Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Covid-19-Related Mental Health Burdens: Impact Of Educational Level And Relationship Status Among Low-Income Earners Of Western Uganda, Ann Monima Lemuel, Ibe Michael Usman, Keneth Iceland Kasozi, Saad Alghamdi, Eric Osamudiamwen Aigbogun, Victor Archibong, Robinson Ssebuufu, Annet Kabanyoro, Josiah Eseoghene Ifie, Dominic Terkimbi Swase, Fred Ssempijja, John Tabakwot Ayuba, Kevin Matama, Hope Onohuean, Stellamaris Kembabazi, Rachael Henry, Said Odoma, Helen Yusuf, Adam Moyosore Afodun, Hamza M. Assaggaf, Emmanuel Kairania, Akhmed Aslam, Owoisinke Okon, Gaber El-Saber Batiha, Susan Christina Welburn

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health with the level of education, relationship status, and awareness on mental health among low-income earners in Western Uganda.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among 253 participants. Anxiety, anger, and depression were assessed using a modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, and Beck Depression Inventory item tools, respectively.

Results: The majority of our respondents were male (n = 150/253, 59.3), had a secondary level of education (104/253, 41.1), and were single (137/253, 54.2). No formal education and primary education (r …

Does Mass Drug Administration Of Azithromycin Reduce Child Mortality?, Samwel Gatimu, Rachel Kimani

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Child mortality remains prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries, with the sub-Saharan Africa region accounting for the largest under-5 mortality rates. Although under-5 mortality rates have significantly decreased, most countries in sub-Saharan Africa with high mortality rates are unlikely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of at least as low as 25 deaths per 1000 livebirths by 2030.

Social Networks And Barriers To Art Adherence Among Young Adults (18–24 Years) Living With Hiv At Selected Primary Health Facilities Of South-Western Uganda: A Qualitative Study, Noble Ajuna, Brian Tumusiime, Joseph Amanya, Sharon Awori, Godfrey Z. Rukundo, John Baptist Asiimwe

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

Young adults living with HIV (YALWH) struggle to maintain high levels of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) because of numerous barriers. This study describes the social networks of YALWH (18–24 years), their barriers to ART adherence, and the perceived role of social networks in overcoming those barriers.

Methods

This study used a qualitative descriptive research design. Twenty-three (23) YALWH who were on ART for a period of greater than one (1) month and had consented to participate in the study were purposively selected from two primary health care facilities in southwestern Uganda. We held four (4) focus group discussions …

Predictors Of Fear Of Childbirth And Depressive Symptoms Among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Survey In Pwani Region, Tanzania, Agnes Fredrick Massae, Margareta Larsson, Sebalda Leshabari, Columba Mbekenga, Andrea Barnabas Pembe, Agneta Skoog Svanberg

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Many women experience fear of childbirth (FoB) and depressive symptoms (DS) during pregnancy, but little is known about FoB among Tanzanian women. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of FoB and DS among pregnant women and determine predictors of each and both, focusing on sociodemographic and obstetric predictors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at six health facilities in two districts in Tanzania between 2018 and 2019. In total, 694 pregnant women with gestational age between 32 and 40weeks and expecting vaginal delivery were consecutively recruited and assessed for FoB and DS. We collected data …

The Conundrum Of Low Covid-19 Mortality Burden In Sub-Saharan Africa: Myth Or Reality?, Janica Adams, Mary J. Mackenzie, Adeladza Kofi Amegah, Alex Ezeh, Muktar A. Gadanya, Akinyinka Omigbodun, Ahmed Sarki, Paul Thistle, Abdhalah K. Ziraba, Saverio Stranges, Michael Silverman

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

The burden of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been substantially lower compared to other regions of the world. Extensive morbidity and mortality were not observed among countries in SSA during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. To explain this phenomenon, several hypotheses have been formulated, including the low median age of the population in most SSA countries, lack of long-term care facilities, cross-protection from other local coronaviruses, insufficient testing and reporting resulting in an undercounting of COVID-related deaths, genetic risk factors, or the benefit of early lockdowns that were extensive in many SSA countries. Early lockdowns …

Translation And Validation Of Training Needs Analysis Questionnaire Among Reproductive, Maternal And Newborn Health Workers In Tanzania, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Columba Mbekenga, Kahabi Isangula, Loveluck Mwasha, Eunice Pallangyo, Grace Edwards, James Orwa, Michaela Mantel, Micheal Mugerwa, Leonard Subi, Secilia Mrema, David Siso, Edna Selestine, Marleen Temmerman

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Continuous professional development (CPD) has been reported to enhance healthcare workers’ knowledge and skills, improve retention and recruitment, improve the quality of patient care, and reduce patient mortality. Therefore, validated training needs assessment tools are important to facilitate the design of effective CPD programs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaires. Participants were healthcare workers in reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health (RMNH) from seven hospitals, 12 health centers, and 17 dispensaries in eight districts of Mwanza Region, Tanzania. The training needs analysis (TNA) tool that was used for data collection was adapted and translated into …

Prevalence Of The Use Of Herbal Medicines Among Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, John Baptist Asiimwe, Prakash B. Nagendrappa, Esther C. Atukunda, Mauda M. Kamatenesi, Grace Nambozi, Casim U. Tolo, Patrick E. Ogwang, Ahmed Sarki

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Although herbal medicines are used by patients with cancer in multiple oncology care settings, the magnitude of herbal medicine use in this context remains unclear. )e purpose of this review was to establish the prevalence of herbal medicine use among patients with cancer, across various geographical settings and patient characteristics (age and gender categories).

Methods: Electronic databases that were searched for data published, from January 2000 to January 2020, were Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, Embase, and African Index Medicus. Eligible studies reporting prevalence estimates of herbal medicine use amongst cancer patients were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. Studies …

Effect Of Community-Based Interventions Targeting Female Sex Workers Along The Hiv Care Cascade In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Lydia Atuhaire, Olatunji Adetokunboh, Constance Shumba, Peter S. Nyasulu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Female sex workers are extremely vulnerable and highly susceptible to being infected with human immunodeficiency virus. As a result, community-based targeted interventions have been recommended as one of the models of care to improve access to HIV services and continued engagement in care. We conducted a systematic review to (1) assess the effect of FSW-targeted community interventions on the improvement of HIV services access along the treatment cascade and (2) describe community-based interventions that positively affect continuation in HIV care across the HIV treatment cascade for FSWs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We defined the 5 steps that …

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Patients With An Unscheduled Return Visit Within 72 Hours To The Paediatric Emergency Centre At A Private Tertiary Referral Hospital In Kenya, Kenneth Rintaari, Rachel Kimani, Horatius Musembi, Samwel Gatimu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Patients’ unscheduled return visits (URVs) to the paediatric emergency Centre (PEC) contribute to overcrowding and affect health service delivery and overall quality of care. This study assessed the characteristics and outcomes of paediatric patients with URVs (within 72 hours) to the PEC at a private tertiary hospital in Kenya.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all URVs within 72 hours among paediatric patients aged ≤15 years between 1 July and 31 December 2018 at the tertiary hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

Results: During the study period, 1.6% (n=172) of patients who visited the PEC returned within 72 hours, …

Use Of Face Masks To Limit The Spread Of The Covid-19 Among Western Ugandans: Knowledge, Attitude And Practices, Franck Katembo Sikakulya, Robinson Ssebuufu, Simon Binezero Mambo, Theophilus Pius, Annet Kabanyoro, Elizabeth Kamahoro, Yusuf Mulumba, Jean Kakule Muhongya, Patrick Kyamanywa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

The world is grappling with an ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic using preventive measures such as personal hygiene, face masks, restrictions on travel and gatherings in communities, in addition to a race to find a vaccine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the western Uganda community on the proper use of face masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Methods A cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire was carried out from 1^st July to 10^th July 2020 among western Ugandans of the consent age of 18 years and above. Data was …

Knowledge About Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine Usage Among Nurses At A Tertiary Hospital In Tanzania, Wilson Paulo Lomnyack, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Stewart Mbelwa, Kahabi Isangula, Zephania Saitabau Abraham

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) provides an air pressure that maintains the patency of the airway in patients with a variety of breathing problems. Nurses provide the hour to hour management of patients who require CPAP. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of nurses about CPAP machine usage at the tertiary hospital in Tanzania which serves the largest number of patients who require CPAP.

Method: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from March to June 2019 at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) where 149 nurses who consented …

Professional Image Of Nursing And Midwifery In East Africa: An Exploratory Analysis, Eunice Ndirangu, Ahmed Sarki, Columba Mbekenga, Grace Edwards

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Evidence suggests that there is a negative image of nursing and midwifery that does not promote these professions as attractive career options. Furthermore, there is a paucity of studies documenting how nursing and midwifery is perceived in East Africa and where such studies exist they are country-specific. The aim of this study was to explore views regarding the image of nursing and midwifery among nurses and midwives in three East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Methods: An exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study administered online using Survey Monkey Questionnaires assessed the views and perceptions of nurses and midwives regarding the …

Open And Distance Learning Programs For Nursing And Midwifery Education In East Africa: Protocol For A Scoping Review, Kahabi Isangula, Grace Edwards, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Columba Mbekenga, Eunice Pallangyo, Ahmed Sarki, Eunice Ndirangu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: In the face of growing modernity and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, open and distance learning (ODL) is considered to play an important role in increasing access to education worldwide. There is a robust evidence base demonstrating its cost effectiveness in comparison with conventional class-based teaching; however, the transition to this new paradigm of learning for nursing and midwifery courses has been difficult in low-income countries. While there are notable efforts to increase internet and education access to health care professionals, not much is known about ODL for nurses and midwives in East African countries.

Objective: The objective …