Approved Research This page provides a searchable list of all research protocols that have been reviewed and approved by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology(UNCST).
Search By Approval Date:
Clear Filter Total: 5,892
Name Title Nationality Approval Date Expiry Date Field of Science/Classification Trial Type Research Type  
Hella Peter Eszter
ID:
Variation in the leaf-tools of wild chimpanzees: Budongo Forest Reserve
REFNo: NS77ES

This research examines leaf-tool use and repertoire in the Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda. In the forest, there are two habituated chimpanzee communities: Waibira, where habituation started in 2011, and Sonso, where habituation started in 1990. Both groups have a unique tool repertoire, without any stick or stone based tools, as opposed to those described at other long-term chimpanzee field sites. Additionally, the Waibira group faces an unusual ecological pressure during the dry season, when, despite being a forest living group, all permanent sources of water dry up. Describing their tool repertoire and investigating how it differs from the neighbouring Sonso community, who have permanent water sources all year around, will shed light on the ecological and social pressures driving the development of tool use. The project aims to provide a detailed description of the leaf-tool use of the Waibira chimpanzees of the Budongo forest, during the dry season lasting from December to end of February. Other aims are to determine variables that influence the use of leaf-tools, accurately measure leaf tools, and draw a developmental timeline for the most common type of leaf-tool, leaf-sponging. This will allow for detailed description of the leaf-tools of the community.
 Hungary 2019-03-11 2022-03-11 Natural Sciences Degree Award
Stephen Ssematimba Kato
ID:
PREGNANCY OUTCOME AMONG WOMEN OF ADVANCED MATERNAL AGE WHO DELIVER IN MULAGO HOSPITAL.
REFNo: HS260ES

General objective 1) To determine the association between advanced maternal age and adverse pregnancy outcomes among women who deliver in Mulago hospital. Specific objectives 1. To determine whether advanced maternal age is associated with adverse maternal outcomes in mothers who deliver from Mulago hospital. 2. To determine whether advanced maternal age is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes among mothers who deliver from Mulago hospital
Uganda 2019-02-26 2022-02-26 Medical and Health Sciences Degree Award
Ravinder Bhavnani D
ID:
MERIAM: Modelling Early Risk Indicators to Anticipate Malnutrition
REFNo: HS245ES

The central aim of the MERIAM project is to identify, test and scale up cost-effective means to improve the prediction and monitoring of undernutrition in difficult contexts, in such a way that it enables an effective response to manage and mitigate nutritional risk. The objectives of the overall, multi-year multi-country MERIAM research project include: (a) the creation of high-quality, relevant research that fills gaps in the evidence base on the prediction of undernutrition in response to shocks (e.g., conflict, drought, spikes in food prices); (b) the accessibility of results and evidence to both technical and non-technical audiences, including facilitation of audience engagement with data and the predictive model via a user-friendly online platform; and, (c) the successful uptake of MERIAM research by key stakeholders in policy and practice, with a focus on national-level actors and their utilization of the data and analysis to inform humanitarian response. The objectives of the Uganda-specific field visit for the computational modelling component include: (1) Visit locations where nutrition crises have occurred to get an understanding of the context, terrain, conditions, and populations (2) Administer questionnaires to identify and gauge key attributes, assets, choice sets, behavioral rules and practices (including adaptation and learning), drivers, constraints, and interventions. (3) Conduct simple vignette-based experiments where interviewees are presented with scenarios to which they answer with how they would respond to or judge various situations (4) Conduct open-ended discussions to make “explicit” the mental models practitioners use for assessment and decision-making
USA 2019-02-26 2022-02-26 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Gavin Ackers Johnson
ID:
Assessing the Resistance Patterns of Bacteria Isolated from Cases of Maternal Sepsis at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Uganda; and Further Investigating the Potential Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in the Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtai
REFNo: HS249ES

1. To determine the most common bacterial species that are associated with maternal sepsis at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital and their resistance profiles. 2. To use molecular typing to assess Staphylococcus aureus isolates and determine whether patients are being infected by the same strains, which may provide clues as to sources of infection 3. To identify the mechanisms of any antibiotic resistance observed.
 UK 2019-02-26 2022-02-26 Medical and Health Sciences Degree Award
Agnes Kiragga
ID:
A Pilot Test of a Technology-delivered HIV Self-Testing Intervention in Kampala, Uganda
REFNo: HS307ES

1) An established 24-hour call-in center staffed by medical providers who will deliver accurate HIV/STI information, perform pre- and post-test counselling, assist with conducting HIVST and interpreting the HIVST results, and referral and linkage to appropriate post-test prevention and treatment care; and 2) The use of SMS and social media streams – specifically private Facebook and Twitter messages - to “push” theoretically-grounded messages that promote HIVST and provide additional private communication routes between participants and medical provider research staff. The study aims are: Aim 1: Develop HIVST messages and finalize study procedures and materials with input from a Community Advisory Board (CAB), and beta test the intervention with 6 sexually active Ugandan adults (18-49 years old; 50% female). Aim 2: Using a pre-post design, assess the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary impact of the HIVST intervention developed in Aim 1 for Ugandan adults (n=100; 70% 18-24 years old, 30% 25-49 years old; 50% female). Feasibility will be assessed by whether enrollment targets are reached and the proportion of completed 1- and 3-month follow-ups calls. Acceptability items will be gathered at 1- and 3-month assessments. Preliminary impact will be determined by the percentage of participants who perform HIVST in the 3 months after enrollment. Aim 3: Analyze process indicators of the overall use of the HIVST intervention, including the number of HIVST kits requested, the volume of callers requesting HIVST during the study period, the number of persons calling for assistance with self-testing procedures, the number of post-test counseling calls received, and the number of persons linked to follow-up prevention and care services.
Uganda 2019-02-26 2022-02-26 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Julie Hennegan Maree
ID:
Assessing girls’ menstrual practices and experience: development of a menstrual practices questionnaire and the menstrual perceptions scale.
REFNo: SS279ES

Background
After a history of neglect and taboo, the role of the menstruation in women and girls’ dignity, health, education, employment, and wellbeing has begun to receive attention. Stakeholders from governments to local charities have started to recognize the barriers that poor menstrual management and menstrual stigma present to gender equality. This has resulted in a rapid increase in the dissemination of interventions; from small-scale sanitary pad or puberty education provision to national policies such as large-scale sanitary pad distribution for schoolgirls in Ghana and Kenya. Despite this increased action, there is limited research available to inform intervention development or evaluation.
There is a lack of comprehensive, validated survey tools with which to measure women and girls’ menstrual practices and experiences. This limits the quality of cross-sectional and intervention research as well as monitoring and evaluation by NGOs and governments.

General Objective
This project aims to improve the measurement of menstrual practices and experiences in low resource settings through field testing and assessment of the psychometric properties of new measures of practices and perceptions.

Specific Objectives
1. To field-test acceptability and responses to a newly developed Menstrual Practices Questionnaire (MPQ), and Menstrual Perceptions Scale (MPS).
2. To assess the test-retest reliability of the MPQ and MPS.
3. To assess the factor structure of the MPS through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
4. To assess convergent and divergent validity of the MPS, that is, association of the scale scores with hypothesized correlates.

 Australia 2019-02-26 2022-02-26 Social Science and Humanities Non-degree Award
Eve Smeltzer Ann
ID:
Conflict and Consensus: The Impacts of Socio-Ecological Contexts on Vervet Collaborative Movements
REFNo: NS83ES

This research will examine how vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) use social strategies and democratic processes to mitigate conflicts of interests during collaborative movements and how their decisions are impacted by varying social and ecological contexts.
 USA 2019-02-19 2022-02-19 Natural Sciences Degree Award
Denis Muhangi
ID:
ROLE OF ASFV LATENTLY INFECTED PIGS AND SOFT TICKS IN AFRICAN SWINE FEVER EPIDEMIOLOGY IN ACHOLI SUB REGION, NORTHERN UGANDA
REFNo: A40ES

(i) Establish the prevalence of ASFV latently infected pigs in a post-outbreak situation. (ii) Investigate the existence of the soft tick O. moubata and their ASFV status.
Uganda 2019-02-19 2022-02-19 Agricultural Sciences Non-degree Award
Esther Uwimaana
ID:
Heme oxygenase-1 and neopterin plasma levels and their role in distinguishing active from latent TB in HIV/TB co-infected patients
REFNo: HS301ES

1. To determine and compare the median plasma levels of HO-1 1(in pg/ml) and neopterin (in ng/ml) among HIV patients co-infected with active TB, latent TB infection and individuals without TB infection alone attending Rubaga hospital. 2. To determine the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values) of HO-1 and neopterin in diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection using QuantiFERON2-TB test for latent TB infection as the gold standard. 3. To determine the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values) of HO-1 and neopterin in diagnosis of active tuberculosis using sputum culture as the gold standard. 4. To determine the correlation between neopterin and HO-1 plasma levels with QuantiFERON2-TB Gold test in diagnosing latent TB infection.
Uganda 2019-02-19 2022-02-19 Medical and Health Sciences Degree Award
Kathryn LaRusso E
ID:
Access to Essential Surgical Care and Bellwether Procedures for Children in Uganda: A Public-Sector Evaluation
REFNo: HS231ES

Primary objectives: 1. To conduct a nationwide survey using a convenience sample of two regional and two general referral hospitals in each region (Northern, Eastern, Western, and Central) of Uganda, and the national referral hospital (17 total facilities), using surgical capacity assessments to assess the availability of essential and emergency surgical care (EESC) for children. i. To pilot the new WHO-PGSSC-GICS Children’s Surgical Assessment Tool (CSAT) and compare the results with PediPIPES to assess the validity, usability and reliability of the new CSAT tool. 2. To identify candidate bellwether procedures for children’s surgery that can be used as a benchmark for essential surgical care for children based on national, regional and general hospital logbook data, surgical capacity assessments, and perioperative mortality if available. Secondary objectives: 3. To identify if the ratio of emergent surgery to elective surgery (Ee ratio) using logbook data from national, regional and general hospitals can be a simple and valid indicator of access to pediatric surgical care. 4. To verify if a convenience sample of 1-month of logbook data collection can reliability predict perioperative mortality rate vs 3- or 6-months of logbook data collection at MRRH.
USA 2019-02-18 2022-02-18 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Sarah Baird
ID:
INCORPORATING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING INTO ADOLESCENT EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMING.
REFNo: HS318ES

Despite adolescent girls being at high risk of anxiety, depression, and other forms of psychological distress, there is little extant evidence on how to treat mood disorders among adolescents in developing countries in a cost-effective manner. The aim of our research projects is to evaluate the use of group based interpersonal therapy (IPT-G) in reducing the prevalence of anxiety and depression among adolescents in developing countries. The specific objectives of the research project are the following: 1. To estimate the causal effect of IPT-G on the psychological wellbeing of adolescent females who are identified as at risk of anxiety and depression at baseline 2. To estimate the marginal effects of adding income support following the intervention, on the sustainability of IPT-G results on anxiety and depression. 3. To investigate the relationship between improved psychological wellbeing among adolescents (as a result of the intervention) and school attainment, teenage pregnancy, child marriage and risky behavior. 4. To find if ELA clubs can serve as a pathway to reach and engage adolescent females who are most affected by mental health disorders.
New Zealand 2019-02-12 2022-02-12 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
GODFREY OSINDE
ID:
The association between ABCB1 gene C3435T polymorphism and Doxorubicin pharmacokinetics in Breast Cancer patients at Uganda Cancer Institute
REFNo: HS239ES

1. To determine the pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin in breast cancer patients in Uganda. 2. To determine the frequencies of the ABCB1 gene: C3435T SNP in breast cancer patients in Uganda. 3. To determine the association between the ABCB1 gene: C3435T SNP and PK of doxorubicin in breast cancer patients.
 Uganda 2019-02-12 2022-02-12 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
EMMANUEL NAMBALE BUKUWA NAMBALE
ID:
THE ROLE OF SAVINGS GROUPS ON SMALLHOLDER AGRO-INPUT USE IN SIRONKO DISTRICT, UGANDA
REFNo: A38ES

The main objective of this study is to investigate the impact of membership in a savings group on Agro-input use by smallholder farmers. Specific objectives 1. To determine the proportion of group savings spent on agro-inputs by group members 2. To determine the difference in use of agro-inputs between members and non-members of savings groups 3. To identify factors determining the level of spending on agro-inputs
Uganda 2019-02-12 2022-02-12 Agricultural Sciences Degree Award
Provia Ainembabazi
ID:
BREAST CANCER RISK PERCEPTION AND RISK REDUCTION BEHAVIOURS OF FIRST DEGREE FEMALE RELATIVES OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AT UGANDA CANCER INSTITUTE, KAMPALA, UGANDA
REFNo: HS277ES

General Objective The general objective of this study is to explore self-perceived risk of breast cancer and intentions for screening and adoption of risk reduction behaviors among first degree female relatives of breast cancer patients attending Uganda Cancer Institute so as to inform design of interventions to enhance uptake of early detection and prevention services. Specific Objectives 1. To explore self-perceived risk of breast cancer and intended risk reduction behaviors among first degree female relatives of breast cancer patients at UCI. 2. To determine factors associated with self-perceived risk of breast cancer among the first degree female relatives of breast cancer patients at the UCI. 3. To determine the factors associated with risk-reduction behaviors among the first degree female relatives of breast cancer patients at UCI 4. To describe perceived barriers for adoption of risk reduction behaviors among first degree female relatives of breast cancer patients at the UCI.
Uganda 2019-02-12 2022-02-12 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Stephen KIIRYA Kisembe
ID:
Psychosocial predictors of sexual risk behaviour among HIV infected and affected adolescents in HIV affected homes of Uganda
REFNo: SS270ES

Despite the long-lasting psychosocial impacts of HIV and the rising number of children progressing to adolescence and reproductive stages with HIV infection and or exposure in Uganda, the extent and factors of psychosocial and sexual risks among adolescents in HIV-exposed homes is unknown. Existing studies have ignored this population yet they are many and prone to psychosocial risks of HIV and focused on either older HIV-infected adolescents attending HIV care or young orphans. Additionally, these studies mainly examined levels and demographic factors of psychological distresses and risky sexual practices and do not therefore offer ample knowledge about the psychosocial situation and sexual risk behaviour among varied adolescents in HIV-affected homes to facilitate inclusive programming. This knowledge deficit begets three research questions, namely 1) What is the psychosocial and sexual risk behaviour situation of HIV infected and affected adolescents living in HIV-affected homes of Uganda? 2) How do HIV infected and affected adolescents compare concerning the psychosocial and sexual risk behaviour situations? 3) Does the psychosocial situation predict sexual risk behaviour in these groups? The proposed research therefore aims to: 1) determine the psychosocial and sexual risk behaviour situation of HIV infected and affected adolescents in HIV-affected homes across three HIV-burdened districts in Uganda; 2) compare the socio-demographic contexts and levels of community stressors, psychosocial distresses, coping ways and sexual risk behaviours of the two groups; 3) examine the coping mediated psychosocial predictors of sexual risk behaviour in these groups; and 4) evaluate if socio-demographic factors (age, sex, etc.) moderate the coping mediated associations between community stressors, psychosocial distresses and sexual risk behaviour in this population.
 Uganda 2019-02-12 2022-02-12 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
Alfredo Guarino
ID:
Acute gastroenteritis as a presenting symptom for malaria
REFNo: HS225ES

The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of Acute Diarrhea in Children with Malaria in Northern Uganda, a high-transmission malaria setting where there is paucity of data on the etiological agents of childhood diarrhea. There is a solid scientific basis that could explain the pathogenesis of diarrhea in severe malaria. The starting point for our working hypotheses is the positive feedback of Ugandan and Italian Doctors who have been working in Lacor Hospital’s Children Ward, whose practical and clinical experience seems to confirm an increased rate of GI symptoms in children with malaria. There are previous clinical controlled Studies on the subject, however, despite the scientific premises and the clinical observations, these Studies have produced inconsistent and inconclusive results, and eventually failed to demonstrate a statistically significant prevalence of diarrhea in children with malaria. Moreover, setting, study groups and secondary endpoints differ from our Study. In conclusion and to the best of our knowledge, our Study would be the first to show a statistically significant association between acute diarrhea and malaria. The Study would also be the first to be performed since the introduction of artemisinin-based therapies for the treatment of malaria. Investigating the time of response, and the factors affecting an early (< 24 h) or late resolution (>24h) of diarrhea could provide new extra information on the clinical outcomes of children with GI symptoms during severe malaria treated with IV artesunate and ACTs and provide new prognostic factors on admission.
Italy 2019-02-05 2022-02-05 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Irene  Lubega
ID: UNCST-2019-R000658
 Immunogenicity of Fractional One-fifth and One-half Doses of Yellow Fever Vaccine Compared to Full Dose in Children 9-23 months old in Uganda
REFNo: HS244ES

Primary • Assess whether seroconversion following one-fifth (0.1 ml) and one-half (0.25 ml) doses of YF 17DD vaccine is non-inferior to seroconversion following a full dose (0.5 ml) at 4 weeks post-vaccination in children aged 9 – 23 months Secondary • Assess whether the proportion of baseline seronegative children that are seropositive following one-fifth (0.1 ml) and one-half (0.25 ml) doses of YF 17DD vaccine is non-inferior to the proportion seropositive following a full dose (0.5 ml) of vaccine at 12 months post-vaccination • Compare the geometric mean antibody titers following the fractional doses to the geometric mean titer following the full dose at 4 weeks and 12 months post vaccination • Describe the safety profile of fractional and full-dose YF 17DD vaccine in children 9-23 months
Uganda 2019-02-05 2022-02-05 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
Nicholas Chapoy
ID:
Title of research project: Dual articulation in the communication system of mountain gorillas?
REFNo: NS82ES

The emergence of combinatoriality (phonology and syntax) in human language represents one of the key evolutionary transitions in life (Maynard Smith & Szathmary 1995). Despite its significance, we know very little regarding how unique this capacity is to humans or the evolutionary progression of this trait. By searching for core features of language, such as its combinatoriality, in the communication systems of closely related species to humans, particularly the primates, it is possible to shed light on whether the components of language are de novo evolved traits in humans or whether they have their origins rooted in the primate lineage. With this project, I aim to shed light on how unique combinatorics is to human language through empirically investigating the presence of linguistic forms of phonology and syntax in one of our closest living relatives, the gorilla.
USA 2019-02-05 2022-02-05 Natural Sciences Non-degree Award
Joshua Greenberg
ID:
Governance, Citizenship, and Accountability: Community-Centered Development in the Ugandan Health Sector
REFNo: SS265ES

This study examines the influence of governance structures on health outcomes in Uganda and tests strategies to foster more efficient healthcare delivery in the country. Specifically, the study will use a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility and impact of several governance interventions. First, seeking to improve the performance of local leaders in ensuring quality health service delivery, the study will evaluate the following two community-level interventions: (a) quarterly citizen reporting meetings with Local Council III chairpersons on health service delivery and (b) chairperson skills training on monitoring local government health centers. Second, to study the determinants of citizen participation in meetings, the study will evaluate several different household-level encouragement messages within the meetings intervention group. The messages—which will separately emphasize (a) public duty, (b) social aspects, and (c) civic participation—will be aimed at motivating citizens to attend the quarterly reporting meetings. All of the interventions have been developed in collaboration with Progressive Health Partnership (a non-governmental organization) and the Office of the Prime Minister. This pilot study is meant to prepare for a larger study in the future.
 USA 2019-02-05 2022-02-05 Social Science and Humanities Degree Award
lydia kapiriri
ID:
Evaluating Priority Setting for Health Research in Uganda
REFNo: HS309ES

1. Synthesize the current published and grey literature on PS for health research at the global level and specifically in Uganda. 2. Describe and evaluate a historical case scenario of PS for health research in Uganda. 3. Identify some of the barriers to effective PS for health research with particular relevance to governance mechanisms in Uganda. 4. Identify best practices that can serve to influence Ugandan PS for research processes and those of other low-income countries
Uganda 2019-01-30 2022-01-30 Medical and Health Sciences Non-degree Award
View Sort By:

"A prosperous Science and Technology Led Ugandan Society."

NRIMS