Welcome to the Public Health section at Mildmay Research Centre Uganda (MRCU) where we focus on transforming communities for better health and livelihood. We recognize that gender inequalities have an impact on health, therefore we venture into research includes gender transformation strategies for improving disease outcomes. We also explore research to improve public health among high-risk groups in response to the third Sustainable Development Goal that targets good health and well-being for all.
The emergence of Public Health research at MRCU was originally boosted by Mildmay Uganda Programs which implemented a five-year Epidemic Control Project directly within eight districts of central Uganda in Mubende region with President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and for another district (Wakiso) in partnership with Infectious Diseases Institute. The project focused on: -increasing access to HIV testing services (HTS), comprehensive HIV/AIDS care package, increasing viral load suppression among People Living with HIV(PLHIV), reducing HIV transmission through Elimination of Mother To Child Transmission (eMTCT), enhancing Treatment and Prevention of HIV co-morbidities such as tuberculosis, cervical cancer, hepatitis B and non-communicable diseases (hypertension and diabetes mellitus).
The program also focused on building human resource capacity for sustainable delivery of quality comprehensive HIV and AIDS services; reducing high risk behavior among PLHIV & Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision(VMMC), increasing access to quality laboratory services; strengthening data use for programming and client care, increasing linkage of PLHIV, Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) to core services, and Supply Chain Logistics Management for effective and efficient delivery of comprehensive HIV and AIDS services. Within the 8 districts, MUg reached over 200,000 persons for HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) services and provided lifesaving Antiretroviral therapy to over 100,000 persons. The Mubende region project was implemented at 104 sites while in Wakiso District, the project was implemented at 43 sites. The sites were mainly provided through the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH).
The wealth of programming carries longitudinal datasets that are analyzed to explore the issues that impact to public health. The history of the robust programming carries with it vast opportunities for data use to transform communities when the evidence informs policy and practice.
MRCU also explores the option of primary data collection to conduct public health research. We welcome collaborations for public health research.
Our studies:
1K01MH121663-01A1 (K. Sileo, PI) 08/01/2020 – 12/31/2023
NIH: A Gender Transformative Strategy with providers to Improve HIV Outcomes in Uganda. The study aims to develop and evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an innovative gender transformative implementation strategy to improve HIV provider capacity for equitable HIV care and ART adherence counselling.
R34AA025891-01. (S. Kiene, PI) 09/01/2019 – 08/31/2022
NIH/NIAAA: Development and Pilot Testing of a Combination Intervention to Reduce Heavy Drinking and Improve HIV Care Engagement among Fisher folk in Uganda. The study aims to establish the effect of the intervention on ART adherence and retention in HIV care; Determine the effect of intervention on harmful use of alcohol; Determine the effect of intervention on savings and social support.
Publications
- Baluku JB, Mugabe P, Mwebaza S, Nakaweesi J, Senyimba C, Opio JP, et al. Cryptococcal Antigen Screening Among Antiretroviral Therapy–Experienced People With HIV With Viral Load Nonsuppression in Rural Uganda. Open Forum Infect Dis [Internet]. 2021 Jan 6 [cited 2021 Mar 18];8(2). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7880263/
- Baluku JB, Nanyonjo R, Ayo J, Obwalatum JE, Nakaweesi J, Senyimba C, et al. Trends of notification rates and treatment outcomes of tuberculosis cases with and without HIV co-infection in eight rural districts of Uganda (2015 – 2019). BMC Public Health. 2022 Apr 5;22(1):651.