Browsing by Author "Kaharuza, Frank"
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Item The dilemma of safe sex and having children: challenges facing HIV sero-discordant couples in Uganda(African health sciences, 2009) Beyeza-Kashesya, Jolly; Kaharuza, Frank; Mirembe, Florence; Neema, Stella; Ekstrom, Anna Mia; Kulane, AsliSixty percent of new HIV infections in Uganda occur in stable relationships between HIV discordant couples. Given the importance of fertility in Uganda, we hypothesized that unsafe sexual practices may be used to found a family/replace a dead child. Thus, we explored sexual practices to understand to what extent these are influenced by the desire to have children and the implications for HIV transmission among discordant couples. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 114 HIV discordant couples in Kampala, and in-depth interviews with 15 purposively selected couples. Quantitative data were analyzed using STATA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis done to identify factors associated with consistent condom use. Thematic content analysis of qualitative data was done using NVIVO 2.Item Effectiveness and safety of misoprostol distributed to antenatal women to prevent postpartum haemorrhage after child-births: a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial(BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2015) Ononge, Sam; Campbell, Oona M. R.; Kaharuza, Frank; Lewis, James J.; Fielding, Katherine; Mirembe, FlorenceOral misoprostol, administered by trained health-workers is effective and safe for preventing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). There is interest in expanding administration of misoprostol by non-health workers, including task-shifting to pregnant women themselves. However, the use of misoprostol for preventing PPH in home-births remains controversial, due to the limited evidence to support self-administration or leaving it in the hands of non-health workers. This study aimed to determine if antenatally distributing misoprostol to pregnant women to self-administer at home birth reduces PPH. Methods: Between February 2013 and March 2014, we conducted a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trial in six health facilities in Central Uganda. Women at 28+ weeks of gestation attending antenatal care were eligible. Women in the control-arm received the standard-of-care; while the intervention-arm were offered 600mcg of misoprostol to swallow immediately after birth of baby, when oxytocin was not available. The primary outcome (PPH) was a drop in postpartum maternal haemoglobin (Hb) by ≥ 2g/dl, lower than the prenatal Hb. Analysis was by intention-to-treat at the cluster level and we used a paired t-tests to assess whether the mean difference between the control and intervention groups was statistically significant. Results: 97% (2466/2545) of eligible women consented to participate; 1430 and 1036 in the control and intervention arms respectively. Two thousand fifty-seven of the participants were successfully followed up and 271 (13.2 %) delivered outside a health facility. There was no significant difference between the study group in number of women who received a uterotonic at birth (control 80.4 % vs intervention 91.4 %, mean difference = -11.0 %, 95 % confidence interval [CI] -25.7 % to 3.6 %, p = 0.11). No woman took misoprostol before their baby’s birth. Shivering and fever were 14.9 % in the control arm compared to 22.2 % in the intervention arm (mean difference = -7.2 %, 95 % CI -11.1 % to -3.7 %), p = 0.005). There was a slight, but non-significant, reduction in the percentage of women with Hb drop ≥ 2g/dl from 18.5% in the control arm to 11.4 % in the intervention arm (mean difference = 7.1 %, 95% CI -3.1 % to 17.3 %, p = 0.14). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the groups in the primary outcome in the women who delivered at home (control 9.6 % vs intervention 14.5 %, mean difference -4.9; 95 % CI -12.7 to 2.9), p = 0.17). Conclusion: This study was unable to detect a significant reduction in PPH following the antenatal distribution of misoprostol. The study was registered with Pan-African Clinical Trials Network (PACTR201303000459148, on 19/11/2012).Item Factors associated with utilization of maternal health services by female sex workers in Uganda: a Health facility based survey(Research Square, 2019) Bukenya, Justine; Barrett, Geraldine; Kaharuza, Frank; Guwatudde, David; Wanyenze, Rhoda K.Introduction Female sex workers (FSWs) are marginalized due to social rejection and stigma, especially in countries where the practice is illegal. Many FSWs are mothers but little is known about their utilization of maternal services. This study investigated the determinants of utilization of maternal services by FSWs in Uganda. Methods FSWs were recruited from the “Most at-Risk Initiative” clinics in Uganda. We analyzed data for 318 FSWs who had given birth within two years of the study to estimate the proportion of FSWs who used all the components of maternal services (antenatal, facility-based delivery and postnatal). The outcome variable (utilization of maternal services) was categorized as “recommended package” if the women received all the three services, “moderate” if they received any two and “limited/none” if they received only one or none of the services. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to quantify the impact of pregnancy planning and other factors on the utilization of maternal services. Results Overall, 25.2% (80) utilized all the three services in the recommended package of maternal services, 47.5% (151) had moderate utilization, while 27.3% (87) utilized limited or no services. Factors that influenced utilization of the recommended package compared to “limited/none” use were having a planned pregnancy (adjusted RRR (aRR) = 3.87; 95% CI = 1.40-10.67), knowing four as the minimum number of ANC visits (aRR = 2.43; 95% CI = 1.22-4.87), never having been criminalized for sex work (aRR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.30-4.74) and not believing that health providers deny services to FSWs believing (aRR = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.37-5.07). Conclusion These findings confirm the relevance of pregnancy planning in the utilization of maternal services among FSWs. However, maternal health service utilization was generally low and interventions to reduce barriers including inadequate knowledge of ANC visits, internal stigma and criminalization of sex work are required. These are necessary steps in the move towards universal health coverage.Item My Partner wants a child: A cross-sectional study of the determinants of the desire for children among mutually disclosed sero-discordant couples receiving care in Uganda(BMC Public Health, 2010) Beyeza-Kashesya, Jolly; Ekstrom, Anna Mia; Kaharuza, Frank; Mirembe, Florence; Neema, Stella; Kulane, AsliThe percentages of couples in HIV sero-discordant relationships range from 5 to 31% in the various countries of Africa. Given the importance of procreation and the lack of assisted reproduction to avoid partner transmission, members of these couples are faced with a serious dilemma even after the challenge of disclosing their HIV status to their spouses. Identifying the determinants of the decision to have children among sero-discordant couples will help in setting reproductive intervention priorities in resource-poor countries. We conducted a survey among 114 mutually disclosed sero-discordant couples (228 individuals) receiving HIV care at four centres in Greater Kampala, between June and December 2007. The data we collected was classified according to whether the man or the woman was HIV-positive. We carried out multivariate logistic regression modelling to determine factors (age, gender, and the influences of relatives and of health workers, ART knowledge, and disclosure) that are independently associated with a desire for children.Item No differences in clinical outcomes with the addition of viral load testing to CD4 cell count monitoring among HIV infected participants receiving ART in rural Uganda: Long-term results from the Home Based AIDS Care Project(BMC Public Health, 2015) Okoboi, Stephen; Ekwaru, Paul John; Campbell, James D.; Egessa, Aggrey; King, Racheal; Bakanda, Celestin; Muramuzi, Emmy; Kaharuza, Frank; Malamba, Samuel; Moore, David M.We compared clinical outcomes among HIV-infected participants receiving ART who were randomized to viral load (VL) and CD4 cell count monitoring in comparison to CD4 cell count monitoring alone in Tororo, Uganda. Methods: Beginning in May 2003, participants with CD4 cell counts <250 cells/μL or WHO stage 3 or 4 disease were randomized to clinical monitoring alone, clinical monitoring plus quarterly CD4 cell counts (CD4-only); or clinical monitoring, quarterly CD4 cell counts and quarterly VL testing (CD4-VL). In 2007, individuals in clinical monitoring arm were re-randomized to the other two arms and all participants were followed until March 31, 2009. We used Cox Proportional Hazard models to determine if study arm was independently associated with the development of opportunistic infections (OIs) or death. Results: We randomized 1211 participants to the three original study arms and 331 surviving participants in the clinical monitoring arm were re-randomized to the CD4-VL and CD4 only arms. At enrolment the median age was 38 years and the median CD4 cell count was 134 cells/μL. Over a median of 5.2 years of follow-up, 37 deaths and 35 new OIs occurred in the VL-CD4 arm patients, 39 deaths and 42 new OIs occurred in CD4-only patients. We did not observe an association between monitoring arm and new OIs or death (AHR =1.19 for CD4-only vs. CD4-VL; 95 % CI 0.82–1.73). Conclusion: We found no differences in clinical outcomes associated with the addition of quarterly VL monitoring to quarterly CD4 cell count monitoring.Item “Not a Boy, Not a Child”: A Qualitative Study on Young People’s Views on Childbearing in Uganda(African journal of reproductive health, 2010) Beyeza-Kashesya, Jolly; Neema, Stella; Ekstrom, Anna Mia; Kaharuza, Frank; Mirembe, Florence; Kulane, AsliTo understand reasons for persistent high fertility rate, we explored perceptions and influences of fertility motivation among young people from Uganda. Qualitative inquiry was used, data were organised using NVivo 2 package and latent content analysis performed. Major themes that emerged on factors that entrench high fertility included “Sustenance of ‘men’s blood’ through the male child”; “poverty, joblessness and child bearing”, and “other socio-cultural issues: religion, kin, elders and child bearing”. Factors that reduce fertility included “perception on women emancipation, job security and couple fertility communication”. Young peoples’ views on motivation for childbearing in Uganda are embedded in cultural norms and linked strongly to patriarchy, social respectability and women’s sustenance. Innovative cultural practices and programs that increase women’s social respectability such as emphasis that a girl can be heir and inherit her father’s property are needed to reduce sonpreference and fertility rates in the younger generation (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[1]:71-81).Item To use or not to use a condom: A prospective cohort study comparing contraceptive practices among HIV-infected and HIV-negative youth in Uganda(BMC Infectious Diseases, 2011) Beyeza-Kashesya, Jolly; Kaharuza, Frank; Ekström, Anna Mia; Neema, Stella; Kulane, Asli; Mirembe, FlorenceUnwanted pregnancy and HIV infection are issues of significant concern to young people. Limited data exists on contraceptive decision-making and practices among HIV-infected and HIV-negative young people in low resource settings with generalized HIV epidemics. From July 2007 until April 2009, we recruited, and followed up over a one year period, a cohort of 501 HIV-negative and 276 HIV-infected young women and men aged 15-24 years residing in Kampala and Wakiso districts. We compared contraceptive use among HIV-infected and HIV-negative young people and assessed factors associated with contraceptive decision-making and use, using multivariate logistic regression modelling to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).