Browsing by Author "Lochoro, Peter"

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    The burden of drug resistant tuberculosis in a predominantly nomadic population in Uganda: a mixed methods study
    (BMC Infectious Diseases, 2021) Nakafeero Simbwa, Brenda; Katamba, Achilles; Katana, Elizabeth B.; Laker, Eva A. O.; Nabatanzi, Sandra; Sendaula, Emmanuel; Opio, Denis; Ictho, Jerry; Lochoro, Peter; Karamagi, Charles A.; Kalyango, Joan N.; Worodria, William
    Emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) has aggravated the tuberculosis (TB) public health burden worldwide and especially in low income settings. We present findings from a predominantly nomadic population in Karamoja, Uganda with a high-TB burden (3500 new cases annually) and sought to determine the prevalence, patterns, factors associated with DR-TB. Methods: We used mixed methods of data collection. We enrolled 6890 participants who were treated for tuberculosis in a programmatic setting between January 2015 and April 2018. A cross sectional study and a matched case control study with conditional logistic regression and robust standard errors respectively were used to the determine prevalence and factors associated with DR-TB. The qualitative methods included focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Results: The overall prevalence of DR-TB was 41/6890 (0.6%) with 4/64,197 (0.1%) among the new and 37/2693 (1.4%) among the previously treated TB patients respectively. The drug resistance patterns observed in the region were mainly rifampicin mono resistant (68.3%) and Multi Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (31.7%). Factors independently associated with DR-TB were previous TB treatment, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 13.070 (95%CI 1.552–110.135) and drug stock-outs aOR 0.027 (95%CI 0.002–0.364). The nomadic lifestyle, substance use, congested homesteads and poor health worker attitudes were a great challenge to effective treatment of TB. Conclusion: Despite having the highest national TB incidence, Karamoja still has a low DR-TB prevalence. Previous TB treatment and drug stock outs were associated with DR-TB. Regular supply of anti TB medications and health education may help to stem the burden of TB disease in this nomadic population.
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    The Ugandan Health Systems Reforms: miracle or mirage?
    (2006) Yates, Rob; Tashobya, Christine Kirunga; Ssengooba, Freddie; Murindwa, Grace; Lochoro, Peter; Bataringaya, Juliet; Nazerali, Hanif; Omaswa, Francis
    Poor health indicators in the 1990s prompted the Government of Uganda and development partners to embark, at the turn of the century, on an extensive programme of health systems reforms to improve sector performance. With only a modest increase in resources, these reforms have resulted in large increases in outputs for ambulatory services. Out-patient attendances and immunisation rates have doubled. Furthermore, the growth in consumption of these services appears to be highest for the poorest socio-economic groups. However, statistics for key in-patient services, most noticeably maternity services, remain virtually unchanged. This chapter attempts to assess the significance of these changes. Is it a miracle of improved efficiency or a mirage unlikely to lead to improved health outcomes? We try to identify the key reforms within health and across government, which may be responsible for the changes in output performance. A number of supply side reforms that have have increased the availability of essential inputs are highlighted. In addition, a major demand side policy (abolishing user fees) had a significant impact on the consumption of services. We conclude that increased utilisation of ambulatory services does signify improvements in consumer welfare and therefore health sector performance. However, stagnant maternity outputs indicate that key in-patient services are still not meeting the expectations of the population. Only reliable outcome data will resolve the debate about the significance of the changes in output indicators. Further research will also be required to disentangle the relative impact of the different components of the reforms.