Prevalence and Factors Associated with Syphilis among Mothers with Missed Opportunities for Antenatal Syphilis Testing in Rural Western Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Early prenatal syphilis testing and treatment are essential preventative measures for maternal syphilis and associated adverse pregnancy outcomes of pregnancy; however, data shows that two-thirds of all cases are missed among women who visit prenatal care center at least once but are not tested for syphilis. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with syphilis infection among mothers with missed opportunities for antenatal syphilis testing in rural western Uganda delivered at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH). Methods: A cross-sectional study was done during the period from April 2022 to June 2022. A total of 124 participants had been recruited consecutively from postnatal ward of FRRH. Pretested questionnaires were used to obtain information on data required for analysis. Venous blood sampling (2 ml taken from the forearm using anticoagulant free vacutainer) was done for all mothers who missed opportunity for prenatal syphilis testing using both RPR and TPHA. Descriptive statistics followed by binary logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS version 22.0. Results: The prevalence of syphilis infection was 27 (21.8%). After adjusted analysis, having more than one sexual partners in the past one year was associated with higher odds of syphilis infection (aOR = 24.922, 95% CI: 4.462-139.201, p < 0.001), and staying with the partner was found to be associated with lower odds of syphilis infection (aOR = 0.213, 95% CI: 0.040-1.142, p = 0.050). Conclusions: The study identified high prevalence of syphilis infection among mothers with missed opportunities for antenatal syphilis testing, and this was positively associated with having more than one sexual partners in the past one year and negatively associated with not staying with partner.

Incidence and Factors Associated with Postspinal Headache in Obstetric Mothers Who Underwent Spinal Anesthesia from a Tertiary Hospital in Western Uganda: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The proportion of obstetric mothers reporting postspinal headache (PSH) in Uganda is high. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and factors associated with postspinal headache among obstetric patients who underwent spinal anesthesia during cesarean section at a tertiary hospital in Western Uganda. Methods: A prospective cohort study was done on 274 consecutively enrolled obstetric patients at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FRRH) from August to November 2022. Pretested questionnaires were used to obtain the data needed for analysis. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel version 16, coded, and transported into SPSS version 22 for analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to determine the incidence of postspinal headache. Binary logistic regression was computed to obtain factors associated with postspinal headache. Results: The overall incidence of postspinal headache was 38.3% (95% CI: 32.5-44.4). Factors with higher odds of developing postspinal headache included using cutting needle (aOR 3.206, 95% CI: 1.408-7.299, p=0.006), having a previous history of chronic headache (aOR 3.326, 95% CI: 1.409-7.85, p=0.006), having lost >1500 mls of blood intraoperatively (aOR 6.618, 95% CI: 1.582-27.687, p=0.010), initiation of ambulation >24 h after spinal anesthesia (aOR 2.346, 95% CI: 1.079-5.102, p=0.032), allowing 2-3 drops of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to fall (aOR 3.278, 95% CI: 1.263-8.510, p=0.015), undergoing 2 puncture attempts (aOR 7.765, 95% CI: 3.48-17.326, p ≤ 0.001), 3 puncture attempts (aOR 27.61, 95% CI: 7.671-99.377, p ≤ 0.001) and >3 puncture attempts (aOR 20.17, 95% CI: 1.614-155.635, p=0.004), those prescribed weak opioids (aOR 20.745, 95% CI: 2.964-145.212, p=0.002), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with nonopioids (aOR 6.104, 95% CI: 1.257-29.651, p=0.025), and NSAID with weak opioids (aOR 5.149, 95% CI: 1.047-25.326, p=0.044). Women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m2 (aOR 0.471, 95% CI: 0.224-0.989, p=0.047) and a level of puncture entry at L3-4 (aOR 0.381, 95% CI: 0.167-0.868, p=0.022) had lower odds of developing PSH. Conclusions: The incidence of postspinal headache is still high as compared to the global range. This was significantly associated with needle design, amount of cerebro-spinal fluid lost, number of puncture attempts, body mass index, previous diagnosis with chronic headache, amount of intraoperative blood loss, time at start of ambulation, level of puncture entry, and class of analgesic prescribed. We recommend the use of a smaller gauge needle, preventing CSF loss, deliberate attempts to ensure successful puncture with fewer attempts, puncture attempts at L3-4, reducing intraoperative blood loss, earlier ambulation, and prescribing adequate analgesia to reduce the incidence of postspinal headache.

Christchurch earthquakes: how did former refugees cope?

AIM: This study investigated how former refugees now living in Christchurch (Canterbury Province, New Zealand) communities coped after the 4 September 2010 and subsequent earthquakes. METHOD: A systematic sample of one in three former refugees from five ethnic groupings (Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Bhutan) was selected from a list of 317 refugees provided by the Canterbury Refugee Council and invited to participate in the study. Seventy-two out of 105 potential participants completed a 26 item questionnaire regarding the impact of the quakes, their concerns and anxieties, coping strategies and social supports. The methodology was complicated by ongoing aftershocks, particularly that of 22 February 2011. RESULTS: Three-quarters of participants reported that they had coped well, spirituality and religious practice being an important support for many, despite less then 20% receiving support from mainstream agencies. Most participants (72%) had not experienced a traumatic event or natural disaster before. Older participants and married couples with children were more likely to worry about the earthquakes and their impact than single individuals. There was a significant difference in the level of anxiety between males and females. Those who completed the questionnaire after the 22 February 2011 quake were more worried overall than those interviewed before this. CONCLUSION: Overall, the former refugees reported they had coped well despite most of them not experiencing an earthquake before and few receiving support from statutory relief agencies. More engagement from local services is needed in order to build trust and cooperation between the refugee and local communities.