Browsing by Author "Simple, Ouma"

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    Characteristics treatment outcomes and experiences of COVID 19 patients under Home Based Care in Kapyelebyong district in Uganda
    (Tropical Medicine & International Health, 2022-12-14) Eudu, James; Benon, Wanume; Milton, W. Musaba; Ritah, Nantale; Vivian, Mutaki; Brendah, Nambozo; David, Okia; David, Soita; Agnes, Napyo; Joseph, K. B. Matovu; Racheal, Namulondo; Jovani, Lubaale; Francis, Okello; Ronald, Mulebeke; Abel, Kakuru; Nancy, Amejje; David, Emojong; Charles, Okolimong; Simple, Ouma
    Abstract Background: A rapid increase in community transmission of COVID-19 across the country overwhelmed Uganda’s health care system. In response, the Ministry of Health adopted the home-based care strategy for COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate disease. We determined the characteristics, treatment outcomes and experiences of COVID-19 patients under home-based care during the second wave in Kapelebyong district, in eastern Uganda. Methods: We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study. We frst collected quantitative data using an interviewer-administered questionnaire to determine characteristics and treatment outcomes of COVID-19 patients under home-based care. Cured at home was coded as 1 (considered a good outcome) while being admitted to a health facility and/or dying were coded as 0 (considered poor outcomes). Thereafter, we conducted 11 in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of COVID-19 patients under home-based care. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with poor treatment outcomes using Stata v.15.0. Thematic content analysis was used to explore lived experiences of COVID-19 patients under home-based care using NVivo 12.0.0 Results: A total of 303 study participants were included. The mean age±standard deviation of participants was 32.2 years±19.9. Majority of the participants [96.0% (289/303)] cured at home, 3.3% (10/303) were admitted to a health facility and 0.7% (2/303) died. Patients above 60 years of age had 17.4 times the odds of having poor treatment outcomes compared to those below 60 years of age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 17.4; 95% CI: 2.2–137.6). Patients who spent more than one month under home-based care had 15.3 times the odds of having poor treatment outcomes compared to those that spent less than one month (AOR: 15.3; 95% CI: 1.6–145.7). From the qualitative interviews, participants identifed stigma, fear, anxiety, rejection, not being followed up by health workers and economic loss as negative experiences encountered during home-based care. Positive lived experiences included closeness to friends and family, more freedom, and easy access to food. Conclusion: Home-based care of COVID-19 was operational in eastern Uganda. Older age (>60 years) and pro‑ longed illness (>1 months) were associated with poor treatment outcomes. Social support was an impetus for homebased care
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    Influence of Climatic Factors on Malaria Epidemic in Gulu District, Northern Uganda: A 10-Year Retrospective Study
    (Malaria research and treatment, 2018) Simple, Ouma; Mindra, Arnold; Obai, Gerald; Ovuga, Emilio; Igwaro Odongo-Aginya, Emmanuel
    Globally, 15 countries, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa, account for 80% of malaria cases and 78% of malaria related deaths. In Uganda, malaria is endemic and the mortality and morbidity due to malaria cause significant negative impact on the economy. In Gulu district, malaria is the leading killer disease among children <5 years. In 2015, the high intensity of malaria infection inNorthernUganda revealed a possible link between malaria and rainfall.However, available information on the influence of climatic factors onmalaria are scarce, conflicting, and highly contextualized and therefore one cannot reference such information to malaria control policy in Northern Uganda, thus the need for this study. Methods and Results. During the 10 year’s retrospective study period a total of 2,304,537 people suffered frommalaria in Gulu district.Malaria infection was generally stable with biannual peaks during the months of June-July and September-October but showed a declining trend after introduction of indoor residual spraying. Analysis of the departure of mean monthly malaria cases from the long-term mean monthly malaria cases revealed biannual seasonal outbreaks before and during the first year of introduction of indoor residual spraying. However, there were two major malaria epidemics in 2015 following discontinuation of indoor residual spraying in the late 2014. Children <5 years of age were disproportionally affected bymalaria and accounted for 47.6% of the totalmalaria cases. Both rainfall (P=0.04) and relative humidity (P=0.003) had significant positive correlations with malaria.Meanwhile, maximumtemperature had significant negative correlation with malaria (P=0.02) but minimum temperature had no correlation with malaria (P=0.29). Conclusion. Malaria in Gulu disproportionately affects children under 5 years and shows seasonality with a generally stable trend influenced by rainfall and relative humidity. However, indoor residual spraying is a very promising method to achieve a sustained malaria control in this population.