Browsing by Author "Atim, Pamela"

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    Attitudes of female market vendors of reproductive age towards use of mobile phones and access to family planning self-care interventions in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2024-06) Walter, Yagos Onen; Atim, Pamela; Amone, Derrick; Peter, Alarakol Simon; Tabo, Geoffrey Olok
    BackgroundMobile phones are potential digital technologies for accessing family planning self-care interventions. However, their utilization could be possible if women of reproductive age have positive attitudes towards the use of this technology for healthcare purposes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between attitudes towards the use of mobile phones and access to family planning self-care interventions among female market vendors of reproductive age in northern Uganda.MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was used. Two hundred and five randomly selected female vendors from the Gulu city main market participated. A structured researcher-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics and standard multiple regression were performed, and the data were analysed using SPSS software version 15.ResultsOf the 205 participants, 112 (54.6%) reported using smartphones, and 147 (71.7%) were aware of family planning self-care interventions. Participants had moderate attitudes towards access to family planning self-care interventions (mean = 3.18), positive attitudes towards ease of use (mean = 3.31) and usefulness of mobile phones (mean = 3.30), strong positive attitudes towards privacy (mean = 4.04), and skills associated with using mobile phones (mean = 4.04). Furthermore, significant positive relationships existed between ease of use (p value = 0.000), skills (p value = 0.001), privacy (p value = 0.002) and access to family planning self-care interventions. There was, however, an insignificant positive relationship between mobile phone usefulness and access to family planning self-care interventions (p value = 0.189). Conclusions. Participants’ positive attitudes towards the use of mobile phones could lead to access to FP self-care interventions, although uncertainty about the usefulness of the use of mobile phones for accessing FP self-care interventions exists. It is therefore important for healthcare practitioners, health development partners and the government to encourage and integrate the use of mHealth into regular FP self-care services and promotional activities while targeting underserved communities in Uganda.
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    Communities and service providers address access to perinatal care in post conflict Northern Uganda: socializing evidence for participatory action
    (Fam Med Com Health, 2021) Belaid, Loubna; Atim, Pamela; Atim, Eunice; Ochola, Emmanuel; Ogwang, Martin; Bayo, Pontius; Oola, Janet; Wonyima Okello, Isaac; Sarmiento, Ivan; Rojas-Rozo, Laura; Zinszer, Kate; Zarowsky, Christina; Andersson, Neil
    Describe participatory codesign of interventions to improve access to perinatal care services in Northern Uganda. Study design Mixed-methods participatory research to codesign increased access to perinatal care. Fuzzy cognitive mapping, focus groups and a household survey identified and documented the extent of obstructions to access. Deliberative dialogue focused stakeholder discussions of this evidence to address the obstacles to access. Most significant change stories explored the participant experience of this process. Setting Three parishes in Nwoya district in the Gulu region, Northern Uganda. Participants Purposively sampled groups of women, men, female youth, male youth, community health workers, traditional midwives and service providers. Each of seven stakeholder categories included 5–8 participants in each of three parishes. Results Stakeholders identified several obstructions to accessing perinatal care: lack of savings in preparation for childbirth in facility costs, lack of male support and poor service provider attitudes. They suggested joining saving groups, practising saving money and income generation to address the short-term financial shortfall. They recommended increasing spousal awareness of perinatal care and they proposed improving service provider attitudes. Participants described their own improved care-seeking behaviour and patient–provider relationships as short-term gains of the codesign. Conclusion Participatory service improvement is feasible and acceptable in postconflict settings like Northern Uganda. Engaging communities in identifying perinatal service delivery issues and reflecting on local evidence about these issues generate workable community-led solutions and increases trust between community members and service providers.
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    Oral health seeking behaviors of adults in Nebbi District, Uganda: a community‑based survey
    (BMC oral health, 2021) Ocwia, Juliet; Olum, Ronald; Atim, Pamela; Laker, Florence; Okot, Jerom; Goitom Sereke, Senai; Baruch Baluku, Joseph; Kiguli, Sarah; Bongomin, Felix
    Dental health is often neglected by the majority of the population and has contributed to the global burden of oral diseases. We assessed awareness, utilization and barriers to seeking oral health care among adults in Nebbi District, Uganda. Methods: A community-based, cross sectional study was conducted in the central division, Nebbi District in Uganda among adults between the age of 18 years or older. An interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection on socio-demographic characteristics, oral health awareness, oral health utilization, associated factors and barriers. Results: A total of 400 adults with a median age of 32 years (interquartile range 24–43) years were enrolled. More than half (57.5%, n = 230) of the participants were female. Participants identified smoking (42.8%, n = 171) and consumption of sugary foodstuffs (29.0%, n = 116) as risk factors for oral disease. Not brushing was also identified by 260 participants (65.0%) as the cause of tooth decay and 95.8% (n = 383) believed brushing one’s teeth could prevent tooth decay. Of the 51.5% (n = 206) who had experienced a toothache or discomfort 12 months prior to the study but only about half (52%, n = 106) had sought healthcare from a dental clinic or facility. About 89.5% (n = 94) of the participants were able to see a dentist during their last visits. Dental carries (76.6%, n = 70) and gum bleeding (14.9%, n = 14) were the most frequent reasons for visiting a dental clinic, and 73.7% (n = 70) had their tooth extracted. Barriers to seeking oral healthcare were cost of treatment (47.5%, n = 190), and long waiting time (18.5%, n = 74). The odds of seeking oral healthcare was 2.8-fold higher in participants who were being married (Odds ratio (OR): 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–6.3, p = 0.011) and 3.5-fold higher among housewives (COR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.1–11.4, p = 0.040). Conclusion: About half of the participants had sought healthcare following a dental condition. Cost of treatment seems to be an important factor affecting utilization of oral health services. Optimization of costs, and creating awareness regarding benefits of utilizing preventive dental services are recommended.