Browsing by Author "Akullo, Betty Nancy"

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    Factors associated with first antenatal care (ANC) attendance within 12 weeks of pregnancy among women in Lira City, Northern Uganda: a facility-based cross- sectional study
    (BMJ, 2023) Acup, Walter; Opollo, Marc Sam; Akullo, Betty Nancy; Musinguzi, Marvin; Kigongo, Eustes; Opio, Bosco; Kabunga, Amir
    Objective This study aimed at assessing factors associated with first antenatal care (ANC) attendance within 12 weeks of pregnancy among women in Lira City. Design A cross-sectional study. Settings The study was conducted in health facilities offering ANC services in Lira City, Northern Uganda. Participants The study was among 368 pregnant mothers attending their first ANC in the three selected facilities (Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Ober Health Center IV and Pentecostal Assembly of God Mission Health Center IV) in Lira City. Primary and secondary outcome measures Level of first ANC attendance within 12 weeks of pregnancy and associated factors. Results Early ANC attendance was 36.1%. Women who were: unmarried (adjusted OR (aOR): 0.40, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.99), took >2 hours to reach a health facility (aOR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.62), or not visited by village health teams or healthcare workers at home (aOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.92) were less likely to attend their first ANC early. On the other hand, women who were: not knowing first that ANC guides parents on infant care (aOR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.06 to 4.67); pregnant without consent of spouse (aOR: 4.29, 95% CI: 1.75 to 10.55); attending ANC from a private facility (aOR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.27 to 6.15); and having two to three healthcare workers present at the ANC clinic (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.03 to 3.13) were more likely to attend ANC early. Conclusions Despite the fact that the WHO recommends that all women begin ANC within 12 weeks after conception, Lira City in Northern Uganda had a low overall incidence of timely ANC initiation. Being unmarried, distance to reach a health facility, and being visited by village health teams or healthcare workers at home were all linked to timely ANC commencement. As a result, intervention efforts should concentrate on the highlighted determinants in order to promote ANC initiation in Lira City, Northern Uganda. This can be accomplished by providing information and education to the community on the timing and necessity of ANC in Northern Uganda.
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    Factors Associated with First Antenatal Care Attendance Within Twelve Weeks of Pregnancy Among Women in Lira City
    (Lira University, 2022) Acup, Walter; Marc, Sam Opollo; Akullo, Betty Nancy
    Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all pregnant women attend first Antenatal care (ANC) within 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, most pregnant women (71%) in Uganda started first ANC after 12 weeks of pregnancy. This predisposes them to pregnancy complications and outcomes which makes it hard to reduce the current high maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 336 deaths per 100,000 live births. This study aimed to assess factors associated with first ANC attendance within 12 weeks of pregnancy among women in Lira City. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 368 pregnant mothers attending first ANC at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH), Pentecostal Assembly of God-Mission HC-IV, and Ober HC-IV. Data was collected using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. In-depth interviews were used to collect qualitative data. A binary logistic regression analysis was computed to determine the association using crude and adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence intervals. Independent variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression model were considered significant Results: Of the 368 respondents interviewed, 36.1% reported first ANC within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Risk factors associated with first ANC attendance within 12 weeks of pregnancy were not being in a marital relationship (aOR:0.40, 95% CI:0.16-0.99), taking >2hours to reach health facility (aOR:0.21, 95% CI:0.07-0.62), not being visited by VHT/HW at home (aOR:0.33, 95% CI:0.12-0.92). Protective factors associated with first ANC attendance within 12 weeks of pregnancy were not knowing that first ANC guides parents on infant and child care (aOR:2.22, 95% CI:1.06-4.67), pregnancy not consented to by spouse (aOR:4.29, 95% CI:1.75-10.55), attending ANC from private health facility (aOR:2.89, 95% CI:1.27-6.15), and having 2-3 HWs present at ANC clinic (aOR:1.79, 95% CI:1.03-3.13). Conclusion: Majority of pregnant women initiate their first ANC visits late. Comparing this to the UDHS 2016, we can conclude that late ANC initiation is a major problem in countrywide. Therefore, Ministry of Health should improve on the staffing of midwives and nurses at all facilities, raising awareness through continues community mobilization and sensitization of the women, their husbands and the community at large about the importance of first and timely ANC attendance should be a priority through HW/VHTs.
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    Factors Influencing Contraceptive Use Among Teenage Girls 13-19 Years Old in Kole District.
    (Lira University, 2023) Akello, Loy; Akullo, Betty Nancy; Nabasirye, Caroline
    Introduction: Adolescent girls’ access to contraceptives is crucial for reducing unplanned pregnancies, abortions, and maternal deaths. Uganda faces challenges in meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents, with Kole district particularly at risk of high teenage pregnancy complications. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors influencing contraceptive utilization among teenage girls in Kole district. Methods: The research design was a cross-sectional study, using a quantitative data collection method. The sample size of 289 was determined using the Kish (1965) formula. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, randomly selecting two villages from each of the three sub-counties. Households within the villages were the unit of analysis, and participants was selected using simple random sampling. Data collection was done using a pretested questionnaire and analysed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. Results: Results showed that 54.45% of the participants used contraceptives. Socio-cultural factors significantly influenced contraceptive use, with girls in supportive communities more likely to use contraceptives (AOR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.73, p=0.009). Health facility factors did not show significant associations. Fear of side effects was a significant barrier to contraceptive use (AOR=3.52, 95% CI: 1.51-8.19, p=0.004). Older teenage girls (17-19 years) were more likely to utilize contraceptives (AOR=5.49, 95% CI: 2.48-12.2, p<0.001). Conclusions: Improving contraceptive utilization among teenage girls in Kole requires multifaceted approaches that address socio-cultural factors that dispel fears related to side effects, and consider the unique needs of different age groups Recommendations: Addressing fear and age-related factors can promote contraceptive use among teenage girls. Keywords: Factors, Contraceptive use, Teenage girls.