COMPARISON OF STOOL ANTIGEN TEST OVER UREA BREATH TEST IN DETECTION OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING NSAMBYA HOSPITAL IN KAMPALA DISTRICT.A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background H. pylori infection rates are higher in resource-poor settings and developing -countries such as Uganda. Even though most health facilities in Uganda including government health facilities have put in place several measures including diagnostic methods for H. pylori, there is still a rise in the prevalence of H. pylori infection. Aim The study aimed to compare stool antigen test over urea breath test in detecting helicobacter pylori infection among patients attending Nsambya Hospital in Kampala district. Methods The study employed a cross-sectional design and a questionnaire guide to gather information from 375 individuals at the Outpatient department at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala district. These were selected using simple random sampling.  Results The study results indicate that the prevalence of H. pylori was 48.0% by UBT and that of SAT was 46.9%, with most of the positive cases being in females 30.4% for UBT and 29.6% for SAT. On comparing SAT with UBT, SAT had a sensitivity of 97.8% and a specificity of 99.5%. Conclusion In this study, UBT performance showed a slightly higher prevalence of detecting H. pylori infection compared to SAT thus UBT remains the gold standard method in diagnosing H. pylori infection. In addition, UBT also detects H. pylori bacteria in low parasitemia. Recommendations The SAT, which detects present but not previous infection of H. pylori would be applicable in mass survey.UBT should be done for every patient suspected of having H. pylori infection with negative SAT in order not to miss out on people with the disease as it remains the gold standard for H. P diagnosis. The Health authorities and other stakeholders should encourage using UBT on all patients suspected of having H. pylori infection.

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

Risk Factors for Measles among HIV-infected Children in Uganda

Measles remains a major global public health problem. Attainment of high population immunity to measles through vaccination is necessary to control this disease. Children infected with HIV infection often experience secondary measles vaccine failure by 2 years of age, making them susceptible to measles. It is not clear whether HIV-infected children on Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART), older than 2 years, have a higher risk of measles than HIV-uninfected children. This retrospective cohort study, guided by the proximate determinants framework, was conducted to compare the risk of measles between HIV-infected children on HAART (exposed) and HIV-uninfected peers (unexposed). The age group with the highest measles susceptibility in the exposed children, which could inform timing for revaccination, was investigated. The role of age at initiation of HAART, low CD4+ count, and undernutrition as predictors of the risk of measles in the exposed children was examined. Univariate, bivariate, and binomial logistic regression analytical procedures were used in data analysis. Results showed no significant difference in the risk of measles between exposed and unexposed children. The age groups 5 to 9 years and 2 to 4 years were the first and second most affected by measles among the exposed children. Undernutrition (stunting) was a significant predictor of measles in exposed children (odds ratio of 4.14, p = 0.02), while age at initiation of HAART and CD4+ count prior to measles exposure were not. The study findings provide evidence to inform vaccination policy and nutrition care for HIV-infected children on HAART in Uganda, so as to reduce their risk of measles illness and mortality, thus contributing to positive social change for the children and the country

An Analysis of the Anti-corruption Division of the High Court of Uganda

Magister Legum - LL

Food safety management systems in the East African Community : empirical evidence from the fresh produce sector in Kenya and Uganda

Thus far, few studies concerning production, trade, organization of the supply chain and Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) for fresh produce, have concentrated specifically on Sub-Saharan African countries, which is exactly the gap in contemporary knowledge this study aims to bridge. The overall objective is to study the modalities and incentives for implementation of Food Safety Management Systems in two East African neighboring countries both at farm and trade level in the fresh produce supply chain. The scope of the study is the East African Community with specific focus to the green bean and hot pepper chains in Kenya and Uganda respectively in view of their export trends in the global fresh produce market

Hopeful futures for refugees in higher education:Cultivation, activation, and technology

This paper discusses hopeful futures for higher education and the use of technology in realising those futures through the lens of refugee education in Uganda. Through an analysis of qualitative research done with refugee students and teachers participating in a blended bridging programme designed to prepare students for entry and success in higher education, this paper explores the interplay between contingency and positions of hope for refugee students in relation to higher education and further assimilation into civic society. Two themes emerged from the analysis that suggested a prioritarian orientation for higher education to realise a more hopeful future. First, hope renders as an act of cultivation as refugee students become exposed to new concepts and develop confidence in relation to them. Second, digital technologies broaden the cultivation of hope towards greater civic participation, even if access to higher education is not achieved. Third, hope correlates to action not necessarily as a linear progressive trajectory but as a diligent watchfulness for positive possibility. The implications for higher education are that taking a prioritarian lens for refugees in educational design engages with the contingencies that impact all, placing the sector deliberately in search of positive possibility in its orientation and design

Justice Delayed but not Denied: The Prosecution of Thomas Kwoyelo for International Crimes in Uganda

This article investigates the challenges of the application of international law in a domestic setting as depicted in the ongoing trial of Thomas Kwoyelo. Kwoyelo, a former child soldier and commander in the Lord's Resistance Army, is being prosecuted for the commission inter alia of murder, kidnapping with intent to murder, and pillaging, all as war crimes and crimes against humanity under International Humanitarian Law, Customary International Law and the Penal Code Act of Uganda. He is currently standing trial at the International Crimes Division of the High Court of Uganda. This trial is a unique test for the Ugandan judiciary, as it is faced with its first prosecution of an individual charged with crimes under international law. In a bid to apply international law domestically the Court has faced several challenges which have disabled the progress of the trial on many levels, arguably at the expense of the accused and the victims at large. The article primarily seeks to analyse the capability of the court to prosecute Kwoyelo for the commission of international crimes as well as to examine the challenges faced by the Court. The history of the conflict will be examined. This will be followed by an overview of the judicial hurdles faced by the Ugandan State in eventually charging Kwoyelo. The article will then analyse the present challenges faced by the Court. Finally, several recommendations are offered

Malaria Treatment Policy Change and Implementation: The Case of Uganda

Malaria due to P. falciparum is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda where it is highly endemic in 95% of the country. The use of efficacious and effective antimalarial medicines is one of the key strategies for malaria control. Until 2000, Chloroquine (CQ) was the first-line drug for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Uganda. Due to progressive resistance to CQ and to a combination of CQ with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine, Uganda in 2004 adopted the use of ACTs as first-line drug for treating uncomplicated malaria. A review of the drug policy change process and postimplementation reports highlight the importance of managing the policy change process, generating evidence for policy decisions and availability of adequate and predictable funding for effective policy roll-out. These and other lessons learnt can be used to guide countries that are considering anti-malarial drug change in future

Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Disease Outbreak in West Africa- Lessons from Uganda.

Background: There has been a rapid spread of Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic disease in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since March 2014. Since this is the first time of a major Ebola outbreak in West Africa; it is possible there is lack of understanding of the epidemic in the communities, lack of experience among the health workers to manage the cases and limited capacities for rapid response. The main objective of this article is to share Uganda’s experience in controlling similar Ebola outbreaks and to suggest some lessons that could inform the control of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.Methods: The article is based on published papers, reports of previous Ebola outbreaks, response plans and experiences of individuals who have participated in the control of Ebola epidemics in Uganda.Lessons learnt: The success in the control of Ebola epidemics in Uganda has been due to high political support, effective coordination through national and district task forces. In addition there has been active surveillance, strong community mobilization using village health teams and other community resources persons, an efficient laboratory system that has capacity to provide timely results. These have coupled with effective case management and infection control and the involvement of development partners who commit resources with shared responsibility.Conclusion: Several factors have contributed to the successful quick containment of Ebola outbreaks in Uganda. West African countries experiencing Ebola outbreaks could draw some lessons from the Uganda experience and adapt them to contain the Ebola epidemic.Key words: Ebola, viral hemorrhagic fever, West Africa, lessons, Ugand

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