Medical and Health Sciences

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Browsing Medical and Health Sciences by Author "Aanyu, Christine"

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    COVID-19 vaccination, perceptions about the vaccine and willingness to take the vaccine among unvaccinated individuals at two Ugandan border points of entry
    (BMC Public Health, 2024) Matovu, Joseph K. B.; Nuwematsiko, Rebecca; Aanyu, Christine; Tabwenda, Lilian; Okade, Tom; Musoke, David; Buregyeya, Esther
    A recent systematic review shows high COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in fully-vaccinated people in Africa. However, vaccine uptake has varied across populations. We assessed the uptake, perceptions of and willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine among unvaccinated individuals at two Ugandan border points of entry. Methods This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted at Malaba and Mutukula points of entry into Uganda between February and March 2023. We targeted people living in, working at, or transiting through the two points of entry, including truck drivers, point-of-entry customs officers and female sex workers, market vendors, among others. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, vaccine uptake, perceptions and willingness to take the vaccine among unvaccinated individuals. We computed descriptive statistics and determined the factors associated with uptake of and willingness to take the vaccine using a modified Poisson regression model. Data analysis was conducted using STATA statistical package (version 14.0). Results Of the 854 respondents, 50% (n = 427) were from Mutukula. Overall, 80.3% (n = 686) of the respondents reported that they had received at least one vaccine dose; no booster doses were reported. Respondents perceived that the vaccine was efficacious against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was associated with age-group 35–44 years [adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] (95%CI) = 1.13 (1.01, 1.27)] or 45 + years [aPR (95%CI) = 1.19 (1.07, 1.33)]; being a truck driver [aPR (95%CI) = 1.16 (1.04, 1.29)] or health worker [aPR (95%CI) = 1.18 (1.05, 1.32)]; and the belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is protective against COVID-19 [aPR (95%CI) = 1.32 (1.10, 1.58)]. Nearly 60% of unvaccinated respondents (n = 99) were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Willingness to take the vaccine was associated with the belief that one can contract the coronavirus if not vaccinated [aPR (95%CI) = 3.67 (1.90, 7.10)] or the community was at risk of COVID-19 [aPR (95%CI) = 1.86 (1.33, 2.62)]. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was high in this setting while nearly six out of every ten unvaccinated individuals were willing to take the vaccine. Our findings lend credence for ongoing vaccination efforts at points of entry to contain the importation of new COVID-19 variants into the country.
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    Maternal and newborn health needs for women with walking disabilities; “the twists and turns”: a case study in Kibuku District Uganda
    (International journal for equity in health, 2019) Apolot, Rebecca R.; Ekirapa, Elizabeth; Waldman, Linda; Morgan, Rosemary; Aanyu, Christine; Mutebi, Aloysius; Nyachwo, Evelyne B.; Seruwagi, Gloria; Kiwanuka, Suzanne N.
    In Uganda 13% of persons have at least one form of disability. The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guarantees persons with disabilities the same level of right to access quality and affordable healthcare as persons without disability. Understanding the needs of women with walking disabilities is key in formulating flexible, acceptable and responsive health systems to their needs and hence to improve their access to care. This study therefore explores the maternal and newborn health (MNH)-related needs of women with walking disabilities in Kibuku District Uganda. Methods: We carried out a qualitative study in September 2017 in three sub-counties of Kibuku district. Four In-depth Interviews (IDIs) among purposively selected women who had walking disabilities and who had given birth within two years from the study date were conducted. Trained research assistants used a pretested IDI guide translated into the local language to collect data. All IDIs were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim before analysis. The thematic areas explored during analysis included psychosocial, mobility, health facility and personal needs of women with walking disabilities. Data was analyzed manually using framework analysis. Results: We found that women with walking disabilities had psychosocial, mobility, special services and personal needs. Psychosocial needs included; partners’, communities’, families’ and health workers’ acceptance. Mobility needs were associated with transport unsuitability, difficulty in finding transport and high cost of transport. Health facility needs included; infrastructure, and responsive health services needs while personal MNH needs were; personal protective wear, basic needs and birth preparedness items. Conclusions: Women with walking disabilities have needs addressable by their communities and the health system. Communities, and health workers need to be sensitized on these needs and policies to meet and implement health system-related needs of women with disability.