Browsing by Author "Buwembo, William"

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    Informed consent practices for surgical care at university teaching hospitals: a case in a low resource setting
    (2014-05-19) Ochieng, Joseph; Ibingira, Charles; Buwembo, William; Munabi, Ian; Kiryowa, Haruna; Kitara, David; Bukuluki, Paul; Nzarubara, Gabriel; Mwaka, Erisa
    Abstract Background Informed consent in medical practice is essential and a global standard that should be sought at all the times doctors interact with patients. Its intensity would vary depending on the invasiveness and risks associated with the anticipated treatment. To our knowledge there has not been any systematic review of consent practices to document best practices and identify areas that need improvement in our setting. The objective of the study was to evaluate the informed consent practices of surgeons at University teaching Hospitals in a low resource setting. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted at three university teaching hospitals in Uganda. Self-guided questionnaires were left at a central location in each of the surgical departments after verbally communicating to the surgeons of the intention of the study. Filled questionnaires were returned at the same location by the respondents for collection by the research team. In addition, 20 in-depth interviews were held with surgeons and a review of 384 patientsand#8217; record files for informed consent documentation was done. Results A total of 132 (62.1%) out of 214 questionnaires were completed and returned. Respondents were intern doctors, residents and specialists from General surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Ear, Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology, Dentistry, Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments. The average working experience of respondents was 4.8and#160;years (SD 4.454, range 0and#8211;39 years). 48.8% of the respondents said they obtained consent all the time surgery is done while 51.2% did not obtain consent all the time. Many of the respondents indicated that informed consent was not obtained by the surgeon who operated the patient but was obtained either at admission or by nurses in the surgical units. The consent forms used in the hospitals were found to be inadequate and many times signed at admission before diagnosing the patientand#8217;s disease. Conclusions Informed consent administration and documentation for surgical health care is still inadequate at University teaching hospitals in Uganda.
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    Malariometric indices from Iganga, Uganda: baseline characterization in preparation of GMZ2 vaccine trial
    (2014-11-08) Kaddumukasa, Mark; Buwembo, William; Sekikubo, Musa; Naiwumbwe, Halima; Namusoke, Fatuma; Kiwuwa, Stephen; Oketch, Brenda; Noor, Ramadhani; Chilengi, Roma; Mworozi, Edison; Kironde, Fred
    Abstract Background Malaria still remains the leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Uganda. Interventions like malaria vaccines which reduce the malaria burden are needed in malaria endemic communities. There is need to establish baseline characteristics in vaccine trial study sites. This study determined the following baseline malariometric indices: spleen rates, bed net use, malaria parasitaemia and malaria episodes in an inception cohort of children aged 12 and#8211; 60and#160;months in Iganga district, Uganda. Methods In a longitudinal cohort study, 748 children were enrolled with 397 in an active follow up arm and 351 in a passive arm. The children in the two arms were followed for 6and#160;months to determine the incidence of malaria episodes. Results The overall baseline spleen rate was 8.2% (61/748) among the study participants. Of the households surveyed, about 36% reported using bed nets and almost 30% of the users had insecticide-treated nets. 274 (36.6%) of the study participants had a history of fever in the past 24and#160;hrs at the time of the baseline survey. All participants had a peripheral blood smear for malaria parasites done at enrollment with 76.8% having the asexual form of malaria parasites. The malaria episodes per child per year were 1.5 and 0.79 in the active and passive follow up arms respectively. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of malaria asexual parasitaemia in children below five years. The bed net usage still remains low among this population. These baseline malariometric indices have important implication for malaria control interventions.