Browsing by Author "Ochula, Denis"

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    Correlates and prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Sierra Leone. A secondary data analysis of the demographic health survey of 2019
    (2023-07-12) Okot Atim, Pamela; Alema, Nelson Onira; Pebolo, Francis Pebalo; Okot, Christopher; Ochula, Denis; Okot, Smart Geoffrey; Ikoona, Eric Nzirakaindi; Toure, Mame Awa; Namulemo, Lucy; Kamara, Kassim; Oyat, Freddy Wathum Drinkwater; Aloyo, Judith; Njenga, Amon; Kaluya, Ronald; Matovu, John Bosco; Olal, Emmanuel; Kitara, David Lagoro
    Background: Overweight and obesity are emerging public health problems globally and are independent risk factors for heart, blood vessels, reproductive health, and metabolic disorders. This study aimed to determine the correlates and prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Sierra Leone using secondary data analysis of the Demographic Health Survey of 2019. Methods: This study was based on the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey (SLDHS) that used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. A total of 7514 non-pregnant women of reproductive age (15-49 years) were used in the analysis. Simple descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable regression analyses were conducted with a significant p-value set at <0.05. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in Sierra Leone was 19.7% and 7.4%, respectively. Overweight was more likely among women of 15-19 age group (adjusted Odds Ratios, aOR=1.933,95%CI:1.532- 2.348;p<0.001); women from the north (aOR=1.308,95%CI:1.104-1.581;p<0.006); women without formal education (aOR=1.211,95%CI:1.009-1.454;p<0.040); in poorest (aOR=1.501,95%CI:1.231-1.853;p<0.001) and poorer (aOR=1.419,95%CI:1.154-1.745;p=0.001) wealth indices. However, overweight was 39.9% less likely among 30-39-year (aOR=0.601,95%CI:0.507-0.713;p<0.001) and 49% less likely among 40-49-year (aOR=0.510,95%CI:0.415-0.628;p<0.001) age-groups. It was 27.3% less likely among married women (aOR=0.727,95%CI:0.613-0.863;p<0.001), 24.9% less likely in the south (aOR=0.751,95%CI:0.623-0.911;p=0.002), 38.2% and 48.7% less likely in richer (aOR=0.618,95%CI:0.494-0.773;p<0.001) and richest (aOR=0.513,95%CI:0.389-0.677;p<0.001) wealth indices, respectively. Also, obesity was more likely among women 15-19-year (aOR=2.051,95%CI:1.316-3.198;p=0.002); from the north (aOR=1.426,95%CI:1.038-1.958;p=0.044); in poorest (aOR=2.390,95%CI:1.618-3.532;p<0.001) and poorer (aOR=1.667,95%CI:1.151- 2.415;p=0.007) wealth indices. However, it was 68.3% and 79.6% less likely among women 30-39-year (aOR=0.317,95%CI:0.241-0.419;p<0.001) and 40-49-year (aOR=0.204,95%CI:0.149-0.278;p<0.001) age-groups, respectively. It was 36.8% less likely among female-headed households (aOR=0.732,95%CI:0.590-0.909;p=0.005) and 24% less likely among married women (aOR=0.760,95%CI:0.580-0.995;p=0.046); 26.2% less likely in the south (aOR=0.738,95%CI:0.550-0.992;p=0.044); 62.1% and 75.9% less likely in richer (aOR=0.379,95%CI:0.266-0.540;p<0.001) and richest (aOR=0.241,95%CI:0.159-0.367;p<0.001) wealth indices, respectively; and 39.9% less likely among women who listened to radios (aOR=0.601,95%CI:0.507-0.713;p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Sierra Leone was higher compared to world data. Younger age groups, northern region, poorest and poorer wealth indices, and women without formal education were more likely to be overweight and obese. However, overweight and obesity were less likely among older age-groups, married, southern region, richer and richest wealth indices, female-headed households, and listening to radios. There is an urgent need for policymakers in Sierra Leone to tackle overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) if the current trends are to be reversed.
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    Factors Associated With Mortality Among the COVID-19 Patients Treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: A Retrospective Study
    (Frontiers Public Health, 2022-04-11) Baguma, Steven; Okot, Christopher; Onira Alema, Nelson; Paska, Apiyo; Layet, Paska; Acullu, Denis; Nyeko Oloya, Johnson; Ochula, Denis; Atim, Pamela; Odong Olwedo, Patrick; Okot, Smart Godfrey; Oyat, Freddy Wathum Drinkwater; Oola, Janet; Ikoona, Eric Nzirakaindi; Aloyo, Judith; Kitara, David Lagoro
    Background: The advent of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused millions of deaths worldwide. As of December 2021, there is inadequate data on the outcome of hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19 in Africa. This study aimed at identifying factors associated with hospital mortality in patients who suffered from COVID-19 at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Northern Uganda from March 2020 to October 2021. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study in patients hospitalized with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Northern Uganda. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, co-morbidities, duration of hospital stay, and treatments were analyzed, and factors associated with the odds of mortality were determined. Results: Of the 664 patients treated, 661 (99.5%) were unvaccinated, 632 (95.2%) recovered and 32 (4.8%) died. Mortality was highest in diabetics 11 (34.4%), cardiovascular diseases 12 (37.5%), hypertensives 10 (31.3%), females 18 (56.3%), ≥50-year-olds 19 (59.4%), no formal education 14 (43.8%), peasant farmers 12 (37.5%) and those who presented with difficulty in breathing/shortness of breath and chest pain 32 (100.0%), oxygen saturation (SpO2) at admission <80 4 (12.5%), general body aches and pains 31 (96.9%), tiredness 30 (93.8%) and loss of speech and movements 11 (34.4%). The independent factors associated with mortality among the COVID-19 patients were females AOR = 0.220, 95%CI: 0.059–0.827; p = 0.030; Diabetes mellitus AOR = 9.014, 95%CI: 1.726–47.067; p = 0.010; Ages of 50 years and above AOR = 2.725, 95%CI: 1.187–6.258; p = 0.018; tiredness AOR = 0.059, 95%CI: 0.009–0.371; p < 0.001; general body aches and pains AOR = 0.066, 95%CI: 0.007–0.605; p = 0.020; loss of speech and movement AOR = 0.134, 95%CI: 0.270–0.660; p = 0.010 and other co-morbidities AOR = 6.860, 95%CI: 1.309–35.957; p = 0.020. Conclusion: The overall Gulu Regional Hospital mortality was 32/664 (4.8%). Older age, people with diabetics, females, other comorbidities, severe forms of the disease, and those admitted to HDU were significant risk factors associated with hospital mortality. More efforts should be made to provide “additional social protection” to the most vulnerable population to avoid preventable morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 in Northern Uganda.
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    Perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination among different adult age group populations in Northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study.
    (Research squares, 2022-07-14) Oloya, Johnson Nyeko; Baguma, Steven; Okot, Christopher; Alema, Nelson Onira; Acullu, Denis; Ochula, Denis; Atim, Pamela; Olwedo, Patrick Odong; Okot, Smart Godfrey; Pebolo, Francis Pebalo; Freddy Wathum Drinkwater Oyat, Freddy Wathum Drinkwater; Ikoona, Eric Nzirakaindi; Aloyo, Judith; Oballim, Lawence; Kitara, David Lagoro
    Introduction: Although COVID-19 first spread slowly in the African continent, confirmed virus cases have risen steadily since March 2020. The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 can be attributed to its numerous characteristics, including its high transmissibility, asymptomatic persons’ ability to shed the virus, vast numbers of asymptomatic persons, or mild symptoms but with the ability to transmit the virus, new variants, and super-spreading events. Poor public health practices,disbeliefs, myths, and misconceptions about the virus and its origin in many African communities are the other reasons for its rapid spread. This study aimed to determine the perceptions of the adult population in northern Uganda on the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, disaggregated by age groups. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and April 2022 to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among seven hundred and twentythree adult populations selected randomly from the nine districts of the Acholi sub-region. A five-point Likert scale with responses categorized as Strongly Agree, "SA," Agree, "A," Neutral, "N," Disagree, "DA," and Strongly Disagree, "SD" was used to assess participants' acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines. Ethical approval was obtained from a local IRB, and SPSS version 20.0 was used to perform multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with vaccine acceptance. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The most significant finding was that COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among the adult population in northern Uganda disaggregated by age groups was not statistically significant (χ2=3.956; p=0.142). COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among the age groups was associated with trust in the information from the mainstream media χ2=20.105; p=0.000; Government of Uganda χ2=19.900; p=0.028 and social media 10.745; p=0.030. The independent predictors on perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among age groups were; Participants strongly agreed on its importance to protect them from the virus AoR=4.99;95% CI:1.626-15.337;p=0.005; Agreed that the vaccine would protect them from the virus AoR=3.44;95%CI:1.225-9.650;p=0.019; strongly agreed that the side effects of the vaccine would stop them from receiving the vaccine AoR=0.330; 95%CI:0.125-0.856; p=0.023; They were neutral on whether the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine would stop them from getting a COVID-19 jab AoR= 0.320; 95%CI:0.108-0.952;p=0.027; would not accept to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine AoR=0.280;95%CI:0.093-0.866; p=0.027; Agreed that children could take a COVID-19 vaccine AoR= 0.260; 95%CI:0.105-0.626;p=0.003; Strongly agreed that children could return to school before the COVID-19 vaccination AoR= 2.330; 95%CI:1.103-4.916;p=0.027; and agreed that children could return to school before taking COVID-19 vaccines AoR= 3.320; 95%CI:1.225-9.014;p=0.018. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among the study population disaggregated by age group was not significant despite the disinformation and misinformation in the Ugandan media. The independent determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance were the importance of the vaccine in protecting against the virus, that the vaccine’s side effects could stop them from taking the vaccine, and that children could take the COVID-19 jab but could return to school before taking the COVID-19 jab. The fear of family members contracting the virus and self-isolation when infected contributed significantly to the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among participants in northern Uganda. There is a need for health managers to engage, sensitize and mobilize the population by addressing concerns about long-term and immediate side effects to increase the COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this community.
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    Perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine among different adult age group populations in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
    (Journal of Global Health Reports., 2022-07-28) Kitara, David L; Baguma, Steven; Okot, Christopher; Acullu, Denis; Ochula, Denis; Okot, Pamela A; Odong, Patrick O; Okot, Smart G; Pebolo, Francis P; Oyat, Freddy W Drinkwater; Ikoona, Eric N; Alema, Nelson O; Oloya, Johnson N; Aloyo, Judith; Oballim, Lawence
    Background: At the time when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020, its spread in the African continent was slow. However, confirmed cases of the virus have since risen steadily over the years in the African continent for many reasons. This study aimed to determine factors associated with perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among adult age-group populations in northern Uganda. Methods: We conducted this study as part of a larger study to determine factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy/acceptance among 723 adult age-group populations selected by stratified and systematic sampling approaches from northern Uganda. We used a questionnaire with an internal validity of Cronbach’s α= 0.772. A five-point Likert scale, with responses categorized as strongly agree “SA”, agree “A”, neutral “N”, disagree “DA”, and strongly disagree “SD”, was used to assess participants’ perceptions on COVID-19 vaccines. A multivariable regression analysis was conducted with P-value set at <0.05. Results: Overall, 723 participated in the study with a mean age of 31.4 years (standard deviation,SD, +10.1). The majority 54.5% (n=394) were males. There were no significant differences in perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines among age-group populations (adjusted odds ratio, aOR=0.99, 95% confidence interval, CI=0.98-1.01). Key finding include: (i) it was important to take a COVID-19 vaccine (aOR=1.02, 95% CI=1.00-1.04); (ii) vaccines have unlikely unforeseen side effects (aOR=0.98, 95% CI=0.97-0.99); (iii) vaccines were unlikely being promoted for commercial gains (aOR=0.98, 95% CI=0.97-0.99); and children could take COVID-19 vaccines (aOR=1.02, 95% CI=1.00-1.03). Stratified by age-groups, the 20–29-year-old perceived COVID-19 vaccines developed in Uganda as unlikely safe and effective (aOR=0.59, 95% CI=0.35-0.97), and COVID-19 vaccines have likely unforeseen side-effects (aOR=2.1, 95% CI=1.3-3.6). While the ≥50-year-old group perceived that COVID-19 vaccines were unlikely being promoted for commercial gains (aOR=0.2, 95% CI=0.1-0.6). Conclusions: There were no substantial differences in perceptions on COVID-19 vaccines in adult age-group populations in northern Uganda. The determinants of COVID-19 vaccine perceptions were its importance against the virus; vaccines have unlikely unforeseen side-effects, and children could take it. Stratified by age-groups, some age-groups perceived COVID-19 vaccines developed in Uganda as unlikely safe and unlikely being promoted for commercial gains