Uganda

Comparing visual estimation and hematocrit change in the assessment of blood loss among women undergoing cesarean delivery in a tertiary facility in northern Uganda

Background: Cesarean section poses a fourfold risk for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), necessitating accurate blood loss estimation to enable timely interventions. However, the conventional visual estimation method often leads to underestimation, resulting in undiagnosed PPH even in our setting, Uganda. Yet, the quantitative standard techniques remain underutilized. Objective: We compared visual and calculated blood loss among women undergoing cesarean delivery at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda. Design: We employed a cross-sectional study...

January 20, 2025Read more...

Patterns and outcomes of individuals admitted at emergency units following intentional self-harm in Northern Uganda

We retrospectively reviewed charts of 253 self-harming patients admitted to emergency units in Northern Uganda in 2021. Twenty-two (8.7%) died by suicide, especially due to organophosphate poisoning (n = 14, 63.6%). Regarding self-harm management, observed differences were noted in the type of hospital and the use of antidotes between public and private facilities. There is a need for more studies and a multisector approach to prevent and treat self-harm in...

January 8, 2025Read more...

Post-Artesunate Delayed Hemolysis: Anything That Can Go Wrong Will Go Wrong-Murphy’s Law

In patients presenting with post-malarial anemia following intravenous artesunate treatment, post-artesunate delayed hemolysis should be considered in the differential diagnosis, even in endemic settings. Close monitoring for signs of delayed hemolysis in patients previously treated with intravenous artesunate for severe malaria, regardless of their malaria exposure history or geographic location is crucial.

January 8, 2025Read more...

Factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among antenatal care mothers at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in northern Uganda

Background: All pregnant mothers in Uganda are given sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP, Fansidar®) for presumptive treatment of malaria in pregnancy from 14 weeks of gestation, every four weeks, until delivery. However, prenatal mothers still fall sick of malaria. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with malaria in pregnancy among antenatal care mothers at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital antenatal clinic from...

November 20, 2024Read more...

Talking About Gene Drive in Uganda: The Need for Science Communication to Underpin Engagement

Uganda may host the world’s first field trials of gene drive mosquitoes for malaria control. Global North discourses pre-suppose African publics have access to information about gene drive and are ready to make decisions about its governance. We explore assumptions about the availability of this information in Uganda. We find a paucity of information available combined with a strong desire for information from lay publics. We discuss these findings in...

August 24, 2024Read more...