Browsing by Author "Kaducu, Felix"

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    COVID-19 Risk Behaviors in Humanitarian Settings: A Crosssectional Study among Conflict Refugees in Uganda
    (International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 2021) Lawoko, Stephen; Seruwagi, Gloria; Muhangi, Denis; Ochen, Eric A.; Okot, Betty; Lugada, Eric; Masaba, Andrew; Ddamulira, Dunstan P.; Luswata, Brian; Nakidde, Catherine L.; Kaducu, Felix
    Worldwide, behavioral change interventions are at the core of prevention efforts to contain the novelCorona Virus (COVID-19). While the evidence base to inform such interventions in the general population is growing, equivocal research in humanitarian populations is lacking. The current study describes the nature, extent and predictors of COVID-19 risk behaviors among conflict refugees in Uganda in a bid to inform prevention strategies for humanitarian settings. Cross-sectional survey data on COVID-19 risk-behaviors, demographic, socio-economic, behavioral and clinical variables was gathered from 1014 adult refugees drawn from 3 refugee settlements in Uganda, using two-staged cluster sampling. Data was analyzed using t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multivariable Linear Regression.Many refugees (25-70%) were involved in hygiene, congestion and nutritional/physical activity related risk behaviors likely to contribute to community transmission of COVID-19. Refugees living in rural settlements, of male sex, young age and low socio-economic status were at heightened risk of exposure to COVID-19 risk behaviors.Physical activity and healthy nutritional practices reduced the likelihood of COVID-19 risk behavior. Indulgence in COVID-19 risk behaviors increased the risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms.COVID-19 risk behaviors among conflict refugees in Uganda are multifaceted in nature, widespread in extent and associated with symptom development, signaling for high risk for COVID-19 transmission in humanitarian settings. The data on predictors of COVID-19 risk behaviors have unmasked underlying inequalities, holding promise for development of evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of most vulnerable clusters in the refugee community.
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    Perceived barriers to utilization of antenatal care services in northern Uganda: A qualitative study
    (Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 2020) Uldbjerg, Cecilie Skaarup; Schramm, Stine; Kaducu, Felix; Ovuga, Emilio; Sodemann, Morten
    Antenatal care (ANC) utilization remains a challenge in efforts to reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal health in Uganda. This study aimed to identify perceived barriers to utilization of ANC services in a rural post-conflict area in northern Uganda. Methods: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions of seventeen participants (pregnant women, health workers and a traditional birth attendant). The study was informed through a phenomenological approach to capture perceived barriers to utilization of ANC. The study was carried out in post-conflict Awach sub-county, Gulu District, northern Uganda. Data was analyzed using inductive conventional content analysis. Results: The main perceived barriers to ANC utilization were identified as: poor quality of care including poor attitude of health workers; socio-cultural practices not being successfully aligned to ANC; and lack of support from the husband including difficulties in encouraging him to attend ANC. Additionally, institutional structures and procedures at the health centers in terms of compulsory HIV testing and material requirements and transportation were perceived to prevent some pregnant women from attending ANC. Conclusions: Identifying local barriers to ANC utilization are important and should be considered when planning ANC programs. We propose that future efforts should focus on how to ensure a good patient-provider relationship and perceived quality of care, and further how to improve inter-spousal communication and sensitization of husbands for increased involvement in ANC. We recommend more research on how socio-cultural context can meaningfully be aligned to ANC to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality.
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    Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Paramedical Students in Two Hospitals in Uganda
    (International Journal of Research Studies in Medical and Health Sciences, 2017) Okullo, Isaac; Kaducu, Felix; Katamba, Achilles; Muwazi, Louis; Nkamba, Moses; Kutesa, Annet; Mugisha Rwenyonyi, Charles
    The risk of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to health-care workers in many low and middle-income countries is greater when large numbers of infectious (smear positive) tuberculosis (TB) patients are managed at health facilities. The present study was carried out in Mulago and Gulu teaching hospitals in Uganda among 291 students on the Public Health Dentistry (n=73), Clinical Officers (n=92) and Nursing (n=126) programmes to determine their latent TB infection status. Socio-demographic factors of the participants were recorded and TST induration was read after 48 to 72 hours. Chi-square statistics were used to compare latent TB infection among pre-clinic and clinical year students in different study programmes. About 87% (n=254) of the respondents had Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccination skin scar. Of the 291 respondents (response rate, 89.5%), 92.4% developed an induration after TST. The mean diameter of the induration was 12.61 mm (95% CI: 11.95-13.26). A prevalence of latent TB infection (80.4%) with TST induration reading of ≥10 mm was found among the respondents. Significantly more Nursing had an induration ≥10 mm than the Dental (p=0.046) and the Clinical Officer students (p=0.047). The observed prevalence of latent TB infection was high, indicating a high level of transmission of Mycobacteria tuberculosis among the young health worker students, which is a risk to patients under their care. It is important to screen trainees upon entering into the study programmes in order to determine the magnitude of latent TB infection for better policy guidance.