Community overview on the differential prevalence of Hepatitis E in two sub-counties in Kitgum District, Uganda: a mixed study design.

Autor: Aloyo J; Rhites-N, Acholi, Gulu City, Uganda.; College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.; Uganda Medical Association, UMA Acholi branch, Gulu City, Uganda., Kiguli J; College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., Orach CG; School of Public Health, Department of Community and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., Kitara DL; Uganda Medical Association, UMA Acholi branch, Gulu City, Uganda. klagoro2@gmail.com.; Gulu Centre for advanced medical diagnostics, research, trainings, and innovations (Grudi Biontech Initiative), Gulu, Uganda. klagoro2@gmail.com.; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Takemi fellow of Harvard University, Gulu University, P.0. Box 166, Gulu City, Uganda. klagoro2@gmail.com.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC research notes [BMC Res Notes] 2024 Jul 29; Vol. 17 (1), pp. 209. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 29.
DOI: 10.1186/s13104-024-06869-7
Abstrakt: Background: An epidemic of Hepatitis E infection occurred in Kitgum district, northern Uganda in 2009. In that epidemic, more than 10,422 people were infected, and over 166 deaths were registered. Kitgum District Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) showed that Hepatitis E cases continued to occur in Mucwini more than in Kitgum Matidi sub-county despite instituting similar epidemic control measures in the two communities. The tenacity of the virus in Mucwini sub-county had remained unclear. This study aimed to assess communities' views and perspectives on the differential prevalence of Hepatitis E in the two sub-counties of Kitgum Matidi and Mucwini in northern Uganda.
Methods: A mixed study using qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Four Focus group discussions and six key informant interviews were conducted with the village health teams, local council chairpersons, health workers, and community members. These participants were chosen purposively because of their expertise and experience in community health services. Face-to-face interview guides were administered to obtain detailed information on factors associated with the differential occurrence of Hepatitis E in the two sub-counties. This study was approved by a local IRB and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCS&T).
Results: The most substantial findings were the differences in prevention and control practices in the two communities. Residents of Mucwini were less compliant with infection, prevention, and control guidelines, and disagreements between local councilors and village health teams in Mucwini over allowances led to poor implementation and non-adherence to guidelines on community control of the epidemic.
Conclusion: A differentially higher prevalence of Hepatitis E in Mucwini than in Kitgum Matidi resulted from poor personal and community hygiene and non-adherence to behavior change communication among residents of Mucwini than their counterparts in Kitgum Matidi. The authors recommend a more proactive approach to managing an epidemic by securing the willingness of the affected community to adopt appropriate infection prevention and control guidelines. In addition, disagreements among stakeholders should be resolved quickly so that all community members adhere to control measures.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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