Browsing by Author "Seggane, Musisi"

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    Caregivers’ Experiences With Major Depression Concealed by Physical Illness in Patients Recruited From Central Ugandan Primary Health Care Centers
    (Qualitative Health Research, 2008) Muhwezi, Wilson Winstons; Okello, Elialilia Sarikiaeli; Neema, Stella; Seggane, Musisi
    In this article, we present caregivers’ grapples with major depression seen among their physically ill patients. A thematic analysis of 29 in-depth caregiver interviews identified four themes: (a) caregivers’ perceptions of depression, (b) barriers to caregivers’ focus on depression, (c) resources and opportunities for managing depression, and (d) caregivers’ perspectives on consequences of depression. Patients’ physical illnesses concealed depressive episodes. Caregivers could not apply the label of “depression” but enumerated its indicative features. Stigmatization of depression, common with other mental illnesses and poverty, undermined caregiving. Vital caregiving resources included caregivers’ willingness to meet patients’ basic needs, facilitating patients’ access to health care, informal counseling of patients, and ensuring patients’ spiritual nourishment. Caregivers’ management of depression in physically ill patients was expensive, but they coped; however, caregiving was burdensome. Ongoing support should be given not only to patients but caregivers, as well. To provide appropriate care, caregivers deserve sensitization about depression in the context of physical illness.
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    Impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of children with epilepsy including nodding syndrome in Uganda: A qualitative study
    (Epilepsy & Behavior, 2023) Nono, Denis; Gumisiriza, Nolbert; Tumwine, Christopher; Amaral, Luis-Jorge; Ainamani, Herbert Elvis; Seggane, Musisi; Colebunders, Robert
    To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions on the access and use of health services by children with epilepsy including nodding syndrome in Uganda. Methods: Four focus group discussions (FGD) with parents/caregivers of children with epilepsy and five in-depth interviews with key informants were conducted between April and May 2021 at Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital and Kitgum General Hospital. Results: COVID-19-related restrictions, including the halting of non-essential services and activities, and suspension of public transport, created several challenges not only for children with epilepsy and their parents/caregivers but also for their healthcare providers. Study participants described extreme transport restrictions that reduced their access to healthcare care services, increased food insecurity and shortage or inability to afford essential medicines as consequences of COVID-19-related restrictions. However, parents/ caregivers and healthcare workers adopted several coping strategies for these challenges. Parents/caregivers mentioned taking on casual work to earn an income to buy food, medicines, and other necessities. Healthcare workers intensified outreach services to affected communities. A positive impact of lockdown measures described by some FGD participants was that most family members stayed at home and were able to care for children with epilepsy in turn. Conclusions: Our study highlights the significant negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions on access to health services and the general well-being of children with epilepsy. Decentralized epilepsy treatment services and nutritional support could reduce the suffering of children with epilepsy and their families during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and similar future emergencies.