Associations Between Non-communicable Diseases and Obstetric Complications: A Retrospective Records Review at a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Uganda.

Objective: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increasingly contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality. We determined the association between NCDs and obstetric complications at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda.

Methods: In this retrospective records review, we randomly selected records of women admitted for delivery at MRRH each month from January to December 2022, and extracted their socio-demographic and clinical histories.

Iatrogenic Female Genitourinary Fistula in Uganda: Etiology, Twelve-Year Trends, and Risk Factors for Development Following Cesarean Section.

Purpose: To describe the magnitude and trend of the iatrogenic genitourinary fistula in Uganda, and the risk factors for development following the Cesarean Section (CS).

Methods: A retrospective review of charts of women with a confirmed diagnosis of genitourinary fistula at four regional fistula repair sites in Uganda between 2010 and 2021 was conducted. A fistula was classified as iatrogenic if it was; ureteric, vesico-cervical, vesico-uterine, or vaginal vault fistula that followed an obstetric or gynecological surgery.

Maternal factors associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis among caesarean-delivered babies at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda: a case-control study.

Background: Babies born via caesarean section in low-income settings face a higher risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS), which has greater mortality than late-onset sepsis. However, maternal factors contributing to EONS among caesarean-delivered babies in these settings, including Uganda, are not well documented. We determined maternal factors associated with EONS among term babies delivered by caesarian section at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), southwestern Uganda.

Effectiveness of the modified WHO labour care guide to detect prolonged and obstructed labour among women admitted at publicly funded facilities in rural Mbarara district, Southwestern Uganda: an ambispective cohort study.

Background: Obstructed labour, a sequel of prolonged labour, remains a significant contributor to maternal and perinatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: We evaluated the modified World Health Organization (WHO) Labour Care Guide (LCG) in detecting prolonged and or obstructed labour, and other delivery outcomes compared with a traditional partograph at publicly-funded maternity centers of rural Mbarara district and City, Southwestern Uganda.

Methods: Since November 2023, we deployed the LCG for use in monitoring labour by trained healthcare providers across all maternity centers in Mbarara district/City.

Clinical profiles, incidence and predictors of early neonatal mortality at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, south-western Uganda.

Background: The current neonatal mortality rate in Uganda is high at 22 deaths per 1000 live births, while it had been stagnant at 27 deaths per 1000 live births in the past decade. This is still more than double the World Health Organization target of < 12 deaths per 1,000 live births. Three-quarters of new born deaths occur within the first week of life, which is a very vulnerable period and the causes reflect the quality of obstetric and neonatal care.

Association between metabolic syndrome and cervical cancer among women in Southwestern Uganda: A case-control study.

Objective: To determine the association between MetS and its components with cervical cancer among women in South-western Uganda.

Methods: We conducted an unmatched case-control study on 470 participants in a 1:2 case-to-control ratio among women in southwestern Uganda. We recruited 157 women with cervical cancer as cases and 313 women without cervical cancer as controls at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Cervical Cancer Clinic.

Early contraceptive implant removal and associated factors among women attending public family planning clinics, Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Early implant removal not only results in method wastage and strains healthcare resources but also exposes women to the risk of unplanned pregnancies and associated complications if an alternative contraceptive is not promptly adopted. Studies have demonstrated that prevalence and factors associated with contraceptive use vary across different cultures and regions even within Uganda. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of early implant removal, among women attending public family planning clinics in Mbarara City, southwestern Uganda.

Late Stage at Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Its Correlates at a Large Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background The stage of disease at diagnosis is one of the major determinants of survival in women with cervical cancer. Most women with cervical cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) present to hospitals with advanced stages, thus reducing their survivorship following the diagnosis. Factors correlated with late-stage disease at diagnosis are not completely explored.

Incidence of and Risk Factors for Post-Operative Urinary Retention Following Surgery for Perineal Tears Among Ugandan Women: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction And Hypothesis: We aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for post-operative urinary retention (POUR) following surgery for perineal tears, and to determine the time to normal voiding after POUR.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of women who underwent surgery for old (≥ 3 months) obstetric perineal tears from January 2022 to December 2023. The diagnosis of POUR was made in a woman who completely failed to void despite a full bladder or, one who had post-void residual (PVR) > 150 ml within 10 min of voiding.

Association between HIV Serostatus and premalignant cervical lesions among women attending a cervical cancer screening clinic at a tertiary care facility in southwestern Uganda: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: Uganda has approximately 1.2 million people aged 15-64 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions among HIV-positive women than among HIV-negative women.

Magnitude and trends in cervical cancer at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in South Western Uganda: Retrospective analysis of data from 2017-2022.

High-income countries have documented a significant decline in the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer over the past decade but such data from low and middle-income countries such as Uganda is limited to ascertain trends. There is also paucity of data on the burden of cervical cancer in comparison to other gynaecologic malignancies and there is a likelihood that the incidence might be on the rise. To describe the current trends and magnitude of cervical cancer in comparison to other gynaecological malignancies histological types, we conducted a retrospective records review of charts of patients admitted with gynaecological malignancies on the gynaecological ward of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) between January 2017 and December 2022.

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and associated factors among women receiving antenatal care at a tertiary hospital in South-Western Uganda.

Introduction: gestational diabetes mellitus is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women worldwide. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus among women attending the antenatal care clinic at a tertiary care hospital in South-Western Uganda.

Methods: this was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted among women at ≥24 weeks of amenorrhea attending the antenatal care clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital between December 2020 and March 2021.

Maternal near miss as a predictor of adverse perinatal outcomes: findings from a prospective cohort study in southwestern Uganda.

Background: Despite efforts, Uganda has not met the World Health Organization target of < 12 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births. Severe maternal morbidity or 'near miss' is a major contributor to adverse perinatal outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings. However, the specific impact of maternal near miss on perinatal outcomes in Uganda remains insufficiently investigated.

Abnormal obstetric shock index and associated factors among immediate postpartum women following vaginal delivery at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Uganda.

Background: Early recognition of haemodynamic instability after birth and prompt interventions are necessary to reduce adverse maternal outcomes due to postpartum haemorrhage. Obstetric shock Index (OSI) has been recommended as a simple, accurate, reliable, and low-cost early diagnostic measure that identifies hemodynamically unstable women.

Objectives: We determined the prevalence of abnormal obstetric shock index and associated factors among women in the immediate postpartum period following vaginal delivery at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda.

Bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility among women with abnormal vaginal discharge attending the gynecology clinic at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Abnormal vaginal discharge is a common complaint among women of reproductive age, affecting about one- third of all women. In resource-limited settings where access to laboratory services is limited, treatment is usually syndromic. This approach may result in ineffective treatment, with high recurrence rates and a potential of developing antibiotic resistance.

Persistent hypertension at 3 months postpartum among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Hypertension is a key contributor to the global epidemic of cardiovascular disease and is responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other cardiovascular risk factor. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, of which preeclampsia and eclampsia are the most common forms, have been shown to be a female-specific risk factor for chronic hypertension.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the proportion and risk factors for persistent hypertension at 3 months after delivery among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Southwestern Uganda.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Its Associated Factors Among Women Attending the Gynecology Outpatient Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence, clinical stage at presentation and factors associated with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) among women attending the gynecology outpatient clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at the gynecology outpatient clinic of MRRH from September 2019 to January 2020. Women aged 18-90 years were systematically sampled and recruited into this study.

Effectiveness of preoperative bath using chloroxylenol antiseptic soap on the incidence of post emergency cesarean section surgical site infection at Mbarara Regional Referral hospital, Uganda: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) constitute 15%-45% of hospital acquired infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Cesarean section (CS) increases the risk of developing sepsis by 5-20 times and is highest when the operation is emergency. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure the effect of chloroxylenol in reducing the incidence of post cesarean SSIs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH).

Short interbirth interval and associated factors among women with antecedent cesarean deliveries at a tertiary hospital, Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Women with previous cesarean deliveries, have a heightened risk of poor maternal and perinatal outcomes, associated with short interbirth intervals. We determined the prevalence of short interbirth interval, and associated factors, among women with antecedent cesarean deliveries who delivered at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), in southwestern Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on the postnatal ward of MRRH from November 2020 to February 2021.

Incidence and predictors of preterm neonatal mortality at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in South Western Uganda.

Introduction: Preterm neonatal mortality contributes substantially to the high neonatal mortality globally. In Uganda, preterm neonatal mortality accounts for 31% of all neonatal deaths. Previous studies have shown variability in mortality rates by healthcare setting.

Prevalence and factors associated with severe anaemia post-caesarean section at a tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Severe anaemia after caesarean section adversely affects the woman and the new-born. While prenatal anaemia is extensively studied, the literature on post-caesarean section anaemia is limited and characteristics of women at the highest risk of developing severe anaemia after caesarean section are unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with severe anaemia on day three post caesarean section.