Introduction: Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use among adolescents is a growing public health concern, affecting their health, academic performance, and cognitive development. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, types, and factors associated with AOD use among secondary school student leaders in Uganda, 2024.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among secondary school student leaders attending the 2024 annual prefects’ conference in Kampala. Participants were selected systematically from registration lists. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Ever use was defined as lifetime AOD use, and current use as use within the past 30 days. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with current AOD use.
Results: Among the 569 participants, 70% (400) were male, 74% (423) were ≥18 years (median: 19 years, interquartile range: 17–20), and 58% (329) were in an advanced class level. Twenty-seven per cent (155/569) had ever used AOD, while 18% (103/569) reported current use. Alcohol was the most commonly used substance (55% of ever users, (86/155). Current use was mainly with friends [53% (55/103)] and at home [55% (57/103)]. Attending a private school (aPR=2.4, 95% CI=1.3–4.5) was associated with higher AOD use.
Conclusion: Alcohol and other drug use among student leaders was high, with nearly one-fifth reporting current use. School-based prevention efforts should focus on strengthening oversight in private schools and enhancing parental engagement across all class levels.
C. Mutesi, B. Mutamba, K. Kalani et al.· Journal of interventional ep...· 0 citations
Background: Seasonal influenza, commonly known as flu, is an acute respiratory, highly contagious illness caused by influenza viruses. A clear understanding of influenza seasonality is crucial for guiding prevention and treatment strategies, including decisions on vaccination timing to prevent outbreaks. While well documented in temperate regions, data on influenza epidemiology in tropical areas, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, remain limited. We described the types, subtypes and positivity rate of seasonal influenza in Uganda during 2019-2023. Methods: We abstracted data from the National Influenza database on positive seasonal influenza cases confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction. The cases were disaggregated by age group, sex, region, month and year of reporting. Using Microsoft excel, we calculated the influenza positivity rate and disaggregated it by strain, sex, age, region and time. Test positivity rate was computed as the number of positive cases as a percentage of the total samples tested. Results: Among 17,957 individuals tested, the overall positivity rate for seasonal influenza was 5% (936 cases). Positivity was higher among males compared to females (7% vs. 4%), with children aged 5-9 years having the highest positivity rate (16%), while individuals aged 50-54 years had the lowest (1%). The median positivity rate was 4%, with a range of 1-16%. Regionally, the central region reported a positivity rate of 5%, with rates across all regions ranging from 5% to 8%. Over time, there was a gradual decline in positivity rates, decreasing from 16.5% in 2019 to 5.3% in 2023. Seasonal influenza exhibited bimodal peaks, with the primary peak occurring between March and May and a secondary peak from October to December. Influenza A was the predominant strain, accounting for 70% of seasonal influenza cases (669/936). Among the Influenza A subtypes, H3N2 was most common, representing 63% of cases (425/669). Conclusions: The declining seasonal influenza positivity rates from 2019 to 2023 and the predominance of Influenza A and H3N2 highlight the need for sustained surveillance in Uganda. Given Influenza A's high genetic variability and potential for novel strain emergence, monitoring circulating strains, informing vaccine development, and implementing targeted interventions for high-risk groups and regions are critical to controlling and preventing outbreaks.
M. Nankya, N. Owor, J. Kayiwa et al.· medRxiv· 0 citations
On May 27, 2025 a measles outbreak was confirmed in Kabulasoke Subcounty, Gomba District, Uganda, following a suspected measles-related death. We investigated the outbreak to determine its magnitude, identify risk factors for transmission, estimate measles-rubella vaccination coverage (VC) and vaccine effectiveness (VE), and inform control measures. We defined a suspected case as onset of fever and maculopapular rash plus ≥ 1 of cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis, in a Kabulasoke Subcounty resident during March–August, 2025; confirmed cases had measles-specific IgM antibodies. We compared exposures of 80 case-patients with 160 age- and sex-matched controls. Vaccination coverage was estimated as the proportion of vaccinated controls; VE was calculated as (1–aOR) *100%, using conditional logistic regression. Sociocultural factors were explored through 15 in-depth and key informant interviews, analysed by inductive thematic analysis. We identified 106 cases (5 laboratory-confirmed, 1 death); overall attack rate (AR):2.4/1,000 population. Children aged 9–17 months were most affected (13/1,000), with clustering in infant school X. Response was initiated 33 days after detection. School attendance (aOR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.05–2.71) and contact with symptomatic peers (aOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.21–3.70) were associated with infection, while vaccination was protective (aOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.27–0.55). Vaccination coverage was 72%, and VE was 60%. Qualitative findings revealed male-dominated decision-making, vaccine mistrust, and cultural framing of measles as a self-resolving illness as vaccination barriers. This outbreak was driven by suboptimal vaccination coverage, school-based transmission, and delayed detection. Strengthening routine immunisation, integrating schools into outbreak prevention, and addressing sociocultural barriers are essential to prevent future outbreaks.
S. Namasambi, R. Migisha, V. Kigongo et al.· Discover Public Health· 0 citations
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