Publications by authors named "Edson Mwebesa"
Article Synopsis
- Commensal oral Candida species can turn pathogenic in people with weakened immune systems, leading to oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) due to various factors.
- The study assessed several enzymatic activities (phospholipase, proteinase, hemolysin, esterase, and coagulase) and biofilm formation in 35 Candida isolates from people living with HIV experiencing OPC.
- Results revealed that most isolates exhibited strong phospholipase and proteinase activities, with significant biofilm formation, while other enzymatic activities were less prevalent.
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) among adolescents and young adults (ages 13-24) in refugee and host communities in Uganda, finding that 82.7% perceived SGBV in their community while 13.6% reported experiencing it in the last year.
- Results indicated that under-reporting to authorities was an issue, with only 48% of those who experienced SGBV reporting the incidents, and factors like being female, having vocational/tertiary education, and marital status significantly correlated with higher rates of SGBV.
- The study calls for urgent interventions to protect vulnerable groups, especially women and Ugandans,
Background: The Karamoja subregion in north-eastern Uganda has very high Tuberculosis (TB)case notification rates and, until recently, had suboptimal treatment completion rates among patients diagnosed with TB. We evaluated community knowledge, attitudes and practices towards Tuberculosis in order to identify barriers to TB control in this region.
Methods: From September to October 2022, we conducted a community-based survey in four districts in the Karamoja subregion.
Article Synopsis
- Uganda faces a significant malaria issue, with over 33% prevalence in some areas, and the Ministry of Health uses audiovisual messages to promote prevention, particularly for pregnant women.
- An analysis from the Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey revealed that 39% of pregnant women were exposed to malaria messages, resulting in a 17.2% increase in their knowledge of mosquito net usage for prevention.
- The study found that radios were the primary source of malaria information, demonstrating the effectiveness of mass media in enhancing awareness among pregnant women about malaria prevention strategies.
Distribution and antifungal susceptibility profile of oropharyngeal species isolated from people living with HIV in the era of universal test and treat policy in Uganda.
Ther Adv Infect Dis
May 2024
Background: Despite the increased frequency of oropharyngeal candidiasis among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), its management is no longer effective due to empirical treatment and emergence of antifungal resistance (AFR). This study sought to investigate the prevalence of oropharyngeal candidiasis and assess the antifungal susceptibility profile of oropharyngeal species isolated from people living with human immunodeficiency virus. Additionally, we evaluated the correlation between oropharyngeal candidiasis and CD4 T cell as well as viral load counts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Oropharyngeal species are part commensal microflora in the the oral cavity of health individuals. Commensal species can become opportunist and transition to pathogenic causes of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in individuals with impaired immunity through ecological cues and expression of virulence factors. Limited studies have evaluated virulence attributes of oropharyngeal species among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) with OPC on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Malaria in pregnancy contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality among women in Uganda. However, there is limited information on the prevalence and factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among women in Arua district, northwestern Uganda. We, therefore, assessed the prevalence and factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among women attending routine antenatal care (ANC) clinics at Arua regional referral hospital in north-western Uganda.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Abortion in Uganda is illegal, only permitted when it places the pregnant mother at risk. This study aimed to apply the modified Poisson model in identifying factors associated with the prevalence of pregnancy termination among women of reproductive age in Uganda.
Methods: The 2016 Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) data were used in this study.
Introduction: Maternal mortality remains a global public health issue, more predominantly in developing countries, and is associated with poor maternal health services utilization. Antenatal care (ANC) visits are positively associated with facility delivery and postnatal care (PNC) utilization. However, ANC in itself may not lead to such association but due to differences that exist among users (women).
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