Caregivers’ estimate of early childhood developmental status in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo characterise developmental milestones among young children living in rural communities in Uganda.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingIganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in rural eastern Uganda.ParticipantsA total of 720 caregivers of children aged 3–4 years old from a health and demographic surveillance site in rural eastern Uganda were recruited into this study. Caregivers reported on their child’s developmental skills and behaviours using the 10-item Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) developed by UNICEF. Childhood development was characterised based on the ECDI’s four domains: literacy-numeracy, learning/cognition, physical and socioemotional development. As an exploratory analysis, we implemented a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis to identify homogenous subgroups of children based on the features assessed. The cluster analysis was performed to identify potential subgroups of children who may be at risk of developmental problems.ResultsBetween November 2017 and June 2018, 720 caregivers of children aged 3–4 years completed the ECDI. The proportions of children at risk of delay in each domain were as follows: literacy-numeracy: 75% (n=538); socioemotional development: 22% (n=157); physical: 3% (n=22); and cognitive: 4% (n=32). The cluster analysis revealed a three-cluster solution that included 93% of children assigned to a low-risk group, 4% assigned to a moderate-risk group and 3% assigned to a high-risk group characterised by low scores in almost all domains.ConclusionThe findings suggest that a high proportion of children in rural eastern Uganda demonstrate poor literacy-numeracy skills. These results underscore the need to improve population-based screening and intervention efforts to improve early childhood developmental outcomes, particularly in literacy and socioemotional domains, in low-income and middle-income countries such as Uganda.

Prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and associated factors among adults residing in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site: a cross sectional study

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with different types of illnesses; particularly heavy episodic drinking is one of the risk factors for the disease burden of alcohol intake. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and associated factors in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS).Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 among adult residents of Arba Minch HDSS. Using Arba Minch HDSS database, 3368 individuals were selected by simple random sampling techniques. From WHO STEPS instruments, step one was applied for this study. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.10 for bivariate analysis entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to outline the independent predictors of the heavy episodic drinking. To assess the presence of an association between dependent and independent variables, a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered.Results: The prevalence of heavy episodic drinking was 13.7% (95% CI: 12.6–14.9). The study has shown that heavy episodic drinking was significantly associated with occupation (daily laborer [AOR=0.49; 95% C.I: 0.29–0.85] and housewives [AOR=0.63; 95% C.I: 0.45–0.88] compared with farmers), wealth index (2nd quintiles [AOR =0.55; 95% C.I: 0.41–0.74) and 3rd quintiles [AOR = 0.66; 95% C.I: 0.46–0.93] compared with 1st quintiles), and climatic zone (midland [AOR=1.80;95% CI: 1.11–2.93), highland [AOR=1.95;95% CI: 1.19–3.18] compared with lowland). In addition, tobacco use [AOR=4.28;95% CI: 3.38–5.43], and khat use [AOR=4.75; 95% CI: 2.66–8.50) were also associated with heavy episodic drinking among the study participants. Conclusions: More than one in ten adults reported heavy episodic drinking in the study area. Intervention programs that aim to prevent heavy episodic drinking should be designed appropriately for individuals from lower wealth status, and for highlander.

Prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and associated factors among adults residing in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site: a cross sectional study

Background Alcohol consumption is associated with different types of illnesses; particularly heavy episodic drinking is one of the risk factors for the disease burden of alcohol intake. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and associated factors in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS). Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 among adult residents of Arba Minch HDSS. Using Arba Minch HDSS database, 3368 individuals were selected by simple random sampling techniques. From WHO STEPS instruments, step one was applied for this study. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.10 for bivariate analysis entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to outline the independent predictors of the heavy episodic drinking. To assess the presence of an association between dependent and independent variables, a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered. Results The prevalence of heavy episodic drinking was 13.7% (95% CI: 12.6–14.9). The study has shown that heavy episodic drinking was significantly associated with occupation (daily laborer [AOR = 0.49; 95% C.I: 0.29–0.85] and housewives [AOR = 0.63; 95% C.I: 0.45–0.88] compared with farmers), wealth index (2nd quintiles [AOR =0.55; 95% C.I: 0.41–0.74) and 3rd quintiles [AOR = 0.66; 95% C.I: 0.46–0.93] compared with 1st quintiles), and climatic zone (midland [AOR = 1.80;95% CI: 1.11–2.93), highland [AOR = 1.95;95% CI: 1.19–3.18] compared with lowland). In addition, tobacco use [AOR = 4.28;95% CI: 3.38–5.43], and khat use [AOR = 4.75; 95% CI: 2.66–8.50) were also associated with heavy episodic drinking among the study participants. Conclusions More than one in ten adults reported heavy episodic drinking in the study area. Intervention programs that aim to prevent heavy episodic drinking should be designed appropriately for individuals from lower wealth status, and for highlander.

Prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and associated factors among adults residing in Arba Minch health and demographic surveillance site: a cross sectional study

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with different types of illnesses; particularly heavy episodic drinking is one of the risk factors for the disease burden of alcohol intake. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and associated factors in Arba Minch Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS).Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 among adult residents of Arba Minch HDSS. Using Arba Minch HDSS database, 3368 individuals were selected by simple random sampling techniques. From WHO STEPS instruments, step one was applied for this study. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.10 for bivariate analysis entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to outline the independent predictors of the heavy episodic drinking. To assess the presence of an association between dependent and independent variables, a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered.Results: The prevalence of heavy episodic drinking was 13.7% (95% CI: 12.6–14.9). The study has shown that heavy episodic drinking was significantly associated with occupation (daily laborer [AOR=0.49; 95% C.I: 0.29–0.85] and housewives [AOR=0.63; 95% C.I: 0.45–0.88] compared with farmers), wealth index (2nd quintiles [AOR =0.55; 95% C.I: 0.41–0.74) and 3rd quintiles [AOR = 0.66; 95% C.I: 0.46–0.93] compared with 1st quintiles), and climatic zone (midland [AOR=1.80;95% CI: 1.11–2.93), highland [AOR=1.95;95% CI: 1.19–3.18] compared with lowland). In addition, tobacco use [AOR=4.28;95% CI: 3.38–5.43], and khat use [AOR=4.75; 95% CI: 2.66–8.50) were also associated with heavy episodic drinking among the study participants. Conclusions: More than one in ten adults reported heavy episodic drinking in the study area. Intervention programs that aim to prevent heavy episodic drinking should be designed appropriately for individuals from lower wealth status, and for highlander.