Browsing by Author "Matovu, Fred"

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    Effects and costs of a multi-component menstrualhealth intervention (MENISCUS) on mental health problems, educational performance, and menstrual health in Ugandan secondary schools: an open-label, school-based, cluster-randomised controlled trial
    (The Lancet Global Health, 2025) Kate, Andrews Nelson; Stephen, Lagony; Kansiime, Catherine; Torondel, Belen; Clare, Tanton; Ndekezi, Denis; Mugenyi, Levicatus; Batuusa, Ratifah; Baleke, Christopher; Katherine, A. Thomas; Ssesanga, Titus; Bakanoma, Robert; Namirembe, Prossy; Tumuhimbise, Aggrey; Nanyonga, Beatrice; Nambi, Rodah; Obicho, Edward; Ssenyondwa, Denis; Bucci, Daria; Sophie, Belfield; Ocen, Agnes Akech; Nakalema, Shamirah; Alezuyo, Connie; Matovu, Fred; Neema, Stella; Kyegombe, Nambusi; Giulia, Greco; John, Jerrim; Chris, Bonell; Janet, A. Seeley; Helen A. Weiss
    Background Menstrual health is a human rights issue, affecting mental health, wellbeing, and education. We assessed the effectiveness and costs of a school-based multi-component menstrual health intervention (“MENISCUS”) to improve mental health problems and educational performance. Methods We conducted a cluster-randomised trial in 60 Ugandan secondary schools, randomised 1:1 to the intervention or control condition (printed government menstrual health materials). The intervention included creating action groups, strengthening teacher-delivered puberty education, distributing menstrual kits, supporting student-led drama skits, providing pain-management strategies, and improving school water and sanitation facilities. Primary outcomes were mental health problems using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) Total Difficulties Score and independently-assessed educational performance. Secondary outcomes included menstrual knowledge, attitudes, practices, and self-efficacy, school attendance, confidence, symptomatic urinary tract infections, and quality of life in females, plus knowledge and attitudes in males. We estimated intention-to-treat intervention effects using mixed-effects models accounting for school clustering and adjusted for randomisation strata and baseline school-level means of outcomes. Registration: ISRCTN45461276. Findings Between 21 March and 5 July 2022, 3841 female students participated in baseline assessments (89.7% of those eligible) and between 5 June and 22 August 2023, 3356 participated in endline assessments. At endline, there was no evidence of a difference in mental health problems (mean SDQ score: 10.8 vs 10.7 in intervention vs control arms; adjusted mean difference [aMD] 0.05, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.50) or educational performance (mean z-score: 0.20 vs 0.12; aMD 0.05, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.20). There was strong evidence for effects on menstrual health-related outcomes. Interpretation Improving multiple dimensions of menstrual health in secondary schools in Uganda is feasible and important for health and human rights but is not sufficient to improve mental health or educational performance over one year.
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    Ill-health and labour market outcomes in Uganda
    (The African Economic Research Consortium, 2009) Matovu, Fred; Birungi, Patrick; Sebaggala, Richard
    The role health plays in reducing poverty and economic development particularly in developing countries is undisputable in the economic literature (Audibert, 2009) Health of the population is a key factor for labor productivity, poverty reduction and overall economic development. Healthier workers are physically and mentally more energetic and robust; productive and tend to earn higher wages; and they are also less likely to be absent from work because of illness (or illness in their family) (Bloom et al, 2004). Most recently, the links between population health and economic productivity have become a significant policy concern (Tompa, 2002). In Uganda, although the national health indicators look good, ill health is a growing problem in both rural and urban areas, particularly among the poor. The improvement health indicators have been largely brought about by efficiency gains rather than big increases in overall health sector resource envelope. Therefore, there is feeling among policy makers and researchers that if spending in the health sector is increased, the 75% preventable disease burden can be reduced enormously.
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    Parenting Initiatives in Uganda Learning from UZAZI AVSI Parenting Model and Related Initiatives
    (Fountain Publishers, 2021) Walakira, Eddy J.; Matovu, Fred; Kyamulabi, Agnes; Biribonwa Agaba, Alfred; Nyeko, John Paul; Luwangula, Ronald
    This book provides a national context and state of parenting in Uganda. It introduces the concept of parenting and helps the reader to gain an understanding of the attributes and dimensions that make parenting either successful on one hand or ineffective on the other. The book further sheds light on the evolving role of parents in the Ugandan context, identifies selected parenting interventions and in particular, pays greater attention to the UZAZI AVSI Parenting Model. UZAZI is positive parenting emphasizing authoritative nurturing of children. The presentation of the UZAZI AVSI Parenting Model gives the reader an opportunity to understand the effectiveness of the model based on its evaluation using rigorous scientific methods. The book concludes by making recommendations to improve research, policy and programming in the field of parenting within the context of families and children.