Browsing by Author "Nuwematsiko, Rebecca"

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    COVID-19 vaccination, perceptions about the vaccine and willingness to take the vaccine among unvaccinated individuals at two Ugandan border points of entry
    (BMC Public Health, 2024) Matovu, Joseph K. B.; Nuwematsiko, Rebecca; Aanyu, Christine; Tabwenda, Lilian; Okade, Tom; Musoke, David; Buregyeya, Esther
    A recent systematic review shows high COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in fully-vaccinated people in Africa. However, vaccine uptake has varied across populations. We assessed the uptake, perceptions of and willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine among unvaccinated individuals at two Ugandan border points of entry. Methods This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted at Malaba and Mutukula points of entry into Uganda between February and March 2023. We targeted people living in, working at, or transiting through the two points of entry, including truck drivers, point-of-entry customs officers and female sex workers, market vendors, among others. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, vaccine uptake, perceptions and willingness to take the vaccine among unvaccinated individuals. We computed descriptive statistics and determined the factors associated with uptake of and willingness to take the vaccine using a modified Poisson regression model. Data analysis was conducted using STATA statistical package (version 14.0). Results Of the 854 respondents, 50% (n = 427) were from Mutukula. Overall, 80.3% (n = 686) of the respondents reported that they had received at least one vaccine dose; no booster doses were reported. Respondents perceived that the vaccine was efficacious against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was associated with age-group 35–44 years [adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] (95%CI) = 1.13 (1.01, 1.27)] or 45 + years [aPR (95%CI) = 1.19 (1.07, 1.33)]; being a truck driver [aPR (95%CI) = 1.16 (1.04, 1.29)] or health worker [aPR (95%CI) = 1.18 (1.05, 1.32)]; and the belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is protective against COVID-19 [aPR (95%CI) = 1.32 (1.10, 1.58)]. Nearly 60% of unvaccinated respondents (n = 99) were willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Willingness to take the vaccine was associated with the belief that one can contract the coronavirus if not vaccinated [aPR (95%CI) = 3.67 (1.90, 7.10)] or the community was at risk of COVID-19 [aPR (95%CI) = 1.86 (1.33, 2.62)]. COVID-19 vaccine uptake was high in this setting while nearly six out of every ten unvaccinated individuals were willing to take the vaccine. Our findings lend credence for ongoing vaccination efforts at points of entry to contain the importation of new COVID-19 variants into the country.
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    Health system factors influencing uptake of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine among adolescent girls 9-15 years in Mbale District, Uganda
    (BMC Public Health, 2020) Nabirye, Juliet; Okwi, Livex Andrew; Nuwematsiko, Rebecca; Kiwanuka, George; Muneza, Fiston; Kamya, Carol; Babirye, Juliet N.
    Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women with more than 85% of the burden in developing countries [1]. The majority of cervical cancer mortality occurs in developing countries, where screening and optimal treatment are not adequately available [2]. Cancer of the cervix constituted 22.2% of all cancers among women in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2012 [3]. In Uganda, cervical cancer is the number one cancer killer disease among women, this is followed by breast cancer [4]. With the incidence standing at 52 /100,000 women of reproductive age, it is one of the highest globally. Regrettably, more than half of these women die every year [5, 6]. The Kampala cancer registry shows that Uganda has an age standardized incidence rate of 47.5 per 100,000 against the global estimate of 15.8 per 100,000 [7]. Many of the Cervical cancer cases present with an advanced stage of the disease [8].
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    Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to the Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Welders in Small-scale Metal Workshops in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, Uganda
    (Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 2022) Nalugya, Aisha; Kiguli, Juliet; Wafula, Solomon T.; Nuwematsiko, Rebecca; Mugambe, Richard K.; Oputan, Patience; Tigaiza, Arnold; Isunju, John Bosco; Ssekamatte, Tonny
    Despite the risks involved in welding, there is limited evidence of the knowledge, attitude and practices related to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among welders in small-scale metal workshops. We assessed the level of knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) related to PPE use among welders in small-scale workshops in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso district, Uganda.