Developing and testing tele-support psychotherapy using mobile phones for depression among youth in Kampala district, Uganda: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: In the post-COVID-19 era, depressive disorders among youth have risen significantly, creating an urgent need for accessible, cost-effective mental health interventions. This study adapts Group Support Psychotherapy into Tele-Support Psychotherapy (TSP) via mobile phones. It aims to evaluate its feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency in addressing mild to moderate depression among youth in central Uganda.

Effectiveness of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for seasonal malaria chemoprevention in Uganda: a three-arm, open-label, non-inferiority and superiority, cluster-randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combined with amodiaquine (SPAQ) effectively protects eligible children from malaria in areas of high and seasonal transmission. However, concerns about parasite resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in East and Southern Africa necessitate evaluating alternative drug regimens. This study assessed the effectiveness of SPAQ and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for SMC in Uganda.

Using artificial intelligence on dermatology conditions in Uganda: a case for diversity in training data sets for machine learning.

Background: In pursuit of applying universal non-biased Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, it is essential that data from different geographies are represented.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of an AI-powered dermatological algorithm called Skin Image Search on Fitzpatrick 6 skin type (dark skin) dermatological conditions.

Methods: 123 dermatological images selected from a total of 173 images were retrospectively extracted from the electronic database of a Ugandan telehealth company, The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) after getting their consent.

Cholera and COVID-19 pandemic prevention in multiple hotspot districts of Uganda: vaccine coverage, adverse events following immunization and WASH conditions survey.

Background: Between March, 2020 and December, 2021 due to cholera and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemics, there were 1,534 cholera cases with 14 deaths and 136,065 COVID-19 cases with 3,285 deaths reported respectively in Uganda. This study investigated mass vaccination campaigns for the prevention of the two pandemics namely: oral cholera vaccine (OCV) and COVID-19 vaccine coverage; adverse events following immunization (AEFI); barriers and enablers for the vaccine uptake and assessed water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in the six cholera and COVID-19 hotspot districts of Uganda.

Methods: A household survey was conducted between January and February, 2022 in the six cholera hotspot districts of Uganda which had recently conducted OCV mass vaccination campaigns and had ongoing COVID-19 mass vaccination campaigns.

A non-randomized controlled trial to assess the protective effect of SMC in the context of high parasite resistance in Uganda.

Background: Until recently, due to widespread prevalence of molecular markers associated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and amodiaquine (AQ) resistance in east and southern Africa, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) has not been used at scale in this region. This study assessed the protective effectiveness of monthly administration of SP + AQ (SPAQ) to children aged 3-59 months in Karamoja sub-region, Uganda, where parasite resistance is assumed to be high and malaria transmission is seasonal.

Methods: A two-arm quasi-experimental, open-label prospective non-randomized control trial (nRCT) was conducted in three districts.

Qualitative study of mental health attribution, perceptions and care-seeking in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Mental health problems contribute to a substantial proportion of the global burden of disease. In Uganda, the World Health Organization estimates that 2.2 million people are affected by mental health disorders.

Disruption in Essential Health Service Delivery: A Qualitative Study on Access to Family Planning Information and Service Utilization During the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Uganda.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a challenge to public health with profound impact on people's lives. With several mitigation measures implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19, these impacted on access and utilization of general health services including family planning (FP) services. The objective of the study was to understand the extent to which COVID-19 interrupted access and utilization of FP services as well as highlight the challenges faced during the lockdown in Uganda.

Efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria and prevalence of molecular markers associated with artemisinin and partner drug resistance in Uganda.

Background: In Uganda, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is first-line therapy and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) second-line therapy for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of AL and DP in the management of uncomplicated falciparum malaria and measured the prevalence of molecular markers of resistance in three sentinel sites in Uganda from 2018 to 2019.

Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, phase IV clinical trial.

Sexual-risk behaviours and HIV and syphilis prevalence among in- and out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in Uganda: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We assessed sexual-risk behaviours and HIV and syphilis prevalence among AGYW in Uganda to inform the design of target-specific risk-reduction interventions.

Methods: This analysis utilizes data from 8,236 AGYW aged 10-24 years, collected in 20 districts, between July and August 2018.

HiSTEP: A Single-Arm Pilot Study of a Technology-Assisted HIV Self-testing Intervention in Kampala, Uganda.

We developed and pilot tested a 3-month HIV self-testing intervention called HiSTEP ("HIV Self-testing Engagement Project") among 95 adult (18+ years) at-risk (condomless sex < 3 months) adults in Kampala, Uganda. HiSTEP leverages theoretically-grounded (in the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model) text messages, a telehealth centre with live support, and "last-mile" HIV self-testing kit delivery to a location chosen by the participant. Nearly 94% of participants were retained at month 3.

Point-of-care testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections reveals risky behavior among men at gambling centers in Uganda".

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), men are generally difficult to engage in healthcare programs. However, sports gambling centers in SSA can be used as avenues for male engagement in health programs. We offered point-of-care HIV and syphilis testing for men located at five gambling centers in Uganda and assessed HIV risky sexual behavior.

Continuity of health service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of digital health technologies in Uganda.

In response to coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic (COVID-19), the government of Uganda instituted movement restrictions to curb disease spread. However, this affected accessibility to medical services in a setting where the healthcare system is not equipped to handle most healthcare needs of the populace outside hospital premises. This gap led to the prominence and unprecedented rise in the use of digital health technologies to deliver health information and services at a distance (telehealth) during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Chest X-ray interpretation does not complement Xpert MTB/RIF in diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis among TB-HIV co-infected adults in a resource-limited setting.

Background: Chest X-ray (CXR) interpretation remains a central component of the current World Health Organization recommendations as an adjuvant test in diagnosis of smear-negative tuberculosis (TB). With its low specificity, high maintenance and operational costs, utility of CXR in diagnosis of smear-negative TB in high HIV/TB burden settings in the Xpert MTB/RIF era remains unpredictable. We evaluated accuracy and additive value of CXR to Xpert MTB/RIF in the diagnosis of TB among HIV-positive smear-negative presumptive TB patients.

Socio-economic factors associated with mental health disorders in Fort Portal, western Uganda.

Background: Mental health disorders, which are interlinked with social issues such as poverty and stigma, present a significant burden in Uganda.

Aim: This article explores perceptions about and experiences of mental health disorders in western Uganda, particularly as they pertain to the socio-economic context.

Setting: The research was conducted in the mental health unit at the Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Kabarole District, Uganda.

Missed opportunities for family planning counselling among HIV-positive women receiving HIV Care in Uganda.

Introduction: HIV-positive women who are still in the reproductive years need adequate sexual and reproductive health information to make informed reproductive health choices. However, many HIV-positive women who interface with the health system continue to miss out on this information. We sought to: a) determine the proportion of HIV-positive women enrolled in HIV care who missed family planning (FP) counselling; and b) assess if any association existed between receipt of FP counselling and current use of modern contraception to inform programming.

Intimate partner violence among HIV positive women in care - results from a national survey, Uganda 2016.

Background: Women remain disproportionally affected by the HIV/ AIDS epidemic because of sociocultural factors including violence perpetrated by intimate partners. Among HIVpositive (HIV+) women, intimate partner violence (IPV) affects engagement in care and reproductive health outcomes. We analyzed data from a national survey to estimate the prevalence of IPV among HIV+ women in care and associated factors.

Knowledge and correlates of use of safer conception methods among HIV-infected women attending HIV care in Uganda.

Background: Many people living with HIV would like to have children but family planning (FP) services often focus on only contraception. Availability of safer conception services is still very low in most low income countries. In this study we assessed the knowledge and use of safer conception methods (SCM) among HIV infected women in HIV care in Uganda to inform integration of safer conception in existing FP services.

Uptake and correlates of cervical cancer screening among HIV-infected women attending HIV care in Uganda.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women are at high risk of cervical cancer.

Objective: This study assessed uptake and correlates of cervical screening among HIV-infected women in care in Uganda.

Methods: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of HIV-infected women in care was conducted from August to November 2016.

Prototype Positive Control Wells for Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests: Prospective Evaluation of Implementation Among Health Workers in Lao People's Democratic Republic and Uganda.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used for malaria diagnosis, but lack of quality control at point of care restricts trust in test results. Prototype positive control wells (PCW) containing recombinant malaria antigens have been developed to identify poor-quality RDT lots. This study assessed community and facility health workers' (HW) ability to use PCWs to detect degraded RDTs, the impact of PCW availability on RDT use and prescribing, and preferred strategies for implementation in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) and Uganda.

Evaluation of Integrated Community Case Management in Eight Districts of Central Uganda.

Objective: Evidence is limited on whether Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) improves treatment coverage of the top causes of childhood mortality (acute respiratory illnesses (ARI), diarrhoea and malaria). The coverage impact of iCCM in Central Uganda was evaluated.

Methods: Between July 2010 and December 2012 a pre-post quasi-experimental study in eight districts with iCCM was conducted; 3 districts without iCCM served as controls.

Impact of Patient-Selected Care Buddies on Adherence to HIV Care, Disease Progression, and Conduct of Daily Life Among Pre-antiretroviral HIV-Infected Patients in Rakai, Uganda: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Data are limited on effects of household or community support persons ("care buddies") on enrollment into and adherence to pre-antiretroviral HIV care. We assessed the impact of care buddies on adherence to HIV clinic appointments, HIV progression, and conduct of daily life among pre-antiretroviral therapy (pre-ART) HIV-infected individuals in Rakai, Uganda.

Methods: A total of 1209 HIV-infected pre-ART patients aged ≥15 years were randomized to standard of care (SOC) (n = 604) or patient-selected care buddy (PSCB) (n = 605) and followed at 6 and 12 months.

Determinants of HIV counseling and testing uptake among individuals in long-term sexual relationships in Uganda.

Introduction: Studies show that HIV counseling and testing (HCT) can improve linkage to HIV prevention, care and treatment services. However, uptake of HCT among couples remains low in most settings. We investigated the determinants of HCT uptake among individuals in long-term relationships in two districts in Uganda.

The role of viral introductions in sustaining community-based HIV epidemics in rural Uganda: evidence from spatial clustering, phylogenetics, and egocentric transmission models.

Background: It is often assumed that local sexual networks play a dominant role in HIV spread in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which continued HIV transmission in rural communities--home to two-thirds of the African population--is driven by intra-community sexual networks versus viral introductions from outside of communities.

Methods And Findings: We analyzed the spatial dynamics of HIV transmission in rural Rakai District, Uganda, using data from a cohort of 14,594 individuals within 46 communities.

Clinical predictors and accuracy of empiric tuberculosis treatment among sputum smear-negative HIV-infected adult TB suspects in Uganda.

Introduction: The existing diagnostic algorithms for sputum smear-negative tuberculosis (TB) are complicated, time-consuming, and often difficult to implement. The decision to initiate TB treatment in resource-limited countries is often largely based on clinical predictors. We sought to determine the clinical predictors and accuracy of empiric TB treatment initiation in HIV-infected sputum smear-negative TB suspects using sputum culture as a reference standard.