The effect of tourists’ perceptions of a tourism product on memorable travel experience: Implications for destination branding.

The purpose of this study is to analyse how tourists’ perceptions of a destination’s tourism product influences memorable tourism experiences and how gender differences influence tourists’ perceptions of tourism product. To achieve these objectives, Uganda, one of the developing economies in East Africa, was chosen. The five A’s of tourism product was used as a basis for the questionnaire construction and data was analysed. Explanatory research design within the framework of confirmatory factor analysis - a structural equation modelling technique was adopted using the AMOS 18 program. A sample of 501 respondents consisting of tourists departing Uganda through Entebbe International Airport was used. Results showed that both the measurement and structural models exhibited better model fit indices. Overall, tourists’ perceptions of the retained four dimensions of tourism product (Attractions, ancillary services, amenities and accommodation) had a positive effect on memorable travel experience. Additionally, the independent T-test for gender and tourists’ perceptions of Uganda’s tourism product showed that on average, females had a positive evaluation of Uganda tourism product compared to their male counterparts. However, the observed difference was not significant. It is recommended that destination management organisations pay attention to infrastructure, particularly transport that links potential and actual tourists to key tourism attractions. This is likely to enhance positive perceptions and was found to positively influence memorable travel experience. Other implications for destination branding are discussed

Self-transcendence: An alternative explanation for voluntourism in developing countries

In recent years, travel associated with volunteering activities has attracted a cross section of people with varying demographic characteristics and aspiration to both developing and developed countries and has been on increase. This paper argues for self-transcendence as an alternative altruistic motivation for some individuals who choose to travel to developing nations destinations which are considered risky as VOLUNtourists. A descriptive research design was used to guide the research process. This study was based on a sample of 501 respondents who had completed their visit to Uganda for various reasons. Results indicate that, there was no significant association between gender and purpose of the visit, while age group was significantly associated with the purpose of visiting. Most visitors were seeking that which they perceived to be beyond themselves associated with spirituality. Currently most facilities within tourist attractions in Uganda favour the adult age group and it is recommended that special consideration be given to the development of affordable facilities such as accommodation to cater for all age groups in order to continue realising the positive contribution to the potential of tourism in developing countries

Exceptional Survival of a Buried Alive Newborn: A Case Report

Gabriel Kakuru Shamavu,1 Kumbowi Kumbakulu Patrick,1 Franck Katembo Sikakulya,2 Odong Richard Justin,1 Everest Tukamushaba,3 Simon Odoch,1,3 Baanitse Munihire Jeannot,2 Juliet Adongo Ocol1,3 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Kampala International University Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda; 2Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Kampala International University Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda; 3Department of Pediatrics, Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Lira, UgandaCorrespondence: Gabriel Kakuru Shamavu, Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Pediatrics, Kampala International University Western Campus, PO.Box 70, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: This report details the exceptional survival of a female newborn buried alive by her own mother after a clandestine and unassisted birth. Despite spending over six hours underground, the newborn remarkably survived without exhibiting signs of perinatal asphyxia or major complications, and did not require advanced resuscitation measures.Case Presentation: Rescued following a shocking discovery in a garden and rushed to the hospital, this newborn experienced transient hypothermia, mild to moderate respiratory distress, and scattered skin bruises. After five days of hospital care, she was discharged in clinically stable condition with no infectious complications, displaying age-appropriate normal neurological examination findings and excellent feeding.Conclusion: This case not only defies established expectations but also illuminates perinatal physiological adaptation complexities. It highlights a fortunate and exceptional outcome in dire circumstances, presenting a captivating enigma within scientific realms. This report sheds light on the critical importance of early intervention and timely rescue efforts in cases of neonaticide, emphasizing the significance of raising awareness and implementing prompt measures to safeguard newborns in vulnerable situations and collectively contribute to our understanding of handling similar distressing cases.Keywords: buried alive, survival, newborn, Uganda, case repor

Mapping the medical outcomes study HIV health survey (MOS-HIV) to the EuroQoL 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-3L) utility index

10.1186/s12955-019-1135-8Health and Quality of Life Outcomes1718

Routine versus clinically driven laboratory monitoring of HIV antiretroviral therapy in Africa (DART): a randomised non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) is often managed without routine laboratory monitoring in Africa; however, the effect of this approach is unknown. This trial investigated whether routine toxicity and efficacy monitoring of HIV-infected patients receiving ART had an important long-term effect on clinical outcomes in Africa. METHODS: In this open, non-inferiority trial in three centres in Uganda and one in Zimbabwe, 3321 symptomatic, ART-naive, HIV-infected adults with CD4 counts less than 200 cells per microL starting ART were randomly assigned to laboratory and clinical monitoring (LCM; n=1659) or clinically driven monitoring (CDM; n=1662) by a computer-generated list. Haematology, biochemistry, and CD4-cell counts were done every 12 weeks. In the LCM group, results were available to clinicians; in the CDM group, results (apart from CD4-cell count) could be requested if clinically indicated and grade 4 toxicities were available. Participants switched to second-line ART after new or recurrent WHO stage 4 events in both groups, or CD4 count less than 100 cells per microL (LCM only). Co-primary endpoints were new WHO stage 4 HIV events or death, and serious adverse events. Non-inferiority was defined as the upper 95% confidence limit for the hazard ratio (HR) for new WHO stage 4 events or death being no greater than 1.18. Analyses were by intention to treat. This study is registered, number ISRCTN13968779. FINDINGS: Two participants assigned to CDM and three to LCM were excluded from analyses. 5-year survival was 87% (95% CI 85-88) in the CDM group and 90% (88-91) in the LCM group, and 122 (7%) and 112 (7%) participants, respectively, were lost to follow-up over median 4.9 years' follow-up. 459 (28%) participants receiving CDM versus 356 (21%) LCM had a new WHO stage 4 event or died (6.94 [95% CI 6.33-7.60] vs 5.24 [4.72-5.81] per 100 person-years; absolute difference 1.70 per 100 person-years [0.87-2.54]; HR 1.31 [1.14-1.51]; p=0.0001). Differences in disease progression occurred from the third year on ART, whereas higher rates of switch to second-line treatment occurred in LCM from the second year. 283 (17%) participants receiving CDM versus 260 (16%) LCM had a new serious adverse event (HR 1.12 [0.94-1.32]; p=0.19), with anaemia the most common (76 vs 61 cases). INTERPRETATION: ART can be delivered safely without routine laboratory monitoring for toxic effects, but differences in disease progression suggest a role for monitoring of CD4-cell count from the second year of ART to guide the switch to second-line treatment. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, the UK Department for International Development, the Rockefeller Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Gilead Sciences, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Abbott Laboratories

Back to the Same Place of Holidays. An Analysis of European Tourists’ Preferences Towards Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism remains one of European tourists’ main preference for travelling inside Europe (Kozak, 2002; Chaldler&Costello, 2012). The European Commission (EC) estimated that cultural tourism accounts for 40% of all European tourism; 4 out of 10 tourists choose their destination based on cultural attributes and attractions (EC, 2018). Furthermore, travel has long been associated with cultural standards and levels, because a visitor who is motivated to explore, discover and learn about the attractions of a country or region exerts an incalculable personal, social and professional investment. Tourism demand and the study of tourists’ preferences have had a profound effect on the tourist behaviour field of research. In this way, different perspectives can be broadly categorized, such as under a decision-making process of destination, regarding the point of viewof tourism experience and the identification of the components of tourist behaviour (Suh&Gartner, 2004, among others). Particularly, revisit behaviour or repeat visitation is affected by several factors, such as reputation or quality of a particular destination (Alegre&Cladera, 2006; Barros&Assaf, 2012; Perales, 2002, among others). A controversial idea about motivations of cultural tourists was stated by Pulido-Fernández and Sánchez-Rivero (2010), who claimed that these individuals are motivated by novelty, because they are more complex, sophisticated and demand more experience about destinations, prices and availability, motivated by new and unique experiences in the destination.The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work is financed by FEDER funds, under the new PT2020 partnership agreement and by national funds FCT/MEC – Foundation for Science and Technology under the UID/HIS/00057/2013 – POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007702 project - CIDEHUS

Development of a conceptual model to understand international social entrepreneurship and its application in the Ugandan context

International social entrepreneurship, Social enterprise, Perceived feasibility, Perceived desirability, Propensity to act, Uganda,