Browsing by Author "Taasi, Geoffrey"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Low proportion of women who came knowing their HIV status at first antenatal care visit, Uganda, 2012–2016: a descriptive analysis of surveillance data
    (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2020) Nakanwagi, Miriam; Bulage, Lilian; Kwesiga, Benon; Ario, Alex Riolexus; Agasha, Doreen Birungi; Lukabwe, Ivan; Matovu, John Bosco; Taasi, Geoffrey; Nabitaka, Linda; Mugerwa, Shaban; Musinguzi, Joshua
    HIV testing is the cornerstone for HIV care and support services, including Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT). Knowledge of HIV status is associated with better reproductive health choices and outcomes for the infant’s HIV status. We analyzed trends in known current HIV status among pregnant women attending the first antenatal care (ANC) visit in Uganda, 2012–2016. We conducted secondary data analysis using District Health Information Software2 data on all pregnant women who came for ANC visit during 2012–2016. Women who brought documented HIV negative test result within the previous 4 weeks at the first ANC visit or an HIV positive test result and/or own HIV care card were considered as knowing their HIV status. We calculated proportions of women with known current HIV status at first ANC visit, and described linear trends both nationally and regionally. We tested statistical significance of the trend using modified Poisson regression with generalized linear models. For known HIV positive status, we only analyzed data for years 2015–2016 because this is when this data became available. There was no significant difference in the number of women that attended first ANC visits over years 2012 -2016. The proportion of women that came with known HIV status increased from 4.4% in 2012 to 6.9% in 2016 and this increase was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Most regions had an increase in trend except the West Nile and Mid-Eastern (p < 0.001). The proportion of women that came knowing their HIV positive status at first ANC visit was slightly higher than that of women that were newly tested HIV positive at first ANC visit in 2015 and 2016 Although the gap in women that come at first ANC visit without knowing their HIV positive status might be reducing, a large proportion of women who were infected with HIV did not know their status before the first ANC visit indicating a major public health gap. We recommend advocacy for early ANC attendance and hence timely HIV testing and innovations to promptly identify HIV positive women of reproductive age so that timely PMTCT interventions can be made.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Stakeholders’ perspectives on integrating the management of depression into routine HIV care in Uganda: qualitative findings from a feasibility study
    (International journal of mental health systems, 2021) Rutakumwa, Rwamahe; Ssebunnya, Joshua; Mugisha, James; Mpango, Richard Steven; Tusiime, Christine; Kyohangirwe, Leticia; Taasi, Geoffrey; Sentongo, Hafsa; Kaleebu, Pontiano; Patel, Vikram; Kinyanda, Eugene
    HIV/AIDS continues to be a major global public health problem with Eastern and Southern Africa being the regions most affected. With increased access to effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV has become a chronic and manageable disease, bringing to the fore issues of quality of life including mental wellbeing. Despite this, the majority of HIV care providers in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda’s Ministry of Health, do not routinely provide mental health care including depression management. The purpose of this paper is to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on the feasibility and acceptability of integrating depression management into routine adult HIV care. The paper addresses a specific objective of the formative phase of the HIV + D study aimed at developing and evaluating a model for integrating depression management into routine HIV care in Uganda. Methods: This was a qualitative study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 patients at enrollment and follow-up in the pilot phase, and exit interviews with 11 adherent patients (those who completed their psychotherapy sessions) and six non-adherent patients (those missing at least two sessions) at the end of the pilot phase. Key informant interviews were held with four clinicians, five supervisors and one mental health specialist, as were three focus group discussions with lay health workers. These were purposively sampled at four public health facilities in Mpigi District. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Patients highlighted the benefits of treating depression in the context of HIV care, including improved adherence to antiretroviral therapy, overcoming sleeplessness and suicidal ideation, and regaining a sense of selfefficacy. Although clinicians and other stakeholders reported benefits of treating depression, they cited challenges in managing depression with HIV care, which were organisational (increased workload) and patient related (extended waiting time and perceptions of preferential treatment). Stakeholders generally shared perspectives on how best to integrate, including recommendations for organisational level interventions–training, harmonisation in scheduling appointments and structural changes–and patient level interventions to enhance knowledge about depression. Conclusions: Integrating depression management into routine HIV care in Uganda is acceptable among key stakeholders, but the technical and operational feasibility of integration would require changes both at the organisational and patient levels.