Browsing by Author "Onohuean, Hope"

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    COVID-19-Related Mental Health Burdens: Impact of Educational Level and Relationship Status Among Low-Income Earners of Western Uganda
    (Kabale University, 2021) Lemuel, Ann Monima; Usman, Ibe Michael; Keneth Iceland, Kasozi; Alghamdi, Saad; Aigbogun, Eric Osamudiamwen; Archibong, Victor; Ssebuufu, Robinson; Kabanyoro, Annet; Ifie, Josiah Eseoghene; Swase, Dominic Terkimbi; Ssempijja, Fred; Ayuba, John Tabakwot; Matama, Kevin; Onohuean, Hope; Kembabazi, Stellamaris; Henry, Rachael; Odoma, Said; Yusuf, Helen; Afodun, Adam Moyosore; Assaggaf, Hamza M.; Kairania, Emmanuel; Aslam, Akhmed; Okon, Owoisinke; Batiha, Gaber El-Saber; Welburn, Susan Christina
    Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health with the level of education, relationship status, and awareness on mental health among low-income earners in Western Uganda. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among 253 participants. Anxiety, anger, and depression were assessed using a modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger’s State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, and Beck Depression Inventory item tools, respectively. Results: The majority of our respondents were male (n = 150/253, 59.3), had a secondary level of education (104/253, 41.1), and were single (137/253, 54.2). No formal education and primary education (r2 = 47.4% and 6.4%, respectively) had a negative correlation with awareness of mental health care. In addition, no formal education had a positive correlation with anger and depression (r2 = 1.9% and 0.3%, respectively). Singleness in this study had a negative correlation with awareness of mental health care, anger, and depression (r2 = 1.9, 0.8, and 0.3%, respectively), and a positive correlation with anxiety (r2 = 3.9%). Conclusion: It is evident that education and relationship status influenced awareness on mental health care and mental health state among low-income earners in Western Uganda during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Therefore, policymakers should strengthen social transformation through the proper engagement of low-income earners in this COVID-19 era. Keywords: Mental Healthcare, Awareness, Relationship, Status, Educational Level, COVID-19, Low-Income Earners, Western Uganda.
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    Fluoxetine attenuates stress-induced depression-like behavior due to decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines in male rats.
    (2024) Nabirumbi, Ritah; Onohuean, Hope; Kato, Charles Drago; Alagbonsi, Abdullateef Isiaka; Adedeji1, Ahmed A.
    Pro-inflammatory cytokines are implicated in depression caused by both environmental- and alcohol-induced stress. The purpose of the study was to investigate the cytokine levels in serum and hippocampus following induction of depression-like behaviors (DLB) by either force. swimming test (FST) or ethanol-induced DLB (EID). We also investigated the effect of prior administration of the antidepressant drug fluoxetine on cytokines in animals exposed to both models of DLB. Methods: Animals were pretreated with fluoxetine before inducing DLB, while DLB was induced in some animals using FST and ethanol in different groups of rats without fluoxetine pretreatment. The ELISA was used to detect changes in cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) levels in serum and hippocampus. Results: The mean levels of IL-1β and IL-6 measured in serum and hippocampus were significantly higher in FST and EID models when compared to the control group. The serum concentrations of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly reduced in animals pre-treated with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of fluoxetine in both FST and EID models when compared to the untreated FST and EID groups respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, both environment and alcohol can induce stress and DLB in rats with similar intensity, and their mechanisms of DLB induction involve activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, fluoxetine can prevent stress-induced inflammation in models of DLB.
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    Misconceptions on COVID-19 Risk Among Ugandan Men: Results From a Rapid Exploratory Survey, April 2020
    (Kabale University, 2020) Keneth Iceland, Kasozi; MacLeod, Ewan; Ssempijja, Fred; Mahero, Michael W.; Matama, Kevin; Musoke, Grace Henry; Bardosh, Kevin; Ssebuufu, Robinson; Wakoko-Studstil, Florence; Echoru, Isaac; Tiyo Ayikobua, Emmanuel; Mujinya, Regan; Nambuya, Grace; Onohuean, Hope; Zirintunda, Gerald; Ekou, Justine; Welburn, Susan Christina
    Background: Transmission of COVID-19 in developing countries is expected to surpass that in developed countries; however, information on community perceptions of this new disease is scarce. The aim of the study was to identify possible misconceptions among males and females toward COVID-19 in Uganda using a rapid online survey distributed via social media. Methods: A cross-sectional survey carried out in early April 2020 was conducted with 161 Ugandans, who purposively participated in the online questionnaire that assessed understandings of COVID-19 risk and infection. Sixty-four percent of respondents were male and 36% were female. Results: We found significant divergences of opinion on gendered susceptibility to COVID-19. Most female respondents considered infection risk, symptoms, severe signs, and death to be equally distributed between genders. In contrast, male respondents believed they were more at risk of infection, severe symptoms, severe signs, and death (52.7 vs. 30.6%, RR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.14–2.8). Most women did not share this perception and disagreed that males were at higher risk of infection (by a factor of three), symptoms (79% disagree), severe signs (71%, disagree), and death (70.2% disagree). Overall, most respondents considered children less vulnerable (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.55–2.2) to COVID-19 than adults, that children present with less symptoms (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.77–3.19), and that there would be less mortality in children (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.41–1.88). Of female respondents, 76.4% considered mortality from COVID-19 to be different between the young and the elderly (RR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.01–2.92) and 92.7% believed young adults would show fewer signs than the elderly, and 71.4% agreed that elderly COVID-19 patients would show more severe signs than the young (OR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.4, 4.8). While respondents considered that all races were susceptible to the signs and symptoms of infection as well as death from COVID-19, they considered mortality would be highest among white people from Europe and the USA. Some respondents (mostly male 33/102, 32.4%) considered COVID-19 to be a “disease of whites” (30.2%). Conclusion: The WHO has identified women and children in rural communities as vulnerable persons who should be given more attention in the COVID-19 national response programs across Africa; however, our study has found that men in Uganda perceive themselves to be at greater risk and that these contradictory perceptions (including the association of COVID-19 with “the white” race) suggest an important discrepancy in the communication of who is most vulnerable and why. Further research is urgently needed to validate and expand the results of this small exploratory study. Keywords: COVID-19, Uganda, Africa, United Nations Gender , impact children.