Makerere University

About: Makerere University is a education organization based out in Kampala, Uganda. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 7220 authors who have published 12405 publications receiving 366520 citations. The organization is also known as: Makerere University Kampala & MUK.

A Phase 1/2 Study of a Multiclade HIV-1 DNA Plasmid Prime and Recombinant Adenovirus Serotype 5 Boost Vaccine in HIV-Uninfected East Africans (RV 172)

Abstract: Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine development remains a global priority. We describe the safety and immunogenicity of a multiclade DNA vaccine prime with a replication-defective recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) boost. Methods The vaccine is a 6-plasmid mixture encoding HIV envelope (env) subtypes A, B, and C and subtype B gag, pol, and nef, and an rAd5 expressing identical genes, with the exception of nef. Three hundred and twenty-four participants were randomized to receive placebo (n=138), a single dose of rAd5 at 10(10) (n = 24) or 10(11) particle units (n = 24), or DNA at 0, 1, and 2 months, followed by rAd5 at either 10(10) (n= 114) or 10(11) particle units (n = 24) boosting at 6 months. Participants were followed up for 24 weeks after the final vaccination. Results The vaccine was safe and well tolerated. HIV-specific T cell responses were detected in 63% of vaccinees. Titers of preexisting Ad5 neutralizing antibody did not affect the frequency and magnitude of T cell responses in prime-boost recipients but did affect the response rates in participants that received rAd5 alone (P = .037). Conclusion The DNA/rAd5 vaccination regimen was safe and induced HIV type 1 multi-clade T cell responses, which were not significantly affected by titers of preexisting rAd5 neutralizing antibody. Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00123968 .

Dental caries experience and its relationship to social and behavioural factors among 3-5-year-old children in Uganda.

Abstract: Summary. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the socio-demographic and behavioural correlates of caries experience and sugar intake patterns among pre-school children in Uganda. Methods. Five hundred and eighty-nine, 3‐5-year-old children (51% boys, response rate = 85%), attending nursery schools in urban and peri-urban settings in central Kampala and Nakawa, respectively, were clinically examined for dental caries using the dmft index. Visible plaque on the labial surfaces of their maxillary incisors was recorded as a proxy for oral hygiene habits. A questionnaire designed to assess socio-demographic factors and sugar habits was completed by their caregivers in face-to-face interviews. Results. The mean dmft scores were 1·7, 2·4 and 3·1, and 42%, 44% and 42% had visible plaque among 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds, respectively. In Nakawa, a total of 64%, 62% and 22% of the subjects had dmft > 0, decayed teeth (dt) > 0 and missing teeth > 0, respectively. The corresponding rates in central Kampala were 56%, 55% and 17%. Multivariate analyses revealed that attending school in Nakawa, having a mother with a lower level of education, reporting the intake of cough syrup, visiting a dentist and scoring positively for plaque were associated with higher odds (1·6, 1·5, 3·7 and 2·7) for having dmft > 0. The adjusted mean frequency sugar scores varied systematically between mothers with low and high levels of education (mean scores = 11·0 vs. 10·4), and for children with negative and positive plaque scores (mean scores = 10·6 vs. 10·9). Conclusion. The caries experience was highest among children attending nursery schools in Nakawa and those who had had longer periods of cough syrup consumption, whereas children from the two locations were equally exposed to sugar consumption generally. Both caries experience and frequency of sugar consumption was highest among children of less-well-educated mothers.

Effects of Hydrogel Amendment to Different Soils on Plant Available Water and Survival of Trees under Drought Conditions

Abstract: The effect of super absorbent polyacrylate (SAP) hydrogel amendment to different soil types on plant available water (PAW), evapotranspiration and survival of Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus citriodora, Pinus caribaea, Araucaria cunninghamii, Melia volkensii, Grevillea robusta, Azadirachta indica, Maesopsis eminii and Terminalia superba was investigated. The seedlings were potted in 3 kg size polythene bags filled with sand, loam, silt loam, sandy loam and clay soils, amended at 0 (control), 0.2 and 0.4% w/w hydrogel. The tree seedlings were allowed to grow normally with routine uniform watering in a glass house set up for a period of eight weeks, after which they were subjected to drought conditions by not watering any further. The 0.4% hydrogel amendment significantly (p < 0.05) increased the PAW by a factor of about three in sand, two fold in silt loam and one fold in sandy loam, loam and clay soils compared to the control. Similarly, the addition of either 0.2 or 0.4% hydrogel to the five soil types resulted in prolonged tree survival compared to the controls. Araucaria cunninghammi survived longest at 153 days, while Maesopsis eminii survived least (95 days) in sand amended at 0.4% after subjection to desiccation. Evapotranspiration was reduced in eight of the nine tree species grown in sandy loam, loam, silt loam and clay soils amended at 0.4% hydrogel. It is probable that soil amendment with SAP decreased the hydraulic soil conductivity that might reduce plant transpiration and soil evaporation.

Intent to migrate among nursing students in Uganda: Measures of the brain drain in the next generation of health professionals

Abstract: There is significant concern about the worldwide migration of nursing professionals from low-income countries to rich ones, as nurses are lured to fill the large number of vacancies in upper-income countries. This study explores the views of nursing students in Uganda to assess their views on practice options and their intentions to migrate. Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to nursing students at the Makerere Nursing School and Aga Khan University Nursing School in Kampala, Uganda, during July 2006, using convenience sampling methods, with 139 participants. Two focus groups were also conducted at one university. Most (70%) of the participants would like to work outside Uganda, and said it was likely that within five years they would be working in the U.S. (59%) or the U.K. (49%). About a fourth (27%) said they could be working in another African country. Only eight percent of all students reported an unlikelihood to migrate within five years of training completion. Survey respondents were more dissatisfied with financial remuneration than with any other factor pushing them towards emigration. Those wanting to work in the settings of urban, private, or U.K./U.S. practices were less likely to express a sense of professional obligation and/or loyalty to country. Those who have lived in rural areas were less likely to report wanting to emigrate. Students with a desire to work in urban areas or private practice were more likely to report an intent to emigrate for financial reasons or in pursuit of country stability, while students wanting to work in rural areas or public practice were less likely to want to emigrate overall. Improving remuneration for nurses is the top priority policy change sought by nursing students in our study. Nursing schools may want to recruit students desiring work in rural areas or public practice to lead to a more stable workforce in Uganda.