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Abstract Introduction Despite the significant contribution of postnatal care (PNC) to maternal and newborn survival, few studies have explored the concept of the quality of PNC received by mothers in Kenya. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the quality of PNC in Kenya. Methods Secondary data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) of 2022 were analyzed, comprising 11,863 women who were aged 15 to 49 years. The quality of PNC was indicated as receiving all components of PNC in the first two days after childbirth. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine the factors associated with the quality of PNC, using SPSS, version 20. Results Out of the 11,863 women, 39% (95% CI: 37.0-40.9) had received all components of PNC in the first two days after childbirth. Additionally, older women aged 35–49 years (AOR 1.88, 95%CI: 1.07–3.29), those who made decisions to seek health care jointly (AOR 1.48, 95%CI: 1.18–1.85), those who owned a telephone (AOR 1.36, 95%CI: 1.05–1.76), women who received quality antenatal care (AOR 4.62, 95%CI: 3.69–5.76), older women aged 30–34 years at the time of their first childbirth (AOR 2.25, 95%CI: 1.11–4.55), those who gave birth through cesarean section birth (AOR 1.93, 95%CI: 1.49–2.49), those who gave birth at public health facilities (AOR 1.69, 95%CI: 1.01–2.82) and those who received quality intrapartum care (AOR 1.87, 95%CI: 1.43–2.43) when compared with their counterparts were more likely to receive quality PNC. On the other hand, women from other provinces of Kenya i.e., Western (AOR 0.51, 95%CI: 0.33–0.80), and Rift Valley (AOR 0.57, 95%CI: 0.39–0.81), those who gave birth to female children (AOR 0.75, 95%CI: 0.61–0.91) and those who reported to have not been respected at all times during their hospital stay (AOR 0.49, 95%CI: 0.29–0.82) when compared with their counterparts were less likely to receive quality PNC. Conclusion The proportion of mothers receiving quality PNC was found to be low. The study also highlights the need to continue encouraging mothers to attend numerous ANC visits. Moreover, emphasis should be placed on providing quality ANC, intrapartum care, and respectful maternity care by health workers. Targeted interventions to increase access to quality PNC may need to focus on young mothers, mothers living in certain regions of Kenya, and those giving birth to female babies, most especially at private health facilities, and through vaginal birth.

Abstract Background Anaemia in pregnancy is associated with several adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns, as well as their families. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of anaemia and the associated factors among pregnant women in Rwanda. Methods Secondary data from the 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) was used. Multistage stratified sampling was used to select 435 pregnant women included in the study. Anaemia among pregnant women was defined as a haemoglobin value

Abstract Background The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a global health burden, and despite the advancements in antiretroviral therapy and various strategies employed to curb HIV infections, the incidence of HIV remains disproportionately high among women. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of the risk factors for the acquisition of HIV among sexually active women in Rwanda. Methods Secondary data from the 2020 Rwanda Demographic Health Survey, comprising 10,684 sexually active women, was used. Multistage stratified sampling was employed to select the study participants. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine the associated risk factors using the SPSS (version 25). Results Of the 10,684 sexually active women, 28.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.5–29.4) had at least one risk factor for HIV acquisition. Having no education (AOR = 3.65, 95%CI: 2.16–6.16), being unmarried (AOR = 4.50, 95%CI: 2.47–8.21), being from female-headed households (AOR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.42–2.15), not having health insurance (AOR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.09–1.65), no HIV test history (AOR = 1.44, 95%CI: 1.01–2.08), being from the poorest wealth quintile (AOR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.14–2.27) and lack of exposure to mass media (AOR = 1.30, 95%CI: 1.07–1.58) were associated with higher odds of exposure to at least one HIV acquisition risk factor. In contrast, age groups of 25–34 (AOR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.44–0.71) and 35–44 years (AOR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.48–0.80), rural residence (AOR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.49–0.81) and being from the western region (AOR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.48–0.94) were associated with less odds of exposure to at least one HIV acquisition risk factor. Conclusion More than a quarter of sexually active women in Rwanda had exposure to at least one risk factor for HIV acquisition. There is a need to maximize the use of mass media in disseminating HIV prevention and behavioral change messages. Engagement of religious leaders and promotion of HIV testing, especially among the never-testers, may be vital strategies in successful HIV prevention programs.

Abstract Background Adequate sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL) among young people has been linked to informed sexual behaviours. Studies on SRHL have largely been conducted among the general adolescent population. Little is known about youth aged 15-24 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (YLHIV). There is a possible lack of SRHL in this population, considering the high rate of teenage pregnancies and unprotected sex reported by YLHIV. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated personal and environmental factors for SRHL among YLHIV at a high-volume urban HIV Clinic in Uganda. Methods Through a cross-sectional survey, YLHIV receiving routine HIV care services at Baylor-Uganda HIV Clinic were interviewed using an adapted European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). Using simple random sampling, eligible youth who received HIV care services between August and November 2019 were enrolled in the study. SRHL scores were computed using the HLS-EU index method; and individuals whose scores ranged from 34 to 50 were considered health literate. We used descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence. Potential associated personal and environmental factors (p

Kenya one of the African countries has pledged to reduce neonatal death as per the 2030 World Health Organization target. Providing high-quality newborn care is critical in minimizing neonatal mortality. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the quality of newborn care in Kenya. Secondary data from 11,863 participants of the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) were analyzed. The participants were chosen using two-stage stratified sampling. The quality of newborn care was operationalized as receiving all components of newborn care after childbirth, as reported by the mother. Using SPSS (version 29), univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the data. In this study, 32.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.0%-34.5%) of the mothers reported that their newborns had received all components of quality neonatal care after childbirth. Mothers who spent an average of one hour accessing the health facilities compared with those who spent less than half an hour were 1.33 (95%CI: 1.01-1.75) times more likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care. Mothers who gave birth in a non-government organization health facility were 30.37 (95%CI: 2.69-343.20) times more likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care compared with those who delivered from a faith-based organization. On the contrary, in terms of regions, mothers who lived in Nyanza, Eastern, and Rift Valley provinces compared with those who lived in the coastal regions were 0.53 (95%CI: 0.34-0.82), 0.61 (95%CI: 0.39-0.94), and 0.62 (95%CI: 0.41-0.93) times less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care, respectively. Mothers who subscribed to other religions or faith (0.28 (95%CI: 0.10-0.76) compared with those from the Christian faith, were less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care. Finally, mothers who gave birth through cesarean section were 0.44 (95%CI: 0.32-0.61) times less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care than mothers who gave birth through spontaneous vaginal delivery. The study indicates that about a third of the neonates received quality newborn care and that facility-related and parental social factors were associated with receiving quality newborn care. Stakeholders need to pay more attention to newborn babies whose mothers come from certain regions of Kenya where the quality of newborn care was found to be low, minority religious faith denominations, and those who delivered by ceasearen section. Stakeholders also should focus on strengthening collaborations with NGO health facilities and achieving universal health coverage to improve the quality of newborn care provided in health facilities.

Abstract Background Sexual violence against women is a global public health issue with both short- and long-term effects on the physical and mental health of women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual violence and its associated factors among women of reproductive age in Rwanda. Methods We used secondary data from the 2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey of 1,700 participants, who were selected using multistage stratified sampling. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore factors associated with sexual violence using SPSS (version 25). Results Of the 1,700 women of reproductive age, 12.4% (95%CI: 11.0–14.1) had experienced sexual violence. Justified beating (AOR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.16–1.65), not having health insurance (AOR = 1.46, 95%CI: 1.26–2.40), not being involved in healthcare decision-making (AOR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.99–2.70), having a husband/partner with primary (AOR = 1.70, 95%CI: 5.47–6.21) or no education (AOR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.21–3.37), as well as having a husband/partner who sometimes (AOR = 3.37, 95%CI: 1.56–7.30) or often (AOR = 12.87, 95%CI: 5.64–29.38) gets drunk were positively associated with sexual violence. However, women from male-headed households (AOR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.29–0.92) were less likely to experience sexual violence. Conclusions There is a need to demystify negative culturally-rooted beliefs favouring sexual violence, such as justified beating, as well as increase efforts to promote women’s empowerment and healthcare access. Moreover, engaging men in anti-sexual violence strategies is paramount to addressing male-related issues that expose women to sexual violence.

Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a public health problem in Uganda that negatively impacts maternal and newborn health outcomes. However, IPVdisclosure and associated factors among pregnant women have remained poorly documented in southwestern Uganda. Therefore, this study determined IPV disclosure and associated factors among pregnant women attending a large City hospital. Methods In a cross-sectional design, 283 women attending Mbarara City Hospital Antenatal care (ANC) clinic were consecutively recruited into the study. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. This was administered by the research team and the exercise took over a month. That is; from 7th January 2019 to 7th February 2019. The collected data was entered in STATA, and it was analyzed using chi-square, and univariate logistic regression statistics. Results Out of the 283 pregnant women who participated in the study, 199 of them, representing seventy-point three percent (70.3%), had reportedly experienced at least one type of IPV during their current pregnancy. However, nearly fifty percent of those that experienced IPV (49.7%, n = 99) disclosed it to a third party, while the majority disclosed it to their biological family member (66.7%), followed by their friends (55.5%), members of their husband’s family (35.3%), neighbors (12.1%), healthcare providers (9.1%), religious leaders (8.1%), and the police (3.1%). Gravidity, OR = 1.9(95% CI: 1.07–3.31, p = 0.027), parity OR = 1.9(95% CI: 1.08–3.34, p = 0.026) and witnessed IPV OR: 5.4(95% CI: 1.93–14.96; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with IPV disclosure. Conclusion A large proportion of the pregnant women who experienced IPV did not disclose it to any third party. In addition to the above, pregnant women's characteristics seem to have a strong influence on IPV disclosure. Therefore, it is important for healthcare providers to routinely screen for IPV during antenatal care if a high IPV disclosure rate is to be achieved.

Traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) are a critical part of healthcare systems in many sub-Saharan African countries and play vital roles in caring for patients with cancer. Despite some progress in describing TMPs' caring experiences in abstract terms, literature about practice models in Africa remains limited. This study aimed to develop a substantive theory to clarify the care provided by TMPs to patients with cancer in Uganda. This study adhered to the principal features of the modified Straussian grounded theory design. Participants were 18 TMPs caring for patients with cancer from 10 districts in Uganda, selected by purposive and theoretical sampling methods. Researcher-administered in-depth interviews were conducted, along with three focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis. The core category that represented TMPs' meaning of caring for patients with cancer was "Restoring patients' hope in life through individualizing care." TMPs restored patients' hope through five main processes: 1) ensuring continuity in the predecessors' role; 2) having full knowledge of a patient's cancer disease; 3) restoring hope in life; 4) customizing or individualizing care, and 5) improving the patient's condition/health. Despite practice challenges, the substantive theory suggests that TMPs restore hope for patients with cancer in a culturally sensitive manner, which may partly explain why patients with cancer continue to seek their services. The findings of this study may guide research, education, and public health policy to advance traditional medicine in sub-Saharan Africa.

The use of multiple HIV prevention services has been found to decrease the risk of acquiring HIV when tailored to individuals at risk of HIV exposure, including transport workers. Therefore, we assessed the uptake of multiple HIV prevention services (≥2) and associated factors among transport workers in a city in Southwestern Uganda. This cross-sectional study comprised motorcycle taxi riders, motor vehicle and truck drivers, aged 18 to 55 years who were selected and responded to an interviewer-administered questionnaire, between November 2021 and February 2022. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical and modified Poisson regression analyses. Out of 420 participants, 97.6% were male, with a median age of 28 years and the majority were aged

Background: Pain is the physical, social, spiritual, and psychological discomfort in a human being. The vast majority of people globally claim to experience body pain 95% at some point in their lives. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a quantitative approach. A total of one hundred forty-six (146) nursing students participated in the study and they were selected by a simple random sampling method Results: One hundred forty-six (146) nursing students were selected to participate in the study. The majority of subjects were aged between 18 to 29 years (89.8%) and there were more females (68.0%) and were pursuing certificate level of Ugandan education 62 (42.2%). The overall findings from the study show that majority of the nursing students had good to excellent knowledge (84.6%). The majority had used the observation method to determine patients‟ pain (93.9%). Conclusion: The study highlighted good knowledge and practices towards the assessment of pain among nursing students. Recommendation: The results of the study identified gaps in practices of nursing students in total pain management and thus we recommend that stakeholders for nursing training institutions should give more time to practical lessons under observation to be able to evaluate students and correct errors in practice to be able to train competent nurses.

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a significant public health problem worldwide and its impact on newborn outcomes is largely documented. Although conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have provided a perfect environment for IPV to thrive, the magnitude of IPV among pregnant women remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women in south-western Uganda. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study of 345 pregnant women attending a large City Health Care facility consecutively enrolled. The validated WHO semi-structured women’s health and domestic violence questionnaire was used to identify women who had experienced IPV. Results: Of the 345 pregnant women, 67.5% experienced some form of IPV. The categories of IPV experienced by pregnant women included: controlling behaviors 188(80.6%), psychological 127(54.5%), sexual 84(36.1%), economic 99(42.5%), and physical violence at 33(9.6%). The most important predictor of all types of IPV experience was marital conflicts experience. Specifically, the predictors of psychological IPV experience were marital conflicts experience and emotional support from relatives. The strongest predictor of controlling behaviors IPV experience was marital conflicts experience. The strongest predictors of sexual violence IPV experience were decision-making, marital conflicts experience, pregnant women aged ≥35, and communicating with the family of origin. The predictors of economic IPV experience were decision-making, marital conflicts experience, financial support from relatives, and marriage duration. Conclusion: The IPV burden during the COVID-19 pandemic is widespread among pregnant women in south-western Uganda. Pregnant women reporting marital conflicts were more likely to experience IPV. These findings point to the need for integration of IPV screening in the routine ANC activities for every pregnant woman. Recommendations Health care providers need to identify and manage IPV as a health issue, not just as a societal matter if IPV is to be mitigated.

Abstract Background Despite the global rise in the number of nurses upgrading from Registered Nursing (RN) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), studies have indicated that successful role transition is difficult once the nurses return to their previous workplaces. Guided by the Transitional Theory, this study investigates the factors that influence the transition from basic to advanced roles among RN to BSN nurses in Uganda, Africa. Methods This study employed a descriptive correlational design. Using convenience sampling, fifty-one (51) RN to BSN nurses completed the semi-structured questionnaires. Results All the study participants (100%) described themselves as having transitioned from RN to BSN role. In bivariate linear regression, personal factors that were found to predict successful role transition included holding a managerial role, being aware and prepared for the role transition, and positive role transition experiences. Role transition motivators that predicted successful role transition included: job promotion, internal desire for self-development, and career development. One community factor – that is the support of doctors/physicians during the RN to BSN transition – predicted unsuccessful role transition. Societal factors deterring successful role transition included lack of support from other colleagues and the perception that BSN learning was not applicable to the RN clinical setting. In multivariate linear regression, only sub-scales of personal factors such as advanced skills mastery and positive personal experiences predicted successful role transition. Conclusion The study suggests that personal factors influence successful role transition more than external factors.