Browsing by Author "Napyo, Agnes"

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    COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health workers in rural Uganda: A mixed methods study
    (www.elsevier.com/locate/jvacx, 2023-07-07) Ouni, Patrick Diox; Namulondo, Racheal; Wanume, Benon; Okia, David; Olupot, Peter; Nantale, Ritah; Matovu, Joseph K.B.; Napyo, Agnes; Lubaale, Yovani A. Moses; Nshakira , Nathan f; Mukunya, David
    Background: COVID-19 vaccination is the latest preventive intervention strategy in an attempt to control the global pandemic. Its efficacy has come under scrutiny because of break through infections among the vaccinated and need for booster doses. Besides, although health workers were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccine in most countries, anecdotal evidence points to high levels of reluctance to take the vaccine among health workers. We assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health workers in Dokolo dis trict, northern Uganda. Methods: This was a mixed-method, cross-sectional descriptive study. A customised self-administered data collection tool was used to collect quantitative data on characteristics, vaccination status and factors for or rejection of vaccine uptake. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to assess the associa tion between selected exposures and vaccine hesitancy using Stata version 15. Conversely, qualitative data were collected using key informant interviews (KIIs) among 15 participants that were purposively selected. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis with the help of NVivo 12.0. Results: Of the 346 health workers enrolled, (13.3% [46/346]) were vaccine hesitant. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy included fear of side effects (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 2.55; 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI]: 1.00, 6.49) and health workers’ lack of trust in the information provided by health authorities (AOR: 6.74; 95% CI: 2.43, 18.72). Similar factors were associated with vaccine hesitancy when we used the vaccine hesitancy score. Fear of side effects, distrust in vaccine stakeholders, and lack of trust in the vaccine were barriers to COVID-19 vaccination among health workers. Conclusion: A small proportion of health workers were found to be hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine in this study. The paucity of COVID-19 vaccine safety information, which eroded the health workers’ trust in the information they received on the vaccine, was responsible for health workers hesitancy to take up the vaccine in Uganda
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    Missed Appointments and Associated Factors Among Children Accessing Anti-Retroviral Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Western Uganda
    (Taylor & Francis, 2025-06-28) Nduhukire, Timothy; Adebayo, Ismail Abiola; Luwaga, Rachel; Mandela, Immaculate; Napyo, Agnes; Ainamani, Herbert; Musiime, Victor
    Disruptions to the health sector in Uganda during the COVID 19 pandemic affected health services in the early phases of the pandemic. Not much data exists on their effect on these same services during the later stages of the pandemic especially for children. To fill this gap, we set out to study missed appointments and their associated factors during the lockdown for children receiving Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study from January 2022 to May 2022. We included all children aged 0–15 and adolescents aged 15–19 years who were on ART. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) for the participants in the last 12 months were extracted. Descriptive statistics are presented. Binary logistic regression was performed, and odds ratios were reported. Results: Out of the 382 participants, 26 (6.8%) missed appointments during the study period. The likelihood of missing appointments was increased when drugs were given to last 4 months than when they were given to last one month (COR 3.207, P value 0.026, 95% CI 1.150–8.943). Patients were also more likely to miss appointments if their mode of receiving drugs was Facility based group (COR 3.174, P = 0.043, 95% CI 1.037–9.713). Not having a viral load in the last 12 months increased the likelihood of missing an appointment (COR 2.309, P = 0.049, CI 1.004–5.306). Conclusion: A drug refill of 4 months and being scheduled to receive drugs by Facility-based group model predisposed the participants to missing the next appointment. Home- or community-based ART delivery to clients as well as drug prescriptions for a longer period could reduce missed appointments. Timely viral load testing should be encouraged as it correlates with adherence to appointments. More research is needed on the safety, storage practices and efficacy of ART given to last more than 2 months.