Browsing by Author "Nsenga, Lauryn"

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    Dual contraceptive use and associated factors among female sex workers in Gulu City, Uganda in 2023
    (BioMed Central, 2023-08-16) Bongomin, Felix; Pebalo, Francis Pebolo; Kibone, Winnie; Okwir Apio, Pamela; Nsenga, Lauryn; Okot, Jerom; Madraa, Grace; Laker, Fiona Gladys; Akello, Martha; Ouma, Simple; Musoke, David
    Background: Dual contraception is an essential approach to mitigating the heightened risks of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections faced by female sex workers (FSWs). We determined the prevalence and factors associated with dual contraceptive use among FSWs in Northern Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gulu city, Uganda between February, and March 2023. Purposively selected FSWs aged 18 years or older who provided verbal informed consent were enrolled in the study. A sample size of 374 was estimated. Data on sociodemographic and reproductive health characteristics were collected using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Current dual contraception was defned the as concurrent use of a barrier and any other modern contraceptive methods within the last 3 months. Continuous variables were summarized using mean and standard deviation and categorical variables were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Modifed Poisson regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with dual contraceptive use. Results: We enrolled 314 FSWs, with a mean age of 28.8±6.4 years. About 13.8% (n=41) were living with HIV. In total, 66.2% (95%CI 60.8–71.3) of the participants (n=208) reported current dual contraceptive use. The most common modern contraceptive method used was the implants (52.4%, n=109), followed by injectable contraceptives (22.6.0%, n=47), and bilateral tubal ligation (0.5%, n=1) was the least utilized. Having had at least one previous pregnancy was positively associated with dual contraceptive use (adjusted PR: 1.87, 95%CI 1.40–2.51, p<0.001). Conclusions: A high proportion of FSWs in Gulu city were currently using dual contraceptives. Interventions are needed to facilitate the use of dual contraception, particularly among FSWs without a history of previous pregnancies.
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    Invasive Fungal Diseases in Africa:
    (MDPI, 2022-11-22) Bongomin, Felix; Ekeng, Bassey E.; Kibone, Winnie; Nsenga, Lauryn; Olum, Ronald; Itam-Eyo, Asa; Ngouanom Kuate, Marius Paulin; Pebolo, Francis Pebalo; Davies, Adeyinka A; Manga, Musa; Ocansey, Bright; Kwizera, Richard; Baluku, Joseph Baruch
    Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are of huge concern in resource-limited settings, particularly in Africa, due to the unavailability of diagnostic armamentarium for IFDs, thus making definitive diagnosis challenging. IFDs have non-specific systemic manifestations overlapping with more frequent illnesses, such as tuberculosis, HIV, and HIV-related opportunistic infections and malignancies. Consequently, IFDs are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. We critically reviewed the available literature on IFDs in Africa to provide a better understanding of their epidemiology, disease burden to guide future research and interventions. Cryptococcosis is the most encountered IFD in Africa, accounting for most of the HIV-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Invasive aspergillosis, though somewhat underdiagnosed and/or misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, is increasingly being reported with a similar predilection towards people living with HIV. More cases of histoplasmosis are also being reported with recent epidemiological studies, particularly from Western Africa, showing high prevalence rates amongst presumptive tuberculosis patients and patients living with HIV. The burden of pneumocystis pneumonia has reduced significantly probably due to increased uptake of anti-retroviral therapy among people living with HIV both in Africa, and globally. Mucormycosis, talaromycosis, emergomycosis, blastomycosis, and coccidiomycosis have also been reported but with very few studies from the literature. The emergence of resistance to most of the available antifungal drugs in Africa is yet of huge concern as reported in other regions. IFDs in Africa is much more common than it appears and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. Huge investment is needed to drive awareness and fungi related research especially in diagnostics and antifungal therapy.