Browsing by Author "Kankya, C."

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    Myths, perceptions knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) linked to mycobacterial infection management among the pastoralist communities of Uganda
    (Advance Tropical Medicine and Public Health International, 2011) Kankya, C.; Mugisha, A.; Muwonge, A.; Skjerve, E.; Kyomugisha, E.; Oloya, J.
    The present study was conducted to assess community myths, perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) of the pastoral farmers and explore mycobacterial infection management practices. Both structured questionnaire survey and participatory rural appraisal approaches were used. This study revealed that mycobacterial infection especially tuberculosis as referred to in vernacular as akakonko, akasubba or akafuba because of the persistent cough and other respiratory symptoms. Knowledge attitudes and practices: congestion under extended family homes, sharing of household utensils, consumption of untreated milk and drinking untreated water as means of mycobacterial infections spread to humans. Perceptions: sharing the drinking straws and cigarette sticks. Community myths: witchcraft, family history and genetic heritability. Mycobacterial infections and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) were closely linked and these infections issued stigmatisation among the community members. Mycobacterial infection management methods: Sixty five percent (65 %) of the respondents visited traditional healers and used local herbs while 35% visited health centres and used modern medicines. The multivariate model identified sex, marital status, and age influencing the choice of managing mycobacterial infections. Sustainable community intervention require a thorough understanding of traditional indigenous knowledge, attitudes, practices myths, beliefs and perceptions in designing disease prevention and control strategies at the human- environment-animal interface in the pastoral ecosystems of Uganda.
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    The role of social behavior in mycobacterial infection management: A case study of pastoral communities of Uganda
    (Advance Tropical Medicine and Public Health International, 2012) Kankya, C.; Muwonge, A.; Munyeme, M.; Skjerve, E.; Oloya, J.; Rich, R. M.
    In sub-Saharan African arid pastoral regions, the socio-behavioral indigenous knowledge mystical systems associated with actions and response by communities to mycobacterial infections in the pastoral ecosystems of Uganda remains largely unknown in Uganda and across the African continent. These drivers are important as they often magnify the problems linked to co-infection with HIV/AIDS. This study sought to determine the socio-behavioral, indigenous knowledge mystical systems and other factors associated with mycobacterial infections and their management among the pastoralist communities. Socio-demographic, environmental, and household-level behavioral and attitudinal variables data was collected through a cross sectional questionnaire-based study administered to a total of 301 pastoralists from Mubende and Nakasongola pastoral districts of Uganda. In addition, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. Consumption of raw and half cooked animals’ products, drinking untreated water, and smoking as well as sharing of cigarette sticks and drinking straws, coughing and spitting, and excessive alcoholism were the socio-behaviors perceived to expose the pastoralist communities to mycobacterial infections. Stigmatization was related to chronic illness and faith-based perceptions facilitated mycobacterial infection transmission. Involvement in the risky production actions and social livelihood ventures such as charcoal production are perceived as being responsible for mycobacterial infection transmission. High degree of stigmatization, discrimination (S&D) and abandonment of the patients suffering from mycobacterial infections among the pastoralist communities have been revealed. Socio-consumption behaviors were perceived the main routes for acquisition of mycobacterial infections. Pastoralist communities perceived that livestock act as sources of mycobacterial infections and therefore pose a health threat to the humans living at the human-animal interface.