Browsing by Author "Asiimwe, John Baptist"

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    Factors Associated with Healthcare-Seeking Behavior among Health Profession Students in Selected Universities in Southwestern Uganda
    (Open Access Library Journal, 2023-04-12) Wamaani, Hannington Gamukama; Olum, Ronald; Ajuna, Noble; Atwijukire, Humphrey; Kabami, Jane; Asiimwe, John Baptist
    Health professional students (HPS) tend to seek informal health care associated with self-medication (SM). Therefore, this study investigated the factors associated with healthcare-seeking behavior (HSB) among HPS. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Four hundred (400) HPS from two universities Bishop Stuart University (BSU) and Kampala International University Western Campus (KIU)] in southwestern Uganda were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a Google form containing structured questions. The link to the questionnaire was sent to prospective participants via WhatsApp platform or email between September and November 2021. Ethical clearance was obtained from Mbarara university Research Ethics committee. Data were entered into SPSS software and analyzed using descriptive chi-square statistics, and logistic regression. HSB was considered formal or appropriate if the participant usually sought healthcare from a health worker. Results: A total of 400 HPS were enrolled, 60.3% were males, the mean age of the participants was 23.06 (SD = 2.74) years. Fifty-seven percent (57.5%) of the participants consulted a health worker when ill in the last 12 months (had formal HSB). Most participants’ main reason for seeking health care was to treat the underlying illness (73.3%). About sixty-nine percent (68.6%) of the participants treated themselves during the most recent illness or health problem. Most of the participants searched the internet for health-related information when ill at some point. (Sometimes = 35.8%, Always = 27%, Often = 16%).The academic year of HPS (P < 0.001), access to health facilities (P = 0.018), being too busy (P = 0.028), and minor illnesses (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with healthcare-seeking behavior. The lower academic years 1 & 2 (OR = 0.453, P < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.296 - 0.695) and easy access to the health facility (OR = 0.447 P < 0.001, 95% CI = 0.287 - 0.696) were
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    Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda
    (TMR Integrative Medicine, 2023-02-05) Kahwa, Ivan; Chauhan, Nagendra Singh; Omara, Timothy; Asiimwe, John Baptist; Ikiriza, Hilda; Anke, Weisheit; Ogwang, Patrick Engeu
    Different parts of Artemisia vulgaris L. (A. vulgaris) are ethno-medicinally used as an emmenagogue and for the treatment of ailments such as malaria fever, ulcers, and cancer. However, anecdotal evidence shows that the plant is often substituted for Artemisia annua L. (A. annua) by herbalists in Western Uganda due to similarities in their morphology. Misidentification of medicinal plants and mislabelling of herbal products have been incriminated in toxicity and adverse health outcomes in traditional medicine practise. Because safety continues to be a major issue with the use of herbal remedies, it becomes imperative therefore that medicinal plants should be correctly identified. Methods: This study focused on investigating the macroscopic, microscopic, physicochemical characteristics and phytochemical composition of A. vulgaris leaves compared to A. annua to ease its correct identification. Results: The results showed that there are some colour differences between the leaves of the two species, with a close arrangement of microscopic features but different leaf constants. The leaves of the two Artemisia species had similar tastes, but their shapes and colours (greenish-yellow for A. annua and dark green for A. vulgaris) can be used by the local community to distinguish between them. The artemisinin content was higher in A. vulgaris leaves (1.72 %) than in A. annua (1.43%), but the reverse was observed for the total flavonoid content. Conclusion: This observation could justify the change in the use of A. vulgaris by the indigenous community in western Uganda. Further studies should consider the pharmacognostic comparison of A. annua with other species in the genus Artemisia and the use of molecular techniques such as DNA barcoding.