Prevalence and effects of menstrual disorders on quality of life of female undergraduate students in Makerere University College of health sciences, a cross sectional survey.

Background: Menstrual problems affect as high as 90% of adolescent females and are the main reason for gynecology visits. Dysmenorrhea was the most frequent menstrual disorder for which adolescents and their parents were referred to a physician. Many undergraduate students are adolescents who undergo several hormonal changes that affect menstrual patterns.

Standardization of caregiver and nursing perioperative care on gynecologic oncology wards in a resource-limited setting.

Introduction: In Kampala, Uganda, there is a strong cultural practice for patients to have designated caregivers for the duration of hospitalization. At the same time, nursing support is limited. This quality improvement project aimed to standardize caregiver and nursing perioperative care on the gynecologic oncology wards at the Uganda Cancer Institute and Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital.

Episiotomy related morbidities measured using redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge and apposition scale and numerical pain scale among primiparous women in Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: episiotomy induced inflammatory signs like redness, edema, ecchymosis and pain may remain beyond the period of hospitalization and can be objectively measured using redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge and apposition (REEDA) scale. Pain in the postpartum period is a common problem and can be measured using the numerical pain scale (NPS). Episiotomy is normally poorly executed and poorly repaired with little attention to the subtle pain-free scar.

Effect of a participatory multisectoral maternal and newborn intervention on maternal health service utilization and newborn care practices: a quasi-experimental study in three rural Ugandan districts.

Background: The MANIFEST study in eastern Uganda employed a participatory multisectoral approach to reduce barriers to access to maternal and newborn care services.

Objectives: This study analyses the effect of the intervention on the utilization of maternal and newborn services and care practices.

Methods: The quasi-experimental pre- and post-comparison design had two main components: community mobilization and empowerment, and health provider capacity building.

Maternal and neonatal implementation for equitable systems. A study design paper.

Background: Evidence on effective ways of improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes is widely available. The challenge that most low-income countries grapple with is implementation at scale and sustainability.

Objectives: The study aimed at improving access to quality maternal and neonatal health services in a sustainable manner by using a participatory action research approach.

A cascade model of mentorship for frontline health workers in rural health facilities in Eastern Uganda: processes, achievements and lessons.

Background: There is increasing demand for trainers to shift from traditional didactic training to innovative approaches that are more results-oriented. Mentorship is one such approach that could bridge the clinical knowledge gap among health workers.

Objectives: This paper describes the experiences of an attempt to improve health-worker performance in maternal and newborn health in three rural districts through a mentoring process using the cascade model.

Improving the quality of obstetric care for women with obstructed labour in the national referral hospital in Uganda: lessons learnt from criteria based audit.

Background: Obstructed labour remains a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality whose complications can be reduced with improved quality of obstetric care. The objective was to assess whether criteria-based audit improves quality of obstetric care provided to women with obstructed labour in Mulago hospital, Uganda.

Methods: Using criteria-based audit, management of obstructed labour was analyzed prospectively in two audits.

Strengthening health facilities for maternal and newborn care: experiences from rural eastern Uganda.

Background: In Uganda maternal and neonatal mortality remains high due to a number of factors, including poor quality of care at health facilities.

Objective: This paper describes the experience of building capacity for maternal and newborn care at a district hospital and lower-level health facilities in eastern Uganda within the existing system parameters and a robust community outreach programme.

Design: This health system strengthening study, part of the Uganda Newborn Study (UNEST), aimed to increase frontline health worker capacity through district-led training, support supervision, and mentoring at one district hospital and 19 lower-level facilities.

Prevalence and factors associated with use of herbal medicine among women attending an infertility clinic in Uganda.

Background: Infertility is a public health problem associated with devastating psychosocial consequences. In countries where infertility care is difficult to access, women turn to herbal medicines to achieve parenthood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with herbal medicine use by women attending the infertility clinic.