Utilization of basic diabetes mellitus services among adult patients with diabetes mellitus at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital diabetes clinic, Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Utilization of diabetic care services remains a challenge among adult patients in low- and middle-income countries. Optimal utilization of diabetic care services could reduce morbidity and mortality and delay the development of long-term complications. This study assessed the utilization of basic diabetic care services and associated factors among diabetes mellitus patients at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in Western Uganda.

Prevalence of advanced HIV disease and associated factors among antiretroviral therapy naïve adults enrolling in care at public health facilities in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Despite adoption of the 'test-and-treat' strategy, a high proportion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve people living with HIV (PLHIV) enrol in care with, and die of advanced HIV disease (AHD) in Uganda. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of AHD among ART naïve adults enrolling in care and associated factors at selected public health facilities in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: From April to July 2022, we conducted a mixed-methods study at Kiswa Health Centre III, Kitebi Health Centre III, and Kawaala Health Centre IV.

Complete sources of cluster variation on the risk of under-five malaria in Uganda: a multilevel-weighted mixed effects logistic regression model approach.

Background: Malaria, a major cause of mortality worldwide is linked to a web of determinants ranging from individual to contextual factors. This calls for examining the magnitude of the effect of clustering within malaria data. Regrettably, researchers usually ignore cluster variation on the risk of malaria and also apply final survey weights in multilevel modelling instead of multilevel weights.

Early infant diagnosis testing for HIV in a hard-to-reach fishing community in Uganda.

Background: Infants born to HIV-infected mothers are at a high risk of acquiring the infection. The World Health Organization recommends early diagnosis of HIV-exposed infants (HEIs) through deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase chain reaction (DNA PCR) and rapid HIV testing. Early detection of paediatric HIV is critical for access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and child survival.

A qualitative study of influences on the uptake of contraceptive services among people of reproductive age in Uganda.

Background: Uganda has registered an increased investment in family planning (FP) programs, which has contributed to improvement in knowledge of modern contraceptive methods being nearly universal. However, this has not matched the uptake of modern methods or the reduction in the unmet need for FP. This may be explained by the different influences which include health workers, family, and friends.

Challenges and commonly used countermeasures in the implementation of lifelong antiretroviral therapy for PMTCT in Central Uganda: Health providers' perspective.

Introduction: Uganda has implemented lifelong antiretroviral therapy for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission since September 2012. Implementation of this strategy has been met with health provider and client challenges which have persisted up to date. This study explored providers' perspectives on the challenges and countermeasures of the implementation and scale-up of lifelong ART among pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Effect of a communication intervention on alcohol use during pregnancy in post conflict Northern Uganda: a quasi experimental study.

Background: Alcohol use during pregnancy is a preventable risk factor for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders. Psycho-social and educational interventions have been reported to enable women reduce alcohol intake levels during pregnancy and help improve some health outcomes of unhealthy alcohol use. We set out to assess the effect of a communication intervention on alcohol use during pregnancy in post conflict northern Uganda.

Ability and willingness to pay for family planning services in low resource settings: evidence from an operational research.

Objective: This paper establishes levels and patterns of ability and willingness to pay (AWTP) for contraceptives, and associated factors.

Study Design: A three-stage cluster and stratified sampling was applied in selection of enumeration areas, households and individuals in a baseline survey for a 5-year Family planning programme. Multivariable linear and modified Poisson regressions are used to establish factors associated with AWTP.

Cost-effectiveness of GeneXpert Omni compared with GeneXpert MTB/Rif for point-of-care diagnosis of tuberculosis in a low-resource, high-burden setting in Eastern Uganda: a cost-effectiveness analysis based on decision analytical modelling.

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of Xpert Omni compared with Xpert MTB/Rif for point-of-care diagnosis of tuberculosis among presumptive cases in a low-resource, high burden facility.

Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis from the provider's perspective.

Setting: A low-resource, high tuberculosis burden district in Eastern Uganda.

Factors Associated with Linkage to HIV Care Among Oral Self-Tested HIV Positive Adults in Uganda.

Background: HIV oral self-testing (HIVST) was rolled out in Uganda in 2018. However, data reported by public facilities show that less than 60% of oral self-tested HIV positive adults were linked to HIV care. This study set out to determine the factors associated with linkage to HIV care among adults with positive HIV oral self-test results in Uganda.

Resumption of Sexual Intercourse Among Postnatal Women Enrolled on Lifelong Antiretroviral Therapy in Uganda.

The postnatal period is critical to the delivery of interventions aimed at improving maternal health outcomes. This study examined the timing to resumption of sexual intercourse and associated factors among postnatal women living with HIV (WLWH) in Uganda. A sample of 385 women was drawn from a larger prospective cohort study conducted between 2013 and 2015.

What influences uptake and early adherence to Option B+ (lifelong antiretroviral therapy among HIV positive pregnant and breastfeeding women) in Central Uganda? A mixed methods study.

Background: High uptake and optimal adherence to Option B+ antiretroviral therapy (ART) increase effectiveness in averting mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Option B+ ART uptake, early adherence, and associated factors need to be evaluated in Central Uganda.

Methods: A mixed approaches study was carried out in six health facilities in Masaka, Mityana, and Luwero districts from October 2013 to February 2016.

Costs and Cost Drivers of Providing Option B+ Services to Mother-Baby Pairs for PMTCT of HIV in Health Centre IV Facilities in Jinja District, Uganda.

Background: In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) revised the 2012 guidelines on use of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The new guidelines recommended lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all HIV-positive pregnant and breastfeeding women irrespective of CD4 count or clinical stage (also referred to as Option B+). Uganda started implementing Option B+ in 2012 basing on the 2012 WHO guidelines.

Utilization of safe male circumcision among adult men in a fishing community in rural Uganda.

Background: In Uganda, most-at-riskpopulations(MARPs) such as fishing communities remain vulnerable to preventable HIV acquisition. Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) has been incorporated into Uganda's HIV prevention strategies. This study aimed at determining SMC utilization and associated factors among adult men in a rural fishing community in Uganda.

Health Provider Perspectives of Health Facility Preparedness and Organization in Implementation of Option B+ among Pregnant and Lactating Women in Central Uganda: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Uganda adopted Option B+ for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in 2012. However, there is limited data on preparedness and organization of Option B+ services. These data are critical in informing PMTCT programs and provision of universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all populations.

Acceptability of cervical cancer screening using visual inspection among women attending a childhood immunization clinic in Uganda.

Objective: To evaluate the acceptability and performance of cervical cancer (CC) screening using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) integrated into a rural immunization clinic in Uganda.

Methods/materials: We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study in rural Uganda. We explored associations between women's characteristics and acceptance of VIA testing.

HIV status disclosure and associated outcomes among pregnant women enrolled in antiretroviral therapy in Uganda: a mixed methods study.

Background: Disclosure of HIV positive status to sexual partners is promoted by HIV prevention programs including those targeting the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Among other benefits, disclosure may enhance spousal support and reduce stigma, violence and discrimination. HIV status disclosure and associated outcomes were assessed among a cohort of women, newly initiating lifelong antiretroviral therapy in Uganda between October 2013 and May 2014.

Facilitators and barriers to uptake and adherence to lifelong antiretroviral therapy among HIV infected pregnant women in Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: In 2012, Uganda started implementing lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) in line with the WHO 2012 guidelines. This study explored experiences of HIV infected pregnant and breastfeeding women regarding barriers and facilitators to uptake and adherence to lifelong ART.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional qualitative study conducted in three districts (Masaka, Mityana and Luwero) in Uganda, between February and May 2014.

Acceptance of Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections for Stable Sexual Partners by Female Sex Workers in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa remains high. Providing treatment to the affected FSWs is a challenge, and more so to their stable sexual partners. There is scanty research information on acceptance of STI treatment for stable sexual partners by FSWs.

People living with HIV travel farther to access healthcare: a population-based geographic analysis from rural Uganda.

Introduction: The availability of specialized HIV services is limited in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa where the need is the greatest. Where HIV services are available, people living with HIV (PLHIV) must overcome large geographic, economic and social barriers to access healthcare. The objective of this study was to understand the unique barriers PLHIV face when accessing healthcare compared with those not living with HIV in a rural area of sub-Saharan Africa with limited availability of healthcare infrastructure.

Perceptions of HIV and Safe Male Circumcision in High HIV Prevalence Fishing Communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Background: In 2010, the Uganda Ministry of Health introduced its Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) strategy for HIV prevention with the goal of providing 4.2 million voluntary medical male circumcisions by 2015. Fishing communities, where HIV prevalence is approximately 3-5 times higher than the national average, have been identified as a key population needing targeted HIV prevention services by the National HIV Prevention Strategy.

Capacity of Health Facilities to Manage Hypertension in Mukono and Buikwe Districts in Uganda: Challenges and Recommendations.

Background: The burden of chronic diseases is increasing in both low- and middle-income countries. However, healthcare systems in low-income countries are inadequately equipped to deal with the growing disease burden, which requires chronic care for patients. The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of health facilities to manage hypertension in two districts in Uganda.

Health care worker hand hygiene in the pediatric special care unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda: a best practice implementation project.

Introduction: The hands of a health care worker are a common vehicle of pathogen transmission in hospital settings. Health care worker hand hygiene is therefore critical for patients' well being. Whilst failure of health care workers to comply with the best hand hygiene practice is a problem in all health care settings, issues of lack of access to adequate cleaning equipment and in some cases even running water make practicing good hand hygiene particularly difficult in low-resource developing country settings.

Institutional capacity for health systems research in East and Central African Schools of Public Health: strengthening human and financial resources.

Background: Despite its importance in providing evidence for health-related policy and decision-making, an insufficient amount of health systems research (HSR) is conducted in low-income countries (LICs). Schools of public health (SPHs) are key stakeholders in HSR. This paper, one in a series of four, examines human and financial resources capacities, policies and organizational support for HSR in seven Africa Hub SPHs in East and Central Africa.