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Browsing Publications by Author "Bagaya, B. S."

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    Knowledge, attitudes and practices of communities towards neurocysticercosis in the districts of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda
    (Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology, 6/4/2020) Alarakol, S. P.; Bagaya, B. S.; Yagos, Walter Onen; Odongo Aginya, E. I.
    Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the hematogenous inversion of brain by the larval stage of pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices among communities in two districts of Northern Uganda. A community based cross sectional study was conducted between February to March 2019 in two Sub-Counties of Amuru and Gulu districts. Multistage sampling and lottery methods were used to select the study sites and the respondents, respectively. Data was collected from 296 participants. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to detect the independent factors associated with dependent variables. Variables with P< 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Fifty six percent (56%) of the participant had moderate knowledge about NCC. Respondents with satisfactory level of attitude and practices were 52.3 and 51%, respectively. Sixty percent (60%) of the respondents eat pork. Majority (94.3%) of the respondents always wash their hands after visiting toilets. Sixty seven percent (67%) of the respondents agreed that epileptic patients should marry but seventy (70%) reported that they should not go to school. Majority (80%) of the respondents reported that NCC patients should be taken to hospital for medical care. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed sex (P=0.017, OR=1.27(95%CI: 1.04-1.54), level of education (P=0.006, OR= 4.451(95%CI: 1.49-12.20) and occupation (P=0.03, OR=3.843(95%CI: 1.13-12.71) were more significantly associated with knowledge on NCC. Sex (P = 0.013, OR= 1.88 (95%CI: 1.14- 3.10), level of education (P= 0.031, OR= 5.43(95%CI: 1.17-25.20) was significantly associated with positive attitudes towards patients with NCC. Male exhibited better practices towards patients with NCC (P<0.05). The findings indicate that there is a limited knowledge on NCC among the rural communities in the district of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda. In addition, the findings show that the communities practice risky behaviors that promote development of NCC in the region. The intervention of health authorities in this area is required for the prevention and/or control NCC in the region.
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    Prevalence and risk factor associated with Taenia solium cysticercosis among pig farmers in two districts (Amuru and Gulu) in Northern Uganda
    (Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology, 11/30/2020) Alarakol, S. P.; Bagaya, B. S.; Yagos, Walter Onen; Aginya, E. I. Odongo
    Taenia solium cysticercosis is a serious public health issue affecting humans in developing countries. The disease affects the rural economies due to the loss in productivity associated with human ill-health and condemnations of infected pork carcasses by the veterinarians. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in the districts of Amuru and Gulu in Northern Uganda. A cross sectional study was conducted among households rearing pigs in Amuru and Gulu districts in Northern Uganda from March to June, 2019. A total of 569 pigs and 300 households were studied. Data on prevalence and risk factors for T. solium cysticercosis was collected using lingual examinations and questionnaires, respectively. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s Chi square. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to detect the independent factors associated with dependent variables. Variables with P< 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The prevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae was at 13.6% (96% CI: 8.6-18.6). The risk factors associated with porcine cysticercosis transmission in Gulu and Amuru were sex (P=0.044, OR=5.41 (95%CI:1.04-15.24)), pig keeping, (P=0.00, OR=0.56 (95%CI: 0.012-0.25)), routine deworming (P=0.04,OR=1.13 (95%CI:0.032-0.35)) and pig free range (P=0.03, OR=3.843 (95%CI: 1.13-12.71)) and open defecation (P=0.003, OR=0.322(95%CI: 0.003-3.058)). The findings from the current study indicate that the prevalence of porcine T. solium cysticercosis is endemic in Gulu district. The porcine cysticercosis is being influenced by pig farmers, lack of deworming, free range pigs, and allowing pigs to feed on human faeces. There is need for the local to authorities to strengthen public health education on pig husbandry practices and routine meat inspection at these facilities by the health authorities in the region.