Browsing by Author "Nabiwemba, Elizabeth"

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    Alcohol Use during Pregnancy in Postconflict Northern Uganda: Pregnant Women’s Experiences and Provider Perceptions
    (Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy, 2021) Agiresaasi, Apophia; Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona; Nabiwemba, Elizabeth; Kiguli, Juliet; Maina, Gakenia Wamuyu; Nassanga, Goretti
    Alcohol use during pregnancy has been associated with several birth defects and developmental disabilities generally known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Contextual in-depth understanding on why women drink while pregnant is scarce. For this reason, we explored pregnant women’s experiences, knowledge, attitudes as well as provider perceptions regarding prenatal alcohol consumption to inform interventions meant to address alcohol-exposed pregnancies in post-conflict settings.In the months of May and June 2019, 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant mothers who reported maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. In addition 30 Key informant interviews were carried out with health workers providing Antenatal Care services (ANC) in health facilities in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in Northern Uganda. Data was recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic content analysis.Women reported diverse views regarding maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. Whereas some felt it was favourable, others had misgivings about it. There was marked variability in knowledge on dangers of drinking during pregnancy. In this study, women reported that they found themselves in alluring situations that predisposed them to drinking alcohol. These included brewing alcohol as a source of livelihood, pregnancy-induced craving for alcohol, and participation in cultural festivities that are characterised by eating and drinking alcohol. Nonetheless, women who consume alcohol during pregnancy were not held in high esteem in the Acholi communities. Various prevention interventions reportedly existed in communities to address alcohol use during pregnancy including ANC health education, public debates, radio talk shows, community health worker group and individual counselling, and local council by laws.Pregnant mothers in post-conflict northern Uganda regard alcohol as a remedy to some of the social, economic and health challenges they face. Hence they continue drinking even during pregnancy because of the existing socio-cultural norms that promote it. The findings of this study demonstrate a need for sensitising communities in which pregnant women live so they can provide a supportive environment for mothers to abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Health care providers should ensure pregnant women consistently receive accurate and honest messages on the dangers of drinking during pregnancy so they can make informed decisions.
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    Factors associated with family planning use among refugee and host populations in Adjumani district, West Nile, Uganda: a comparative study
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2024-03-11) Achola, Roselline; Atuyambe, Lynn; Nabiwemba, Elizabeth; Fredrick, Makumbi; Orach, Christopher Garimoi
    Uganda currently hosts an estimated 1.5 million refugees. The refugees have challenges in accessing family planning (FP) services in the host country. The study aimed to investigate factors associated with FP use among host and refugee populations in Adjumani district, Uganda. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2021 in three refugee settlements and their host communities in Adjumani district. A total of 1,310 respondents, (664 refugees and 646 host) were randomly selected using multistage cluster sampling and interviewed. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using STATA V.15. Descriptive and Multivariate analysis performed. We found that modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) was 30.2% (32.2% for host and 28.2% for refugees). Multivariate analysis showed that women who live singly (AOR = 2.25, 95%, CI: 1.56 -3.84), completed primary education [AOR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.27-2.16], acquired skills [AOR = 2.28, 95% CI: 2.11-2.47], have the desire for another child [AOR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.45- 9.60], have stayed in the study area between 3-5 years [AOR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.46-3.42] were statistically significantly associated with FP use among both refugee and host populations. The key barrier to FP use by host was harassment of women and separation/divorce for not consulting the family members. Whereas amongst the refugees, they do not want to use FP methods. Our findings revealed low FP use amongst both populations in Adjumani district. The main factors associated with FP use amongst refugee populations included marital status, level of education, type of occupation, and duration of stay in the study area whereas amongst the host is the marital status. Main reasons for not using FP methods included fear of side effects by hosts and not wanting to use FP by refugees. There is need to sensitize both communities about the benefits of FP at community level.
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    Knowledge, sources and use of family planning methods among women aged 15-49 years in Uganda: a cross-sectional study
    (Pan African Medical Journal, 2016) Alege, Stephen G.; Matovu, Joseph K. B.; Ssensalire, Simon; Nabiwemba, Elizabeth
    Lack of knowledge of where to obtain correct family planning (FP) information and methods can be a critical barrier to eventual uptake of FP services. We assessed knowledge, sources and use of FP methods among women of reproductive age in rural Uganda. Methods: This secondary analysis uses data from a larger cross-sectional study conducted to measure changes in perceptions towards long-term and reversible contraceptive use among 2,033 women of reproductive age (15-49years) resident in 34 districts of Uganda. Both users and nonusers of FP methods were interviewed. Data were analyzed using STATA statistical software, version 12. Results: Majority of the women were less than 30 years of age (64.3%). Nearly three-quarters were married (73.1%), 51.1% had primary education and more than half (57%) were engaged in employment. Knowledge of FP methods was universal (98.1%). Clinic providers (60.4%), friends (56.9%) and the media (51.3%) were the most trusted sources of contraceptive information. Government (27.6%) and private (21.1%) health facilities were the main sources of modern FP methods. Sixty two per cent of women reported current use of any FP method. Among non-users of FP, injectables (50.4%), implants (22.8%) and pills (20.2%) were the most preferred FP methods. Conclusion: Our findings show that knowledge of FP methods is almost universal and that six in ten women use any FP method. Clinic providers, friends and the media are the most trusted sources of FP information. Government and private health facilities are the main sources of FP services.
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    Various Forms of Alcohol Use and their Predictors among Pregnant Women in Post Conflict Northern Uganda: A Cross Sectional Study
    (Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy, 2021) Agiresaasi, Apophia; Nassanga, Goretti; Maina, Gakenia Wamuyu; Kiguli, Juliet; Nabiwemba, Elizabeth; Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona
    Alcohol use during pregnancy has been associated with several births and developmental disorders. This study set out to determine the various forms of alcohol consumption among pregnant women and their predictors in post conflict Northern Uganda.In the months of May to June 2019, we conducted a cross sectional study among 420 pregnant women seeking antenatal care services at both Government and private health facilities in Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in Northern Uganda. We asked them about consumption of various alcoholic beverages. A three stage stratified cluster sampling approach was used and study participants randomly selected from health facilities of interest. We used descriptive statistics to estimate the prevalence of various forms of alcohol use. The chi- square test and logistic regression were used to assess associations of alcohol use among respondents and their socio - demographic and other characteristics.Overall 99 women (23.6%) reported current alcohol use (any amount). Up to 11% (N = 11) of all drinkers were identified by the AUDIT to be women with problem drinking behavior, 8% (N = 8) of women reported hazardous drinking and only four (4%) were women with active alcohol dependent behavior. Predictors of maternal alcohol use included pre-pregnancy alcohol consumption, knowledge, attitude, education level, parity and residence.This study indicates that alcohol use (any mount) during pregnancy is high while alcohol dependence, problematic and hazardous drinking is low. Knowledge and attitude were important predictors of alcohol use. While alleviating alcohol use, development partners and relevant government departments should consider communication and other interventions that increase knowledge and risk perception on maternal drinking. Other risk factors that predict maternal drinking such as prior alcohol use, residence and parity should be mitigated or eliminated.