Prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections among HIV clients attending Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda.

Introduction: infection with Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV) increases the risk of opportunistic infections, which aggravates life-long complications. We report the prevalence and the associated factors of intestinal parasites among HIV infected clients attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, in Uganda.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional study that purposefully enrolled 410 HIV infected clients.

Prevalence and antifungal susceptibility of gastrointestinal candidiasis among diabetic patients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Gastrointestinal candidiasis is the most predominant opportunistic human mycosis, especially in diabetic patients. There is a global increase in antifungal resistance coupled with a rarity of information on antifungal susceptibility profiles in Uganda.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the occurrence and antifungal susceptibility of gastrointestinal candidiasis in diabetic patients.

Delays in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients seeking care at a regional referral hospital, Uganda: a cross sectional study.

Objective: A cross-sectional survey involving 134 pulmonary TB patients started on TB treatment at the TB Treatment Unit of the regional referral hospital was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of individual and health facility delays and associated factors. Prolonged health facility delay was taken as delay of more than 1 week and prolonged patient delay as delay of more than 3 weeks. A logistic regression model was done using STATA version 12 to determine the delays.

Willingness to pay for Community Health Insurance among taxi drivers in Kampala City, Uganda: a contingent evaluation.

Background: Community Health Insurance (CHI) schemes have improved the utilization of health services by reducing out-of-pocket payments (OOP). This study assessed income quintiles for taxi drivers and the minimum amount of premium a driver would be willing to pay for a CHI scheme in Kampala City, Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design using contingent evaluation was employed to gather primary data on willingness to pay (WTP).

Post - effects of obstetric fistula in Uganda; a case study of fistula survivors in KITOVU mission hospital (MASAKA), Uganda.

Background: Obstetrical fistula (OF) is a public health challenge that is among the previously neglected components of maternal health in the developing world. The condition, which in the recent past has increasingly drawn more attention from the public, has a devastating impact on the health and wellbeing of both women and girls worldwide. The most common cause of obstetric fistula in developing countries is prolonged obstructed labor affecting approximately 2 million women and girls across Africa and Asia.

Evaluating user experiences of a clearing house for health policy and systems.

Background: Timely access to evidence increases the prospects for evidence informed decision making. We evaluated user experiences of a Clearing House for Health Policy with the aim of increasing access to evidence about the Uganda health system and interventions.

Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 potential users including policymakers, health policy advisors, health managers and researchers to provide evidence on their experience with the clearinghouse.

Health care waste management among health workers and associated factors in primary health care facilities in Kampala City, Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Healthcare wastes (HCWs) are one of the most hazardous wastes globally; second to only radiation waste. HCW management needs to be prioritized because of the devastating effects on human health and environment if not well managed. Health workers play a crucial role in management of HCWs.

Virologic failure in HIV-positive adolescents with perfect adherence in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) die owing to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related causes more than adults. Although viral suppression protects people living with HIV from AIDS-related illnesses, little is known about viral outcomes of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa where the biggest burden of deaths is experienced. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with viral load suppression among HIV-positive adolescents (10-19 years) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Uganda.

Cross-sectional study on the adherence to malaria guidelines in lakeshore facilities of Buyende and Kaliro districts, Uganda.

Background: Uganda adopted the Integrated Management of Malaria (IMM) guidelines, which require testing all suspected cases of malaria prior to treatment and which have been implemented throughout the country. However, adherence to IMM guidelines has not been explicitly investigated, especially in lakeshore areas such as Buyende and Kaliro, two districts that remain highly burdened by malaria. This study assesses the level of adherence to IMM guidelines and pinpoints factors that influence IMM adherence by health providers in Buyende and Kaliro.

Agony resulting from cultural practices of canine bud extraction among children under five years in selected slums of Makindye: a cross sectional study.

Background: Canine Bud Extraction (CBE) is a process of removing or gouging children's healthy canine tooth buds embedded underneath the gum using traditional unsterilized tools. The practice of CBE commonly known as false teeth removal continues to be an adopted cultural intervention of choice, in the prevention of morbidity and mortality from common childhood illnesses. However, it is a practice against the rights of the children with serious consequences.

Knowledge, attitude, and beliefs on epilepsy among adults in Erute South, Lira District, Uganda.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of adults on epilepsy in Erute South County, Lira District, Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural Erute South County. Two hundred seventeen of 220 randomly selected adults 18 years or older participated in the study.

Retention of HIV-Positive Adolescents in Care: A Quality Improvement Intervention in Mid-Western Uganda.

Background: Low retention of HIV-positive adolescents in care is a major problem across HIV programs. Approximately 70% of adolescents were nonretained in care at Katooke Health Center, Mid-Western Uganda. Consequently, a quality improvement (QI) project was started to increase retention from 29.

Circumstances of child deaths in Mali and Uganda: a community-based confidential enquiry.

Background: Interventions to reduce child deaths in Africa have often underachieved, causing the Millennium Development Goal targets to be missed. We assessed whether a community enquiry into the circumstances of death could improve intervention effectiveness by identifying local avoidable factors and explaining implementation failures.

Methods: Deaths of children younger than 5 years were ascertained by community informants in two districts in Mali (762 deaths) and three districts in Uganda (442 deaths) in 2011-15.

The effect of knowledge on uptake of breast cancer prevention modalities among women in Kyadondo County, Uganda.

Background: Breast cancer, the third most frequent cancer of women is preventable through knowledge on breast self-examination. Of the 44% of women diagnosed with breast cancer at the Uganda Cancer Institute, only 22% go for check-up in less than three months. This study explored the effect of breast cancer knowledge on the uptake of breast cancer prevention modalities among women in Kyadondo County, Uganda.

Microbial contaminants isolated from items and work surfaces in the post- operative ward at Kawolo general hospital, Uganda.

Background: Nosocomial infections are a major setback in the healthcare delivery system especially in developing countries due to the limited resources. The roles played by medical care equipment and work surfaces in the transmission of such organisms have inevitably contributed to the elevated mortality, morbidity and antibiotic resistances.

Methods: A total 138 samples were collected during the study from Kawolo general hospital.

Early Diagnosis of HIV among Infants Born to HIV-Positive Mothers on Option-B Plus in Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: Globally, there is delay in accessing early HIV diagnosis (EID) among HIV exposed infants (HEIs). With paucity of data on EID use at Kisenyi Health Center, this study assessed factors associated with EID use among HEIs (HIV exposed infants).

Method: This was a cross-sectional study of 246 HIV-positive mother-baby pairs.

Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Building Construction Workers in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: 270 million workplace accidents occur annually. In Uganda, Kampala district has the highest workplace injury and fatality rates. However, information on personal protective equipment (PPE)-hand gloves, hardhats, overalls, safety boots, earplugs, safety harness with lanyard, and face shields-utilization among building construction workers remains scarce.

Long term post PrePex male circumcision outcomes in an urban population in Uganda: a cohort study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the long term adverse events profile at least a year after safe male circumcision.

Results: A cohort study, investigating patients who had undergone a non surgical circumcision procedure called Prepex. The study variables included scar appearance and sexual experiences.

Adherence to Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses Guideline in Treating South Sudanese Children with Cough or Difficulty in Breathing.

Background: Pneumonia substantially kills children aged 2-59 months in South Sudan. However, information on health workers adherence to Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) guideline in treating children with cough/difficulty in breathing remains scarce. This study assessed factors associated with adherence to IMCI guideline in Aweil East County, South Sudan.

Knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets among pregnant women and children in rural Southwestern Uganda.

Background: The burden of malaria in Uganda remains unacceptably high, especially among children and pregnant women. To prevent malaria related complications, household possession and use of Insecticide Treated mosquito Nets (ITNs) has become a common practice in the country. Despite the availability of ITNs, malaria remains a foremost public health concern in Uganda.

Prevalence of RhD variants among blood donors at Gulu Regional Blood Bank, Gulu, Northern Uganda.

Aim/objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of RhD variant phenotypes among voluntary non-remunerated blood donors (VNRBDs) at Gulu Regional Blood Bank (GRBB), Northern Uganda.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, in which the first 4.0 mL of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood samples were collected from VNRBDs and typed for their ABO and RhD blood group status using IgM and IgG monoclonal typing antisera, respectively.

Willingness to pay for National Health Insurance Fund among public servants in Juba City, South Sudan: a contingent evaluation.

Background: This study assessed willingness to pay for National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) among public servants in Juba City. NHIF is the proposed health insurance scheme for South Sudan and aims at achieving universal health coverage for the entire nation's population. One compounding issue is that over the years, governments' spending on healthcare has been decreasing from 8.

Patient attitudes towards community-based tuberculosis DOT and adherence to treatment in an urban setting; Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: High Tuberculosis treatment default rate (17%) and sub-optimal treatment completion rates (45%) has burdened Kampala. Nevertheless, there are observable increase in the number of patients on TB DOT; from 6% to 29% in two consecutive annual reports. The main objective was to determine the association of TB patient attitudes towards community-based observers on the TB drug adherence on directly observed treatment for TB in Kampala.

Early postnatal care use by postpartum mothers in Mundri East County, South Sudan.

Background: Globally, most maternal and newborn deaths are within the first week of delivery. Early postnatal-care (EPNC) visits between 2 and 7 days detects early morbidity and averts deaths. However, there is scarcity of information on use of EPNC in Mundri East County, South Sudan.