Effect of Skin Pigmentation and Finger Choice on Accuracy of Oxygen Saturation Measurement in an IoT-based Pulse Oximeter

The pulse oximeters are widely used in hospitals and homes for measurement of bloodoxygen saturation level (SpO2) and heart rate (HR). Concern has been raised regarding a possible bias in obtaining pulse oximeter measurements from different fingertips and the potential effect of skin pigmentation (white, brown and dark). In this study, we obtained 600 SpO2 measure-ments from 20 volunteers using three UK NHS-approved commercial pulse oximeters alongside our custom-developed sensor and used the Munsell colour system (5YR and 7.5YR cards) to classify the participant skin pigmentation into three distinct categories (white, brown and dark). The statistical analysis using ANOVA post-hoc tests (Bonferroni correction), Bland-Altman plot and correlation test were then carried out to determine if there was a clinical significance in measuring SpO2 reading from the different fingertips and highlight if skin pigmentation affects the accuracy of SpO2 measurement. The results indicate that although the three commercial pulse oximeters had different mean and standard deviations, these differences had no clinical significance.<br/

Utilization of sexual and reproductive health services among young people in refugee settings in Uganda

There is a considerable high level of unmet need for reproductive health services among refugees. Yet, there is limited research about the provision and utilization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services among young people in refugee settings. Drawing on a sample of 575 young refugees (15–24 years) from a cross-sectional survey, this study aims to fill this gap by identifying the factors associated with SRH utilization among young people living in refugee settings in Northern Uganda. The utilization of SRH services at the health facilities was significantly different between female and male young people after adjusting for all other variables (aOR = 2.46, 95% CI, 1.58, 3.84). Young people who were not living in a marital union (aOR = 0.38, 95% CI, 0.20, 0.71), or held inequitable gender norms about services (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI, 0.12, 0.66) had about a third of the odds of utilizing SRH services. Young women with comprehensive knowledge about contraception, modern contraceptives, and HIV and STI prevention, had more than twice the odds of utilizing SRH services (aOR = 2.23, 95% CI, 2.67, 6.90). There is need to integrate social norm measurements and social norm change strategies in strategies for promoting utilization of SRH services among refugees in low-income countries especially in Ugand

The sexual behavior of young people living with a disability: Findings from the KAP study in Northern Uganda

IntroductionYoung people living with disability form one of the most vulnerable population groups globally. There is limited information on the use of SRH services among young people living with a disability.MethodsThis analysis is based on household survey data among young people. Drawing on a sample of 861 young people living with a disability (15 -24 years), we investigate the sexual behaviour, and identify the risk factors associated with sexual behavior of young people living with a disability. Multilevel logistic regression was used.ResultsResults indicate that risky sexual behaviour was associated with alcohol consumption (aOR = 1.68; 95%CI: 0.97, 3.01), having limited knowledge of HIV and STI prevention methods (aOR = 6.03; 95%CI: 0.99, 30.00), and low life skills (aOR = 4.23; 95%CI: 1.59, 12.87). The odds of not using a condom at last sex were significantly higher among in-school young people than out of school young people (aOR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.12, 0.99).DiscussionTargeted interventions aimed at reaching out to young people living with a disability should consider their sexual and reproductive health needs, barriers, and facilitators. Interventions can also promote self-efficacy and agency of young people living with a disability in making informed sexual and reproductive health choices

How Self-Efficacy and Agency Influence Risky Sexual Behavior among Adolescents in Northern Uganda

Background: Risky sexual behaviors remain common among adolescents regardless of those with comprehensive knowledge of safer sex practices. Self-efficacy has been shown to have a positive relationship with safer sex practices. Thus, investigating self-efficacy, and enhancing it to agency is important. The current study explores the predictors of self-efficacy for avoiding risky sexual behaviors and what limits agency among sexually active adolescents (15–19 years) in Northern Uganda. Methods: The study consisted of a sub-sample of 396 sexually active adolescents (145 in school, 251 out of school) interviewed as part of a household survey for the program on Advancing Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Northern Uganda. Poisson and Poisson regression models with survey weights were implemented in Stata. Results: A total of 94% of male and 64% of female adolescents reported self-efficacy to avoid unsafe sex, including using condoms and avoiding multiple sexual partnerships or transactional sex. At multivariable analysis, a higher proportion of adolescents who listened to a radio or television program about sexual and reproductive health within the past 12 months had self-efficacy as compared to others (PR = 1.13, p-value = 0.002). Similarly, higher proportions of adolescents who knew all the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights (PR = 1.33, p-value = 0.007) and who had comprehensive knowledge about pregnancy, prevention of sexual transmission infections, and sources of SRH services (PR = 1.24, p-value = 0.013) had self-efficacy as compared to others. However, among those who reported self-efficacy, 42% of the girls and 53% of the boys could not uphold their self-efficacy in actual sexual encounters in the past 12 months. Partner’s refusal or girls’ fear to ask their sexual partner to use a condom were commonly cited reasons. Alcohol consumption was associated with failure to act on one’s self-efficacy (RR = 0.74, p-value = 0.048). Conclusions: Programs should target self-efficacy beliefs and attempt to enhance them into agency by increasing positive and decreasing negative expectations associated with risky sexual behavior