An exploration of the factors affecting the utilization of family planning services among youth (18-24 years) at community level in rural Budaka district, Uganda

Background: There is an increased number of young people engaging in early sexual relationships worldwide. Furthermore, statistics for early pregnancy among young people has also increased especially in low and middle-income countries. This has health implications for both the parents and the baby. High uptake in family planning contraception among the young people can reduce early pregnancy and subsequent negative health outcomes on the young parents and the baby. This study was set to explore the factors influencing the uptake of family planning contraceptive services among young people (18-24 years) at community level in rural Budaka district, Uganda. Method: The study utilised an explorative qualitative approach. Eight focus group discussion were conducted followed by sixteen one to one follow up semi-structured interviews with young people. Each focus group comprised of 10 participants (N=80). Sixteen one to one follow up interviews were meant to further explore issues raised in the focus groups (N=16). A thematic approach underpinned by the four phases of The Silences Framework (TSF) was used to analyse the data. Results: The study found out that religion, partner resistance; perceived loss of libido, perceived barren, long waiting time and distance from the health facility, lack of privacy/confidentiality, excessive menstrual bleeding, cancer and fear of having disabled babies, limited the utilisation of family planning contraceptive services while contraception as HIV prevention and child spacing encouraged young people to use family planning contraceptive services. Conclusion: There is need for a culturally orientated community-based contraceptive health promotion approach to increase the uptake of family planning contraception services among young people

To test or not: occurrence of sickle cell trait and assessment of the awareness toward its screening among patients attending Magale Health Center IV, Namisindwa District, Eastern Uganda

Keneth Mandu,1 Sharifu K Tusuubira,1,2 Bashir Mwambi,1 Fred Webbo,3 Christine Atuhairwe,4 Ivan Mugisha Taremwa1 1Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Clarke International University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation, Kampala, Uganda; 3Lancet Laboratories, Kampala, Uganda; 4Institute of Public Health and Management, Clarke International University, Kampala, Uganda Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence of sickle cell trait (SCT), assess patient awareness and evaluate the performance of a sickle cell hemoglobin-S (dithionate-qualitative solubility) point-of-care test among patients seeking care at Magale Health Center IV, Namisindwa District, Eastern Uganda. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross sectional study, in which we consecutively enrolled participants aged ≥18 years at Magale Health Center IV. Four milliliters of EDTA blood were collected by venipuncture and screened for SCT using solubility testing, and confirmed with hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis at Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), Kampala, Uganda. A structured questionnaire was used to assess participants’ awareness of SCT. Data were presented as proportion, and measurements of diagnostic test performance were calculated. Results: We enrolled 242 participants, of these 58.7% (N = 142) were females. Their mean age was 26.4 years (range 18–49). Of the 242 participants, 11, who represent 4.5% (95% CI: 3.3–5.9), tested positive. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the rapid sickle cell test were 63.64%, 100%, 100% and 98.30%, respectively. There was knowledge gap regarding sickle cell awareness. Conclusion: The occurrence of SCT was high, and the point-of-care test showed a high diagnostic reliability. The risk of SCT is associated with genetic predisposition as indicated by Hb electrophoresis. Community sensitization is key to avert the associated risk of Hb defects. Keywords: sickle cell trait, point-of-care testing, Ugand

Are Endogenous BMPs Necessary for Bone Healing during Distraction Osteogenesis?

Previous reports suggest the application of exogenous BMPs can accelerate bone formation during distraction osteogenesis (DO). However, there are drawbacks associated with the use of exogenous BMPs. A possible alternative to the use of exogenous BMPs is to upregulate the expression of endogenous BMPs. Since DO results in spontaneously generated de novo bone formation in a uniform radiographic, histological, and biomechanical temporal sequence, a genetically engineered model lacking endogenous BMP2 should have measurable deficits in bone formation at different time points. We performed DO on BMP2 fl/+ and BMP2 fl/+ cre mice using a miniature Ilizarov fixator. Distracted samples were collected at various time points and analyzed using Real Time-quantitative PCR, μCT, radiology, immunohistochemistry, histology, and biomechanical testing. Immunohistochemical studies of 34-day heterozygous samples showed reduced expression of BMP2, BMP7, BMPR1a, ACTR1, and ACTR2b. μCT analysis of 51-day heterozygous samples revealed a decrease in trabecular number and increase in trabecular separation. Biomechanical testing of 51-day heterozygous samples revealed decreased stiffness and increased ultimate displacement. Radiological analysis showed the heterozygotes contained a decreased bone fill score at 17, 34, and 51 days. These data suggest endogenous BMPs are important for bone healing and manipulating endogenous BMPs may help accelerate bone consolidation during DO

IceCube: A multipurpose neutrino telescope

IceCube is a new high-energy neutrino telescope which will be coming online in the near future. IceCube will be capable of measuring fluxes of all three flavors of neutrino, and its peak neutrino energy sensitivity will be in the TeV-PeV range. Here, after a brief description of the detector, we describe its anticipated performance with a selection of physics topics: supernovae, extraterrestrial diffuse and point sources of neutrinos, gamma-ray bursts, neutrinos from WIMP annihilation, and cosmic ray composition. \ua9 2008 The Physical Society of Japan