Association between metabolic syndrome and cervical cancer among women in Southwestern Uganda: A case-control study.

Objective: To determine the association between MetS and its components with cervical cancer among women in South-western Uganda.

Methods: We conducted an unmatched case-control study on 470 participants in a 1:2 case-to-control ratio among women in southwestern Uganda. We recruited 157 women with cervical cancer as cases and 313 women without cervical cancer as controls at the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Cervical Cancer Clinic.

Potential Impact of Current Agricultural Practices on Mycotoxin Occurrence and Mycotoxin Knowledge Along the Cassava Value Chain in Uganda.

Cassava is the second most important staple food crop for Uganda and is prone to contamination with mycotoxins. This study aimed at understanding the current agricultural practices, their potential influence on mycotoxin occurrence, as well as assessing mycotoxin knowledge among key cassava value chain actors, including farmers, wholesalers, and processors. Data were collected through individual interviews (210), key informant interviews (34), and 4 focus group discussions.

Exploring healthcare professionals' perspectives on neglected tropical diseases in Eastern Uganda: a qualitative study with a focus on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and schistosomiasis, continue to impose a heavy burden, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda, despite being preventable. Integration of NTD management into primary healthcare has been inadequate. While researchers have explored community perspectives, there is a notable gap in understanding the viewpoints of healthcare workers (HCW), which is crucial for effective NTD control strategies.

Association between dyslipidemia and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A case-control study in south-western Uganda.

Background: Altered lipid levels may be associated with the development of a number of malignancies, including cancer of the cervix. However, there is limited understanding of this relationship in the rural Ugandan context.

Objective: We investigated the connection between dyslipidaemias and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) among women attending the cervical cancer clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in south-western Uganda.

The epidemiology and risk factors for postnatal complications among postpartum women and newborns in southwestern Uganda: A prospective cohort study.

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for two-thirds of the global burden of maternal and newborn deaths. Adverse outcomes among postpartum women and newborns occurring in the first six weeks of life are often related, though data co-examining patients are limited. This study is an exploratory analysis describing the epidemiology of postnatal complications among postpartum women and newborns following facility birth and discharge in Mbarara, Uganda.

Filicide in Africa: a systematic review.

Background: Filicide, the act of a parent or parental figure killing their child, has been reported in various African countries. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the prevalence and associated factors of filicide across the African continent, which is characterized by diverse cultural beliefs and practices. This review aims to examine the prevalence and risk factors of filicide in Africa.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Adverse Maternal Obstetrical Events Among Teenage Mothers Delivering in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

Introduction: Many female teenagers in low-resource settings conceive, of which half are unplanned and end in many deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for the majority of the cases. Teenage pregnancy is associated sometimes with poor maternal, newborn, and child deaths.

Objectives:  The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, maternal obstetric outcomes, and factors associated with poor maternal obstetric outcomes among teenage mothers delivering at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.

Early contraceptive implant removal and associated factors among women attending public family planning clinics, Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Early implant removal not only results in method wastage and strains healthcare resources but also exposes women to the risk of unplanned pregnancies and associated complications if an alternative contraceptive is not promptly adopted. Studies have demonstrated that prevalence and factors associated with contraceptive use vary across different cultures and regions even within Uganda. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of early implant removal, among women attending public family planning clinics in Mbarara City, southwestern Uganda.

Gut-brain axis: A cutting-edge approach to target neurological disorders and potential synbiotic application.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) represents a sophisticated communication network between the brain and the gut, involving immunological, endocrinological, and neural mediators. This bidirectional interaction is facilitated through the vagus nerve, sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers, and is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Evidence shows that alterations in gut microbiota composition, or dysbiosis, significantly impact neurological disorders (NDs) like anxiety, depression, autism, Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Enhancing the Implementation and Integration of mHealth Interventions in Resource-Limited Settings: A Scoping Review.

Background: Although mobile health (mHealth) interventions have shown promise in improving health outcomes, most of them rarely translate to scale. Prevailing mHealth studies are largely small-sized, short-term and donor-funded pilot studies with limited evidence on their effectiveness. To facilitate scale-up, several frameworks have been proposed to enhance the generic implementation of health interventions.

Perceived Public Participation and Health Delivery in Local Government Districts in Uganda.

Citizen participation is a crucial aspect of the national health system, empowering individuals to contribute to improving local health services through Health Committees (HCs). HCs promote the participation of citizens in the delivery of primary healthcare services. The study explores the perceptions of citizen participation in the context of the Ruhama County Ntungamo local government area, Uganda.

Effectiveness of Jena DM® Herbal Formulation as Complementary Therapy to Conventional Oral Hypoglycemic Agents in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Quasi-experimental Study.

Background: There is vast preclinical evidence that indicates that extracts from several Artemisia plant species have significant antidiabetic benefits. However, clinical evidence is limited to this effect.

Objective:  We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of   (an -based poly-herbal formulation) on glycemic control (Hb A1C) and insulin metabolism (HOMA), when administered as a complementary therapy in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Late Stage at Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer and Its Correlates at a Large Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background The stage of disease at diagnosis is one of the major determinants of survival in women with cervical cancer. Most women with cervical cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) present to hospitals with advanced stages, thus reducing their survivorship following the diagnosis. Factors correlated with late-stage disease at diagnosis are not completely explored.

Effect of metabolic syndrome and its components on the risk and prognosis of cervical cancer: A literature review.

Despite the global implementation of preventive strategies against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, the incidence of invasive cervical cancer rose by nearly 1.3-fold, from 471,000 annual cases in 2000 to 604,000 cases in 2020. With over 340,000 deaths annually, cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in women globally.

Local evidence in sub-Saharan Africa; the CANCaRe Africa experience-Lessons learned and shared thoughts about the way forward.

Collaborative research generating local evidence is key to closing the research and survival gap between sub-Saharan Africa and high-income countries. Lessons learned by CANCaRe Africa, the Collaborative African Network for Childhood Cancer Care and Research while pioneering such research are being discussed together with recommendations for the future.

Healthcare professionals' knowledge of and compliance with the ASCO/ESMO/GLIM guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cancer cachexia (CC): the ASSIST-CC baseline findings in Uganda.

Background: More than 50% of people with advanced cancer suffer from cancer-related cachexia (CC) - a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Despite the lack of local guidelines on CC diagnosis and management in Uganda, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) developed guidelines on CC screening and management. However, the level of knowledge on CC and compliance with the available guidelines among Ugandan oncology health professionals is unknown.

Performance and acceptability of the STREAM Disinfectant Generator for infection prevention and control practices in primary health care facilities in Uganda.

Background: Effective infection prevention and control programs can positively influence quality of care, increase patient safety, and protect health care providers. Chlorine, a widely used and effective chemical disinfectant, is recommended for infection prevention and control in health care settings. However, lack of consistent chlorine availability limits its use.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the livestock, humans and environmental samples around the globe: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have diminished treatment options causing serious morbidities and mortalities. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence and associated factors of Enterobacteriaceae infections in clinical, livestock and environmental settings globally. The population intervention comparison and outcome strategy was used to enroll studies using the preferred reporting system for systematic review and meta-analysis to include only cross-sectional studies.

Association between fetal hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, and disease severity in patients with sickle cell disease at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Introduction: There is a wide range of clinical manifestations in sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite having the same condition, each person's response to disease complications differs greatly. Individuals can be categorized according to the severity of their diseases to determine which group they fall into and receive the appropriate care based on their needs.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward female genital schistosomiasis among community women and healthcare professionals in Kimpese region, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Chronic infection with Schistosoma haematobium causes female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), which leads to diverse lesions in the female genital tract and several complications, including infertility and a higher risk for HIV transmission. This study aims to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward FGS and associated factors among women and health professionals in the schistosomiasis endemic focus of Kimpese, western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Methods: In January 2022, two semi-quantitative questionnaires were administered to 201 randomly selected community women in Kifua II village, and to purposely selected health professionals (20 nurses and 41 doctors) from Kimpese Health Zone.