Browsing by Author "Nakyagaba, Lourita"

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    Anemia in Ugandan pregnant women: a cross-sectional, systematic review and meta-analysis study
    (Tropical medicine and health, 2021) Bongomin, Felix; Olum, Ronald; Kyazze, Andrew Peter; Ninsiima, Sandra; Nattabi, Gloria; Nakyagaba, Lourita; Nabakka, Winnie; Kukunda, Rebecca; Ssekamatte, Phillip; Kibirige, Davis; Cose, Stephen; Nakimuli, Annettee
    Anemia in pregnancy represents a global public health concern due to wide ranging maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in all peripartum periods. We estimated the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in pregnancy at a national obstetrics and gynecology referral hospital in Uganda and in addition performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the overall burden of anemia in pregnancy in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 263 pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic of Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, in September 2020. Anemia in pregnancy was defined as a hemoglobin level of < 11.0 g/dl and microcytosis as a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of < 76 fL. We also performed a systematic review (PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42020213001) and meta-analysis of studies indexed on MEDLINE, Embase, African Journal Online, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP, and the Cochrane Library of systematic review between 1 January 2000 and 31 September 2020 reporting on the prevalence of anemia in pregnancy in Uganda. Results: The prevalence of anemia was 14.1% (n= 37) (95%CI 10.4–18.8), of whom 21 (56.8%) had microcytic anemia. All cases of anemia occurred in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and none were severe. However, women with anemia had significantly lower MCV (75.1 vs. 80.2 fL, p<0.0001) and anthropometric measurements, such as weight (63.3 vs. 68.9kg; p=0.008), body mass index (25.2 vs. 27.3, p=0.013), hip (98.5 vs. 103.8 cm, p=0.002), and waist (91.1 vs. 95.1 cm, p=0.027) circumferences and mean systolic blood pressure (BP) (118 vs 125 mmHg, p=0.014). Additionally, most had BP within the normal range (59.5% vs. 34.1%, p=0.023). The comparison meta-analysis of pooled data from 17 published studies of anemia in pregnancy in Uganda, which had a total of 14,410 pregnant mothers, revealed a prevalence of 30% (95% CI 23–37). Conclusions: Despite our study having a lower prevalence compared to other studies in Uganda, these findings further confirm that anemia in pregnancy is still of public health significance and is likely to have nutritional causes, requiring targeted interventions. A larger study would be necessary to demonstrate potential use of basic clinical parameters such as weight or blood pressure as screening predictors for anemia in pregnancy.
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    Fear of COVID-19 and the Media Influence on Herbal Medication Use in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
    (Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 2021) Musoke, Phillip; Nantaayi, Brandy; Kato Ndawula, Rodney; Wannyana, Babrah; Ssewante, Nelson; Wekha, Godfrey; Olum, Ronald; Nakyagaba, Lourita; Nassozi, Dianah Rhoda; Nabukeera, Germinah; Kanyike, Andrew Marvin; Ojilong, Daniel; Madut Akech, Gabriel; Kajjimu, Jonathan; Kiwumulo, Joshua; Agira, Drake; Okot, Jerom; Bongomin, Felix
    The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created fear in people around the world. This has led to the widespread use of various herbal remedies in its prevention and treatment regardless of the paucity of scientific evidence about their safety and efficacy. This study assessed the fear of COVID-19 and the influence of media on the use of herbal medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19 in Uganda. Methods: In the first 2 weeks of July 2021, a descriptive online cross-sectional study was carried out anonymously in the general population in Uganda. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on herbal medicine use and the influence of media. Fear of COVID-19 was rated using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Results: We recruited 488 participants, 273 (55.9%) were female, with a median age of 25 (range: 18–73) years. Sixty-seven (57.8%) participants had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. The mean FCV-19S score was 21.7 SD 5.9 with 53.3% reporting high levels of COVID-19 fear. About 57.4% of participants reported using herbal remedies either to prevent or treat COVID-19-like symptoms. Media was the main source of information, with more than 80% of the participants reporting seeing or accessing information about herbal medication use. Women (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.74, 95% CI: 1.2–2.5, p=0.003) and people with a previously confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis (aOR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.35–7.14, p=0.008) had a statistically significantly higher FCV-19S score. Being unemployed (aOR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3, p=0.008) and a female (aOR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3, p=0.012) were statistically significantly associated with herbal medicine use. Participants who used herbal remedies had a higher median FCV-19S score compared to non-users (23 versus 21, p<0.001). Conclusion: The use of herbal medicines to treat or prevent COVID-19 is a widespread practice among the general population in Uganda amidst the high levels of fear of COVID-19.
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    Hepatitis C in Uganda: Identification of infected blood donors for micro-elimination
    (Journal of Virus Eradication, 2021) Nankya-Mutyoba, Joan; Apica, Betty S.; Otekat, Grace; Kyeyune, Dorothy B.; Nakyagaba, Lourita; Nabunje, Joletta; Nakafeero, Mary; Seremba, Emmanuel; Ocama, Ponsiano
    The drive to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 is underway. However, locally generated data on active infection is required to focus such efforts. We performed a regionally-inclusive survey to determine prevalence of active HCV, genotypes and related factors among Ugandan blood donors. Methods: Participants from regional blood banks and blood collection centers were surveyed for information on demographic, clinical and lifestyle factors. Blood was assayed for HCV infection, HCV genotypes and subtypes. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors associated with active HCV infection. Results: Of 1243 participants, 1041 (83.7%) were male, average age (SD), 27.7 (9.8). Prevalence of active HCV infection was 7.8% and we identified 3 genotypes. Median age (adj. OR (95% CI) = 1.03 (1.01–1.06), p-value = 0.040)), Northern region of birth versus Central or Eastern (adj. OR (95% CI) = 10.25 (2.65–39.68), p-value = 0.001)), Northern residence, versus Central or Eastern (adj. OR (95% CI) = 0.23 (0.08–0.65), p-value = 0.006)), and being married (versus single/divorced) adj. OR 2.49(1.3–4.79), p-value = 0.006 were associated with active HCV infection. Conclusion: Targeted interventions in at-risk populations coupled with linkage to care and treatment will help achieve the WHO elimination goals in this setting.