Browsing by Author "Kiwuwa-Muyingo, Sylvia"

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    Effect of women’s intra-household bargaining power on postnatal and infant healthcare in rural Uganda–Results from a cross sectional survey in Kyenjojo district
    (Midwifery, 2020) Kadengye, Damazo T.; Atahigwa, Catherine; Kampire, Pamela; Mucunguzi, Stephen; Kemigisha, Elizabeth; Nyakato, Viola N.; Kiwuwa-Muyingo, Sylvia
    Global estimates by the United Nations inter-agency group for child mortality show that as of 2017, under-five mortality rate had decreased by 58%, from an estimated rate of 93 deaths per 10 0 0 live births in 1990 to 39 deaths per 10 0 0 live births. In the same period, Uganda achieved noticeable progress with the risk of a child dying before five years of age decreasing by 71% from 187 to 49 deaths per 10 0 0 live births ( UNICEF Data, 2019 ; You et al., 2015 ), and under five mortality dropped from 177 to 64 per 10 0 0 live births ( Uganda Bureau of Statistics [UBOS] and ICF Interna- tional, 2017 ). Despite significant improvements, utilization of ma- ternal and child healthcare services still remains a major area of concern with substantial disparities amongst women living in de- veloping countries, most especially those in the rural areas with unacceptably low levels of access to services ( Beegle et al., 2001 ; World Health Organisation [WHO], 2016 ). Although utilization of antenatal care services (ANC) is being promoted through interven- tions to enhance attendance and skilled health care at birth, less attention has been given to postnatal care in preventing complica- tions and ensuring better maternal and child health care.
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    Genetic Diversity of Bundibugyo Ebolavirus from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
    (bioRxiv, 2021) Omara, Isaac Emmanuel; Kiwuwa-Muyingo, Sylvia; Balinandi, Stephen; Nyakarahuka, Luke; Kiconco, Jocelyn; Kayiwa, John Timothy; Mboowa, Gerald; Jjingo, Daudi; Lutwama, Julius J.
    The Ebolavirus is one of the deadliest viral pathogens which was first discovered in the year 1976 during two consecutive outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. Six known strains have been documented. The Bundibugyo Ebolavirus in particular first emerged in the year 2007 in Uganda. This outbreak was constituted with 116 human cases and 39 laboratory confirmed deaths. After 5 years, it re-emerged and caused an epidemic for the first time in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the year 2012 as reported by the WHO. Here, 36 human cases with 13 laboratory confirmed deaths were registered. Despite several research studies conducted in the past, there is still scarcity of knowledge available on the genetic diversity of Bundibugyo Ebolavirus. We undertook a research project to provide insights into the unique variants of Bundibugyo Ebolavirus that circulated in the two epidemics that occurred in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
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    HIV-1 superinfection can occur in the presence of broadly neutralizing antibodies
    (Vaccine, 2018) Serwanga, Jennifer; Ssemwanga, Deogratius; Muganga, Michael; Nakiboneka, Ritah; Nakubulwa, Susan; Kiwuwa-Muyingo, Sylvia; Morris, Lynn; Redd, Andrew D.; Quinn, Thomas C.; Kaleebu, Pontiano
    Superinfection of individuals already infected with HIV-1 suggests that pre-existing immune responses may not adequately protect against re-infection. We assessed high-risk female sex workers initially infected with HIV-1 clades A, D or A/D recombinants, to determine if HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies were lacking prior to superinfection. Methods: Six superinfected female sex workers previously stratified by HIV-1 high-risk behavior, infecting virus clade and volunteer CD4 counts were evaluated at baseline (n = 5) and at 350 days post-superinfection (n = 6); one superinfected volunteer lacked pre-superinfection plasma. Retrospective plasmas were assessed for neutralization of a multi-clade panel of 12 HIV-1 viruses before superinfection, and then at quarterly intervals thereafter. Similarly stratified singly infected female sex workers were correspondingly assessed at baseline (n = 19) and 350 days after superinfection (n = 24). Neutralization of at least 50% of the 12 viruses (broad neutralization), and geometric means of the neutralization titers (IC50) were compared before and after superinfection; and were correlated with the volunteer HIV-1 superinfection status, CD4 counts, and pseudovirus clade. Results: Preexisting broad neutralization occurred in 80% (4/5) of the superinfected subjects with no further broadening by 350 days after superinfection. In one of the five subjects, HIV-1 superinfection occurred when broad neutralization was lacking; with subsequent broadening of neutralizing antibodies occuring within 9 months and plateauing by 30 months after detection of superinfection. Clade B and C pseudoviruses were more sensitive to neutralization (13; [87%]); and (12; [80%]) than the locally circulating clades A (10; [67%]) and D (6; [40%]), respectively (p = 0.025). Low antibody titers correlated with clade D viruses and with >500 CD4 T cell counts, but not with the superinfection status. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that HIV-1 superinfection can occur both in the presence, and in the absence of broadly neutralizing antibodies.