Browsing by Author "Wasswa, Peter"
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Item Community views on water demands under a changing climate: The case of River Mpanga Water Catchment, Western Uganda(African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2021) Mugume, Isaac; Semyalo, Ronald; Wasswa, Peter; Ngailo, Triphonia; Inguula Odongo, Ronald; Lunyolo, Joyce; Tao, SulinDifferent sectors globally are experiencing the impacts of changing climate and water resources are among them. This study was conducted with an aim of examining the community views regarding the effect of changing climate on water demand over the River Mpanga Water Catchment. The study employed a cross-sectional survey using 111 household interviews; 14 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 27 key informants interviews (KII). This study considered 14 villages and employed a mixed-methods study design. The analysis was conducted using SPSS software to derive the descriptive statistics. Qualitative information was analyzed using content analysis to conduct an in-depth analysis. The study found that the main source of water is tap water (72.1%) and the main use of water in the study area is domestic water use. This study also found that, breakage in water supply especially during the dry season (10 out of 14 FGDs) and poor quality of water especially the tap water due to chemical treatment (11 out of 14 FDGs) were the major challenges of water the community faced. Additionally, this study observed that 15 out of 27 KII considered drought as a major threat and that the area had experienced decreases in rainfall amounts over the months of January and February. Therefore, this study recommends that the providers of domestic water should invest heavily in technologies for improving water quality and amount; ensure sustainable and equitable rationing of water during scarcity; and promote incentives for water harvesting.Item Factors Influencing Genomic Prediction Accuracies of Tropical Maize Resistance to Fall Armyworm and Weevils(Plants, 2021) Badji, Arfang; Machida, Lewis; Kwemoi, Daniel Bomet; Kumi, Frank; Okii, Dennis; Mwila, Natasha; Agbahoungba, Symphorien; Ibanda, Angele; Bararyenya, Astere; Ndapewa Nghituwamhata, Selma; Odong, Thomas; Wasswa, Peter; Otim, Michael; Ochwo-Ssemakula, Mildred; Talwana, Herbert; Asea, Godfrey; Kyamanywa, Samuel; Rubaihayo, PatrickGenomic selection (GS) can accelerate variety improvement when training set (TS) size and its relationship with the breeding set (BS) are optimized for prediction accuracies (PAs) of genomic prediction (GP) models. Sixteen GP algorithms were run on phenotypic best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) and estimators (BLUEs) of resistance to both fall armyworm (FAW) and maize weevil (MW) in a tropical maize panel. For MW resistance, 37% of the panel was the TS, and the BS was the remainder, whilst for FAW, random-based training sets (RBTS) and pedigree-based training sets (PBTSs) were designed. PAs achieved with BLUPs varied from 0.66 to 0.82 for MW-resistance traits, and for FAW resistance, 0.694 to 0.714 for RBTS of 37%, and 0.843 to 0.844 for RBTS of 85%, and these were at least two-fold those from BLUEs. For PBTS, FAWresistance PAs were generally higher than those for RBTS, except for one dataset. GP models generally showed similar PAs across individual traits whilst the TS designation was determinant, since a positive correlation (R = 0.92***) between TS size and PAs was observed for RBTS, and for the PBTS, it was negative (R = 0.44**). This study pioneered the use of GS for maize resistance to insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa.Item Genetic diversity and population structure of Peronosclerospora sorghi isolates of Sorghum in Uganda(International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB), 2018) Kumi, Frank; Agbahoungba, Symphorien; Badji, Arfang; Mwila, Natasha; Ibanda, Angele; Anokye, Michael; Odong, Thomas; Wasswa, Peter; Ochwo- Ssemakula, Mildred; Tusiime, Geoffrey; Biruma, Moses; Kassim, Sadik; Rubaihayo, PatrickSorghum is the third most important staple cereal crop in Uganda after maize and millet. Downy mildew disease is one of the most devastating fungal diseases which limits the production and productivity of the crop. The disease is caused by an obligate fungus, Peronosclerospora sorghi (Weston & Uppal) with varying symptoms. Information on the genetic diversity and population structure of P.sorghi in sorghum is imperative for the screening and selection for resistant genotypes and further monitoring possible mutant(s) of the pathogen. Isolates of P. sorghi infecting sorghum are difficult to discriminate when morphological descriptors are used. The use of molecular markers is efficient, and reliably precise for characterizing P. sorghi isolates. This study was undertaken to assess the level of genetic diversity and population structure that exist in P. sorghi isolates in Uganda.Item Implementation of infection control in health facilities in Arua district, Uganda: a cross-sectional study(BMC infectious Diseases, 2015) Wasswa, Peter; Nalwadda, Christine K.; Buregyeya, Esther; Gitta, Sheba N.; Anguzu, Patrick; Nuwaha, FredAt least 1.4 million people are affected globally by nosocomial infections at any one time, the vast majority of these occurring in low-income countries. Most of these infections can be prevented by adopting inexpensive infection prevention and control measures such as hand washing. We assessed the implementation of infection control in health facilities and determined predictors of hand washing among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Arua district, Uganda. We interviewed 202 HCWs that included 186 randomly selected and 16 purposively selected key informants in this cross-sectional study. We also conducted observations in 32 health facilities for compliance with infection control measures and availability of relevant supplies for their implementation. Quantitative data underwent descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regressions at 95 % confidence interval while qualitative data was coded and thematically analysed. Most respondents (95/186, 51 %) were aware of at least six of the eight major infection control measures assessed. Most facilities (93.8 %, 30/32) lacked infection control committees and adequate supplies or equipment for infection control. Respondents were more likely to wash their hands if they had prior training on infection control (AOR = 2.71, 95 % CI: 1.03–7.16), had obtained at least 11 years of formal education (AOR = 3.30, 95 % CI: 1.44–7.54) and had reported to have acquired a nosocomial infection (AOR = 2.84, 95 % CI: 1.03–7.84). Healthcare workers are more likely to wash their hands if they have ever suffered from a nosocomial infection, received in-service training on infection control, were educated beyond ordinary level, or knew hand washing as one of the infection control measures. The Uganda Ministry of Health should provide regular in-service training in infection control measures and adequate necessary materials.Item Utilization of outreach immunization services among children in Hoima District, Uganda: a cluster survey(BMC research notes, 2017) Oryema, Paul; Babirye, Juliet N.; Baguma, Charles; Wasswa, Peter; Guwatudde, DavidThe global vaccine action plan 2011–2020 was endorsed by 194 states to equitably extend the benefits of immunization to all people. However, gaps in vaccination coverage remain in developing countries such as Uganda. One of the strategies used to tackle existing inequities is implementation of outreach immunization services to deliver services to those with poor geographical access. However, reports of inconsistent use of these services prevail; therefore understanding the factors associated with use of these services is critical for improving service delivery. This study examined the factors associated with utilization of outreach immunization services among children aged 10–23 months in Hoima District, Uganda. Results: Overall, 87.4% (416/476) of the children had ever utilized outreach immunization services. Of these, 3.6% (15/416) had completed their entire immunization schedules from outreach immunization sessions. Use of outreach services was associated with reports that the time of outreach sessions was convenient [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–6.51], community mobilization was done prior to outreach sessions (AOR 4.9, 95% CI 1.94–12.61), the caretaker knew the benefits of childhood immunizations (AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.30–4.42), and the caretaker was able to name at least four vaccine preventable diseases (AOR 3.0, 95% CI 1.13–7.88). Conclusions: Utilization of outreach immunization services in Hoima District was high but reduced with subsequent vaccine doses. Therefore, strategies targeted at retaining service users for the entire immunization schedule need to be developed and implemented. Such strategies could include health education emphasizing the benefits of childhood immunization.