Mulago Hospital

About: Mulago Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Kampala, Uganda. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 542 authors who have published 545 publications receiving 34804 citations.

Markers of oxidative stress in umbilical cord blood from G6PD deficient African newborns.

Abstract: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an X-linked disorder that affects as many as 400 million people worldwide, making it the most common enzymatic defect. Subjects with G6PD deficiency are more likely to develop neonatal hyperbilirubinemia potentially leading to kernicterus and are at increased risk for acute hemolytic anemia when exposed to pro-oxidant compounds such as anti-malarial drugs. We collected umbilical cord blood from 300 males born in Uganda to assess for novel markers of systemic oxidative stress. We determined that 10.7% of the samples collected were G6PD A- deficient (G202A/A376G) and when these were compared with unaffected controls, there was significantly higher 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration, elevated ferritin, increased leukocyte count and higher small molecule antioxidant capacity. These data suggest increased baseline oxidative stress and an elevated antioxidant response in umbilical cord blood of patients with G6PD deficiency.

Changes in Providers’ Self-Efficacy and Intentions to Provide Safer Conception Counseling Over 24 Months

Abstract: High rates of fertility desires, childbearing and serodiscordant partnerships among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Uganda underscore the need to promote use of safer conception methods (SCM). Effective SCM exist but few PLHIV benefit from provider-led safer conception counseling (SCC) and comprehensive national SCC guidelines are still lacking. Providers’ self-efficacy, intentions and attitudes for SCC impact provision and should inform development of services, but there are no longitudinal studies that assess these important constructs. This study reports on changes in providers’ knowledge, attitudes, motivation and confidence to provide SCC among a 24-month observational cohort of Ugandan HIV providers. Compared to baseline, providers evidenced increased awareness of SCM, perceived greater value in providing SCC, saw all SCM but sperm washing as likely to be acceptable to clients, reported consistently high interest in and peer support for providing SCC, and perceived fewer barriers at the 24-month follow-up. Providers’ intentions for providing SCC stayed consistently high for all SCM except manual self-insemination which decreased at 24 months. Self-efficacy for providing SCC increased from baseline with the greatest improvement in providers’ confidence in advising serodiscordant couples where the man is HIV-infected. Providers consistently cite the lack of established guidelines, training, and their own reluctance to broach the issue with clients as significant barriers to providing SCC. Despite providers being more interested and open to providing SCC than ever, integration of SCC into standard HIV services has not happened. Concerted efforts are needed to address remaining barriers by establishing national SCC guidelines and implementing quality provider training.

Skills training of health workers in the use of a non surgical device (PrePex) for adult Safe Male Circumcision.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) is a proven approach for partial protection of men from acquisition of HIV infection. Several sub-Saharan African countries have a target to circumcise 80% of males aged 15 to 49. The use of devices such as PrePex would aid scaling up of SMC. Since most health workers would have no prior experience with use of devices skills training is needed. This paper explores a skills transfer model at an urban site in Uganda. OBJECTIVE: To assess the practicability and feasibility of rapid short duration training for safe PrePex device use. METHODS: A prospective study conducted over 8 weeks (August-October 2012) at International Hospital Kampala an urban Kampala hospital examining the performance of various health worker cadres after training in the use of a non-surgical device (PrePex). The prospective study obtained approval from the Makerere School of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology. If eligible and after the subject signed the informed consent form they were enrolled into the study. RESULTS: Ten health workers were successfully trained in use of PrePex during a 3 day non-residential on-the-job training course. After the first three days of training the trained health workers performed 561 placements and 529 device removals successfully. Over all adverse events (AE) rates were below 0.25 for moderate AEs). CONCLUSION: Rapid training for safe use of the PrePex device is feasible for the range of health workers available for SMC in resource limited settings but among those with past SMC experience.