Challenges to Sustainable Peace and Conflict Situation in Southern Sudan: Gender Perspective

This study set out to investigate the challenges of sustainable reintegration in post-conflict situations using a gender perspective and case studying the South Sudan experience.  The study objectives were: (i) To establish the problems of economic empowerment of women and how these can limit the sustainability of refugee reintegration; (ii) examine how access to land and its ownership pose challenges to the sustainability of refugee reintegration; (iii) analyse how marginalization of women limits the sustainability of refugee reintegration, and (iv) to elucidate how lack of social rehabilitation limits the sustainability of refugee reintegration. Review of literature was done in accordance to the study objectives. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches in the process of data collection and the main tools of data collection were respondents’ questionnaire, interviews with key informants, and focus group discussions. A total sample of 170 respondents was covered. The findings indicate that the social economic empowerment profile of the women returnees is a set of intertwined, counter-reinforcing issues that places them at a disadvantage right from the outset yet reintegration programmes are not adequately addressing these vulnerabilities. There is widespread lack of access/ownership to land by women due to gender, cultural discrimination and most critically due to the peculiar post-war circumstances. Moreover there is fluidity in land policy and administration between the different levels of government, which places the ‘gender and land’ issues far off the national policy discourse. There is therefore a gender-blind, supply driven approach to reintegration by the government and aid agencies, which is worsening the above vulnerabilities. The recommendations therefore suggest practical solutions for empowerment of women such as micro credit, skills training/capacity building; land reform to address the post-conflict land challenge that women find themselves in. At policy levels, there is need for aggressive gender mainstreaming with specific target to women in governments efforts to service delivery such as affirmative girl-child education to promote female gender participation / representation in leadership positions among others. Keywords: Conflict management, re-integration after war, women based re-integration after wa

Roll-out of Medical Male circumcision (MMC) for HIV prevention in non-circumcising communities of Northern Uganda

Introduction: Recent studies have shown that circumcision reduces HIV/AIDS infection rates by 60% among heterosexual African men. Public health officials are arguing that circumcision of men should be a key weapon in the fight of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Experts estimate that more than 3 million lives could be saved in sub-Saharan Africa alone if the procedure becomes widely used. Some communities in Uganda have misconceptions to MMC and resist the practice. Methods: To roll out MMC to a non-circumcising population of Northern Uganda from June 2011 as a strategy to increase access and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Results: Circumcision in a non-circumcising communities of Lango and Acholi sub-regions with a population of about 0.5 million mature males 15-49 years. Enrolment was voluntary, clinical officers, nurses carried out MMC after training in the surgical procedure. Mass sensitization and mobilization was conducted through radios, community leaderships and spouses. Cervical cancer screening was incorporated at circumcision sites and used as incentive for the women. Circumcisions were conducted at static sites, camps and outreach services where VCT and adverse events (AEs) were recorded and managed. All clients assented/or consented. Conclusion: A total of 26, 150 males were circumcised in eight months. The AEs rate was 1.2 % and was mild. 2,650 women were screened for cervical cancer and positive test rate was 1.7%. Mobilization and sensitization were by radios and spouses' involvement in cervical cancer screening exercise.Key words: Medical Male circumcision, Northern Uganda, scale-up of services, non-circumcising communitie

Merger process and Organizational performance: A case of a merger between Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Danish Demining Group (DDG) in Uganda and South Sudan

The research report was carried out with an aim of establishing the aspects of merger process and post merger organizational performance considering DRC-DDG as the case study. The study commenced with three research objectives; establishing conceptual and mandatory issues in relation to a merger, establishing the post merger organization performance of DRC-DDG and establishing the influence of a merger process onto post merger organizational performance. The respondents for the research study were the employees of the current DRC-DDG in Uganda. Data was collected using questionnaires which were sent online to the respective respondents located in different parts of East Africa. The data collected was analyzed using the SPSS package. From this package the researchers managed to establish a descriptive analysis, correlation and regression analyses. Basing on the analysis conducted, the researcher managed to establish that the pre-merger processes were carried out as expected only that there were some challenges of failing to involve most of the employees. They were however ably represented by their leaders in this. Both preparation for merger and transitional management (components of a merger process) were significantly influential to the post-merger organizational performance. The findings indicate that together they explain up to 36.5% of the changes in the post-merger organizational performance. Basing on this therefore, it was recommended that the merger process be considered seriously when two or more entities, through their leadership, find it wise to merge their operations. Though the influence is 36.5% in the case of DRC-DDG, it could be higher in entities which are not NGOs in nature. Key words: Merger process, organizational performance, merger, performanc

Mapping the range of policies relevant to care of small and nutritionally at-risk infants under 6 months and their mothers in Ethiopia: a scoping review protocol

Introduction: Evidence gaps limit management of small and/or nutritionally at-risk infants under 6 months and their mothers, who are at higher risk of death, illness, malnutrition and poor growth and development. These infants may be low birth weight, wasted, stunted and/or underweight. An integrated care model to guide their management (MAMI Care Pathway) is being tested in a randomised controlled trial in Ethiopia. Evaluating the extent to which an innovation is consistent with national policies and priorities will aid evidence uptake and plan for scale. // Methods and analysis: This review will evaluate the extent to which the MAMI Care Pathway is consistent with national policies that relate to the care of at-risk infants under 6 months and their mothers in Ethiopia. The objectives are to describe the range and characteristics, concepts, strategic interventions, coherence and alignment of existing policies and identify opportunities and gaps. It will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Eligible documents include infant and maternal health, nutrition, child development, food and social welfare-related policies publicly available in English and Amharic. The protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework Registry on 20 June 2022 (https://osf.io/m4jt6). Grey literature will be identified through government and agency websites, national and subnational contacts and Google Scholar, and published policies through electronic database searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE and Global and Health Information). The searches will take place between October 2023 and March 2024. A standardised data extraction tool will be used. Descriptive analysis of data will be undertaken. Data will be mapped visually and tabulated. Results will be described in narrative form. National stakeholder discussions will inform conclusions and recommendations. // Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required as data consist solely of publicly available material. Findings will be used to evidence national and international policy and practice

Use of antibacterials in the management of symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections among children under five years in Gulu, northern Uganda: Prevalence and determinants.

Inappropriate use of antibacterials is a major public health challenge as it can promote emergence of resistance, wastage of financial resources, morbidity and mortality. In this study, we determined the prevalence and factors associated with antibacterial use in managing symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) in households in rural communities of Gulu district, northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted among households selected using multi-stage sampling. Data were collected through interviews with care-givers of children under five years, using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Out of the 856 children who had symptoms of ARIs, 515 (60.2%; CI: 54.5%-65.6%) were treated with antibacterials. The most commonly used antibacterials were amoxicillin (55.2%, n = 358), cotrimoxazole (15.4%, n = 100) and metronidazole (11.4%, n = 74). The determinants of antibacterial use included; getting treatment from a health facility (AOR: 1.85, CI: 1.34-2.56, P < 0.001), households located in peri-urban area (AOR: 2.54, CI: 1.34-4.84, P = 0.005), and a child having cough (AOR: 7.02, CI: 4.36-11.31, P < 0.001). The prevalence of antibacterial use among children under five years with symptoms of ARIs is high in communities of Gulu district, northern Uganda. Getting treatment from a health facility, if a household was located in a peri-urban area and having a cough are positive predictors of antibacterial use. There is need for targeted education on appropriate antibacterial use in rural communities and hospital settings where over prescription is most likely especially in treating symptoms of ARIs among children under five years