Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Medical Waste Management among Health Workers at Mityana District Hospital, Mityana District. A Cross-sectional Descriptive Survey

Introduction:  The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Uganda with support from the Government of Uganda highly advocates for proper Hospital waste management, this is because poor medical waste disposal and management pose serious health consequences and significant impact on the health workers, patients, and waste handlers and the environment. However, there is a general paucity of information on the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of health workers towards medical waste management in Mityana district hospital and Uganda at large.  Objective:  The purpose of the study, therefore, was to ascertain the knowledge, attitude, and practices of health workers towards hospital waste management in Mityana district hospital. Methods:  A cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out among 116 health workers at Mityana District hospital. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Statistical significance of association between variables was assessed using the Chi-square test at p<0.05. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Makerere University. Results:  All 116 respondents returned the completed questionnaires. sixty-three (54.3%) males and fifty-three (45.7%) females. The mean age of respondents was 36.3 years. 81 (69.8%) had heard of hospital waste management while, 35(30.2%) had never had about it. Out of the total respondents, 83 (71.6%) were aware that medical wastes are classified and segregated into their bags according to colors, although the majority of 74(63.8%) reported storage containers are not cleaned every day. In general, the respondents had average knowledge of medical waste management although 40.5 % lacked some knowledge at all. The majority of 101 (87.1%) use latex gloves when handling waste. Conclusion:  Most of the respondents knew what healthcare waste management means, but very few practiced appropriate healthcare waste management. Recommendation: Health education and training are recommended for the health care workers periodically and regularly

INTRAPERSONAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AMONG WOMEN IN FISHING COMMUNITIES OF ENTEBBE MUNICIPALITY, WAKISO DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background The chances of developing cervical cancer in Uganda continue to rise especially in the fishing communities due to the relatively higher prevalence of inter-related personal risk factors. This study aimed to examine the Intrapersonal Factors Associated with Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in Fishing Communities of Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional survey study was conducted among women in the fishing communities of Entebbe-Municipality Wakiso district in Central Uganda and utilized quantitative methods of data collection. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with multiple-response questions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis were performed at 5% level significance. Results Of the 293 respondents that were interviewed, only 23.2% of women had ever been screened for cervical cancer. More than three-quarters of them knew that cervical cancer is not curable 234(79.9%). 150(51.2%) women mentioned that the age at the start of screening for cervical cancer in Uganda is 18 years and had 46% less prevalence of cervical cancer screening (cPR = 0.54 [0.33 - 0.90], p = 0.020). Among the perception attributes Cervical cancer screening prevalence was twice as high among women who agreed that cervical cancer is a curse from God (cPR = 2.43 [CI = 1.49 - 3.97], P = 0.000) compared to those who disagreed. Conclusion The intrapersonal factors associated with cervical cancer screening among women in the fishing communities of Entebbe municipality were mainly; marital status, employment status, knowledge of age at the start of the screening, and perceptions of the relevance of screening. Recommendation Communication and education should focus on awareness creation about the fact that even in a marriage where not much risky sexual behavior may be present, the risk of HPV infection remains apparent, for instance from sexually transmitted infections within the couple

Prevalence of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in Fishing Communities of Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District. A Cross-sectional study.

Background: Cervical cancer disease in Uganda remains the leading causes of deaths among cancer patients, responsible for about 4,607 deaths annually. Despite the numerous modern treatment options and prevention strategies, cervical cancer screening prevalence remains undefined especially in the fishing communities and yet women living in fishing communities are core interest groups for cervical cancer due to their relatively higher risk of HIV and HPV infections. Methodology: A cross-sectional study employing a quantitative approach was performed, purposive sampling following a household survey was conducted. Structured interviews and questionnaires were administered to collect data from June 2021 to August 2021. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 25 using the log-binomial model. Results: prevalence of cervical cancer screening among women in fishing communities of Entebbe municipality, Wakiso district remains as low as 23.2%, mainly unsatisfactory among the married women (aPR = 0.232 [0.13 - 0.43], p < 0.001) and, Catholics (aPR = 0.050 [0.01 - 0.18], p < 0.001).  At the same time, higher cervical cancer screening prevalence was observed among employed women (aPR= 2.81 [1.48 - 5.33], p = 0.002), those who had prior recommendation from healthcare workers (aPR = 1.25 [0.09 - 0.65], p = 0.004), and those who perceived that cervical cancer is a curse from God (cPR = 2.800 [CI = 1.798 - 4.36], P = 0.000). Conclusion:  Cervical cancer screening is low among women in fishing communities of Entebbe municipality; only 2 in every 10 women have ever been screened for cervical cancer in their lifetime, while less than 1 in 10 had to follow-up of screening. Recommendation: Behavior change communication preferably using the intrapersonal channel on issues related to cervical cancer screening should be adopted in the fishing communities urgently if we are to elevate the uptake of this secondary prevention measure for cervical cancer

Factors Affecting Uptake of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination among in- School Adolescent Girls in Wakiso District, Central Uganda.

  Background:    Since 2008, the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been routinely recommended for pre-adolescents and adolescent girls in Uganda. The introduction of HPV vaccines represents a step forward in the primary prevention of cervical cancer and other HPV-related malignancies. This study examines the factors affecting the uptake of HPV vaccination among in-school adolescent girls in Wakiso district to generate information that can be used to improve the uptake of such critical services.   Methodology:   A cross-sectional analytical study was employed. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently. Data were collected from secondary schools in Wakiso district, selected using cluster sampling. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data while data from mothers in Wakiso were collected using In-depth interviews through group dialogue sessions. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0; characteristics of the sample were summarized by descriptive statistics   Results:   The findings indicate the HPV vaccination uptake rate as low as 9.2% among the In-school adolescent girls in the Wakiso district. 68.5% belonged to the age group 16-19 (older adolescents). 91.2% had already had vaginal sex and 90.4% had ever had any STI. In the bivariate analyses, five factors were presented to be statistically significant with a P<0.05, implying that these factors were associated with HPV vaccination. They included the occupation of the caretaker, education level of the caretaker, perceived susceptibility to HPV infections and cervical cancer, perceived benefits of HPV vaccination, and knowledge attributes regarding HPV and HPV infections.    Conclusion:    The Ministry of the health of Uganda and partners should offer ample orientation and training to all health workers and encourage them to disseminate information on HPV vaccination to all eligible adolescents and their caretakers in Wakiso district central Uganda

The PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES AND COPING STRATEGIES OF POST AMPUTATION: A CASE STUDY OF MULAGO SPECIALIZED NATIONAL HOSPITAL, KAMPALA-UGANDA

Background: The study assessed the effect of psychological correlates of traumatic experiences on coping strategies of post-amputation basing on evidence from Mulago specialized national hospital, Kampala-Uganda. It specifically analyzed the personality styles that enhance coping among amputees, assessed the psychological consequences among amputees, and examined the psychological interventions among amputees. Methodology: The study adopted a hospital-based prospective post-treatment design employing a quantitative research approach. The quantitative data were collected using questionnaires from 72 patients who were admitted for amputations and attending weekly amputee clinics and those using prostheses and orthosises. The data was processed at both the descriptive and inferential levels using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The study found extraversion as a statistically positive correlate with the confrontational form of coping style (r = 0.279, p = 0.031 < 0.05). It found a significantly positive correlate that enhanced planful problem solving (r =0.278, p =0.032< 0.05) and positive reappraisal (r = 0.301, p = 0.019 < 0.05) compared to conscientiousness as a negative correlate of coping styles particularly self-control (r =-0.326, p = 0.011< 0.05) and escape avoidance (r =-0.263, p =0.043 < 0.05). Results showed abnormal depression (46.7%), suffering abnormal anxiety (45.0%) alongside demonstrating symptoms of at least 2 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (46.7%) as the psychological consequences. The psychological interventions study found included specialized physician services (60.0%), primary care provision (45.0%) and financial assistance (46.7 among others  Conclusion and discussion: Personality styles of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness are crucial in the coping styles among amputees and therefore need to be well established and aligned with supporting initiatives. The administrative staff of specialized units needs to put in place workable measures like avoiding unfair self-blame and inculcating a belief that they are still worth as to help amputees to improve their self-esteem thereby minimizing adverse psychological consequences