Introduction Gut perforation had turned out to be an epidemic in Kasese district between 2007 and 2009. In 2011, 600 patients were treated with gut perforation and 120 of them died while 480 were discharged. It is from this background that the researcher decided to carry out a study and compare with what other scholars had found concerning the gut perforations. General objective The main objective of this study was to identify the key factors associated with gut perforation among patients seeking health care services at Kagando hospital. Methodology A community-based case-control study was done in which 57 cases who had been managed at the hospital for gut perforation were studied. Cases still admitted in the hospital wards were not available for interview by the time of study and therefore had to identify cases from the hospital records for patients worked on during the period of interest for the study and follow them to their homes. 57 neighbors to the cases living in the same environment not suffering or having suffered from gut perforations were interviewed and included in the sample as control cases. Data was collected using questionnaires while descriptive, bivariate and multi-variate analysis was done. Results Male gender (OR=3.02, CI=1.10-8.28, P=0.031) and typhoid fever (OR=29.88, CI=3.58-249, P=0.002) were significantly associated with gut perforation at multivariate analysis. Conclusion This study showed that being male and having a history of typhoid fever were significantly associated with gut perforation. I recommend therefore that whenever a patient is diagnosed with typhoid fever they should seek medical care as early as possible before it complicates to gut perforation. Community health workers need to put more efforts in health education and sanitation.

Introduction Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV infection in HIV-exposed infants as early as six weeks using DNA-PCR technology is critical to improve pediatric HIV/AIDS care, and reduce child morbidity and mortality. In Wakiso district, EID service provision started in 2008 but its coverage in terms of proportion of HIV exposed infants reached is not clearly known. General objective of the study To determine the magnitude and the factors affecting uptake of early infant diagnosis services at Wakiso HCIV, Wakiso districts. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study carried out at Wakiso HCIV, Wakiso district. This study determined the prevalence of HIV among studied exposed infants and young children but also determined factors which were associated with utilization of EID for HIV infection. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from the caregivers/mothers. Results: Results were generated from 201 participants, 62% HIV exposed infants had been tested for HIV within the MOH recommended period of testing within two months of age. In this study; Age of caregivers (p=0.006), type of caregiver (p=0.003), educational status of caregivers (p=0.003), occupation of caregiver (p=0.002), family size (p=0.001) and number of children the caregiver had (p=0.002) were significantly associated with uptake of EID services on bivariate analysis. On bivariate analysis, these factors were associated with early uptake of EID services. They are: Caregivers’ knowledge of age for EID (p<0.001), knowledge of frequency of EID (p<0.001) awareness of HIV testing in infants during pregnancy (p=0.002), knowledge of benefits of EID (p=0.003), knowledge that EID can detect HIV p=0.018), knowledge of appropriate of age of EID (p<0.001); and ART status of the caregiver (p<0.05) The health facility factors on bivariate analysis associated with uptake of early infant diagnosis of HIV are: Waiting time (p<0.039); availability of EID services (p<0.014). Conclusions Uptake of EID services at Wakiso HCIV is 62% which is lower than the recommended MOH target of 80%. Recommendations The District Health Team and health workers at Wakiso HCIV should create awareness among communities on the availability and benefits of early infant testing services; strengthening option B + implementation in MCH to ensure enhanced access to ART among HIV positive pregnant women; strengthen health education during antenatal care visits to ensure that topics related to HIV testing in infants are well-articulated; strengthen family planning service provision; and advocate for improved education of the girl child in order to increase access to information

Post-operative patients in particular experience severe to moderate pain following surgical procedure. Pain management is a vital component when caring for these patients to ensure prompt recovery. It was essential to explore the knowledge, attitude and practices of nurses related to pain assessment among post-operative patients. The significance of the study was to generate data required and to develop strategies to improve nurses‟ knowledge, attitude and practices related to pain assessment among post-operative patients in order to improve patients comfort and quality of life through improved nursing practice. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed after approval from IHSU research committee and the three target hospitals. A total population of N=373 nurses and midwives who work on post-operative patients in the three hospitals in Kampala participated in the study. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed by tables, graphs, pie charts and percentages. The study revealed that majority of respondents, 290 (77.8%) had a high level of knowledge on pain management among post-operative patients; 208 (56%) had positive attitude towards pain management among post-operative patients and 227 (60.9%) reported to use pain assessment tools in the evaluation of pain. Findings highlight the need to improve nurses‟ knowledge, attitude and practices related to pain assessment and management among post-operative patients. Initiatives are recommended such as the need to conduct routine continuous health education, setting up strict guidelines, polices, routine supervision and motivating nurses with up to date information among others.

The purpose of this study was to investigate consumer adoption of online shopping in Uganda. The study adopted the Theory of Planned Behaviour to investigate the relationship between attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural controls and behavioural intention on consumer adoption of online shopping. To fulfil this purpose and test the various relationships, five research questions were developed based on the research model The study followed a quantitative cross-sectional approach, and the data collection was made possible through a survey questionnaire targeting internet users in Kampala city, Uganda. A sample of 420 respondents was used of which 395 usable questionnaires were returned. Furthermore, the analysis of the data was done using SPSS 16 and Sobel’s test. Descriptive analysis, Correlation, Linear Regression and Factor Analysis were run to describe the sample and answer the research questions. The study found a strong positive and significant relationship between attitude and behavioural intention to shop online. A moderately positive relationship was also found between Perceived Behavioural Controls and intention to shop online. The relationship between Subjective norms and behavioural intention to shop online was also found to be significant. It was also found that a positively significant relationship exists between behavioural intention and consumer adoption of online shopping. The paper adds to the existing literature by detangling the relationships between attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural controls and behavioural intention on consumer adoption of online shopping in Uganda. From the above findings, it was concluded that attitude is the most significant predictor of behavioural intention to adopt online shopping in Uganda, followed by perceived behavioural controls and Subjective norms; and intention has reasonable influence on the consumers’ final decision to adopt online shopping.

The study examined the relationship between financial management practices, competitive advantage and loan performance of MFIS in Kampala region. The study aimed at investigating the cause of a sharp rise in loan defaults in loan performance. A conceptual frame work was developed relating financial management practices (Risk management, Working capital management and Budgeting) The motivation of this study was the fact that the Bank of Uganda and other stakeholders had directed their effort towards improving the performance of MFIS. Despite this, Bank of Uganda had highlighted declining loan performance of MFIS in Uganda. The research adopted a blend of cross sectional and descriptive research design and simple random sampling was used for the study. The population included 84 MFIS from which a sample of 70 was obtained. A simple random sampling technique was used. Primary data was obtained from 61 MFIS, providing a response rate of 87%. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with perceptions and beliefs sought to a five point Likert scale. The data obtained were analysed using factor, correlation, regression and Normality tests. From the analyses, it was established that, financial management practices, competitive advantage have significant and positive effect on loan performance of MFIS with a total contribution of 43%. In reference to the findings of the Study, the researcher concluded that a significant positive relationship existed between financial management practices, competitive advantage and loan performance of MFIS in Kampala region. As such recommendations were made in line with improving and enhancing the financial management practices and competition of these MFIS such as risk management and working capital gaps assessment in order to achieve a competitive advantage for MFIS products for future loan performance. MFIS strategies to minimize losses require effective Bank management practices that may reduce poor loan performance.