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.
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- Contact the library through email: libsupport@muni.ac.ug
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Recent Submissions
Association of high serum aspartate transaminase to high density lipoproteincholesterol ratio with probable dementia among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Southwestern Uganda
(Sage, 2025-08-11) Bagenda, Charles Nkubi; Mudondo, Hope; Ssemwanga, Elastus; Nzaramba, Daniel; Ssedyabane, Frank; Ojuko, Samuel; Musinguzi, Benson; Akiteng, Winnie; Agaba, Bosco Bekiita; Osuwat, Lawrence Obado; Maling, Samuel; Rugera, Simon Peter; Tusubira, Deusdedit
Objectives:
Previous studies present conflicting evidence on the relationship between hepatocellular damage biomarkers and dementia risk. While elevated serum transaminases have been associated with mild cognitive impairment, other studies link lower transaminase levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels to increased risk of cognitive decline. This study investigated the association between serum transaminase-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratios and probable dementia among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy.
Methods:
We conducted a secondary data analysis using a dataset from a cross-sectional study conducted among 377 people living with HIV on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy in southwestern Uganda. Probable dementia was screened using the brief Community Screening Instrument for Dementia and defined as a Community Screening Instrument for Dementia cognitive score ⩽4. Serum alanine aminotransferase/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and aspartate aminotransferase/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratios were calculated from the respective serum transaminases and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol divided into tertiles. We used logistic regression to assess the association between the independent variables and probable dementia.
Results:
The median age of the study participants was 44 years (interquartile range: 30–59), with 56.2% being female. The median total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in participants with probable dementia compared to those without (3.86 versus 3.22, p = 0.03). Aspartate aminotransferase/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were also higher among participants with probable dementia compared to those without, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. In the fully adjusted model, compared to participants in the first tertile of aspartate aminotransferase/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio, the odds of probable dementia were higher in the second tertile (adjusted odds ratio: 1.71; 95% confidence interval: 0.62–4.74; p = 0.301) and significantly elevated in the third tertile (adjusted odds ratio: 4.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.15–17.46; p = 0.031).
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that an elevated aspartate aminotransferase/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio is significantly associated with probable dementia among people living with HIV on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy. A high aspartate aminotransferase/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio is potentially associated with cognitive decline in this population.
How the chemical composition of solids influences the formation of planetesimals
(EDP Sciences, 2025-07-11) Xenos, Konstantinos Odysseas; Bitsch, Bertram; Andama, Geoffrey
The formation of planetesimals is a necessary step for the formation of planets. While several methods exist that can explain the formation of planetesimals, an increase in the local dust-to-gas ratio above unity is a strong requirement to trigger the collapse of the pebble cloud to form planetesimals. One prime location for this to happen is at the water-ice line, where large water-rich pebbles evaporate and release their smaller silicate cores, resulting in an increase in the local dust-to-gas ratio originating from the different inward velocities of the large and small pebbles. While previous work indicated that planetesimal formation becomes very challenging at overall dustto-gas ratios below 0.6%, in line with the occurrence of close-in super-Earths, it is unclear how the overall disc composition influences the formation of planetesimals. Observations of stellar abundances not only indicate a decrease in the overall C/O ratio for low metallicity stars, they also show a large spread in the C/O ratios. However, the C/O ratio sets the abundance of water ice within the disc. Using the 1D numerical disc evolution code chemcomp, we simulated protoplanetary discs with varying C/O ratios and dust-to-gas ratios over a 3 Myr timescale. Planetesimal formation is modelled by implementing conditions based on dust-gas dynamics and pebble fragmentation. Our results confirm that planetesimal formation is highly dependent on disc metallicity with lower metallicity discs forming significantly fewer planetesimals. We find that a decreased carbon fraction generally enhances planetesimal formation, while a higher carbon fraction suppresses it due to a reduced water abundance at the same dust-to-gas ratio. The opposite is the case with the oxygen ratio, where larger oxygen fractions allow a more efficient formation of planetesimals at the same overall dust-to-gas ratio. Consequently we make the prediction that planets around low metallicity stars should be more common if the stars have low C/O ratios, especially when their oxygen abundance is increased compared to other elements, testable through observations. Our simulations thus open a pathway to understanding whether the composition of the planet-forming material influences the growth of planets.
How have unintended pregnancies and contraceptive use among adolescent girls and young women changed in Uganda? Evidence from the 2014 and 2019 PMA national surveys
(Public Library of Science (PLOS), 2025-04-29) Kibira, Simon P.S.; Nakafeero, Mary; Amollo, Mathew; Ssenyonga, Ronald; Ndejjo, Rawlance; Anglewicz, Phil; Kukundakwe, Melody; Luzze, Mabel; Kagongwe, Samuel; Guma, Victor; Zalwango, Vivian; Makumbi, Fredrick Edward
Unintended pregnancies among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and any pregnancy among adolescent girls are still a challenge, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda. We assess prevalence of unintended pregnancy in Uganda, associated factors and contraceptive use following unintended pregnancy among adolescent girls and young women in 2014 and 2019 in Uganda. Data are from the 2014 and 2019 performance monitoring for action (PMA) surveys. There were 1,479 AGYW reporting ever/ or current pregnancy in the two surveys, 780 in 2014 and 699 in 2019. Data included socio-demographics and pregnancy intendedness. Descriptive analyses were conducted stratified by adolescent girls and young women and compared between surveys. The percent of unintended pregnancies was determined as the number of AGYW reporting unintended pregnancy divided by eligible participants. A weighted comparison of the prevalence of unintended pregnancies was made between the surveys, and statistical significance determined at a 5% type-1 error rate. All analyses were conducted with Stata version15 using svy surveyset methodology accounting for complex survey design. Relative to 2014, the 2019 survey showed a significant reduction in percent of AGYW reporting ever pregnant or given birth, 60% to 49%, p = 0.007; a decline in unintended pregnancy among adolescent girls, 52% to 42%, p = 0.049, and among young women with secondary education, 36% to 13%, p = 0.001. Conversely, the 2019 survey showed significant increase in contraception among those ever pregnant, 26% to 40%, p < 0.001; higher in young women (30% to 47%, p = 0.001) compared to adolescent girls (16% to 25%, p = 0.005). The commonest contraceptive methods were short-acting at both surveys, while the long-acting methods significantly increased among young women (20% to 35%, p = 0.003). The decline in unintended pregnancies was consistent with increased use of contraceptive methods. Although we observed a significant decline in unintended pregnancy among adolescent girls, the proportion reporting unintended pregnancy remains high.
One-year follow-up effects of the informed health choices secondary school intervention on students’ ability to think critically about health in Uganda: a cluster randomized trial
(Springer Nature, 2025-02-26) Ssenyonga, Ronald; Oxman, Andrew D.; Nakyejwe, Esther; Chesire, Faith; Mugisha, Michael; Nsangi, Allen; Oxman, Matt; Rose, Christopher James; Rosenbaum, Sarah E.; Moberg, Jenny; Kaseje, Margaret; Nyirazinyoye, Laetitia; Dahlgren, Astrid; Lewin, Simon; Sewankambo, Nelson K.
Introduction
We assessed the effects of the Informed Health Choices (IHC) secondary school intervention on students’ ability to think critically about choices 1 year after the intervention.
Methods
We randomized eighty secondary schools to the intervention or control (usual curriculum). The schools were randomly selected from the central region of Uganda and included rural and urban, government, and privately-owned schools. One randomly selected class of year-2 students (ages 14–17) from each school participated in the trial. The intervention included a 2-day teacher training workshop, 10 lessons accessed online by teachers and delivered in classrooms during one school term (May–August 2022). The lessons addressed nine prioritized IHC concepts. We used two multiple-choice questions for each concept to evaluate the students’ ability to think critically about choices at both the end of the school term and again after 1 year. The primary outcome was the proportion of students with a passing score (≥ 9 of 18 questions answered correctly) on the “Critical Thinking about Health” (CTH) test.
Results
After 1-year, 71% (1749/2477) of the students in the intervention schools and 71% (1684/2376) of the students in the control schools completed the CTH test. In the intervention schools, 53% (934/1749) of students who completed the test had a passing score compared to 33% (557/1684) of students in the control schools (adjusted difference 22%, 95% CI 16–28).
Conclusions
The effect of the IHC secondary school intervention on students’ ability to assess health-related claims was largely sustained for at least 1 year.
Trial registration
Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR202204861458660. Registered on 4 April 2022.
Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey
(Elsevier, 2025-02-21) Ndibalekera, Maria; Bangirana, Clare Ahabwe; Amollo, Mathew; Olido, Kenneth; Kafuko, Agatha; Opobo, Timothy; Ssenyonga, Ronald
Background
Researchers have identified various factors that contribute to low levels of educational attainment. However, studies examining the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and educational attainment remain scarce. Understanding this relationship is vital since experiencing violence during childhood is associated with poor educational outcomes and a higher likelihood of financial difficulties and employment issues later in life.
Objective
This study sought to understand the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment for male and female young adults.
Participants and setting. The study uses data from the Uganda Violence Against Children Survey (2018), focusing on participants aged 18–24.
Methods
Secondary analysis was done using STATA 14 among participants aged 18–24 years from whom responses on childhood sexual violence (CSV) victimization were solicited. CSV was measured in its different forms i.e., unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex, pressured sex and sexual exploitation, while low educational attainment was defined as being out of school and having primary or less as the highest level of education. Bivariable analysis and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted.
Results
The majority (67.2%) of the sample of 2312 young adults had low educational attainment. Basing on the different forms of childhood sexual violence victimization (sexual exploitation, unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex and pressured sex), low education attainment ranged between 59.2% and 72.3% for males and 50.9% and 72.4% for females. The different forms of CSV were not significantly associated with low educational attainment except attempted forced sex among females (P = 0.011) in the bivariate analysis and child marriage in the multivariate model (P = 0.022).
Conclusion
Low levels of educational attainment in Uganda are prevalent and could be influenced by various factors that warrant further investigation. There is a need for additional research to clarify the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment. Considering the well established advantages of education for individuals and communities, it is essential to strengthen initiatives aimed at increasing both access to and the quality of educational services.