Browsing by Author "Amanya, Sharon Bright"

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    A cross-sectional study of stress and its sources among health professional students at Makerere University, Uganda
    (Wiley, 2017) Amanya, Sharon Bright; Nakitende, Joyce; Ngabirano, Tom Denis
    Aim: To assess prevalence of stress and its sources among undergraduate health professional students at Makerere University. Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using quantitative methods of data collection. Methods: The study was conducted among 258 undergraduate health professional students (Medical, Dental and, Nursing students) at Makerere University. From each programme, students were recruited proportionately, while being selected conveniently from each year of study. Stress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire 12 and stressors assessed using a questionnaire developed from literature. After obtaining ethics approval, data were collected from consenting students. Data collected were analysed using SPSS statistical program. Results: The prevalence of stress was found to be 57.4% and stressors of academic and psychosocial origin were most frequently reported. The top stressors included; academic curriculum (38%), dissatisfaction with class lectures (30.9%), long distance walk (29.5%), lack of time for recreation (28.9%), performance in examination (28.3%), lack of special guidance from faculty (26.7%) and high parental expectations (26.7%).
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    Knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures among health workers in regional referral hospitals in northern Uganda: a cross sectional online survey [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations]
    (F1000Research, 2021) Amanya, Sharon Bright; Nyeko, Richard; Obura, Bonniface; Acen, Joy; Nabasirye, Caroline; Nakaziba, Rebecca; Oyella, Florence; Afayo, Victor; Okwir, Mark
    Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) has increasingly been underscored as a key tool for limiting the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and safeguarding health workers from infections during their work. Knowledge and compliance with IPC measures is therefore essential in protecting health workers. However, this has not been established among health workers in northern Uganda in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures among health workers in regional referral hospitals in northern Uganda. Methods: An online cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among health workers in regional referral hospitals within northern Uganda. A structured questionnaire was distributed to health workers via WhatsApp messenger. Sufficient knowledge was considered at a correct response score of ≥80%, while adequate compliance was rated ≥75% of the maximum score. Data were analyzed using SPSS v21. Results: Of the 213 health workers approached, 75 (35%) participated in the study. The majority were males, 39(52%) and the mean age was 36.92 years. Of the 75 participants, 52(69%) had sufficient knowledge of Covid-19 IPC while 51(68%) had adequate compliance with Covid-19 IPC. Adequate compliance was significantly associated with training in Covid-19 IPC (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, (1.04-7.88); p=0.039), access to Covid-19 IPC materials at workstations (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, (1.06 - 8.09); p=0.036), and having strong institutional support (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, (1.08 – 8.74); p=0.031). However, there was no significant relationship between knowledge and compliance with IPC (p=0.07). The socio demographic characteristics of health workershad no statistically significant relationship with Covid-19 IPC knowledge or compliance. Conclusion: Our results show fairly good knowledge and compliance with Covid-19 IPC among health workers in northern Uganda. There is need for more training and provision of guidelines to promote compliance with Covid-19 IPC. Keywords Infection prevention and control, knowledge, training, compliance
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    Traditional Medicinal Vegetables in Northern Uganda: An Ethnobotanical Survey
    (International Journal of Food Science, 2021) Nakaziba, Rebecca; Anyolitho, Maxson Kenneth; Amanya, Sharon Bright; Sesaazi, Crispin Duncan; Byarugaba, Frederick; Ogwal-Okeng, Jasper; Alele, Paul E.
    Background. A wide range of indigenous vegetables grow in Uganda especially during rainy seasons but scarcely during droughts, except those that are commercially grown. Although a number of these vegetables have medicinal values, they have not been satisfactorily studied besides conservation. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey in Northern Uganda in order to document traditional medicinal vegetables and their uses. Methods. Qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection and analysis were employed using semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaires as well as key informant interviews following international ethical codes. Fidelity levels and informant consensus factors were also calculated. Results. 13 traditional vegetables belonging to 10 families were reported to serve as folk medicines. The most dominant families were Fabaceae (23.08%) and Solanaceae (15.38%). The most often used vegetables were Corchorus spp., Hibiscus spp., and Asystasiagangeticafor musculoskeletal (51%), gastrointestinal (34.3%), and malaria (31.8%). The vegetables were cultivated in the backyard and the leaves stewed for the different ailments. The informant consensus factor was the highest for Corchorus spp., in the treatment of joint pain/stiffness (0.92-1) while the highest fidelity level was (60.42%) for Amaranthus spp., in the management of anemia. Conclusions. Northern Uganda has numerous traditional vegetables with medicinal benefits. Diseases treated range from gastrointestinal to reproductive through musculoskeletal abnormalities. The community obtains vegetable leaves from the backyard and stews them regularly for the medicinal purposes with no specific dosage. Therefore, we recommend studies to verify in laboratory models the efficacy of these vegetables and standardize the dosages
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    Variations in Trim5α and Cyclophilin A genes among HIV‑1 elite controllers and non controllers in Uganda: a laboratory‑based cross‑sectional study
    (2020) Amanya, Sharon Bright; Nyiro, Brian; Waswa, Francis; Obura, Bonniface; Nakaziba, Rebecca; Nabulime, Eva; Katabazi, Ashaba Fred; Nabatanzi, Rose; Bayiyana, Alice; Mboowa, Gerald; Kayongo, Alex; Wayengera, Misaki; Obondo, J. Sande
    Background: Tripartite Motif Containing 5 alpha (TRIM5α), a restriction factor produced ubiquitously in cells and tissues of the body plays an important role in the immune response against HIV. TRIM5α targets the HIV capsid for proteosomal destruction. Cyclophilin A, an intracellular protein has also been reported to influence HIV infectivity in a cell-specific manner. Accordingly, variations in TRIM5α and Cyclophilin A genes have been documented to influence HIV-1 disease progression. However, these variations have not been documented among Elite controllers in Uganda and whether they play a role in viral suppression remains largely undocumented. Our study focused on identifying the variations in TRIM5α and Cyclophilin A genes among HIV-1 Elite controllers and non-controllers in Uganda. Results: From the sequence analysis, the rs10838525 G > A mutation in exon 2 of TRIM5α was only found among elite controllers (30%) while the rs3824949 in the 5′UTR was seen among 25% of the non-controllers. In the Cyclophilin A promoter, rs6850 was seen among 62.5% of the non-controllers and only among 10% elite controllers. Furthermore, rs17860048 in the Cyclophillin A promoter was predominantly seen among elite controllers (30%) and 12.5% noncontrollers. From gene expression analysis, we noted that the respective genes were generally elevated among elite controllers, however, this difference was not statistically significant (TRIM5α p = 0.6095; Cyclophilin A p = 0.6389). Conclusion: Variations in TRIM5α and Cyclophillin A promoter may influence HIV viral suppression. The rs10838525 SNP in TRIM5α may contribute to viral suppression among HIV-1 elite controllers. The rs6850 in the cyclophillin A gene may be responsible for HIV-1 rapid progression among HIV-1 non-controllers. These SNPs should be investigated mechanistically to determine their precise role in HIV-1 viral suppression.