Prevalence and Risk Factors for Newborn Anemia in Southwestern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The global prevalence of maternal anemia is about 42%, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of newborn anemia ranges from 25% to 30%. Anemia in newborn babies may cause complications such as delayed brain maturation and arrested growth. However, there is limited data on the prevalence of newborn anemia and its risk factors in people living in resource-limited settings. Objectives: We determined the prevalence and risk factors for newborn anemia and its correlation with maternal anemia in southwestern Uganda. Methods: This was a cross sectional study of 352 pregnant women presenting to the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for delivery. We collected maternal blood in labor and umbilical cord blood from the placental vein. We measured hemoglobin using a point-of-care Hemocue machine. We used summary statistics to characterize the study participants and compared demographic characteristics and outcomes using chi-square, t-test, and Wilcoxon rank sum analyses. We defined newborn anemia as umbilical cord hemoglobin <13 g/dl and measured the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord hemoglobin using linear regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of newborn anemia was 17%. Maternal parity was significantly higher for anemic than nonanemic newborns (3 versus 2, P=0.01). The mean age in years (SD) was significantly lower for participants with umbilical cord hemoglobin <13 g/dl than those ≥13 g/dl (26 years [5.6] versus 28 [6.3], P=0.01). In multivariable linear regression analysis, a 1-point decrease in maternal hemoglobin was associated with a 0.14-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P=0.02). Each one-unit increase in parity was associated with a 0.25-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P=0.01). Cesarean delivery was associated with a 0.46-point lower umbilical cord hemoglobin level compared with vaginal delivery (P=0.03). Conclusions: We found a significant association between maternal and newborn hemoglobin, underscoring the importance of preventing and correcting maternal anemia in pregnancy. Furthermore, maternal anemia should be considered a risk factor for neonatal anemia.

Association between HIV Serostatus and premalignant cervical lesions among women attending a cervical cancer screening clinic at a tertiary care facility in southwestern Uganda: a comparative cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Uganda has approximately 1.2 million people aged 15-64 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions among HIV-positive women than among HIV-negative women. Additionally, HIV-infected women are more likely to have human papilloma virus (HPV) infection progress to cancer than women not infected with HIV. We determined the prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions and their association with HIV infection among women attending a cervical cancer screening clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study of 210 women aged 22-65 years living with HIV and 210 women not living with HIV who were systematically enrolled from March 2022 to May 2022. Participants were subjected to a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain their demographic and clinical data. Additionally, Papanicolaou smears were obtained for microscopy to observe premalignant cervical lesions. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the association between HIV status and premalignant cervical lesions. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions in the study population was 17% (n = 72; 95% C.I: 14.1-21.4), with 23% (n = 47; 95% C.I: 17.8-29.5) in women living with HIV and 12% (n = 25; 95% C.I: 8.2-17.1) in women not living with HIV (p < 0.003). The most common premalignant cervical lesions identified were low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) in both women living with HIV (74.5%; n = 35) and women not living with HIV (80%; n = 20). HIV infection was significantly associated with premalignant lesions (aOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.27-4.42; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Premalignant cervical lesions, particularly LSILs, were more common in HIV-positive women than in HIV-negative women, highlighting the need to strengthen the integration of cervical cancer prevention strategies into HIV care programs.

Impact of the Mbarara University of Science and Technology residency training on increasing access to specialty care workforce.

Graduate tracer studies provide an avenue for assessing the impact of residency training on the distribution and access to specialty care and exploring job and professional satisfaction of alumnus. This study examined how the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) clinical residency training program influenced the spatial distribution and career paths of specialists. We conducted a mixed methods study involving an online survey and 12 in-depth interviews (IDIs) from June to September 2022. The online survey was distributed to a convenient sample of clinical residency alumnus from MUST via email and Whatsapp groups. Alumnus were mapped across the countries of current work in QGIS (version 3.16.3) using GPS coordinates. Descriptive and thematic analyses were also conducted. Ninety-five alumni (34.3%) responded to the tracer survey. The majority were males (80%), aged 31-40 years (69%), and Ugandans (72%). Most graduated after 2018 (83%) as obstetricians/gynecologists (38%) and general surgeons (19%). There was uneven distribution of specialists across Uganda and the East-African community-with significant concentration in urban cities of Uganda at specialized hospitals and academic institutions. Residency training helped prepare and equip alumnus with competencies relevant to their current work tasks (48%) and other spheres of life (45%). All respondents were currently employed, with the majority engaged in clinical practice (82%) and had obtained their first employment within six months after graduation (76%). The qualitative interviews revealed the reported ease in finding jobs after the training and the relevance of the training in enhancing the alumnus' ability to impact those they serve in teaching, research, management, and clinical care. Graduates cited low payment, limited resources, and slow career advancement concerns. Residency training improves the graduates' professional/career growth and the quality of health care services. Strategic specialty training addressing imbalances in subspecialties and rural areas coverage could optimize access to specialist services.

Maternal near miss as a predictor of adverse perinatal outcomes: findings from a prospective cohort study in southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Despite efforts, Uganda has not met the World Health Organization target of < 12 newborn deaths per 1,000 live births. Severe maternal morbidity or 'near miss' is a major contributor to adverse perinatal outcomes, particularly in low-resource settings. However, the specific impact of maternal near miss on perinatal outcomes in Uganda remains insufficiently investigated. We examined the association between maternal near miss and adverse perinatal outcomes at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study among women admitted for delivery at MRRH's maternity ward from April 2022 to August 2022. We included mothers at ≥ 28 weeks of gestation with singleton pregnancies, while intrauterine fetal death cases were excluded. For the near-miss group, we consecutively included mothers with any one of the following: antepartum hemorrhage with shock, uterine rupture, hypertensive disorders, coma, and cardiac arrest; those without these complications constituted the non-near-miss group. We followed the mothers until delivery, and their infants until seven days postpartum or death. Adverse perinatal outcomes considered were low birth weight (< 2,500 g), low Apgar score (< 7 at five minutes), intrapartum stillbirths, early neonatal death, or admission to neonatal intensive care unit. Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to determine predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: We enrolled 220 participants (55 maternal near misses and 165 non-near misses) with a mean age of 27 ± 5.8 years. Most of the near misses were pregnancies with hypertensive disorders (49%). Maternal near misses had a four-fold (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 4.02, 95% CI: 2.32-6.98) increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes compared to non-near misses. Other predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes were primigravidity (aRR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.01-2.31), and gestational age < 34 weeks (aRR = 1.81, 95%CI: 1.19-2.77). CONCLUSION: Maternal near misses, primigravidity, and preterm pregnancies were independent predictors of adverse perinatal outcomes in this study. We recommend implementing maternal near-miss surveillance as an integral component of comprehensive perinatal care protocols, to improve perinatal outcomes in Uganda and similar low-resource settings. Targeted interventions, including specialized care for women with maternal near misses, particularly primigravidas and those with preterm pregnancies, could mitigate the burden of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility among women with abnormal vaginal discharge attending the gynecology clinic at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal vaginal discharge is a common complaint among women of reproductive age, affecting about one- third of all women. In resource-limited settings where access to laboratory services is limited, treatment is usually syndromic. This approach may result in ineffective treatment, with high recurrence rates and a potential of developing antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to determine the bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility among women with an abnormal vaginal discharge attending the gynecology clinic at a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a hospital based cross-sectional study among 361 women aged 15-49 years, presenting with abnormal vaginal discharge at the gynecology clinic of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital from December 2020 to June 2021. Demographic characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. We collected cervical and vaginal sterile swabs and subjected them to wet preparation and gram stain. The specimens were cultured for bacterial isolates. Susceptibility testing was performed on samples with bacterial isolates using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, on the commonly prescribed antibiotics in this setting. We summarized and described the bacterial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility patterns as frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: We enrolled 361 women with abnormal vaginal discharge. Bacteria were isolated in 29.6% (107/361) of the women, and the commonest isolates included; Staphylococcus aureus 48.6% (52/107), Klebsiella pneumoniae 29.9% (32/107) and Enterococcus faecalis 15% (16/107). Yeast cells were found in 17.7% (64/361) of the women with abnormal vaginal discharge. Cefuroxime (90.7%) and Ciprofloxacin (81.3%) had a high level of sensitivity while high levels of resistance were observed for Doxycycline (86.0%) and Azithromycin (67.0%). CONCLUSION: The common bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis. The isolated bacteria were most sensitive to Cefuroxime and Ciprofloxacin but resistant to Doxycycline and Azithromycin. There is need for routine culture and susceptibility testing of women with abnormal vaginal discharge so as to guide treatment, minimize inappropriate antibiotic use and consequently reduce antibiotic resistance.

Prevalence and risk factors for newborn anemia in southwestern Uganda: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: The global prevalence of anemia in pregnancy is about 42%, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of newborn anemia ranges from 25-30%. Anemia in newborn babies may cause complications such as delayed brain maturation and arrested growth. However, there is limited data on prevalence of newborn anemia and its risk factors in people living in resource-limited settings. Objectives: We determined the prevalence and risk factors for newborn anemia and its correlation with maternal anemia in southwestern Uganda. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of 352 pregnant women presenting to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for delivery. We collected maternal blood in labor and umbilical cord blood from the placental vein, as a proxy for newborn hemoglobin. We estimated hemoglobin using a point-of-care Hemocue machine. We used summary statistics to characterize the cohort, and compared demographic characteristics and outcomes using Chi-square, t-test, and Wilcoxon Ranksum analyses. We defined newborn anemia as umbilical cord hemoglobin < 13g/dl and estimated the relationship between maternal and umbilical cord hemoglobin using linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The prevalence of newborn anemia was 17%. The average maternal parity was significantly higher for anemic and non-anemic newborns (3.5 versus 2.8, P = 0.01). Mean age [SD] was significantly lower for participants with umbilical cord hemoglobin < 13g/dl than those > = 13 g/dl, (26 [5.6] versus 28 [6.3], P = 0.01). In multivariable linear regression analysis, a 1-point decrease in maternal hemoglobin was associated with a 0.14-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P = 0.02). Each one-unit increase in maternal parity was associated with a 0.25-point decrease in umbilical cord hemoglobin (P = 0.01). Cesarean delivery was associated with a 0.46-point lower umbilical cord hemoglobin level compared to vaginal delivery (P = 0.03). Conclusions: We found a significant correlation between maternal and newborn hemoglobin levels, underscoring the importance of preventing and correcting maternal anemia in pregnancy. Furthermore, maternal anemia should be considered a risk factor neonatal anemia.

One year overall survival of wilms tumor cases and its predictors, among children diagnosed at a teaching hospital in South Western Uganda: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Wilms tumor (WT) is the second most common solid tumor in Africa with both low overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates. However, no known factors are predicting this poor overall survival. OBJECTIVE: The study was to determine the one-year overall survival of WT cases and its predictors among children diagnosed in the pediatric oncology and surgical units of Mbarara regional referral hospital (MRRH), western Uganda. METHODOLOGY: Children's treatment charts and files diagnosed and managed for WT were retrospectively followed up for the period between January 2017 to January 2021. Charts of children with histologically confirmed diagnoses were reviewed for demographics, clinical and histological characteristics, as well as treatment modalities. RESULTS: One-year overall survival was found to be 59.3% (95% CI: 40.7-73.3), with tumor size greater than 15 cm (p 0.021) and unfavorable WT type (p 0.012) being the predominant predictors. CONCLUSION: Overall survival (OS) of WT at MRRH was found to be 59.3%, and predictive factors noted were unfavorable histology and tumor size greater than 115 cm.

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and associated factors among women receiving antenatal care at a tertiary hospital in South-Western Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: gestational diabetes mellitus is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women worldwide. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus among women attending the antenatal care clinic at a tertiary care hospital in South-Western Uganda. METHODS: this was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted among women at ≥24 weeks of amenorrhea attending the antenatal care clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital between December 2020 and March 2021. We screened all women for gestational diabetes mellitus using the World Health Organization 2013 diagnostic criteria. We obtained socio-demographic, medical, and obstetric data. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the factors independently associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: we enrolled 343 pregnant women with a mean age of 27.3 (SD ±12.3) years. Of the 343 participants, 35 (10.2%) had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (95% C.I: 7.4%-13.9%) and 7 (2%) had diabetes in pregnancy. The factors significantly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus were; previous history of foetal macrosomia in any of the previous pregnancies (aOR: 5.53, 95% C.I: 1.29-23.65) and family history of diabetes mellitus in the first-degree relatives (aOR: 4.45, 95% C.I:1.48-13.34). CONCLUSION: one in every ten pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital is likely to have gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. There is a need to strengthen routine testing for gestational diabetes mellitus among women attending the antenatal care clinic, especially pregnant women with a prior history of foetal macrosomia and a family history of diabetes mellitus in first-degree relatives.

Prevalence and associated factors of oligohydramnios in pregnancies beyond 36 weeks of gestation at a tertiary hospital in southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Oligohydramnios is associated with poor maternal and perinatal outcomes. In low-resource countries, including Uganda, oligohydramnios is under-detected due to the scarcity of ultrasonographic services. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of oligohydramnios among women with pregnancies beyond 36 weeks of gestation at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in Southwestern Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study from November 2019 to March 2020. Included were women at gestational age > 36 weeks. Excluded were women with ruptured membranes, those in active labour, and those with multiple pregnancies. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to capture demographic, obstetric, and clinical characteristics of the study participants. We determined oligohydramnios using an amniotic fluid index (AFI) obtained using an ultrasound scan. Oligohydramnios was diagnosed in participants with AFI ≤ 5 cm. We performed multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with oligohydramnios. RESULTS: We enrolled 426 women with a mean age of 27 (SD ± 5.3) years. Of the 426 participants, 40 had oligohydramnios, for a prevalence of 9.4% (95%CI: 6.8-12.6%). Factors found to be significantly associated with oligohydramnios were history of malaria in pregnancy (aOR = 4.6; 95%CI: 1.5-14, P = 0.008), primegravidity (aOR = 3.7; 95%CI: 1.6-6.7, P = 0.002) and increasing gestational age; compared to women at 37-39 weeks, those at 40-41 weeks (aOR = 2.5; 95%CI: 1.1-5.6, P = 0.022), and those at > 41 weeks (aOR = 6.0; 95%CI: 2.3-16, P = 0.001) were more likely to have oligohydramnios. CONCLUSION: Oligohydramnios was detected in approximately one out of every ten women seeking care at MRRH, and it was more common among primigravidae, those with a history of malaria in pregnancy, and those with post-term pregnancies. We recommend increased surveillance for oligohydramnios in the third trimester, especially among prime gravidas, those with history of malaria in pregnancy, and those with post-term pregnancies, in order to enable prompt detection of this complication and plan timely interventions. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess clinical outcomes in women with oligohydramnios in our setting.

Short interbirth interval and associated factors among women with antecedent cesarean deliveries at a tertiary hospital, Southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Women with previous cesarean deliveries, have a heightened risk of poor maternal and perinatal outcomes, associated with short interbirth intervals. We determined the prevalence of short interbirth interval, and associated factors, among women with antecedent cesarean deliveries who delivered at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), in southwestern Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on the postnatal ward of MRRH from November 2020 to February 2021. We enrolled women who had antecedent cesarean deliveries through consecutive sampling. We obtained participants' socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. We defined short interbirth interval as an interval between two successive births of < 33 months. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with short interbirth intervals. RESULTS: Of 440 participants enrolled, most had used postpartum family planning (PPFP) prior to the current pregnancy (67.5%), and most of the pregnancies (57.2%) were planned. The mean age of the participants was 27.6 ± 5.0 years. Of the 440 women, 147 had a short interbirth interval, for a prevalence of 33% (95%CI: 29-38%). In multivariable analysis, non-use of PPFP (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.24; 95%CI: 1.57-3.20, P < 0.001), delivery of a still birth at an antecedent delivery (aPR = 3.95; 95%CI: 1.43-10.9, P = 0.008), unplanned pregnancy (aPR = 3.59; 95%CI: 2.35-5.49, P < 0.001), and young maternal age (aPR = 0.25 for < 20 years vs 20-34 years; 95%CI: 0.10-0.64, P = 0.004), were the factors significantly associated with short interbirth interval. CONCLUSION: One out of every three womenwith antecedent caesarean delivery had a short interbirth interval. Short interbirth intervals were more common among women with history of still births, those who did not use postpartum family planning methods, and those whose pregnancies were unplanned, compared to their counterparts. Young mothers (< 20 years) were less likely to have short interbirth intervals compared to those who were 20 years or older. Efforts should be made to strengthen and scale up child-spacing programs targeting women with previous cesarean deliveries, given the high frequency of short interbirth intervals in this study population.

Incidence and predictors of preterm neonatal mortality at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in South Western Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: Preterm neonatal mortality contributes substantially to the high neonatal mortality globally. In Uganda, preterm neonatal mortality accounts for 31% of all neonatal deaths. Previous studies have shown variability in mortality rates by healthcare setting. Also, different predictors influence the risk of neonatal mortality in different populations. Understanding the predictors of preterm neonatal mortality in the low-resource setting where we conducted our study could guide the development of interventions to improve outcomes for preterm neonates. We thus aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of mortality among preterm neonates born at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in South Western Uganda. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 538 live preterm neonates born at MRRH from October 2019 to September 2020. The neonates were followed up until death or 28 days, whichever occurred first. We used Kaplan Meier survival analysis to describe preterm neonatal mortality and Cox proportional hazards regression to assess predictors of preterm neonatal mortality over a maximum of 28 days of follow up. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of preterm neonatal mortality was 19.8% (95% C.I: 16.7-23.5) at 28 days from birth. Birth asphyxia (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 14.80; 95% CI: 5.21 to 42.02), not receiving kangaroo mother care (aHR, 9.50; 95% CI: 5.37 to 16.78), delayed initiation of breastfeeding (aHR, 9.49; 95% CI: 2.84 to 31.68), late antenatal care (ANC) booking (aHR, 1.81 to 2.52; 95% CI: 1.11 to 7.11) and no ANC attendance (aHR, 3.56; 95% CI: 1.51 to 8.43), vaginal breech delivery (aHR, 3.04; 95% CI: 1.37 to 5.18), very preterm births (aHR, 3.17; 95% CI: 1.24 to 8.13), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (aHR, 2.50; 95% CI: 1.11 to 5.64) and hypothermia at the time of admission to the neonatal unit (aHR, 1.98; 95% CI: 1.18 to 3.33) increased the risk of preterm neonatal mortality. Attending more than 4 ANC visits (aHR, 0.35; 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.96) reduced the risk of preterm neonatal mortality. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a high cumulative incidence of mortality among preterm neonates born at a low-resource regional referral hospital in Uganda. The predictors of mortality among preterm neonates were largely modifiable factors occurring in the prenatal, natal and postnatal period (lack of ANC attendance, late ANC booking, vaginal breech delivery, birth asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, and hypothermia at the time of admission to the neonatal unit, not receiving kangaroo mother care and delayed initiation of breastfeeding). These findings suggest that investment in and enhancement of ANC attendance, intrapartum care, and the feasible essential newborn care interventions by providing the warm chain through kangaroo mother care, encouraging early initiation of breastfeeding, timely resuscitation for neonates when indicated and therapies reducing the incidence and severity of RDS could improve outcomes among preterm neonates in this setting.

Prevalence and factors associated with severe anaemia post-caesarean section at a tertiary Hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Severe anaemia after caesarean section adversely affects the woman and the new-born. While prenatal anaemia is extensively studied, the literature on post-caesarean section anaemia is limited and characteristics of women at the highest risk of developing severe anaemia after caesarean section are unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with severe anaemia on day three post caesarean section. METHODS: On the third day after caesarean section, women were consecutively enrolled in a cross-sectional study at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH). Women who got transfused peripartum were excluded. For every woman, we measured haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and collected data on sociodemographic, obstetric, and medical characteristics. The primary outcome was severe anaemia after caesarean section, defined as Hb < 7 g/dl. We used logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with severe anaemia after caesarean section. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: From December 2019 to March 2020, 427 of 431 screened women were enrolled in the study. Their mean age was 26.05 (SD ± 5.84) years. Three hundred thirteen (73.3%) had attended at least four antenatal care visits. The prevalence of severe anaemia post-caesarean section was 6.79%. Foetus with macrosomia (aOR 7.9 95%CI: 2.18-28.85, p <  0.01) and having mild or moderate anaemia pre-caesarean section (aOR:9.6, 95%CI: 3.91-23.77, p <  0.01) were the factors associated with severe anaemia after caesarean section. CONCLUSION: Severe anaemia in women post-caesarean section is relatively uncommon at our institution. It is associated with preoperative anaemia and macrosomic birth. Women with a low preoperative Hb concentration and those whose foetus have macrosomia could be targeted for haemoglobin optimisation before and during caesarean section.

Nonproteinuric Preeclampsia among Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy at a Referral Hospital in Southwestern Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a priority obstetric emergency requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment to avert poor pregnancy outcomes. Nonproteinuric preeclampsia poses even greater diagnostic challenges due to contested diagnostic criteria by the clinical practice guidelines and variable clinical presentation. Previously, preeclampsia was only diagnosed if high blood pressure and proteinuria were present. This study determined the prevalence of nonproteinuric preeclampsia and associated factors among women admitted with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at a referral hospital in southwestern Uganda. METHODS: Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were consecutively enrolled in a cross-sectional study at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital between November 2019 and May 2020. We interviewed all pregnant women ≥20 gestation weeks presenting with hypertension and obtained their sociodemographic, medical, and obstetric characteristics. We excluded women with chronic hypertension. We measured bedside dipstick proteinuria in clean-catch urine. Preeclampsia was defined as hypertension plus any feature of severity including <100,000 platelets/ul, creatinine >1.1 g/dl, and liver transaminases ≥twice upper normal limit with or without proteinuria. We defined nonproteinuric preeclampsia in participants with <+2 urine dipstick cut-off and determined the factors associated with nonproteinuric preeclampsia using logistic regression. RESULTS: We enrolled 134 participants. The mean age was 26.9 (SD ± 7.1) years and 51.5% were primigravid. The prevalence of nonproteinuric preeclampsia was 24.6% (95% CI: 17.9-32.7). Primigravidity (aOR 2.70 95% CI: 1.09-6.72, p = 0.032) was the factor independently associated with nonproteinuric preeclampsia. CONCLUSION: Nonproteinuric preeclampsia was common, especially among primigravidae. We recommend increased surveillance for nonproteinuric preeclampsia, especially among first-time pregnant women, who may not be detected by the traditional criteria. Obstetrics care providers should emphasize laboratory testing beyond proteinuria, among all women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy to optimally diagnose and manage nonproteinuric preeclampsia.

Subacute uterine inversion following an induced abortion in a teenage girl: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Subacute uterine inversion is a very rare complication of mid-trimester termination of pregnancy that should be considered in a situation where unsafe abortion occurs. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of subacute uterine inversion complicated by hypovolemic shock following an unsafe abortion in a 17-year-old nulliparous unmarried girl. She presented with a history of collapse, mass protruding per vagina that followed Valsalva, and persistent lower abdominal pain but not vaginal bleeding. This followed her second attempt to secretly induce an abortion at 18 weeks amenorrhea. On examination, she was agitated, severely pale, cold on palpation, with an axillary temperature of 35.8 °C, a tachycardia of 143 beats per minute and unrecordable low blood pressure. The abdomen was soft and non-tender with no palpable masses; the uterine fundus was absent at its expected periumbilical position and cupping was felt instead. A fleshy mass with gangrenous patches protruding in the introitus was palpated with no cervical lip felt around it. We made a clinical diagnosis of subacute uterine inversion complicated with hypovolemic shock and initiated urgent resuscitation with crystalloid and blood transfusion. Non-operative reversal of the inversion failed. Surgery was done to correct the inversion followed by total abdominal hysterectomy due to uterine gangrene. CONCLUSION: Our case highlights an unusual presentation of subacute uterine inversion following unsafe abortion. This case was managed successfully but resulted in significant and permanent morbidity.

Factors influencing use of long-acting versus short-acting contraceptive methods among reproductive-age women in a resource-limited setting.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned pregnancy remains a common problem in many resource-limited settings, mostly due to limited access to modern family planning (FP) services. In particular, use of the more effective long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods (i.e., intrauterine devices and hormonal implants) remains low compared to the short-acting methods (i.e., condoms, hormonal pills, injectable hormones, and spermicides). Among reproductive-age women attending FP and antenatal care clinics in Uganda, we assessed perceptions and practices regarding the use of modern contraceptive methods. We specifically aimed to evaluate factors influencing method selection. METHODS: We performed a mixed-methods cross-sectional study, in which we administered structured interviews to 180 clients, and conducted 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 36 clients and 8 in-depth personal qualitative interviews with health service providers. We summarized quantitative data and performed latent content analysis on transcripts from the FGDs and qualitative interviews. RESULTS: The prevalence of ever use for LARC methods was 23%. Method characteristics (e.g., client control) appeared to drive method selection more often than structural factors (such as method availability) or individual client characteristics (such as knowledge and perceptions). The most common reasons for choosing LARC methods were: longer protection; better child-spacing; and effectiveness. The most common reasons for not choosing LARC methods included requiring a client-controlled method and desiring to conceive in the near future. The most common reasons for choosing short-acting methods were ease of access; lower cost; privacy; perceived fewer side effects; and freedom to stop using a method without involving the health provider. The personal characteristics of clients, which appeared to be important were client knowledge and number of children. The structural factor which appeared to be important was method availability. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that interventions to improve uptake of LARC among reproductive age women in this setting should consider: incorporating desired method-characteristics into LARC methods; targeted promotion and supply of LARC; and increased counselling, sensitization, and education.