Factors associated with non-adherence to clinic visits among patients with severe mental illness enrolled in the SMILE study in Uganda.

Background: Non-adherence to clinic visits among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) presents challenges to patient management, treatment outcomes, and research in resource-limited settings. This study investigated the factors associated with non-adherence to clinic visits in Uganda, using appointment attendance as a proxy for clinic adherence.

Methods: This cohort study took place at Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital and Masaka Regional Referral Hospital from January to March 2018.

Counselling and depressive symptoms in older adults with HIV/AIDS in mbarara, Uganda.

Background: Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest, hopelessness, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and low self-esteem. Among people living with HIV (PLWH), depression is linked to poor psychological and medical outcomes, including lower quality of life, higher viral load, and increased mortality risk. Various psychotherapy methods, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy, group counselling, and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), have been used to treat depression.

Lived experiences and coping mechanisms among children and adolescents living with HIV after HIV disclosure in Eastern Uganda.

Purpose: To understand the experiences and coping mechanisms of children and adolescents living with HIV (CALH) after HIV disclosure.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study among CALH after HIV disclosure receiving care from two referral hospitals in eastern Uganda. In-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide during routine outpatient visits to HIV clinics until data saturation was achieved.

Healthcare workers' perspective about barriers and facilitators to pediatric HIV status disclosure in eastern Uganda using capability opportunity and motivation of behavior change model.

HIV status disclosure by caregivers to children and adolescents living with HIV (CALH) remains a public health concern in countries with a high burden of HIV despite guidelines for healthcare workers (HCWs) to facilitate the process. This study explored barriers and facilitators to HIV disclosure at two referral hospitals in eastern Uganda focusing on the utilization of existing guidelines. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted among all HCWs involved in the management of CALH at three pediatric HIV clinics.

Post-traumatic stress disorder and its associated factors: a cross-sectional study among refugee children and adolescents living in a Ugandan refugee settlement.

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its risk factors among adult refugees in the context of war-related forced migration is well established. However, reliable data are lacking on war-related trauma among refugee children and adolescents residing in refugee settlements. This study estimated the magnitude of PTSD and its associated factors among children and adolescents in Nakivale refugee settlement, south-western Uganda.

Appetitive aggression and associated factors among military soldiers retiring from active service in Uganda.

Appetitive aggression is a type of aggression that is characterized by a fascination with violence and a desire to inflict pain on the perceived enemy. This type of aggression has mainly been studied among former child soldiers and demobilized combatants. Information on appetitive aggression among retiring active service officers is limited.

Prevalence of aggression and associated factors among inpatients with mental illness at tertiary hospitals in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: In mental health treatment facilities around the world, aggression aimed towards medical personnel and other patients is a serious issue. Types of aggression include; verbal aggression, aggression towards property, self-harm/auto-aggression, and physical aggression. Studies show 1 in 5 patients admitted to acute mental health care wards in high-income countries commit an act of physical violence during admission.

Prevalence and factors associated with the multiple morbidity of postpartum depression, diabetes mellitus and hypertension among mothers in Mbarara district, south western Uganda: A parallel convergent mixed methods study.

Background: The occurrence of multiple morbidities of postpartum depression (PPD), hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) among postpartum mothers poses a health care challenge because it not only affects the mother but also the life of the new born baby and that of close family members. Therefore, this study aimed at examining the prevalence and factors associated with these comorbidities among mothers in public health facilities in Mbarara, south western Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a facility based cross sectional study using parallel convergent mixed methods to collect information from 309 postpartum mothers from 6 weeks to 6 months after childbirth.

Impact of Reducing Time Lived With Colostomies on Social Stigma Affecting Children With Anorectal Malformations in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: The social stigma of families of children living with colostomies due to anorectal malformation (ARM) is significant in low-income countries (LICs). Improved access to pediatric surgery has resulted in more 1-stage ARM procedures in Southwestern Uganda, avoiding colostomy creation, but the impact on social stigma experienced by families is unknown. We hypothesized that this change would decrease the social stigma experienced by families.

Transition from Hospital to Home-Based Care for Older Adults in Southwestern Uganda: Informal Caregiver's Experiences.

Background: The transition from hospital-based to home-based care is a complex and challenging process. In most developing countries, patients transfer directly from hospital to home immediately after stabilizing from acute illness. After discharge, all the patient's care needs are taken over by informal caregivers whose experiences and practices may directly or indirectly impact the quality of patient care as well as the outcomes.

Generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder among healthcare professionals in Mbarara city, southwestern Uganda: the relationship with professional quality of life and resilience.

Background: Marking the lives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) are tensions arising from the conflict between fulfilling their duty of care and the demands of the healthcare setting, creating concern for HCPs' mental. In our study, we aim to determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among HCPs in Southwestern Uganda and to establish how the disorders' prevalence affects professional quality of life and resilience.

Method: In total, 200 HCPs from two health facilities (one private and one public) in Southwestern Uganda enrolled in an analytical cross-sectional study.

Internal Facilitation by Health Assistants for the "WHO Lay Health Worker Dementia Care" in Rural Uganda: A Formative Evaluation.

Background: Dementia is characterized by cognitive symptoms like memory loss, difficulty with language, and impaired judgment, alongside behavioral and psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and aggression. Early diagnosis and tailored care are essential for managing these symptoms, improving quality of life, and reducing caregiver burden. Dementia affects a substantial portion of older people globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Uganda, where rural healthcare systems face challenges in dementia care access.

Health and economic impact of caregiving on informal caregivers of people with chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.

With a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases and severe shortage of health workers in sub-Saharan Africa, the region implicitly relies on informal caregivers (ICGs) to support the patients both within and outside the health facilities. The aim of this review is to systematically summarise evidence on the health and economic impact of caregiving on informal caregivers of patients with chronic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Medline (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Global Health, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched to identify original articles that considered the economic and/or health impacts of caregiving in sub-Saharan Africa.

Vagus nerve stimulation in dementia: A scoping review of clinical and pre-clinical studies.

Background: Dementia is a prevalent, progressive, neurodegenerative condition with multifactorial causes. Due to the lack of effective pharmaceutical treatments for dementia, there are growing clinical and research interests in using vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as a potential non-pharmacological therapy for dementia. However, the extent of the research volume and nature into the effects of VNS on dementia is not well understood.

Psychological distress among healthcare professionals in Mbarara, following the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda: a mixed methods study.

Background: The 2022 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak occurred at a time when Uganda was still battling the social and psychological challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; placing health care professionals (HCPs) at a much higher risk of developing psychological distress. Psychological distress among HCPs can cause decreased workplace productivity and ineffective management of their patients. The current study aimed to investigate and understand psychological distress among HCPS in Mbarara city in Southwestern Uganda following the 2022 EVD outbreak.

Body image, eating distress and emotional-behavioral difficulties among adolescents in Mbarara, Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Adolescents frequently have emotional and behavioral difficulties as they struggle with the challenges of transition from childhood to adulthood. Many struggle with issues of body image and eating distress as they deal with the difficult and frequently perplexing changes that occur with puberty. Yet there is surprisingly little research on the emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as body image and eating distress among this sizable population in Uganda.

Healthcare Workers' Perspectives on the Utilization of the International HIV Dementia Scale for the Screening HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders: A Qualitative Study at TASO Centres in Central and Southwestern Uganda.

Introduction: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are becoming a significant public health concern in the continuum of human immune virus (HIV) treatment. These disorders range from subtle cognitive impairments to severe dementia. Despite many early-stage HAND cases being asymptomatic, healthcare workers (HCWs) rarely perform routine neurocognitive assessments.

Barriers and Facilitators to Screening for Kidney Disease Among Older Adults with Hypertension and Diabetes in Mbarara Southwestern Uganda: Healthcare Providers' Perspective.

Background: Screening for kidney disease (KD) among high-risk patients (patients with hypertension or diabetes) allows early diagnosis, intervention and delayed progression of the disease. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), KD screening is still sub-optimal. This study explored the healthcare providers' perceived barriers and facilitators to KD screening among older adults with hypertension and diabetes in Mbarara southwestern Uganda.

A 'hidden problem': Nature, prevalence and factors associated with sexual dysfunction in persons living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Background: We conducted a clinic-based cross-sectional survey among 710 people living with HIV/AIDS in stable 'sexual' relationships in central and southwestern Uganda. Although sexual function is rarely discussed due to the private nature of sexual life. Yet, sexual problems may predispose to negative health and social outcomes including marital conflict.

Validating the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Against the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition for Use in Uganda.

Background: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a widely acknowledged screening tool for postpartum depression (PPD) globally, but its validation in Uganda has been lacking. This study aimed to assess the EPDS's accuracy as a PPD screening tool in Uganda compared to the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 7.0.

Prevalence of postpartum depression and its association with Diabetes mellitus among mothers in Mbarara, southwestern Uganda.

Background: Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a major health challenge with potentially devastating maternal and physical health outcomes. Development of diabetes mellitus has been hypothesized as one the potential adverse effects of PPD among mothers in the postpartum period but this association has not been adequately studied. This study aimed at determining prevalence of postpartum depression and its association with diabetes mellitus among mothers in Mbarara District, southwestern Uganda.

Planning for Hospital Discharge for Older Adults in Uganda: A Qualitative Study Among Healthcare Providers Using the COM-B Framework.

Background: Proper discharge planning enhances continuity of patient care, reduces readmissions, and ensures safe and timely transition from health facility to home-based care. The current study aimed at exploring the healthcare providers' perspectives of discharge planning among older adults, with respect to barriers and facilitators within the Ugandan health system.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative exploratory study that used one-on-one interviews (Additional file 1) to describe individual perspectives of healthcare providers in their routine clinical care setting.

A qualitative investigation of the psychosocial services utilised by care-givers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in southwestern Uganda.

Individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias often require substantial support from other people. Much of the care-giving is from family members who eventually experience physical, emotional and financial stress, depression and fatigue. In Uganda, families are a cornerstone in providing care to individuals with dementia.