Diagnostic and analytic performance of four point-of-care hemoglobin testing devices used in routine HIV and maternity care in Uganda.

Background: Hemoglobin estimation (Hb) is the most requested hematology test, especially among pregnant/postnatal women and people living with HIV (PLHIV). In Uganda, several point-of-care (POC) Hb testing devices are currently used and performance may be affected by multiple factors. This study evaluated the diagnostic and analytic performance of four Hb POC devices.

Prevalence of protective tetanus antibodies and immunological response following tetanus toxoid vaccination among men seeking medical circumcision services in Uganda.

Introduction: Tetanus infection associated with men who had male circumcision has been reported in East Africa, suggesting a need for tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines (TTCV).

Objective: To determine the prevalence of tetanus toxoid antibodies following vaccination among men seeking circumcision.

Methods: We enrolled 620 consenting men who completed a questionnaire and received TTCV at enrollment (day 0) prior to circumcision on day 28.

Cross-sectional comparative study of risky sexual behaviours among HIV-infected persons initiated and waiting to start antiretroviral therapy in rural Rakai, Uganda.

Objectives: To compare risky sexual behaviours between HIV-positive persons initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (ART-experienced) and persons waiting to start on ART (ART-naive) and assess predictors of risky sexual behaviours among HIV-infected patients in rural Rakai district, Uganda.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study that used data from the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS) database between 2013 and 2014. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection.

Longitudinal evaluation of aflatoxin exposure in two cohorts in south-western Uganda.

Aflatoxins (AF) are a group of mycotoxins. AF exposure causes acute and chronic adverse health effects such as aflatoxicosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in human populations, especially in the developing world. In this study, AF exposure was evaluated using archived serum samples from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative participants from two cohort studies in south-western Uganda.