were employed. Data was collected between 11th July and 3rd October 2022. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 was used during the analysis. Chi-square and logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. Factors with p-values <0.2 at bivariate analysis were entered into multivariate analysis. Factors with p<0.05 were considered significant. Results:  Respondents that reported always being busy with domestic work indicated a lower likelihood for the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines (AOR = 0.6, 95%CI: 0.40-0.99, p = 0.045). Respondents who perceived that the costs in the hospital were too high to manage Covid-19 illness indicated a higher likelihood for uptake of Covid-19 vaccines (AOR = 3.4, 95%CI: 1.93-6.12, p <0.001). Conclusion:  Domestic work has been found to hinder the majority of the respondents from vaccinating against Covid-19. High rates of the uptake of Covid-19 vaccines were registered among those who feared the high costs of Covid-19 illness management in hospitals. The cultural norms associated with being a male or female had impacted the decision to take Covid-19 vaccines.  Recommendation:  Community outreaches should be organized to sensitize communities about the dangers of domestic work and how to strike a balance when it comes to daily activities

The general population cohort in rural south-western Uganda: a platform for communicable and non-communicable disease studies.

The General Population Cohort (GPC) was set up in 1989 to examine trends in HIV prevalence and incidence, and their determinants in rural south-western Uganda. Recently, the research questions have included the epidemiology and genetics of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to address the limited data on the burden and risk factors for NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa. The cohort comprises all residents (52% aged ≥13years, men and women in equal proportions) within one-half of a rural sub-county, residing in scattered houses, and largely farmers of three major ethnic groups. Data collected through annual surveys include; mapping for spatial analysis and participant location; census for individual socio-demographic and household socioeconomic status assessment; and a medical survey for health, lifestyle and biophysical and blood measurements to ascertain disease outcomes and risk factors for selected participants. This cohort offers a rich platform to investigate the interplay between communicable diseases and NCDs. There is robust infrastructure for data management, sample processing and storage, and diverse expertise in epidemiology, social and basic sciences. For any data access enquiries you may contact the director, MRC/UVRI, Uganda Research Unit on AIDS by email to [email protected] or the corresponding author

Data Resource Profile: Network for Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA Network).

No abstract available

Prevalence of severe mental distress and its correlates in a population-based study in rural south-west Uganda

BACKGROUND: The problem of severe mental distress (SMD) in sub-Saharan Africa is difficult to investigate given that a substantial proportion of patients with SMD never access formal health care.This study set out to investigate SMD and it's associated factors in a rural population-based cohort in south-west Uganda. METHODS: 6,663 respondents aged 13 years and above in a general population cohort in southwestern Uganda were screened for probable SMD and possible associated factors. RESULTS: 0.9% screened positive for probable SMD. The factors significantly associated with SMD included older age, male sex, low socio-economic status, being a current smoker, having multiple or no sexual partners in the past year, reported epilepsy and consulting a traditional healer. CONCLUSION: SMD in this study was associated with both socio-demographic and behavioural factors. The association between SMD and high risk sexual behaviour calls for the integration of HIV prevention in mental health care programmes in high HIV prevalence settings