The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the elderly people whose source of livelihood is operation of small/informal businesses. The study pursued the following objectives: to identify the effect of the pandemic on access to markets by the elderly; to identify the effect of the pandemic on the health needs of the elderly; to assess the risks brought about by COVID-19 on small businesses owned by the elderly; and to identify the coping mechanisms used by the elderly in sustaining their livelihoods during the pandemic. The study was purely qualitative in nature with a relatively small sample size of ten respondents. In depth interview guides were used to collect data from the elderly which were analysed using thematic analysis. The study findings show that poverty, limited supply of goods and services due to closure of transport means, income and nutrition gaps and difficulty in accessing health care facilities, were some of the effects of the pandemic on the elderly. The study further indicates that depression, vulnerability and neglect, social and economic issues were some of the risks brought about by the pandemic. The respondents used face masks, soliciting loans from financial institutions as coping mechanisms amidst the pandemic induced life style. Finally the study concluded by recommending the need for the initiation of means tested support to boost the incomes of those with the least resources especially the elderly population whose incomes were greatly affected by the pandemic.

This study assessed access to services of agencies by persons with epilepsy (PLWE) in Kasangati Town Council Wakiso District. The main purpose of the study was to assess the access to services from organizations to PLWE in Kasangati Town Council in Wakiso district. The specific objectives of the study were; (i) To identify and document the needs of PLWE in Kasangati town council, Wakiso district, (ii) To establish the existing services for Persons living with epilepsy, and (iii) To examine the perceived quality and quantity of services to Persons living with epilepsy. The study was conducted Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District in central Uganda, from November 2021 to April 2022. The study was guided by the Behavioral Ecological framework of Healthcare Access and Navigation developed by Marriam Ryvicker, (2019). Methodologically, this was a case study that involved the use of qualitative approaches to data collection. This is because the researcher needed to gain an in-depth understanding of the needs of the primary participants, the services provided and to unearth the perceived benefits of the services provided by various agencies/organizations and other institutions. The study used a sample size of 30 participants, 15 were PLWE and 15 were care givers. Seven (7) key informants were interviewed to provide additional information. Data was collected using interviews, key informants interviews. The study findings revealed low levels of education among most PLWE and their caretakers, attributed to the fact that epilepsy affects cognitive and learning abilities (mental damage); poverty, distance and proximity issues since most of them were living in peri- urban settings; lack of physical assistive devices, and due the unfavorable health environments for PLWE and their care takers. Also, the study established that majority of the PLWE could not ably respond to the in-depth qualitative questions. This was because of the severe effects of epilepsy on their functionality including cognition. The findings of the study also established that indeed PLWE were in need of health services, income (money), social and family support, information, physical/ disability services, spiritual nourishment and alternative forms of treatment and environments that were conducive for their survival and functionality. Findings also revealed that most of the PLWE and care takers needed "money", like one caretaker noted..."embeera ya bwaavu" literary, “we are in a state of poverty”. Yet, amidst all these, stigma and discrimination of PLWE were prevalent, whereas care givers lacked information on managing PLWE. The study concludes that PLWE have various needs such as health care, food, clothing adequate accommodation, for a decent standard of living. Central to these needs are the financial resources needed to buy or access all these services. There are inadequacies and lack of appropriate services to PLWE, as argued and confirmed by majority of participants. For example, majority lack clutches and wheel chairs, limiting their physical mobility. Majority of those taking care of PLWE were living in abject poverty, and epilepsy itself abets poverty. The study recommended that that changes be made in policies and laws to address the needs of PLWE, advised that a comprehensive approach to practice with PLWE be adopted and encouraged more research be done about PLWE.

Teenage pregnancy among school-going children remains a critical problem to consider, it affects both developed and developing countries around the globe. Teenage pregnancy cases increased globally due to COVID-19 that ushered in many problems such as the closure of schools and businesses among others. In Uganda as with many other countries around the world, Covid-19 resulted into teenage pregnancy cases to spike by 17% between March 2020 and June 2021. A total of 354,736 teenage pregnancies were registered in 2020, and 196,499 in the first six months of 2021. Locally over 1800 girls became pregnant in Kakumiro District. The mixed methods cross-sectional study recruited 55 respondents who included school-going adolescents, head teachers and senior teachers, local leaders, parents, school-going children and district leaders from Kakumiro District. Data was collected using an interview schedule, interview guide and structured questionnaire. Data in quantitative form was analyzed using SPSS and qualitative results were analyzed thematically and presented in a narrative form. The research established an escalation in teenage pregnancy cases in the district, confirming that over 1800 girls fell pregnant in Kakumiro District. This was attached to school closure in response to COVID-19 which rendered teenagers redundant, propelling them to engage in sexual and other risky behaviors. Moreover, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and products remain unpopular among some parents and adolescents. The study recommends additional and targeted investment in sensitization programs to increase awareness of SRH services for youth and parents. Vocational institutions should also be set up or activated to equip teenage mothers with marketable skills which can help them live self-reliant lives. Finally, youth-friendly SRH services should be popularized and made more accessible including contraceptives and other birth control methods.

The study set out to determine the prevalence of Intimate partner violence among female undergraduate university students in Kampala district, Uganda. The objectives of the study were to describe the prevalence of physical, sexual and emotional IPV among female undergraduate university students in Kampala district, Uganda. The study population was finalists of the Bachelors of Social Work and Social Administration course in their 3rd year at Makerere University. The study was a survey that adopted a quantitative method of data collection. Data was collected through the use of a structured self-administered questionnaire from a sample of 62 finalists' female undergraduate university students in their last year of study in the social work class, at Makerere University. To analyze the data, questionnaires were edited for completeness before being entered into the computer using the SPSS computer program. The main analysis was descriptive, although inferences were also used, through bivariate correlations to establish the relationships between age and forms of lPV. The study findings show a high prevalence of IPV among female students at Makerere University. Emotional IPV is the most prevalent form of violence and was universally reported by all students who had ever been in an intimate relationship, followed by sexual violence (47.5%). Physical violence was the least prevalent and was reported by 27.5% of the respondents. The high prevalence of emotional violence suggests a normalization of degrading behavior among young persons. Sexual violence was also rather high affected close to one in two of female students. A consideration of the wider environment in which patriarchal values that perpetuate gender based violence suggests an urgent need for interventions to respond to IPV within the student population. The study recommends for further research on the antecedents, causes and effects of IPV among female university students.

Female household headship and single female parenthood is a widely researched phenomenon, globally In the academic discourse, scholars have emphasized the burden of household headship among single female parents. To understand this phenomenon this study investigated the challenges and coping strategies of female heads of household using the case of single female parents in Lubaga division. This study had four objectives the first was to identify the social-economic challenges faced by single female parents. The second was to explore and describe the psychological and emotional challenges that single female parents experience while heading their household. The third was to determine the social support systems that exist in order to assist single female parents who head households and the final was the fourth objective that aimed at ascertaining whether single female parents heading households engaged in income generating activities for their households. The study adopted a qualitative research approach which involved collection of data from primary sources to understand the challenges that single female parents who head households experience and the coping strategies they adopt to deal with such challenges in Lubaga division. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with twenty single female parent heads of household and key informant interviews with ten local council leaders. The respondents were selected by purpose and sometimes by referrals. The findings of the study were that single female parent who head households had numerous social economic challenges and, psychological and emotional challenges such as social discrimination, social isolation, unemployment, low education attainment, lack of access to credit facilities and basic needs and the burden of high dependency ratio. However they have coping strategies such as engaging in income generating activities like petty trading, hired manual labour and sex work. The social support systems included community networks, church, neighbors, non-governmental organizations and government interventions. This study concludes by making recommendations which are proposed to inform the government and policy makers about the plight of single female parents heading households. This study argued that although the single female parents heading households have shown resistance by surviving amidst all the challenges they experience, the coping strategies are not sustainable and there is need for more policy interventions and initiatives to address the status of these single female parents.

The study was primarily aimed at Factors associated with intimate partner violence in Katabi Sub County during the covid-19 pandemic. The study set to achieve different objectives such as establishing the conditions which facilitate the increasing gender based violence in families, and identifying the different forms of gender based violence in families The study was based on a qualitative research methodology hence in-depth interviews were used to collect data from a sample of 30 participants who were married women from Katabi Sub County during the covid-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was used in data analysis while presentation and interpretation of data was based on the different themes contained from the data that was collected from participants. The study found out that IPV is common in communities because culture accepts male dominance hence females have been undermined and remain to exhibit permissive attitude towards violent acts. The study revealed that due the prevalence of IPV increased in homes to stress caused by the challenges of Covid-19 whereby inability to meet family needs during Covid-1p wpuld I the end lead to high levels of IPV in homes. Death, diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and loss of trust between partners were also highlighted as one other consequence that arises from continued IPV during Covid-19. The study suggested that empowering women economically would enable them become independent and less dependent on women which in the long run would reduce IPV. It is recommended that more efforts are needed to dispel myths, misconceptions and traditional norms and beliefs about IPV in the community