Knowledge and attitudes about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening among women in rural Uganda

Cervical cancer is one of the major causes of death among women worldwide. There is an established linkage between cervical cancer and Oncogenic Human Papilloma virus (HPV) strains 16 and 18. While cervical cancer is widely understood as a fatal disease, knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and HPV in Uganda has been limited even among health workers. Objectives: To establish the level of knowledge in regard to HPV vaccination among parents/guardians of the vaccinated girls and to assess the attitudes to HPV vaccination among parents/guardians of the vaccinated girls. Methods: A cross-sectional study where 384 mothers/ female guardians of vaccinated girls were recruited into the study. One hundred and sixty four women reported knowing about HPV i.e. 42.7% out of the 384 women. The variables which were significantly associated with knowledge of HPV among the women were; age below 30years, higher education level with P<0.001, Marital status with P<0.001, tribe P=0.021, Religion, P=0.001 and occupation with P <.001. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of HPV among the women of Nakasongola district was relatively low. High education among the mothers contributed to better knowledge. The general attitude towards HPV vaccination was positive among mothers though there is still need for the populations to appreciate HPV and cervical cancer in general

Incidence and Factors Associated with Postpartum Anemia at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital

Background: The World Health organization defines postpartum anemia as hemoglobin <11g/dl at 1 week postpartum and <12g/dl at 8 weeks postpartum. Postpartum anemia can also be defined as less than 11.8 g/dl for women aged 12–15 years and less than 12g/dl for women at least age 15 years. In Uganda, 23% of women age 15-49 are anemic, with 18 percent having mild anemia, 5 percent having moderate anemia, and less than 1 percent having severe anemia. Objective: To determine the incidence and factors associated with the new cases of post natal anemia in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Methods:  A prospective cohort study of 271 postpartum mothers without anemia enrolled on discharge after delivery. Participants were followed up to determine development of anemia at 10 weeks postpartum and associated factors on the subsequent postnatal visits. Incidence of postpartum anemia in MRRH was 29.9%, 95% CI (24 - 35). Helminthes infestations AOR95%CI; 12.88(5.25- 31.64, P<0.000), malaria infections AOR95%CI 4.74(1.50-14.94, P=0.008), poor hematinic adherence AOR95%CI, 6.81(3.17-14.62, P<0.000), high parity AOR95%CI, 2.48(1.11- 5.54, P=0.026), and husband unemployment AOR 3.92(1.14 – 13.39, P=0.030) were found to be statistically associated with post-partum anemia. Conclusion: The incidence of postpartum anemia in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is very high. Hematinics non adherence, husband unemployment, increased parity; malaria infection and helminthes infestation were found to be associated with post-partum anemia at MRRH

Marburg virus disease outbreak in Kween District Uganda, 2017: Epidemiological and laboratory findings.

INTRODUCTION: In October 2017, a blood sample from a resident of Kween District, Eastern Uganda, tested positive for Marburg virus. Within 24 hour of confirmation, a rapid outbreak response was initiated. Here, we present results of epidemiological and laboratory investigations. METHODS: A district task force was activated consisting of specialised teams to conduct case finding, case management and isolation, contact listing and follow up, sample collection and testing, and community engagement. An ecological investigation was also carried out to identify the potential source of infection. Virus isolation and Next Generation sequencing were performed to identify the strain of Marburg virus. RESULTS: Seventy individuals (34 MVD suspected cases and 36 close contacts of confirmed cases) were epidemiologically investigated, with blood samples tested for MVD. Only four cases met the MVD case definition; one was categorized as a probable case while the other three were confirmed cases. A total of 299 contacts were identified; during follow- up, two were confirmed as MVD. Of the four confirmed and probable MVD cases, three died, yielding a case fatality rate of 75%. All four cases belonged to a single family and 50% (2/4) of the MVD cases were female. All confirmed cases had clinical symptoms of fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding from body orifices. Viral sequences indicated that the Marburg virus strain responsible for this outbreak was closely related to virus strains previously shown to be circulating in Uganda. CONCLUSION: This outbreak of MVD occurred as a family cluster with no additional transmission outside of the four related cases. Rapid case detection, prompt laboratory testing at the Uganda National VHF Reference Laboratory and presence of pre-trained, well-prepared national and district rapid response teams facilitated the containment and control of this outbreak within one month, preventing nationwide and global transmission of the disease

Knowledge and attitudes about Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening among women in rural Uganda

This study ought to establish the level of knowledge in regard to HPV vaccination among parents/guardians of the vaccinated girls and to assess the attitudes to HPV vaccination among parents/guardians of the vaccinated girls.Cervical cancer is one of the major causes of death among women worldwide. There is an established linkage between cervical cancer and Oncogenic Human Papilloma virus (HPV) strains 16 and 18. While cervical cancer is widely understood as a fatal disease, knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and HPV in Uganda has been limited even among health workers. Objectives: To establish the level of knowledge in regard to HPV vaccination among parents/guardians of the vaccinated girls and to assess the attitudes to HPV vaccination among parents/guardians of the vaccinated girls. Methods: A cross-sectional study where 384 mothers/ female guardians of vaccinated girls were recruited into the study. One hundred and sixty four women reported knowing about HPV i.e. 42.7% out of the 384 women. The variables which were significantly associated with knowledge of HPV among the women were; age below 30years, higher education level with P<0.001, Marital status with P<0.001, tribe P=0.021, Religion, P=0.001 and occupation with P <.001. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of HPV among the women of Nakasongola district was relatively low. High education among the mothers contributed to better knowledge. The general attitude towards HPV vaccination was positive among mothers though there is still need for the populations to appreciate HPV and cervical cancer in general

Marburg virus disease outbreak in Kween District Uganda, 2017: Epidemiological and laboratory findings.

INTRODUCTION:In October 2017, a blood sample from a resident of Kween District, Eastern Uganda, tested positive for Marburg virus. Within 24 hour of confirmation, a rapid outbreak response was initiated. Here, we present results of epidemiological and laboratory investigations. METHODS:A district task force was activated consisting of specialised teams to conduct case finding, case management and isolation, contact listing and follow up, sample collection and testing, and community engagement. An ecological investigation was also carried out to identify the potential source of infection. Virus isolation and Next Generation sequencing were performed to identify the strain of Marburg virus. RESULTS:Seventy individuals (34 MVD suspected cases and 36 close contacts of confirmed cases) were epidemiologically investigated, with blood samples tested for MVD. Only four cases met the MVD case definition; one was categorized as a probable case while the other three were confirmed cases. A total of 299 contacts were identified; during follow- up, two were confirmed as MVD. Of the four confirmed and probable MVD cases, three died, yielding a case fatality rate of 75%. All four cases belonged to a single family and 50% (2/4) of the MVD cases were female. All confirmed cases had clinical symptoms of fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding from body orifices. Viral sequences indicated that the Marburg virus strain responsible for this outbreak was closely related to virus strains previously shown to be circulating in Uganda. CONCLUSION:This outbreak of MVD occurred as a family cluster with no additional transmission outside of the four related cases. Rapid case detection, prompt laboratory testing at the Uganda National VHF Reference Laboratory and presence of pre-trained, well-prepared national and district rapid response teams facilitated the containment and control of this outbreak within one month, preventing nationwide and global transmission of the disease