Combating Antimicrobial Resistance Through a Data-Driven Approach to Optimize Antibiotic Use and Improve Patient Outcomes: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: It is projected that drug-resistant infections will lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if left unabated. Despite this threat, surveillance data from resource-limited settings are scarce and often lack antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related clinical outcomes and economic burden. We aim to build an AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) data warehouse, describe the trends of resistance and antibiotic use, determine the economic burden of AMR in Uganda, and develop a machine learning algorithm to predict AMR-related clinical outcomes.

Cost-Effectiveness of Dolutegravir Compared With Efavirenz for Prevention of Perinatal Transmission in Women Presenting With HIV in Late Pregnancy in Uganda.

Objectives: Dolutegravir (DTG) has proved to be more efficacious, tolerable, and safer than efavirenz (EFV) among mothers living with HIV and their infants in Uganda. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of the DTG-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) compared with the standard of care for preventing perinatal transmissions among pregnant women initiating ART in late pregnancy in Uganda.

Methods: We used data from a randomized open-label trial (DolPHIN-2) and a 2-part cost-effectiveness model composed of a short-term decision tree to estimate the perinatal transmission rate and costs and an individual-based 3-state Markov model (HIV, advanced HIV, dead) to estimate the long-term costs and health outcomes from the Ugandan payer perspective using a lifetime horizon and a 1-year Markov cycle.

Cost-effectiveness of increased contraceptive coverage using family planning benefits cards compared with the standard of care for young women in Uganda.

Background: Uganda has a high population growth rate of 3%, partly due to limited access to and low usage of contraception. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of the family planning benefits cards (FPBC) program compared to standard of care (SOC). The FPBC program was initiated to increase access to modern contraception among young women in slums in Kampala, Uganda.

Utilization of a mobile phone application to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda.

Background: Innovations to increase access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, goods, and services are needed, particularly in low-income settings. This study assessed the utilization of a mobile phone application (MPA) to increase access to SRH information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from: (1) an endline survey performed as a consequence of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the effectiveness of the MPA, and (2) data from use of the MPA for accessing information, goods, and services over the 6-month time period of the RCT, obtained from in-MPA data collection service providers.

Effectiveness of a mobile phone application to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: University students are one of the most vulnerable groups to sexual reproductive health [SRH] threats like sexually transmitted infections [STIs], unwanted pregnancies, and unsafe abortions and often have limited access to SRH information, goods, and services. This study assessed the effectiveness of using a mobile phone application (APP) to increase access to SRH information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda.

Methods: Using data from a double-blinded randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to both the intervention (APP) and control (standard of care) arms.

Acceptability and utilization of family planning benefits cards by youth in slums in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: This study was conducted to test the acceptability and utilization of family planning benefits cards (FPBCs) as incentives to increase family planning uptake among youth living in urban slums in Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a one-year pilot study with two sub-studies on acceptability and utilization of FPBCs. The acceptability study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional design and was part of a baseline household survey while the utilization study was a primary analysis of claims and clinic data.

Study protocol: using a mobile phone-based application to increase awareness and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services among the youth in Uganda. A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Several cost-effective programs are being implemented around the world that use mobile technology to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) uptake and awareness among youth. Mobile phone applications are a viable and effective means of increasing access to SRH services and tools in low and middle-income countries. This paper presents a protocol for a pilot study of a novel program, a mobile phone-based sexual and reproductive health services awareness and delivery application with the objective of increasing the demand for SRH services amongst the youth in Uganda.

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.

Study protocol: incentives for increased access to comprehensive family planning for urban youth using a benefits card in Uganda. A quasi-experimental study.

Background: The use of contraception is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions and has the potential to prevent about 30% of maternal and 10% of child deaths in developing countries. Voucher-based initiatives for family planning are an effective and viable means of increasing contraceptive use. In this paper, we present a protocol for a pilot study of a novel incentive, a family planning benefits card (FPBC) program to increase uptake of family planning services among urban poor youth in Uganda while leveraging private sector funding.