"I have come to remove it because of heavy bleeding": a mixed-methods study on early contraceptive implant removal and the underlying factors in eastern Uganda.

Background: Early contraceptive implant removal without intentions to conceive predisposes women to unintended pregnancies.. Some of the unintended pregnancies end in unsafe abortions which further increases the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity.

Perceptions of quality of care in Midwife-led Birth Centres (MLBCs) in Uganda: Why do women choose MLBCs over other options?

Background: Midwife-led birth centres (MLBCs) are associated with reduced childbirth interventions, higher satisfaction rates, and improved birth outcomes. The evidence on quality of care in MLBCs from low and middle-income countries (LMIC) is limited.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of women and midwives regarding the quality of care in four MLBCs in Uganda.

Midwife-led birthing centres in four countries: a case study.

Background: Midwives are essential providers of primary health care and can play a major role in the provision of health care that can save lives and improve sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health outcomes. One way for midwives to deliver care is through midwife-led birth centres (MLBCs). Most of the evidence on MLBCs is from high-income countries but the opportunity for impact of MLBCs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) could be significant as this is where most maternal and newborn deaths occur.

Enablers and barriers of male involvement in the use of modern family planning methods in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: Male involvement plays a critical role in the utilization of various sexual and reproductive health services. We explored enablers and barriers of male involvement in the use of modern family planning methods in Eastern Uganda.

Methods: This was a qualitative study in Mbale, Eastern Uganda done between November and December 2022.

"We are never taught anything about the elderly." Establishing the gap in elderly health care competencies in nursing education in Uganda.

Background: Nurses contribute the largest portion of Uganda's health workforce providing care to individuals of all ages and communities. However, despite the growing number of the elderly population in Uganda with improved life expectancy, there is hardly any study that has looked at the elderly health care competencies in the nursing training programs at various levels. This paper provides an overview of the gaps in elderly health care competencies in nursing education in Uganda.

Knowledge, preparedness, and attitude towards COVID-19 among health profession students in Sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional survey.

Objective: We assessed the knowledge, preparedness, and attitude of health profession students towards COVID-19 outbreak in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used convenience sampling to recruit participants from institutions under African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth). The survey was developed in QuestionPro software covering the participants' socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and preparedness towards the COVID-19 outbreak.

Cervical cancer screening among HIV-positive women in urban Uganda: a cross sectional study.

Background: Women living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are at a high risk for early development of cervical cancer. Adherence to cervical cancer prevention strategies in this population is vital for the early detection and treatment of cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with cervical cancer screening among HIV-positive women attending an urban HIV care center in Uganda.

Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication: An Interview Analysis of Southwest Ugandan Patients' Perspectives.

Background: Hypertension is a significant cardiovascular disease (CVD) and driver to CVD disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a major independent risk factor for heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. Persons living with hypertension attend to many aspects of self-care to manage their condition, including high blood pressure medication adherence to control of blood pressure.

Modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda: prevalence and associated factors.

Background: Adolescent pregnancies are persistently high among refugees. The pregnancies have been attributed to low contraceptive use in this population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with modern contraceptive use among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda.

Public knowledge about oral cancer in Uganda: a free dental camp experience.

Purpose–: The purpose of this paper is to assess the levels of awareness and knowledge about oral cancer, its causes and or risk factors among Ugandan patients seeking oral healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach–: This was a cross-sectional study on adult patients who attended a free dental camp. An assistant-administered questionnaire either in English or Luganda was provided to every even-numbered registered adult who consented to participate in the study.

Baccalaureate prepared nurses as the new entry-level nursing cadre in Uganda: A qualitative study of BSN student and faculty perspectives in two universities.

Background: Low-income countries suffer chronic problems in producing, employing and distributing their health workers. The World Health Organization advocates for upgrading the number and quality of nursing professionals. As nurses and midwives comprise more than 60% of the health workforce in Uganda, the country's goal to improve nursing education is consistent with international recommendations.

Existence, triggers, and coping with chronic sorrow: a qualitative study of caretakers of children with sickle cell disease in a National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Worldwide, sickle cell disease is recognized as one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Caregivers and patients with such chronic illnesses experience economic, physical, social and psychological distresses which may lead to chronic sorrow. Chronic sorrow is viewed as a normal reaction to loss, however it can progress to a pathological state such as depression if the coping styles are ineffective.

Disclosure of Parental HIV Status to Children: Experiences of Adults Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment at an Urban Clinic in Kampala, Uganda.

Limited data are available on the experiences of parental HIV disclosure to children in Uganda. We conducted a qualitative study comprising sixteen in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions with parents receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Analysis was done using Atlas.

Nursing Partnership Activities, Components, and Outcomes: Health Volunteers Overseas in Uganda 2001-2016.

Nurses increasingly form global health partnerships through academic and voluntary organizations that are designed to improve health outcomes. Many such partnerships are funded for specific time periods and have short- or long-term goals to achieve during the partnership. Other partnerships are sustained for longer periods of time through the efforts of partners committed to their joint work.

Experiences of patients undergoing chemotherapy - a qualitative study of adults attending Uganda Cancer Institute.

Background: Cancer is a global public health challenge and how patients in countries with poor healthcare infrastructure experience cancer treatment is largely unknown.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe adult Ugandan cancer patients' experiences of undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Methodology: Using a qualitative descriptive design, seven in-patients with varying cancer diagnoses at the Uganda Cancer Institute were interviewed about their experiences of undergoing chemotherapy treatment; the interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically.

The burden of maternal morbidity and mortality attributable to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a prospective cohort study from Uganda.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The objective was to estimate the disease burden attributable to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in two referral hospitals in Uganda.

Methods: Through a prospective cohort study conducted in Jinja and Mulago hospitals in Uganda from March 1, 2013 and February 28, 2014, hypertension-related cases were analyzed.

Prevalence, barriers and factors associated with parental disclosure of their HIV positive status to children: a cross-sectional study in an urban clinic in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Disclosure of parental HIV status is associated with a number of positive outcomes such as improved adherence to clinic appointments, lower levels of parental anxiety and depression, and mutual emotional support between parents and their children. Very few studies in low-resource settings have addressed the issues of parental disclosure of their HIV status to their children.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult parents attending HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment clinic at Makerere University Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Kampala, Uganda.

Beliefs, perceptions and health-seeking behaviours in relation to cervical cancer: a qualitative study among women in Uganda following completion of an HPV vaccination campaign.

Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Despite earlier information campaigns to introduce human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination, which also targeted cervical cancer, misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the subject remain high. Women in Uganda present with cervical cancer at an advanced stage due to poor health-seeking behaviours, with an associated high mortality rate.

Maternal near misses from two referral hospitals in Uganda: a prospective cohort study on incidence, determinants and prognostic factors.

Background: Maternal near misses occur more often than maternal deaths and could enable more comprehensive analysis of risk factors, short-term outcomes and prognostic factors of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The study determined the incidence, determinants and prognostic factors of severe maternal outcomes (near miss or maternal death) in two referral hospitals in Uganda.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted between March 1, 2013 and February 28, 2014, where cases of severe pregnancy and childbirth complications were included.

Incidence and determinants of neonatal morbidity after elective caesarean section at the national referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Elective caesarean sections (ECS) have been implicated in increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes. The primary objective was to assess the incidence and determinants of neonatal morbidity after elective caesarean section deliveries. The secondary objective was to describe the maternal morbidity associated with elective caesarean section.

Still births, neonatal deaths and neonatal near miss cases attributable to severe obstetric complications: a prospective cohort study in two referral hospitals in Uganda.

Background: Neonatal near miss cases occur more often than neonatal deaths and could enable a more comprehensive analysis of risk factors, short-term outcomes and prognostic factors in neonates born to mothers with severe obstetric complications. The objective was to assess the incidence, presentation and perinatal outcomes of severe obstetric morbidity in two referral hospitals in Central Uganda.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted between March 1, 2013 and February 28, 2014, in which all newborns from cases of severe pregnancy and childbirth complications were eligible for inclusion.

Improving Midwifery Care in Ugandan Public Hospitals: The Midwives' Perspective.

Background: A serious shortage of nurses and midwives in public hospitals has been reported in Uganda. In addition, over 80% of the nurses and midwives working in public hospitals have been found to have job stress and only 17% to be satisfied on the job. Stress and lack of job satisfaction affect quality of nursing and midwifery care and puts patients' lives at risk.

Musculoskeletal disorders among nursing staff: a comparison of five hospitals in Uganda.

Introduction: Low and middle income countries have severe nursing staff shortages which is associated with risk of poor quality of patient care and increased patient exposure to adverse events. This is accompanied with increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders to the nursing staff. This paper sets out to identify and compare factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among nursing staff in 5 different hospitals in Uganda.