Assessment of the readiness of health facilities in urban areas to deliver geriatric-friendly care services: a cross-sectional study in Kampala City, Uganda.

Background: With the global rise in the elderly population, ensuring geriatric-friendly healthcare services is paramount. This study aimed to assess the current readiness of health facilities in Kampala City, Uganda, to provide geriatric-friendly care services.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 35 health facilities (HF) including Private for-profit (PFP), Private not-for-profit, and public (government-run) facilities at different levels i.

Identifying Gaps and Barriers in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Research and Management in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Survey of Health Professionals and Researchers.

Background: The significant increase in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia prevalence is a global health crisis, acutely impacting low- and lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries (LLMICs/UMICs).

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify key barriers and gaps in dementia care and research in LLMICs and UMICs.

Methods: We conducted an international, cross-sectional survey among clinicians and healthcare professionals (n = 249 in 34 countries) across LLMICs and UMICs, exploring patient demographics, use of clinical diagnosis, dementia evaluation, screening/evaluation tools, and care and treatment.

Sexual behaviors and factors associated with consistent condom use among young male artisanal miners in Kassanda District, Uganda.

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a significant source of income for tens of millions of people worldwide. Consistent condom use is pivotal in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other STIs. This study assessed sexual behaviors and factors associated with consistent condom use among young male artisanal miners in Kassanda District, Uganda.

A unified Foot and Mouth Disease dataset for Uganda: evaluating machine learning predictive performance degradation under varying distributions.

In Uganda, the absence of a unified dataset for constructing machine learning models to predict Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks hinders preparedness. Although machine learning models exhibit excellent predictive performance for Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks under stationary conditions, they are susceptible to performance degradation in non-stationary environments. Rainfall and temperature are key factors influencing these outbreaks, and their variability due to climate change can significantly impact predictive performance.

"Sickness has no time": Awareness and perceptions of health care workers on universal health coverage in Uganda.

Introduction: Each person having access to needed health services, of sufficient quality, and without suffering financial hardship, defined as universal health coverage (UHC) by the World Health Organization, is critical to improve population health, particularly for vulnerable populations. UHC requires multisectoral collaboration and good governance, and this will require buy-in of key stakeholders; but their views are under-documented. The aim of this stakeholder analysis was to explore the awareness and perceptions of UHC by health care workers (HCWs) in Uganda.

"These are just finishing our medicines": older persons' perceptions and experiences of access to healthcare in public and private health facilities in Uganda.

Background: There is limited research on the experiences of access to medicines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in health facilities among older persons in Uganda. This paper explores the perspectives of older persons and healthcare providers concerning older persons' access to essential medicines in Uganda.

Methods: It is based on qualitative data from three districts of Hoima, Kiboga, and Busia in Uganda.

Multilevel mixed effects analysis of individual and community factors associated with unmet need for contraception among married women in four East African countries.

Background: Despite the use of contraceptives being an expression of a woman's reproductive control, the prevalence of unmet need remains high and a public concern among married women in East Africa. However, limited literature has explored the associated factors in the region. We live in age of leaving no one behind unfortunately many women still have unmet for family planning todate.

Factors influencing public and private healthcare utilisation in Uganda.

Background: In Uganda, health care utilisation remains very low despite a number of government reforms that have been implemented in the health sector since the 1990's such as decentralization and removal of user fees in public health facilities among others.

Objective: To examine the factors influencing public and private health care utilisation in Uganda.

Methods: The study used cross sectional data from the Uganda National Household Survey collected between July 2016 and June 2017.

Awareness, experiences and perceptions regarding genetic testing and the return of genetic and genomics results in a hypothetical research context among patients in Uganda: a qualitative study.

Background: Genetic testing presents unique ethical challenges for research and clinical practice, particularly in low-resource settings. To address such challenges, context-specific understanding of ethical, legal and social issues is essential. Return of genetics and genomics research (GGR) results remains an unresolved yet topical issue particularly in African settings that lack appropriate regulation and guidelines.

How equitable is utilization of maternal health services in Uganda? Implications for achieving universal health coverage.

Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality in Uganda remain persistently high. While utilisation of maternal health services has been shown to reduce the risk of maternal death, little is known about the inequalities in utilisation of maternal health services in Uganda. This study examined the inequalities in utilisation of maternal health services between 2006 and 2016 to draw implications for achieving universal health coverage.

Effect of parental engagement on children's home-based continued learning during COVID-19-induced school closures: Evidence from Uganda.

This study examines the effect of parental engagement on children's continued learning amid COVID-19-induced school closures in Uganda, where the government's distance learning program had limited coverage. The results show that children from households with more parental engagement are more likely to engage in learning activities at home when primary schools are closed. A significant effect of parental engagement is found in rural areas as well.

What drives the dynamics of employment growth in firms? Evidence from East Africa.

This study examines the firm level drivers of employment growth in East Africa in which they are categorized as firm specific, entrepreneur specific and business environment characteristics. Using a cross-sectional World Bank Enterprise survey dataset and pooled Ordinary Least Squares estimation (OLS), the results indicate that; (1) employment growth is significantly associated with firm specific characteristics (employment growth is positively related to firm size and innovation while it is negatively associated with the age of the firm), (2) a weak business environment characterized by electricity outages, informal payments and poor court system undermines the firm's ability to contribute to employment growth while strong business environment such as access to finance is positively associated with employment growth (3) employment growth is also positively influenced by managerial experience. Policy recommendations are suggested.

Risk factors for intimate partner emotional violence among women in union in Uganda.

Introduction: Despite the growing evidence of the prevalence of gender-based violence in Uganda, less is known about the factors influencing intimate partner emotional violence (IPEV) among married women in the country. This study investigated the social demographic factors associated with IPEV among married women aged 15 years and older.

Data And Methods: The study used the 2016 Uganda Demographic Healthy Survey (UDHS) data.

Prevalence and predictors of sex under the influence of psychoactive substances among young people in informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: The use of psychoactive substances such as alcohol, heroin and marijuana is associated with negative health outcomes such as sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, and risky sexual behaviours. Although there is evidence linking psychoactive substance use and risky sexual behaviours such as inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual relationships, there is limited data on sex under the influence of psychoactive substances among young people. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of sex under the influence of psychoactive substances among young people in informal settlements in Kampala, Uganda.

"If your mother does not teach you, the world will…": a qualitative study of parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health issues in Border districts of eastern Uganda.

Background: Adolescents experience a host of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges, with detrimental SRH and socio-economic consequences. These include early sexual debut, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, and early childbearing. Parent-adolescent communication about SRH has significant potential to reduce adolescents' risky sexual behaviors.

Undernutrition among the children below five years of age in Uganda: a spatial analysis approach.

Background: Undernutrition is a health condition caused by a lack of enough food intake, not having enough of the right combination of food nutrients, or the body's failure to utilize the food eaten resulting in either, stunting, being underweight, or wasting. Globally, undernutrition affects more than 149 million under-five children, while in Uganda about 3 in every 10 children suffer from undernutrition. Undernutrition and its risk factors among under-five children in Uganda were unevenly distributed across the country and a study that focused on spatial distribution was prudent to examine the nature of the problem and salient factors associated with it.

Illicit Drug Use among Commercial 'Boda Boda' Motorcyclists in Uganda.

Illicit drug use is a global public health problem with grave health and socio-economic consequences. Related intoxication has been associated with accidental injuries and fatalities. In Uganda, 67% of road traffic accidents are attributed to motorcyclists.

Migration, personal physical safety and economic survival: drivers of risky sexual behaviour among rural-urban migrant street youth in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Despite the vulnerabilities associated with the youth migration process, knowledge on the drivers of risky sexual behaviour among migrant street youth is limited. This study sought to explore the pathways driving risky sexual behaviour among rural-urban migrant street youth in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: We conducted 11 focus-group discussions composed of 8-10 participants each, and 15 in-depth interviews with urban street adolescents and youth aged 12-24 years.

Predictors of health facility childbirth among unmarried and married youth in Uganda.

Background: Uganda has a high maternal mortality rate combined with poor use of health facilities at childbirth among youth. Improved use of maternal health services by the youth would help reduce maternal deaths in the country. Predictors of use of health facilities at childbirth among unmarried compared to married youth aged 15-24 years in Uganda between 2006 and 2016 are examined.

Prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence among ever-married men in Uganda: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: There is limited research on intimate partner violence (IPV) among ever-married men in Uganda. This paper aimed to establish the extent and correlates of emotional, sexual, and physical IPV among ever-married men in Uganda.

Methods: We used the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) data and selected a weighted sample of 2559 ever-married men.

The determinants of early childbearing by disability status in Uganda: an analysis of demographic and health survey data.

Introduction: females with disabilities experience multiple sexual and reproductive challenges that can result in teenage pregnancy and motherhood. This study assessed the determinants of early childbearing among women by disability status.

Methods: the study used the 2016 Uganda demographic and health survey data, analyzing a weighted sample of 18,506 women of reproductive age.

Risk Factors for Nodding Syndrome and Other Forms of Epilepsy in Northern Uganda: A Case-Control Study.

Epidemiological studies suggest a link between onchocerciasis and various forms of epilepsy, including nodding syndrome (NS). The aetiopathology of onchocerciasis associated epilepsy remains unknown. This case-control study investigated potential risk factors that may lead to NS and other forms of non-nodding epilepsy (OFE) in northern Uganda.

Assessing willingness to pay for water during the COVID-19 crisis in Ugandan households.

With the emergence of COVID-19, improving hygiene through handwashing with water and detergent is a priority. This behavioural practice requires that households have access to reliable improved water. One measure that can provide an invaluable source of information to measure access to improved water supply is willingness to pay (WTP).