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Access to maternal, sexual and reproductive health services by persons with disabilities in the central region of Uganda
No full textA thesis submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training as a formal requirement for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work of Makerere UniversityPersons with disabilities are a marginalised population, and their access to Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health (MSRH) has been neglected for decades due to social and cultural myths, beliefs and misconceptions regarding disability. Although there has been a tremendous improvement in access to MSRH services for people without disabilities globally, persons with disabilities in Uganda continue to face significant barriers in access to reproductive health and related services. These include attitudinal, institutional (in the form of policies and laws that discriminate persons with disabilities), environmental and physical barriers, and barriers to functional reproductive related information in accessible formats. It is therefore important to investigate access to MSRH services by persons with disabilities in Uganda, especially in the COVID-19 era where access to the above services has become increasingly difficult. This was a qualitative research methodology. The research design was phenomenological and descriptive (Groenewald, 2004). Phenomenological studies examine human experiences through the descriptions provided by the people involved, in this case persons with disabilities (Parse et al., 1985). The goal of phenomenological research design is to describe the meanings that experiences hold for each subject. I interviewed 40 persons with disabilities as in-depth respondents and 20 key informants from the districts of Kampala, Luwero, Wakiso and Mpigi. Data was analysed using NVivo software that supported the identification of themes presented in these findings. The findings reveal significant higher, institutional, attitudinal and individual barriers to accessing MSRH services for persons with disabilities. Higher level barriers include the lack of a deliberate policy that mainstreams the MSRH needs of persons with disabilities. Institutional barriers include inaccessible health facilities and inaccessible health information. Attitudinal barriers encompass prejudice, discrimination, stigma and stereotyping on the part of health workers. Individual barriers include: the individual’s lack of knowledge of contraceptives; their perceptions about family planning; cultural beliefs and misconceptions surrounding the Person with Disabilities; their distance from home to the hospital; the lack of support from their family; and the lack of their informed consent in the provision of MSRH services. Barriers substantially associated with COVID-19 included the lack of transport to attend MSRH services, the lack of prioritization of MSRH needs (such as converting MSRH centres into COVID-19 treatment centres), and the limiting of the number of times persons with disabilities might attend antenatal and postnatal care. This study reveals significant barriers in access to MSRH services for persons with disabilities, calling for deliberate strategies to promote inclusive MSRH services in line with Article 25 of the Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) and Goals Three and Five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Social media in the enhancement of evangelization among the youth of Pakele Parish in light of Christus Vivit
No full textA research dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Master’s Degree in Religious and Theological Studies of Makerere UniversityThe Net has transformed into a social network, a place of participation and sharing. It connects ordinary people who want to share thoughts, knowledge and parts of their lives as well (Spadaro, 2014). Many people use social media to keep in contact with friends and families and some use it to communicate and interact with different communities. Inevitably, this shapes the way participants conceive the world and their own place particularly the youth. In this line of thought, human life and technological history have it that Mass (social) media is now at the centre of human life especially in the situation of the youth of today. The researcher identifies this as possible signs and indications of effective evangelization among the youth and the people of God. On a sad note, however, majority of the youth in Pakele Parish and elsewhere (Uganda) and in the world have seemingly failed to utilize this opportunity very well for proper development (evangelization). As a result, social media that should have given them opportunity to know Christ has turned out to be a nuisance sometimes. Hence, instead of carrying out evangelization with social media, they specialize in immorality, for example, fuelling violence, hate and promoting nude pictures, addiction, development of habits like self-isolation, copy and paste behaviours, spreading of rumour, inadequate sleep which leads to depression, low self-esteem, cyber bullying and hacking. This is a perfect mismatch because these behaviours are directly opposite to evangelization strategy. This paper presents findings of the study of young people’s use of social media for effective evangelization. The study used questionnaires with one hundred eighty one (181) youth and in-depth interview with sixteen (16) people aged 13-35 years in Pakele Parish. Findings showed that many of the young people in this setup use smart phones, which is a possible sign for evangelization. And WhatsApp is so far the most popular Social Network Site (SNS) used by the young people. However, they keep shifting from one site to another depending on their feelings which makes them to look for what gratifies their feelings, hence, avoiding that which is hard but necessary; and eventually, it has resulted into mischievous behaviours among them. The real gap the study, therefore, identified is lack of serious integrity and commitment to the use of social media for evangelization among the youth of Pakele Parish. Hence, there is need to seriously educate the youth on the value of integrity which has so far defeated their pursuit, as a way of helping them to positively use social media for effective evangelization. This is a civic duty and it demands that we lay off our egos, the researcher conclude
Determining the factors contributing to real-time ARV Stock Status (RASS) data quality and reporting rate in West Acholi sub-region, Uganda
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Degree of Master of Science in Pharmaceuticals and Health Supplies Management of Makerere University.Introduction: The World Health Organization aims for universal HIV control by 2030, requiring robust healthcare infrastructure and efficient supply chain management. In Uganda, a functional real-time ARV Stock Status (RASS) monitoring system and dashboard was developed to provide real-time intelligent data and reliable and accurate information on antiretroviral drugs and other HIV commodities. This integrates data from different information systems for timely decision-making and supports evidence-based ARV commodities supply chain management solutions. Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the quality and reporting rate for Real-Time ARV Stock Status (RASS) weekly reporting in public health facilities in the West Acholi sub-region of Uganda. Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted in six public health facilities of the West Acholi sub-region. Quantitative data involved a review of 312 reports for the reporting rate. The available 180 RASS reports were reviewed for data quality; supplemental qualitative data was gathered through key informant interviews with 11 healthcare workers and stakeholders. Quantitative data was then cleaned using EPI data, and all the variables were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 21. The tables were then computed using the analyzed data from the software, and the pie charts were constructed using the Excel 2019 version. Thematic analysis was done for the key informant qualitative interviews. Analysis of RASS reports revealed a mixed level of quality, with only 40 reports (22%) categorized as good quality, having scored on both accuracy and completeness checks. The overall reporting rate was above average, with only 180 reports (57.7%). Infrastructure limitations, such as unreliable internet, lack of proper equipment, and staff transfers, were frequently cited as causes of poor-quality reporting. Lack of training on RASS and limited leadership support were cited as the causes of the poor data quality and RASS reporting rate. Conclusion: The quality of RASS reports could have been better than the national set targets. The reporting rate was slightly above average but far below the national set targets. Several factors affecting both the reporting rate and quality of reports were cited. These include staff attitude, knowledge gap, Staff transfers, poor internet connectivity, and lack of internet data bundles
Tax incentives, investment climate, and investment growth in Uganda; a case of manufacturing firms in Kampala metropolitan area
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a degree of Master of Arts in Business Administration, Makerere University.This study investigated the effect of tax incentives on investment growth in Uganda, focusing on the moderating role of the investment climate with reference to manufacturing firms in the Kampala Metropolitan Area. The study aimed to address the following objectives: to examine the effect of tax holidays on investment growth in Uganda, to evaluate the effect of investment tax credits on investment growth in Uganda, to establish the effect of investment allowances on investment growth in Uganda, and to investigate the moderating effect of the investment climate on the relationship between tax incentives and investment growth in Uganda. To achieve these objectives, the study employed a cross-sectional and exploratory research design with a quantitative approach, collecting numerical data from 213 managers in various manufacturing firms in the Kampala Metropolitan Area. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Version 27) and Andrew F. Hayes’ Macro Process Version 4.2. The study revealed that tax holidays (B = 0.066, p = 0.333), investment tax credits (B = 0.205, p = 0.00), and investment allowances (B = 0.263, p = 0.00) positively influence investment growth among manufacturing firms in Uganda. Furthermore, the results indicated that the investment climate had an insignificant moderating role in the relationship between tax incentives and investment growth, as demonstrated by an insignificant interaction term between tax incentives and the investment climate (B = 0.056, p = 0.015, 95% CI [-0.095, 0.206]). The results imply that manufacturing firms in Uganda require support in the form of tax incentives to boost their performance. The study emphasizes the need for more targeted and specific actions in improving the tax environment for manufacturing firms in Uganda. It recommends that the government focus on providing tax education programs tailored to help businesses understand and leverage available tax incentives effectively. Additionally, the government should establish a periodic review process for tax incentives to ensure they align with the changing needs of the manufacturing sector, as well as implement clearer policies that are directly applicable to different sectors, particularly manufacturing. The study suggests the introduction of non-tax incentives, such as grants or subsidies, to further support the sector. For local investors, the study advocates adopting formal business practices, including keeping audited financial records, which would enhance their eligibility for tax incentives. This study is particularly relevant to key stakeholders such as the government, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), and manufacturing firms, as it underscores the importance of creating a favorable investment climate. It also highlights the role of specific tax incentives, like tax holidays and investment tax credits, in attracting both local and foreign investment. However, the study acknowledges its limitations, such as focusing only on the manufacturing sector and using a cross-sectional quantitative approach. Future research should investigate the broader legal framework surrounding tax incentives and explore the specific challenges businesses face in utilizing these incentives
Assessing the realization of the right to education among refugee children in Uganda: a case study of Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, 2004-2022
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Human Rights of Makerere UniversityThis study examines the realization of the Right to Education for refugee children in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda, focusing on the effectiveness of legal and institutional frameworks, government interventions, and factors limiting access. Uganda’s legal framework, including the 2006 Refugees Act and 2010 Refugees Regulations, aligns with international conventions. However, challenges persist due to non-ratification of certain UN conventions and an underemphasis on primary and secondary education. The study highlights the collaborative education management model between UNHCR and AAH-U, which supports government and community schools through teacher training, salary payments, and provision of scholastic materials, infrastructure, and capacity-building programs. Despite these efforts, only 12% of refugee children access secondary education, compared to 96% enrolment in primary schools in refugee-hosting districts. In Kyangwali, one secondary school serves the settlement’s large population, leaving 86% of eligible learners without access. Overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and inadequate infrastructure exacerbate the challenges. Barriers to education include financial constraints, logistical difficulties, language barriers, and certification issues. Gender disparities significantly hinder female education due to early marriages and domestic responsibilities, while parental attitudes also influence enrolment and retention. The study emphasizes the transformative potential of education and calls for expanding secondary education infrastructure, introducing vocational training, addressing gender disparities, and fostering community engagement. These interventions are critical to bridging educational gaps, improving access, and fulfilling the educational rights of refugee children. The findings contribute to global discourse on refugee education, offering a framework for effective policy implementation and sustainable solution
Modeling the factors associated with early discharge from hospitals after vaginal deliveries in Uganda
No full textA dissertation submitted to the directorate of graduate research training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Degree of Master of Statistics of Makerere UniversityThe aim of this research was to assess the social-economic, obstetrics, and child factors associated with early discharge of mothers of vaginal delivery in Uganda. Self-reported data from the women recode file were extracted from the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) with a sub sample of 6,701 women aged 15 to 49 whose last birth in the last 5 years preceding the 2016 UDHS survey was vaginal. Chi-square tests were used to establish the relationship between socio-economic factors, obstetrics factors, child factors, and early discharge at bivariate level. At multivariate level, complementary log-log models were used to establish the relationship between socio-economic factors, obstetrics factors, child factors, and early discharge.
Regarding social-economic factors, the study found that the odds of an extended stay after vaginal delivery were lower for women aged 25 to 34 (OR=0.855; 95% CI = 0.783–0.934, p = 0.001) and lower for women aged 35 to 44 (OR=0.863; 95% CI = 0.774–0.963, p = 0.008) compared to women aged 15 to 24. For marital status, the odds of a prolonged stay after vaginal deliveries in hospitals were 15.1% lower among women living with a partner (OR = 0.849; 95% CI = 0.727–0.993, p = 0.040) compared to women who were not in a union. In terms of obstetrics factors, the study found that women who gave birth in private facilities were less likely to have a longer hospital stay after vaginal delivery (OR = 0.897, 95% CI = 0.807–0.997, p = 0.044) compared to those who delivered in government facilities. Regarding child factors, the findings showed that there was an increased likelihood of staying longer in the hospital after vaginal delivery among women who gave birth to an average-sized child (OR=1.302; 95% CI=1.190-1.426, P=0.000) and for a small-sized child (OR=1.173; 95% CI=1.046-1.315, P=0.007) compared to those who gave birth to a large sized child. The women with children whose health was checked before discharge were 29.4% more likely to stay longer in the hospital after vaginal delivery (OR=1.294; 95% CI=1.182-1.415, P=0.000) relative to those whose children were not checked before discharge.
In conclusion, the risks of early discharge after vaginal delivery increased: among older women, women living with a partner, being from middle and rich income households, giving birth in private health facilities, access to media/radio, giving birth to big-sized children compared with small and average-sized children, child health not checked before discharge, and giving birth to one child. Health workers should ensure that every mother discharged early is scheduled for follow-up care, such as home visits, community-based check-ups, or telehealth consultations
An examination of domestic violence among Uganda Police officers and their families: a case of Nsambya Police Barracks
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Graduate training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Master of Arts Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies of Makerere UniversityThis study investigates instances of domestic violence among Uganda Police Officers and their families, with a particular focus on Nsambya Police Barracks. The main objective is to investigate the nature, trends, and underlying drivers of domestic violence in this particular setting, as well as the difficulties encountered in preventing and resolving such violence. The study was guided by three specific objectives and that is to say, examining the nature and trend of domestic violence amongst Uganda Police Officers and their families in Nsambya Police barracks, examining the drivers of domestic violence cases among Police Officers and their families in Nsambya Police barracks and establishing the challenges encountered in preventing and responding to domestic violence among Police Officers and their families. The study used a mixed-methods approach, incorporating primary data from interviews and questionnaires. The study is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of the Theory of Change and Power and Control Theory, which offer valuable perspectives on the dynamics of domestic violence and its systemic consequences. Analysis of the data indicates that domestic violence at Nsambya Police Barracks takes on many manifestations, encompassing physical, emotional, and psychological assault. The study delineates noteworthy tendencies and patterns, underscoring the enduring nature of domestic violence among Police Officers and their families. Key drivers contributing to this phenomenon are work-related stress, unequal power distribution within hierarchies, and cultural perspectives on authority and gender roles. Addressing domestic abuse presents complex challenges that include institutional, procedural, and societal obstacles. The internal processes of the Police Force for the prevention and response to domestic violence are deemed insufficient, exacerbated by a dearth of training and resources, together with pervasive stigma and a hesitancy to report such occurrences. The study suggests different recommendations to different stakeholders like the Uganda Police leadership, government of Uganda, Civil Society Organisations and community leaders among the recommendations include: Police leadership to Strengthen Mental Health Support to its Officers, enhancing Awareness Programs among Police Officers, The government should allocate more resources towards establishing robust social support systems within Police barracks and communities and improving the work conditions/welfare of Uganda Police Officers among others. For civil society the recommendations include partnerships with the Police, victim support services, and public advocacy, and community leaders should provide Counseling and Mediation to Police Officers, Encouraging Open Communication and Family Support Networks to Police Officers among others
Exchange rate volatility and exports in Uganda
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Degree of Master of Statistics of Makerere UniversityThis study investigated the relationship between exchange rate volatility and exports in Uganda. It aimed to assess the presence of volatility clustering in the exchange rate, analyse the short run and long run effect of exchange rate volatility on exports and analyse the relationship between FDI and exports. World Bank annual data from 1960 to 2023 was used, and exchange rate volatility was computed from theoretical concepts. The ARCH-LM model was employed to detect volatility clustering in the exchange rate, while the ARCH family regression model estimated the relationships between the variables. The ARDL model estimated short run and long run relationship.
From the ARCH model, the coefficient of 1.293 was statistically significant (p-value = 0.012) which signified the presence of volatility clustering in Uganda’s exchange rate. In addition, the coefficient for exchange rate volatility was insignificantly (-1.003, p-value = 0.068), indicating that there was no significant relationship between exchange rate volatility and exports. FDI and exports had a significant positive relationship (0.075, p-value=0.000). With the coefficient of -2.237 and a p-value of 0.036, the ARDL model found a negative long-run relationship between exchange rate volatility and exports.
In conclusion, the study intended to investigate the relationship between exchange rate volatility and exports in Uganda using the ARCH and ARDL models. The study found out that volatility clustering was present in Uganda’s exchange rate implying that high volatility would lead to periods of more high volatility and at the same time lower volatility would lead to periods of more low volatility. Furthermore, the study found out that control variables like lending interest rate, tax revenue, and inflation positively significantly affected exports. Lastly, the study found out that exchange rate volatility had a statistically significant effect on exports implying that increased volatility would be detrimental to export growth.
The study recommended that Uganda should implement regulatory measures such as margin requirements as well as limit leverage and speculation, implement market stabilisation policies, prioritise improving market microstructure, continue promoting exchange rate stability, diversify export products and markets, continue supporting programs of value addition, continue promoting foreign direct investment, and lastly start up programs aimed at educating exporters
Self-esteem, self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviours among secondary school adolescents in Kisoro District, Uganda
No full textA research dissertation submitted to the School of Psychology in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the Degree of Masters of Education in Educational Psychology of Makerere UniversityThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem, self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviours among secondary school adolescents in Kisoro district. The study adopted a cross sectional – correlational research design. Data was collected using a questionnaire survey of 165 respondents selected from 5 secondary schools. Results revealed that there is a positive but non-significant relationship between Self-esteem and self-efficacy (r=.134, p=.087). The study also revealed that there is a positive non-significant relationship between self-esteem and risky sexual behaviours (r=.194, p=.013). The study also revealed that there is a positive non-significant relationship between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviours (r=.029, p=.708). The study also revealed that there is a significant relationship between mediating role of self-efficacy, self-esteem and risky sexual behaviours among adolescents in secondary schools of Kisoro District. The study concluded that there is a positive association between self-esteem and risky sexual behaviours while there is a positive association between self-efficacy and risky sexual behaviours. It was also observed that self-efficacy significantly mediates on the relationship between self-esteem and risky sexual behaviors (r=.66, p=.0001). The study recommends that head teachers, Ministry of education and sports should plan effectively the national curriculum to introduce sex education to secondary school students in Uganda. The study also recommended that mental health professionals who work with the youths should improve on their self-efficacy skills. The study also recommended that therapists should empirically focus on assertive communication as a trans-diagnostic tool, irrespective of the individual and relational problems presented in therapy
Enhancing energy efficiency in an internet of things-based automatic weather monitoring node.
No full textA dissertation submitted to the graduate school in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Telecommunication Engineering of Makerere University.This dissertation presents a comprehensive study on the design and implementation of an
IoT-based weather monitoring system. The research investigated the potential for lever-
aging IoT technologies to improve weather data collection and analysis. The primary
objective was to develop a weather node capable of monitoring key parameters such as
temperature, humidity, rainfall, and pressure. The system incorporates power manage-
ment features, including deep sleep modes to extend battery life, and uses solar power to
ensure sustainable operation.
The methodology considered a detailed design of the weather node, the selection of ap-
propriate sensors, and the development of a user interface to display real-time data. The
study also evaluated the system’s power consumption across different operational states
and conducted a statistical analysis of the weather data. Key findings include the impact
of deep sleep modes on power efficiency and the effectiveness of solar power in maintain-
ing system operation. Additionally, statistical models were developed to interpret the
collected data, which are crucial for predicting weather trends and informing agricultural
practices.
The research further demonstrated that the designed IoT weather station closely aligned
with NASA POWER data, as evidenced by the high Pearson correlation coefficients across
all weather parameters. For temperature, humidity, wind direction, pressure and rainfall,
the correlation coefficients indicated strong agreement. The statistical tests revealed
that most differences in means were not significant at the 0.05 level, confirming the IoT
station’s reliability in accurately capturing weather data.
Additionally, the IoT weather station showcased remarkable energy efficiency, consuming
only 1.744 Wh per hour compared to 6.4 Wh per hour for traditional systems. This
low energy footprint, combined with its ability to operate autonomously, makes it an
ideal solution for remote and power-limited regions. The station’s strong alignment with
NASA data and its sustainable operation underscore its potential as a dependable and
practical tool for real-time weather monitoring and analysis