Perceived barriers of access to health and nutrition services under drought and food insecurity emergency in north-east Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: In the face of drought and food insecurity emergency, evidence on access to health and nutrition services is important. Karamoja is one of the regions that have experienced extreme drought and food insecurity emergency in Uganda. As a part of the drought and food insecurity emergency response, World Health Organization (WHO) with Ministry of Health (MoH) has designed and implemented a qualitative study in 15 districts that have experienced drought and food insecurity emergency in north-east Uganda.

Essential health services delivery and quality improvement actions under drought and food insecurity emergency in north-east Uganda.

Background: Essential health services can be disrupted due to several naturally occurring public health emergencies such as drought, flood, earthquake and outbreak of infectious diseases. However, little evidence exists on the status of essential health services delivery under the effect of drought and food insecurity. North-east Uganda is severely affected by prolonged drought that significantly affected the livelihood of the residents.

Prenatal dietary diversity may influence underweight in infants in a Ugandan birth-cohort.

Growth faltering in early childhood is prevalent in many low resource countries. Poor maternal dietary diversity during pregnancy has been linked with increased risk of fetal growth failure and adverse birth outcomes but may also influence subsequent infant growth. Our aim is to assess the role of prenatal maternal dietary diversity in infant growth in rural Uganda.

Predictors of low birth weight and preterm birth in rural Uganda: Findings from a birth cohort study.

Background: Approximately 20.5 million infants were born weighing <2500 g (defined as low birthweight or LBW) in 2015, primarily in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Infants born LBW, including those born preterm (<37 weeks gestation), are at increased risk for numerous consequences, including neonatal mortality and morbidity as well as suboptimal health and nutritional status later in life.

Markers of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction Are Associated with Poor Growth and Iron Status in Rural Ugandan Infants.

Background: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), characterized by altered intestinal permeability/inflammation, microbial translocation, and systemic inflammation (SI), may be a significant contributor to micronutrient deficiencies and poor growth in infants from low-resource settings.

Objective: We examined associations among EED, SI, growth, and iron status at 6 mo of age.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 6-mo-old infants (n = 548) enrolled in a Ugandan birth-cohort study (NCT04233944).

Feasibility and acceptability of food-based complementary feeding recommendations using Trials of Improved Practices among poor families in rural Eastern and Western Uganda.

Inadequate complementary feeding practices are a major contributor to stunting among children in Uganda. The WHO recommends the promotion of local food-based complementary feeding recommendations (FBCFRs) to address nutrient gaps during complementary feeding. This study tested the feasibility and acceptability of FBCFRs, using trials of improved practices (TIPs).

Unsafe Drinking Water Is Associated with Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Poor Growth Outcomes in Young Children in Rural Southwestern Uganda.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a subclinical disorder of the small intestine, and poor growth are associated with living in poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions, but specific risk factors remain unclear. Nested within a birth cohort study, this study investigates relationships among water quality, EED, and growth in 385 children living in southwestern Uganda. Water quality was assessed using a portable water quality test when children were 6 months, and safe water was defined as lacking contamination.

Anaemia and associated factors among under-fives and their mothers in Bushenyi district, Western Uganda.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of anaemia and associated factors among under-fives and their mothers in a rural area of Western Uganda.

Design: A cross-sectional investigation using both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Stratified multistage sampling methods were used to select the study sample.