Browsing by Author "Onzima, Alex"

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    Changes of beneficiaries after Red Cross safe motherhood project in Northern Uganda
    (African Journals Online (AJOL), 2024-07-11) Ai, Ogata; Mie, Naiki; Yukiya, Saito; Onzima, Alex
    Background: The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) and the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) collaboratively implemented the safe motherhood project for women of reproductive age and community people to improve reproductive health in Northern Uganda from 2010 to 2016. Follow-up visit has not been conducted and the information on detailed changes of the beneficiaries were limited. Objectives: To explore the beneficiaries’ changes after the Red Cross safe motherhood project in Northern Uganda. Methods: Study design was qualitative content analysis using interview guides. Findings: After the approval of Institutional Review Board Clearance, the study was started. All participants of the study were informed the study objectives, methods, and ethical considerations and consented to participate. The study participants were six people, three beneficiary couples. Changes in knowledge of safe motherhood and general healthcare, attitude helped and prepared financially, attitude to look women as valuable people, practice of visiting health center to get something, practice of avoiding infectious diseases, practice of increment of ANC visit and facility-based delivery, practice of male involvement for safe motherhood were derived from the interview. Conclusion: Follow-up visit revealed positive changes of beneficiaries after the project, however continuous support is needed for sustainability of the safe motherhood project. Keywords: Beneficiaries; Red Cross safe motherhood; Northern Uganda.
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    School children's Lifestyle and Behaviors Relating to Obesity: Collaborative Study in Urban Uganda
    (EE Publisher, 2023-04-14) Ogata, Ai; Wambuzi, Fred; Nakirya, Brenda D.; Onzima, Alex
    Context: Child obesity, one of the major contributors to noncommunicable diseases in developing countries, is rising following drastic economic growth and lifestyle changes. In Uganda, noncommunicable diseases as a cause of death have increased from 15% in 1990 to 35% in 2019. Aim: The study aimed to investigate schoolchildren’s obesity status, lifestyle behaviors, and the factors of obesity in urban Uganda. Methods: The study was conducted with a cross-sectional, descriptive quantitative design. The survey using the researcher-developed questionnaire and physical measurement tools for 330 children aged 9 to 11 years old in 6 elementary schools in urban Uganda in November 2018. The Japanese Red Cross College of Nursing Institutional Review Board approved this study (Approval Number: 2018-066). Results: Obesity status among schoolchildren in urban Uganda was 67.6% normal, 25.2% underweight, 5.4% overweight, and 1.8% obese. Conclusion: Obesity and overweight have not been predominant in this population. However, children's growth must be carefully monitored to prevent future overweight and obesity due to the limited availability of school health services and rapid lifestyle changes. Demographic factors associated with obesity status (waist-hip ratio, body fat, and body mass index) were gender, financial access to food, screen time, sleep time, and sleep hours. Based on this study in Uganda, the researchers expect to develop further collaborative child obesity prevention projects.
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    Stakeholders' perceived achievements and challenges after the safe motherhood project in Northern Uganda.
    (African Journal of Reproductive Health, 2022-11) Ogata, Ai; Naiki, Mie; Onzima, Alex; Saito, Yukiya
    The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) and the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) implemented the Safe Motherhood project to promote mother-friendly society in northern Uganda from 2010 to 2016. The follow-up study has not been conducted and the information on achievements and challenges after the project were limited. To review the safe motherhood project in northern Uganda, the purpose of the study was to explore the stakeholders' perceived achievements and challenges after the project. Study design was qualitative content analysis using interview guides. After the approval of Institutional Review Board Clearance, the study was started (Approval Number: 2017-034). The subjects were informed about the ethical considerations (informed consent, participation on free will, confidentiality, and anonymity) in participating in the research, and they participated after signing the consent form. Six volunteers, 2 health center staff, and 2 former Uganda Red Cross staff were interviewed. Achievements were the acquisition of knowledge, attitudes changes, behavioural changes, linkage of all stakeholders, and positive influence on Safe Motherhood in community. Challenges of sociocultural barriers, attitudes toward women, accessibility and human resources, incentives and facilities, and sustainability of the project were derived from the interview. The study revealed that the project linked all stakeholders to achieve Safe Motherhood in community and all the developed registration systems were taken over. Long-term support is necessary for Safe Motherhood to take root.