Health

A New Study Reveals that Children with Cerebral Palsy have 25 Times Higher Risk Of Premature Death

Published

5 years ago

December 22, 2020

Child with Cerebral palsy with severe motor impairment in a wheel chair, occupational therapist is on his left and caregiver is on his right demonstrating to the therapist what the child is able to do with his right hand

The largest study on Cerebral palsy in Africa to date reveals that interventions to prevent malaria infections such as the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, coupled with caregiver training and support, including best feeding practices and simple measures to prevent other infections, could potentially reduce mortality in children with Cerebral palsy in this region. The study found out that the main causes of death were malaria and aneamia. The children with severe malnutrition and severe motor impairments were the most likely to die.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a developmental disorder and the most common cause of childhood physical disability globally. CP is significantly more prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries like Uganda where the researchers noted a lower prevalence in the older (8-17 years) than younger (2-7 years) age groups as demonstrated in the findings of an earlier study conducted in 2015. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(17)30374-1/fulltext

The decline in prevalence of children with CP with increasing age in the 2015 study, led the researchers to hypothesize about the risk of premature death in these children.

In order to get a better understanding of the situation, a follow-up study was carried out at the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (IM-HDSS) in eastern Uganda. Earlier in 2015, the researchers had screened 31,756 children and identified 97 (aged 2–17 years) who were diagnosed as having CP. The children with CP were followed up to 2019 and compared with an age-matched sample of the IM-HDSS general non-CP population (n=41, 319). The rates and causes of deaths in these groups were determined.

The research team found that the rate of death was 25 times higher in the CP group than the general non-CP population sample. The mean age at death among the CP group was 10•2±5•9 years and 7•2±4•8 years among the general non-CP population sample. In the CP group, females and older children (10-18 years) had higher relative risks of death in relation to the non-CP general population. Significantly, in children with CP, there was an almost 7 times risk of death in those with severe motor impairments compared to those with milder ones. In addition, those with severe malnutrition had a more than 3 times higher risk of death than children without severe malnutrition. The causes of death were from common conditions like anemia, malaria and common infections.

The results of this study, are the first of its kind to reveal the true extent of the hidden humanitarian crisis of excessive mortality in the CP child population. Severe malnutrition as one of the risk factors of excessive mortality plays a dynamic multifaceted role, partly aggravated by severe oral motor impairments which lead to chewing and swallowing problems, and the need for special foods and prolonged feeding times. Furthermore, the age pattern for mortality in children with CP confirms this study’s hypothesis with many dying when approaching school age, compared to the non-CP general population. The probable reasons for this may be attributed to caregivers eventually losing hope as these children grow older when they realize that their child will not be cured, or alternatively as a result of the minimal time provided to the child with increasing age (including during supervised feedings), which increases their vulnerability.

The higher mortality among the females may suggest a preferential treatment of boys with CP in Uganda which needs further study. Finally, regarding the causes of death, the frequent occurrence of anemia as a cause of death may signify the interplay of the conditions of underlying malaria infections and severe malnutrition in severely impaired children with feeding problems.

A multipronged approach including raising awareness about this challenge should be emphasized locally and internationally to promote the development of appropriate health and advocacy policies. Although efforts to reduce child mortality are quite evident in the recent decades, targeted interventions to reduce mortality in the CP child population, such as the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria infections, provision of easy to use, locally available nutritious foods coupled with caregiver information and support should be encouraged. Reinforcement and regular review of the existing laws and policies related to their specific requirements should be enacted. In general, further research to identify long-term risk factors and immediate causes of death in children with developmental disabilities in the region is also urgently required

These findings are to be formally published in the journal ‘PLOS ONE’ and entitled: “Excessive premature mortality among children with cerebral palsy in rural Uganda: a longitudinal, population-based study”.

Publication

Excessive premature mortality among children with cerebral palsy in rural Uganda: A longitudinal, population-based study.

Namaganda LH, Almeida R, Kajungu D, Wabwire-Mangen F, Peterson S, Andrews C, et al
PLoS One 2020 ;15(12):e0243948

Related story by collaborators at Karolinska institute here:

https://news.ki.se/children-with-cerebral-palsy-in-rural-uganda-have-25-times-higher-risk-of-premature-death

This study was funded by the Swedish Research Council, and Promobilia.

Dr. Angelina Kakooza – Mwesige
Makerere University, College of Health Sciences
Kampala, UGANDA.
On behalf of the Researchers

Related Topics:health pediatrics Research

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Health

EU Earmarks Shs19.8bn for 15 Joint PhD Scholarships in Health, Environment Research

Published

6 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Zaam Ssali

(L-R) Prof. Stella Neema, Dr Herbert Muyinda, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Prof. Lotte Meinert, Prof. Julius Kikooma, and Dr. Godfrey Siu take a photo moment at Makerere Univerity. HEALENAE (Health and Environment in Africa and Europe) project support to doctoral research examining the complex links between environmental change, climate crises and health outcomes, with a strong focus on Africa Europe comparative perspectives, 27th January 2026 Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC), College of Health Sciences (CHS), and Aarhus University meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Main Building, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

_{By Violet Nabatanzi & Zaam Ssali}

The European Union has earmarked Euros 4,658,684 approximately (Shs19.8 billion) to fully fund 15 PhD scholarships under a new international collaborative research programme that brings together seven universities across Africa and Europe, including Makerere University.

The project, dubbed HEALENAE (Health and Environment in Africa and Europe), will support doctoral research examining the complex links between environmental change, climate crises and health outcomes, with a strong focus on Africa Europe comparative perspectives.

The scholarships are open to anthropologists, social scientists and related humanities scholars who hold an internationally recognised Master’s degree and are interested in pursuing a joint PhD (dual degree).

Dual degrees across continents

Successful candidates will be enrolled at two universities one in Africa and one in Europe and will graduate with a joint or dual PhD degree. The consortium brings together Makerere University, University of Oslo, University of Cape Town, KU Leuven, University of Edinburgh, University of Nairobi, and Aarhus University.

The PhD research areas include:

Metabolic impact: agricultural intensification and health transformations
Climate change migration and care for the elderly.
Toxic layering in a precarious world: environmental harms and well-being.
Livestock and natural resource management: biodiversity and zoonotic diseases.
Epidemics, disease and state formation in Africa.
Climate crisis, youth migration, adaption and associated health outcomes.
Toxicity: urban living in landscapes of extraction.
Gendered cancer epidemics and questions about environments
Infrastructures of toxic evidence and civic protection
Biosecurity: food, health risks and animal disease.
Non Communicable Diseases, environments and questions of repair.
Urban commons: environments, infrastructures, and health.
Youth mental health and gambling epidemics in times of environmental crisis.
Epidemics and natural disasters as ‘business’.
The Frontiers of Vector Borne Disease: Expertise and Response in Africa and Europe.

Dr. Godfrey Siu, the University’s Senior Lecturer and Director of the Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC); Dr. Herbert Muyinda, Senior Lecturer; Prof. Stella Neema from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology; alongside Prof. Lotte Meinert of Aarhus University will jointly supervise the students, together with other PhD supervisors from other collaborating Universities.

On Tuesday, January 27, Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of the Directorate of Graduate Training at Makerere University, Dr Siu, Dr Muyinda, and Prof. Neema alongside Prof. Lotte paid a courtesy visit to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.

Prof. Nawangwe welcomed the funding and commended the EU for its support, noting that the generous contribution reflects the confidence the EU has in Makerere University. He added that the University is working hard to address the loophole previously raised by the EU regarding the implementation of EU-funded grants. The Vice Chancellor congratulated the team and pledged the University’s full support to ensure the project’s successful implementation.

Who should apply

Speaking in an interview, Prof. Lotte said the program is particularly suited for candidates with strong grounding in anthropology, sociology and related social sciences.

Eligible candidates must have an internationally recognised Master’s degree in anthropology or related social sciences and humanities disciplines.

Lotte added that the positions are fully funded for three years, with generous support for fieldwork, coursework, conferences, writing retreats and research training.

Candidates are expected to conduct up to 12 months of fieldwork. They will be enrolled at both universities and are required to spend at least one semester at the partner institution.

A first for Uganda

According to Dr Siu, the HEALENAE model where fifteen joint PhDs are funded under one programme is the first of its kind in Uganda.

Addressing concerns about differing academic expectations across universities, Dr Siu said these are anticipated and manageable.

“While there are some differences, PhD training globally follows a similar structure. For instance, Makerere requires all PhD students to complete mandatory cross-cutting courses, including philosophy of methods, advanced research methods, and scholarly writing and communication skills,” he said.

In addition, students will attend writing retreats and specialised training schools, some of which will be hosted at Makerere University and the University of Nairobi, aimed at sharpening their research and analytical skills.

Prof. Kikooma briefed the team on the structure of the PhD program at Makerere University and provided guidance on how to align the dual program with the University’s framework.

He also pledged his support and expressed optimism that the program offers new opportunities for Makerere University to learn from and strengthen dual programs. The initiative aligns with Makerere’s vision of becoming a research-led university through intensified PhD training.

Application deadline

Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the HEALENAE website for detailed calls and application guidelines. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2026.

The application link is provided below.

https://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/open-and-specific-calls/healenae-project-2

For further information contact: godfrey.siu@mak.ac.ug

Health

Call For Applications: MakNCD Masters and PhD Training Opportunities

Published

1 day ago

February 2, 2026

Zaam Ssali

An aerial photo of the College of Health Sciences (CHS), Makerere University showing Left to Right: The Sir Albert Cook Memorial Library, School of Biomedical Sciences, Davies Lecture Theatre, School of Public Health, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital (MSWNH)-Background Left and Nakasero Hill-Background Right, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

The Makerere University Non-Communicable Disease (MAK-NCD) Research Training Program is a research capacity building program based at Makerere University College of Health Sciences with collaboration at John Hopkins University and funded by the United States National Institute of Health-Fogarty International Centre (D43TW011401). The overall goal of this training program is to develop a comprehensive mentored research-training program in Uganda that will build local capacity to address the challenges of NCD control and management and promote the use of research findings to inform decision-making and policy.

PhD Fellowship

The PhD fellowship support is for up to three (3) years (full-time), subject to annual performance reviews and progress milestones. Successful scholars will be registered at Makerere University and may undertake sponsored didactic research methods training at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU), USA, to receive additional skills development and mentorship in NCD research. This call is targeting mainly junior researchers with interest in building an independent research career in noncommunicable diseases research with focus on Epidemiology, Data Science and Implementation Science research to strengthen evidence-based interventions, policy and control in Uganda.

Masters Fellowship

MakNCD is pleased to invite applications for Master’s level training in the following disciplines: Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Health monitoring and Evaluation. These training opportunities are intended to build a critical mass of professionals equipped with research, leadership, health systems, and management skills relevant to addressing the growing burden of NCDs in low- and middle-income countries.

Application Deadline: 23^rd February 2025; Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

See below for detailed adverts

MakNCD Training Advert_Call for Masters Download

MakNCD Training Advert_Call for PhD_F1 Download

Health

Course Announcement: Certificate in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (CWASH) – 2026

Published

5 days ago

January 29, 2026

Mak Editor

Graduands of the 2025 Certificate Course in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (CWASH) pose for a group photo at the Makerere University School of Public Health, following the successful completion of the short course in July 2025. Makerere University School of Public Health, Mulago Hospital Complex, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) is pleased to announce the Certificate Course in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (CWASH) – 2026.

This intensive and practical short course is designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of professionals involved in the planning, implementation, and management of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services. The programme responds to the growing demand for competent WASH practitioners in local government, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.

Course Highlights

Duration: 8 weeks (01 June – 24 July 2026)
Mode: Day programme (classroom-based learning and field attachment)
Fees:
- UGX 900,000 (Ugandans / East African Community)
- USD 500 (International participants)
Application deadline: Friday, 27 March 2026

Who Should Apply?

Practising officers in the WASH sector
Environmental Health workers seeking Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Applicants with at least UACE (or equivalent) and one year of WASH-related work experience

More Information

Additional details on course structure, modules, and delivery are available at: https://sph.mak.ac.ug/academics/water-sanitation-and-hygiene-wash

Important Note for Applicants

Attached to this announcement, interested persons will find:

The course flier, providing comprehensive programme details, and
The application form, which should be completed and returned to MakSPH together with the required supporting documents.

For full course details, application procedures, and contact information, please carefully review the attached documents. Eligible and interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply before the deadline and take advantage of this opportunity to build practical competence in WASH service delivery.

View on MakSPH

CWASH-2026-Course-Advert Download

CWASH-_application-form-2026 Download

WASH-2026-poster Download