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Aims: To estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorder in one district of Uganda. Methods: Data were collected from a survey of a random sample of households in Kabarole, West Uganda. Interviews were carried out with household members. Further information was obtained from interviews of key community informants and from Focus Group discussions conducted in each Parish. Results: Some 384 households were surveyed. Of these, 99 households identified members with a mental illness in the previous year and a total of 130 individuals were identified, 12 of whom were children. Few individuals had been seen by formal mental health services and traditional methods of treatment were commonly used. Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of 30.7% in adults is higher than that of 25.3% found in the only other community based survey of mental illness previously conducted in Uganda. A well conducted study using modern case defining methods needs to be carried out in Uganda.

Background. Severe hyperbilirubinaemia requiring exchange transfusion has become less common in recent years; however, kernicterus still occurs. The aim of this study was to review babies undergoing exchange transfusion for severe hyperbilirubinaemia in a Johannesburg hospital. Methodology. This was a retrospective review of babies who required exchange transfusion in both the neonatal and the paediatric wards from June 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011. Results. There were 64 patients who underwent 67 exchange transfusions. Isoimmune haemolysis (both Rh and ABO incompatibility) was the cause of jaundice in 9/64 (14%). Most babies who underwent exchange transfusion were sick or preterm and were admitted in hospital after birth (38/64; 59.5%); three of these babies died, but not during the exchange transfusion (3/38; 7.9%); all three had signs suggestive of neonatal sepsis. The remaining 26 babies (40.6%) were readmitted to the paediatric wards for exchange transfusion. Six of these babies (6/26; 23.0%) had signs of kernicterus. The most significant complication of exchange transfusion was apnoea requiring mechanical ventilation in three patients (3/64; 4.6%). Conclusion. Despite a relatively low number of babies undergoing exchange transfusion, kernicterus still occurs and must be prevented. Proper protocols for screening and management of severe hyperbilirubinaemia need to be enforced.