Browsing by Author "Kiconco, Justine"

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Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Occupational Hazards Among Metal Fabricators in Nakawa Division, Kampala.
(International Health Sciences University, 2013-09) Kiconco, Justine
In Nakawa Division Kampala, evidence shows that many occupational hazards occur among employees in particular the metal fabricators. Though the Ugandan constitution (1995) article 39 stipulates that every worker has a right to a clean, healthy and safe environment, these only stop within the constitution and are not usually implemented. In Nakawa division alone within one single clinic in particular Don Ken clinic, an average of four people get wounded weekly due to instruments used while hitting and hammering metals compared to two recorded weekly with irritated and tearing eyes due to dust and fumes at the welding workshops. If such situation continues, it was envisaged that many employers would lose productivity to preventable hazards. The situation would have devastating implications on part of the affected employees and their family members hence the need to carry out this study. The main objective of the study was to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of occupational hazards among metal fabricators in Nakawa Division, Kampala. The findings were obtained using a cross sectional study approach in which questionnaires were administered to 246 metal fabricators in Nakawa division. The study found out that majority of the metal fabricators had ever been involved in occupational hazards (96.7%). These hazards included among others electric shocks, cuts and bruises, eye defects, hearing problems and deep cuts which occur anytime and are serious in majority cases. It was also found out that though the gender of the metal fabricators does not influence the occurrence of occupational hazards among metal fabricators in Nakawa Division, the age, marital status, level of education, and experience in years besides monthly income significantly influence the occurrence of occupational hazards amongst metal fabricators. The study also found out that whereas most metal fabricators do protect themselves against occupational hazards using items such as gloves and eye shades which demonstrate good knowledge of occupational hazards, such knowledge has got no significant influence on the occurrence of occupational hazards. It however established that the presence of environmental factors like noise, heat, dust, fumes, frames, sparks and sharp tools significantly influenced the occurrence of occupational hazards during metal fabrication. Based on the objectives, findings and conclusions the study recommends among others that owners of fabrication workshops and other stakeholders put in place guidelines which involve not only giving formal training to employees but also puts emphasis on employee attitude to protect themselves against occupational hazards using items such as gloves, eye shades, overall and gum boots. It also recommends that fabrication workshop owners with concerted efforts try as much as possible to reduce on environmental factors leading to hazards such as dust, fumes, frames and sharp tools and unguarded tools.
Medicines management and treatment outcomes:
(International Health Sciences University, 2015-12) Kiconco, Justine
Introduction: Poor treatment outcomes result from clinically inappropriate and inefficient use of medicines and this is an important public health problem Worldwide and more so in sub Saharan Africa where Uganda is located (WHO 2004). Availability of medicines, prescribing and dispensing practices greatly influence treatment outcomes. Irrational prescribing is a global problem (WHO 2012). Bad prescribing and dispensing practices can lead to ineffective and unsafe treatments, exacerbation or prolongation of illness, distress or harm to the patient and higher treatment costs (WHO 2012) Objective: The study assessed the influence of availability of essential medicines, prescribing and dispensing practices on treatment outcomes in health centres within Bushenyi district, Uganda. Methods: The study used a descriptive cross sectional study design in which questionnaires were administered to 26 dispensers and 27 prescribers alongside exit interviews on 295 patients in 27 randomly selected health centres. Results: The study found that average availability of drugs in all health centres was 62.5% though varying across health centres. The study found a positive but insignificant influence of the availability of drugs on treatment outcomes across health Centres (r = 0.395, Sig. = 0.302 > 5%). Average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 2.5, overall average percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name was 77.9%, the patient encounters with an antibiotic and injection prescribed was 62.7% and 25.4% respectively, average consultation time as 11.6 minutes overall and an insignificantly positive influence of the percentage of drugs prescribed by generic name on treatment outcomes among patients across the health centres (r = 0.529, Sig = 0.236). Average dispensing time in all health centres was 129.9 seconds, overall average percentage of drugs actually dispensed was 85.9%, the overall average proportion of drugs adequately labelled was 36.4% and the proportion of patients who knew about their dosage was 52.9%. The study found that percentage of drugs actually dispensed had a positive significant influence on the treatment outcomes of patients across the health centres (r =0.907, sig = 0.047 < 5%). Conclusions: The study concluded that availability of drugs has a positive but insignificant influence on the treatment outcomes across health centres in Bushenyi district. The percentage of drugs actually dispensed had a high positive significant influence on treatment outcomes of patients. It was also concluded that availability of medicines, prescribing and dispensing practices were below the WHO recommendations and there is need to design strategies to improve availability of essential drugs and improve prescribing and dispensing practices.