School of Public Health (Public-Health) Collection
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ItemHelmet use and associated factors among commercial motorcyclists in Gulu City, Northern Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Background: Helmet use reduces the risk of fatal head injuries by 70% however, the prevalence of helmet use and associated factors in newly-created cities in Uganda such as Gulu is poorly studied. Objective: This study assessed helmet use prevalence and associated factors among commercial motorcyclists in Gulu City, Northern Uganda. Method: A mixed-methods, cross-sectional design combined quantitative survey of 356 randomly selected motorcyclists with Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) involving five purposively Key Informants Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze quantitative data using Stata 15 while qualitative data was analyzed thematically using Nvivo 10 software. Result: Among 356 participants, 293 (82.3%) reported helmet use, but only 50 (14.0%) of them wearing helmets always. Participants who reported challenges while using helmets (AOR: 0.37, 95% Cl: 0.19-0.72) and those who reported high cost of helmet as a barrier (AOR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.21-1.60), had lower odds of using helmet. While, those who had secondary or tertiary level of education (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.02-3.38) and those who found helmet comfortable (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.21-2.19), had higher odd of using helmets. Additionally, negligence and negative perceptions were barriers to helmets while affordability and police enforcement emerged as facilitators of helmet use. Conclusion: While most riders use helmets, very few reported always wearing them which reveals low consistency in helmet use, with affordability, challenges putting on, and level of education as predictors. Subsidizing helmet cost and strengthening law enforcement could improve helmet use.
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ItemCommunity pharmacists' role in mental health service provision in Uganda : an analysis of barriers and facilitators(Makerere University, 2025)Background: Mental disorders contribute substantially to the global burden of disease, yet many low-resource settings like Uganda lack accessible mental health services. Community pharmacists, often the most accessible health professionals, remain an under-exploited resource for early detection, counselling and referral. This study assessed how Uganda community pharmacists engage with mental health care, the obstacles they face and the support needed to expand their role. Objective: To assess the scope of mental health care services provided by community pharmacists in Uganda, and to identify the barriers and facilitators that impact the delivery of these services. Methods: A qualitative, cross-sectional design was conducted using in in-depth interviews with eighteen participants (fifteen community pharmacists and three key informants from urban (Kampala) and rural (Ishaka) settings obtained by purposive sampling. Transcripts were imported into NVivo 14 and an inductive thematic analysis was conducted to identify major themes and subthemes reflecting service scope, barriers and facilitators. Results: Pharmacists routinely offer medication dispensing, basic counselling, and patient education, but rarely screen or give adequate counselling. Key barriers include inadequate mental health training, regulatory ambiguity, high workload, stigma, and absence of private consultation spaces, with rural areas experiencing more acute resource constraints. Identified facilitators encompass enhanced mental-health curricula and continuing professional development, supportive infrastructure and clarified scope-of-practice regulations, inter-professional collaboration, and public awareness campaigns. Conclusion: Community pharmacists in Uganda represent an underutilized resource for mental health care constrained by educational, regulatory and infrastructural limitations. Addressing these impediments through targeted curriculum enhancements, regulatory reforms to expand and clarify pharmacists’ scope, infrastructure investment, and networked care models could transform pharmacies into front-line hubs for mental health promotion, early detection and referral.
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ItemKnowledge, attitudes and practices of community members on the safe water chain maintenance in Kityerera sub-county, Mayuge district(Makerere University, 2025)Water contamination remains a leading cause of waterborne diseases, often occurring at different points along the water chain from source to storage. In Mayuge District, the prevalence of diarrheal diseases is on the rise despite ongoing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions. These diarrheal diseases are largely attributed to the use of open and contaminated water sources, poor hygiene, and inadequate sanitation. Access to safe water remains low in Kityerera Sub- County, where communities often rely on contaminated lakes and shallow wells. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding safe water chain maintenance among households in Kityerera Sub- County, Mayuge District. This was a cross-sectional study utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected from 424 household heads using a structured questionnaire, and from 5 key informants through interviews. The questionnaire was translated into Lusoga, pretested, and administered by trained research assistants after obtaining ethical approval from Makerere University School of Public Health. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 26. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) were scored, with average scores used as cut-offs. Respondents scoring above average were categorized as knowledgeable, having positive attitudes, or good practices. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with safe water chain practices, with variables considered significant at p<0.05. Of the 424 respondents, 66.5% (n=283) were female, while 33.5% (n=142) were male. The majority had attained primary education 76.7% (n=325), followed by secondary 19.1% (n=81) and tertiary 4.2% (n=18). The level of knowledge on safe water chain maintenance was found to be fair, with 60.6% (257) of the participants being knowledgeable. Attitude was high, with 90.3% (n=383) of respondents showing a positive attitude and 66.7% (n=283) demonstrated good safe water chain practices. These practices were significantly associated with education level particularly secondary (AOR=4.7; 95% CI: 1.03–21.44; p=0.045), proximity to the water source especially those residing within 21-100 meters (AOR=4.1; 95% CI: 2.19–7.66; p<0.01), and awareness about the safe water chain (AOR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.11–3.75; p=0.021). Community attitudes were positive, although knowledge and safe water chain practices were fair. The study recommends increased health education, improved access to safe water sources, and stronger community engagement to promote consistent and proper safe water chain practices.
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ItemKnowledge, attitudes and practices on indoor air pollution exposures among the residents of Kitimbwa Town Council Kayunga district Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Indoor air pollution (IAP) poses a significant health risk, particularly in developing countries like Uganda where reliance on traditional cooking fuels is common. People in rural areas live in households with limited ventilation, experience higher proportions of exposures since they spend a large proportion of their time indoors. However, there is still limited evidence on appropriate practice to reduce the burden of indoor air pollution exposures and its related factors such as awareness and attitude towards the practices of the rural residents. To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on Indoor Air Pollution exposures among the residents of Kitimbwa Town Council, Kayunga District. A cross-sectional study was conducted employing a number of methods that include participant observations and three key informant interviews with the residents of Kitimbwa Town Council, Kayunga district. This was done through interviewer-administered questionnaire that was administered to a sample size of 107 respondents. Data collected from this study were downloaded into an Excel sheet for cleaning and exported to Stata MP 14.0 (64-bit) for univariate analysis, while qualitative data was analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Results: The study revealed that 80.4% (86/107) of respondents were knowledgeable about indoor air pollution. The study also revealed that 79.4% (84/107) of the respondents believed that they were at a risk of Indoor Air Pollution exposures. This study established that knowledge about indoor air pollution among residents was relatively high. Despite this awareness, there remained a significant gap between knowledge and implementation of effective preventive measures and a better understanding of the full range of health impacts. The findings also revealed generally a positive attitude towards mitigating indoor air pollution. A high proportion of the respondents believed that they were at risk of exposure to indoor air pollution. Additionally, most of the respondents had considered switching to cleaner fuels although cultural norms and economic concerns strongly influenced their attitudes.
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ItemKnowledge, attitudes and practices of roadside vendors on outdoor air pollution exposure in central business area, Kampala city central division, Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Air pollution is ranked among the leading risk factors for global morbidity and mortality. Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of respiratory conditions such as asthma, as well as cardiovascular illnesses and metabolic diseases. Roadside vendors are at a heightened risk of exposure to ambient air pollution from various sources especially vehicle emissions during periods of high traffic on roads. The study therefore assessed knowledge, attitudes and practices of roadside vendors on outdoor air pollution exposure in Kampala central business area. This was a quantitative study that employed 397 participants among roadside vendors in Central Division, Kampala City. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire containing socio-demographic information, alongside questions regarding knowledge, attitudes and practices towards outdoor air pollution exposure. Data was analyzed using STATA 14 software and employed univariate analysis. Most respondents were female 219/397 (55%), with a mean age of 32.1 years. Most of the respondents 185/397 (46%) were married, with the majority 220/397 (55%) having attained secondary level, but very few (37/397) 9.3% had obtained higher education from university and other tertiary institutions. The majority of respondents had good knowledge on outdoor air pollution 332/397 (84%). Many of the respondents had fair attitudes towards outdoor air pollution exposure 218/397 (55%). Specifically, 334/397 (84%) thought that they were at risk of outdoor air pollution exposure during work hours, 339/397 (85%) believed that outdoor air pollution exposure needed urgent attention, and 288/397 (73%) agreed that personal protective equipment reduces outdoor air pollution exposure. The majority of respondents were involved in unfavourable practices such as working for long (between 13-16) hours 280/397 (71%) and during heavy traffic hours 334/397 (84%) because of more customers present during those periods 236/397 (59%). Many of the roadside vendors had good knowledge and fair attitudes towards outdoor air pollution. However, practices especially those to reduce exposure to outdoor air pollution were poor. There is a need for increased awareness and positive behavioural change programmes such as health campaigns on outdoor air pollution among roadside vendors in Kampala.