Browsing by Author "Derrick Amone"

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    Prevalence and factors associated with mental health problems among adolescents living with HIV as screened by youth peers in rural Uganda: A cross-sectional study
    (PLOS Global Public Health, 2026-04-29) Mary Abwola Olwedo; Simon Eleku; Emmanuel Ayikobua Tiyo; Richard Mpango; Alex Imalingat; Fred Kirya; Derrick Amone; Hellen Akurut; Nelson Bunani
    Adolescents living with HIV face numerous psychosocial challenges that increase their vulnerability to mental health problems. However, limited evidence exists on the prev alence and contributing factors among this population in the Teso region of Uganda. This study assessed the prevalence of mental health problems and associated fac tors among adolescents living with HIV in the Teso region. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents aged 10–19 years receiving HIV care in selected high-volume health facilities in the Teso region. Data were collected using the Home, Education/Employment, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide/Depression psychosocial assessment tool (HEADSS tool), uploaded onto Kobo Collect for digital data collection. The data were exported to Microsoft Excel, cleaned, and analyzed using STATA version 17. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sociodemo graphic characteristics and estimate the prevalence of mental health problems. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with mental health prob lems. The prevalence of mental health problems was 35.2%, with suicidal tendencies being the most common (31%). Factors significantly associated with mental health problems included staying with one parent (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.55-0.92; p = 0.001) and not working (AOR = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.66–11.62; p = 0.03). Mental health problems are prevalent among adolescents living with HIV in the Teso region. Supportive living arrangements were protective, while employment was associated with increased risk. Peer-led screening can aid early identification, emphasizing the need to integrate men tal health services into adolescent HIV care, strengthen family and caregiver support
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    Prevalence, Patterns, and Factors Associated with Hearing Impairment Among Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease in Eastern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
    (Dove Press, 2026-09-02) Christine Olwedo Adoch; Julius Otto; Derrick Amone; Julian Abeso; Nancy Malaika; Kevin Achiro; Martin Chebet; Richard Katuramu; Theoneste Hakizimana; Ivaan Pitua; Kim Andrew Otto; Mary Olwedo Abwola; Augustine Owiny Okejomoe
    Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) imposes a substantial burden in sub-Saharan Africa, and the cochlea is vulnerable to the vasoocclusion and chronic anaemia that characterise the condition. Hearing impairment in children with SCD remains poorly described in Uganda, including the eastern districts around Mbale that carry one of the highest SCD burdens in the country. This study determined the prevalence, patterns, and factors associated with hearing impairment among children and adolescents with SCD attending Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 225 children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years attending the sickle cell clinic in a steady clinical state. An audiologist performed pure-tone audiometry, and hearing impairment was defined as a worse-ear average air-conduction threshold above 20 dB at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, following the World Health Organization definition. Factors associated with hearing impairment were examined using Firth penalised logistic regression, with crude and adjusted odds ratios reported with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Hearing impairment was present in 52 of 225 participants, a prevalence of 23.1% (95% CI 18.1 to 29.0). Impairment was unilateral in 29 and bilateral in 23, and most losses were mild. A central nervous system event (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.54; 95% CI 1.01 to 12.43; p = 0.049) and a history of ear infection (aOR 2.42; 95% CI 1.01 to 5.82; p = 0.048) were independently associated with hearing impairment. Three or more transfusions showed a comparable association that just missed significance (aOR 2.16; 95% CI 0.99 to 4.73; p = 0.054). Conclusion: One in four children and adolescents with SCD at this referral hospital had hearing impairment, and the affected children carried markers of severe disease and middle-ear pathology. Audiometry should be integrated into routine sickle cell care to detect impairment before it harms language and learning.