COVID-19 is an emerging and highly infectious disease that is becoming a global health challenge affecting all sectors. To prevent COVID-19 transmission, all education institutions were closed and advised to turn to online learning. The present study sought to determine the factors affecting the acceptance and use of electronic learning among Ugandan University students in three universities. The study relied on two data collection instruments: a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted on a population of students in three pre-selected universities: Kyambogo (KYU), Makerere (MAK), and Kampala International University (KIU). Of the 614 questionnaires returned, 578 were valid; 65.4% of the respondents were males; 60.7% were from MAK and the majority being in their third year of study (49%). Overall, 69.2% had good knowledge, 22.5% had positive attitudes toward e-learning. The semi-structured interviews revealed connectivity and skills challenges as the main barriers to the implementation of e-learning. For better implementation of e-learning by Universities, effective planning needs to be done with active students’ involvement to avert negative attitudes. We recommend more studies be done on the Universities’ preparedness for the implementation of e-learning. Universities should collaborate with telecommunication companies to provide subsidized prices for internet costs and information and communications technology (ICT) equipment to students.

Background: COVID-19 has become a major global health challenge, with Uganda reporting over 20,000 cases. There is, however, a scarcity of data on the perception of patients in Uganda towards the highly infectious disease. We aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 preventive measures among patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH), Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted in August, 2020, among patients in surgical and medical wards at MNRH. An interviewer-administered, pre-validated questionnaire was used to collect data that was entered into Google Forms and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and STATA 16. Descriptive statistics was used to present data from univariate analysis. Patients whose knowledge and practice scores were greater or equal to the average score were regarded to have good knowledge and practices respectively. Chisquare, Fisher's Exact tests and binary logistic regression were used to assess factors associated with COVID-19 knowledge and practices. A P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Overall, 114 patients were approached and 102 consented to participate. Most were females (53.8%), aged above 45 years (31.4%) with 40.2% reporting primary level as the highest level of education. About 55.9% (n=57) had adequate knowledge for COVID-19 and its related practices, and 52% (n=53) had good COVID-19 related practices. Knowledge significantly differed by marital status at bivariate analysis (P=0.020), however this lost significance at logistic regression. Female patients were thrice more likely to have good COVID-19 prevention practices compared to males (COR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.2 to 5.8, P=0.020). Some 47 (46.1%) participants perceived that COVID-19 preventive measures were not difficult at all to observe. Conclusion: About half of the patients at Mulago National Referral Hospital lack adequate knowledge and practice on COVID-19 prevention. Continued patient education is required to increase knowledge which will in turn improve adherence to COVID-19 preventive practices.

Background Industrial workers are at a high risk of acquiring noise induced hearing loss, yet there is minimal hearing loss screening of such groups of people. Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), the gold standard for hearing loss screening, is expensive, and not readily available at health sites. Mobile audiometry can bridge this gap. However, there is limited knowledge on its acceptability in low-income countries like Uganda. We aimed to assess the acceptability of using the Wulira App, a validated mobile phone app, in assessing hearing loss among industrial workers in Kampala. Methods We carried out a qualitative study in a steel and iron manufacturing industry in Kampala, in April 2021. Four Focus group discussions (FGDs) with 8 participants per FGD, and 12 In-depth Interviews (IDI), were conducted on the industrial workers. The industrial workers were first tested for hearing loss, then enrolled for the FGDs and IDI. A semi-structured interview guide was used. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Themes were derived using thematic content analysis, borrowing from Sekhon’s model of Acceptability of Health Interventions. Results Industrial workers found the Wulira App user friendly, cheap, time saving, and an effective hearing loss assessment tool. However, barriers such as lack of smart phones, difficulty in navigating the app, and fear of getting bad news hindered the App’s acceptability, as a hearing assessment tool. Conclusion Hearing loss assessment using Wulira App was acceptable to the industry workers. There is need of informing industrial workers on the essence of carrying out regular hearing loss screening, such that barriers like fear of getting screened are overcome.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has become a major global health challenge, with Uganda reporting over 25,000 cases. Frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) are the most at risk population for mental health disorders yet their well-being is key to combating the pandemic. We explored the psychosocial wellbeing and job satisfaction of COVID-19 Frontline HCWs in Uganda.METHODS: This was a qualitative study done at Entebbe regional Referral hospital (ERRH) and Mulago National Referral hospital (MNRH) in September 2020. Data collection was through 3 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 5 participants for each FGD. 2 FGDs were at MNRH and 1 at ERRH. Participants included; doctors, nurses, laboratory personnels, hygienists and a security personnel. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically using Nvivo version 12 software.RESULTS: Despite the challenges HCWs faced, they were motivated to work when they saw patients recover and go home safely. Participants felt the Pandemic was unprecedented and as a result no person or government was fully prepared. Big unexpected patient crowds caused limited and/ or inconsistent medical supplies. Additionally, Poor Procurement lines affected sufficiency of medical supplies and equipment such as medical gowns, drugs, PPE, alcohol, beds, and COVID-19 testing kits. There was knowledge gap among the HCWs regarding COVID-19 management. This put the staff in a Panic situation hence practicing “trial and error” treatment. Poor remuneration in terms of low or delayed Salary, lack or delay of risk allowance caused dissatisfaction among staff and were affected mentally given that they were involved in risky work yet their families were suffering economically.CONCLUSION: HCWs were remarkably stressed, exhausted and burnt-out due to the heavy workload and inadequate personal protective Equipment. These findings depict a need of creating a conducive environment for these HCWs. Government and ministry should re-strategize on how well to take care of Covid 19 frontline HCWs to save lives.

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<b>This paper aimed at determining the factors affecting acceptance and use of electronic learning among Ugandan University students. The study relied on two data collection tools: Questionnaire and semi-structured interview.</b>

<b>This paper aimed at determining the factors affecting acceptance and use of electronic learning among Ugandan University students. The study relied on two data collection tools: Questionnaire and semi-structured interview.</b>

Background Occupational noise is a common cause of hearing loss in low-income countries. Unfortunately, screening for hearing loss is rarely done due to technical and logistical challenges associated with pure tone audiometry. Wulira app is a valid and potentially cost-effective alternative to pure tone audiometry in screening for occupational hearing loss. We aimed to determine the prevalence of occupational hearing loss among workers in a metal industry company in Kampala district. Methodology We recruited 354 participants conveniently from a steel and iron manufacturing industry in Kampala. All eligible participants answered a pretested and validated questionnaire and were assessed for noise induced hearing loss in a quiet office room approximately 500 meters from the heavy machinery area using the Wulira app. Descriptive statistics such as proportions were used to describe the study population while inferential statistics were used to determine associations. Results Of the 354 participants sampled, 333 (94.1%) were male, and the median age was 27, IQR (25–30). Regarding the risk factors of hearing loss, fourteen (3.9%) had history of smoking and more than half (65.5%) had worked in the industry for more than 2 years. The overall prevalence of hearing loss among industrial workers was 11.3% (40/354). 16.2% and 9% had mild hearing loss in the right and left ear respectively. Bilateral audiometric notch was present where fourteen (4%) of the participants had notch in their right ear while seven (2%) had notch in their left ear. Residing outside Kampala district was associated with hearing loss (OR, 95% CI, 0.213 (0.063–0.725), p = 0.013). Conclusion One in 10 workers in a metal manufacturing industry in Kampala had occupational hearing loss. Industrial workers residing outside Kampala were likely to develop hearing loss. Periodic screening should be done for early detection and intervention to prevent progression of hearing loss in this population.