Browsing by Author "Atuhairwe, Christine"

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    Assessment of Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Karamojong Adolescent Girls in Rupa Sub-County, Moroto District
    (Assessment, 2017-04-01) Elzy, Kishoin Esther; Atuhairwe, Christine; Akugizibwe, Pardon; Kiconco, Sylvia; Komuhangi, Alimah
    Menstrual hygiene and management is insufficiently acknowledged since it has not received adequate attention, in most cases because it is considered a private issue that's rarely open to discussion making it difficult for girls to manage their periods. This leaves them at high risk of contracting diseases related to poor menstrual management. A cross-sectional study involving both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques was conducted in Rupa Sub-County, Moroto district between August and October 2016 and a total of 133 adolescent girls were interviewed. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Odd ratios tests were used for analysis to assess the menstrual hygiene management. Mean age of respondents was 17.03±2.121 years; respondents going to school were 5.9 times more likely to practice safe menstrual hygiene management (p-value 0.000), half (50.4%) of the adolescent girls had no education (p-value 0.000), 38.3 % of the girls did not know what to do during menstruation (p-value 0.000), respondents who agreed that it is ideal to bath at least twice during menstruation were 2.9 times more likely to practice safe menstrual hygiene management (p-vaue-0.024), less than half (28.6%) of the respondents were not sure whether it is hygienic to use material for less than 6 hours during menstruation (p-value 0.000), while slightly three quarters (61.7%) of adolescent girls used old rags during menstruation, 48.1% of the respondents agreed that there are cultural factors attached to menstrual hygiene management (0.000). Menstrual hygiene management is still a very big challenge among adolescent girls in Moroto district; various factors were identified to affect menstrual behaviors most influential being lack of adequate knowledge, Socio-economic status of participants and cultural factors.
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    Assessment Of The Diagnostic Performance Of Truehb Point-Of-Care Hemometer Compared With Sysmex I3 Analyzer Among Patients At International Hospital Kampala, Uganda
    (Journal of blood medicine, 2019) Taremwa, Ivan Mugisha; Ndeze, Ivan; Mwambi, Bashir; Atuhairwe, Christine; Achieng, Diana Inda; Natukunda, Bernard
    To assess the diagnostic performance of TrueHb® point-of-care (POC) hemometer compared with Sysmex i3 analyzer at International Hospital Kampala, Uganda.We analyzed ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples to estimate hemoglobin (Hb) levels using parallel testing with TrueHb® hemometer and Sysmex i3 analyzer. Data were analyzed to ascertain the diagnostic performance of the test assays using the Bland and Altman method. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated.The study enrolled 402 patients; of these, 156 (38.8%) were males. The average Hb levels were 8.7±1.8 and 13.3±2.6 g/dL for the anemic and nonanemic patients, respectively. One hundred and fifty-five participants were anemic, giving anemia prevalence of 38.56% (95% CI: 35.17–40.38). The mean difference of the TrueHb® and Sysmex i3 assays was 2.2219 (SD 1.07915), and the two devices did not show a difference in their measurements (t=−2.407, p-value 0.017, 95% CI: −0.095–0.010). Further, they showed a significant level of agreement (t=41.281; 95% CI: 2.1161–2.3277) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC=0.793). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100.00%, 51.01%, 55.16% and 100.00%, respectively. The average performance turnaround time (TAT) for the TrueHb® hemometer was 2.46 mins (95% CI: 2.37–2.55). TrueHb® POC hemometer is an accurate POC for Hb estimation with a good performance agreement with the Sysmex i3 analyzer. This, coupled with its utility aspects, makes it a good diagnostic tool in a high anemia burden and low-resource setting.
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    High uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in urban Uganda
    (Public Library of Science, 2024-04) Kyakuwa, Nasimu; Kimbugwe, Geofrey; Nakanjako, Flavia; Kalute, Hamza; Mpooya, Simon; Atuhairwe, Christine; Perez, Laurent; Kikaire, Bernard
    The aim of the study was to describe the facilitators, barriers to and level of uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in primary healthcare facilities in an urban setting in Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCWs in private and public health facilities in Entebbe municipality between July 2021 and August 2021. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that was shared, via an online link, to consented participants. Uptake of the vaccines among healthcare workers was analysed as proportions, and logistic regression was used to analyse barriers and facilitators to uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. The study enrolled 360 participants, with 61.7% (n = 222) females. A total of 236 (65.6%) healthcare workers had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, with higher uptake among females 64% (n = 151). Age above 40 years (OR 2.16), working in a government healthcare facility (OR 3.12), participating in COVID-19 vaccine related activities (OR 4.62), and having tested for SARS-COV-2 (OR 3.05) increased the odds of having been vaccinated. Working in small roadside clinics reduced the odds of being vaccinated by almost 70%, while HCWs in government health services were 3.1 times more likely to have been vaccinated. History of having cared for a COVID-19 patient and having a positive SARS-COV-2 test result did not influence the uptake of the vaccines in the study population. Vaccine uptake among HCWs was close to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended uptake of 70% by mid-2022.
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    Risk perception and usage of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis among fisherfolk in Ggulwe parish on the shores of Lake Victoria in central Uganda
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-11) Bahikire, Daraus; Nanyingi, Miisa; Atuhairwe, Christine; Matama, Catherine; Ninsiima, Lesley Rose; Bbuye, Mudarshiru
    Abstract BackgroundThe use of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) to prevent HIV acquisition among those exposed as an approach to HIV prevention has expanded in Uganda. Although there are increased efforts to avail nPEP services among most at-risk populations, the usage of nPEP medicines remains low. Therefore, this study examined the risk perception and usage of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) among fisherfolk in the Ggulwe fishing parish, Bussi sub-county, Wakiso district.MethodsA cross-sectional study among adults was carried out from October 2020 to January 2021 in Ggulwe parish, Bussi sub-county, Wakiso district, to examine the usage of nPEP and factors influencing the usage. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, and key informants' interviews were conducted among healthcare providers and the local leadership. The quantitative data were summarized using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, while the qualitative data were analyzed thematically to enrich the quantitative results.ResultsOverall, 248 fisherfolk encountered an event that required the use of nPEP, and of these, 55/248 (22.2%) were able to use nPEP to prevent them from acquiring HIV. The usage of nPEP among adults in the Bussi sub-county, Wakiso district, was associated with not knowing that HIV can be prevented using nPEP medicines (AOR:0.1, 95% CI 0.03–0.36, p < 0.001), lack of knowledge of the existence of nPEP (AOR: 0.3, 95% CI 0.13–0.76, p = 0.01), the perception that nPEP can effectively prevent HIV infection after exposure (AOR 0.0586, 95% CI: 0.0177–0.1944, p < 0.001), and the community's opinion affecting the willingness to take nPEP (AOR 0.1924, 95% CI: 0.0380–0.9727, p = 0.0462).ConclusionThe usage of nPEP among fisherfolk was low (22.2%). The low usage of nPEP was associated with a lack of knowledge and awareness about nPEP. This effort to improve the usage of nPEP should include community sensitization and HIV infection prevention using nPEP to raise awareness about HIV infection exposures and the risk of HIV infection during non-occupational exposures.
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    Socio-demographic Determinants and Prevalence of Tuberculosis Knowledge in Three Slum Populations of Uganda
    (BMC public health, 2012-07-23) Obuku, Ekwaro A.; Kiboss-Kyeyune, Jemimah; Atuhairwe, Christine; Nabankema, Evelyn; Nikki, Jeffrey; Ndungutse, David
    Knowledge of tuberculosis has been shown to influence health seeking behaviour; and urban slum dwellers are at a higher risk of acquiring tuberculosis than the general population. The study aim was to assess knowledge of tuberculosis and identify the associated socio-demographic determinants, in order to inform tailored interventions for advocacy, communication and social mobilisation in three urban-slum communities of Uganda. A cross-sectional survey of 1361 adults between April and October 2011. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of potential determinants of tuberculosis (TB) knowledge were estimated by multivariable ordinal logistic regression using Stata 11.2 software. We found low knowledge of TB cause (26.7%); symptoms (46.8%), transmission (54.3%), prevention (34%) and free treatment (35%). Knowledge about TB treatment (69.4) and cure (85.1) was relatively high. Independent determinants of poor knowledge of TB in the multivariable analysis included (aOR, 95% CI) lack of formal education (0.56; 0.38 – 0.83, P = 0.004), unemployment (0.67; 0.49 – 0.90, P = 0.010) and never testing for HIV (0.69; 0.51 – 0.92, P < 0.012). Whilst, older age (1.73; 1.30 – 2.29, P < 0.001) and residing in Lira (2.02; 1.50 – 2.72, P < 0.001) were independent determinants of higher knowledge of TB. This study revealed deficiencies in the public health knowledge about TB symptoms, diagnosis and treatment among urban-slum dwellers in Uganda. Tuberculosis control programmes in similar settings should consider innovative strategies for TB education, advocacy, communication and social mobilisation to reach the youth, unemployed and less-educated; as well as those who have never tested for HIV.
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    Socio-demographic Determinants and Prevalence of Tuberculosis Knowledge in Three Slum Populations of Uganda
    (BMC public health, 2012-07-23) Obuku,Ekwaro A.; Meynell, Clea; Kiboss-Kyeyune, Jemimah; Atuhairwe, Christine; Nabankema, Evelyn; Nikki, Jeffrey; Ndungutse, David
    Knowledge of tuberculosis has been shown to influence health seeking behaviour; and urban slum dwellers are at a higher risk of acquiring tuberculosis than the general population. The study aim was to assess knowledge of tuberculosis and identify the associated socio-demographic determinants, in order to inform tailored interventions for advocacy, communication and social mobilisation in three urban-slum communities of Uganda. A cross-sectional survey of 1361 adults between April and October 2011. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of potential determinants of tuberculosis (TB) knowledge were estimated by multivariable ordinal logistic regression using Stata 11.2 software. We found low knowledge of TB cause (26.7%); symptoms (46.8%), transmission (54.3%), prevention (34%) and free treatment (35%). Knowledge about TB treatment (69.4) and cure (85.1) was relatively high. Independent determinants of poor knowledge of TB in the multivariable analysis included (aOR, 95% CI) lack of formal education (0.56; 0.38 – 0.83, P = 0.004), unemployment (0.67; 0.49 – 0.90, P = 0.010) and never testing for HIV (0.69; 0.51 – 0.92, P < 0.012). Whilst, older age (1.73; 1.30 – 2.29, P < 0.001) and residing in Lira (2.02; 1.50 – 2.72, P < 0.001) were independent determinants of higher knowledge of TB. This study revealed deficiencies in the public health knowledge about TB symptoms, diagnosis and treatment among urban-slum dwellers in Uganda. Tuberculosis control programmes in similar settings should consider innovative strategies for TB education, advocacy, communication and social mobilisation to reach the youth, unemployed and less-educated; as well as those who have never tested for HIV.