Browsing by Author "Nakku, Doreen"

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    The Burden Of Chronic Rhinosinusitis And Its Effect On Quality Of Life Among Patients Re-Attending An Otolaryngology Clinic In South Western Uganda
    (BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders, 2018) Nyaiteera, Victoria; Nakku, Doreen; Nakasagga, Esther; Llovet, Evelyn; Kakande, Elijah; Nakalema, Gladys; Byaruhanga, Richard; Bajunirwe, Francis
    Worldwide, the burden of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is variable, but not known in Uganda. CRS has significant negative impact on quality of life (QOL) and as such QOL scores should guide adjustments in treatment strategies. However, most of these studies have been done in the west. Our hypothesis was that QOL scores of the majority of CRS patients in low- to- middle income countries are poorer than those among patients without CRS. The aim of this study was to determine the burden of CRS among patients re-attending the Otolaryngology clinic and whether CRS is related to poor QOL.A cross sectional study was conducted at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Otolaryngology clinic. One hundred and twenty-six adult re-attendees were consecutively recruited. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and the Sinonasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT 22) questionnaire measured QOL.The proportion of re-attendees with CRS was 39.0% (95% CI 30–48%). Majority of CRS patients had poor quality of life scores compared to non-CRS (88% versus 20% p < 01). The poor quality of life scores on the SNOT 22 were almost solely as a result of the functional, physical and psychological aspects unique to CRS.CRS is highly prevalent among re-attendees of an Otolaryngology clinic at a hospital in resource limited settings and has a significant negative impact on the QOL of these patients.
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    A case control study of the factors associated with occurrence of aerodigestive foreign bodies in children in a regional referral hospital in South Western Uganda
    (BMC Ear Nose Throat Disord, 2016) Nakku, Doreen; Byaruhanga, Richard; Bajunirwe, Francis; Kyamwanga, Imelda T.
    Aerodigestive foreign bodies (ADFB) in children are a common emergency in ENT clinics globally. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and common types of ADFB’s presenting to a referral hospital in South Western Uganda, and to review clinical presentation and factors that influence their occurrence among children under 12 years of age.
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    Exploring Community Knowledge on Hearing Loss and Attitudes Towards Persons with Hearing Loss in Southwestern Uganda
    (East African Journal of Health and Science, 2025) Nakku, Doreen; Seguya, Amina; Nakalema, Gladys; Nyaiteera, Victoria; Kyobe, Kiwanuka Joseph; Kakande, Elijah
    The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for community accessibility of ear and hearing health services. The success of such services is influenced by a community’s under-standing of hearing loss causes and attitudes towards persons with hearing loss (PWHL). A cross-sectional mixed methods study was conducted in a local community in southwestern Uganda aimed at assessing knowledge on causes of hearing loss (HL) and attitudes towards PWHL using questionnaires and Focus group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data was analyzed using STATA and reported as frequencies while qualitative data was recorded, transcribed and relevant themes reported. A total of 370 participants between 18-35 years were recruited for the study. Community knowledge level on HL was high for congenital anomalies (77.3%), drugs (77%), infections like measles (84.3%) and excessive phone use (92.7%). A few participants attributed HL to cultural factors like witchcraft (45.1%). The majority of participants had favourable attitudes towards PWHL agreeing that PWHL should seek medical care (95.1%), shouldn’t be isolated (95.1%) and also face unique social problems. Unfavourable attitudes included the belief that PWHL cannot perform as well as their hearing peers and that they are emotionally disturbed. The study revealed a community knowledgeable on HL causes but with limited appreciation of the capabilities and unique challenges of PWHL which negatively influences the community attitude towards PWHL
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    Feasibility of establishing an infant hearing screening program and measuring hearing loss among infants at a regional referral hospital in south western Uganda
    (Plos one, 2021) Seguya, Amina; Bajunirwe, Francis; Kakande, Elijah; Nakku, Doreen
    Despite the high burden of hearing loss (HL) globaly, most countries in resource limited settings lack infant hearing screening programs(IHS) for early HL detection. We examined the feasibility of establishing an IHS program in this setting, and in this pilot program measured the prevalence of infant hearing loss (IHL) and described the characteristics of the infants with HL. We assessed feasibility of establishing an IHS program at a regional referral hospital in south-western Uganda. We recruited infants aged 1 day to 3 months and performed a three-staged screening. At stage 1, we used Transient Evoked Oto-acoustic Emissions (TEOAEs), at stage 2 we repeated TEOAEs for infants who failed TEOAEs at stage 1 and at stage 3, we conducted Automated brainstem responses(ABRs) for those who failed stage 2. IHL was present if they failed an ABR at 35dBHL.We screened 401 infants, mean age was 7.2 days (SD = 7.1). 74.6% (299 of 401) passed stage 1, the rest (25.4% or 102 of 401) were referred for stage 2. Of those referred (n = 102), only 34.3% (35 of 102) returned for stage 2 screening. About 14.3% (5/35) failed the repeat TEOAEs in at least one ear. At stage 3, 80% (4 of 5) failed the ABR screening in at least one ear, while 25% (n = 1) failed the test bilaterally. Among the 334 infants that completed the staged screening, the prevalence of IHL was 4/334 or 12 per 1000. Risk factors to IHL were Newborn Special Care Unit (NSCU) admission, gentamycin or oxygen therapy and prematurity. IHS program establishment in a resource limited setting is feasible. Preliminary data indicate a high prevalence of IHL. Targeted screening of infants at high risk may be a more realistic and sustainable initial step towards establishing IHS program s in a developing country like Uganda
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    Unifying Children’s Surgery and Anesthesia Stakeholders Across Institutions and Clinical Disciplines: Challenges and Solutions from Uganda
    (World Journal of Surgery, 2019) Kisa, Phyllis; Ajiko, Margaret; Male, Doreen Birabwa; Galiwango, George; Kakembo, Nasser; Kambugu, Joyce B.; Muhumuza, Moses Fisha; Muzira, Arlene; Nabukenya, Mary T.; Nakku, Doreen; Nankunda, Jolly; Ogwang, Martin; Okello, Innocent; Ssenyonga, Peter; Tumukunde, Janat
    There is a significant unmet need for children’s surgical care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Multidisciplinary collaboration is required to advance the surgical and anesthesia care of children’s surgical conditions such as congenital conditions, cancer and injuries. Nonetheless, there are limited examples of this process from LMICs. We describe the development and 3-year outcomes following a 2015 stakeholders’ meeting in Uganda to catalyze multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration. The stakeholders’ meeting was a daylong conference held in Kampala with local, regional and international collaborators in attendance. Multiple clinical specialties including surgical subspecialists, pediatric anesthesia, perioperative nursing, pediatric oncology and neonatology were represented. Key thematic areas including infrastructure, training and workforce retention, service delivery, and research and advocacy were addressed, and short-term objectives were agreed upon. We reported the 3-year outcomes following the meeting by thematic area. The Pediatric Surgical Foundation was developed following the meeting to formalize coordination between institutions. Through international collaborations, operating room capacity has increased. A pediatric general surgery fellowship has expanded at Mulago and Mbarara hospitals supplemented by an international fellowship in multiple disciplines. Coordinated outreach camps have continued to assist with training and service delivery in rural regional hospitals. Collaborations between disciplines, both within LMICs and with international partners, are required to advance children’s surgery. The unification of stakeholders across clinical disciplines and institutional partnerships can facilitate increased children’s surgical capacity. Such a process may prove useful in other LMICs with a wide range of children’s surgery stakeholders.