Factors Associated with Increased Cases of Brucelosis among Patients at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Bushenyi District, Uganda

Abstract

Background: The government has employed numerous strategies ranging from animal vaccination, quarantines, free tests and diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with increased cases of brucellosis at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital. Methodology: We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study which employed simple random sampling to select 36 patients aged 18 years and above attending at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital who consented to take part. Results: The majority of the respondents (n=14, 38.9%) belonged to the age group of 26-30years, followed by the respondents belonged to the age group of 31 years and above 12 (n=12, 33.3%) while the interrogated persons belonged to the age group of 18-25 years were weak (n= 10; 27.8%). Majority of the respondents (n= 15; 41.7%) revealed that they were Christian-catholic. Moreover, most of these respondents (n= 19; 52.8%) revealed that they studied only secondary education meanwhile only (n=10, 27.8%) were primary leavers. These respondents belonged in the majority to Banyankole/Bakiga tribe (n= 19; 52.8%) and were married (n= 28; 77.8%). The results of this study showed that 36.1% (n= 13) of respondents lived with the incomes included between 100,000 and 150,000 Uganda shillings. They were in majority 14 (n= 14; 38.9%) at 1 – 2 kilometers to the nearest health facility meanwhile 27.8% (n= 10) of respondents were at 5 and above kilometers. Approximately 58.4% (n= 21) of respondents were agreed that there is presence of diagnostic facilities of brucellosis and 63.9 % (n= 23) of these respondents adhered to treatment of brucellosis. Conclusion: This study showed that age, level of education, tribe, household income, property ownership, cost of treatment, distance from the health facility and poor service utilization influence increase in brucellosis cases among patients at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital. Brucellosis places significant burdens on human healthcare systems and limits the economic potential of individuals, communities, and nations where such development is especially important to diminish the prevalence of poverty.