Strategies for isoniazid preventive therapy in HIV-positive patients who consume alcohol.

WHO guidance to defer isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) among those with regular alcohol use because of hepatotoxicity concerns may exclude many people living with HIV (PLWH) at high TB risk in these settings.To evaluate hepatotoxicity during TB preventive therapy (TPT) in PLWH who report alcohol use in Uganda over 10 years.We developed a Markov model of latent TB infection, isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT - a type of TPT), and TB disease using data from the Alcohol Drinkers' Exposure to Preventive Therapy for TB (ADEPTT) study.

Traditional healer support to improve HIV viral suppression in rural Uganda (Omuyambi): study protocol for a cluster randomized hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.

Background: Rural African people living with HIV face significant challenges in entering and remaining in HIV care. In rural Uganda, for example, there is a threefold higher prevalence of HIV compared to the national average and lower engagement throughout the HIV continuum of care. There is an urgent need for appropriate interventions to improve entry and retention in HIV care for rural Ugandans with HIV.

Respiratory support with standard low-flow oxygen therapy, high-flow oxygen therapy or continuous positive airway pressure in adults with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure in a resource-limited setting: protocol for a randomised, open-label, clinical trial - the Acute Respiratory Intervention StudiEs in Africa (ARISE-AFRICA) study.

Rationale: Acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF) is associated with high mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. This is at least in part due to critical care-related resource constraints including limited access to invasive mechanical ventilation and/or highly skilled acute care workers. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and high-flow oxygen by nasal cannula (HFNC) may prove useful to reduce intubation, and therefore, improve survival outcomes among critically ill patients, particularly in resource-limited settings, but data in such settings are lacking.

Ambient PM temporal variation and source apportionment in Mbarara, Uganda.

Air pollution is the leading environmental cause of death globally, and most mortality occurs in resource-limited settings such as sub-Saharan Africa. The African continent experiences some of the worst ambient air pollution in the world, yet there are relatively little African data characterizing ambient pollutant levels and source admixtures. In Uganda, ambient PM levels exceed international health standards.

The diagnostic accuracy of serum and plasma microRNAs in detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: A systematic review and -analysis.

Studies suggest a need for new diagnostic approaches for cervical cancer including microRNA technology. In this review, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of microRNAs in detecting cervical cancer and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). We performed a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guideline for protocols (PRISMA-P).

The Future of Kidney Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Challenges, Triumphs, and Opportunities.

CKD affects about 850 million people worldwide and is projected to be the fifth leading cause of death by 2040. Individuals from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear the bulk of CKD. They face challenges including lack of awareness among the general population, as well as health care providers, unique risk factors such as genetic predispositions, infectious diseases, and environmental toxins, limited availability and affordability of diagnostic tests and medications, and limited access to KRTs.

Medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners in treatment of alcohol-related disorders in Bushenyi District, southwestern Uganda.

Background: Alcohol-related disorders rank seventh among risk factors for morbidity and mortality globally, posing a significant public health burden. In Africa, including Uganda, there is limited availability and utilization of pharmacotherapies to treat alcohol-related disorders. This study documented medicinal plant species, plant parts used, and the methods of preparation and administration utilized by Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) in treating alcohol-related disorders in southwestern Uganda.

Psychological distress among healthcare professionals in Mbarara, following the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda: a mixed methods study.

Background: The 2022 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak occurred at a time when Uganda was still battling the social and psychological challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; placing health care professionals (HCPs) at a much higher risk of developing psychological distress. Psychological distress among HCPs can cause decreased workplace productivity and ineffective management of their patients. The current study aimed to investigate and understand psychological distress among HCPS in Mbarara city in Southwestern Uganda following the 2022 EVD outbreak.

Self-Rated Competence of Ugandan Healthcare Workers to Obtain Informed Consent for Autopsy.

We examined the self-rated competence of Ugandan healthcare workers (HCWs) in obtaining informed consent for autopsies, considering the challenges of low autopsy acceptance rates globally. In September and October 2023, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study of HCWs, who provided informed consent to participate and completed an online, self-administered questionnaire. Participants' self-rated competence in obtaining informed consent for autopsy was assessed through Likert scale questions.

The feasibility, appropriateness, and usability of mobile neuro clinics in addressing the neurosurgical and neurological demand in Uganda.

Introduction: Uganda has a high demand for neurosurgical and neurological care. 78% of the over 50 million population reside in rural and remote communities where access to neurosurgical and neurological services is lacking. This study aimed to determine the feasibility, appropriateness, and usability of mobile neuro clinics (MNCs) in providing neurological care to rural and remote Ugandan populations.

Etiology of hospital mortality in children living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In 2019, 80% of the 7.4 million global child deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Global and regional estimates of cause of hospital death and admission in LMIC children are needed to guide global and local priority setting and resource allocation but are currently lacking.

Antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in in semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in Uganda.

Livestock associated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can reduce productivity and cause economic losses, threatening the livelihoods of poor farming communities in low-income settings. We investigated the practices and risk factors for increased antibiotic use, and AMR in including resistance to human critically important antibiotics like cefotaxime and colistin in semi-intensive and free-range poultry farms in Uganda. Samples and farm management data were collected from 402 poultry farms in two districts between October 2021 to March 2022.

The 2024 Pediatric Sepsis Challenge: Predicting In-Hospital Mortality in Children With Suspected Sepsis in Uganda.

The aim of this "Technical Note" is to inform the pediatric critical care data research community about the "2024 Pediatric Sepsis Data Challenge." This competition aims to facilitate the development of open-source algorithms to predict in-hospital mortality in Ugandan children with sepsis. The challenge is to first develop an algorithm using a synthetic training dataset, which will then be scored according to standard diagnostic testing criteria, and then be evaluated against a nonsynthetic test dataset.

Psychometric assessment of the Runyankole-translated Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale among persons with HIV in Uganda.

Background: Social desirability can negatively affect the validity of self-reported measures, including underreporting of stigmatized behaviors like alcohol consumption. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (SDS) is widely implemented and comprised of Denial and Attribution Domains (i.e.

Surgical aspects and outcomes after nephrectomy for Wilms tumour in sub-Saharan Africa: A report from Wilms Africa Phase II-CANCaRe Africa.

Background: Wilms tumour (WT) is one of the common and curable cancer types targeted by the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. Tumour excision is essential for cure. This analysis focuses on surgical outcomes of patients with WT in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hepatitis C virus diversity and treatment outcomes in Benin: a prospective cohort study.

Background: 10 million people are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in sub-Saharan Africa. The assessment of viral genotypes and treatment response in this region is necessary to achieve the WHO target of worldwide elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of HCV genotypes and outcomes of treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents in Benin, a country with a national HCV seroprevalence of 4%.

Persistent unmet need for surgical care in Western Uganda.

Treatable surgical diseases account for a significant proportion of the global burden of disease, particularly in low- and middle-income communities. The number of deaths owing to poor surgical care or its non-availability has been reported to exceed those from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. The Ugandan government and its development partners aim to put in place measures to achieve universal health coverage for all communities.

Invited Commentary: Mental health services utilization disparities at the intersection of Asian ethnoracial identity and limited English proficiency.

Nguyễn et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2024;XXX(XX):XXX-XXX) analyzed data from the U.

Understanding the Burden of Pediatric Traumatic Injury in Uganda: A Multicenter, Prospective Study.

Introduction: Traumatic injury is responsible for eight million childhood deaths annually. In Uganda, there is a paucity of comprehensive data describing the burden of pediatric trauma, which is essential for resource allocation and surgical workforce planning. This study aimed to ascertain the burden of non-adolescent pediatric trauma across four Ugandan hospitals.

Primary Healthcare Workers' Awareness of Acute Rheumatic Fever & Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Study in Public Health Facilities in South Western Uganda.

Introduction: Timely identification and treatment of a streptococcal throat infection prevents acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its progression to Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). However, children in developing countries still present with established RHD, due to either missed, untreated or sub-optimally treated sore throats and ARF. We aimed to determine the level of knowledge, skills, and practices of primary health workers in South Western Uganda in providing care such children.

Community readiness and acceptance for the implementation of a novel malaria vaccine among at-risk children in sub-saharan Africa: a systematic review protocol.

Background: The World Health Organization novel malaria vaccine for at-risk children has the potential to greatly reduce the current malaria burden in sub-Saharan Africa. However, most studies have reported contradictory findings regarding community willingness for the vaccine, which could easily undermine the expected benefits of the vaccine. This study aims to ascertain the current state of community readiness and acceptance for the implementation of a novel malaria vaccine (RTS,S/ASO1) among at-risk children in sub-Saharan Africa, based on available evidence.

Impact of supportive supervision visits on the availability of World Health Organization infection prevention and control core components in health facilities in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, the provision of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are often limited by resource constraints.

Aim: To determine the association of supportive supervision activities with the availability of the WHO core components for IPC at health facilities in Southwestern Uganda.

Methods: We employed a before and after quality improvement study design.

Distribution of the ACE Gene Polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients, Their Associations with Nephropathy Biomarkers and Metabolic Indicators at a Tertiary Hospital in Uganda.

Purpose: We aimed at determining the distribution of the ACE insertion/deletion gene polymorphisms among type 2 diabetic patients and their association with the nephropathy biomarkers and the metabolic indicators.

Patients And Methods: Data were collected from 237 adult type 2 diabetes mellitus patients receiving healthcare at the diabetic clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Peripheral blood genomic DNA was amplified using a conventional PCR technique and analyzed for the ACE homozygous forms of the insertion (II), deletion (DD) and heterozygous insertion deletion (ID) genotypes as well as their respective allele counts.

The silent threat: investigating the incidence and clinical characteristics of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in women from tertiary care hospitals of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are medical conditions that can cause severe complications, such as maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the incidence and characteristics of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Methods: From July 2021 to July 2022, the authors conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).