African Health Sciences Makerere University Medical School ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1729-0503 Vol. 9, Num. s1, 2009, pp. S1

African Health Sciences, Vol. 9, Special Issue 1, Aug, 2009, pp. S1

Editor's choice

James K Tumwine

Professor and Editor in Chief

Code Number: hs09022

In this special issue of African Health Sciences, we bring you peer reviewed articles which were presented at the Makerere Faculty of Medicine Annual Scientific Conference held in Munyonyo Kampala in September 2009. This is an important landmark for African Health Sciences because the special issue also coincides with the launch of The Makerere College of Health Sciences.

I n a pilot study of psychological distress and adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the authors found that psychological distress and living in isolation were significantly associated with non adherence to HAART. Keeping with the theme of non adherence to therapy, Amuha and others report a high prevalence (one in four) of non adherence to anti TB drugs in Mbarara hospital. Being on the continuous phase of anti TB treatment was significantly as associated with non adherence.

Of late there has been a lot of talk about traditional healers in Uganda and the news has not been very good: many being accused of uncouth behavior and involvement in antisocial practices. In her study on the prevalence and severity of mental illness handled by traditional healers in Jinja and Iganga district in Uganda found that a walloping 60% of the respondents had diagnosable current mental l illness. The majority had moderate to severe symptoms. The authors advocate for collaboration and cooperation between traditional healers and mental health professionals. Allen Meeme and Hannington Kasozi report on the effect of glycemic control on glomerular filtration rate in diabetes mellitus patients. They observed that glycaemic control lowers the GFR. Implications of these findings are not clear but we need further studies into the pathogenesis and evolution of diabetic nephropathy in Uganda.

Of late the failure of the Ugandan health system to stem the tide of maternal deaths has reached feverish pitch. Maternal mortality ratios are static and there has been a flurry of activity and efforts to try and improve the situation. In their study of the use of the partogram during labour in Rujumbura health sub district in Rukungir southwest Uganda, Ogwang and others found that the partograph was used in 70% of 1600 deliveries. None the less at health centre III, 60% of the staff never used the partograph to monitor progress of labour. Staff felt perceived the partograph being too cumbersome to use, and many claimed they did not have enough copies in stock. There is urgent need to support the lower health units to anticipate and mange conditions likely to endanger maternal and newborn lives.

Nakigudde reports on the adaptation of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support in a Ugandan setting. They conclude that it can be reliably used in Uganda. The final paper by Cheruiyot reports results of in vitro antibacterial activity of selected medicinal plants from Boet district in Kenya.

In our next special isseu we shall look at Equity in health (issue 2) and climate and health (issue 3). You can still send us your contributions on climate change and health. Finally I wish to appeal to all our authors to try and submit their manuscripts online: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/mums-ahs and not send us diskettes!

If you have any problem you can contact the secretariat atthe the following emails: pic@infocom.co.ug

References

1. Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu, Brian Mutamba, Makanga Othengo, Seggane Musisi. Psychological distress and adherence to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in Uganda: A pilot study. African Health Sciences 2009; 9(S2): 2-7 [BIOLINE]
2. Monica G Amuha, Paul Kutyabami, Freddy E Kitutu, Richard Odoi-Adome, Joan N Kalyango. Non-adherence to anti-TB drugs among TB/HIV co-infected patients in Mbarara Hospital Uganda: Prevalence and associated factors. African Health Sciences 2009; 9(S2): 8-15 [BIOLINE]
3. Catherine Abbo, Solvig Ekblad, Paul Waako, Elialilia Okello, Seggane Musisi. The prevalence and severity of mental illnesses handled by traditional healers in two districts in Uganda. African Health Sciences 2009; 9(S2): 16-22 [BIOLINE]
4. Allen Meeme, Hannington Kasozi. Effect of glycaemic control on glomerular filtration rate in Diabetes Mellitus patientsAfrican Health Sciences 2009; 9(S2):23-26 [BIOLINE]
5. Simon Ogwang, Zepher Karyabakabo, Elizeus Rutebemberwa. Assessment of partogram use during labour in Rujumbura Health Sub District, Rukungiri District, UgandaAfrican Health Sciences 2009; 9(S2): 27-34 [BIOLINE]
6. Janet Nakigudde, Seggane Musisi, Anna Ehnvall, Eija Airaksinen, Hans AgrenAdaptation of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support in a Ugandan setting. African Health Sciences 2009; 9(S): 35-41 [BIOLINE]
7. Cheruiyot K. R, Olila D, Kateregga J. In-vitro antibacterial activity of selected medicinal plants from Longisa region of Bomet district, Kenya. African Health Sciences 2009; 9(S): 42-46 [BIOLINE]

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