Publications by authors named "Ivan M Taremwa"

Intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) during pregnancy is of key reproductive health concern as it is associated with various risks linked to severe intrapartum complications. This study assessed the prevalence and the correlates of intimate partner sexual violence among pregnant women in Napak district, Northeastern Uganda. This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted among 284 pregnant women who were obtained by systematic sampling in Napak district between November and December 2020.

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Aim: We examined the maternal healthcare-seeking behaviour of peri-urban women with disabilities in Busiro South Health Sub District, Wakiso district, Uganda.

Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions.

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Introduction: The expanding practice of internet-based antibiotic self-medication raises public health concerns as it increases antibiotic resistance and introduces avoidable risks. This study aims to examine the utility of internet-enabled antibiotic self-medication and its associated factors among patients attending private clinics in Kawempe division in Kampala Capital City, Uganda.

Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study that enrolled participants attending private clinics in Kawempe Division's randomly selected zones.

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Background And Objectives: Children experience high tuberculosis (TB)-related mortality but causes of death among those with presumptive TB are poorly documented. We describe the mortality, likely causes of death, and associated risk factors among vulnerable children admitted with presumptive TB in rural Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of vulnerable children, defined as <2 years of age, HIV-positive, or severely malnourished, with a clinical suspicion of TB.

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Background: Retention in antiretroviral therapy (ART) care is a key indicator of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) treatment success as it improves adherence, critical for better treatment outcomes and prevention of drug resistance. HIV treatment among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) is characterized by loss to follow-up, poor ART adherence, and eventual death. This study assessed retention in ART care and the associated factors among ALHIV in Ibanda district, rural South Western Uganda.

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Background: As a novel global health pandemic, Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-2019) has posed various challenges to frontline healthcare providers (FHCPs). This study explored the social and psychological challenges of COVID-19 to the FHCPs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, southwestern Uganda.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach.

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Introduction: infection with Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV) increases the risk of opportunistic infections, which aggravates life-long complications. We report the prevalence and the associated factors of intestinal parasites among HIV infected clients attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, in Uganda.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional study that purposefully enrolled 410 HIV infected clients.

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Background: Development of rapid biomarker-based tests that can diagnose tuberculosis using non-sputum samples is a priority for tuberculosis control. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the novel Fujifilm SILVAMP TB LAM (FujiLAM) assay with the WHO-recommended Alere Determine TB-LAM Ag test (AlereLAM) using urine samples from HIV-positive patients.

Methods: We did a diagnostic accuracy study at five outpatient public health facilities in Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa.

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Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the putative case of cervical cancer. However, uptake of HPV vaccination is reportedly low in Uganda. This study explored the predictors of HPV vaccination uptake among female adolescents aged 15-18 years in Gulu Municipality, in northern Uganda.

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Background: Despite efforts to avert the negative effects of malaria, there remain barriers to the uptake of prevention measures, and these have hindered its eradication. This study explored the factors that influence uptake of malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women and children under-five years and the impact of COVID-19 in a malaria endemic rural district in Uganda.

Methods: This was a qualitative case study that used focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews involving pregnant women, caregivers of children under-five years, traditional birth attendants, village health teams, local leaders, and healthcare providers to explore malaria prevention uptake among pregnant women and children under-five years.

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Background: The evolution of malaria infection has necessitated the development of highly sensitive diagnostic assays, as well as the use of dried blood spots (DBS) as a potential source of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) yield for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. This study identified the different Plasmodium species in malaria-positive patients, and the anti-malarial drug resistance profile for Plasmodium falciparum using DBS samples collected from patients attending Kisoro Hospital in Kisoro district, Southwestern Uganda.

Methods: The blood samples were prospectively collected from patients diagnosed with malaria to make DBS, which were then used to extract DNA for real-time PCR and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis.

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Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used an interviewer-administered questionnaire and reviewed medical records. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with iron and folic acid supplementation. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and value < 0.

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: The phenomenon of Knowledge Translation (KT) is a key intervention towards bridging the 'know-do' gap. We conducted a KT initiative in Isingiro district to positively change attitude and improve on the uptake of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs) as a malaria prevention strategy. : This was a community based interactive initiative that was carried out within the seventeen administrative units of Isingiro district using varied dissemination activities, namely: health talks; drama activities, and the sharing of ITNs success stories.

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Aim/objective: This study explored the caregivers' self-reported determinants of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among children under five years living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection attending Al-Sabah Hospital, South Sudan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 126 caregivers of HIV-infected children under five years was conducted at Al-Sabah Hospital, South Sudan. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

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Background: Obstetric fistula (OF) remains a silent neglected maternal challenge associated with devastating life consequences. Living with OF presents far-reaching physical, social, psychosocial, and emotional concerns, which negatively impact a woman's quality of life. This study evaluated the quality of life among obstetric fistula patients in Masaka district, Uganda.

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Aims/objectives: This study sought to determine the prevalence, morphological characterization and associated socio-demographic factors of anemia among pregnant women attending Kisugu Health Centre IV, Makindye Division, Kampala, in Uganda.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that employed laboratory analysis of blood samples to determine hemoglobin concentration, and a structured questionnaire to obtain socio-demographic factors associated with anemia during pregnancy.

Results: We enrolled 345 pregnant women aged 15 to 43 years.

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Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and culture are the most reliable methods for tuberculosis diagnosis but are still poorly accessible in many low-resource countries. We aimed to assess the effects of OMNIgene Sputum (OM-S) and ethanol in preserving sputum for Xpert and OM-S for mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) testing over periods of 15 and 8 days, respectively. Sputum samples were collected from newly diagnosed smear-positive patients.

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To assess the quality of blood stored for transfusion at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) regarding bacterial contamination, malaria infection, and laboratory audit status. Whole blood and packed red blood cells at MRRH were critically inspected for visual anomalies, and a portion of this blood was aseptically collected and analyzed for and bacterial contamination using culture methods. For culture positive samples, drug susceptibility testing (DST) was done using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

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Background: Sustainable funding is key for ensuring the quality and coverage of palliative care services. This study examined the sources of funding for stand-alone palliative care services in Uganda as well as their services financial sustainability plans.

Methods: Researchers conducted a cross sectional survey of all stand-alone palliative care organizations that have operated for five or more years.

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To assess the diagnostic performance of TrueHb® point-of-care (POC) hemometer compared with Sysmex i3 analyzer at International Hospital Kampala, Uganda. We analyzed ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples to estimate hemoglobin (Hb) levels using parallel testing with TrueHb® hemometer and Sysmex i3 analyzer. Data were analyzed to ascertain the diagnostic performance of the test assays using the Bland and Altman method.

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Objective: Efforts to dual eradication of mother-to-child transmission of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis have improved in the previous decades. This has however been hindered by limited validation studies. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at Mayuge Health Center III.

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The Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committees (EPPRCs) are at the heart of preventing outbreaks from becoming epidemics by controlling the spread. Evidence-based information regarding factors associated with the performance of EPPRCs in preparedness and response to disease outbreaks is needed in order to improve their performance. A cross-sectional study involving 103 EPPRC members was carried out in Arua district, West Nile region, between the months of July and December 2014.

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Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence of sickle cell trait (SCT), assess patient awareness and evaluate the performance of a sickle cell hemoglobin-S (dithionate-qualitative solubility) point-of-care test among patients seeking care at Magale Health Center IV, Namisindwa District, Eastern Uganda.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study, in which we consecutively enrolled participants aged ≥18 years at Magale Health Center IV. Four milliliters of EDTA blood were collected by venipuncture and screened for SCT using solubility testing, and confirmed with hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis at Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), Kampala, Uganda.

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Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, severity, morphological characterization, and the associated factors of anemia among children under the age of 5 years at St. Mary's Hospital Lacor, Gulu District, Northern Uganda.

Materials And Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to each participant's parent/caregiver to collect data on sociodemographic factors, feeding pattern, and history of chronic illness.

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Aim/objective: To assess the common hematological abnormalities among HIV-antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve clients attending an immune suppression syndrome (ISS) clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), southwestern Uganda.

Patients And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out during the months of March to August 2016 at the ISS clinic of MRRH. We collected approximately 4.

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