Featured Publications
Patient preferences for facility-based management of hypertension and diabetes in rural Uganda: a discrete choice experiment
Moor SE, Tusubira AK, Wood D, Akiteng AR, Galusha D, Tessier-Sherman B, Donroe EH, Ngaruiya C, Rabin TL, Hawley NL, Armstrong-Hough M, Nakirya BD, Nugent R, Kalyesubula R, Nalwadda C, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI. Patient preferences for facility-based management of hypertension and diabetes in rural Uganda: a discrete choice experiment. BMJ Open 2022, 12: e059949. PMID: 35863829, PMCID: PMC9310153, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059949.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeer support groupsAvailability of medicinesHealthcare providersPatient preferencesHealth facilitiesHealth educationRural UgandaFacility-based managementCost of treatmentLow-resource settingsDiabetes mellitusNakaseke districtDiscrete choice experimentHealthcare service deliveryAverage respondentIntervention designHTNMedicineUgandan shillingsDCE attributesProvidersGroupService deliveryImproved hypertension control at six months using an adapted WHO HEARTS-based implementation strategy at a large urban HIV clinic in Uganda
Muddu M, Semitala FC, Kimera I, Mbuliro M, Ssennyonjo R, Kigozi SP, Katwesigye R, Ayebare F, Namugenyi C, Mugabe F, Mutungi G, Longenecker CT, Katahoire AR, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI. Improved hypertension control at six months using an adapted WHO HEARTS-based implementation strategy at a large urban HIV clinic in Uganda. BMC Health Services Research 2022, 22: 699. PMID: 35610717, PMCID: PMC9131679, DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08045-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLarge urban HIV clinicUrban HIV clinicHTN outcomesHIV clinicHypertension controlViral suppressionHIV outcomesHTN treatmentFurther implementation researchHIV viral suppressionProportion of patientsPre-post studyVaried clinical settingsAdult PLHIVBP controlHTN controlHTN screeningCare cascadeHIV careLifestyle counselingClinic visitsDiastolic BPHIV controlIndependent predictorsSystolic BPImpact of a COVID-19 National Lockdown on Integrated Care for Hypertension and HIV
Schwartz JI, Muddu M, Kimera I, Mbuliro M, Ssennyonjo R, Ssinabulya I, Semitala FC. Impact of a COVID-19 National Lockdown on Integrated Care for Hypertension and HIV. Global Heart 2021, 16: 9. PMID: 33598389, PMCID: PMC7863843, DOI: 10.5334/gh.928.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth facilitiesPublic health facilitiesCOVID-19 national lockdownHTN controlHIV clinicUgandan patientsClinical outcomesChronic conditionsHypertensionIntegrated careHIVCOVID-19National lockdownMovement restrictionsMedicineNationwide lockdownOutcomesAntiretroviralsLockdownPatientsClinicCohortMotor vehicle transportationCareVariation in the availability and cost of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A descriptive time series analysis
Armstrong-Hough M, Sharma S, Kishore SP, Akiteng AR, Schwartz JI. Variation in the availability and cost of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A descriptive time series analysis. PLOS ONE 2020, 15: e0241555. PMID: 33362249, PMCID: PMC7757794, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241555.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntegrated Hypertension and HIV Care Cascades in an HIV Treatment Program in Eastern Uganda: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Muddu M, Tusubira AK, Sharma SK, Akiteng AR, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI. Integrated Hypertension and HIV Care Cascades in an HIV Treatment Program in Eastern Uganda: A Retrospective Cohort Study. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2019, 81: 552-561. PMID: 31045649, PMCID: PMC6625912, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002067.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRetrospective cohort studyCare cascadeHIV careCohort studyHIV programsPrimary cardiovascular disease risk factorsCardiovascular disease risk factorsHIV care cascadeHIV care programsBlood pressure controlProportion of patientsDisease risk factorsHIV treatment programsViral load monitoringManagement of hypertensionHIV clinicEastern UgandaHIV treatmentRisk factorsCardiovascular diseaseHypertensionCare programPressure controlTreatment programHIVDisparities in availability of essential medicines to treat non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A Poisson analysis using the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment
Armstrong-Hough M, Kishore SP, Byakika S, Mutungi G, Nunez-Smith M, Schwartz JI. Disparities in availability of essential medicines to treat non-communicable diseases in Uganda: A Poisson analysis using the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment. PLOS ONE 2018, 13: e0192332. PMID: 29420640, PMCID: PMC5805288, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192332.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesHIV servicesHealth centersHealth facility preparednessHealth service readinessEssential medicinesPrimary health centersReferral health centersHealth facility typeUgandan health facilitiesFacility typePoisson regression modelsHIV careHIV counselingFacility preparednessReadiness assessment toolGeneral HospitalPredictors of readinessHealth facilitiesService readinessMultivariate analysisSignificant associationDiagnostic capacityHigher countsMultivariate modelTowards reframing health service delivery in Uganda: the Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases
Schwartz JI, Dunkle A, Akiteng AR, Birabwa-Male D, Kagimu R, Mondo CK, Mutungi G, Rabin TL, Skonieczny M, Sykes J, Mayanja-Kizza H. Towards reframing health service delivery in Uganda: the Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases. Global Health Action 2015, 8: 26537. PMID: 25563451, PMCID: PMC4292588, DOI: 10.3402/gha.v8.26537.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesHealth service deliveryIntegrated health services deliveryTraining of HCWsChronic disease preventionHealthcare worker trainingMiddle-income countriesService deliveryDisease preventionCommunicable diseasesHealth systemDouble burdenDiseaseWorker trainingMultidisciplinary research collaborationBurdenDeliveryMorbidityMajor roleManagementMortalityIntegrated ManagementCarePreventionLooking at non-communicable diseases in Uganda through a local lens: an analysis using locally derived data
Schwartz JI, Guwatudde D, Nugent R, Kiiza CM. Looking at non-communicable diseases in Uganda through a local lens: an analysis using locally derived data. Globalization And Health 2014, 10: 77. PMID: 25406738, PMCID: PMC4240853, DOI: 10.1186/s12992-014-0077-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesNCD epidemicHealth systemImportant chronic conditionsNCD risk factorsExcessive alcohol intakeChronic respiratory diseasesMental health disordersRoad traffic accidentsMiddle-income countriesAlcohol intakeChronic conditionsRisk factorsRespiratory diseaseHealth facilitiesHealth disordersNutritional transitionDiseaseNCD policiesSaharan AfricaEpidemicTraffic accidentsRepresentative dataMulti-sector partnershipsUgandaBeating the Odds in Uganda
Schwartz JI. Beating the Odds in Uganda. Annals Of Global Health 2014, 80: 493-494. PMID: 25960099, DOI: 10.1016/j.aogh.2015.02.003.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Diabetes mellitus care cascade among a cohort of persons living with HIV and hypertension in Uganda: A retrospective cohort study
Ambangira F, Sharman J, Muddu M, Kimera I, Namara D, Musimbaggo D, Namugenyi C, Ssenyonjo R, Mbuliro M, Katwesigye R, Schwartz J, Semitala F, Ssinabulya I. Diabetes mellitus care cascade among a cohort of persons living with HIV and hypertension in Uganda: A retrospective cohort study. International Journal Of STD & AIDS 2023, 34: 728-734. PMID: 37269360, DOI: 10.1177/09564624231179497.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDiabetes mellitusLarge urban HIV clinicNon-suppressed viral loadNon-communicable disease burdenUrban HIV clinicHIV care programsRetrospective cohort studyCohort of personsAppropriate diabetes careDiabetes mellitus careNon-communicable diseasesDual HIVCare cascadeHIV clinicCohort studyGlycaemic controlMedian ageViral loadRetrospective studyDiabetes careDisease burdenMellitus careCare programHIVHypertension
2022
The risk of hyperglycemia associated with use of dolutegravir among adults living with HIV in Kampala, Uganda: A case-control study
Namara D, Schwartz JI, Tusubira AK, McFarland W, Birungi C, Semitala FC, Muddu M. The risk of hyperglycemia associated with use of dolutegravir among adults living with HIV in Kampala, Uganda: A case-control study. International Journal Of STD & AIDS 2022, 33: 1158-1164. PMID: 36222490, PMCID: PMC9691558, DOI: 10.1177/09564624221129410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUse of dolutegravirRisk of hyperglycemiaCase-control studyDTG useDiabetes mellitusSubsequent diagnosisOral glucose tolerance testOdds of hyperglycemiaMedical record abstractionGlucose tolerance testMultivariable logistic regressionInterviewer-administered questionnaireNon-communicable diseasesTimes greater oddsDiagnosis of hyperglycemiaDTG exposureAlternate regimensAntiretroviral agentsRecord abstractionMultivariable analysisPotential confoundersPlasma glucoseTolerance testClinical dataHyperglycemia
2021
Causes of medication non-adherence and the acceptability of support strategies for people with hypertension in Uganda: A qualitative study
Wilkinson R, Garden E, Nanyonga RC, Squires A, Nakaggwa F, Schwartz JI, Heller DJ. Causes of medication non-adherence and the acceptability of support strategies for people with hypertension in Uganda: A qualitative study. International Journal Of Nursing Studies 2021, 126: 104143. PMID: 34953374, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCauses of medicationPoor medication adherenceNon-communicable diseasesHypertension controlMedication adherenceCommon non-communicable diseasesMedication side effectsLack of symptomsUrban private hospitalsMonthly group meetingsHealth Belief ModelTraditional herbal medicineHypertensive medicationsUntreated hypertensionAdherence clubsAdherence interventionsConventional content analysis approachText remindersSide effectsHypertensionPatientsMedicationsPatient effortHealthcare providersContext-specific barriersSocial Support for Self-Care: Patient Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Uganda
Tusubira AK, Nalwadda CK, Akiteng AR, Hsieh E, Ngaruiya C, Rabin TL, Katahoire A, Hawley NL, Kalyesubula R, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI, Armstrong-Hough M. Social Support for Self-Care: Patient Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Uganda. Annals Of Global Health 2021, 87: 86. PMID: 34458110, PMCID: PMC8378074, DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3308.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-communicable diseasesSelf-care practicesPrescribed medicinesConventional medicinePatient's social support networkRural UgandaSelf-care activitiesBlood sugar levelsCross-sectional qualitative studyResource-limited settingsSelf-care effortsSocial support networksSocial supportNCD clinicsNineteen patientsAdult patientsHealth facilitiesPatientsPatient strategiesManaging diabetesHypertensionSelf-CareDiabetesDiagnostic testsLow-income countries
2018
Capacity of Ugandan public sector health facilities to prevent and control non-communicable diseases: an assessment based upon WHO-PEN standards
Rogers HE, Akiteng AR, Mutungi G, Ettinger AS, Schwartz JI. Capacity of Ugandan public sector health facilities to prevent and control non-communicable diseases: an assessment based upon WHO-PEN standards. BMC Health Services Research 2018, 18: 606. PMID: 30081898, PMCID: PMC6080524, DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3426-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRegional Referral HospitalHealth Centre IVPublic sector health facilitiesGeneral HospitalNCD screeningHealth facilitiesEssential Noncommunicable Disease InterventionsManagement guidelinesDiabetes management guidelinesManagement of NCDsRandom blood glucosePrimary health careNon-communicable diseasesInter-facility variabilityOnly laboratory testBlood pressure machineLow-resource settingsNCD clinicsPublic sector facilitiesDiabetes clinicReferral hospitalPatient RegistryBlood glucoseProvider knowledgeNCD burden
2017
Exploring knowledge and attitudes toward non-communicable diseases among village health teams in Eastern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Ojo TT, Hawley NL, Desai MM, Akiteng AR, Guwatudde D, Schwartz JI. Exploring knowledge and attitudes toward non-communicable diseases among village health teams in Eastern Uganda: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2017, 17: 947. PMID: 29233114, PMCID: PMC5727968, DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4954-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVillage health teamsNon-communicable diseasesNCD preventionVHT membersHealth teamsMaternal-child healthMedical personnelCross-sectional studyResource-limited settingsEastern UgandaNCD servicesHealth workersReferral toolMajor barrierInfectious diseasesMayuge districtHealth issuesDiseaseThematic qualitative analysisPotential rolePreventionRole expansionCommunity awarenessFocus group discussionsEssential personnel