Browsing by Author "Nantaayi, Brandy"

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    Assessment of the Knowledge and Attitude Towards Dementia Among Undergraduate University Students in Uganda
    (Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 2021) Musoke, Phillip; Olum, Ronald; Kembabazi, Shallon; Nantaayi, Brandy; Bongomin, Felix; Kaddumukasa, Mark
    Dementia remains a public health concern and a leading cause of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. However, the knowledge and attitudes towards dementia among university students remain unknown. This study assessed the knowledge and attitude towards dementia among university students in Uganda.An online descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken from August to November 2020, among undergraduate students from 11 Ugandan universities. A validated study questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitudes of dementia. A score <60% was considered poor knowledge while ≥80% good knowledge and more than 80% reflected positive attitudes.Overall, 1005 participants with a median age of 23 (interquartile range: 18 to 35) years participated in the study. The majority of the students were male (56.5%, n=568) and nearly half were pursuing human sciences/medicine-related programs. The mean knowledge score was 65.5% (SD±18.5). Thirty-two percent of the study participants had poor knowledge and only 26.8% (n=269) had good knowledge of dementia. More than half of the study participants believed that dementia is a normal part of aging and that memory loss happens to all people as they age. Attitudes towards patients with dementia were positive with a mean score of 81.9% (SD±19.6) and 65.2% of the study participants had positive dementia attitudes. Those aged more than 24 years were significantly associated with positive attitudes (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1–2.0, p=0.019). There was a weak correlation between knowledge and attitude scores (ρ=0.341, p<0.001). Whereas the majority of university students have positive attitudes towards patients with dementia, a significant number still have poor knowledge of the same. Continuous health education is suggested to improve knowledge of dementia in this population. Further studies to understand the perception in the general population are recommended.
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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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    The Prevalence of Concurrent Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Uganda: a retrospective
    (Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease, 2022) Kyagulanyi, Eddy; Mirembe, Joy; Nantaayi, Brandy; Nalukenge, Sonita; Mukasa, David; Tamale, Jaffar; Oriekot, Anthony; Kamya, Moses R.; Baluku, Joseph Baruch
    Concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is associated with poor treatment outcomes yet its epidemiology in Uganda is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and treatment outcomes of concurrent PTB and EPTB among patients at a national tuberculosis (TB) treatment center located at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. We conducted a retrospective review of charts for people with TB who were enrolled in care between January 2015 and December 2019. Eligible charts were for people with pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed TB enrolled into care in the period under study. Concurrent PTB and EPTB was defined as PTB and bacteriological, histopathological, and/or radiological features of TB at another noncontiguous sites. Overall, 400 patient charts were eligible, of whom 240 (60.0%) were aged 15–34years and 205 (51.3%) were female. The prevalence of concurrent PTB and EPTB was 8.5% (34/400) [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.0–11.7%]. People with concurrent PTB and EPTB were more likely to have at least one comorbidity (82.4% versus 37.2%, p<0.001), of which HIV was the most frequent. Furthermore, people with concurrent PTB and EPTB were more likely to have empyema (15% versus 2.6%, p=0.028) but less likely to have bronchopneumonic opacification (0.0% versus 15.3%, p=0.043) on chest x-ray imaging. People with concurrent PTB and EPTB had higher mortality (26.5% versus 6.37%) and a lower cure rate (41.2% versus 64.8%), p=0.002. Our findings highlight the need for early detection of TB before dissemination particularly among people who use alcohol and people with HIV.