Willingness to Use Long-Acting Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kampala, Uganda.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has proven to be a powerful tool in preventing HIV infection. There is limited information about the factors associated with willingness to use different PrEP modalities among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Africa. We assessed willingness to use long-acting injectable PrEP (LAI-PrEP) among 14-24-year-old AGYW at high risk of HIV in Uganda, and associated factors determined using multivariable complementary log-log regression.

Exome sequencing reveals a sparse genomic landscape in Kaposi sarcoma.

Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a frequently aggressive malignancy caused by Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8). People with immunodeficiencies, including HIV, are at increased risk for developing KS, but our understanding of the contributions of the cellular genome to KS pathogenesis remains limited. To determine if there are cellular genetic alterations in KS that might provide biological or therapeutic insights, we performed whole exome sequencing on 78 KS tumors and matched normal control skin from 59 adults with KS (46 with HIV-associated KS and 13 with HIV-negative KS) receiving treatment at the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala, Uganda.

Examining priorities and investments made through the Global Financing Facility for maternal and newborn health: a sub-analysis on quality.

Improving quality of care could avert most of the 4.5 million maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths that occur each year. The Global Financing Facility (GFF) aims to catalyse the national scale-up of maternal and newborn health (MNH) interventions through focused investments.

Clinical Diagnosis and Management Challenges of Harlequin Ichthyosis in a Preterm Neonate: A Case Report From Uganda.

Harlequin ichthyosis is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the gene. It is marked by distinctive skin abnormalities, including armor-like thickened scales separated by deep fissures. This condition is infrequently reported in the African population.

Alteration in Oxidative Stress Enzymes and Proteins by Stramonium Hydroethanolic Root Extract Promotes Hippocampus and Cerebral Cortex Neurons Damage in Adult Sprague Dawley Rats.

Background: Datura metel is reported to induce hallucinations and mental disorders.

Objective: This study investigates the neurotoxic effects of stramonium hydroethanolic root extract on the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of adult rats using biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical techniques.

Methodology: Twenty five adult rats were assigned to 5 groups (n = 5 each).

Optimizing Clinical Postgraduate Training: Perspectives of Postgraduate Alumni Regarding Their Residency Training at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda.

Background: Understanding alumni satisfaction and the competencies gained during university training can guide improvements in education quality, particularly in higher education institutions. This study at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) explored the factors influencing alumni decisions, their residency experiences, and their levels of satisfaction. Additionally, it provided recommendations for improving graduate training programs.

How does the medicines retail sector ensure continued access to medicines during public health emergencies? Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.

Background: The medicines retail sector (MRS) enables access to life-saving health commodities. Despite efforts to harness this market for public health goals, in low- and middle-income countries it is rarely incorporated into pandemic preparedness. This paper analyses the role of the MRS in the response to COVID-19 in Uganda, the extent to which it was incorporated into national planning and in the continuity of essential services.

Subtypes A1 and D, and recombinant HIV-1 natural polymorphisms associated with lenacapavir drug resistance in Uganda.

Background: Lenacapavir, a novel HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, shows promise for treating MDR HIV-1, as well as for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in prevention of HIV infection. Its unique mechanism and lack of cross-resistance with other antiretroviral classes make lenacapavir a significant addition to HIV therapy. The clinical trials CALIBRATE and CAPELLA have demonstrated high viral suppression rates in both ART-naive individuals and individuals with MDR HIV-1.

Prospective multi-centre analysis of rural trauma team development training for medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in Uganda: an interrupted time series study.

Background: Research shows that trauma team formation could potentially improve effectiveness of injury care in rural settings. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of rural trauma team training amongst medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in Uganda.

Methods: Prospective multi-centre interrupted time series analysis of an interventional training based on the 4th edition of rural trauma team development course of the American College of Surgeons.

Gardnerella vaginalis-binding IgA in the urethra of sexually experienced males.

Background: Genital inflammation increases HIV susceptibility and is associated with the density of pro-inflammatory anaerobes in the vagina and coronal sulcus. The penile urethra is a critical site of HIV acquisition, although correlates of urethral HIV acquisition are largely unknown. While Streptococcus mitis is a consistent component of the urethral flora, the presence of Gardnerella vaginalis has been linked with prior penile-vaginal sex and urethral inflammation.

Risk of stroke associated with proton pump inhibitor use among individuals with and without pre-existing cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used for managing gastroesophageal disorders but concerns about their potential association with increased stroke risk have emerged, especially among patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the risk of stroke associated with PPI use, stratified by the presence or absence of pre-existing CVD.

Methods: This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and included studies up to March 2024 from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.

Barriers and facilitators of integrated hepatitis B, C, and HIV screening among pregnant mothers and newborns attending maternal and newborn clinics in Koboko District, Uganda: a qualitative inquiry of providers' perspective.

Background: HIV and HBV remain significant public health challenges characterized by high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality, especially among women of reproductive age in Uganda. Patients with HBV do not receive routine counselling and education, and there are limited resources for laboratory investigation coupled with a high loss to follow-up. This study set out to assess barriers and facilitators of integrated viral hepatitis B C and HIV care model to optimize screening uptake among mothers and newborns at health facilities in Koboko District, west Nile sub-region, Uganda.

Occurrence and allele frequencies of genetic variants associated with Varroa drone brood resistance (DBR) in African Apis mellifera subspecies.

The ectoparasite Varroa destructor is a major contributor to the global decline of honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera), especially in the Northern Hemisphere. However, Varroa-resistant honeybee populations have been reported in various regions around the globe, including Europe and Africa. This resistance is primarily attributed to the trait known as Suppressed Mite Reproduction (SMR), which significantly reduces the reproductive success of Varroa mites within these colonies.

Do global health networks facilitate innovation, learning and sharing? A qualitative analysis of the Quality-of-Care Network in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Uganda.

The Quality-of-Care Network (QCN), launched by WHO and partners, links global and national actors across several countries to improve maternal and newborn health. We conducted a prospective qualitative study to examine how QCN in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Malawi and Uganda facilitated learning, sharing, and innovation within and between network countries. We conducted 227 key informant interviews with QCN actors at global, national, and facility levels iteratively in two to four rounds from June 2019 to March 2022.

Assessing the role of education level on climate change belief, concern and action: a multinational survey of healthcare professionals in nephrology.

Background: Climate change poses a significant risk to kidney health, and countries with lower national wealth are more vulnerable. Yet, citizens from lower-income countries demonstrate less concern for climate change than those from higher-income countries. Education is a key covariate.

Global, Regional, and National Burden of Male Breast Cancer, 1990-2021: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare and often treated using evidence from female breast cancer (BC) trials due to limited male participation. Previous estimates lacked global coverage and completeness. We aimed to quantify the global MBC burden from 1990 to 2021 and evaluate its current status and trends.

Interventions to reduce non-prescription antimicrobial sales in community pharmacies.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health concern. One of the most important causes of AMR is the excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs in healthcare and community settings. Most countries have policies that require antimicrobial drugs to be obtained from a pharmacy by prescription.

Prevalence, risk and resilience factors of mental health conditions among female sex workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Female sex workers are a vulnerable hard-to-reach group. Research in this field is scarce due to several issues, such as methodological difficulties or societal stigmatization. Most of the available literature focuses on sexually transmittable diseases.

Longitudinal impact of past-year reproductive coercion on contraceptive use dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from eight population-based cohorts.

Background: Reproductive coercion (RC) is a type of abuse where a partner intentionally attempts to interfere with fertility through deception or violence, often by manipulating one's contraceptive use or reproductive decision-making. Cross-sectional studies on the magnitude of RC across sub-Saharan Africa have noted associations with contraceptive use. No studies have longitudinally examined RC experiences as related to future contraceptive dynamics, including discontinuation or forgoing use altogether.

A Rare Case of Facial Arteriovenous Malformation in a 3-Year-Old Female.

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly involving abnormal artery-vein connections that bypass the capillary system. AVMs are particularly uncommon in young children. A 3-year-old girl presented with a painless, progressively enlarging left cheek swelling since birth.

Knowledge and attitude of nosocomial infection prevention and control precautions among healthcare personnel at Kiruddu Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: A key concern for global public health is nosocomial infections. Essential to the fight against nosocomial infection, is healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes. Therefore, this study investigated healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes toward nosocomial infection at the Kiruddu Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

A meta-core outcome set for stillbirth prevention and bereavement care following stillbirth in LMIC.

Study Objective: Stillbirth is burdensome in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Currently, there are two core outcome sets (COS) for stillbirth (prevention and bereavement care), but these were developed with limited reflection of the needs of parents in an LMIC setting. To address this gap, the objective of this study was to establish consensus on the most important outcomes for stillbirth prevention and bereavement care following stillbirth in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.