Muni Repository (MR)
This repository contains open access publications of Muni University Library.
Objectives:
- To digitally collect, preserve and provide electronic access to scholarly works and research output of Muni University.
- Increase the visibility and impact of our research, making it easy for researchers, students, policymakers and journalists to reference, replicate, and re-use the work.
- Issue permanent, unique and trustworthy identifiers when creating URLs to access the resource without concern that the location of the resource may change.
How to publish in Muni Repository
- Contact the library through email: libsupport@muni.ac.ug
Communities in MR
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Pou2f3 modulates mosquito host-seeking behavior by regulating skin microbiota and their production of volatiles: Implications for eco-friendly pest control strategies
(ACS Publications, 2025-06-26) Wang, Hui; Ruixi, Qian; Wang, Yuxiang; Li, Lanxi; Wu, Wenxuan; Chen, Yunxuan; Li, Wenqing; Wijewardana, Chanuka Nisalanka; Zhou, Yinghui; Padde, John Roberts; Wang, Yuxiang; Hou, Min; Xu, Zhipeng; Ji, MinJun; Chen, Lu; Chen, Lin
Skin microbiota-derived volatile metabolites are critical for mosquito host-seeking and disease transmission. Similar volatile organic compounds (VOCs)-mediated mechanisms may apply to agricultural pests (e.g., aphids, whiteflies). We demonstrate that Pou2f3, a skin-enriched transcription factor, regulates β-defensin1 expression, shaping microbiota composition and volatile production. Pou2f3-deficient mice exhibited increased Staphylococcus abundance and elevated 1-methoxy-2-propanol levels, enhancing attraction in Culex and Aedes mosquitoes. This VOC, alongside other microbiota-derived compounds, could inspire targeted attractants for eco-friendly pest control via species-specific lures in integrated pest management (IPM). By bridging medical entomology and agricultural chemistry, this work advances sustainable solutions against vector-borne diseases and agricultural pests through precision chemical ecology strategies.
Effect of alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking on psychological distress: a quasi-experimental study using the 2022 Kenya demographic health survey data
(BMJ Group, 2025-06-16) Kamau, Kennedy; Andeso, Pauline; Muga, Winstoun; Karisa, Amani; Musyoki, Davis; Kuria, Joseph Mutura; Kadengye, Damazo T; Izudi, Jonathan
Methods: We analysed the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey data. The primary exposure was alcohol consumption, and tobacco smoking was the secondary exposure. The outcome was psychological distress. We employed propensity score matching to achieve comparability on observed covariates between the exposed and unexposed groups. We then performed conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusting for matched pairs to establish a cause-effect relation between the exposures of interest and the outcome. We reported the OR and 95% CI. We conducted a sensitivity analysis using Mantel-Haenszel bounds to check for the robustness of the cause-effect findings to unmeasured confounders.
Results: Of the 46 609 participants included in the study, 6450 (13.8%) consumed alcohol, while 2353 (5.0%) smoked tobacco. Overall, 1091 (2.3%) participants reported psychological distress. Among alcohol consumers, 352 (32.3%) reported psychological distress, compared with 115 (10.5%) among tobacco smokers. In a 1:1 ratio, we matched 10 070 individuals based on alcohol consumption and 4270 based on tobacco smoking status. In propensity-score-matched analysis, alcohol consumption (OR 2.76, 95% CI 2.06 to 3.70) and tobacco smoking (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.24) showed an effect on psychological distress.
Conclusion: This study found that alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking increase psychological distress among adults aged 15-54 years in Kenya. There is, therefore, a need to screen for psychological distress among people who drink alcohol or smoke tobacco to provide them with prompt mental health interventions.
Initiation of breastfeeding among mothers attending a regional referral hospital in central Uganda: a cross-sectional study
(Springer Nature, 2025-06-16) Nakayiza, Vivianne; Izudi, Jonathan; Nasuuna, Esther M; Atim, Fiona
Background: Breastfeeding initiation within the first hour of birth is beneficial in reducing the risk of maternal and neonatal mortality. However, a significant proportion of mothers delay initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth, but the association with age has not been rigorously studied. We examined the association between maternal age and delayed initiation of breastfeeding in a large urban referral hospital in central Uganda.
Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted at the Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital in Central Uganda. Data were collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire between October 1, 2019, and December 20, 2019. Delayed initiation of breastfeeding was the primary outcome, defined as putting the newborn to the breast after one hour of birth. The primary exposure was maternal age categorized as 15–24, 25–34, and 35–45 years. We performed a modified Poisson regression analysis to determine the independent association between maternal age and delayed initiation of breastfeeding, adjusting for other confounders. We stated the findings as an adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results: We studied 384 participants with a mean age of 27.5 ± 5.5 years. Of the 384 participants studied, 275 (71.6%) had delayed initiating breastfeeding, with the majority aged 15–24 years. In a multivariable analysis, delayed initiation of breastfeeding was significantly associated with maternal age groups of 15–24 years (aPR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01,1.63) and 25–34 years (aPR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01–1.60) compared to the reference group of 35–45 years. Additionally, delivery through cesarean section compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery was associated with delayed initiation of breastfeeding (aPR 1.93, 95% CI 1.49–2.49).
Conclusion: Delayed initiation of breastfeeding is common and is associated with maternal age (15–24 and 25–34 years) as well as delivery through cesarean section. Routine health education and staff mentoring are needed to enhance early initiation of breastfeeding to prevent maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Return to care of children and adolescents living with HIV who missed their clinic visits or were lost to follow-up: a continuous quality improvement study in Uganda
(Springer Nature, 2025-06-13) Ssentongo, Mugerwa Saadick; Izudi, Jonathan; Oryokot, Boniface; Opito, Ronald; Bakashaba, Baker; Munina, Abel; Opolot, Kokas; Ogwal, Daniel; Ssendiwala, Julius; Mugisha, Kenneth
Background: While the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets have been met among adults, those for children and adolescents remain suboptimal. This study aimed to improve the return-to-care rates among children and adolescents living with HIV (CALHIV) who missed clinic appointments at a county-level rural health facility in eastern Uganda.
Methods: Between January 2023 and January 2024, we conducted a continuous quality improvement (CQI) study. A CQI committee was established through entry meetings and training, and quality of care gaps were identified through data reviews. We prioritised one gap for CQI through ranking, performed a root-cause analysis using a fishbone diagram, and developed and ranked improvement changes using the impact-effort matrix. The improvement changes were implemented using Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. The changes included (1) line listing CALHIV with missed appointments and following up via phone calls; (2) weekly data reviews to harmonise missed appointments and (3) assigning community health workers (CHWs) to trace and return CALHIV to care. We tracked and plotted the proportion of CALHIV returning to care over time to assess improvements.
Results: Before the implementation of CQI initiatives (August 2022-January 2023), the average return-to-care rate was 35% (baseline). Following the initiation of CQI in February 2023, the average return-to-care rate increased to 59% from February to May 2023 with the introduction of line listing (phase 1), to 69% from June to September 2023 with the implementation of weekly data reviews (phase 2), and to 88% from October 2023 to January 2024 with the involvement of CHWs (phase 3), ultimately reaching a peak of 100% in January 2024.
Conclusion: The CQI approach improved the return to care of CALHIV who missed clinic appointments, allowing access to optimal care and better health outcomes. These findings should serve as preliminary data for larger randomised studies.
Do poverty traps exist in Uganda? Household level evidence from panel data
(University of Dar es Salaam, 2025-06-28) Aliga, Alex; Oryema, John Bosco; Kavuma, susan
This study aimed at providing new evidence on the existence of poverty trap among Uganda’s households using Uganda National Panel data. Evidence of the existence of a poverty trap is fundamental in guiding the development of sound policies and interventions targeted to assist in pulling households out of poverty trap. Analysis was based on two sets of panel data comprising 8,122 households from 3 waves (2009/2010-2011/2012) and 12,199 households from 4 waves (2013/2014-2019/2020). Using the PCA constructed asset index approach based on a parametric regression model, we show that a poverty trap exists. This is revealed by the negative quartic polynomial coefficients of the asset index and asset values (-0.004** & -0.010***) respectively. Bivariate level results confirm that 18% (1,314,000) of Uganda’s households are trapped in poverty. A comprehensive, well-structured, targeted asset accumulation and poverty trap reduction interventions including cash transfers, should be implemented by the government for poverty-trapped households.