Implications of COVID-19 pandemic and response approaches in Uganda: Stakeholder perspectives.

IF 0.6 Q4 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Journal of Public Health in Africa Pub Date : 2025-03-05 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.4102/jphia.v16i1.697

Moses Ocan, Josephine Bayigga, Adelline Twimukye, Hellen Nansiiro, Daphine Sanger, Mordecai Tayebwa, Boniconsilli Tusiime, Maureen Katusiime, Daniel Kyabayinze, Benon Kwesiga, Henry K Bosa, Leah Mbabazi, Tonny Muwonge, Brenda N Simbwa, Francis Kakooza, Mosoka P Fallah, Alex R Ario

{"title":"Implications of COVID-19 pandemic and response approaches in Uganda: Stakeholder perspectives.","authors":"Moses Ocan, Josephine Bayigga, Adelline Twimukye, Hellen Nansiiro, Daphine Sanger, Mordecai Tayebwa, Boniconsilli Tusiime, Maureen Katusiime, Daniel Kyabayinze, Benon Kwesiga, Henry K Bosa, Leah Mbabazi, Tonny Muwonge, Brenda N Simbwa, Francis Kakooza, Mosoka P Fallah, Alex R Ario","doi":"10.4102/jphia.v16i1.697","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted health systems worldwide.Aim: This study explored the effects of the COVID-19 cascade on health programmes in Uganda.Setting: This study conducted in-depth interviews with key informants involved in Uganda's national COVID-19 response.Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory study using qualitative approaches was carried out. A purposive sample of 30 key informants from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and implementing partners were interviewed (May 2023 - June 2023). Interviews were audio recorded and analysed using inductive thematic analysis with NVivo 14 software.Results: Four themes emerged: (1) approaches and opportunities for successful COVID-19 response, (2) negative impacts of the pandemic on health services, (3) barriers to implementing response strategies and (4) suggestions for preparedness for future epidemics.Conclusion: While the pandemic disrupted health programmes and access to care, it also revealed opportunities to strengthen healthcare delivery. Strengthening the dedicated Ministry of Health department for epidemic preparedness and response is recommended.Contribution: This study identifies areas for improvement in Uganda's health system exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It informs public health preparedness efforts in Uganda and other African countries, aligning with the Journal's focus on strengthening health systems in Africa.","PeriodicalId":44723,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Public Health in Africa","volume":"16 1","pages":"697"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966707/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Public Health in Africa","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.4102/jphia.v16i1.697","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted health systems worldwide.

Aim: This study explored the effects of the COVID-19 cascade on health programmes in Uganda.

Setting: This study conducted in-depth interviews with key informants involved in Uganda's national COVID-19 response.

Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory study using qualitative approaches was carried out. A purposive sample of 30 key informants from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and implementing partners were interviewed (May 2023 - June 2023). Interviews were audio recorded and analysed using inductive thematic analysis with NVivo 14 software.

Results: Four themes emerged: (1) approaches and opportunities for successful COVID-19 response, (2) negative impacts of the pandemic on health services, (3) barriers to implementing response strategies and (4) suggestions for preparedness for future epidemics.

Conclusion: While the pandemic disrupted health programmes and access to care, it also revealed opportunities to strengthen healthcare delivery. Strengthening the dedicated Ministry of Health department for epidemic preparedness and response is recommended.

Contribution: This study identifies areas for improvement in Uganda's health system exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It informs public health preparedness efforts in Uganda and other African countries, aligning with the Journal's focus on strengthening health systems in Africa.

查看原文本刊更多论文

背景2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行对全球卫生系统产生了重大影响。目的：本研究探讨了COVID-19对乌干达卫生计划的影响：本研究对参与乌干达全国 COVID-19 应对行动的关键信息提供者进行了深入访谈：方法：采用定性方法进行了一项横断面探索性研究。在 2023 年 5 月至 2023 年 6 月期间，对来自卫生部（MoH）和实施合作伙伴的 30 名关键信息提供者进行了有目的的抽样访谈。对访谈进行了录音，并使用 NVivo 14 软件进行归纳专题分析：出现了四个主题：(1) 成功应对 COVID-19 的方法和机遇，(2) 大流行病对医疗服务的负面影响，(3) 实施应对策略的障碍，(4) 为未来流行病做好准备的建议：结论：虽然大流行病扰乱了医疗计划和医疗服务的提供，但它也揭示了加强医疗服务的机会。建议加强卫生部专门负责流行病防备和应对的部门：本研究指出了 COVID-19 大流行暴露出的乌干达卫生系统需要改进的地方。它为乌干达和其他非洲国家的公共卫生防备工作提供了信息，与《期刊》加强非洲卫生系统的重点相一致。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Public Health in Africa PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

10 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHiA) is a peer-reviewed, academic journal that focuses on health issues in the African continent. The journal editors seek high quality original articles on public health related issues, reviews, comments and more. The aim of the journal is to move public health discourse from the background to the forefront. The success of Africa’s struggle against disease depends on public health approaches.