Characterisation of Tobacco Use and its Associated Factors Among Older Youths in an Urban Setting: The Case of Wakiso, Uganda.

Introduction: Tobacco smoking increases the risk of death from many diseases, including ischemic heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and other fatal and non-fatal diseases. Efforts have been invested towards cessation of tobacco smoking among youths aged 18-35 years. However, population-based data is limited on tobacco smoking in Wakiso district among youths.

Women's access to family planning and experiences of reproductive coercion during the COVID-19 lockdown in two districts of Uganda.

Background: In March 2020, Uganda enforced country-wide restrictions to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, categorizing some health services, including family planning (FP), as non-essential. Globally, similar COVID-19 restrictions have been associated with increased vulnerability to reproductive coercion (RC) among women, due to changes in FP service availability and restricted access by partners. This study aims to investigate these dynamics in Uganda, specifically examining the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on women's access to FP, their experiences of RC, and the relationship between RC and intimate partner violence (IPV).

Willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines, associated factors and reasons for not taking a vaccine: a cross sectional study among persons aged 13-80 years in Wakiso, Central Uganda.

Background: Vaccination has been recommended as one of the approaches for the control of COVID-19 pandemic. However, adequate vaccine coverage is critical to the effectiveness of the vaccine at population level. Data on acceptability of the vaccine in Ugandan urban areas are limited.

Lived experiences and drivers of induced abortion among women in central Uganda.

Although unsafe abortions are preventable, they are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. Despite the serious potential health consequences, there is limited published information about drivers and challenges of obtaining abortions in restrictive settings such as Uganda. This limits efforts to improve programing for preventing unsafe abortion and providing comprehensive post abortion care.

Motivations for continued tobacco smoking and reasons for quitting among youths in Wakiso district, Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: Efforts have been invested towards cessation of tobacco use among youths aged 18-35 years, however, motivators for continued tobacco smoking and reasons for quitting are limited in Ugandan settings. Therefore, this study aimed to explore motivations for continued tobacco smoking and reasons for quitting in Wakiso district Uganda.

Methods: This study used explanatory sequential method.

Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on women's alcohol use, mental health, and experiences of intimate partner violence in Wakiso, Uganda.

Introduction: Uganda confirmed its first COVID-19 case in March 2020, leading to country-wide closures and a stay-at-home order. Infectious disease pandemics can overwhelm adaptive coping capacity (e.g.

Household food insecurity and its association with self-reported male perpetration of intimate partner violence: a survey of two districts in central and western Uganda.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the lifetime prevalence of male-perpetrated intimate partner violence (IPV), and to assess the association with food insecurity, sociodemographic factors and health risk behaviours in Uganda in the year preceding COVID-19-associated lockdowns.

Design: Population-based, cross-sectional household survey.

Setting: Urban, semiurban and rural communities of the Wakiso and Hoima districts in Uganda.

Effects of medical male circumcision (MC) on plasma HIV viral load in HIV+ HAART naïve men; Rakai, Uganda.

Background: Medical male circumcision (MC) of HIV-infected men may increase plasma HIV viral load and place female partners at risk of infection. We assessed the effect of MC on plasma HIV viral load in HIV-infected men in Rakai, Uganda.

Methods: 195 consenting HIV-positive, HAART naïve men aged 12 and above provided blood for plasma HIV viral load testing before surgery and weekly for six weeks and at 2 and 3 months post surgery.

Use of a mixture of lignocaine and bupivacaine vs lignocaine alone for male circumcision under local anaesthesia in Rakai, Uganda.

Objective: To assess self-reported pain control during and after surgery with a mixture of lignocaine and bupivacaine compared with lignocaine alone among male circumcision (MC) service recipients in Rakai, Uganda.

Patients And Methods: The two formulations of local anaesthesia for MC were used alternatively at weekly intervals in 360 patients; 179 received lignocaine alone and 181 received the lignocaine and bupivacaine mixture (LBmix). The proportions of men reporting pain during or after surgery, and the need for additional anaesthesia during surgery were determined for the LBmix vs lignocaine using Poisson adjusted rate ratios (RRs).

Designing and usage of a low-cost penile model for male medical circumcision skills training in Rakai, Uganda.

Objective: To describe the designing and usage of a locally made low-cost penile model used for male medical circumcision (MMC) skills training.

Material And Methods: The Rakai MMC training team has experienced a number of challenges during conduct of MMC skills training, one of which was the lack of a model to use for MMC skills training. To address this challenge, the Rakai MMC skills training team has designed and developed a low-cost penile model for use in MMC skills training.