Subsequent pregnancies in the IMPAACT 2010/VESTED Trial: high rate of adverse outcomes in women living with HIV.

Introduction: Women with HIV (WHIV) have higher risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly in the absence of antiretroviral treatment(ART), and timing of ART may impact risk.

Methods: In IMPAACT 2010 (VESTED), 643 pregnant WHIV in 9 countries were randomized 1:1:1 to initiate ART: dolutegravir (DTG)+emtricitabine(FTC)/tenofovir alafenamide(TAF); DTG+FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF. We describe adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with a subsequent pregnancy during 50 weeks of postpartum follow-up: spontaneous abortion (<20 weeks), stillbirth (≥20 weeks), preterm delivery (<37 weeks) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA).

Quality intrapartum care and associated factors in East Africa: multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health survey.

Background: The time during labor and delivery is crucial for the survival of both women and their infants, as complications that occur during this period can significantly increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. In developing nations, women of reproductive age and their infants are still at risk of morbidity and death from complications associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Morbidity and death from complications of pregnancy and childbirth can be prevented through the utilization of quality care during labor and delivery.

Clinical predictors of 3-month isoniazid rifapentine (3HP)-related adverse drug reactions (ADR) during tuberculosis preventive therapy (PAnDoRA-3HP study): an observational study protocol.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of death globally. Despite WHO recommendations for TB preventive therapy (TPT), challenges persist, including incompletion of treatment and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). There is limited data on the 3-month isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics and their relation with ADRs.

Awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward cervical cancer screening and prevention in Uganda.

Objectives: Cervical cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Uganda, posing a significant burden with high mortality rates. Early detection through screening is crucial to reduce cervical cancer mortality. This study aimed to investigate the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward cervical cancer and its screening among residents in the central and western regions of Uganda.

Health and economic impact of caregiving on informal caregivers of people with chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.

With a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases and severe shortage of health workers in sub-Saharan Africa, the region implicitly relies on informal caregivers (ICGs) to support the patients both within and outside the health facilities. The aim of this review is to systematically summarise evidence on the health and economic impact of caregiving on informal caregivers of patients with chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Medline (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Global Health, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify original articles that considered the economic and/or health impacts of caregiving in sub-Saharan Africa.

The impact of implementing and sustaining the international guidelines for skin-to-skin contact in the first hour after birth in Uganda.

Skin-to-skin contact between the mother and baby during the first hour after birth has significant benefits for mother, newborn and breastfeeding. However, optimal implementation is highly variable. The 2023 International Guidelines on skin-to-skin contact in the first hour after birth place high confidence in the evidence that immediate, continuous, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact should be routine for all mothers and all babies over 1000 g, regardless of mode of delivery.

Enhancing the mechanical properties' performances coconut fiber and CDW composite in paver block: multiple AI techniques with a Performance analysis.

The present research incorporates five AI methods to enhance and forecast the characteristics of building envelopes. In this study, Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gradient Boosting (GB), Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and Random Forest (RF) machine learning method for optimization and predicting the mechanical properties of natural fiber addition incorporated with construction and demolition waste (CDW) as replacement of Fine Aggregate in Paver blocks. In this study, factors considered were cement content, natural fine aggregate, CDW, and coconut fibre, while the resulting measure was the machinal properties of the paver blocks.

Temporal evolution of insecticide resistance and bionomics in Anopheles funestus, a key malaria vector in Uganda.

Insecticide resistance escalation is decreasing the efficacy of vector control tools. Monitoring vector resistance is paramount in order to understand its evolution and devise effective counter-solutions. In this study, we monitored insecticide resistance patterns, vector population bionomics and genetic variants associated with resistance over 3 years from 2021 to 2023 in Uganda.

High Silent Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency and Impaired Immunity in Children Under Five Years of Age Admitted to a Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda.

Introduction Zinc deficiency (ZnD) impairs the development of acquired immunity and contributes to growth failure in children under five years of age. However, the prevalence of ZnD and its association with immunity in this age group in Uganda have not been well explored. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ZnD and explore the associations between low serum zinc levels and total white blood cell count, differential cell counts, and levels of IL-1 and IL-2 in children aged 12 to 59 months.

Methods families use to raise funds for anorectal malformation treatment at a single public referral hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: In Uganda, only two public hospitals provide pediatric surgery services. With less than 10 pediatric surgeons serving approximately 20 million children in Uganda, most patients with anorectal malformations (ARMs) must make several trips to the hospital before undergoing surgery. As a result, households borrow money, sell assets, or solicit contributions from friends and relatives to meet healthcare expenses.

Typologies and Correlates of Caregiver-adolescent Sexual Health Communication among Adolescent Girls in Southwestern Uganda.

Caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication can reduce sexual risk attitudes and behaviors, but less is known about caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication in Uganda. Using a risk-focused approach, this paper seeks to characterize caregiver-adolescent sexual health communication and associated individual and family-based attributes, and associations with adolescents' sexual risk attitudes. We used latent class analyses to derive typologies (classes) of sexual health communication and assess their relationships with respondents' socio-demographic characteristics and sexual risk-taking attitudes.

Prevalence of common conditions and associated mortalities of dogs treated at the small animal clinic, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Background: In developing countries such as Uganda, domestic dogs suffer high burdens of infectious diseases often with high mortalities. Surveillance data on the common diseases and associated mortalities is however scanty. We thus, present results of a retrospective study of common clinical conditions and mortalities of dogs brought for treatment at the small animal clinic, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Post-Artesunate Delayed Hemolysis: Anything That Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong-Murphy's Law.

In patients presenting with post-malarial anemia following intravenous artesunate treatment, post-artesunate delayed hemolysis should be considered in the differential diagnosis, even in endemic settings. Close monitoring for signs of delayed hemolysis in patients previously treated with intravenous artesunate for severe malaria, regardless of their malaria exposure history or geographic location is crucial.

Factors affecting waiting times to enter opioid use disorder treatment in the United States with a particular focus on potential biological sex disparity.

Aim: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is the problematic use of licit or illicit opioids. Thus far, the literature on biological sex differences in accessing treatment is scarce. Hence, we hypothesize that biological sex has a moderating effect on OUD treatment accessibility.

Social Norms Regarding Alcohol Use, Perceptions of Alcohol Advertisement and Intent to Drink Alcohol among Youth in Uganda.

The objective of this paper is to address the scarcity of research on alcohol marketing exposure and underage drinking in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines perceptions of alcohol advertisements and perceived peer, adult, and parental attitudes regarding alcohol use and intentions to drink among vulnerable youth. The Kampala Youth Survey is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014 with service-seeking youth (ages 12-18 years) living in the slums of Kampala (n=1,134) who were participating in Uganda Youth Development Link drop-in centers.

Temporal changes in Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection across three areas of varying malaria transmission intensities in Uganda.

Background: Malaria is a significant public health challenge in Uganda, with Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) responsible for most of malaria infections. The high genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection (MOI) associated with P.

Comparison of the aquatic toxicity of diquat and its metabolites to zebrafish Danio rerio.

Diquat (DQ) is a non-selective, fast-acting herbicide that is extensively used in aquatic systems. DQ has been registered as the substitute for paraquat due to its lower toxicity. However, the widespread presence of DQ in aquatic systems can pose an ecological burden on aquatic organisms.

Dietary quality, anaemia prevalence and their associated factors among rural school- going adolescents in Acholi sub -region of Uganda.

Background: Globally, iron deficiency anaemia is a widespread public health problem affecting vulnerable populations including adolescents. However, over the years, the Uganda Demographic Health Surveys mostly report the status of anaemia for women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and children up to 5 years, leaving out the focus on adolescents. Moreover, high prevalence of anaemia among children below five years could suggest that anaemia still persists at adolescence.

Prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy in refugee settlements of northern Uganda post-COVID-19 (2020-2023): a cross-sectional study.

Background: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in teenage pregnancies nationally, however, limited data exists regarding the same among girls living in refugee settlements.

Objectives: We evaluated the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and associated factors in Palorinya and Bidi Bidi refugee settlements in Obongi and Yumbe districts of northern Uganda, in the post-COVID-19 era.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study.

Recent focus in non-SELEX-computational approach for de novo aptamer design: A mini review.

Aptamers, single-stranded nucleic acids that bind to specific targets with high affinity and specificity, hold significant promise in various biomedical and biotechnological applications. The traditional method of aptamer selection, SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment) takes a lot of work and time. Recent advancements in computational methods have revolutionized aptamer design, offering efficient and effective alternatives.

Congenital Bilateral Perisylvian Syndrome: A Rare Case.

Congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome (CBPS) is a rare neuronal migration disorder of cortical development characterized by polymicrogyria on magnetic resonance imaging. Features include pseudobulbar palsy, language and speech difficulties, epilepsy, and cognitive deficits. We discuss the management of the case of a five-year-old male with classical features of CBPS.