Academic submissions (CHS)

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    Percieved risk of acquiring infections and practices of infection prevention among caregivers of patients with HIV/AIDS and T.B AT Hoima Regional Referral Hospital
    (Makerere University, 2019-05) Bahemuka, Macris
    Background: Caregivers play an essential role in patient care within healthcare facilitiesand home based care in Uganda through provision of physical, social economic, emotional and other forms of support services like comforting and feedingthe patient at all times. Aims: The purpose of this study wasto explore the roles of primary caregivers, their perceived risk of acquiring infections and infection prevention practices while providing care to patients with infectious diseases. Methodology:An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using an in depth interview guide. 12-25 adult primary caregivers, who are providing care to patients with HIV/AIDS and T.Badmitted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Hoima district at the time of the study were recruited. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was done. Results: The following themes emerged; Perceived risk of acquiring infections through direct and indirect contact with blood and body fluids and air droplets, practices of infection prevention which included cleanliness, use of PPEs, segregation and avoidance practices. Conclusion: The study revealed that most caregivers of patients with infectious diseases in particular HIV and T.B perceived that they were at risk of acquiring infections from their patients while providing care. However, the ways of acquiring these infections was not matching bio medically approved ways of transmission thus putting them at risk of acquiring infections while providing care. Recommendation: There should be programs to always orient caregivers especially those who have patients with infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and T.B among others about their roles, different ways of transmission of infections and practices of infection prevention during the time of admission of their clients.
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    Percieved risk of acquiring infections and practices of infection prevention among care givers of patients with HIVAIDS and T.B at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital
    (Makerere University, 2019-05) Bahemuka, Macris
    Caregivers play an essential role in patient care within healthcare facilitiesand home based care in Uganda through provision of physical, social economic, emotional and other forms of support services like comforting and feedingthe patient at all times. Aims: The purpose of this study wasto explore the roles of primary caregivers, their perceived risk of acquiring infections and infection prevention practices while providing care to patients with infectious diseases. Methodology:An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using an in depth interview guide. 12-25 adult primary caregivers, who are providing care to patients with HIV/AIDS and T.Badmitted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Hoima district at the time of the study were recruited. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was done. Results: The following themes emerged; Perceived risk of acquiring infections through direct and indirect contact with blood and body fluids and air droplets, practices of infection prevention which included cleanliness, use of PPEs, segregation and avoidance practices. Conclusion: The study revealed that most caregivers of patients with infectious diseases in particular HIV and T.B perceived that they were at risk of acquiring infections from their patients while providing care. However, the ways of acquiring these infections was not matching bio medically approved ways of transmission thus putting them at risk of acquiring infections while providing care. Recommendation: There should be programs to always orient caregivers especially those who have patients with infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and T.B among others about their roles, different ways of transmission of infections and practices of infection prevention during the time of admission of their
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    IUD contraceptive use among women of reproductive age: a qualitative study at the family planning clinic of Nakaseke general hospital
    (Makerere university, 2019-05) Nambalirwa, Teddy
    Back ground: Uganda has a high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of 343 per 100000 live births. This could be due to unwanted pregnancies thus leading to major complications such as abortions, hemorrhage. However, to reverse this high maternal death, long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) which includes Intra Uterine Devices (IUD) had been proposed in the developing countries. Despite availing the necessary contraceptive, Uganda still has a very low uptake of (IUD) among women of reproductive age at 0.6 percent and their discontinuation rate in the first three months of use is also high. Objective: The general objective of this study was to explore the reasons why women don’t want to take up contraceptive IUD through assessing the barriers that may influence their use and experiences they face. Methodology: An exploratory qualitative study was employed using in depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) to collect data of experiences, barriers and reasons attached, from women of reproductive ages (WRA) in the family planning clinic of Nakaseke General Hospital. A purposive sample of 8 women were interviewed. A thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data. Results: Mothers using IUD reported positive experiences including remaining with sexual feelings, satisfaction with the method, long term method, preventing against un wanted pregnancy and normal menstrual periods. However, some reported negative experiences which included; pain after insertion, bleeding after insertion, UTI and continuous virginal examinations. The study also revealed different motivations using IUD which included, information from health workers, friends and media. For mothers who were using other methods of family planning reported that barriers which prevent them from using IUD included; fear due to what IUD users have experienced, myths and misconceptions and financial constraints. Conclusion: The experiences were mixed, both positive and negative, but generally women were satisfied with the IUD use. The motivators were their drivers to the method and barriers were reported to influence the IUD use. There is need for mothers who have used IUD and are satisfied with the method to talk to other mothers so that we can increase IUD use as a method of Family planning.
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    Facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening among female undergraduate students of Makerere University
    (Makerere University, 2019-09) Namuyingo Brenda, Desire
    There is a higher Human Papilloma Virus peak prevalence in younger women (18-25 years) of university age. The undergraduate university students are more at a risk of acquiring cervical cancer because they are at the stage of exploring which predisposes them to risky behavior like early sexual intercourse and multiple sexual partners among others. This creates a need for cervical cancer screening in the population. The facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening have been studied in the Ugandan general population but little is known among University students which this study is taking interest. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the facilitators, barriers and background factors associated to cervical cancer screening among female undergraduate students in Makerere University. Methods; Four hundred twenty-two (422) female undergraduate students of Makerere University who fit the eligibility criteria were recruited in this descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study. A self- administered semi structured questionnaire was administered to these participants chosen by convenient sampling. Data collected was be analyzed using SPSS version 23 software and logistic regression models was used. Results; Less than a half of (21.1%) of the participants had ever screened for cervical cancer. At multivariate analysis, only year of study and married status were associated to cervical cancer screening with a P-values were of (0.015) and (0.001) with a (1.173-4.261) and (1.594-6.130) 95% C.I respectively. The facilitators agreed upon by participants included: Access to free cervical cancer screening services, adequate knowledge about cervical cancer screening and advice from a friend, family or physician among others. The reported barriers to screening were fear of bad result, low risk perception and fear of embarrassment among others. Conclusions and recommendations; Among the female undergraduate students of Makerere University, only 21.1% had screened for cervical cancer. Therefore there is a critical need for university based cancer education campaign on cervical cancer and the benefits of screening. Screening services should be integrated into the existing university medical services.
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    Factors associated with HIV-related stigma among adults from fishing communities around Lake George, Kasese District.
    (Makerere University, 2019-05) Tukamuhebwa Susan
    Introduction: HIV- related stigma has been identified as a key obstacle to diagnosis of HIV, linkage to care, retention in care, adherence to ART and achieving viral suppression, the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals as well as ending the pandemic by 2030. Since stigma levels are high in most at risk populations, this study therefore aimed to assess the factors associated with HIV- related stigma among adults from fishing communities around lake George in Kasese district. Methods: A cross sectional study where interviewer administered questionnaires and data abstraction forms were used to collect data from 148 HIV positive adults from fishing communities enrolled consecutively. HIV- related stigma was assessed using the 6-item internalized AIDS related stigma scale (IARSS). Data were checked for completeness, entered to SPSS, cleaned and analysed. Univariate analysis was done using descriptive statistics while bivariate analysis was by binary logistic regression. Lastly, binary logistic regression was conducted to assess factors associated with HIV related stigma. Statistical significance was predicted by a p value of less than 0.05, the strength of association measured using odds ratios and 95% confidence interval. Findings are presented as text, tables and charts. Results: In general, 81.8% of the participants endorsed at least 1 of the six IARSS items. The average score was 2.46 with a median score of 2. Mean monthly income, self-rated health status and disclosure to a casual sexual partner were significantly associated with HIV related stigma (aOR 4.858, 7.256 and 0.157) respectively. More than six in 10 respondents did not have viral load results on file. Conclusions and recommendations: There were high levels of HIV- related stigma among the study participants which was associated with less average monthly income, poor self-rated health status and non-disclosure to a casual sexual partner. Also, most participants’ files were missing key data. Since stigma hinders all points of the HIV care continuum, stigma reduction interventions should be specifically tailored for fishing communities. In addition, there is need for other income generating activities, counselling and client education as well as harmonized viral load testing strategies