Intimate partner violence and infant morbidity: evidence of an association from a population-based study in eastern Uganda in 2003.

Background: Although recent studies suggest that there is an association between intimate partner violence and child mortality, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. It is against this background that as a secondary objective, we set out to explore whether an association exists between intimate partner violence and illness in infants.

Methods: We conducted a population based household survey in Mbale, eastern Uganda in 2003.

Intimate partner violence against women in eastern Uganda: implications for HIV prevention.

Background: We were interested in finding out if the very low antenatal VCT acceptance rate reported in Mbale Hospital was linked to intimate partner violence against women. We therefore set out to i) determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence, ii) identify risk factors for intimate partner violence and iii) look for association between intimate partner violence and HIV prevention particularly in the context of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme (PMTCT).

Methods: The study consisted of a household survey of rural and urban women with infants in Mbale district, complemented with focus group discussions with women and men.

Antenatal HIV testing in rural eastern Uganda in 2003: incomplete rollout of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme?

Background: Uganda began to implement the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programme in 2000, and by the end of 2003 it had expanded to cover 38 of the 56 districts including Mbale District. However, reports from Mbale Hospital showed that less than 10% of pregnant women accepted antenatal HIV testing. We therefore conducted a study to determine the proportion of pregnant women who tested for HIV and the gaps and barriers in PMTCT implementation.

Health providers' counselling of caregivers in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) programme in Uganda.

Background: IMCI was launched in Uganda in June 1995 and has so far been implemented in most districts. However, reports indicate that counselling is poorly performed and that health providers find IMCI counselling the most difficult component to implement.

Objectives: The study was carried out to assess IMCI-trained health providers' counselling of caregivers and to determine factors that facilitate or constrain counselling.

Using burden of disease information for health planning in developing countries: the experience from Uganda.

Given the growing interest in both the use of evidence in planning and in using the burden of disease measure (BOD) and cost-effectiveness analysis, we explored health planners' perception of the usefulness of the BOD in priority setting and planning in developing countries, using Uganda as an example. An exploratory qualitative approach involving in-depth interviews with key policy makers in health at district and national levels was employed. Interviews were supplemented with a review of relevant documents.

Public participation in health planning and priority setting at the district level in Uganda.

Objective: To explore the experiences of the public and leaders with participatory planning and priority setting in health, in a decentralized district in Uganda.

Methodology: An exploratory qualitative approach, involving in-depth interviews with health planners at the national, district and community levels (n = 12), and five group discussions at community level with women (two groups), men, youths and adolescents (n = 51). The analysis adapted some principles from grounded theory.