Browsing by Author "Nansikombi, Hildah T."

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    Comparative epidemiologic analysis of COVID-19 patients during the first and second waves of COVID-19 in Uganda
    (IJID Regions, 2022) Elayeete, Sarah; Nampeera, Rose; Nsubuga, Edirisa J.; Nansikombi, Hildah T.; Kwesiga, Benon; Kadobera, Daniel; Amanya, Geofrey; Ajambo, Miriam; Mwanje, Wilbrod; Riolexus, Alex A.; Harris, Julie R.
    Introduction: Uganda was affected by two major waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The first wave during late 2020 and the second wave in late April 2021. This study compared epidemiologic characteristics of hospitalized (HP) and non-hospitalized patients (NHP) with COVID-19 during the two waves of COVID-19 in Uganda. Methods: Wave 1 was defined as November–December 2020, and Wave 2 was defined as April–June 2021. In total, 800 patients were included in this study. Medical record data were collected for HP (200 for each wave). Contact information was retrieved for NHP who had polymerase-chain-reaction-confirmed COVID-19 (200 for each wave) from laboratory records; these patients were interviewed by telephone. Findings: A higher proportion of HP were male in Wave 1 compared with Wave 2 (73% vs 54%; P = 0.0001). More HP had severe disease or died in Wave 2 compared with Wave 1 (65% vs 31%; P < 0.0001). NHP in Wave 2 were younger than those in Wave 1, but this difference was not significant (mean age 29 vs 36 years; P = 0.13). HP were significantly older than NHP in Wave 2 (mean age 48 vs 29 years; P < 0.0001), but not Wave 1 (mean age 48 vs 43 years; P = 0.31). Interpretation: Demographic and epidemiologic characteristics of HP and NHP differed between and within Waves 1 and 2 of COVID-19 in Uganda.
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    Individual and household risk factors for Ebola disease among household contacts in Mubende and Kassanda districts, Uganda, 2022
    (BMC Infectious Diseases, 2024-05-30) Migamba, Stella M.; Migisha, Richard; Nansikombi, Hildah T.; Zalwango, Jane Frances; Simbwa, Brenda; Julie, R. Harris
    In 2022, an Ebola disease outbreak caused by Sudan virus (SUDV) occurred in Uganda, primarily affecting Mubende and Kassanda districts. We determined risk factors for SUDV infection among household members (HHM) of cases. We conducted a case-control and retrospective cohort study in January 2023. Cases were RT-PCR-confirmed SUDV infection in residents of Mubende or Kassanda districts during the outbreak. Case-households housed a symptomatic, primary case-patient for ≥ 24 h and had ≥ 1 secondary case-patient with onset < 2 weeks after their last exposure to the primary case-patient. Control households housed a case-patient and other HHM but no secondary cases. A risk factor questionnaire was administered to the primary case-patient or another adult who lived at home while the primary case-patient was ill. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among case-household members and categorized their interactions with primary case-patients during their illnesses as none, minimal, indirect, and direct contact. We conducted logistic regression to explore associations between exposures and case-household status, and Poisson regression to identify risk factors for SUDV infection among HHM. Case- and control-households had similar median sizes. Among 19 case-households and 51 control households, primary case-patient death (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 7.6, 95% CI 1.4–41) and ≥ 2 household bedrooms (ORadj=0.19, 95% CI 0.056–0.71) were associated with case-household status. In the cohort of 76 case-HHM, 44 (58%) were tested for SUDV < 2 weeks from their last contact with the primary case-patient; 29 (38%) were positive. Being aged ≥ 18 years (adjusted risk ratio [aRRadj] = 1.9, 95%CI: 1.01–3.7) and having direct or indirect contact with the primary case-patient (aRRadj=3.2, 95%CI: 1.1–9.7) compared to minimal or no contact increased risk of Sudan virus disease (SVD). Access to a handwashing facility decreased risk (aRRadj=0.52, 95%CI: 0.31–0.88). Direct contact, particularly providing nursing care for and sharing sleeping space with SVD patients, increased infection risk among HHM. Risk assessments during contact tracing may provide evidence to justify closer monitoring of some HHM. Health messaging should highlight the risk of sharing sleeping spaces and providing nursing care for persons with Ebola disease symptoms and emphasize hand hygiene to aid early case identification and reduce transmission.
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    Ownership and use of long‑lasting insecticidal nets three months after a mass distribution campaign in Uganda, 2021
    (Malaria Journal, 2022-12-03) Kwiringira, Andrew; Nanziri, Carol; Nsubuga, Edirisa Juniour; Atuhaire, Immaculate; Nansikombi, Hildah T.; Ario, Alex R.