Browsing by Author "Zalwango, Vivian"

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    Neonatal hypothermia in Northern Uganda: a community- based cross- sectional study
    (BMJ OPEN, 2021-01-25) Mukunya , A David; Tumwine, James K.; Nankabirwa, Victoria; Odongkara, Beatrice; Tongun, Justin B.; Arach, Agnes A; Tumuhamye, Josephine; Napyo, Agnes; Zalwango, Vivian; Vicentina Achora,; Musaba , Milton W; Ndeezi, Grace; Tylleskär, Thorkild
    Objective To determine the prevalence, predictors and case fatality risk of hypothermia among neonates in Lira district, Northern Uganda. Setting Three subcounties of Lira district in Northern Uganda. Design This was a community- based cross- sectional study nested in a cluster randomised controlled trial. Participants Mother–baby pairs enrolled in a cluster randomised controlled trial. An axillary temperature was taken during a home visit using a lithium battery- operated digital thermometer. Primary and secondary outcomes The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of hypothermia. Hypothermia was defined as mild if the axillary temperature was 36.0°C to <36.5°C, moderate if the temperature was 32.0°C to <36.0°C and severe hypothermia if the temperature was <32.0°C. The secondary outcome measure was the case fatality risk of neonatal hypothermia. Predictors of moderate to severe hypothermia were determined using a generalised estimating equation model for the Poisson family. Results We recruited 1330 neonates. The prevalence of hypothermia (<36.5°C) was 678/1330 (51.0%, 95% CI 46.9 to 55.1). Overall, 32% (429/1330), 95% CI 29.5 to 35.2 had mild hypothermia, whereas 18.7% (249/1330), 95% CI 15.8 to 22.0 had moderate hypothermia. None had severe hypothermia. At multivariable analysis, predictors of neonatal hypothermia included: home birth (adjusted prevalence ratio, aPR, 1.9, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.6); low birth weight (aPR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3) and delayed breastfeeding initiation (aPR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.5). The case fatality risk ratio of hypothermic compared with normothermic neonates was 2.0 (95% CI 0.60 to 6.9). Conclusion The prevalence of neonatal hypothermia was very high, demonstrating that communities in tropical climates should not ignore neonatal hypothermia. Interventions designed to address neonatal hypothermia should consider ways of reaching neonates born at home and those with low birth weight. The promotion of early breastfeeding initiation and skin- to- skin care could reduce the risk of neonatal hypothermia.
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    Perinatal death triples the prevalence of postpartum depression among women in Northern Uganda: Acommunity-basedcross sectional study
    (PLOS ONE, 2020-10-13) Arach, Anna Agnes Ojok; Nakasujja, Noeline; Nankabirwa, Victoria; Ndeezi, Grace; Kiguli, Juliet; Mukunya , David; Odongkara, Beatrice; Achora, Vincentina; Tongun, Justin Bruno; Musaba, Milton Wamboko; Napyo, Agnes; Zalwango, Vivian; Tylleskar, Thorkild; Tumwine, James K.
    Introduction Deaths during the perinatal period remain a big challenge in Africa, with 38 deaths per 1000 pregnancies in Uganda. The consequences of these deaths can be detrimental to the women;someendingupwithpostpartum depression. We examined the association between perinatal death and postpartum depression among women in Lira district, Northern Uganda. Methods We conducted acommunity-basedcross-sectional study of 1,789 women. Trained research assistants screened women for postpartum depressive symptoms on day 50 postpartum using the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS). Socio-demographic, economic, birth and survival status of the neonate were collected during pregnancy and within one weekpostpartum. We usedgeneralized estimating equation for the Poisson family with a log link using Stata to estimate the prevalence ratio of the association between postpartum depressive symptoms (EPDS scores �14) and perinatal death. Mothers who lost their babies between 7–49 days postpartum were excluded. Results Of the 1,789 participants symptomatically screened for postpartum depression, 377 (21.1%) [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 17.2%, 23.0%] had probable depressive symp toms. The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms among the 77women who had experienced perinatal death (37 stillbirths and 40 early neonatal deaths (�7 days of life)) was62.3%[95%CI:50.8%,72.6%] comparedto19.2% [95%CI:17.4%, 21.2%], among 1,712 with live infants at day 50 postpartum. Women who had experienced a perinatal death were three times as likely to have postpartum depressive symptoms as those who had a live birth [adjusted prevalence ratio 3.45 (95% CI: 2.67, 4.48)]. Conclusions The prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms, assessed by EPDS, was high among womenwhohadhada perinatal death in Northern Uganda. Womenexperiencing aperinatal death need to be screened for postpartum depressive symptoms in order to intervene and reduce associated morbidity.