Factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among antenatal care mothers at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda.

Background: All pregnant mothers in Uganda are given sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP, Fansidar) for presumptive treatment of malaria in pregnancy from 14 weeks of gestation, every four weeks, until delivery. However, prenatal mothers still fall sick of malaria. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among antenatal care mothers at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.

Exploring the utilization of postabortion care services and related factors among women at a tertiary health facility in Gulu, Northern Uganda.

Background: Abortion-related complications are the third leading cause of maternal mortality in Uganda, accounting for approximately one-fourth of all maternal deaths. Most are preventable through adequate use of the full package of postabortion care (PAC) services.

Objective: We aimed to assess the level of utilization of PAC services and the associated sociodemographic, obstetric, gynecological, and system-related factors at a high-volume tertiary health facility in Northern Uganda.

Incidence and factors associated with immediate adverse neonatal outcomes among emergency obstetric referrals in labor at a tertiary hospital in Uganda: a prospective cohort study.

Background: High rates of adverse neonatal outcomes in resource-limited settings are multifactorial, varying by country, region, and institution. In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of adverse neonatal outcomes are intrapartum related, and studies in Uganda have shown that referral in labor is a major determinant of adverse neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to assess the incidence and factors associated with immediate adverse neonatal outcomes among emergency obstetric referrals in labor at a tertiary hospital in Eastern Uganda.

Comparing visual estimation and hematocrit change in the assessment of blood loss among women undergoing cesarean delivery in a tertiary facility in northern Uganda.

Background: Cesarean section poses a fourfold risk for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), necessitating accurate blood loss estimation to enable timely interventions. However, the conventional visual estimation method often leads to underestimation, resulting in undiagnosed PPH even in our setting, Uganda. Yet, the quantitative standard techniques remain underutilized.

A scoping review of qualitative studies on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Uganda: Exploring factors at multiple levels.

Background: Uganda is burdened by high unintended and teen pregnancies, high sexually transmitted infections, and harm caused by unsafe abortion.

Objectives: Explore factors influencing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Uganda by synthesizing evidence from qualitative studies using a scoping review.

Eligibility Criteria: Original qualitative peer-reviewed research studies published between 2002 and 2023 in any language exploring factors influencing SRHR in Uganda.

Dietary diversity, undernutrition, and predictors among pregnant adolescents and young women attending Gulu University teaching hospitals in northern Uganda.

Background: Undernutrition has deleterious consequences to both the mother and the unborn child, significantly contributing to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. We assessed dietary diversity, the prevalence, and predictors of undernutrition among pregnant adolescents and young women (PAYW) attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at two large teaching hospitals in northern Uganda.

Methods: Between 12th June 2023 to 27th October 2023, we conducted a facility-based, cross-sectional study at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH) and St Mary's Hospital Lacor (SMHL), both in Gulu district, Uganda.

Caesarean section rates in a tertiary teaching hospital in northern Uganda: a retrospective analysis using the robson ten group classification system.

Background: The Robson Ten Groups Classification System (RTGCS) is increasingly used to assess, monitor, and compare caesarean section (CS) rates within and between healthcare facilities. We evaluated the major contributing groups to the CS rate at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH) in Northern Uganda using the RTGCS.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all deliveries from June 2019 through July 2020 at GRRH, Gulu city, Uganda.

Chronicity of self-harming behaviors among adolescent teenage girls living in refugee settlements in Northern Uganda.

Background: Self-harming ideations demand targeted research due to their persistent nature, especially among female adolescents within refugee populations who face unique challenges that can exacerbate self-harming tendencies. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with self-harming ideations chronicity among female teenagers living in refugee settlement in Northern Uganda.

Method: This cross-sectional study used a pretested questionnaire to assess self-harming ideations and other demographic characteristics.

Can reproductive health services be used to screen for sexual and gender-based violence in post-conflict Northern Uganda? - a pilot study.

Background: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including rape and child sexual abuse, remains a significant challenge in post-conflict northern Uganda. Many victims have never sought help. Consequently, the scale of the problem is not known, and SGBV victims' injuries, both psychological and physical, remain hidden and unresolved.

Scoping review of qualitative studies on family planning in Uganda.

Family planning (FP) is an essential component of public health programs and significantly impacts maternal and child health outcomes. In Uganda, there is a need for a comprehensive review of the existing literature on FP to inform future research and programmatic efforts. This scoping review aims to identify factors shaping the use of FP in Uganda.

Efficacy of the Gulu University Reproductive Health Simulation Training for final year medical students and interns: a before-and-after study.

Background: Reproductive health emergencies, such as postpartum hemorrhage, contribute significantly to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Uganda due to knowledge and skills gaps. Medical interns, intern midwives, and nurses are crucial as frontline healthcare workers in responding to these emergencies. Our proposed hands-on strategy involves comprehensive simulation-based training (SBT) to equip these healthcare workers with the essential knowledge to manage common reproductive health emergencies and procedures in the country.

Willingness to start insulin therapy among insulin-naïve persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu City, Uganda.

Background: Most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) will require insulin for glycemic control during their disease.

Objectives: We evaluated the willingness to start insulin therapy among insulin-naïve persons with DM2 in urban Northern Uganda.

Design: A facility-based, quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2023 recruiting insulin-naïve type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attending routine health care at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu, Uganda.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis use among female sex workers in Gulu city, Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important intervention for reducing the risk of HIV transmission among high-risk populations such as female sex workers in Africa, where HIV prevalence remains high. We aimed to assess the use of PrEP among female sex workers in Gulu, Uganda.

Methods: In this community-based cross-sectional study, we included HIV-negative female sex workers purposely selected from hotspots within Gulu city, Uganda between February and March 2023.

Dual contraceptive use and associated factors among female sex workers in Gulu City, Uganda in 2023.

Background: Dual contraception is an essential approach to mitigating the heightened risks of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections faced by female sex workers (FSWs). We determined the prevalence and factors associated with dual contraceptive use among FSWs in Northern Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulu city, Uganda between February, and March 2023.

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.