Impact of postpartum maternal fever or hypothermia on newborn and early infant illness and death in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Deaths occurring during the neonatal period contribute close to half of under-five mortality rate (U5MR); over 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Poor maternal antepartum and perinatal health predisposes newborns to low birth weight (LBW), birth asphyxia, and infections which increase the newborn's risk of death.

Methods: The objective of the study was to assess the association between abnormal postpartum maternal temperature and early infant outcomes, specifically illness requiring hospitalisation or leading to death between birth and six weeks' age.

Prevalence, associated factors and clinical features of congenital syphilis among newborns in Mbarara hospital, Uganda.

Background: While congenital syphilis is a significant public health problem that can cause severe disabilities, little is known about the situation in Uganda. We describe prevalence, associated factors and clinical presentation of congenital syphilis in Mbarara, Uganda.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among mother- newborn dyads from the postnatal ward of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH).

Aetiology and Outcomes of Suspected Infections of the Central Nervous System in Children in Mbarara, Uganda.

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are severe conditions, leading to neurological sequelae or death. Knowledge of the causative agents is essential to develop guidelines for case management in resource-limited settings. Between August 2009 and October 2012, we conducted a prospective descriptive study of the aetiology of suspected CNS infections in children two months to 12 years old, with fever and at least one sign of CNS involvement in Mbarara Hospital, Uganda.

Early biting and insecticide resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles might compromise the effectiveness of vector control intervention in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Southwestern Uganda has high malaria heterogeneity despite moderate vector control and other interventions. Moreover, the early biting transmission and increased resistance to insecticides might compromise strategies relying on vector control. Consequently, monitoring of vector behaviour and insecticide efficacy is needed to assess the effectiveness of strategies aiming at malaria control.

Male Gender is independently associated with pulmonary tuberculosis among sputum and non-sputum producers people with presumptive tuberculosis in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Little is known about the association between gender and risk of TB infection. We sought to assess the impact of gender on TB prevalence among people with presumptive tuberculosis at a regional referral hospital in a high TB and HIV prevalence setting.

Methods: We analyzed data from two diagnostic TB studies conducted in rural, southwestern Uganda.