Brief Communication: Factors associated with willingness to use long-acting injectable Cabotegravir for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among female undergraduate students at a Ugandan university.

Background: We assessed the willingness of female students at a Ugandan public university to use long-acting Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for HIV prevention, given their high prevalence of HIV risk behaviours.

Methods: Using an online questionnaire, this cross-sectional study surveyed 346 female undergraduate students aged 18-25. Factors influencing their willingness were analysed with modified Poisson regression and robust standard errors.

Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Adherence and Its Predictors Among Soldiers on HIV Antiretroviral Therapy at a General Military Hospital in Uganda.

Background: Uganda faces a significant dual challenge with tuberculosis (TB), ranking among these countries most affected by the disease worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for managing latent TB. However, the adherence to IPT in military settings remains under-explored in Uganda.

Navigating HIV research among criminalized gender minority populations in Uganda: qualitative insights and lessons learned from novice researchers.

Background: Transgender individuals often face stigma, discrimination, and various forms of abuse, which negatively impact their mental and physical health. They face a significantly greater risk of HIV, with a higher prevalence than the general population. Despite these challenges, transgender people have limited access to healthcare due to violence, legal barriers, and societal stigma, further exacerbated in countries like Uganda, where transgender identities are criminalized.

Prevalence of Risk Factors for Hypertension Among Faculty at an Urban University in Uganda.

Purpose: Hypertension is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many people however are not aware of their possession of risk factors for hypertension. There is a paucity of literature in Uganda describing the risk profile of faculty at public universities.

Midwives' perspectives about using individualized care plans in the provision of immediate postpartum care in Uganda; an exploratory qualitative study.

Introduction: Individualized care planning has been slowly integrated into practice in Uganda with minimal documentation of how the concept is applied in providing care. This study explored the perceptions of midwives about the use of individualized care plans (ICPs) in the provision of immediate postpartum care.

Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was used in this study.

Midwives' perceptions towards the ministry of health guidelines for the provision of immediate postpartum care in rural health facilities in Uganda.

Background: Guidelines for clinical practice have been part of the Ministry of health's efforts to improve the quality of care for over two decades. Their benefits have been documented in Uganda. However, having practice guidelines may not always result in their use in care provision.

Nurses' reflections on caring for sexual and gender minorities pre-post stigma reduction training in Uganda.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) have a significant HIV burden worldwide. Data from eight countries across sub-Saharan Africa found a pooled HIV prevalence of 14% among MSM and 25% among TGW. Stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers are barriers to healthcare access by these populations.

Barriers and facilitators to oral PrEP uptake among high-risk men after HIV testing at workplaces in Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: Men in Uganda contribute significantly to new HIV infections annually yet PrEP uptake among them is low and those initiated are likely to discontinue usage. We explored the barriers and facilitators to PrEP uptake among high-risk men employed in private security services with negative HIV results after testing at workplaces in Uganda.

Methods: An explorative qualitative study comprising in-depth participant interviews.

Effect of Midwife-Provided Orientation of Birth Companions on Maternal Anxiety and Coping during Labor: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Control Trial in Eastern Uganda.

The study aimed to assess the effect of midwife-provided orientation of birth companions on maternal anxiety and coping during labor. A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial design was conducted among 475 participants (control = 240), intervention = 235) from four clusters. Midwives in the intervention period provided an orientation session for the birth companions on supportive labor techniques.

Readiness of rural health facilities to provide immediate postpartum care in Uganda.

Background: Nearly 60% of maternal and 45% of newborn deaths occur within 24 h after delivery. Immediate postpartum monitoring could avert death from preventable causes including postpartum hemorrhage, and eclampsia among mothers, and birth asphyxia, hypothermia, and sepsis for babies. We aimed at assessing facility readiness for the provision of postpartum care within the immediate postpartum period.

Implementation and effectiveness of transgender stigma reduction interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.

Background: The transgender or trans population is one of the most marginalized social groups globally, frequently experiencing ill-treatment and discrimination. This is disproportionately higher in sub-Saharan Africa where trans people experience stigma even in healthcare settings. There is limited evidence concerning the implementation and outcomes of interventions to mitigate this stigma.

Women's experiences of living with involuntary childlessness in Uganda: a qualitative phenomenological study.

Background: Involuntary childlessness is a global phenomenon that negatively impacts the couple, or the family involved. The experiences of women living with involuntary childlessness have not been well documented in the literature, specifically in the Ugandan context. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of women living with involuntary childlessness in Uganda.

Linkage to care and treatment among men with reactive HIV self-tests after workplace-based testing in Uganda: A qualitative study.

Introduction: HIV self-testing at workplaces has the potential to reach men at risk of HIV infection with lower access to HIV testing services. While several studies have reported high uptake of HIV self-testing, linkage to HIV care following a positive result remains a challenge. This study, therefore, explored the motivators for and barriers to linkage to HIV care and treatment among men who returned positive results following workplace-based HIV self-testing.

Teenage first-time mothers' perceptions about their health care needs in the immediate and early postpartum period in Uganda.

Background: Teenagers have higher risks for complications during the intrapartum and postpartum periods. Although facility-based postpartum care focusses on preventing complications in mothers and babies, it is not understood what teenage-mothers' perceptions are about their health care needs in the early postpartum period.

Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was conducted in four health facilities in Uganda.

Building Critical Care Capacity in a Low-Income Country.

Critical illness is common throughout the world and is associated with high costs of care and resource intensity. The Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created a sudden surge of critically ill patients, which in turn led to devastating effects on health care systems worldwide and more so in Africa. This narrative report describes how an attempt was made at bridging the existing gaps in quality of care for critically ill patients at national and regional levels for COVID and the postpandemic era in a low income country.

A qualitative exploratory interview study on birth companion support actions for women during childbirth.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends that women are supported continuously throughout labor by a companion of their choice. And, that companions have clearly designated roles and responsibilities to ensure that their presence is beneficial to both the woman and her health care providers. Presently, there is lack of strong evidence regarding specific support actions in relation to women's needs of care.

Early observations from the HIV self-testing program among key populations and sexual partners of pregnant mothers in Kampala, Uganda: A cross sectional study.

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) was adopted for key populations (KPs) and sexual partners of pregnant and lactating women (mothers) in Uganda in October 2018. We report early observations during HIVST implementation in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: HIVST was rolled out to reach those with unknown HIV status at 38 public health facilities, using peer-to-peer community-based distribution for female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) and secondary distribution for mothers, who gave HIVST kits to their partners.

Venues and methods to improve professional men's access to HIV self-testing and linkage to HIV prevention or treatment: a qualitative study.

Background: HIV testing among men in sub-Saharan Africa is sub-optimal. Despite several strategies to improve access to underserved populations, evidence regarding engaging men in professional and formal occupations in HIV testing is limited. This study explored employed professional men's preferences for uptake of HIV self-testing, and linkage to HIV care, or prevention services.

The Effects of Workplace-Based HIV Self-testing on Uptake of Testing and Linkage to HIV Care or Prevention by Men in Uganda (WISe-Men): Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Trial.

Background: HIV testing uptake remains low among men in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV self-testing (HIVST) at the workplace is a novel approach to increase the availability of, and access to, testing among men. However, both access and linkage to posttest services remain a challenge.

Experiential Learning and Mentorship in Global Health Leadership Programs: Capturing Lessons from Across the Globe.

Objectives: The changing global landscape of disease and public health crises, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, call for a new generation of global health leaders. As global health leadership programs evolve, many have incorporated experiential learning and mentoring (ELM) components into their structure. However, there has been incomplete consideration on how ELM activities are deployed, what challenges they face and how programs adapt to meet those challenges.

Drivers and barriers to workplace-based HIV self-testing among high-risk men in Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: Men in Sub-Saharan Africa are less engaged than women in accessing HIV testing and treatment and, consequently, experience higher HIV-related mortality. Reaching men with HIV testing services is challenging, thus, increasing the need for innovative ways to engage men with low access and those at higher risk. In this study, we explore men's perceptions of drivers and barriers of workplace-based HIV self-testing in Uganda.

Conducting an ongoing HIV clinical trial during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda: a qualitative study of research team and participants' experiences and lessons learnt.

Objective: To explore the experiences and lessons learnt by the study team and participants of the Workplace-based HIV self-testing among Men trial during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.

Design: An explorative qualitative study comprising two virtual focus group discussions (FGDs) with 12 trial team members and 32 in-depth participant interviews (N=44). Data were collected via telephone calls for in-depth interviews or Zoom for FGDs and manually analysed by inductive content analysis.

Outcomes of interventions to optimize linkage to HIV care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation after HIV self-testing: A scoping review.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing is an innovative solution to the problem of low HIV testing coverage. It can help in realizing the first "95" of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS targets in the HIV treatment cascade. However, there is limited information to guide how those who self-test and show positive results can successfully be linked to HIV care and treatment.