Jinja Hospital

Background Prolonged use of digital devices can lead to digital eye strain, causing symptoms like dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. Blue light exposure may also affect sleep and eye health. This study aimed to find the factors affecting the use of digital devices among patients attending the eye clinic in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Methodology A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed to collect quantitative data, where forty (40) respondents were chosen for the study. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The results were presented in tables, figures, and statements using Microsoft Excel. Findings 40 respondents participated in this study, 24(60%) males and 16(40%) females. 5(12.5%) were below 20 years, 16(40%) were 12-35 years, 10(25%) were 36-44 years and 9(22.5%) were above 45 years. Smartphones are the most used digital devices affecting the eyes, with a percentage of 27% computers with a percentage of 20%. Television with a percentage of 12.5%, and iPads with a percentage of 7.3%. Factors associated with the use of digital devices included social media, entertainment, Research study, and secretarial activities. The common eye health problems included eye irritation, eye strain, and eye fatigue. Burning sensation and blurring vision. Conclusion Following the study, it was established that digital devices like smartphones, computers, Television, and iPads are common digital devices affecting the eyes, causing eye irritation, eye strain, and eye fatigue. Burning sensation and blurring vision, which are associated with social media use, entertainment, Research activities, and secretarial activities. Recommendations All digital device users should be advised to use the 20-20-20 rule while working on these digital devices. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away so that it increases the production of tears.

Background Corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treatment for various ocular conditions affecting the ocular surfaces, anterior and posterior segments of the eye. This study assessed the adverse Effects of Prolonged use of ocular corticosteroids among patients receiving eye care services at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed, in which quantitative methods were used to collect data. A purposive method was used to choose the participants, a questionnaire method was used to collect data, and the Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The data was presented in the form of tables, charts, and percentages. Results The majority, 28(70%) of the study participants were females, 25(62.5%) were aged 25years. The study revealed that prednisolone 20(50%), dexamethasone 10(25%), hydrocortisone 5(12.5%) and triamcinolone 5(12.5%) were the commonly used ocular corticosteroids, glaucoma 20(50%), cataract 10(25%), delayed wound healing 3(7.5%), corneal thinning 3(7.5%) and activation of infection 4(10%) were the common adverse effects of prolonged use of ocular corticosteroids. Conclusion The adverse effects of prolonged use of ocular corticosteroids among patients receiving eye care services included glaucoma, cataract, activation of infection, delayed wound healing, and, lastly, corneal thinning. Recommendations. Eye specialists should educate patients and other health workers about the adverse effects of prolonged use of ocular corticosteroids and should also carry out more research on their adverse effects.

Sexual dysfunction is a common but under-recognized problem in fertility care with potential implications on treatment outcomes. We determined the prevalence, forms and factors associated with sexual dysfunction among patients seeking fertility care at two tertiary Hospitals in Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinja and Kayunga Regional Referral Hospitals from May to August 2025. A total of 226 participants (113 males and 113 females) seeking fertility care were consecutively recruited. A validated Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale with a cutoff of ≥ 19 was used to define sexual dysfunction. Demographic data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Stata version 19. Bivariate and Multivariate analysis for associations was done with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The mean age was 34.1 years (SD ± 8.3); most had secondary education, unemployed, middle income status, had no living child with Infertility for more than five years. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction was 42.5% (96/226), higher in females (52.2%, 59/113) than in males (32.7%, 37/113). Among women, the most common dysfunctions were reduced sexual desire (33.6%), orgasm difficulties (32.7%), and painful intercourse (27.4%). Among men, reduced desire (27.4%), painful intercourse (23.8%), and erectile difficulties (23.0%) predominated. Independent predictors of sexual dysfunction included age 40-49 years (aOR 2.9; 95% CI: 1.24-6.80, p = 0.014), low household income (aOR 10.7; 95% CI: 2.14-52.92, p = 0.004), absence of a living child (aOR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.28-5.10, p = 0.021), and infertility duration ≥ 5 years (aOR 7.4; 95% CI: 3.38-16.32, p = < 0.001). Being male was associated with a 52% lower likelihood of sexual dysfunction (aOR 0.48; 95% CI: 0.37-0.89, p = < 0.023). Sexual dysfunction was common among patients with infertility, especially women thus integrating routine screening, counseling and targeted support for high‑risk groups should be prioritized in fertility care.

Background:Diagnosing tuberculosis in children remains challenging due to the paucibacillary nature of the disease, non-specific symptoms, and difficulty collecting samples. New tests are urgently needed. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of FujiLAM version 1 urine test in children under 5 years with presumptive tuberculosis in Uganda.Methods:This was a cross-sectional evaluation nested in the NOD-pedFEND diagnostic study. Children under 5 years with signs or symptoms of tuberculosis were recruited from three hospitals in Uganda. All participants underwent comprehensive baseline investigations, including culture and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra on reference samples and chest X-ray. Culture and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra results were used to define a microbiological reference standard. FujiLAM version 1 testing was performed on fresh urine at the baseline visit.Results:Seventy-nine children were included in the study. Fifteen participants (19%) were classified as having microbiologically confirmed TB, 44 (56%) as unconfirmed TB, thirteen (16%) as unlikely TB, and seven participants (9%) were unclassifiable. Only one participant (with unlikely TB) had a positive FujiLAM test. Culture and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra on reference samples were negative in this child, indicating poor diagnostic accuracy with a sensitivity of 0% (95% CI: 0 – 21.8) of FujiLAM version 1 against the microbiological reference standard.Conclusion:The poor diagnostic accuracy of FujiLAM version 1 in children under five years of age makes it unsuitable as a diagnostic test in this age group. Further evaluation with the optimized version 2 of this test is needed.

Abstract Introduction Post-discharge mortality among children following an acute illness in low-resource settings is high and demands urgent attention. We aimed to assess the impact of Smart Discharges, a mortality prevention risk-differentiated approach to peri-discharge care among children under five years admitted with suspected sepsis. Methods We conducted a before-after two-phase study with staggered implementation at six hospitals in Uganda. During a baseline period (Phase-1), clinical prediction algorithms for post-discharge mortality were developed based on clinical and socio-demographic data collected at hospital admission. Outcomes, primarily mortality within six months of discharge, were compared against an interventional period (Phase-2). In the Smart Discharges intervention each family was given soap, a mosquito net, their risk category (low/medium/high/very high), counselling, and educational materials regardless of risk stratification, after which the intensity of recommended follow-up care was determined by age (0-6, 6-60 months) and predicted post-discharge mortality risk. Results Overall, 13,051 children were enrolled: Phase-1, n=6,955; Phase-2, n=6,096. Characteristics were similar between groups, including mean predicted post-discharge mortality risk (6.3% Phase-1 vs. 5.9% Phase-2). With Smart Discharges, 2,331/3,891 (59.9%) medium/high/very high-risk families attending all their scheduled visits. The observed post-discharge mortality rate was 439 (6.3%) in Phase-1 vs. 296 (4.9%) in Phase-2; adjusted hazard ratio 0.77 (95%CI 0.67 to 0.90) favouring the intervention. In Phase-1, 1,313 (18.9%) children were re-admitted to hospital vs. 1,024 (16.8%) in Phase-2. Conclusion A simple approach of risk assessment paired with education and engagement through scheduled follow-up after discharge is an appropriate strategy to improve child survival in low-resource settings.

Background The study aims to assess the Management of ocular trauma among patients attending eye care services at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Methodology In a cross-sectional descriptive study design 100 respondents were selected using a non-probability consecutive sampling process. Data collected was processed quantitatively by tallying and using non-programmable scientific calculators and was presented using tables and figures. The study was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023. Results: The majority received medical management (65%), 20% received surgical management, 10% used self-medication, and 5% used traditional medication. 41% of the respondents had received closed globe injuries, while 59% had received open globe injuries. The majority of the patients (58% ) showed great improvement, 15% showed less improvement, and 12% showed mild improvement. The majority of the patients (40%) presented after 24 hours, 24% were presented to the clinic immediately, 20% were presented after 2 days, and 16% were presented after one week. Among patients who were presented to the clinic after one week, 63% showed a poor prognosis, 25% showed a mild prognosis, and 13% showed a good prognosis. Conclusion Health-seeking behavior after sustaining eye injuries was good. The distance of patients from the Hospital affected their health-seeking ability. Recommendations The government should establish more equipped specialized eye centers (Hospitals) with adequate staff to increase accessibility to eye care services.

Abstract IntroductionAutomated messaging through text (SMS) and instant messaging services (IMS) are low-cost solutions for patient follow-up in resource-constrained contexts. This study aims to evaluate a quality improvement (QI) initiative to improve caregiver response rates to an automated messaging system facilitating follow-up after hospital discharge of children in rural Uganda.MethodsThis initiative was implemented at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Northern Uganda from June 2022 to June 2024. Caregivers of children who were triaged through the Smart Triage digital platform were offered an automated follow-up program as part of routine care during this period. SMS and IMS (WhatsApp) messages prompting caregivers to report if their child had “improved” or “not improved” were sent seven days post-discharge. Non-responders and "not improved" cases were escalated to a phone call from a health worker. From April 2023 to June 2024, a QI initiative refined the messaging system to improve response rates. Data on message delivery, response rates, improvement strategies, and health outcomes were analyzed.ResultsOf 6826 participants, 6469 (95%) messages were successfully delivered. Response rates improved from 20% to 40%. In total, 1856 caregivers responded to the messages. Among the responses, 1244 (67%) of caregivers reported improvement and 612 (33%) reported no improvement. Follow-up phone calls for those “not improved” revealed 58 (9%) sought care, 12 (2%) were readmitted, and no deaths occurred. For non-responders, 206 (5%) sought care, 33 (0.7%) were readmitted, and 3 (0.07%) deaths occurred.DiscussionAutomated two-way text messages for post-discharge pediatric follow-up in Uganda yielded high delivery but moderate response rates. Iterative QI efforts increased response rates, highlighting the importance of tailored communication strategies. Automated messages can facilitate timely intervention for high-risk children and enable efficient collection of health outcomes offering a viable alternative to in-person follow-up in resource-poor settings.

Agricultural pest management faces mounting challenges with increasing pressure to reduce chemical pesticide use while ensuring food security, and environmental sustainability. Ecologically centered approaches, such as integrated pest management (IPM), offer promising sustainable agroecological crop protection alternative solutions to pesticides. This study assesses the investment viability and environmental sustainability of two IPM interventions—mango fruit fly IPM (FF-IPM) and push-pull technology (PPT) in Kenya and Uganda, using project investment and adoption data from 2007 to 2021. The study also evaluates these technologies contribution to food security and poverty reduction. FF-IPM integrates biological control, cultural practices, and targeted bait traps to manage fruit flies in mango production, while PPT employs Desmodium and Brachiaria grass to control pests and striga weed. The findings highlight that these IPM interventions achieved a combined net present value of $500 million, with a benefit-cost ratio of about 8:1, and an internal rate of return of 21%, comparable to returns from improved crop varieties. These technologies also improved food security for 641,000 people, lifted 445,349 people above the poverty line, representing 2% of the poor population in both countries, and generated an average income increase of $5 per capita in Kenya and Uganda annually. Environmentally, they sequestered 2.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent, valued at $12.2 million, and reduced pesticide use by more than 526,000 L between 2007 and 2021. These results demonstrate the potential of IPM approaches to simultaneously enhance livelihoods, local economies, and generate global environmental public goods, suggesting that addressing adoption barriers could further amplify these positive outcomes.

The implementation of structured guidelines, such as the World Health Organisation's Emergency Triage, Assessment and Treatment has been shown to reduce in-hospital mortality, addressing the high burden of early in-hospital deaths. We evaluated the capacity to provide paediatric emergency care at higher-level health facilities in the Busoga sub-region, Uganda, and explored healthcare workers' perceptions of quality care. This assessment aimed to inform policy and facilitate the implementation of guidelines. A comprehensive mixed-methods study was conducted, comprising a facility audit, a survey of healthcare providers to assess their knowledge, and focus group discussions with facility staff. The study included all public and private not-for-profit facilities that provide in-patient paediatric care in Busoga. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression, while thematic analysis with the framework method approach was applied to qualitative data. A total of 14 focus group discussions, 14 facility audits, and 100 surveys with healthcare providers were conducted. Essential equipment for paediatric emergencies and staff shortages were identified as primary barriers to quality care and key contributors to worker demotivation. Referrals were one of the main challenges, with only 25% of facilities accessing a fuelled ambulance. Knowledge scores were higher among healthcare professionals who had undergone emergency management training and participated in refresher courses (mean 13.2, 95% CI 11.6-14.8, compared to 9.2, 95% CI 8.0-10.3). Participants who felt well-prepared achieved markedly higher scores on knowledge surveys than those feeling unprepared (mean 12.2, 95% CI 11.2-13.1, versus mean 8.5, 95% CI 7.3-9.7). Qualitative discussions demonstrated positive attitudes of healthcare workers toward ETAT guidelines. Results underscore the importance of focused training with refresher sessions to enhance health workers' knowledge and confidence in managing paediatric emergency cases. However, substantial limitations in staffing numbers and the availability of necessary equipment need to be addressed for overall quality of care improvement.

PURPOSE There is little research on how a cervical cancer diagnosis financially impacts women and their families in low-and middle-income countries, including the burden of out-of-pocket costs. The objective of this analysis is to describe the economic burden of cervical cancer treatment, including how this differs by socio-economic status (SES) in Uganda. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study from September 19, 2022 to January 17, 2023. Women were recruited from the Uganda Cancer Institute and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and were eligible for this study if they were ≥ 18 years, being treated for cervical cancer, and provided consent. Participants completed a 45-minute survey which included questions about their out-of-pocket costs, unpaid labor, and changes in their family’s economic situation. A wealth index was constructed from the participant’s ownership of household items to determine their SES. Descriptive statistics were reported. RESULTS Of the 338 participants who completed the survey, 183 were from the lower SES. Women from the lower SES were significantly more likely to be older, have primary school education, and have a more advanced stage of cervical cancer. Both groups of women reported paying out-of-pocket for cervical cancer care (higher SES 95.5%, lower SES 92.3%). Only 15/338 participants stopped treatment because they could not afford it. Women of a lower SES were significantly more likely to report borrowing money (p-value=0.004) and selling possessions to pay for cancer care (p-value=0.006). With regards to unpaid labor, women from both groups reported decreasing the amount of time that they spent caring for their children since their cervical cancer diagnosis. CONCLUSION Regardless of their SES, women in Uganda incur out-of-pocket costs related to their cervical cancer treatment. However, there are inequities as women from the lower SES groups were more likely to borrow funds to afford treatment. Alternative payment models and further financial support could help alleviate the financial burden of cervical cancer care on women and families in Uganda. The results of this analysis can be used to demonstrate the indirect economic impact that a cervical cancer diagnosis has on not only women but their families as well. This in turn can be as evidence to expand global cervical cancer screening programs and eliminate cervical cancer worldwide.