Abstract: Background: Symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs) in children under five years are usually treated with antibacterial medicines. Inappropriate use of antibacterial medicines is a major public health issue of concern since it can promote emergence of resistance, wastage of financial resources, morbidity and mortality. Aims: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with antibacterial use in managing symptoms of ARIs in households in rural communities of northern Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study...

The study assessed susceptibility of the nine commonly grown Eucalyptus clones to Neofusicoccum species associated with Botryosphaeria canker in Uganda. The inoculation trials indicated that susceptibility of Eucalyptus hybrids differed significantly (p=0.000), clones GU609, GU7, GC578, and GC796 exhibiting a higher tolerance than GC784, GC550, GU8, GC514 and GC540. The results further revealed that N. parvum was more pathogenic than N. kwambonambiense. The generated information can be exploited by expanding the growing of tolerant hybrids...

The maximum productivity of plantation forestry and its role in climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience cannot be met without proper management. Termites in the genus Macrotermes have been reported as a major challenge to Eucalyptus plantation forestry establishment. The current study evaluated the susceptibility of four Eucalyptus hybrid clones; GU 7, GC 796, GC 550 and GC 796/2 and E. grandis to the most damaging Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman) and Macrotermes subhyalinus (Rambur) to identify...

In humans, senescence increases susceptibility to viral infection. However, comparative data on viral infection in free-living non-human primates—even in our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos (Pan troglodytes and P. paniscus)—are relatively scarce, thereby constraining an evolutionary understanding of age-related patterns of viral infection. We investigated a population of wild eastern chimpanzees (P. t. schweinfurthii), using metagenomics to characterize viromes (full viral communities) in the feces of 42 sexually mature chimpanzees (22 males, 20 females)...

The African Maize Cobs (AMC) biomass was converted into activated carbon (AC) for electrode materials for supercapacitor application. The carbonization was carried out with concentrated sulphuric acid and the activation was done in three (3) batches using activation temperatures of 600, 700 and 800oC. The AC materials were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DSC), N2-adsorption-desorption isotherms, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Boehm titration, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS),...

Hourly precipitation (mm) recorded at distributed points around Kampala between April 2019 and March 2020. Only timestamps where data were available from all sensors have been included. There are 8094 records in total and no missing values. Timestamps are recorded as “YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss”. The geographic coordinates of the sensors are provided in GeoJSON format. The column names in the CSV file correspond to the “id” field in the GeoJSON file.

Occupational noise is a common cause of hearing loss in low-income countries. We used Wulira app which is a valid and potentially cheaper mhealth alternative to pure tone audiometry to screen for occupational hearing loss among industrial workers in Kampala. 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...

Abstract Background To prevent child deaths from severe malaria, early parenteral treatment is essential. Yet, in remote rural areas, accessing facilities offering parenteral antimalarials may be difficult. A randomised controlled trial found pre-referral treatment with rectal artesunate (RAS) to reduce deaths and disability in children who arrived at a referral facility with delay. This study examined the effectiveness of pre-referral RAS treatment implemented through routine procedures of established community-based health care systems. Methods An observational...

Additional file 1. Patient individual interview guide.

Occupational noise is a common cause of hearing loss in low-income countries. We used Wulira app which is a valid and potentially cheaper mhealth alternative to pure tone audiometry to screen for occupational hearing loss among industrial workers in Kampala. 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...

Additional file 1. Interview guides.

Additional file 2. ICT survey checklist.

Additional file 4. CERQUAL assessment of key findings for context analysis.

Additional file 5. COREQ checklist.

Introduction: Automated mobile phone surveys (MPS) can be used to collect public health data of various types to inform health policy and programs globally. One challenge in administering MPS is identification of an appropriate and effective participant consent process. This study investigated the impact of different survey consent approaches on participant disposition (response characteristics and understanding of the purpose of the survey) within the context of an MPS that measured noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors...

Additional file 1. Search strategy.

Additional file 1: Figure 4. Intersection of symptoms experienced by COVID-19 patients hospitalized in selected hospitals in Uganda in 2021. Figure 5. Intersection of comorbidities of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in selected hospitals in Uganda in 2021. Figure 6. Intersection of medications given to COVID-19 patients hospitalized in selected hospitals in Uganda in 2021.

Following years of its exploitation from only wild colonies, the stingless bee (Meliponula bocandei Spinola, 1853) was recently domesticated in Uganda. Products currently harvested by the beekeepers are honey and propolis. Studies from other countries have shown that stingless bees produce honey that is distinct in physicochemical properties. Therefore, in an effort to lay a foundation for the development of quality standards for stingless bee honey in Uganda, we collected M. bocandei honey from the...

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an important global health concern, projected to contribute to significant mortality, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, perceptions of clinical health professions students towards antimicrobial resistance and rational use of medicine and confidence level to prescribe antimicrobials. Methods An online descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinical health professions students across 9 medical schools in Uganda. A semi-structured questionnaire using Kobo Toolbox form was...

Abstract Background Deteriorating soil fertility is a major constraint to agricultural production and food security among smallholder farmers in Uganda and throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of the population relies on subsistence farming for its livelihoods. Unfortunately, inorganic fertiliser used as a significant soil nutrient replenishment is unsustainable, causing adverse environmental effects, including soil acidification and pollution of water bodies. Therefore, finding alternative, more sustainable, low-cost nutrient management systems is vital. This study assessed...

Abstract Background Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHA-PPQ) is an alternative first-line antimalarial to artemether-lumefantrine in Kenya. However, recent reports on the emergence of PPQ resistance in Southeast Asia threaten its continued use in Kenya and Africa. In line with the policy on continued deployment of DHA-PPQ, it is imperative to monitor the susceptibility of Kenyan parasites to PPQ and other antimalarials. Methods Parasite isolates collected between 2008 and 2021 from individuals with naturally acquired P. falciparum infections presenting...

The rate of DNA mutation and divergence is highly variable across the tree of life. However, the reasons underlying this variation are not well understood. Comparing the rates of genetic changes between hosts and parasite lineages that diverged at the same time is one way to begin to understand differences in genetic mutation and substitution rates. Such studies have indicated that the rate of genetic divergence in parasites is often faster than that of their...

Substantial research has shown that while some parasite infections can be fatal to hosts, most infections are sub-clinical and non-lethal. Such sub-clinical infections can nonetheless have negative consequences for the long-term fitness of the host such as reducing juvenile growth and the host’s ability to compete for food and mates. With such effects, infected individuals are expected to exhibit behavioural changes. Here we use a parasite removal experiment to quantify how gastrointestinal parasite infections affect...

Additional file 1.