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Postnatal care service utilisation and associated factors among multiparous women in Buyamba County, Rakai District Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study
(Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 2025-12-26) Nakayima, Robinah; Ssemujju, Stephen; Ekakoro, Newton
Background
Despite advancements in the use of maternity care services, certain nations in sub-Saharan Africa continue to record unacceptable rates of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in the postnatal period. This study aimed to assess the level of postnatal care service utilisation and associated factors among multiparous women in Buyamba County, Rakai District, Uganda.
Method
A community-based cross-sectional study involving women who had two or more children was conducted in four sub-counties of Buyamba County. Study participants were recruited using a systematic sampling technique. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to gather data. Descriptive, bivariate and modified poisson regressions were computed using STATA version 14. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05 and the strength of statistical association was assessed by prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals.
Result
Out of 321 women who participated in the study, (81.9%) were married, (30.8%) were aged 35–44 years, (71.0%) attended antenatal care (ANC) during their previous pregnancy, (94.7%) delivered normally, and (94.4%) utilised postnatal care (PNC) services of which (67.2%) received immunisation for the children, (26.2%) acquired family planning counseling and (70.3%) had four or more PNC visits. Attending antenatal care (aPR = 1.750; 95% CI: 1.029–2.981), being aware of PNC services (aPR = 1.380; 95% CI: 1.016–1.875), receiving PNC education (aPR = 1.421; 95% CI: 1.048–1.923), having a normal delivery (aPR = 1.538; 95% CI: 1.055–2.241), and residing within 5 km of a health facility (aPR = 1.282; 95% CI: 1.006–1.632) were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of utilising postnatal care services. In contrast, being younger in age (aPR = 0.511; 95% CI: 0.347–0.752) and having a husband without formal education (aPR = 0.622; 95% CI: 0.454–0.853) were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of postnatal care services utilisation.
Conclusion
The study identified several maternal, spousal, and accessibility factors influencing postnatal care utilisation. Enhancing maternal health education, improving facility access, involving partners, and strengthening antenatal counseling and community sensitisation can increase PNC utilisation and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.
A multi-layered exploration of students’ motivations for pursuing a work-study trajectory in Ugandan universities
(Discover Education, 2025-12-24) Buhwamatsiko, Tumuheki Peace
The integration of work and university studies has become a widespread phenomenon, reshaping higher education to align with changing societal and economic demands. This study explores the motivations driving students to pursue a work-study trajectory in Uganda, focusing on two private and two public universities. A qualitative approach with an exploratory design was employed, using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 25 working undergraduate students, purposively selected. Data were thematically analysed using ATLAS.ti for organization, transparency and rigor. To account for the complexity of student motivations, the study adopted a multi-theory framework, drawing primarily on Self-Determination Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, and supplemented by Human Capital Theory, Cultural Capital Theory, Social Cognitive Career Theory, Expectancy Theory, Role Theory, and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This integrated approach enabled a comprehensive examination of individual, societal, and contextual factors influencing students’ decisions to combine work and study. Findings reveal three key categories of motivation: individual intrinsic, individual extrinsic and non-individual extrinsic, driven by personal growth, career aspirations, financial needs and family or, societal expectations. These motivations reflect the interplay of internal drives, role expectations, and environmental influences shaping students’ trajectories. The study offers insights into how universities can better support working students by developing flexible, inclusive academic strategies that recognize diverse learner needs. It also underscores the role of lifelong learning in promoting equity and adaptability within higher education systems. These insights contribute to the broader discourse on the intersection of higher education and employment and how this relationship, impacts students’ academic and professional success.
Construction of symmetric third order difference operators on a Hilbert space
(Gulf Journal of Mathematics, 2025-12-20) Sorowen, Ben; Nyamwala, Fredrick Oluoch; Ambogo, David Otieno
We have constructed a symmetric third order difference equation and studied the absolutely continuous spectrum of the self adjoint subspace extension generated using the subspace and decomposition theories. In particular, we have shown that under some decay and growth conditions, the self-adjoint subspace extension exists with discrete spectrum on l2(N) while the absolutely continuous spectrum contained on half line of multiplicity one exists on l2(Z) if we use decomposition technique. We have given a number of examples to reinforce our results.
High-sensitivity terahertz metasurface biosensor for multi-cancer detection: a machine learningenhanced approach using graphene–MXene– silver–copper hybrid architecture
(Materials Technology Advanced Performance Materials, 2025-12-19) Wekalao, Jacob; Elsayed, Hussein A.; Mehaney, Ahmed; Ochen, William; Othman, Sarah I.; Bellucc, Stefano; Amuthakkannan, Rajakannu; Ahmed, Ashour M.; Muheki, Jonas
Early cancer detection requires highly sensitive diagnostic tools beyond the capabilities of conventional imaging and biopsy methods. We present a terahertz (THz) metasurface biosensor that integrates a copper-coated H-shaped resonator with three silver rectangular resonators enclosed within an MXene circular ring. The
design incorporates complex electromagnetic interactions, nonlocal effects, and coupled-mode modelling to optimise performance. The biosensor achieves a sensitivity of 1000 GHz/RIU, a quality factor of 3.6–3.747, and a figure of merit up to 13.333 RIU⁻¹. It maintains stable absorption (52.789–53.804%) across 0.27–0.281 THz, with a linear resonance–refractive-index response (R² = 0.95276). Machine-learning optimisation of graphene chemical potential further enhances predictive accuracy (R² = 0.93). By enabling simultaneous detection of multiple cancer biomarkers through frequency-shift analysis, this noninvasive platform offers strong potential for real-time, early-stage cancer screening.
Determinants of household food security and nutritional status of children 24-59 months in Namutumba District, Busoga Sub-region, Uganda
(Cambridge University Press, 2025-11-18) Asiimwe, Jacent Kamuntu; Ndegeya, Kizito; Nambooze, Joweria; Nantongo, Veronica
Household food security plays a critical role in determining the nutritional status of children, which in turn impacts their growth and development. This study assessed factors influencing household food security and childhood nutritional status and explored the relationship between these variables in Namutumba District. A total of 299 child-caregiver pairs participated in the study. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed, with multi-level mixed effects generalized linear models to examine factors associated with severe household food insecurity and children’s nutritional status. Multilinear regressions were used to evaluate the relationship between severe household food insecurity and child nutritional status. The results revealed that most households (60.2%) were severely food insecure. A double burden of malnutrition was observed, with 28.0% of children stunted and 2.8% overweight or obese. Factors positively associated with improved household food security included secondary-level education (p = 0.011), medium to high wealth percentile (p < 0.001), and the presence of at least one income-earning household member (p = 0.045). Conversely, lack of access to agricultural land, food stocks, and access to treated drinking water were significantly linked to severe food insecurity (p < 0.001). Severe food insecurity was positively associated with wasting (β = 0.81, p = 0.007) and negatively associated with stunting (β = −0.37, p = 0.039). In conclusion, multiple factors influence household food security, and the nutritional status of children aged 24–59 months. A comprehensive, food systems-based approach may be key to addressing malnutrition in Namutumba District