Nkumba University

BackgroundThe advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) has significantly accelerated the adoption and utilisation of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems in both developed and developing countries. This study aimed to examine a comprehensive understanding of the current EMR systems landscape in Uganda, examining the integration of ICT into healthcare delivery and the associated factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was utilised to conduct this study across 265 government-owned health facilities. Quantitative data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were obtained via face-to-face interviews. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using linear-by-linear association and Cochrane-Armitage chi-square tests. Analysis of Variance was used for comparison of group mean differences while Tukey’s HSD and Scheffe’s test were used for post-hoc comparisons. Poisson regression analysis was applied to determine the factors influencing the availability and utilisation of EMR systems in health facilities.ResultsOn average, each health facility utilised 4.81 EMR systems (SD = 1.41). Statistically significant differences in the average number of EMR systems were observed across different levels of care (P-value = 0.0108). However, interoperability between EMR systems was reported in only 10% (26/265) of facilities. Regional referral hospitals were 36% more likely to have a higher number of EMR systems compared to health centre IVs (P-value = 0.0001), while general hospitals were 12% more likely (P-value = 0.041). Facilities employing a hybrid medical records system were 1.2 times more likely to utilise EMR systems compared to those using exclusively electronic systems (P-value = 0.027). Additionally, facilities with a higher number of medical departments demonstrated a significantly positive association with EMR system usage (P-value = 0.020).ConclusionsThe study identified a diverse array of EMR systems across public health facilities, many of which exhibit technical disparities and are designed to serve narrowly defined institutional interests. Critically, the absence of a unified national framework or standard guidelines governing EMR adoption and interoperability continues to hinder the seamless exchange of clinical and patient data. To advance digital health integration, it is imperative to expedite the implementation of national interoperability frameworks alongside the operationalisation of a centralised health data warehouse.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12911-025-03190-6.

This study seeks to examine the influence of entrepreneurship education on youth employment in Juba City with the aim to establish the relationship between the entrepreneurship education and youth employment in Juba City. The study adopted a quantitative research approach using a descriptive survey design. A simple random sampling technique was used to determine a sample size of 357 using a Sloven’s formula from a target population of youths who underwent entrepreneurship education. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 292 respondents (81.8% respond rate, 19.2% were unreturned and badly filled) and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. to determine the correlation between the variables. The result indicated no significant relationship between entrepreneurship education and youth employment generation in Juba City. It is therefore, recommended that policy makers and educators to use multidimensional approaches to address youth unemployment problems in Juba City. Keywords: Entrepreneurship Education, Youth Employment, Unemployment.

Background Adolescents in Uganda face substantial barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service utilization, influenced by both individual and structural factors. This study assessed how personal characteristics, specifically age, employment status, and travel time, moderate the relationship between health-seeking behaviors and SRH service use in the Busoga region. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 408 adolescents aged 13–19 years using structured questionnaires. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to examine associations and moderation effects. Results Positive health-seeking attitudes predicted adolescents’ intentions to use SRH services (β = 2.310, p < 0.001), while age (β = -0.090, p = 0.002) and employment (β = -0.453, p = 0.002) negatively moderated this relationship. Travel time reduced service use (β = -0.272, p < 0.001), but service preferences helped offset this effect (β = 0.093, p < 0.001). Media exposure, particularly through radio, positively moderated the relationship between attitudes and current SRH utilization (β = 0.072, p < 0.001). Conclusions Positive health-seeking attitudes significantly predicted adolescents’ intentions to use SRH services. However, this effect was weakened by older age and employment. While longer travel time reduced service utilization, strong service preferences helped offset this barrier. Recommendations To improve SRH service utilization among adolescents in Uganda’s Busoga region, programs should be more adolescent-responsive. Key actions include: training providers in adolescent-friendly care, expanding mobile and community outreach, utilizing trusted media such as radio to promote positive attitudes, and tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of subgroups, including working, rural, and older adolescents.

A study on Participatory Forest Monitoring (PFM) and Natural Forest Restoration (NFR) was carried out in the communities residing around the Kibale National Park (KNP), Uganda. The research was conducted from June to August 2024 among 394 respondents, adopting a cross-sectional research design to explore mechanisms for scaling up Participatory Forest Monitoring. The results revealed that participation in PFM improved income at the household level directly addressing household needs especially income for school fees and other needs by 79.9% (r=0.799, P&lt;0.05). Enhancing PFM activities and practices, the Uganda Wildlife Authority Forest Absorbing Carbon Emission (UWA-FACE) project is encouraged to consider electric fencing as an addition to existing PFM benefits (23.40%), increase the remuneration of a daily wage for PFM recipients (28.6%) and PFM could consider compensating farmers who lose livelihoods (29.9%). The findings indicated that PFM can effectively restore natural forests in the study area and enhance income and community livelihoods. There is a need to invest more funds in PFM activities.

The study examined Technological Adoption and Innovative Work Behavior in the Hotel Industry, a Case of Five Selected Hotels in Kampala City, Uganda. The study mainly focused on three specific objectives: To examine the relationship between Property Management Systems and Innovative Work Behavior; to assess the relationship between Mobile Applications and Innovative Work Behavior and to analyze the relationship between Online Booking Platforms and Innovative Work Behavior in selected hotels in Kampala City. The cross-sectional research design employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Krejcie and Morgan Sample Size Determination Table was used to select a sample size of 291 participants / respondents from a population of the selected hotels and 233 questionnaires collected for analysis. Data was examined using both descriptive and inferential statistics, including ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and model summaries for regression analysis. The findings show a positive and significant correlation between technological adoption and innovative work behavior (r=.853, P&lt;0.05). This reveals that the integration of property management systems, mobile applications, and online booking platforms significantly influence innovative work behavior by improving efficiency, facilitating collaboration, encouraging adaptive problem-solving, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement. These technologies create an environment where staff are better equipped to focus on creative solutions and respond dynamically to emerging challenges. The research concludes that improving Property Management Systems (PMS) and fostering innovative work behavior in hotels are interconnected goals that drive operational excellence and guest satisfaction; mobile applications are a powerful driver of innovative work behavior in hotels and Online Booking Platforms significantly impact innovative work behavior in hotels by streamlining operations, enhancing data utilization, and encouraging experimentation. The study recommended that hotels should use PMS automation features to handle routine tasks such as guest check-ins/outs, invoicing, and housekeeping assignments. This reduces manual work and frees up staff time for more innovative activities. The study also recommends that hotel should select mobile apps that align with its operational needs and guest service goals, focus on apps that enhance efficiency, data utilization, and guest interaction.

Background Alcohol presents a serious challenge worldwide; it is increasingly associated with negative consequences in developing countries including Uganda which bear the heaviest burden of diseases and injuries attributed to alcohol. Alcohol abuse is alarming despite the availability of treatment facilities in Uganda. The study objective was to analyze the effect of recovery interventions on perceived sobriety in Butabika National Referral Hospital and Serenity Rehabilitation Centre in the Wakiso and Kampala districts, Uganda. The post-positivist paradigm guided the study. Methods The research adopted a cross-sectional research design with a mixed-method approach known as simultaneous triangulation design. Using purposive sampling and simple random sampling, Data was collected, and questionnaires and interview guides were used. 338 subjects participated in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient was employed in hypothesis testing. Primary data was collected using self – self-administered questionnaires and Focused group discussions to obtain in-depth results. Results Sociocultural intervention and perceived sobriety have r=0.544, with a probability value p=0.000 < a=0.01 suggesting a significant correlation. The null hypothesis was rejected; which implies that sociocultural intervention significantly positively correlates with perceived sobriety at a one percent level of significance. “Culturally, alcohol is taken when twins were born and at the initiation “wall” ceremony, a day for receiving the twins into the family, the birth of a new baby, marriage introduction, paying dowry and wedding ceremonies”. Conclusion The more socio-cultural intervention is utilized in treatment facilities, the more sobriety is realized. Therefore, having workable socio-cultural intervention would help to reduce perceived sobriety. Recommendation The Ministry of Health through the mental health desk office encourages mental health practitioners to empower therapists in the treatment facilities to give more attention to using sociocultural intervention to address beliefs about excessive use of alcohol.

Background Guidance and counseling services are a set of comprehensive programs and interventions designed to support individuals in their personal, social, educational, and career development. The study aims to assess the Influence of guidance and counseling orientation services on life skills development in secondary schools in Muduuma Sub-county, Mpigi District. Methodology A cross-sectional study utilizing both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Qualitative component involved obtaining graphs, and charts. Simple Random Sampling and Purposive Sampling were used. Results (56.1%) of the respondents were male while (43.9%) were female. The mean score for participants' belief in the importance of the guidance and counseling Orientation services for personal development was M = 3.98 (SD = 0.981). Participants' satisfaction with the information provided during the guidance and counseling Orientation services yielded a mean score of M = 3.44 (SD = 1.218). Participants indicated a mean score of M = 3.34 (SD = 1.146) for the effectiveness of the guidance and counseling Orientation services in addressing their specific needs and concerns. The guidance and counseling Orientation services were perceived as effective in preparing participants for academic challenges, with a mean score of M = 3.66 (SD = 1.249). The perceived effectiveness of the guidance and counseling Orientation services in enhancing well-being and overall development had a mean score of M = 3.49 (SD = 1.136). Conclusions Individuals who held a more favorable view of the Orientation services were also more likely to report higher levels of life skills. Recommendations The study recommended that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and Ministries of Education should, through District Education Officers (DEOs) and inspectors, encourage head teachers to enhance Orientation services quality and consistency.

The study was set out to examine the effect of pandemics on the psychological well-being of university students; a case of covid-19 on a sample of Kampala International University students in Uganda. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of Kampala International University students in Uganda.The study design comprised a combination of descriptive research designs and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed. A sample size of 50 was used. Data was collected using self-administer questionnaires, interviews, and a review of related literature.The study findings revealed, 5(10%) of the respondents strongly disagreed, 3(6%) disagreed, another proportion of the respondents 17(34%) agreed and the majority of the respondents 25(50%) strongly agreed that students completely get absorbed in whatever they’re doing. This information implied that engagement is about being completely absorbed by present work. When we are occupied in particular activities that play to our strengths, we can feel a state called flow. When we are in flow, we reach our peak and we feel less anxious this was key to maintaining a balanced psychological state during the covid-19 era. According to the study findings, 9(18%) strongly disagreed, 12(24%) disagreed, 4(8%) were not sure, 16(32%) agreed and the rest of the respondents 9(18) strongly agreed with the statement that positive relationships are a crucial part of our sense of wellbeing and happiness during lockdown. Those people who maintain strong and positive relationships are generally happier in life. 20(57.3%) of the participants were in agreement that students enforced to stay home for longer periods resulted in psychological distress 11(31.3%) were in disagreement and 4(11.4%) remained neutral. Therefore, staying home for a long period of time during the COVID-19 lockdown exacerbated psychological distress among university students such as stress, loneliness, anxiety, fear, depression, panic, and so on The study concluded that the prevalence of COVID-19 risk perception among students on the Kampala International University campus is high, which positively translated into higher levels of compliance with COVID-19 protocols deployed on the various Kampala International University campuses.The study recommends that comprehensive psychological support programs should be developed collaboratively in providing services to reduce psychological distress following the crisis and improve coping skills. A better understanding of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students could contribute to design more effective interventions that improve mental health in this population.

Abstract The effects of climate change in Uganda are manifested by severe and sometimes extreme weather events such as droughts and landslides. An Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) plan was initiated in the Karamoja region, aimed at generating information that could be used to reduce climate vulnerabilities among the rural poor. The study aimed at determining the local community’s perception of the effects of climate change on their livelihoods; and, to examine the effectiveness of the Integrated Watershed Management practices (IWMPs) on agricultural production within the area. Three hundred and ninety-seven households were randomly chosen and included in the survey. Interviews with local government officials who held high posts were conducted. Direct observations were also used for data collection. Findings showed that droughts and increases in pests and diseases; were some of the impacts caused by climate change events. Despite the initiation of IWMPs, climate change events moderately increased food insecurity (γ = 0.556; P=0.000) and also moderately affected community assets like roads and valley dams (γ = 0.426; P=0.000). In addition, household income insecurity was moderately and positively related to climate change effects (γ = 0.556; P=0.000). A weak positive relationship was found between the application of IWMPs and agricultural production (γ = 0.273; P=0.000). The Uganda Government should emphasize and intensify the implementation of IWMPs among the farmers living in agricultural watersheds as a means of continuously improving agricultural production and building the farmers’ resilience to climate change events.