Browsing by Author "Tusuubira, Sharifu K"

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Knowledge, perception and practices towards sickle cell disease:
(BMC Public Health, 2018) Tusuubira, Sharifu K; Nakayinga, Ritah; Mwambi, Bashir; Odda, John; Kiconco, Sylvia; Komuhangi, Alimah
Background: Worldwide, the burden of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has not been amply addressed. In Africa, Uganda has the 5th highest burden, a situation aggravated by limited and inaccessible formal social support structures to aid patients and families cope better with the psychosocial burden of SCD. In addition, this has been coupled with stigmatization and discrimination of people living with sickle cell disease-causing isolation from family and society. Method: This cross-sectional study, therefore, set out to determine the attitudes, perception and level of awareness towards Sickle Cell disease in Ugandan communities. The study used an interviewer administered questionnaires to collect the data. Results: Out of 110 people sampled; 91.2% of the respondents had ever heard of SCD with the highest proportion 38.7% hearing of SCD from friends and family. Close to half of the respondents 48% knew that SCD is inherited, however a large proportion 44.2% did not know the cause of SCD. However, 68.7% of the respondents said they cannot marry a person with SCD. Conclusion: The study results indicate that more effort needs to be done to promote sickle cell awareness in Uganda communities with an emphasis on the inclusion of sickle cell in health education campaigns.
To test or not: occurrence of sickle cell trait and assessment of the awareness toward its screening among patients attending Magale Health Center IV, Namisindwa District, Eastern Uganda
(Dove Press, 2018-11-21) Mandu, Keneth; Tusuubira, Sharifu K; Mwambi, Bashir; Webbo, Fred; Atuhairwe, Christine; Taremwa, Ivan Mugisha
Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence of sickle cell trait (SCT), assess patient awareness and evaluate the performance of a sickle cell hemoglobin-S (dithionate-qualitative solubility) point- of-care test among patients seeking care at Magale Health Center IV, Namisindwa District, Eastern Uganda. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, in which we consecutively enrolled participants aged ≥18 years at Magale Health Center IV. Four millilitres of EDTA blood were collected by venipuncture and screened for SCT using solubility testing, and confirmed with hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis at Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), Kampala, Uganda. A structured questionnaire was used to assess participants’ awareness of SCT. Data were presented as proportion, and measurements of diagnostic test performance were calculated. Results: We enrolled 242 participants, of these 58.7% (N = 142) were females. Their mean age was 26.4 years (range 18–49). Of the 242 participants, 11, who represent 4.5% (95% CI: 3.3–5.9), tested positive. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the rapid sickle cell test were 63.64%, 100%, 100% and 98.30%, respectively. There was a knowledge gap regarding sickle cell awareness. Conclusion: The occurrence of SCT was high, and the point-of-care test showed high diagnostic reliability. The risk of SCT is associated with genetic predisposition as indicated by Hb electrophoresis. Community sensitization is key to avert the associated risk of Hb defects.