Browsing by Author "Nahalomo, Aziiza"

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Malnutrition and associated risk factors among children 6–59 months old in the landslide-prone Bududa District, Eastern Uganda: a cohort study
(Current Developments in Nutrition : American Society for Nutrition, 2022-01-18) Nahalomo, Aziiza; Iversen, Per Ole; Andreassen, Bård Anders; Kaaya, Archileo Natigo; Rukooko, Archangel Byaruhanga; Tushabe, Gerald; Nateme, Nancy Catherine; Rukundo, Peter Milton
Background The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2.2 calls for an end to all forms of malnutrition. This might be derailed due to persistent landslide disasters in low-income countries like Uganda. Objectives The prevalence of malnutrition and the impact of seasonal variations and associated factors were assessed among children aged 6–59 mo in the landslide-affected households in Bududa District, eastern Uganda. Methods A prospective cohort study using a 2-stage simple random technique was applied to select 422 households including 392 children during May–August (food-plenty season) 2019. After 6 mo, in January–March (food-poor season) 2020, 388 households and 366 children were assessed. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected using structured questionnaires. Child malnutrition outcomes were defined according to WHO criteria. Factors associated with malnutrition outcomes were identified by bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Realization of the right to adequate food and the nutritional status of land evictees : a case for mothers/caregivers and their children in rural Central Uganda
(BMC International Health and Human Rights, 2018-05-24) Nahalomo, Aziiza; Iversen, Per Ole; Rukundo, Peter Milton; Kaaya, Archileo; Kikafunda, Joyce; Eide, Wenche Barth; Marais, Maritha; Wamala, Edward; Kabahenda, Margaret
In developing countries like Uganda, the human right to adequate food (RtAF) is inextricably linked to access to land for households to feed themselves directly through production or means for its procurement. Whether RtAF is enjoyed among Ugandan land evictees, is unknown. We therefore explored this among land evictees (rights-holders) in Wakiso and Mpigi districts in rural Central Uganda. We assessed food accessibility and related coping strategies, diet quality and nutritional status of children 6–59 months old, and their caregivers. Effectiveness of the complaint and redress mechanisms in addressing RtAF violations was also explored. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, quantitative data was collected using a structured questionnaire, with food security and nutritional assessment methods from a total of 215 land evictees including 187 children aged 6–59 months. Qualitative data was collected by reviewing selected national and international documents on the RtAF and key informant interviews with 15 purposively sampled duty-bearers. These included individuals or representatives of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Resident District Commissioner, Sub-county Chiefs, and local Council leaders. Results: We found that 78% of land evictees had insufficient access to food while 69.4% had consumed a less diversified diet. A majority of evictees (85.2%) relied on borrowing food or help from others to cope with food shortages. Of the 187 children assessed, 9.6% were wasted, 18.2% were underweight and 34.2% were stunted. Small, but significant associations, were found between food accessibility, diet quality, food insecurity coping strategies; and the nutritional status of evictees. We observed that administrative, quasi-judicial and judicial mechanisms to provide adequate legal remedies regarding violations of the RtAF among evictees in Uganda are in place, but not effective in doing so. Conclusion: Land eviction without adequate legal remedies is a contributor to food insecurity and undernutrition in rural Central Uganda. It is essential that the Government strengthens and enforces the policy and legal environment to ensure adequate and timely compensation of evictees in order to reduce their vulnerability to food insecurity.
Reassessing mid-upper arm circumference thresholds for predicting nutritional status and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant adolescents in Bundibugyo district, Uganda: protocol for a health facility-based prospective cohort study
(BMJ Open; Public health, 2026-08-19) Kikomeko, Peterson Kato; Nahalomo, Aziiza; Murungi, Simon; Kalumba, Mirembe; Kabugho, Evars; Musasizi, Benon
Introduction In 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the world’s highest teenage pregnancy rate of 4.4 per 1000 women compared with the global average of 1.5 per 1000, highlighting the need for accurate nutritional assessment during pregnancy. Current mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) thresholds differ between non-pregnant adolescents (18.5 cm) and pregnant adolescents (23 cm) as per the Uganda Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition guidelines. This classification can lead to inadequate treatment and mislabelling of adolescents as non-responders, despite nutritional improvements. This study will reassess MUAC thresholds for predicting nutritional status and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant adolescents in Bundibugyo District, Uganda. Methods and analysis This health facility-based prospective cohort study will target 241 pregnant women comprising 121 pregnant adolescents (10–19 years) and 120 adults (20–49 years) in their first trimester (≤12 weeks of gestation) receiving antenatal care (ANC) at Bundibugyo General Hospital and Bupomboli Health Centre III in Bundibugyo District, Uganda. Recruitment of study participants will commence in June 2026 and participants will be followed up for 6–9 months during routine ANC visits until delivery. Quantitative data will be collected through questionnaires and from patients’ hospital records during routine ANC visits. The study primary outcomes are maternal gestational weight gain and maternal haemoglobin status. Secondary outcomes include pregnancy outcomes (birth weight, gestational age at delivery, preterm birth, small for gestational age status, maternal pregnancy complications and mode of delivery). The main explanatory variable is MUAC assessed as baseline MUAC, repeated MUAC measurements during subsequent ANC visits and the rate of MUAC change across gestation. Receiver operating characteristic analyses and internal bootstrap validation will be used to derive and internally evaluate study-derived adolescent-specific MUAC thresholds. Qualitative data from 10 to 12 key informants will be obtained once through key informant interviews and triangulated with the quantitative findings to explain and contextualise the results. Ethics and dissemination Kyambogo University Research Ethics Committee (KyU-REC-2025-43) and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (HS7233ES) have approved this study protocol. Local administrative clearance has been sought from the Bundibugyo District Health Office and from Bundibugyo General Hospital and Bupomboli Health Centre III. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and summaries will be shared with the Bundibugyo District Health Office, participating health facility in-charges, ANC units and study participants.
Retrogressive or misplaced priorities? An assessment of public expenditure for food security and disaster risk reduction in Uganda
(International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 2025-06-16) Tushabe, Gerald; Rukundo, Peter Milton; Kaaya, Archileo Natigo; Nahalomo, Aziiza; Nateme, Nancy Catherine; Iversen, Per Ole; Andreassen, Bard Anders; Rukooko, Archangel Byaruhanga
The article argues that a rights-based approach to public investment and expenditure in agriculture and disaster risk management is a viable pathway for Uganda to realise the right to adequate food and sustainable development in line with the government’s national and international human rights commitments. This study employed a qualitative research paradigm to examine both primary and secondary data on public investment and expenditure in food security and disaster risk reduction in Uganda. Fifty-six key informant interviews were conducted with purposively selected officials at national and Local Government levels. Data and insights obtained were analysed using thematic and rights-based budget analyses. There is minimal application of rights-based approach principles in the budgeting for food security or disaster risk reduction in Uganda. Public expenditure in the agriculture sector and disaster risk management is inadequate to meet the increasing disasters in the country or to effectively protect the right to adequate food of vulnerable communities in disaster-prone regions. As a State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Uganda is obligated to protect and fulfil the right to adequate food for vulnerable communities in the event of disasters. This will require increased public and private investment in the agriculture sector and strengthening the disaster risk financing mechanisms at both national and Local Government levels.