Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (VCT): Knowledge, attitudes, hinderances, and practices of adults seeking treatment at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital on the spread of HIV in Northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study

Aduk, Mary Assumpta; Atama, Isaac Malon; Dayo, Leonard; Kizza, Cissy Namujuzi; Musinguzi, Brian; Ndomeirwe, Pretty Precious; Okiror, William; Senteza, Ignatius; Wanjiku, Grace; Ikoona, Eric Nzirakaindi; Kitara, David Lagoro

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1173983/v1

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…Furthermore, we argue that the high prevalence of HIV and AIDs and cancers among females in Northern Uganda may have contributed to the higher mortality rates observed among the female COVID-19 patients in the current study population. Recent studies from Northern Uganda showed a higher prevalence of HIV and AIDS among females in Northern Uganda at 17.1% than males at 8.0% ( 34 ). Similarly, most cancer prevalence was higher in Northern Uganda than in the rest of the country, especially breast and cervical cancers which commonly affect females ( 35 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated With Mortality Among the COVID-19 Patients Treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Baguma

Okot

Alema

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundThe 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.MethodsThis 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.ResultsOf 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.ConclusionThe 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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated With Mortality Among the COVID-19 Patients Treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Baguma

Okot

Alema

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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“…Recent studies from Northern Uganda showed a higher prevalence of HIV and AIDS among female gender in Northern Uganda at 17% compared to males at 9% [31]. Similarly, most cancer prevalence was higher in Northern Uganda than in the rest of the country, especially breast and cervical cancers [32].…”

Section: Strengths and Limitations Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 98%

Factors associated with mortality among the COVID-19 patients treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: A retrospective study

Baguma

Okot

Onira

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The advent of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused millions of deaths worldwide. There is a lack of data on the outcome of hospitalized African patients suffering from COVID-19.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 study in patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Northern Uganda. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, comorbidities, duration of hospital stay, and treatment were analyzed, and factors associated with increased 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%), hypertensive 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 (Sp02) <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; tiredness AOR=0.059,95%CI:0.009-0.371; p=0.0000; 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 comorbidities AOR=6.860, 95%CI:1.309-35.957;p=0.020.Conclusion: The overall hospital mortality was 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 “Enhanced shielding” to the most vulnerable population to avoid preventable morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 in Northern Uganda.

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Knowledge, acceptance, and uptake of voluntary counseling and testing for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among undergraduates of a public university in Southwestern Nigeria

Ayamolowo,

Ayodele

2024

CJHS

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Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a global public health problem, and Nigeria has about 1.9 million people living with the virus. HIV testing and counseling services serve as a very important entry point to HIV/AIDS care and treatment. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is one of the interventions developed to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. This study determined the knowledge, acceptance, and utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in a public University in Southwestern Nigeria. Material and Methods: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design, using the multistage sampling technique to select 425 respondents. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), version 25. Descriptive statistics were presented in tables and figures, and inferential statistics were analyzed at a level of significance of 0.05. Results: Over half of the respondents, 226 (53.2%) were within the age range of 18–25 years. The majority were female, 345 (81.2%), single 403 (94.8%), and had never had sexual intercourse 300 (70.6%). Over half of the respondents’ 240 (57%), had above average knowledge of VCT for HIV/AIDs, had above average levels of acceptance 254 (59%), and the majority 326 (76.2%) of the respondents had very low level of utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS. There was a significant association between respondents’ age (χ2 = 55.599a, P = 0.000), gender (χ2 = 19.094a, P = 0.000), religion (χ2 = 8.990a, P = 0,038), marital status (χ2 = 8.411a, P = 0.038), age at first sex (χ2 = 61.847a, P = 0.000), knowledge of VCT (χ2 = 5.297a, P = 0.021), acceptance of VCT (χ2 = 80.235a, P = 0.000), and their uptake of VCT for HIV/AIDs. Furthermore, selected socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, and acceptance of VCT significantly predicted the uptake of VCT among respondents (F [8,416] = 20.163, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that respondents had an above average knowledge and acceptance of VCT but a low level of utilization. To increase the utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS among undergraduates, public health programs should focus on educating undergraduates and significant others on the importance of VCT in the context of HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

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Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (VCT): Knowledge, attitudes, hinderances, and practices of adults seeking treatment at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital on the spread of HIV in Northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study

Cited by 3 publications

References 11 publications

Factors Associated With Mortality Among the COVID-19 Patients Treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Factors Associated With Mortality Among the COVID-19 Patients Treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Factors associated with mortality among the COVID-19 patients treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital: A retrospective study

Knowledge, acceptance, and uptake of voluntary counseling and testing for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among undergraduates of a public university in Southwestern Nigeria

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