Browsing by Author "Nalunkuma, Racheal"

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    Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of first aid among taxi operators in a Kampala City Taxi Park, Uganda: A cross-sectional study
    (African journal of emergency medicine, 2022) Ssewante, Nelson; Wekha, Godfrey; Namusoke, Moureen; Sanyu, Bereta; Nkwanga, Ayub; Nalunkuma, Racheal; Olum, Ronald; Katumba Ssentongo, Lawrence; Ahabwe, Rachel; Kalembe, Sharon Esther; Nalwoga Nantagya, Vanessa; Kalanzi, Joseph
    Road traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death in Uganda. Taxi operators are at a high risk of RTA and can potentially be first responders. This study, aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of first aid among taxi operators in the new taxi park, Kampala Uganda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among taxi drivers and conductors in the New Taxi Park, Kampala City, Uganda. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from taxi operators after informed consent. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression were performed in STATA 16 to assess the association between first aid knowledge and demographics. P < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: A total of 345 participants, majority males (n = 338, 98%) aged between 18 and 45 years (76.5%), were recruited. Although 97.7% (n = 337) had heard about first aid, only 19.4% (n = 67) had prior first aid training. Overall mean knowledge score was 40.1% (SD = 14.5%), with 29.9% (n = 103) having good knowledge (≥50%). Participants who had witnessed more than five accidents (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.7–4.8, p < 0.001), those with first aid kits (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.0–3.0, p = 0.38) were more likely to have good knowledge while those below post-secondary education level i.e., Primary (AOR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1–0.5, p ≤0.001) and secondary (aOR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1–0.6, p = 0.001), were less likely to have good knowledge. About 97% and 93% perceived first aid as important and were willing to undergo training, respectively; however, only 69% were willing to give first aid. Only 181(52.5%) had ever attended to accident victims. Conclusion: Majority of taxi operators had poor first aid knowledge. Factors associated with good knowledge included level of education, number of accidents witnessed, having first aid kits. Although their attitudes were favorable, practice was poor. Comprehensive training and refresher courses can help increase first aid knowledge, and improving practice.
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    Research Involvement among Undergraduate Health Profession Students in a Resource-Limited Setting: Awareness, Attitude, Motivators and Barriers
    (BMC Medical Education, 2022) Kiyimba, Blaise; Atulinda, Linda; Nalunkuma, Racheal; Banturaki, Davis; Nabyonga, Anastacia Ssebbowa; Nkalubo, Jonathan
    Involvement of undergraduate health professions students (HPS) in research will facilitate evidence-based clinical practice among future healthcare practitioners. This study aimed to assess research involvement among undergraduate HPS students and associated factors in Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online assessment tool sent through WhatsApp groups and E-mail addresses of HPS in 12 medical schools in Uganda between 20th September and 5th October 2021. We enrolled 398 participants with a mean age of 23.9 ± 3.7 years. Of this, 267 (67.1%) were male. One hundred twenty (30.2%) participants previously participated in a research activity: 90 (58.4%) as research assistants, 39 (25.3%) published as first authors, and 25 (16.2%) as co-authors. Training on the conduct of research was received by 242 (65.8%) participants, and 326 (81.9%) had intentions of conducting research in the future. Factors influencing participation in research activities were, age ≥ 25 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.2–3.2, p = 0.012), being male (aOR: 2.1, 95%CI: 1.2–3.6, p = 0.008), and being in a clinical year i.e., year 3 (aOR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.1–9.3, p = 0.033), year 4 (aOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.1–9.5, p = 0.028) and year 5(aOR: 11.6, 95% CI: 3.2–42.1, p < 0.001). Lack of funds (79.6%), and mentorship (63.3%) were reported as major barriers to research. Despite a high proportion of HPS showing interest in getting involved in research, less than one-third reported previous involvement. Addressing barriers such as funding could potentially improve research involvement and output among undergraduate HPS in resource-limited settings.