Browsing by Author "Muwema, Mercy"

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    Factors that Influence Transition to Advanced Roles by RN to BSN Nurses, in three Selected Hospitals of Central-Uganda
    (BMC nursing, 2019-05-06) Asiimwe, John Baptist; Muwema, Mercy; Drake, Karen
    Despite the global rise in the number of nurses upgrading from Registered Nursing (RN) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), studies have indicated that successful role transition is difficult once the nurses return to their previous workplaces. Guided by the Transitional Theory, this study investigates the factors that influence the transition from basic to advanced roles among RN to BSN nurses in Uganda, Africa. Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. Using convenience sampling, fifty-one (51) RN to BSN nurses completed the semi-structured questionnaires. All the study participants (100%) described themselves as having transitioned from RN to BSN role. In bivariate linear regression, personal factors that were found to predict successful role transition included holding a managerial role, being aware and prepared for the role transition, and positive role transition experiences. Role transition motivators that predicted successful role transition included: job promotion, internal desire for selfdevelopment, and career development. One community factor – that is the support of doctors/physicians during the RN to BSN transition – predicted unsuccessful role transition. Societal factors deterring successful role transition included lack of support from other colleagues and the perception that BSN learning was not applicable to the RN clinical setting. In multivariate linear regression, only sub-scales of personal factors such as advanced skills mastery and positive personal experiences predicted successful role transition. The study suggests that personal factors influence successful role transition more than external factors
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    Gender diference in the incidence of malaria diagnosed at public health facilities in Uganda
    (Malaria Journal, 2022) Okiring, Jafer; Adrienne, Epstein; Namuganga, Jane F.; Kamya, Emmanuel V.; Nabende, Isaiah; Nassali, Martha; Sserwanga, Asadu; Gonahasa, Samuel; Muwema, Mercy; Kiwuwa, M.; Staedke, Sarah G.; Kamya, Moses R.; Nankabirwa, Joaniter I.; Jessica, Briggs; Prasanna, Jagannathan; Grant, Dorsey
    Routine malaria surveillance data in Africa primarily come from public health facilities reporting to national health management information systems. Although information on gender is routinely collected from patients presenting to these health facilities, stratification of malaria surveillance data by gender is rarely done. This study evaluated gender difference among patients diagnosed with parasitological confirmed malaria at public health facilities in Uganda. Methods This study utilized individual level patient data collected from January 2020 through April 2021 at 12 public health facilities in Uganda and cross-sectional surveys conducted in target areas around these facilities in April 2021. Associations between gender and the incidence of malaria and non-malarial visits captured at the health facilities from patients residing within the target areas were estimated using poisson regression models controlling for seasonality. Associations between gender and data on health-seeking behaviour from the cross-sectional surveys were estimated using poisson regression models controlling for seasonality. Results Overall, incidence of malaria diagnosed per 1000 person years was 735 among females and 449 among males (IRR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.68–1.77, p < 0.001), with larger differences among those 15–39 years (IRR = 2.46, 95% CI 2.34–2.58, p < 0.001) and over 39 years (IRR = 2.26, 95% CI 2.05–2.50, p < 0.001) compared to those under 15 years (IRR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.41–1.50, p < 0.001). Female gender was also associated with a higher incidence of visits where malaria was not suspected (IRR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.71–1.83, p < 0.001), with a similar pattern across age strata. These associations were consistent across the 12 individual health centres. From the cross-sectional surveys, females were more likely than males to report fever in the past 2 weeks and seek care at the local health centre (7.5% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.001) with these associations significant for those 15–39 years (RR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.17–5.31, p = 0.018) and over 39 years (RR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.00–6.54, p = 0.049). Conclusions Females disproportionately contribute to the burden of malaria diagnosed at public health facilities in Uganda, especially once they reach childbearing age. Contributing factors included more frequent visits to these facilities independent of malaria and a higher reported risk of seeking care at these facilities for febrile illnesses.
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    Perinatal care in Western Uganda: Prevalence and factors associated with appropriate care among women attending three district hospitals
    (PloS one, 2022) Muwema, Mercy; Kaye, Dan K.; Edwards, Grace; Nalwadda, Gorrette; Nangendo, Joanita; Okiring, Jaffer; Mwanja, Wilson; Ekong, Elizabeth N.; Kalyango, Joan N.; Nankabirwa, Joaniter I.
    Perinatal mortality remains high globally and remains an important indicator of the quality of a health care system. To reduce this mortality, it is important to provide the recommended care during the perinatal period. We assessed the prevalence and factors associated with appropriate perinatal care (antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum) in Bunyoro region, Uganda. Results from this study provide valuable information on the perinatal care services and highlight areas of improvement for better perinatal outcomes. Methods A cross sectional survey was conducted among postpartum mothers attending care at three district hospitals in Bunyoro. Following consent, a questionnaire was administered to capture the participants’ demographics and data on care received was extracted from their antenatal, labour, delivery, and postpartum records using a pre-tested structured tool. The care received by women was assessed against the standard protocol established by World Health Organization (WHO). Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to assess factors associated with appropriate postpartum care. Results A total of 872 mothers receiving care at the participating hospitals between March and June 2020 were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the mothers was 25 years (SD = 5.95). None of the mothers received appropriate antenatal or intrapartum care, and only 3.8% of the participants received appropriate postpartum care. Factors significantly associated with appropriate postpartum care included mothers being >35 years of age (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 11.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8–51.4) and parity, with low parity (2–3) and multiparous (>3) mothers less likely to receive appropriate care than prime gravidas (aPR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.9 and aPR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.1–0.8 respectively). Conclusions Antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care received by mothers in this region remains below the standard recommended by WHO, and innovative strategies across the continuum of perinatal care need to be devised to prevent mortality among the mothers. The quality of care also needs to be balanced for all mothers irrespective of the age and parity.
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    Prevalence, associated factors and perspectives of HIV testing among men in Uganda
    (PLoS ONE, 2020) Nangendo, Joanita; Katahoire, Anne R.; Armstrong-Hough, Mari; Kabami, Jane; Odei Obeng-Amoako, Gloria; Muwema, Mercy; Semitala, Fred C.; Karamagi, Charles A.; Wanyenze, Rhoda K.; Kamya, Moses R.; Kalyango, Joan N.
    Despite overall increase in HIV testing, more men than women remain untested. In 2018, 92% of Ugandan women but only 67% of men had tested for HIV. Understanding men’s needs and concerns for testing could guide delivery of HIV testing services (HTS) to them. We assessed the prevalence of testing, associated factors and men’s perspectives on HIV testing in urban and peri-urban communities in Central Uganda. Methods and findings We conducted a parallel-convergent mixed-methods study among men in Kampala and Mpigi districts from August to September 2018. Using two-stage sampling, we selected 1340 men from Mpigi. We administered a structured questionnaire to collect data on HIV testing history, socio-demographics, self-reported HIV risk-related behaviors, barriers and facilitators to HIV testing. We also conducted 10 focus-groups with men from both districts to learn their perspectives on HIV testing. We used modified Poisson regression to assess factors associated with HIV testing and inductive thematic analysis to identify barriers and facilitators. Though 84.0% of men reported having tested for HIV, only 65.7% had tested in the past 12-months despite nearly all (96.7%) engaging in at least one HIV risk-related behavior. Men were more likely to have tested if aged 25–49 years, Catholic, with secondary or higher education and circumcised. Being married was associated with ever-testing while being widowed or divorced was associated with testing in past 12-months.