Browsing by Author "Kaddumukasa, Martha A."

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Knowledge and attitude of nosocomial infection prevention and control precautions among healthcare personnel at Kiruddu Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda
(BMC Health Services Research, 2025-01-28) Ekakoro, Newton; Nakayinga, Ritah ; Kaddumukasa, Martha A. ; Mbatudde, Maria
Background A key concern for global public health is nosocomial infections. Essential to the fight against nosocomial infection, is healthcare professionals’ knowledge and attitudes. Therefore, this study investigated healthcare professionals’ knowledge and attitudes toward nosocomial infection at the Kiruddu Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out at Kiruddu Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. We selected the participants using simple random sampling. Data were collected from a total of 78 healthcare personnel using pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaires. We used SPSS version 20.0 for data analysis and applied descriptive statistics to present the frequencies and percentages. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to evaluate the association between independent factors and knowledge and attitude (KA) ratings on hospital-acquired infection (HAI) prevention. P-values less than 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant. Results Among the different categories of health workers, doctors exhibited the highest level of knowledge. There was a significant association between knowledge scores and occupation (χ2LR = 25.610; P = 0.000). The mean knowledge scores across different infection prevention aspects were as follows: hand hygiene (82.2 ± 18.9), PPE use (71.8 ± 23.1), sharp disposal and sharp injuries (59.2 ± 25.7), and waste management (57.4 ± 29.9). Notably, 20.5% of participants did not change PPE between patients, and 44.9% indicated that their workload negatively impacted their ability to follow infection prevention standards. Conclusion The study highlighted gaps in healthcare personnel’s knowledge and attitudes toward infection prevention. It is therefore important to provide regular targeted training programs emphasizing underrepresented areas, PPE availability, strengthen policy enforcement, and integrate infection prevention education into medical and nursing curricula.
Semi‑field experiments highlight the importance of maize and rice pollen on oviposition site choice and larval development in Anopheles arabiensis
(Parasites & Vectors, 2025-10-28) Onen, Hudson; Kaindoa, Emmanuel W.; Akite, Perpetra; Kayondo, Jonathan K.; Kaddumukasa, Martha A.; Akol, Anne M.; Tripet, Frederic
Background Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, such as Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (An. gambiae s.s.), Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles arabiensis, are among the key malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. These species are often abundant in areas of intense rice and maize farming with temporary water pools reflecting the dependence of their larvae on the pollen shed in such pools as food. In this study we explored the oviposition preference of wild-caught gravid An. arabiensis in response to maize and rice pollen in artificial aquatic habitats in a semi-field system. Methods Twelve experimental breeding habitats were established in each of the two large compartments of a semi-field system. Rice or maize pollen was added into eight randomly selected habitats in eachcompartment; the remaining four habitats of each compartment were used as control habitats without pollens. In the first experiment, 40 gravid An. arabiensis were released in each compartment and left overnight to choose egg-laying habitats, following which the eggs were sampled and counted. The second experiment differed from the first experiment only in that the counted eggs were returned to the respective habitat where the development of the resultant larvae was monitored and recorded until pupation. Results Pollen types strongly affected the oviposition behaviour of gravid An. arabiensis. Females preferred to lay eggs in habitats with rice pollen on the water surface over those with maize pollen, and in habitats with maize pollen on the water surface over pollen-less controls. The development of larvae was significantly affected by the type of pollen in the habitats. The highest total number of An. arabiensis offspring were produced in habitats with rice pollen compared to those with maize pollen and no pollen. However, larval development success was comparatively lower in habitats containing rice pollen than those with maize pollen and no pollen, suggesting that the habitats with rice pollen were overcrowded. Conclusion This study demonstrates that pollen types on the surface of aquatic habitats influence the oviposition site selection behaviour of gravid An. arabiensis and has carry-over effect on the developmental success of their offspring.