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ItemPrevalence and determinants of herbal medicine utilization and phytochemical analysis of selected used plants among hypertensive patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Background: Hypertension remains a major public health challenge in Uganda, with many patients using herbal medicine alongside conventional treatments. However, data on prevalence, associated factors, commonly used plants, and their phytochemical properties remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors influencing herbal medicine use among hypertensive patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital and analyze the phytochemical composition of two frequently used medicinal plants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 hypertensive patients attending Mulago Hospital’s outpatient clinic. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Two commonly reported plants (Spathodea campanulata and Solanum anguivii) were selected for phytochemical screening using decoction, cold maceration, and Soxhlet extraction methods. Standard tests identified alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and other bioactive compounds. Modified Poisson regression analyzed factors associated with herbal medicine use. Results: The prevalence of herbal medicine use was 76.8%, with 20.8% concurrently using herbal and conventional medicines. Key factors associated with herbal medicine use included marital status (married patients: aPR=1.59, p=0.002), lower education (primary level: aPR=0.83, p=0.032), and prior hypertension diagnosis (aPR=2.10, p=0.003). Patients receiving information from traditional healers were 11% more likely to use herbal medicine (p=0.049). Garlic (41.1%) and ginger (25.8%) were the most cited plants, followed by Solanum anguivii (12.2%) and Spathodea campanulata (11.2%). Phytochemical analysis of S. anguivii and S. campanulata revealed flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and glycosides in both plants, supporting their potential antihypertensive effects . Only 15% of participants reported being asked by doctors about herbal medicine use, with 45% experiencing side effects (e.g., nausea, allergic reactions). Conclusion: Herbal medicine is widely used among hypertensive patients in Uganda, driven by accessibility, cultural beliefs, and perceived efficacy. The presence of bioactive compounds in S. campanulata and S. anguivii validates their traditional use but underscores the need for safety and efficacy studies. The low disclosure rate to healthcare providers highlights risks of herb-drug interactions, necessitating policy integration, patient education, and clinician awareness to optimize hypertension management. Future research should expand phytochemical analyses and clinical trials for commonly used plants. Keywords: Hypertension, herbal medicine, phytochemical screening, Spathodea campanulata, Solanum anguivii, prevalence
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ItemAssessing competence and traning needs of the healtth supplychain workforce in public health facilities in Teso sub region Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Background: Human resources is the back bone of any supply chain system and is the key enabler for all other functions to effectively perform. The Ugandan health supply chain system has been found to be performing poorly from researches conducted, citing the shortage of a skilled health supply chain workforce. However, there is limited knowledge and understanding of the existing levels of competence of the health supply chain workforce as well as the training needs. This study assessed the competence and training needs of the health supply chain workforce in public health facilities in Teso sub region Uganda. Methods: A concurrent mixed methods study was conducted among 30 public health facilities located in Teso sub region Uganda selected by proportionate simple random sampling. These included the regional referral hospital, one general hospital, five HC IVs and 23 HC IIIs. Quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire and checklist administered to 41 respondents selected purposively while qualitative data were gathered through key informant interviews with nine health care workers also selected purposively. Analysis of quantitative data was then conducted using SPSS version 19 while qualitative data from key informant interviews analyzed thematically and reported verbatim supported by quotes for referencing from the key informants. Results: Overall competence was 58.54%. Majority of the respondents showed skilled level competence in selection & quantification 21(51.22%), procurement 27(65.85%), storage & distribution 30(73.17%), use 21(52.2%). The no proficiency competence was observed in selection & quantification 1(2.44%) and use 2(4.88%) while expert level competence was observed in selection & quantification 2(4.88%), procurement 4(9.76%) and use 8(19.51%). Overall, study participants showed relatively high competence in the procurement (61.79%) and use (61.78%), moderate competence in storage & distribution (57.72%) and low competence in the selection & quantification domain (52.85%). The factors influencing competence were years of experience (p=0.031, AOR=2.90, CI=1.10-7.80) and qualification (diploma: p=0.09, AOR=2.05, CI=1.19-3.53 and degree: p=0.033, AOR=2.81,CI=1.09-7.25). Training needs were identified in areas of LMIS, pharmacovigilance, waste management, inventory management and ordering and distribution. Conclusion: Competence levels of the health supply chain workforce in public health facilities vary widely with competence gaps in LMIS, pharmacovigilance and inventory management. Key words: Health supply chain workforce, competence, training needs.
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ItemPrevalence of late oral effects after radiotherapy and correlation between oral dryness scores and salivary flow in head and neck cancer patients at UCI(Makerere University, 2025)ABSTRACT Background: Head and neck cancers contribute significantly to the global cancer burden, with many patients receiving radiotherapy as part of their treatment. While radiotherapy improves disease control, it is associated with long-term oral complications such as dry mouth (xerostomia), reduced saliva production (salivary gland hypofunction), radiation-related dental caries, and difficulty in mouth opening (trismus), which negatively impact quality of life. In Uganda, the burden of these complications is not well documented. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of late oral complications following radiotherapy and to assess the relationship between the Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS) and unstimulated salivary flow rate among patients treated for head and neck cancer at the Uganda Cancer Institute. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among seventy-four patients who had completed radiotherapy for head and neck cancer at least ninety days prior to the study. Data were collected through patient interviews, clinical examinations, and measurement of unstimulated salivary flow rate. Results: The study found a high prevalence of late oral complications, affecting ninety-four percent of participants. Dental caries affected eighty-eight percent of patients, fifty percent reported experiencing dry mouth (xerostomia), and sixty percent had reduced mouth opening of less than thirty millimeters (trismus). The average unstimulated salivary flow rate was 0.42 milliliters per minute, and the average Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS) was 4.5. A statistically significant moderate negative correlation (r = -0.4412, p = 0.001) was observed between CODS and unstimulated salivary flow rate. Conclusion: Late oral complications following radiotherapy are highly prevalent among patients with head and neck cancer. The Clinical Oral Dryness Score, used alone or together with measurement of unstimulated salivary flow rate, may be valuable in the clinical assessment of dry mouth (xerostomia) in this patient population
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ItemPrevalence and factors associated with anaemia in children aged 6–24 months living a high malaria transmission setting in Burundi(PloS ONE, 2022)Background In very young children, anaemia has been linked to increased morbidity, mortality and poor cognitive development. Although Burundi has a high burden of anaemia, which may be worsened by the high burden of malaria, little is known about the extent of the problem in very young children who are most at risk of severe disease. We estimated the prevalence, and assessed the factors associated with anaemia in children aged 6–24 months using baseline data collected as part of an on-going study evaluating the effect of Micronutrient supplementation on anaemia and cognition among children in high malaria transmission settings in Burundi. Methods Between February and March 2020, surveys were conducted in 498 households within the catchment area of Mukenke Health Center. One child aged 6–24 months was selected per household to participate in the survey. Following written informed consent, we administered a questionnaire to the child’s primary caregiver to capture information on child’s demographics, nutritional status, food intake, health (status, and morbidity and treatment-seeking practices), as well as the household markers of wealth. A physical exam was conducted, and a blood sample was collected to: 1) assess for presence of plasmodium infection using a rapid diagnosis test; 2) estimate the haemoglobin levels using a portable haemocue machine. A stool sample was also collected to examine for the presence of helminth infections. Results The prevalence of anaemia was 74.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 61.5%-84.0%), with most of the anaemic study participants classified as having moderate anaemia (59.2%). A total of 62 (12.5%) participants had positive malaria rapid diagnosis tests. Factors significantly associated with higher odds of developing anaemia included not receiving deworming medication (adjusted Odd ratio [aOR] = 3.54, 95% CI 1.79–6.99, p<0.001), the child’s home location (Mukenke II: aOR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.89–2.62, p<0.001; Mukenke: aOR = 2.76, 95% CI 2.46–3.10, p<0.001 and Budahunga: aOR = 3.12, 95% CI 2. 94–3.31, p<0.001) and the child’s age group (Children aged 6–11 months: aOR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.32–3.91, p<0.001). Education level was inversely associated with less odds of anaemia: child’s primary care giver with a secondary (aOR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47–0.95, p = 0,024) and tertiary education level (aOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.38–0.61, p<0.001). Conclusion Anaemia is highly prevalent among young children in high malaria transmission setting. Anaemia is more prevalent among children who not dewormed and those with malaria. To prevent the long-term adverse outcomes of the anaemia in children, policy makers should focus on improving uptake of the deworming and malaria prevention programs, promote preventive interventions and improve the education of women especially in families with very young children.
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ItemAssessing readiness for provision of online pharmaceutical services by retail pharmacies in Greater Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda(Makerere University, 2024)Introduction: The first online pharmacy, Soma (www.soma.com), started in the United States in January 1999. More than two decades later, the industry has transformed due to the rise of online shopping, electronic health solutions, direct-to-consumer healthcare, and globalization of pharmaceutical manufacturing. Approximately 35,000 online pharmacies now operate worldwide. Developing countries like Uganda are experiencing the emergence of online pharmacy services, but there is limited data available regarding their readiness to provide these services. There is therefore a need to evaluate their readiness to offer these services. This study evaluated the technological infrastructure and human resource readiness for the provision of online pharmaceutical services in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. The study was able to select 272 pharmacies using proportionate stratified random sampling. Descriptive statistics were conducted using Stata version 14, with frequencies reported for quantitative data. Thematic analysis was performed on qualitative data collected from the National Drug Authority (NDA) regional managers in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. Results: The majority 222(95%) of the surveyed pharmacies engaged in delivery of online pharmaceutical services, offering a diverse range of services, including tele-pharmacy 189(85%), home drug delivery 141(64%), e-prescriptions 97(44%), home delivery with follow-up 94(42%), prescription reminder services 79(36%), and online consultations 75(34%). Only 23(10%) of retail pharmacies offering online pharmaceutical services had good human resource readiness, compared to 124(56%) with good technological infrastructure readiness. However, only 19(9%) of the pharmacies offering these services had good readiness for both Technological infrastructure and Human resources. Findings also showed a lack of specific regulations and legal frameworks for the delivery of online pharmaceutical services, minimal enforcement of the quality and authenticity of products sold online, and minimal public awareness and education on online pharmaceutical services. Conclusion: Over half of the pharmacies offering online pharmaceutical services had the necessary infrastructure in place thus infrastructure readiness, but there was a lack of human resources preparedness for online pharmaceutical services. The majority of the pharmacies were engaged in providing some online services such as delivering drugs ordered over phone calls to clients. However, very few used websites and software applications to carry out transactions which are fundamental for the provision of online pharmaceutical services. Recommendation: Retail pharmacies should encourage and offer training to their staff in online pharmaceutical services so as to improve human resource readiness. The National Drug Authority should establish clear guidelines and standards for the delivery of online pharmaceutical services, addressing aspects of Technological Infrastructure and Human Resources.