Prevalence and factors associated with probable anxiety disorders among elderly persons living with HIV at Mulago ISS clinic: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a major public health concern globally. Due to advancements in Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) therapy, more people with HIV are living longer with about 1.4 million infected people in Uganda.

Implementing a Digital Child Behavioral Health Prevention Program in Faith-Based Settings in Uganda: A Feasibility Study.

Background: The burden of pediatric mental disorders in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) is tremendous, but solutions for addressing the burden remain limited. Although digital solutions have potential to improve prevention services, such solutions have not been systematically tested in these countries.

Objective: This study explores the use of a digital parenting intervention tool designed for pediatric behavioral health, known as the Pediatric-Behavioral Health Digital Tool, in a preventive service model for low resource communities.

Cultural adaptation of clinic-based pediatric hiv status disclosure intervention with task shifting in Eastern Uganda.

Background: HIV status disclosure remains a major challenge among children living with perinatally acquired HIV with many taking treatment up to adolescence without knowing their serostatus. This non-disclosure is influenced by factors like fear of the negative consequences of disclosure. Since HIV status disclosure has been found to have good effects including improving treatment adherence and better mental health outcomes, there is a need to design interventions aimed at improving disclosure rates among children living with HIV.

Effects of M-DEPTH model of depression care on maternal depression, functioning, and HIV care adherence, and infant developmental over eighteen months post-partum: results from a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Perinatal depression is associated with poor outcomes related to HIV care adherence, maternal functioning, and early child development. We examined whether the M-DEPTH (Maternal Depression Treatment in HIV) depression care model-including antidepressant therapy and individual problem-solving therapy-and depression alleviation would affect improvement in each of these outcome domains.

Methods: A sample of 354 pregnant women living with HIV (WLH) with at least mild depressive symptoms (177 in each of intervention and usual care control arms) enrolled in a cluster randomized controlled trial across eight antenatal care clinics in Uganda and had a live birth delivery.

The Effect of a Life-Stage Based Intervention on Depression in Youth Living with HIV in Kenya and Uganda: Results from the SEARCH-Youth Trial.

Depression among adolescents and young adults with HIV affects both their wellbeing and clinical care outcomes. Integrated care models are needed. We hypothesized that the SEARCH-Youth intervention, a life-stage-based care model that improved viral suppression, would reduce depressive symptoms as compared to the standard of care.

Adequacy, Satisfaction, and Factors Associated With Information Provided During Consent: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Prosthodontic Patients at Selected Dental Facilities in Kampala, Uganda.

Background In dentistry, the practice of informed consent is crucial, more so for invasive procedures such as fixed prosthodontic treatment. Patients should have adequate information if they are to play a significant role in making decisions that reflect their values and preferences. Objective The objective of the present study was to determine the adequacy and factors associated with information provided during the informed consent process for fixed prosthodontic treatment among patients attending selected dental facilities in Kampala, Uganda.

"I Haven't Told Other People. I Want to Keep My Dignity": HIV Related Stigma Among the Elderly in Uganda.

Purpose: Numerous studies focus on stigma, HIV disclosure's impact on treatment compliance, especially in younger groups. Limited research exists about older individuals. We therefore explored issues related to disclosure of HIV status and HIV-related stigma in the elderly.

The social, cultural, and health context of controlling behavior and emotional intimate partner violence among adolescent girls and young women living with human immunodeficiency virus in Uganda: A qualitative study.

Background: Many adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) report intimate partner violence (IPV), including emotional IPV and controlling behavior. Yet, few studies have examined the association between these forms of IPV and health outcomes among AGYW living with HIV.

Objectives: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study to understand the contexts in which controlling behavior and emotional IPV might impact the health of AGYW living with HIV in Uganda.

"I was also trying to protect myself and save my life," experiences of people living with severe mental illness and their caregivers regarding COVID-19 response in Uganda.

Introduction: People with severe mental illness (SMI) are highly vulnerable and more affected by epidemics than the general population. They encounter limited access to care, miss out on infection prevention measures and are more prone to relapses.

Objectives: This study explored the experiences of individuals with SMI and their caregivers in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects of M-DEPTH Model of Depression Care on Maternal Functioning and Infant Developmental Outcomes in the Six Months Post Delivery: Results from a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Perinatal depression has been shown to have deleterious effects on maternal post-partum functioning, as well as early child development. However, few studies have documented whether depression care helps to mitigate these effects. We examined the effects of the M-DEPTH (Maternal Depression Treatment in HIV) depression care model (including antidepressants and individual Problem Solving Therapy) on maternal functioning and infant development in the first 6 months post-delivery in an ongoing cluster randomized controlled trial of 391 HIV-infected women with at least mild depressive symptoms enrolled across eight antenatal care clinics in Uganda.

Psychological distress among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Uganda.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations, such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support provided to patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges.

Stakeholder views on continuing professional development for doctors working in public primary care facilities in central Uganda: a qualitative study.

Introduction: the primary care workforce in the public sector of Uganda is under the district health system. The doctors in this workforce provide leadership and frontline promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care. Their numbers are still low and therefore need effective support through continuing professional development (CPD).

Psychological Distress among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Uganda.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support for patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges.

Feasibility and acceptability of the World Health Organization's iSUPPORT program for dementia caregivers in Uganda.

This study aims to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It involves adaptation of the World Health Organization's iSUPPORT (WHO-iSUPPORT) psychosocial intervention for Uganda, assessing its feasibility and acceptability, and its effects on caregivers' psychological distress, quality of life (QoL), and depression levels. The adapted iSUPPORT (UGA-iSUPPORT) program was translated into Luganda, a local language, validated by experts, divided into four modules, and later piloted for four weeks in Wakiso, Uganda.

Continuing professional development training needs for primary care doctors in central Uganda.

Background: Continuing professional development (CPD) activities relevant to medical doctors and their patients should be informed by current assessed training needs. The CPD provision is expected to improve the quality of professional practice and ethics. However, the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners' Council still receives about 40 reports of malpractice every month.

A multilevel health system intervention for virological suppression in adolescents and young adults living with HIV in rural Kenya and Uganda (SEARCH-Youth): a cluster randomised trial.

Background: Social and cognitive developmental events can disrupt care and medication adherence among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We hypothesised that a dynamic multilevel health system intervention helping adolescents and young adults and their providers navigate life-stage related events would increase virological suppression compared with standard care.

Methods: We did a cluster randomised, open-label trial of young individuals aged 15-24 years with HIV and receiving care in eligible clinics (operated by the government and with ≥25 young people receiving care) in rural Kenya and Uganda.

Treatment of Perinatal Depression and Correlates of Treatment Response Among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Uganda.

Introduction: Perinatal depression is common among women living with HIV, but depression care is limited in low-resource settings. We examined (1) characteristics of women receiving Problem Solving Therapy (PST) versus antidepressant therapy (ADT), (2) treatment response by modality, and (3) correlates of treatment response.

Methods: This analysis used data from 191 Ugandan women in the intervention arm of a cluster randomized controlled trial of task-shifted, stepped-care depression treatment for pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH).

Effects of M-DEPTH Model of Depression Care on Maternal HIV Viral Suppression and Adherence to the PMTCT Care Continuum Among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women in Uganda: Results from a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial at Pregnancy Completion.

Perinatal depression has been shown to impede adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) care continuum; therefore, treating perinatal depression may result in increased viral suppression and PMTCT adherence. We examined the effects of the M-DEPTH (Maternal Depression Treatment in HIV) depression care model (including antidepressants and individual Problem Solving Therapy) on depression, maternal viral suppression and adherence to PMTCT care processes in an ongoing cluster-randomized controlled trial of 391 HIV-infected pregnant women (200 usual care; 191 intervention) with at least mild depressive symptoms enrolled across 8 antenatal care clinics in Uganda. At baseline, 68.

"I decided in my heart I have to complete the sessions": A qualitative study on the acceptability of an evidence-based HIV risk reduction intervention among women engaged in sex work in Uganda.

Background: The HIV burden remains a critical public health concern and women engaged in sex work [WESW] are at significantly higher risk compared to the general adult population. Similar to other sub-Saharan African countries, Uganda reports high rates of HIV prevalence among WESW. Yet, they have not been targeted by theory-informed HIV prevention intervention approaches.

Experiences and practices of key research team members in obtaining informed consent for pharmacogenetic research among people living with HIV: a qualitative study.

This study aimed to explore experiences and practices of key research team members in obtaining informed consent for pharmacogenetics research and to identify the approaches used for enhancing understanding during the consenting process. Data collection involved 15 qualitative, in-depth interviews with key researchers who were involved in obtaining informed consent from HIV infected individuals in Uganda for participation in pharmacogenetic clinical trials. The study explored two prominent themes: approaches used to convey information and enhance research participants' understanding and challenges faced during the consenting process.

Contraceptive acceptability and associated factors among young women (15-24) living with HIV/AIDS: a hospital-based study in Kampala, Uganda.

Introduction: In Uganda, over 43% of all pregnancies among young women (15-24 years) living with HIV are either unwanted or mistimed. Unintended pregnancies account for 21.3% of neonatal HIV infections.

Advancing scalability and impacts of a teacher training program for promoting child mental health in Ugandan primary schools: protocol for a hybrid-type II effectiveness-implementation cluster randomized trial.

Background: Children in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) are facing tremendous mental health challenges. Numerous evidence-based interventions (EBIs) have been adapted to LMICs and shown effectiveness in addressing the needs, but most EBIs have not been adopted widely using scalable and sustainable implementation models that leverage and strengthen existing structures. There is a need to apply implementation science methodology to study strategies to effectively scale-up EBIs and sustain the practices in LMICs.

"I expected little, although I learned a lot": perceived benefits of participating in HIV risk reduction sessions among women engaged in sex work in Uganda.

Background: The global HIV burden remains a public health concern. Women engaged in sex work (WESW) are at higher risk of acquiring HIV compared to the general adult population. Uganda reports high rates of HIV prevalence among WESW.

The Africa Ethics Working Group (AEWG): a model of collaboration for psychiatric genomic research in Africa.

The Africa Ethics Working Group (AEWG) is a South-South-North collaboration of bioethics and mental health researchers from sub-Saharan Africa, working to tackle emerging ethical challenges in global mental health research. Initially formed to provide ethical guidance for a neuro-psychiatric genomics research project, AEWG has evolved to address cross cutting ethical issues in mental health research aimed at addressing equity in North-South collaborations. Global South refers to economically developing countries (sub-Saharan Africa in this context) and Global North to economically developed countries (primarily Europe, UK and North America).