Browsing by Author "Wekha, Godfrey"

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    Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of first aid among taxi operators in a Kampala City Taxi Park, Uganda: A cross-sectional study
    (African journal of emergency medicine, 2022) Ssewante, Nelson; Wekha, Godfrey; Namusoke, Moureen; Sanyu, Bereta; Nkwanga, Ayub; Nalunkuma, Racheal; Olum, Ronald; Katumba Ssentongo, Lawrence; Ahabwe, Rachel; Kalembe, Sharon Esther; Nalwoga Nantagya, Vanessa; Kalanzi, Joseph
    Road traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death in Uganda. Taxi operators are at a high risk of RTA and can potentially be first responders. This study, aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of first aid among taxi operators in the new taxi park, Kampala Uganda. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 among taxi drivers and conductors in the New Taxi Park, Kampala City, Uganda. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from taxi operators after informed consent. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression were performed in STATA 16 to assess the association between first aid knowledge and demographics. P < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: A total of 345 participants, majority males (n = 338, 98%) aged between 18 and 45 years (76.5%), were recruited. Although 97.7% (n = 337) had heard about first aid, only 19.4% (n = 67) had prior first aid training. Overall mean knowledge score was 40.1% (SD = 14.5%), with 29.9% (n = 103) having good knowledge (≥50%). Participants who had witnessed more than five accidents (aOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.7–4.8, p < 0.001), those with first aid kits (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.0–3.0, p = 0.38) were more likely to have good knowledge while those below post-secondary education level i.e., Primary (AOR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1–0.5, p ≤0.001) and secondary (aOR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1–0.6, p = 0.001), were less likely to have good knowledge. About 97% and 93% perceived first aid as important and were willing to undergo training, respectively; however, only 69% were willing to give first aid. Only 181(52.5%) had ever attended to accident victims. Conclusion: Majority of taxi operators had poor first aid knowledge. Factors associated with good knowledge included level of education, number of accidents witnessed, having first aid kits. Although their attitudes were favorable, practice was poor. Comprehensive training and refresher courses can help increase first aid knowledge, and improving practice.
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    Colorectal Cancer in Uganda: A 10-Year, Facility-Based, Retrospective Study
    (Cancer Management and Research, 2021) Wekha, Godfrey; Ssewante, Nelson; Iradukunda, Angelique; Jurua, Micheal; Nalwoga, Shadia; Lanyero, Sharon; Olum, Ronald; Bongomin, Felix
    Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common type of gastrointestinal malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths for both sexes worldwide. Although the burden of CRC is highest in developed countries, reports are indicating a rise in the incidence of early-onset CRC in developing countries. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of CRC among patients hospitalized with lower gastrointestinal complaints at a tertiary health facility in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a 10-year retrospective chart review of patients admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2020. We reviewed all charts of patients admitted to the lower gastrointestinal tract (GIT) ward. Charts with grossly missing data, pediatric patients, and those from other non-lower GIT specialties were excluded. Results: Data of 1476 unique eligible patients were analyzed. Of these,138 had a diagnosis of CRC (prevalence: 9.3%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 6.5–11.7%). Among patients with CRC, the female:male ratio was 1:1. The most common site for CRC was the rectum (59.8%, n= 79). For the 138 participants with CRC, 44 had staging data with 72.8% (n=32) having advanced disease, that is, stage 3 or 4. Factors independently associated with CRC were age ≥50 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.3, 95% CI: 2.6–7.1, p < 0.001), female sex (aOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2 −2.8, p = 0.005), being widowed (aOR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3–5.0, p = 0.006), and presence of any risk factor for CRC (aOR: 5.3, 95% CI: 2.9–9.9, p < 0.001). Conclusion: CRC is relatively common among patients hospitalized with lower GIT complaints, particularly among women and those with known risk factors for CRC. Awareness creation and screening programs should be instituted to allow early diagnosis of CRC in our setting.
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    Fear of COVID-19 and the Media Influence on Herbal Medication Use in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
    (Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 2021) Musoke, Phillip; Nantaayi, Brandy; Kato Ndawula, Rodney; Wannyana, Babrah; Ssewante, Nelson; Wekha, Godfrey; Olum, Ronald; Nakyagaba, Lourita; Nassozi, Dianah Rhoda; Nabukeera, Germinah; Kanyike, Andrew Marvin; Ojilong, Daniel; Madut Akech, Gabriel; Kajjimu, Jonathan; Kiwumulo, Joshua; Agira, Drake; Okot, Jerom; Bongomin, Felix
    The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created fear in people around the world. This has led to the widespread use of various herbal remedies in its prevention and treatment regardless of the paucity of scientific evidence about their safety and efficacy. This study assessed the fear of COVID-19 and the influence of media on the use of herbal medicine to prevent or treat COVID-19 in Uganda. Methods: In the first 2 weeks of July 2021, a descriptive online cross-sectional study was carried out anonymously in the general population in Uganda. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on herbal medicine use and the influence of media. Fear of COVID-19 was rated using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Results: We recruited 488 participants, 273 (55.9%) were female, with a median age of 25 (range: 18–73) years. Sixty-seven (57.8%) participants had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. The mean FCV-19S score was 21.7 SD 5.9 with 53.3% reporting high levels of COVID-19 fear. About 57.4% of participants reported using herbal remedies either to prevent or treat COVID-19-like symptoms. Media was the main source of information, with more than 80% of the participants reporting seeing or accessing information about herbal medication use. Women (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.74, 95% CI: 1.2–2.5, p=0.003) and people with a previously confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis (aOR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.35–7.14, p=0.008) had a statistically significantly higher FCV-19S score. Being unemployed (aOR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3, p=0.008) and a female (aOR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.1–2.3, p=0.012) were statistically significantly associated with herbal medicine use. Participants who used herbal remedies had a higher median FCV-19S score compared to non-users (23 versus 21, p<0.001). Conclusion: The use of herbal medicines to treat or prevent COVID-19 is a widespread practice among the general population in Uganda amidst the high levels of fear of COVID-19.
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    Patients’ Involvement in Decision-Making During Healthcare in a Developing Country: A Cross- Sectional Study
    (Patient preference and adherence, 2021) Nuwagaba, Julius; Olum, Ronald; Bananyiza, Ali; Wekha, Godfrey; Rutayisire, Meddy; Kato Agaba, Keneth; Chekwech, Gaudencia; Nabukalu, Jalidah; Nanyonjo, Genevieve Gloria; Namagembe, Robinah; Nantongo, Sylvia; Lubwama, Margaret; Besigye, Innocent; Kiguli, Sarah
    Patient autonomy and participation have a significant impact on patient satisfaction and compliance with treatment. We aimed to establish and describe the level of shared decision-making (SDM) among the patients in a developing country. Uganda is a low resource country with a 2019 GDP of 35.17 billion US dollars. In some regions, over 60% of Ugandans live below the national poverty line and most of them depend on the underfunded health care system. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out among the outpatients attending Kisenyi Health center IV, Kampala, Uganda. An interviewer-administered questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale was used to assess patients’ SDM. All statistical analysis was performed using STATA 15 software. Results: A total of 326 patients participated in this study. Majority of the participants were females (n=241, 73.9%) and aged 18–35 years (n=218, 66.9%). Only 22 (7%) of the participants knew the name of their consulting doctor. Most of the participants, 84% were given enough time to narrate their symptoms. Overall, only 11.3% (n=37) of the participants had adequately participated in SDM. The overall mean score of participation in SDM was 2.7 (SD:0.8). Participants who knew the name of their consulting doctor were approximately 11 times more likely to participate in SDM (OR: 10.7, 95% CI: 4.2–27.0, P<0.0001). Conclusion: The majority of patients attending Kisenyi Health Center IV did not adequately participate in SDM. Continued medical education should be organized for healthcare professionals to promote SDM.
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    Perspective of Medical Students on the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey of Nine Medical Schools in Uganda
    (JMIR public health and surveillance, 2020) Olum, Ronald; Kajjimu, Jonathan; Kanyike, Andrew Marvin; Chekwech, Gaudencia; Wekha, Godfrey; Nassozi, Dianah Rhoda; Kemigisa, Juliet; Mulyamboga, Paul; Kabagambe Muhoozi, Oscar; Nsenga, Lauryn; Lyavala, Musilim; Asiimwe, Asaph; Bongomin, Felix
    The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a global public health concern affecting over 5 million people and posing a great burden on health care systems worldwide. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of medical students in Uganda on the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online, descriptive cross-sectional study in mid-April 2020, using WhatsApp Messenger. Medical students in 9 of the 10 medical schools in Uganda were approached through convenience sampling. Bloom’s cut-off of 80% was used to determine good knowledge (≥12 out of 15), positive attitude (≥20 out of 25), and good practice (≥12 out of 15). Results: The data of 741 first- to fifth-year medical students, consisting of 468 (63%) males with a mean age of 24 (SD 4) years, were analyzed. The majority (n=626, 84%) were pursuing Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees. Overall, 671 (91%) had good knowledge, 550 (74%) had a positive attitude, and 426 (57%) had good practices. Knowledge was associated with the 4th year of study (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.3; P<.001). Attitude was associated with the female sex (aOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-1; P=.04) and TV or radio shows (aOR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6-2.1; P=.01). Practices were associated with the ≥24 years age category (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1; P=.02) and online courses (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.2; P=.03). In total, 592 (80%) medical students were willing to participate in frontline care if called upon. Conclusions: Medical students in Uganda have sufficient knowledge of COVID-19 and will be a large reservoir for health care response when the need arises.