Uganda Blood Transfusion Service

Parenting programs have primarily focused on supporting mothers with knowledge and practice of responsive caregiving. However, the role of non-primary caregivers such as grandparents, aunts, and older siblings has not been adequately addressed in programming. Using ChildFund International's programmatic data from Kenya and Uganda, this cross-sectional study examined the extent to which children aged 0-5 years were left in the care of non-primary caregivers in the household and whether the primary caregivers' absence was associated with engagement by non-primary caregivers. We found that a considerable proportion of children aged 0-5 years in Kenya and Uganda were entrusted in the care of non-primary caregivers for at least 3 days or more during the week. Yet, the primary caregivers' absence was not consistently associated with greater engagement by fathers and other members of the household. Our findings call for parenting programs to consider adopting a holistic and contextualized approach where all involved caregivers are intentionally targeted rather than focusing just on the identified primary caregiver alone.

Background: Oral health among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Uganda is under-researched, despite its critical impact on their overall health and quality of life. This gap is partly attributed to limited capacity in human resources and research infrastructure. This study aimed to evaluate the HIV/oral health research training needs among dentists in Uganda. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 86 dentists licensed to practice in Uganda. A self-administered online questionnaire, adapted from the Hennessey-Hicks training needs analysis tool, was used to collect data. The questionnaire included four rating scales to assess HIV/oral health research training needs by comparing the perceived importance of specific competencies to the current performance ratings provided by participants. Performance improvement was analyzed using two rating scales to determine whether the identified training needs could be better addressed through organizational changes or individual training. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 17.0. Results: Between September and October 2024, 86 dentists participated in the study. The median age of participants was 32 years (interquartile range (IQR): 27-38), with 59.3% being male. Significant HIV/oral health research training needs were identified, with a median difference score between perceived importance and current performance ratings of 1.3 (IQR: 0.5-2.2) and a P-value of <0.001. Both organizational changes and individual training approaches were similarly rated as important in addressing these training needs, with median scores of 5.9 (IQR: 5.1-6.6) and 6.1 (IQR: 5.2-6.7), respectively (P-value = 0.108). Conclusion: The findings highlight significant HIV/oral health research training needs among dentists in Uganda. Addressing these needs requires a combined approach that integrates individual training with organizational support initiatives.

The bacterium Acinetobacter haemolyticus, with a genome size of 3.4 Mb, was isolated from a pus swab of a wound on the left lower limb above the ankle joint of a female patient. This strain carries the antimicrobial resistance genes cephalosporinase blaADC-25, oxallinase blaOXA-264, floR, and sul2 and other resistance and virulence genes.

Amidst an era marked by a relentless surge in digital data and computational demands, the imperative for eco-conscious and sustainable computing solutions has reached unprecedented significance. This study delves into the emerging realm of green cloud computing (GCC), a pivotal catalyst in cultivating a greener digital tomorrow. To nurture a sustainable digital frontier, this research investigates various GCC strategies encompassing efficient data center designs, resource optimization techniques, and innovative virtualization practices. Additionally, the authors scrutinize real-world instances of industry leaders embracing sustainable energy sources. Furthermore, they shed light on the obstacles within eco-friendly cloud computing while illuminating forthcoming trends for the triumphant integration of sustainable and eco-friendly technologies. This study offers profound insights for researchers, students, and stakeholders alike.

Abstract MotivationAppropriately taxing the richest is a priority for African governments, which need tax revenues to invest and pay for public services. In Uganda, the revenue authority launched a unit in 2015 to monitor the tax affairs of high‐net‐worth individuals (HNWIs) and very important persons (VIPs), 393 individuals in all. The unit combined persuasion, assistance, and enforcement.PurposeTo establish the extent to which the unit was able to improve tax compliance by the rich.Methods and approachIn collaboration with the Uganda Revenue Authority, this study builds on taxpayer‐level data on tax filing and payment. The analysis employs a standard difference‐in‐difference framework, exploiting the timing of the launch of the unit (September 2015). It also makes use of the existence of the target group of 393 wealthy individuals and a group of another 1,731 potentially wealthy individuals who have been identified but never included in the unit's operations owing to limited resources. We match the groups using a propensity score algorithm.FindingsThe unit has been only partially successful. While the unit increased the probability of filing a return, especially by VIPs, taxpayers declared less on different measures, with no impacts on tax liability. On tax payments, only a small and significant positive impact was found, again due to complex offsetting responses across tax categories. This study also measures the spillover effect on companies controlled by the richest—again documenting complex compensating reactions and no meaningful impacts on tax take. Lastly, while deterrence is more effective for HNWIs, taxpayer assistance and public shaming are more relevant for VIPs.Policy implicationsThis case shows that the rich can be identified and their tax monitored. It also shows the limits of what can be achieved. The Uganda unit lacked staff; it needed twice as many people to monitor the tax of wealthy persons adequately. Moreover, it was hamstrung by the difficulties of sharing data between different departments of the Tax Authority, among government agencies, and between government and key agents such as banks. Ultimately, the unit did not have the staff and data to challenge the tax avoidance schemes deployed by wealthy people and the companies they own.

Staphylococcus urealyticus bacteria are pathogenic among immune-compromised individuals. A strain (MUWRP0921) of Staphylococcus urealyticus with a genome of 2,708,354 bp was isolated from Uganda and carries genes that are associated with antibiotic resistance, including resistance to macrolides (erm(C) and mph(C')), aminoglycosides (aac(6")-aph(2")), tetracyclines (tet(K)), and trimethoprim (dfrG).

This study assessed the factors associated with value addition and product upgrading of shea nut in northern Uganda. We adopted a cross-sectional research design using a multi-stage sampling approach and a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect data from 252 respondents. The results show that 84% of shea nut collectors practise some level of value addition with 11.5% adding value to all of the shea nuts collected. Over 50% of the shea nut collectors had at least one value-added product with about 3% having four value-added products, the most common products being roasted kernel and crude butter (37.3%). Regression analysis revealed that level of value addition was significantly influenced by gender, age, land under shea cultivation, income, information access, association membership and spot marketing, while the number of value-added products was significantly influenced by age, household size, extension access, information access, association membership, informal marketing, formal marketing and location of shea collector. The findings imply that increasing shea value addition in terms of both proportions allocated to value addition and the number of value-added products require adopting a group approach to provision of value addition and shea processing information. Therefore, we recommend the need to encourage shea actors to form associations focused on value addition.

Abstract Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a devastating complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) associated with high mortality and morbidity including amputations of lower extremities; and a high economic burden especially in low-income countries like Uganda. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with severity of DFU and assess the anatomical distribution of DFU among patients in Uganda. Methodology: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in 7 selected referral hospitals in Uganda. 117 patients with DM type 1 and 2 and foot ulcers were enrolled for this study from January to March 2021. Using the Wagner classification, patients were categorized as less severe DFU (grade 1 and grade 2) and severe DFU for grade 3 and above. A pre tested questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using STATA Version 14 with significance at 95% and p-value of &lt;0.05. Results: Out of 117 patients with DFU, 70 (59.8%) had severe DFU and 47 (40.2%) had less severe DFU. Mean age in years was 57.5 (SD15.2) among all study participants in general. The right foot was affected in (47.9%) of cases and the most frequent ulcer was found on the plantar of the foot (44.4%). Majority of the patients had one ulcer (50.4%) and the most frequent ulcer size was &gt;5 cm (47.9%). Majority (61.5%) of the participants were female. Majority of participants, 90 (76.9%) also had uncontrolled blood sugars and 27(29.1%) had normal glycemia Severity of DFU was 3.4 more prevalent among patients with mild neuropathies (p=0.003), and 2.7 more prevalent for those with moderate neuropathies (p=0.005). Also, severity of DFU was 1.5 more prevalent in patients with an ulcer 5-10 cm of diameter (p=0.047) and 2.5 more prevalent in those with foot ulcer of more than 10 cm of diameter (p=.000). Conclusion:The study showed that most of the DFU patients have severe diabetic foot ulcer and uncontrolled glycemia. Neuropathies and ulcers more than 5cm wide are precipitating factors to severity of DFU and, therefore, early management is important to reduce the burden of the disease.

Integrated service delivery, providing coordinated services in a convenient manner, is important in HIV prevention and treatment for adolescents as they have interconnected health care needs related to HIV care, sexual and reproductive health and disease prevention. This review aimed to (1) identify key components of adolescent-responsive integrated service delivery in low and middle-income countries, (2) describe projects that have implemented integrated models of HIV care for adolescents, and (3) develop action steps to support the implementation of sustainable integrated models. We developed an implementation science-informed conceptual framework for integrated delivery of HIV care to adolescents and applied the framework to summarize key data elements in ten studies or programs across seven countries. Key pillars of the framework included (1) the socioecological perspective, (2) community and health care system linkages, and (3) components of adolescent-focused care. The conceptual framework and action steps outlined can catalyze design, implementation, and optimization of HIV care for adolescents.

Background: Low-income earners are particularly vulnerable to mental health, consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions, due to a temporary or permanent loss of income and livelihood, coupled with government-enforced measures of social distancing. This study evaluates the mental health status among low-income earners in southwestern Uganda during the first total COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken amongst earners whose income falls below the poverty threshold. Two hundred and fifty-three (n = 253) male and female low-income earners between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age were recruited to the study. Modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) tools as appropriate were used to assess anxiety, anger, and depression respectively among our respondents.Results: Severe anxiety (68.8%) followed by moderate depression (60.5%) and moderate anger (56.9%) were the most common mental health challenges experienced by low-income earners in Bushenyi district. Awareness of mental healthcare increased with the age of respondents in both males and females. A linear relationship was observed with age and depression (r = 0.154, P = 0.014) while positive correlations were observed between anxiety and anger (r = 0.254, P < 0.001); anxiety and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015) and anger and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015).Conclusion: The study shows the importance of mental health awareness in low resource settings during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Females were identified as persons at risk to mental depression, while anger was highest amongst young males.