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Hypertension is an important contributor to global burden of disease and mortality, and is a growing public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. However, most sub-Saharan African countries lack detailed countrywide data on hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors that would provide benchmark information for design of appropriate interventions. We analyzed blood pressure data from Uganda's nationwide NCD risk factor survey conducted in 2014, to describe the prevalence and distribution of hypertension in the Ugandan population, and to identify the associated factors. The NCD risk factor survey drew a countrywide sample stratified by the four regions of the country, and with separate estimates for rural and urban areas. The World Health Organization's STEPs tool was used to collect data on demographic and behavioral characteristics, and physical and biochemical measurements. Prevalence rate ratios (PRR) using modified Poison regression modelling was used to identify factors associated with hypertension. Of the 3906 participants, 1033 were classified as hypertensive, giving an overall prevalence of 26.4%. Prevalence was highest in the central region at 28.5%, followed by the eastern region at 26.4%, western region at 26.3%, and northern region at 23.3%. Prevalence in urban areas was 28.9%, and 25.8% in rural areas. The differences between regions, and between rural-urban areas were not statistically significant. Only 7.7% of participants with hypertension were aware of their high blood pressure. The prevalence of pre-hypertension was also high at 36.9%. The only modifiable factor found to be associated with hypertension was higher body mass index (BMI). Compared to participants with BMI less than 25 kg/m2, prevalence was significantly higher among participants with BMI between 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 with an adjusted PRR = 1.46 [95% CI = 1.25-1.71], and even higher among obese participants (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) with an adjusted PRR = 1.60 [95% CI = 1.29-1.99]. The un-modifiable factor found to be associated with hypertension was older age with an adjusted PRR of 1.02 [95% CI = 1.02-1.03] per yearly increase in age. The prevalence of hypertension in Uganda is high, with no significant differences in distribution by geographical location. Only 7.7% of persons with hypertension were aware of their hypertension, indicating a high burden of undiagnosed and un-controlled high blood pressure. Thus a big percentage of persons with hypertension are at high risk of hypertension-related cardiovascular NCDs.

The feeding and caring practices of infants and young children are critical to children’s nutrition status and development milestones. Most nutrition studies have focused on unfavorable factors that contribute to malnutrition rather than favorable factors that promote good nutrition status among children. This study aimed at identifying predictors of normal nutrition status among children aged 6–24 months in Gulu District, Northern Uganda. A matched case-control study was conducted on a sample of 300 (i.e., 100 cases and 200 controls) purposively selected children during October–December 2021. Controls were children that had normal nutrition status, whereas cases with undernourished children had at least one type of undernutrition. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of good nutrition status using odds ratios (ORs). The mean age of the cases and controls was 15 months (SD ± 6) and 13 months (SD ± 5), respectively. At multivariable analysis, breastfeeding in the first hour of the child’s life (AOR = 3.31 95% CI. 1.52–7.23), use of family planning (AOR = 2.21 95% CI. 1.25–3.90), number of under-fives in the household (AOR = 0.31 95% CI. 0.13–0.73) and hand washing with soap (AOR = 3.63 95% CI. 1.76–7.49) were significantly independently associated with a child’s good nutrition status. Interventions that can improve children’s nutrition status include breastfeeding in the first hour of child’s life, use of family planning methods, child spacing and hand washing with soap.

Little is known about how the use of supplementary foods in the management of children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is perceived by mothers, as well as the barriers they face while using it in Uganda. This study determined maternal perceptions and barriers experienced during the management of children aged 6 to 23 months diagnosed with MAM using either a malted sorghum‐based porridge (MSBP) or fortified corn soy blend (CSB+) as a supplementary porridge. Twelve focus groups and 48 in‐depth interviews were conducted among purposively sampled mothers a week after completing a 3‐month cluster randomised control trial with the two supplementary porridges for the management of their children with MAM in a rural setting of Arua district. All mothers who participated in the trial were eligible for inclusion. Mothers perceived both supplementary porridges as contributing towards weight gain, reducing the prevalence of illness, improving appetite, a healthy skin and improving active play. Barriers to using the supplementary porridges were a lack of time for feeding children due to household chores, maternal hunger as a result of household food insecurity and a lack of social household and community support. Therefore, maternal barriers should be addressed in an attempt to reap maximum benefits from supplementary food interventions for the management of children with MAM, by sensitising household members to the time required to conduct household chores and measure to address food insecurity.

Background/ObjectivesAdequate dietary intake for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is central in preventing or delaying onset of diabetes related complications. This study used dietary serving scores (DSS) to determine the adequacy of dietary intake and associated factors among patients with T2DM in Kampala.Subjects/MethodsA facility based cross-sectional study among adult T2DM patients attending diabetes clinics attached to health care facilities in Kampala was conducted. Semi structured demographic and 7-day Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) were used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, environmental factors and dietary intake respectively. Dietary intake was computed using Dietary Serving Scores (DSS) and was grouped into two: “adequate dietary intake (DSS of 78 and above)” and “inadequate dietary intake (DSS below 78)”. Multiple linear regression was used to assess correlates of dietary intake.ResultsOut of the 400 participants, only 49 (12.25%; 95% CI: 9.04, 15.46) were classified as having adequate dietary intake. After adjusting for potential confounders, unmarried individuals (β = −2.367; p = 0.024) and those who are salaried (β = −3.162; p = 0.012) or self-employed (β = −4.214; p = 0.001) had significantly lower mean DSS compared to their respective counterparts. T2DM patients who attended Nsambya hospital diabetes clinic had significantly higher mean DSS (β = 3.698; p = 0.022) compared to those who receive treatment in Lubaga hospital.ConclusionsThe prevalence of adequate dietary intake among patients with T2DM attending health facilities in Kampala is very low. More efforts are needed to educate patients on better dietary choices aligned with disease management.

Background Hypertension is an important contributor to global burden of disease and mortality, and is a growing public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. However, most sub-Saharan African countries lack detailed countrywide data on hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors that would provide benchmark information for design of appropriate interventions. We analyzed blood pressure data from Uganda's nationwide NCD risk factor survey conducted in 2014, to describe the prevalence and distribution of hypertension in the Ugandan population, and to identify the associated factors. Methods The NCD risk factor survey drew a countrywide sample stratified by the four regions of the country, and with separate estimates for rural and urban areas. The World Health Organization's STEPs tool was used to collect data on demographic and behavioral characteristics, and physical and biochemical measurements. Prevalence rate ratios (PRR) using modified Poison regression modelling was used to identify factors associated with hypertension. Results Of the 3906 participants, 1033 were classified as hypertensive, giving an overall prevalence of 26.4%. Prevalence was highest in the central region at 28.5%, followed by the eastern region at 26.4%, western region at 26.3%, and northern region at 23.3%. Prevalence in urban areas was 28.9%, and 25.8% in rural areas. The differences between regions, and between rural-urban areas were not statistically significant. Only 7.7% of participants with hypertension were aware of their high blood pressure. The prevalence of pre-hypertension was also high at 36.9%. The only modifiable factor found to be associated with hypertension was higher body mass index (BMI). Compared to participants with BMI less than 25 kg/m2, prevalence was significantly higher among participants with BMI between 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 with an adjusted PRR = 1.46 [95% CI = 1.25-1.71], and even higher among obese participants (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2) with an adjusted PRR = 1.60 [95% CI = 1.29-1.99]. The un-modifiable factor found to be associated with hypertension was older age with an adjusted PRR of 1.02 [95% CI = 1.02-1.03] per yearly increase in age. Conclusions The prevalence of hypertension in Uganda is high, with no significant differences in distribution by geographical location. Only 7.7% of persons with hypertension were aware of their hypertension, indicating a high burden of undiagnosed and un-controlled high blood pressure. Thus a big percentage of persons with hypertension are at high risk of hypertension-related cardiovascular NCDs.