Student's Journal of Health Research Africa
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SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AND HEALTH FACILITY-RELATED FACTORS AFFECTING THE UTILIZATION OF ANC SERVICES AMONG WOMEN AGED 18-40 ATTENDING ANC AT KYANKWANZI HEALTH CENTER III. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
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The study aims to identify the Socioeconomic factors and health facility-related factors affecting the utilization of ANC services among women aged 18-40 attending ANC at Kyankwanzi Health Center III.
Methodology
A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study design was used. The study targeted all pregnant mothers who attend ANC at Kyankwanzi Health Centre III aged between 18-40 years of age, with a sample size of 32 participants.
Results
The majority 14(43.7%) of the respondents were aged 18-24 years, while the least 2(6.3%) were 35-40 years. 14(43.7%) were self-employed and 6(18.8%) were formally employed.
The majority 21(65.6%) mentioned receiving advice on pregnancy management as the most important reason for attending ANC. 28(87.5%) reported that financial constraints prevent them from attending ANC visits. 21(65.6%) reported that their cultural norms or traditions in the community do not affect their decision to seek ANC services. 18(56%) said their spouse or other family members play a role in deciding whether or not to attend ANC. 17(53.1%) said the distance to the health facility greatly affects the respondents’ ability to attend ANC visits regularly. 20(62.5%) have experienced mistreatment or disrespect from healthcare staff during an ANC visit. 22(68.7%) said that the availability of skilled healthcare providers at the facility impacted the decision to seek ANC.
Conclusion
Financial barriers, medical supply costs, inadequate support from partners and families, mistreatment, or perceived lack of respect from healthcare staff contribute to delays and missed ANC visits. Factors like perceived quality of care and interactions with healthcare providers also influenced ANC attendance.
Recommendation
Enhancing healthcare staff training to promote respectful, culturally sensitive care, focusing on improving patient-provider interactions and reducing instances of mistreatment.
A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BURNOUT AMONG NURSES IN MULAGO NATIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL, KAMPALA-UGANDA.
Get PDFBackground.
Burnout is a condition that results from chronic stress characterized by depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and diminished personal accomplishment. It has been a big hindrance to planning for health care services. Research has found that burnout causes poor performance on the job characterized by being absent and unexplained poor health status. This study determined the Prevalence and factors associated with burnout among Nurses in Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala-Uganda.
Methodology.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 273 randomly selected nurses from Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala. Quantitative data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and logistic regression at a 95% level of significance in Stata version 17.
Results.
The majority of the respondents were female 190(69.9%), 76.6% (209/273) of the respondents were aged 30 years and above, 52.0% (142/273) of the participants were Assistant nursing officers by profession and 87.9% (240/273) were Christians. More than half 54.2% (148) of respondents had high levels of burnout (≥42 Score) and most of them 117 (59.4%) agreed that ward arrangement and patient numbers are breaking. While 45.8% (125) reported low levels of burnout. The factors were: inappropriate Nurse-physician relationship (aOR 3.04, p Value 0.009) feeling that the job is controlled by administrators (aOR 2.26, p value 0.035), and Unsuitable working environment (aOR 2.44 (95%, p value 0.018).
Conclusion
More than a half of nurses in Mulago National Referral Hospital experienced high levels of burnout due to factors like Unsuitable working environment and inappropriate Nurse-physician relationship.
Recommendations.
The Ministry of Health should consider recruiting more nurses to reduce workload, especially in emergency units, improve on nurse-physician relationship, and assure nurses of their job security for those who feel threatened by the administrators
BRIDGING THE GAP: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN ADDRESSING UNMET DERMATOLOGY SERVICE NEEDS IN UGANDA
Get PDFThe demand for dermatology services in Uganda far exceeds the available resources, creating significant unmet needs. Social media platforms offer a cost-effective and accessible solution for bridging this gap. This study examines the role of social media in improving dermatology services by providing education, increasing access to care, and enhancing patient-provider communication. Additionally, it highlights challenges such as misinformation, privacy concerns, and the digital divide while proposing strategies to optimize the benefits of social media in dermatology
Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae): Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Fruit Extracts.
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Medicinal plants are still the main source of therapeutic substances for treating infectious diseases that seriously endanger human health in South Africa. The current study examined the potential therapeutic applications of the young, ripe, and mature fruits of M. azedarach.
Methods
A standard protocol, which included chemical reagents and a series of reactions, was used to determine the presence of the phytochemical compound classes. The methanol and hexane extract of young, ripe, and mature fruits were applied to six bacterial strains (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus) to evaluate their antibacterial activity.
Results
Methanol extracts of young, ripe, and mature fruits tested positive for six bioactive compounds. Hexane extracts of young, ripe, and mature fruits tested positive for four bioactive compounds. All six bacterial strains were highly susceptible to the methanol extract of fruits. Klebsiella pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were strongly resistant to hexane extracts of the young fruits. Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, MRSA, and P. aeruginosa were strongly resistant to hexane extracts of the ripe fruits. Klebsiella pneumonia and E. coli were strongly resistant to hexane extracts of the mature fruits.
Conclusion
Melia azedarach fruits, whether young, ripe, or mature, contain bioactive therapeutic compounds (Carbohydrates, Amino acids, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Sterols, Steroids/Terpenoids, Phenols, Mucilage and Gums, Fixed oils, and fats) that can be used to develop medicines to treat various human ailments and display strong antibacterial potential.
Recommendations
Future research is needed to evaluate each bioactive compound's antibacterial activity and efficacy to determine which can be used as components in producing antibacterial medicines and drugs
Dermatology in Uganda: Past, Present, and Future Prospects.
Get PDFThis paper examines the progress of dermatology training, the distribution of the specialist workforce, and existing gaps in service provision in Uganda. Since the introduction of specialist training at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in 1998, the field has expanded; however, its integration into public healthcare remains insufficient.
The absence of dermatologists in regional and national referral hospitals has led to limited access to specialized care, with most dermatology services concentrated in private practice. Additionally, the widespread misuse of unregulated cosmetic products and steroid creams exacerbates the already existing skin health challenges.
Despite the Ministry of Health's recognition of dermatology as a priority field, implementation of specialist recruitment remains nonexistent. This article underscores the urgent need for structured policy interventions to incorporate dermatologists into public healthcare, regulate cosmetic beauty practices, and expand dermatology training programs across the country.
Strengthening dermatology services through strategic investments and policy execution will enhance patient care and address the growing burden of skin diseases in Uganda. The findings advocate for immediate action to bridge the gap in dermatologic healthcare and improve accessibility for underserved populations
PATIENT SATISFACTION WITH REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA IN UPPER LIMB SURGERIES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
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Assessing patient satisfaction following anesthesia is a crucial metric for both quality control and raising hospital care standards.
Objectives- For upper limb procedures, the purpose of this study is to assess and contrast the patient satisfaction levels of regional and general anesthesia.
Materials and Methods
It was an open-label, cross-sectional study that took place at Shree Narayan Medical Institute & Hospital, Bihar, India, between January 2023 to January 2024. Overall, 200 patients were enrolled in the study. Among all participants, 100 were those who underwent regional anesthesia, and the other 100 underwent general anesthesia.
Results
Most of the patients were more than 50 years of age in both the respective groups of regional anesthesia and general anesthesia groups. It was observed that 55 (55%) underwent minor surgery in the regional anesthesia group and 45 (45%) underwent major surgery. While in the general anesthesia group, 40 (40%) of patients underwent minor surgery and 60 (60%) of patients underwent major surgery. Furthermore, patients receiving regional anesthesia reported higher overall satisfaction (4.2 vs. 4.1), better pain management (4.1 vs. 3.9), and faster recovery times (4.3 vs. 3.6) compared to those receiving general anesthesia. However, general anesthesia was associated with fewer postoperative nausea (3.4 vs. 2.7) and complications (3.1 vs. 2.4).
Conclusion
The study highlights that regional anesthesia significantly improves patient satisfaction, particularly in pain management and recovery, making it a preferable option for upper limb procedures.
Recommendation
It is recommended to consider regional anesthesia for upper limb procedures due to its superior patient satisfaction, particularly in pain management and recovery
Prevalence and predictors of tuberculosis among patients with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional hospital-based study.
Get PDFBackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), particularly in developing countries where both conditions are highly prevalent. The coexistence of these diseases complicates clinical outcomes and challenges TB control efforts. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TB among diabetic patients and to identify the major predictors associated with its occurrence.
Methods
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted over 18 months (April 2024–September 2025). A total of 100 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled. Detailed demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded. Tuberculosis was diagnosed based on clinical findings, radiological evidence, sputum smear microscopy, GeneXpert assay, and histopathological confirmation when necessary. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to identify significant predictors.
ResultsThe overall prevalence of TB among diabetic patients was 14%, with pulmonary TB (11%) being more frequent than extrapulmonary TB (3%). The mean age of participants was 54.7 ± 10.8 years, and 58% were male. Univariate analysis revealed that age ≥ 60 years (p=0.02), duration of diabetes >10 years (p=0.002), poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥8%, p=0.02), low BMI (<18.5 kg/m², p=0.003), and HIV co-infection (p=0.02) were significant predictors of TB. Smoking and gender were not statistically significant.
ConclusionThe prevalence of TB among diabetic individuals remains considerably high, underscoring the bidirectional link between chronic hyperglycemia and infection risk.
RecommendationsRoutine TB screening should be integrated into diabetes clinics, and strict glycemic control with nutritional support is essential to reduce TB risk. Interdisciplinary collaboration between TB and diabetes programs is strongly recommended. Early screening for TB should be prioritized among diabetics with prolonged disease duration, poor glycemic control, or low BMI
Association of infant and young child feeding practices with diarrheal morbidity and hospitalization outcomes among under-five children in eastern India: A cross-sectional analytical study.
Get PDFBackgroundDiarrheal illnesses remain a major cause of morbidity and hospitalization among children under five years of age in India. Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices strongly influence illness severity and recovery. However, adherence to optimal feeding practices remains low in several regions.
ObjectiveTo assess the association between IYCF practices and diarrheal morbidity and hospitalization outcomes among under-five children admitted with acute diarrhoea in Eastern India.
MethodsA cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 228 children aged 1 month to 5 years presenting with acute diarrhoea to a tertiary care hospital in West Bengal during 2023–24. Information regarding feeding habits, nutritional status, immunization profile, and clinical course was obtained from caregiver interviews and medical records. Data were analysed using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with significance set at p<0.05.
ResultsEarly initiation of breastfeeding (52.2%) and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months (33.3%) were associated with milder diarrheal episodes (p=0.005 and p=0.004). Children who were top-fed (52.2%) or received mixed feeding (40.6%) had higher rates of dysentery and persistent diarrhoea (p=0.001). Under-feeding was linked with prolonged hospitalization and a greater likelihood of complications (p<0.01). Inadequate immunization status also showed significant association with complicated diarrhoea (p=0.001).
ConclusionSuboptimal IYCF practices substantially contribute to increased diarrheal severity and longer hospital stays among under-five children in Eastern India. Strengthening breastfeeding support and improving complementary feeding guidance can help reduce disease burden.
RecommendationsCommunity-level counselling, antenatal and postnatal breastfeeding support, growth monitoring during immunization visits, and targeted awareness programs are essential to improve feeding behaviours and prevent recurrent diarrheal episodes
Effect of problem-focused coping mechanisms on resilience among refugees with ptsd symptoms in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Yumbe District–Uganda: A cross-sectional study.
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Refugees in protracted displacement settings often experience trauma and chronic stress, which heighten their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Problem-focused coping refers to deliberate efforts to address stressors directly and has been shown to enhance resilience. While various coping mechanisms influence psychological recovery, problem-focused coping does require the effort to actively address and resolve stressors. It has also been shown to enhance resilience. This study examined the effect of problem-focused coping mechanisms on resilience among refugees with PTSD symptoms in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, Yumbe District, Uganda.
Methods
A cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach was employed among 108 refugees with PTSD symptoms selected from all five zones of Bidibidi Settlement between May and June 2025. Data were collected using structured, theory-informed questionnaires with clearly defined items measuring problem-focused coping and resilience. Statistical analysis was conducted using ordinal logistic regression in SPSS (version 25) to determine the predictive effect of problem-focused coping on resilience.
Results
Of the participants, 68.5% were female and 31.5% male, with the majority (50%) aged 18-24 years. Problem-focused coping had a significant positive effect on resilience (β = .353, p < .001). Refugees who engaged in proactive behaviors such as problem-solving, goal setting, and information seeking exhibited higher resilience compared to those who relied on less adaptive strategies. The model explained 38% of the variance in resilience scores, indicating that problem-focused coping is a major determinant of adaptive functioning among refugees experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Conclusion
Problem-focused coping plays a critical role in enhancing resilience among refugees with PTSD symptoms. Actively addressing stressors fosters a sense of control, self-efficacy, and psychological stability despite adversity.
Recommendations
Humanitarian organizations should integrate problem-solving skills training into psychosocial interventions. Mental health practitioners should strengthen resilience-based approaches that emphasize practical coping strategies in refugee settings
A cross-sectional study on the relationship between arm span and height among adolescents: An anthropometric approach.
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Height measurement is essential in adolescent health assessment, yet it becomes challenging when individuals present with postural abnormalities, trauma, disability, or acute illness. This study evaluated the relationship between arm span and height using a standardized anthropometric approach.
Objective
To determine the association between arm span and height among adolescents and to develop regression equations for height estimation.
Methods
A cross-sectional study involving 100 adolescents aged 13–18 years was conducted. Height and arm span were measured following standard anthropometric protocols. Sex-wise comparisons were analyzed using independent t-tests. Pearson’s correlation assessed the strength of association between the two parameters. Linear regression equations were constructed for the total sample and stratified by sex to estimate height from arm span.
Results
The mean age was 15.6 ± 1.7 years, and males constituted 52% of the sample. Overall mean height was 159.8 ± 8.2 cm, while mean arm span measured 161.4 ± 8.7 cm. Both parameters were significantly higher in males (p < 0.001). Most participants demonstrated arm span values exceeding their height. A strong correlation existed between arm span and height in the total group (r = 0.89, p < 0.001), with similarly high correlations in males (r = 0.91) and females (r = 0.87). The primary regression model for the sample was: Height = 24.3 + 0.84 × Arm Span (R² = 0.79). Sex-specific models showed R² values of 0.82 and 0.76 for males and females, respectively.
Conclusion
Arm span is a reliable predictor of height among adolescents and demonstrates strong validity across sexes. The developed regression equations can assist in clinical, field, and resource-limited settings where height cannot be directly measured.
Recommendations
Routine inclusion of arm span measurement is encouraged in adolescent anthropometric assessments. Larger multicentric studies are recommended to enhance the external validity of the predictive equations