Browsing by Author "Turyashemererwa, Florence M."

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    Capacity Building in the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition: experience from Uganda
    (International Journal of Food, Nutrition and Public Health, 2017) Turyashemererwa, Florence M.; Bekele, Hana; Bataringaya, Juliet; Wondimagegnehu, Alemu
    To share experiences on the capacity building of health workers in the treatment protocols for the management of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Uganda. With financial support from the Global Aff airs Canada, the World Health Organization provided Technical expertise to update Uganda treatment guidelines and training materials for SAM in line with global guidance. In addition, the health workers received training and mentorship on the use of the up dated guidelines. This was followed by support supervision to assess the case fatality rate from SAM, and understand the issues experienced in improving the care for SAM children. A total of 153 health workers were trained in the training of trainers, and 15 in training of facilitators’ workshops. The average pre- and post-test scores were 60% and 85%, respectively, for the training of facilitators and 56% and68% respectively, for the training of trainers. A total of 521 health workers were mentored at their respective health care facilities. The average case fatality rate was 16.5% and 0.5% at two major hospitals. Effective management of SAM centred around the technical capacity, structure and processes involved. The results highlight the need for commitment to reduce deaths from children with SAM. An approach that looks beyond training and considers all components of the health care system is important.
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    Predictors of low birth weight and preterm birth in rural Uganda: Findings from a birth cohort study
    (PloS one, 2014) Bater, Jorick; Lauer, Jacqueline M.; Ghosh, Shibani; Webb, Patrick; Agaba, Edgar; Bashaasha, Bernard; Turyashemererwa, Florence M.; Shrestha, Robin; Duggan, Christopher P.
    Approximately 20.5 million infants were born weighing <2500 g (defined as low birthweight or LBW) in 2015, primarily in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Infants born LBW, including those born preterm (<37 weeks gestation), are at increased risk for numerous consequences, including neonatal mortality and morbidity as well as suboptimal health and nutritional status later in life. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of LBW and preterm birth among infants in rural Uganda. Methods Data were derived from a prospective birth cohort study conducted from 2014–2016 in 12 districts across northern and southwestern Uganda. Birth weights were measured in triplicate to the nearest 0.1 kg by trained enumerators within 72 hours of delivery. Gestational age was calculated from the first day of last menstrual period (LMP). Associations between household, maternal, and infant characteristics and birth outcomes (LBW and preterm birth) were assessed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression with stepwise, backward selection analyses. Results Among infants in the study, 4.3% were born LBW (143/3,337), and 19.4% were born preterm (744/3,841). In multivariable analysis, mothers who were taller (>150 cm) (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 0.42 (95% CI = 0.24, 0.72)), multigravida (aOR = 0.62 (95% CI = 0.39, 0.97)), or with adequate birth spacing (>24 months) (aOR = 0.60 (95% CI = 0.39, 0.92)) had lower odds of delivering a LBW infant Mothers with severe household food insecurity (aOR = 1.84 (95% CI = 1.22, 2.79)) or who tested positive for malaria during pregnancy (aOR = 2.06 (95% CI = 1.10, 3.85)) had higher odds of delivering a LBW infant. In addition, in multivariable analysis, mothers who resided in the Southwest (aOR = 0.64 (95% CI = 0.54, 0.76)), were �20 years old (aOR = 0.76 (95% CI = 0.61, 0.94)), with adequate birth spacing (aOR = 0.76 (95% CI = 0.63, 0.93)), or attended �4 antenatal care (ANC) visits (aOR = 0.56 (95% CI = 0.47, 0.67)) had lower odds of delivering a preterm infant; mothers who were neither married nor cohabitating (aOR = 1.42 (95% CI = 1.00, 2.00)) or delivered at home (aOR = 1.25 (95% CI = 1.04, 1.51)) had higher odds. Conclusions In rural Uganda, severe household food insecurity, adolescent pregnancy, inadequate birth spacing, malaria infection, suboptimal ANC attendance, and home delivery represent modifiable risk factors associated with higher rates of LBW and/or preterm birth. Future studies on interventions to address these risk factors may be warranted.
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    Unsafe Drinking Water Is Associated with Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Poor Growth Outcomes in Young Children in Rural Southwestern Uganda
    (The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 2018) Lauer, Jacqueline M.; Duggan, Christopher P.; Ausman, Lynne M.; Griffiths, Jeffrey K.; Webb, Patrick; Bashaasha, Bernard; Agaba, Edgar; Turyashemererwa, Florence M.; Ghosh, Shibani
    Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a subclinical disorder of the small intestine, and poor growth are associated with living in poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions, but specific risk factors remain unclear. Nested within a birth cohort study, this study investigates relationships among water quality, EED, and growth in 385 children living in southwestern Uganda. Water quality wasassessed using a portable water quality testwhen children were 6 months, and safe water was defined as lacking Escherichia coli contamination. Environmental enteric dysfunction was assessed using the lactulose:mannitol (L:M) test at 12–16 months. Anthropometry and covariate data were extracted from the cohort study, and associations were assessed using linear and logistic regression models. Less than half of the households (43.8%) had safe water, and safe versus unsafe water did not correlate with improved versus unimproved water source. In adjusted linear regression models, children from households with safe water had significantly lower logtransformed (ln) L:M ratios (β: −0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.44, −0.00) and significantly higher length-for-age (β: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.58) and weight-for-age (β: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.34) Z-scores at 12–16 months. Furthermore, in adjusted linear regression models, ln L:M ratios at 12–16 months significantly decreased with increasing length-for-age Z-scores at birth, 6 months, and 9 months (β: −0.05,95%CI: −0.10, −0.004; β: −0.06,95%CI: −0.11, −0.006; and β: −0.05, 95%CI: −0.09, −0.005, respectively). Overall, our data suggest that programs seeking to improve nutrition should address poor WASH conditions simultaneously, particularly related to household drinking water quality.