Periodontal health in a large cohort of Ugandans living with HIV: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of periodontitis on large populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-constrained settings remains largely un-investigated. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a comprehensive description of the periodontal health status among a sizable cohort of Ugandans living with HIV.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 4,449 participants who were over 18-years old with data captured on their reported age, gender, tobacco use, length of time on HAART and alcohol use.

Multicenter, international study of CT practices and radiation doses from 10 African countries: An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) baseline study.

Purpose: The objective of our IAEA-coordinated international study was to assess CT practices and radiation doses from multiple hospitals across several African countries.

Methods: The study included 13 hospitals from Africa which contributed information on minimum of 20 consecutive patients who underwent head, chest, and/or abdomen-pelvis CT. Prior to the data recording step, all hospitals had a mandatory one-hour training on the best practices in recording the relevant data elements.

Periodontal health in a large cohort of Ugandansliving with HIV: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of periodontitis on large populations of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-constrained settings remains largely un-investigated. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by providing a comprehensive description of the periodontal health status among a sizable cohort of Ugandans living with HIV.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 4,449 participants who were over 18-years old and captured their reported age, gender, tobacco use, length of time on HAART and alcohol use.

Understanding the factors that influence CT utilization for mild traumatic brain injury in a low resource setting - a qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Introduction: In low resource settings (LRS), utilization of Computed Tomography scan (CTS) for mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) presents unique challenges and considerations given the limited infrastructure, financial resources, and trained personnel. The Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) offers a comprehensive theoretical lens to explore factors influencing the decision-making to order CTS for mTBI by imaging referrers (IRs).

Objectives: The primary objective was to explore IRs' beliefs about factors influencing CT utilization in mTBIs using TDF in Uganda.

Improving alcohol and substance use screening in school-age children: translation, adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the CRAFFT tool for Lumasaaba, Uganda.

Background: Children at risk of substance use disorders (SUD) should be detected using brief structured tools for early intervention. This study sought to translate and adapt the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Family/Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) tool to determine its diagnostic accuracy, and the optimum cut-point to identify substance use disorders (SUD) risk in Ugandan children aged 6 to 13 years.

Methods: This was a sequential mixed-methods study conducted in two phases.

Tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus comorbidity in an adult Ugandan population.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a direct impact on the clinical manifestation and prognosis of active tuberculosis disease (TB) and is known to increase the chance of developing the condition. We sought to determine the prevalence of DM in adult Ugandan patients with recently diagnosed TB and the associated sociodemographic, anthropometric, and metabolic characteristics of TB-DM comorbidity.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted at the adult TB treatment centres of three tertiary healthcare facilities in Uganda, we screened adult participants with recently diagnosed TB (diagnosed in < 2 months) for DM.

Diagnostic accuracy of two confirmatory tests for diabetes mellitus in adult Ugandans with recently diagnosed tuberculosis.

Objective: The optimal confirmatory tests for diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with tuberculosis (TB) vary across populations. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of two confirmatory tests for DM against the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as the reference test in adult Ugandans with recently diagnosed TB.

Methods: A total of 232 adult participants receiving TB treatment underwent initial screening for DM with random blood glucose (RBG) measurement.

"She gives it to her child who doesn't even talk": a qualitative exploration of alcohol and drug use among primary school-age children in Uganda.

Background: There is little research on alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use by school-age children in low-resource settings like Uganda. Including the voices of children in research can inform prevention and early intervention efforts for those at risk of AOD use. The aim of this study was to understand the perspectives of children aged 6 to 13 years regarding AOD in Uganda.

The social, economic, emotional, and physical experiences of caregivers for women with female genital fistula in Uganda: A qualitative study.

This study aimed to explore the firsthand experiences of informal primary caregivers of women with female genital fistula in Uganda. Caregivers that accompanied women for surgery at Mulago National Teaching and Referral Hospital were recruited between January and September 2015. Caregivers participated in in-depth interviews and focus groups.

Women's sexual activity and experiences following female genital fistula surgery.

Background: Surgical repair has a transformative impact on the lives of women affected by female genital fistula; however, various physical, social, and economic challenges may persist postrepair and prevent complete reengagement in relationships and communities. Nuanced investigation of these experiences is needed to inform programming that aligns with women's reintegration needs.

Aim: We investigated the sexual activity resumption, experiences, and concerns of women in Uganda during the year following genital fistula repair surgery.

Why mothers die at a busy tertiary urban hospital in Kampala, Uganda: a comprehensive review of maternal deaths 2016-2018 and implications for quality improvement to reduce deaths.

Background: Reviewing maternal deaths and drawing out lessons for clinical practice is part of an effective cohesive intervention strategy to reduce future deaths.

Objective: To review maternal deaths at the National Referral hospital in Kampala over a 3-year period (2016-2018) to determine causes of death, extent of preventability, proportion of deaths notified and audited as per national guidelines.

Methods: Trained-multidisciplinary panels (obstetricians and senior midwives) conducted retrospective reviews of maternal deaths that occurred.

'There is nowhere to take the child': a qualitative study of community members' views on managing early childhood substance use in Mbale, Uganda.

Background: Harmful alcohol use by 5-8-year-old children has been identified in Mbale District, Uganda. To further examine this finding, the present study explores the experiences and perceptions of community members regarding how childhood substance use (before age 10) is managed in this area.

Methods: We conducted eight focus group discussions with 48 parents of children aged < 10 years and 26 key informant interviews with teachers, health workers, child protection workers, police, local stakeholders, brewers, and others.

'As soon as they can hold a glass, they begin taking alcohol': a qualitative study on early childhood substance use in Mbale District, Uganda.

Background: Globally, substance use is a leading contributor to the burden of disease among young people, with far reaching social, economic and health effects. Following a finding of harmful alcohol use among 5-8-year-old children in Mbale District, Uganda, this study aims to investigate community members' views on early childhood substance use among children below the age of 10 years.

Methods: In 2016, we conducted eight focus group discussions with 48 parents and 26 key informant interviews with teachers, health workers, alcohol distributors, traditional healers, religious leaders, community leaders and youth workers.

Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) Use and Associated Factors among HIV Infected Children and Adolescents Seeking Mental Health Services in Uganda.

Background: Given the limited integration of mental health services into pediatric HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited information on the nature of mental health service use sought by caregivers of children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS.

Methods: We analyzed data from a sample of 135 children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS and attending a pediatric HIV care service whose parents or caregivers had sought for mental health care for their emotional or behavior problems in the past year. We assessed complementary alternative medicine use, socio-demographic characteristics and types of behavioral problems using a SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC questionnaire and the child behavioral checklist (6 - 18) respectively.

Quality of life of adult individuals with intestinal stomas in Uganda: a cross sectional study.

Introduction: Intestinal stomas remain important life-saving surgical options in a wide range of gastrointestinal pathologies globally. Living with a stoma has potential to impair the patient's quality of life, often with associated negative psychological effects.

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life among intestinal stoma patients under Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH), with emphasis on psychological effects and effects on family-social interactions.

Hyperglycemia in severe traumatic brain injury patients and its association with thirty-day mortality: a prospective observational cohort study in Uganda.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a growing public health concern that can be complicated with an acute stress response. This response may be assessed by monitoring blood glucose levels but this is not routine in remote settings. There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of hyperglycemia and variables associated with mortality after severe TBI in Uganda.

High viral suppression and low attrition in healthy HIV-infected patients initiated on ART with CD4 above 500 cells/µL in a program setting in Uganda.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all HIV-infected patients at all CD4 counts. However, there are concerns that asymptomatic patients may have poorer viral suppression and high attrition.

Objectives: We sought to determine attrition and viral suppression among healthy HIV-infected patients initiated on ART in program settings.

Storage conditions of oxytocin in a tropical climate in a low-income country.

Objective: To establish the storage conditions of oxytocin in a health facility in a low-income country with a tropical climate, as suboptimal storage may lead to ineffectiveness of drugs essential to prevent and treat postpartum hemorrhage.

Methods: At Mulago National Referral Hospital (28 000-33 000 deliveries/year) in Kampala, Uganda, temperature logging Safe-Rx cards were placed in boxes of oxytocin and in every known storage location. The route of the boxes through the hospital was tracked for 54 days, and storage conditions were observed.

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries.

Background: The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries.

Validation of an adapted instrument to measure female genital fistula-related stigma.

Female genital fistula results in severe physical, psychological, and social sequelae. Qualitative research confirms stigma pervasiveness; however, no quantitative instrument exists to measure fistula-related stigma. We adapted an existing HIV-related stigma instrument to fistula-related stigma and assessed its reliability and validity.

Rehabilitation and reintegration programming adjunct to female genital fistula surgery: A systematic scoping review.

Background: Female genital fistula is associated with significant physical, psychological, and economic consequences; however, a knowledge and practice gap exists around services adjunct to fistula surgery.

Objectives: To examine rehabilitation and reintegration services provided adjunct to genital fistula surgery, map existing programming and outcomes, and identify areas for additional research.

Search Strategy: We searched the published and grey literature from January 2000 to June 2019.