Connect with us

Health

Research findings show that Iron levels of blood donors in Uganda are low

Published

on

Makerere University researchers have released research findings showing that some blood donors in Uganda have low iron levels,low iron stores are common in blood donors, and that the donors who are deferred for low blood levels have limited insight into their situation. The findings were presented at a research dissemination workshop held on the 15th November 2022 at Makerere University College of Health Sciences.

In his remarks, Dr. Aggrey Dhabangi, Principal Investigator (PI) of the study explained that lack of iron may result in anaemia, which in turn makes blood donors ineligible to donate. ‘Other complications arising from low iron include, fatigue, low energy, and depression’, he added.

Statistics show that Uganda collects about 300,000 blood donations per year which is below the WHO recommended target of one donation per 100 population per year. As such, more donations are needed to increase blood supply. However, 10% of potential donors are turned away (deferred), 25% of these are due to low blood levels (anaemia); these missed donations may further exacerbate blood shortages in the country. Thresholds for eligibility to donate are 12.5g/dL and 13.5 g/dL for women and men respectively.

A total of 500 donors were involved in the cross-sectional study conducted within the central region blood collection sites of the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS). The key findings of the study included:

  • The results showed that, of all potential donors screened to donate, 20.6 % had low iron stores. Among donors with blood levels acceptable to donate, 11.5% had low iron stores, while among those already turned away from donating for low blood levels, 61.5% also had had low iron.
  • The prevalence of low iron stores was higher among females (33.0%) compared to males (2.5%), but even higher among younger females i.e., 24 years and below (35.4%).
  • Further analysis revealed that, NOT eating an“iron-rich” diet was a major factor linked to low storesamong blood donors.
  • Interviews with donors turned away from donating for low blood levels revealed that many did not receive sufficient explanations as to why they were turned away, and what they were told was sometimes confusing to them.
  • Although the majority were surprised to be found with low blood levels and seemed frustrated for being turned away; deferral for low blood levels was generally poorly understood. Some interpreted it to mean, they had just ‘enough blood for themselves, but not enough to donate’. Others took the issue very lightly, yet their iron measurements have shown that 61.5% of these individuals besides being low on blood, they also had low iron.

The researchers gave the following recommendations:

  • Dietary (Iron-rich diet):Action – The population should be encouraged to adopt healthy eating lifestyle/diet which is iron-rich.Foods like leafy greens (bbugga, dodo, nakati), liver, beef, beans among others should be included in diets.
  • Behavioural change communicationon nutrition should be instituted to get the populations to change their diets and eating habits.
  • Consider Iron supplements for the population to repleteiron stores. The UBTS/Ministry of Health can offer iron pills to the affected donors. In the past this was done.
  • Identify donors at risk of Iron Deficiency through screening to identify affected persons early enough for interventions.
  • Improved communication is necessary for better handling of blood donors; the capacity of UBTS staff should be built; produce IEC materials for deferred donors: anaemia treatment, and prevention
  • Referral – to physicians for work-up and further management of anaemia

This study was made possible through collaboration between Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Uganda Blood Transfusion Services. Funding support was provided by the Government of the Republic of Uganda, through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) – Round 3, financial year 2021/22.

Research Team: Dr. Aggrey Dhabangi (Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PIs Dr. Godfrey Siu, Dr. Ronald Ssenyonga, Dr. Susan Acan, Mrs. Dorothy Kyeyune, and Dr. Imelda Bates.

Health

MNCH e-Post Issue 122: Integrated Intervention Package Increases Health Facility Births – New Study

Published

on

Pregnant woman with midwife. Photo by Iwaria Inc. on Unsplash

By Joseph Odoi

In a significant stride towards improving maternal healthcare outcomes, a recent study conducted by researchers has shown that an integrated intervention consisting of peer support, mobile phone messaging, and provision of mama kits at the household level is successful in increasing the proportion of facility-based births. This groundbreaking research comes at a time when Uganda is still grappling with a very high maternal mortality ratio estimated at 336 deaths per 100,000 live births and neonatal mortality rate also at 22/1000 live births.

In the 2024 BMJ Published study titled “Can an integrated intervention package including peer support increase the proportion of health facility births? A cluster randomized controlled trial in Northern Uganda by researchers namely;  Dr. Victoria Nankabirwa and a team including David Mukunya, Grace Ndeezi, Beatrice Odongkara, Agnes A Arach, Vicentina Achora, Levi Mugenyi, Mohammad Boy Sebit, Julius N Wandabwa, Paul Waako, Thorkild Tylleskär, and James K Tumwine, sought to evaluate the effect of the integrated intervention package on increasing the proportion of health facility births compared to routine government health services. Read More

Click here to View the full MNCH e-Post Issue 122

Continue Reading

Health

CALL for Applications for the SMART4TB Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Scholar Program

Published

on

CALL for Applications for the SMART4TB Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Scholar Program.

SMART4TB Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Scholar Program
Cohort 2 Phase 1 Now Open for Applications
Applications Due March 14 2024
Call for applications

Supporting, Mobilizing, and Accelerating Research for Tuberculosis Elimination (SMART4TB) is an initiative made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to transform TB prevention and care. SMART4TB has launched an important capacity strengthening activity, the Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Training and Mentorship Program. The program’s main objective is to train and support young investigators to develop, implement, and lead their own studies aligned with their national and local TB research priorities.

Investigators within 10 years of receiving their most recent degree or who are new to TB research, based at an institution participating in SMART4TB studies, and supported by their local institutional leadership will be eligible for participation in the program. The program has 4 sequential phases, each with specific eligibility criteria and deliverables required before advancing to the next phase.

Completion of all 4 phases will require the ESI to commit to an intensive training curriculum that includes: 1) Specific courses focused on competencies required for the design, implementation, and analyses of TB research 2) Close 2:1 mentorship from both a local and a SMART4TB faculty research mentor; and 3) Access to technical support consultations from SMART4TB experts.

Progress from one Phase of training to the next Phase will be a competitive process and is not guaranteed. ESI who successfully complete all Phase 1 requirements (Scholars Program) will be eligible to apply and compete for Phase 2 (Fellowship Program). Phase 2 applicants that are approved by SMART4TB and USAID will be required to identify a local senior research mentor. ESI enrolled in Phase 2 will also be matched with a SMART4TB faculty co-mentor. The SMART4TB Training and Mentorship Committee (TMC) will monitor the ESI’s progress throughout the program and assess the quality of the training and mentorship provided to the ESI. In Phase 2, each SMART4TB Fellow will be mentored to develop a full research proposal for which they will serve as lead investigator. ESIs who receive approval and support to initiate their research project can apply for Phase 3 and Phase 4 of the program.

Prerequisite
Phase 1 Eligibility and Application Process ESI interested in applying for Phase 1 of this program must meet the following criteria:

  • Having a PhD as the most recent degree or are new to TB research; and
  • Be from a National TB Program (NTP) or institution/site participating in SMART4TB
  • USAID-approved studies; and
  • Have a letter of support from their local SMART4TB site/institutional leadership (signed on institutional letterhead).

All applications will be reviewed by the SMART4TB ESI Mentorship Advisory Committee. Final selection of Phase 1 participants will require USAID approval. Selected ESI will be notified by email.

The Secretariat, SMART4TB Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Scholar Program Walimu
Unit 4, Plot 5-7, Coral Crescent
P.O Box 9924 Kampala-Uganda
Deadline for receiving applications: 14th March 2014 by 5pm.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Additional information
To apply for Phase 1 of this program,
please click: https://jhmi.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0NiIqASiPJ92GRE
For details about the Phase 1 curriculum and the progress report from the first Cohort, please see the attachments.

For an overview of SMART4TB,
please click here: https://tbcenter.jhu.edu/smart4tb/
For more information about SMART4TB Capacity Strengthening Activities,
please click: https://tbcenter.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/TA6 Overview.pdf

Continue Reading

Health

Makerere University Research shows challenges facing Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) with Chronic Disease in Northern Uganda

Published

on

Left to Right: Dr. Esther Nanfuka Kalule, a postdoc fellow on this study; Emma Ikwara, a researcher at CHDC; PhD student Onesmus Kamacooko at CHDC and Dr. Ritah Nakanjako interacting after the colloquium.

By Agnes Namaganda

Preliminary findings from a study by Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC) -Makerere University have revealed several challenges faced by Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) with chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. This study is specifically looking at FDPs in northern Uganda. Accessing food, water, medicine, clothing, toilet facilities, privacy and support is a challenge for healthy FDPs but for those with chronic diseases, these provisions may mean the difference between life and death.

According to Drs, Ritah Nakanjako and Esther Nanfuka Kalule, who are post-doc fellows at Makerere University, FDPs with chronic diseases are unable to access facilities with medicines. Speaking at the February monthly colloquium of CHDC, Dr. Nanfuka said, “Medicines and medical forms are sometimes forgotten by these patients yet some do not know the names of their medicines. For others, these medicines get finished along the way due to the abrupt movements.” These disturbances in the continuity of care affects their health and wellbeing.

Left to Right: Dr. Esther Nanfuka, Dr. Ritah Nakanjako, Dr. Godfrey Siu who is giving the presenters feedback about their presentation and Dr. Aggrey Dhabangi.
Left to Right: Dr. Esther Nanfuka, Dr. Ritah Nakanjako, Dr. Godfrey Siu who is giving the presenters feedback about their presentation and Dr. Aggrey Dhabangi.

As an example, she referred to the constant need to monitor blood pressure or blood sugar for these FDPs. “Even when facilities are available, you may not have the money to refill medicines or you may not remember the name of the medicine.” She added that the stress and trauma of this kind of situation usually exacerbates these conditions.

Speaking about the rationale for doing this research, Dr. Nakanjako said that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are largely unrecognized and inadequately addressed in humanitarian settings, something which the Red Cross calls ‘a neglected crisis’.  Yet, studies conducted among refugees and asylum seekers across the world report a high burden of NCDs. Uganda hosts over 1.5m refugees, the highest proportion in sub-Saharan Africa with the majority comeing from South Sydan.

“The objective of this study is to examine the experiences of FDPs- which will contribute to knowledge on innovative ways of chronic disease care. This will also contribute to the management of NCDs in humanitarian, low resource settings,” Dr. Nakanjako explained.

Dr. Godfrey Siu (Left) and Dr. David Kyaddondo who is the Principal Investigator of this project interacting with other members of CHDC after the CHDC monthly colloquium which takes place every last Wednesday of the month.
Dr. Godfrey Siu (Left) and Dr. David Kyaddondo who is the Principal Investigator of this project interacting with other members of CHDC after the CHDC monthly colloquium which takes place every last Wednesday of the month.

This 5-year study that started in 2022 will run till 2026 and is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation under the Mobility-Global Medicine and Research Fund. It is a collaboration between three institutions; Makerere University, the University of Copenhagen, Denmark and the Sudan Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies in South Sudan. This research is taking place in Nyumanzi Reception Center in Adjumani district; Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement also in Adjumani district; IDP Settlements in South Sudan; and the Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe District.

Other challenges revealed by the FDPs with chronic diseases include the fear of drinking recommended amounts of water before or during travel to manage urine and to avoid stop-overs for security reasons.

After arrival at Nyumanzi Reception Centre in Uganda, these FDPs with chronic diseases do not receive any special care. It is only those with communicable diseases like TB. Cholera or Covid19 that get special care. Other challenges include; “a limited range of drugs, maintenance of cold chains for insulin, rationed water, lack of drinking water, lack of sanitary facilities and the congestion.

Continue Reading

Trending