Factors Associated with Hand Washing Practices among Secondary School Students in Ndorwa East Constituency in Kabale District

Despite the worldwide Global Hand Washing Day campaign, which targets school children as the most effective agents for behaviour change, there is limited documentation in various school settings. The purpose of the study was to assess the factors associated with hand washing practices among secondary school students in Ndorwa East Constituency in the Kabale district. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data from a sample of 291 students from five schools. Results: Of the 291 respondents enrolled, 219(77%) washed their hands after the rest room. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of hand washing practice among secondary school students in Ndorwa East Constituency–Kabale District were being aged <18 years (aOR =8.1, 95%CI: 2.65-21.61, p<0.001), presence of water for hand washing (aOR =50.7,95%CI:11.50-309.38,p<0.001), presence of hand washing stations (aOR=7.3,95%CI:2.72-30.37, p<0.001), and cleanliness of hand washing stations (aOR=70.0,95%CI:10.44-605.6, p<0.001). The factors associated with hand washing practices were presence of water for hand washing, the presence of hand washing stations in schools, cleanliness of hand washing stations. The study suggests that the school administrators should sensitize all students to continue practicing washing hands. This would help in preventing students from diseases associated with poor hand hygiene practices.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Stunting Among Children Aged 6-59 Months in Kabale District, Uganda

Background: Despite of the global efforts undertaken to improve nutrition, malnutrition still continues to be a serious public health concern. Malnutrition in its various forms has been closely associated to major causes of illness, disability and death. Malnutrition in the form of childhood stunting has therefore been identified as a significant hindrance to human development. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of children aged 6–59 months and determine factors associated with stunting among children in Kabale district. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 640 children, aged 6–59 months selected using both simple random and systematic random sampling techniques. Interview administered questionnaires were used to collect household data whereas anthropometric data was collected using a height board, digital weighing scales and Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Tapes. Data was analyzed using STATA version 12.0 and ENA for SMART, 2011. Results: The overall prevalence of stunting among children 6-59 months was 41.1%. Factors independently associated with stunting included; age of the child (children in the age category of 36-47months APOR=0.38; 95% CI 0.18-0.79 and those in the age category of 24-35months APOR=0.42; 95% CI 0.19-0.88), major source of food for the household that is children from households in which mothers indicated market as the major source of food (APOR=0.67; 95% CI 0.48-0.94) and disposal of child stool that is children whose stool was put/ rinsed in a latrine (APOR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.23-0.74) as well as those that whose stool was thrown in garbage (APOR= 0.29; 95% CI: 0.12-0.72). Conclusion: The prevalence of stunting among children aged 6-59 months in Kabale district was high. Practices/ factors independently associated with stunting among children aged 6-59months included; age of the child, major source of food for the household and disposal of child stool. Addressing these factors requires a proper mix of both community and health based interventions. There is also need to strengthen on strategies for reducing stunting like; sanitation and hygiene as well as food and nutrition security within rural households.

Cure Rate and Associated Factors for Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Under the Out Patient Therapeutic Care Programme in the Health Centres of Kabale District in Southwestern Uganda. A Cross Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five. Globally, SAM affects 19 million children with sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected. In Uganda, Global acute malnutrition (GAM) affects 4% and SAM 1% children. Kabale district in South Western Uganda, located in Kigezi sub-region, has been reported to have a GAM prevalence of 3.8 % and SAM of 2.9% among children below five years. To ensure timely detection and management of SAM, the government of Uganda in collaboration with development partners introduced Out Patient Therapeutic Care (OTC) program in all health centre level III and IV in Kabale district. However, there is limited information about the Cure rate of children and associated factors under the OTC program in Kabale district. This study was therefore designed to assess the Cure rate and factors affecting it. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on records of children under five years of age (n=637), presenting with SAM and enrolled on OTC program in the health centres of Kabale district between 2013 and 2015. Data were collected from the nutrition registration logbook using a structured check list and cleaned using Microsoft Excel. Data were then exported into STATA 12 for analysis. Univariate and Bivariate analysis together with logistic regression were run to generate frequencies and factors associated with the recovery of children from SAM. RESULTS: The Cure rate was 36.3% (n=231 cases) with a median Recovery time of 21 days. The Default rate was 58.6% (n=373 cases) while the Non-response rate was 0.6% (n=4 cases). Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that source where the child was coming from at admission Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR = 0.1, 95% CI 0.0, 0.7, p = 0.012), Weight at admission (AOR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.0, 0.9, p = 0.014) and Number of visits to the program (AOR = 14.9, 95% CI 9.3, 24.2, p = 0.040) were the major factors influencing the recovery of severely Malnourished children admitted in OTC programme in health centres in Kabale district.CONCLUSION: Overall the Cure rate and Default rate for the children under the OTC programme in Kabale district were found to be very unacceptable according to both the national and international standards. However, Death rate and Non-response rate were within the acceptable levels. To improve the Cure rates of children with SAM under the OTC programme in Kabale district, there is need for interventions aimed at encouraging caretakers to pay special attention to the number of visits to the programme.

Financial Accountability Mechanisms in Local Governments in Uganda.A Case of Kabale District Local Government

The paper presents financial accountability mechanisms in local governments, with reference to Kabale district local government. A cross-sectional research design, which used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect and analyze data, was adopted. Both simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 117 respondents from 174 subjects. Questionnaires and personal interviews were used to collect data from respondents. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze quantitative data while direct quotes from interviews conducted among key informants formed the basis for qualitative analysis. Quantitative analysis was aided by software for document analysis (SPSS V 20.0). In descending order of perception, service delivery was found to be the most commonly used financial accountability mechanism, followed by financial reporting, expenditure control and budget. The paper therefore, concluded that service delivery is the most used mechanism of financial accountability, though the district’s local budget seemed unclear on reflecting the priorities of the local people. This paper recommended that the local government should ensure that the district’s budget demonstrates community preference; salaries and wages should be paid in accordance with the district’s approved budget; expenditures on development should always be as per the approved budget, and the mode of financial reporting, particularly on liabilities should be standardized. Due to the scope of this paper, which could not quantitatively relate financial accountability and service delivery, there is need for a comprehensive study on the effect of financial accountability and service delivery in Kabale district local government

Financial Accountability Mechanisms In Local Governments In Uganda: A Case of Kabale District Local Government

The paper presents financial accountability mechanisms in local governments, with reference to Kabale district local government. A cross-sectional research design, which used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect and analyze data, was adopted. Both simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 117 respondents from 174 subjects. Questionnaires and personal interviews were used to collect data from respondents. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze quantitative data while direct quotes from interviews conducted among key informants formed the basis for qualitative analysis. Quantitative analysis was aided by software for document analysis (SPSS V 20.0). In descending order of perception, service delivery was found to be the most commonly used financial accountability mechanism, followed by financial reporting, expenditure control and budget. The paper therefore, concluded that service delivery is the most used mechanism of financial accountability, though the district’s local budget seemed unclear on reflecting the priorities of the local people. This paper recommended that the local government should ensure that the district’s budget demonstrates community preference; salaries and wages should be paid in accordance with the district’s approved budget; expenditures on development should always be as per the approved budget, and the mode of financial reporting, particularly on liabilities should be standardized. Due to the scope of this paper, which could not quantitatively relate financial accountability and service delivery, there is need for a comprehensive study on the effect of financial accountability and service delivery in Kabale district local government

Pesticide Use In Vegetable Production In Rural Uganda - A Case Study of Kabale District, South Western Uganda

A study to investigate commonly grown vegetables, commonly used pesticides, and pesticide use practices was conducted in Kabale District, in south-western Uganda. This is because indiscriminate pesticide use and poor application practices can leave pesticide residues in food rendering it unsafe for consumption. The study revealed extensive pesticide application in Brassica oleracea; var. capitata (cabbage), Brassica oleracea; var. botrytis (cauliflower), Solanum lycopersicum, (tomato) and Beta vulgaris (beet root). Information obtained using interviews revealed that 16.5% traders sell pesticides and 70% farmers spray pesticides on vegetables. Only 18% of farmers could interpret instructions correctly on a given pesticide container label. All farmers (100%) had never attended any pesticide use training. Cypermethrin, dimethoate, dichlorvos, metalaxyl, profenofos, malathion and mancozeb were common pesticides used in spraying vegetables however 42% of the farmers mixed different pesticides for use. Limited knowledge about pesticide application, inability to interpret instructions, non-observation of waiting period before harvesting, mixing pesticides and lack of training on pesticide use for farmers are potential risks to food safety. There is need to address knowledge gaps on safer pesticide application in order to attain safe agricultural productivity for sustainable food security, human health and community development in Kabale District, Uganda.