Browsing by Author "Lawrence Obado, Osuwat"

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    A Descriptive-Multivariate Analysis of Community Knowledge, Confidence, and Trust in COVID-19 Clinical Trials among Healthcare Workers in Uganda
    (MDPI., 2021-03-12) Keneth Iceland, Kasozi; Anne, Laudisoit; Lawrence Obado, Osuwat; Gaber El-Saber, Batiha; Naif E. Al, Omairi; Eric, Aigbogun; Herbert Izo, Ninsiima; Ibe Michael, Usman; Lisa M., DeTora; Ewan Thomas, MacLeod; Halima, Nalugo; Francis P., Crawley; Barbara E., Bierer; Daniel Chans, Mwandah; Charles Drago, Kato; Kenedy, Kiyimba; Emmanuel Tiyo, Ayikobua; Linda, Lillian; Kevin, Matama; Shui Ching, Nelly Mak; David, Onanyang; Theophilus, Pius; Linda, Lillian; Kevin, Matama; Shui Ching, Nelly Mak; David, Onanyang; Theophilus, Pius; David Paul, Nalumenya; Robinson, Ssebuufu; Nina Olivia, Rugambwa; Grace Henry, Musoke; Kevin, Bardosh; Juma John, Ochieng; Fred, Ssempijja; Patrick, Kyamanywa; Gabriel, Tumwine; Khalid J., Alzahrani; Susan Christina, Welburn
    Background—misinformation and mistrust often undermines community vaccine uptake, yet information in rural communities, especially of developing countries, is scarce. This study aimed to identify major challenges associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine clinical trials among healthcare workers and staff in Uganda. Methods—a rapid exploratory survey was conducted over 5 weeks among 260 respondents (66% male) from healthcare centers across the country using an online questionnaire. Twenty-seven questions assessed knowledge, confidence, and trust scores on COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials from participants in 46 districts in Uganda. Results—we found low levels of knowledge (i.e., confusing COVID-19 with Ebola) with males being more informed than females (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.7–3.0), and mistrust associated with policy decisions to promote herbal treatments in Uganda and the rushed international clinical trials, highlighting challenges for the upcoming Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccinations. Knowledge, confidence and trust scores were higher among the least educated (certificate vs. bachelor degree holders). We also found a high level of skepticism and possible community resistance to DNA recombinant vaccines, such as the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. Preference for herbal treatments (38/260; 14.6%, 95% CI: 10.7–19.3) currently being promoted by the Ugandan government raises major policy concerns. High fear and mistrust for COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials was more common among wealthier participants and more affluent regions of the country. Conclusion—our study found that knowledge, confidence, and trust in COVID-19 vaccines was low among healthcare workers in Uganda, especially those with higher wealth and educational status. There is a need to increase transparency and inclusive participation to address these issues before new trials of COVID-19 vaccines are initiated
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    A descriptive-multivariate analysis of community knowledge, confidence, and trust in COVID-19 clinical trials amongst Ugandans working in healthcare settings.
    (2021) Keneth Iceland, Kasozi; Lawrence Obado, Osuwat
    Background: Misinformation often undermines community vaccine uptake, yet information in rural communities, especially of developing countries, is scarce. This study was to identify major challenges associated with COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials amongst Ugandans employed in healthcare settings. Methods: A rapid exploratory survey with questions was conducted over 5 weeks at multiple health care centers across the country using an online platform. Questions assessed knowledge, confidence, and trust scores on COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials (KCTCOVacTrials), and the social demographics in the community. Results: A low level on the KCTCOVacTrials was reported amongst healthcare workers in Uganda, thus highlighting challenges for the upcoming Oxford-AstraZeneca clinical trials. Inadequate human resource to handle COVID-19 cases in rural healthcare centers continue to contribute to the mistrust and confidence on COVID-19 clinical trials. In the healthcare centers, a majority of participants were males (171/260, 65.8%, 95% CI: 59.8-71.4), demonstrating disproportionate gender inequalities since most women work in inferior positions which would have made it hard for them to participate in this study. KCTCOVacTrials were higher amongst the least educated (certificate holders) than bachelor degree holders. Skepticism against DNA recombinant vaccines (DRV) implies genetically modified vaccines such as the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine, Pfizer/BioNTech are bound to face a level of resistance once adapted in Uganda. This was important since there was a high preference for herbal vaccines, currently being promoted by the government, despite a lack of infrastructure to successful develop a vaccine by any resource poor country in Africa. Furthermore, high fear and distrust against COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials was common in the rich and most affluent regions of Uganda. CONCLUSION: Knowledge, confidence, and trust in COVID-19 vaccines are all low among healthcare workers in Uganda. These findings signal a need to increase these factors before new trials of COVID-19 vaccines are initiated.
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    The Rise of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and the Role of Convalescent Plasma Therapy for Management of Infections
    (Life, 2021-07-31) Mohamed, Moubarak; Keneth Iceland, Kasozi; Helal F., Hetta; Hazem M., Shaheen; Abdur, Rauf; Hayder M., Al-kuraishy; Safaa, Qusti; Eida M., Alshammari; Emmanuel Tiyo, Ayikobua; Fred, Ssempijja; Adam Moyosore, Afodun; Ritah, Kenganzi; Ibe Michael, Usman; Juma John, Ochieng; Lawrence Obado, Osuwat; Kevin, Matama; Ali I., Al-Gareeb; Emmanuel, Kairania; Monica, Musenero; Susan, Christina Welburn; Gaber, El-Saber Batiha
    Novel therapies for the treatment of COVID-19 are continuing to emerge as the SARS-Cov- 2 pandemic progresses. PCR remains the standard benchmark for initial diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, while advances in immunological profiling are guiding clinical treatment. The SARS- Cov-2 virus has undergone multiple mutations since its emergence in 2019, resulting in changes in virulence that have impacted on disease severity globally. The emergence of more virulent variants of SARS-Cov-2 remains challenging for effective disease control during this pandemic. Major variants identified to date include B.1.1.7, B.1.351; P.1; B.1.617.2; B.1.427; P.2; P.3; B.1.525; and C.37. Globally, large unvaccinated populations increase the risk of more and more variants arising. With successive waves of COVID-19 emerging, strategies that mitigate against community transmission need to be implemented, including increased vaccination coverage. For treatment, convalescent plasma therapy, successfully deployed during recent Ebola outbreaks and for H1N1 influenza, can increase survival rates and improve host responses to viral challenge. Convalescent plasma is rich with cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-8), CCL2, and TNFα, neutralizing antibodies, and clotting factors essential for the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical trials can inform and guide treatment policy, leading to mainstream adoption of convalescent therapy. This review examines the limited number of clinical trials published, to date that have deployed this therapy and explores clinical trials in progress for the treatment of COVID-19