Publications by authors named "Charles Batte"

Background: Multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a global public health threat. In 2021, an incidence of 3.6% was reported among new TB patients, and 18% was reported among previously treated patients.

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Background: Efforts toward tuberculosis management and control are challenged by the emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) resistance to existing anti-TB drugs. This study aimed to explore the potential of machine learning algorithms in predicting drug resistance of four anti-TB drugs (rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin, and ethambutol) in MTB using whole-genome sequence and clinical data from Uganda. We also assessed the model's generalizability on another dataset from South Africa.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mental health issues among school adolescents are widespread, with globally reported rates of 50.2% for depression and 43.6% for anxiety, and specific findings from Northeastern Uganda showing 26.6% and 8.6% respectively.
  • A study conducted in the Manafwa Watershed area of Uganda surveyed 762 adolescents aged 13-18 and found that 65% experienced mental health challenges, predominantly anxiety (44%) and disruptive behavior (31%).
  • Key factors contributing to these challenges included larger family sizes (more than five children) and substance abuse, indicating the need for targeted interventions in these areas.
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Introduction: The presence of hypertension could reduce the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with HIV (PWH). Yet, literature describing the HRQoL of PWH who have hypertension in Uganda is scarce making the design of locally adapted interventions cumbersome. In our study, we compared HRQoL scores of people with HIV with and without hypertension on long term antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life, economies, and health, prompting strict government measures, including nationwide lockdowns and school closures in Uganda, resulting in significant academic setbacks for adolescents. The coping strategies employed by school-going adolescents in Uganda amidst the COVID-19 pandemic remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to assess the coping strategies adopted by school-going adolescents (early, middle and late adolescents) in the Manafwa watershed, recognized as one of Uganda's most vulnerable regions, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Background: COVID-19 has a significant cardiovascular involvement. Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among people at a risk of Long COVID in Uganda was investigated.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2022 at the post COVID - 19 clinic in Mulago National Specialized Hospital, Kampala.

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Sustainable health, a multisectoral area for study, research, and practice towards improving health and well-being for all while staying within planetary boundaries, is a prerequisite to reaching the 2030 agenda and the work and journey towards a world in which everyone, everywhere can live a healthy and fulfilled life.

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Measuring quality of life is a key component in the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The COPD assessment test (CAT), an easy to administer and shorter instrument than the standard Saint George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ), could be an alternative tool for measuring the quality of life of COPD patients in rural Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2022, consecutively recruiting 113 COPD patients aged > 40 years from the Low-Dose Theophylline for the management of Biomass-associated COPD (LODOT-BCOPD) study.

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Background: Both pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) significantly affect health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). We aimed to determine the impact of CPA co-infection on the HR-QoL of Ugandans with PTB.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study as part of a larger study among participants with PTB with persistent pulmonary symptoms after 2 months of anti-TB treatment at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda between July 2020 and June 2021.

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Background: Prolonged exposure to HIV and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has been linked with endothelial cell activation which subsequently predisposes people living with HIV (PLWH) to cardiovascular diseases. Serum biomarkers of endothelial cell activation such as E-Selectin and endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) could aid in early detection of PLWH at a risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, there is a paucity of data on these biomarkers like E-selectin and endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) among PLWH on long term ART (≥ 10 years) in Uganda.

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Article Synopsis
  • Dolutegravir-based ART is a first-line HIV treatment in Uganda known for its effectiveness but linked to cardiometabolic issues like hypertension, prompting an assessment of its prevalence among users.
  • In a study of 430 adults on dolutegravir for at least six months, 27.2% were found to have hypertension, with notable risk factors including being male, older age, higher BMI, and a family or personal history of hypertension or heart disease.
  • The findings suggest a need for integrating hypertension management in HIV care and improving access to affordable medication for better health outcomes.
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Introduction: Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are increasingly being reported among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, the exact prevalence of ECG abnormalities among PLWH in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region with one of the highest burdens of HIV, is not known. Through a systematic review, we determined the prevalence and patterns of ECG abnormalities among PLWH in SSA.

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Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is known to complicate the coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19), especially those with critical illness. We investigated the baseline anti-Aspergillus antibody serostatus of patients with moderate-critical COVID-19 hospitalized at 3 COVID-19 Treatment Units in Uganda. All 46 tested patients, mean age 30, and 11% with underlying respiratory disease had a negative serum anti-Aspergillus IgM/IgG antibody immunochromatographic test on day 3 (mean) of symptom onset (range 1-26), but follow up specimens to assess seroconversion were not available.

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Background Both pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) significantly affect health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). We aimed to determine the impact of CPA co-infection on the HR-QoL of Ugandans with PTB. Methods We conducted a prospective study among participants with PTB with persistent pulmonary symptoms after 2 months of anti-TB treatment at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda between July 2020 and June 2021.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study involving 354 participants from a steel and iron manufacturing industry in Kampala used the Wulira app to assess noise-induced hearing loss, revealing an overall prevalence of 11.3% among workers, with mild hearing loss more common in the right ear.
  • * The findings indicated that workers living outside Kampala were at a higher risk for hearing loss, emphasizing the need for regular screening to facilitate early detection and intervention.
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Background: The elderly have an increased risk of developing visual impairment (VI). Due to the increase in life expectancy of individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa, the population of the elderly is projected to increase. It is thus postulated that the prevalence of VI will increase which is currently unknown in Uganda.

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Background: Industrial workers are at a high risk of acquiring noise induced hearing loss, yet there is minimal hearing loss screening of such groups of people. Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), the gold standard for hearing loss screening, is expensive, and not readily available at health sites. Mobile audiometry can bridge this gap.

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Background: Overweight and obesity are significantly increasing among people living with HIV (PLWH), contributing to the risk of major adverse cardio-metabolic events. However, little is known on its prevalence among PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we report the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among PLWH in a large tertiary HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda.

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Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus and is a significant cause of blindness worldwide. In Uganda, the prevalence of diabetes is approximately 2.7% of the urban population and 1% in rural areas.

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Background: The occurrence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) among drug sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients on optimal therapy with persistent symptoms was investigated.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled participants with PTB with persistent pulmonary symptoms after 2 months of anti-TB treatment at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, between July 2020 and June 2021. CPA was defined as a positive Aspergillus-specific IgG/IgM immunochromatographic test (ICT), a cavity with or without a fungal ball on chest X-ray (CXR), and compatible symptoms >3 months.

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Introduction: Globally, the HIV burden continues to rise among young people despite the discovery of ART. This study assessed demographic and psycho-social factors among young people associated with readiness to be initiated on ART.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among newly diagnosed HIV positive young people aged 15-24 years at 4 HIV clinics at Mulago Hospital.

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Background: In Uganda, 12% of previously treated TB cases and 1.6% of new cases have MDR-TB and require specialized treatment and care. Adherence is crucial for improving MDR-TB treatment outcomes.

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Background: The prevalence of hypertension is increasing among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, knowledge of the complications and management of hypertension among PLWHA in Uganda remains low. We explored the acceptability of implementing hypertension (HTN) specific health education by community health workers (CHWs) among PLWHA in rural Uganda.

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