Disabilities: incomplete immunisation can be a danger to your child

Causes of disability. The main causes of physical disability are polio (67 per cent); birth defects (37 per cent) and accidents 35. Interestingly; there are fewer diasabled girls than boys (females:males 29:43; 1:1.5). It is not clear if this is an artifact as a result of any gender-based difference in risk; or an issue of selective survival (Schepes-Hughes; 1991). There are relatively few disabled children below the age of five years (22 per cent); the major cause of disability is polio even among these young children (69 per cent). The target proportion of disabled children by age is 10-14 year old group (49 per cent) which reflects the cumulative risk of polio and accidents over time

Environmental risk factors for acute respiratory infections among children of military personnel in Uganda

A Community-based; cross-sectional survey was done in five Army Camps in the Central Areas of Uganda to explore relationships between environmental household conditions and the presence or absence of acute respiratory infections. A total sample of 122 homes with 152 children of both sexes were studied. Each child was medically examined and diagnosis recorded. A check - list was filled out for each household that had at least one child aged 5 years or less; the list recorded conditions of crowding; roofing materials; house ventilation; cooking fuels and cooking place; family income and immunization status. Cross-tabulation tables were prepared and Chi-square values calculated for the various forms of ARI and environmental characteristics. Significance level was put at 5(p=0.05). Using standard tables; significant associations were found between ARI diagnosed at the examination of a child and the following: number of persons per house (p

Research on Diarrhoea in Uganda: Activities and GAPS

Introduction: The Ugandan CDD Programme was initiated in 1984. Since that time; a number of studies have been conducted at national local levels addressing different aspects of childhood diarrhoea. Despite the range of these studies; there is no central organised catalogue of the CDD studies and their findings. As a result of lacking an organised data base; there has been reduplication of some activities while other aspects have hardly been studied. Objectives: A joint CDD Programme/CHDC meeting in 1992 called for a study to review completed research on childhood diarrhoea; make an annotated bibliography and recommend research in aspects of childhood diarrhoea found lacking. Methods: A total of 29 reports on completed diarrhoea-related research conducted in Uganda between 1984 and 1992 were qualitatively reviewed. Information was extracted from the reports using pre-selected key questions. Results: Most studies had been carried out in the districts of Hoima; Kampala; Mbarara and Maindi. Little or no research has been done in the samll and remote districts e.g. Bundibugyo; Kapchorwa; Kisoro and the north and north-eastern part of the country. The most studied aspects of childhood diarrhoea were a) mother's knowledge of causes of diarrhoea b) maternal awareness and knowledge of preparation of ORS c) incidence of acute diarrhoea; and d) factors associated with a high incidence of dirrhoea. Studies of health provider management of diarrhoea have been limited to unit-based health workers and traditional healers. Management of diarrhoea by private practitioners and shop owners has hardly been studied. Despite frequent expression of concern about diarrhoea related deaths; there were no reports available documenting diarrhoeal diseases mortality. There were no interventional studies to assess the impact of related programmes on the incidence of diarrhoea; e.g. EPI; nutrition; water safety and availability; construction and use of latrines. Although discripancies were described between the knowledge of health workers and mothers on some aspects of diarrhoea; no study documented observation of health education sessions or made a critical analysis of health education materials. Different home available fluids were recommended for a child suffering from diarrhoea in different ethnic areas. Actual use of these fluids during diarrhoea was not observed; neither was the rationale for use determined. Conclusion: Considerable research has been done on diarrhoea particularly about maternal knowledge and practices for diarrhoea in their children. At the same time; a critical analysis of the achieved research has identified information gaps; especially regarding impact assessements; qualitative aspects of health education; and levels of diarrhoea mortality

Family and Household Spending Patterns for Health Care

Background: Prior to national implementation of a cost-sharing policy at all government health care facilities; envisaged for May 1990; the inter-ministerial National Task Force on health financing (NTFHF) determined that baseline research was needed on the existing patterns of consumer demand and spending for various types of health care. Objectives: The study was to establish baseline data of demand for service before the introduction of user charges in order to later monitor their impact on demand for and use of the services; as well as to predict the likelihood of generating the desired funds. More specifically; it would gather background information about treatment resources and health care spending patterns; as well as household utilization of normal and informal health sector

Socio-Economic Influences on the Health and Rehabilitation of Physically Handicapped Rural Children

Background: The study was stimulated by a lack of information about the effects of social and economic factors on the needs of disabled children; especially those among the population residing in rural areas where access to care is limited. Objectives: The major objective of the study was to identify the nature and intensity of health vulnerability among physically handicapped rural children. It was thought possible that certain identifiable factors might be associated with increased risks of the handicapped children; for example: family structure and size; transportation and access to health services; family health practices; traditional beliefs and community attitudes about health care and rehabilitation of the physically handicapped children

"Appropriate Health Transport in Rural Africa: A Case Study of ""ENGOZI"" in South Western Uganda."

"Bsckground: The study was carried out in the mountains South Western part of Uganda. The residents are predominantly agricultural subsistence farmers. Lack of transport is a serious problem in this area; the road network is poor and very few vehicles are available. The transport problems are coupled with minimal economic activities and lack of cash. In an effort to respond to these problems; a local solution has been the ""ENGOZI"" or basket stretcher for carrying patients. Objectives: This study was undertaken in order to ""examine a system of health transport that utilises appropriate technology and is affordable to the community""."