Gertrude Nakigozi

Biographic Data

ID	328914
NAME	Gertrude Nakigozi
GIVEN NAMES	Gertrude
FAMILY NAME	Nakigozi
SIGNATURE	NAKIGOZI G
AFFILIATIONS	Rakai Health Sciences Program
ORCID	0000-0001-6193-2790
VERIFIED	Yes
TOTAL WORKS	32
TOTAL CITATIONS	10
AUTHOR COUNT	32
EDITOR COUNT	0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR	2011
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR	2026
H-INDEX	2

“Even with one Man, but with many women, you can get cervical cancer”
Open AccessRobert Bulamba, Fred Nalugoda et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2026
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in low-resource settings, with Uganda being disproportionately affected. Despite the availability of screening services in Uganda, uptake remains unacceptably low, yet population-level data on women’s perceptions and experienced barriers to screening remain limited. This hinders the development of targeted community-based interventions for cervical cancer scr…
Building the foundation
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Carlos D Rivera Saldana et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2026
Early and ongoing stakeholder engagement is critical to the development and implementation of scalable behavioral health interventions. Our overarching goal in this implementation research study was to understand and document the process of planning and rolling out Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), a transdiagnostic mental health intervention, in Uganda. Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) 2.0, we cond…
Factors shaping understanding and interpretation of sexual practice survey questions in south-central Uganda
Open AccessWilliam G Ddaaki, Fred Nalugoda et al.ARTICLEAfrican Journal of AIDS Research2026
BACKGROUND: Accurate interpretation of survey questions about sensitive matters such as sexual practices is crucial for obtaining reliable data to inform effective public health interventions. Describing sexual practices involves reflecting on acts and contextually attributing meanings. However, participants in sexual behaviour studies may struggle to understand questions, affecting the validity of the data. AIM: We investigated factors that shap…
As long as you are married you cannot protect yourself against syphilis”
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Stephen Mugamba et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2026
The study provides practical suggestions for enhancing syphilis awareness, engagement in care, and women's experiences in ANC within a resource-limited, high-burden context. Future efforts should concentrate on extending syphilis education beyond clinics, utilizing Village Health Teams (VHTs) as trusted sources, and identifying barriers to improving healthcare quality for women, informing quality improvement programming
Mental health phenotypes of well-controlled HIV in Uganda
Open AccessLeah H Rubin, Kyu Cho et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2025
Introduction The phenotypic expression of mental health (MH) conditions among people with HIV (PWH) in Uganda and worldwide are heterogeneous. Accordingly, there has been a shift toward identifying MH phenotypes using data-driven methods capable of identifying novel insights into mechanisms of divergent MH phenotypes among PWH. We leverage the analytic strengths of machine learning combined with inferential methods to identify novel MH phenotypes…
Implementation, sustainability, and impact of Common Elements Treatment Approach in Ugandan healthcare facilities
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Gertrude Nakigozi et al.ARTICLESSM - Mental Health2025
The health and social consequences of untreated mental health disorders and heavy alcohol use are substantial, particularly in settings with high HIV-prevalence. Transdiagnostic approaches may offer a more efficient public health response, particularly where behavioral health services are limited. The present study explored the implementation of Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), a transdiagnostic intervention, in Western Uganda, from the…
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, use, and discontinuation among Lake Victoria fisherfolk in Uganda
Open AccessKauthrah Ntabadde, Joseph Kagaayi et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2025
There is limited population-level data on the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum in eastern Africa. Here, we assessed the PrEP care continuum following PrEP rollout in a Ugandan community with ~40% HIV seroprevalence. We used cross-sectional population-based data collected between September 3 and December 19, 2018 from a Lake Victoria fishing community in southern Uganda to measure levels of self-reported PrEP awareness, ever-use, and…
Population-level coverage and correlates of enrollment in community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) refill models following differentiated service delivery scale-up in Africa
Lipin Lukose, Robert Kairania et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2025
Community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution is a promising strategy to increase HIV treatment accessibility in Africa, yet population-level coverage and correlates of enrollment are understudied. We pooled data from seven Population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys (2020–2023) and used survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression with jackknife variance estimation to identify socio-demographic and clinical correlates of enro…
Barriers to Routine Antenatal Syphilis Screening in Uganda
Open AccessNatalie Saham, Amanda P Miller et al.ARTICLEGlobal Qualitative Nursing Research2025
Congenital syphilis is preventable through early detection and treatment during pregnancy. Although global syphilis rates have declined, the prevalence of undiagnosed and untreated infections remains high in low- and middle-income countries. In Uganda, national clinical guidelines recommend syphilis screening and treatment at the first antenatal care (ANC) visit, yet coverage remains suboptimal, contributing to ongoing perinatal transmission. As …
Incidence and risk factors for tuberculosis at a rural HIV clinic in Uganda, 2012–2019; A retrospective cohort study
Open AccessIbrahim Sendagire, Victor Ssempijja et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2025
Incidence of TB among PLHIV on ART was low in this rural population. Clinicians offering care to people with HIV in the rural setting should have a heightened index of suspicion for TB disease
The longitudinal impact of an evidence‐based multiple family group intervention ( Amaka Amasanyufu ) on family cohesion among children in Uganda
Open AccessWilliam Byansi, Ozge Sensoy Bahar et al.ARTICLEFamily Process2024
Family functioning plays a critical role in childhood disruptive behavior disorders ( The Family Journal , 2003, 11 (1), 33–41; Research in Nursing and Health , 2016, 39 (4), 229–243). Yet, there is limited research on the impact of evidence‐based family strengthening interventions on improving family cohesion as a protective factor among children experiencing behavioral challenges. To address this gap, we analyzed data ( N = 636) from the SMART …
Estimation of cause-specific mortality in Rakai, Uganda, using verbal autopsy 1999-2019
Open AccessDorean Nabukalu, Júlia Almeida Calazans et al.ARTICLEGlobal Health Action2024
BACKGROUND: There are scant data on the causes of adult deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. We estimated the level and trends in adult mortality, overall and by different causes, in rural Rakai, Uganda, by age, sex, and HIV status. OBJECTIVES: To estimate and analyse adult cause-specific mortality trends in Rakai, Uganda. METHODOLOGY: Mortality information by cause, age, sex, and HIV status was recorded in the Rakai Community Cohort study using verbal …
Motivational interviewing experiences from a community health worker-led HIV prevention and care intervention in rural Uganda
Holly Nishimura, Rose Pollard Kaptchuk et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2024
Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Community Health Workers (CHWs) are increasingly utilized in global settings to improve HIV outcomes, yet research exploring implementation strategies using MI and CHWs is lacking. We examined the experiences of CHWs and their clients in a counseling intervention which used MI-informed counseling to increase engagement in HIV prevention and treatment. This study was nested within the mLAKE cluster-randomized tri…
Hopes, joys and fears
Open AccessNicholus Nanyeenya, Godfrey Siu et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2023
Uganda applies the World Health Organization threshold of 1,000 copies/ml to determine HIV viral non-suppression. While there is an emerging concern of low-level viraemia (≥50 to
Prevalence and predictors of use of long-term and short-acting reversible contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Wakiso and Hoima districts, Uganda
Open AccessMalachi Ochieng Arunda, Babirye Mary Estellah et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2023
Modern contraceptive use has increased globally, but unmet needs persist in low- and middle-income countries. This study in Uganda aimed to examine the prevalence and factors influencing the use of short-acting reversible contraceptives (SARC) like pills and long-term methods such as intrauterine devices. Limited evidence exists on the use of SARC and long-term methods in Uganda. Data from the Africa Medical and Behavioural Sciences Organization …
Identifying longitudinal patterns of HIV treatment (dis)engagement and re-engagement from oral histories of virologically unsuppressed persons in Uganda
Open AccessJoseph G Rosen, Neema Nakyanjo et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2023References: 68
The Long-term (5-year) Impact of a Family Economic Empowerment Intervention on Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda
Open AccessRachel Brathwaite, Fred M Ssewamala et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2022
Qualitative Assessment of Barriers and Facilitators of PrEP Use Before and After Rollout of a PrEP Program for Priority Populations in South-central Uganda
Open AccessWilliam G Ddaaki, Susanne Strömdahl et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2021
Not Enough Money and Too Many Thoughts
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Leo Ziegel et al.ARTICLEQualitative Health Research2021Cited by: 2References: 54
Mental health disorders account for a heavy disease burden in Uganda. In order to provide culturally appropriate mental health prevention and treatment approaches, it is necessary to understand how mental health is conceptualized in the population. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) and 31 in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with men and women aged 14 to 62 years residing in rural, urban, and semi-urban low-income communities in central a…
Antiretroviral treatment sharing among highly mobile Ugandan fisherfolk living with HIV
Joseph G Rosen, Neema Nakyanjo et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2020
Antiretroviral treatment (ART) diversion from prescribed to non-prescribed users (i.e., sharing or selling) is an understudied dimension of HIV treatment adherence. We sought to explore ART diversion patterns in high-prevalence fishing communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda. We implemented a qualitative study in two fishing communities on Lake Victoria in south-central Uganda to identify facilitators of and pathways to ART diversion. We conducted 2…
Transactional Sex, Alcohol Use and Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the Rakai Region of Uganda
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Eileen V Pitpitan et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2020
Caregiver versus self-reported activities of daily living among HIV-positive persons in Rakai, Uganda
Alice Kisakye, Deanna Saylor et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2019
Assessment of an individual's functional status, as measured by activities of daily living (ADL), is an essential element in the diagnosis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) but individuals with cognitive impairment may not accurately report ADL. We assessed agreement between self- and caregiver-reported ADL in HIV-positive persons. Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-positive persons (n = 321) and HIV-negative controls (n = 134…
Suubi4Her
Open AccessFred M Ssewamala, Laura Gauer Bermudez et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2018
Clinical Trials NCT03307226 (Registered: 10/11/17)
Does Economic Strengthening Improve Viral Suppression Among Adolescents Living with HIV? Results From a Cluster Randomized Trial in Uganda
Open AccessLaura Gauer Bermudez, Fred M Ssewamala et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2018
The impact of intimate partner violence on women's contraceptive use
Open AccessLauren Maxwell, Heena Brahmbhatt et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2018Cited by: 4References: 42

Non-enrollment for free community HIV care
Gertrude Nakigozi, Fredrick Makumbi et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2011
Improved understanding of HIV-related health-seeking behavior at a population level is important in informing the design of more effective HIV prevention and care strategies. We assessed the frequency and determinants of failure to seek free HIV care in Rakai, Uganda. HIV-positive participants in a community cohort who accepted VCT were referred for free HIV care (cotrimoxazole prophylaxis, CD4 monitoring, treatment of opportunistic infections, a…
Impact of a mHealth Intervention for Peer Health Workers on Aids Care in Rural Uganda
Open AccessLarry W Chang, Joseph Kagaayi et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2011
A Public Health Approach to Intimate Partner Violence Prevention in Uganda
Open AccessJennifer A Wagman, Fredinah Namatovu et al.ARTICLEViolence Against Women2012Cited by: 4References: 6
Research from Rakai, Uganda, suggests intimate partner violence (IPV) is common and attitudes condoning it are widespread. We used a public health approach to develop and implement an evidence-based IPV prevention intervention named the Safe Homes and Respect for Everyone (SHARE) Project. SHARE was designed on the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change and adapted IPV prevention strategies from Raising Voices and Stepping Stones. SHARE was imp…
Cost analyses of peer health worker and mHealth support interventions for improving Aids care in Rakai, Uganda
Larry W Chang, Joseph Kagaayi et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2013
A cost analysis study calculates resources needed to deliver an intervention and can provide useful information on affordability for service providers and policy-makers. We conducted cost analyses of both a peer health worker (PHW) and a mHealth (mobile phone) support intervention. Excluding supervisory staffing costs, total yearly costs for the PHW intervention was $8475, resulting in a yearly cost per patient of $8.74, per virologic failure ave…
Effectiveness of an integrated intimate partner violence and HIV prevention intervention in Rakai, Uganda
Open AccessJennifer A Wagman, Ronald H Gray et al.ARTICLEThe Lancet Global Health2015
BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with HIV infection. We aimed to assess whether provision of a combination of IPV prevention and HIV services would reduce IPV and HIV incidence in individuals enrolled in the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS), Rakai, Uganda. METHODS: We used pre-existing clusters of communities randomised as part of a previous family planning trial in this cohort. Four intervention group clusters from th…
Understanding the socio-structural context of high HIV transmission in kasensero fishing community, South Western Uganda
Open AccessMuhamadi Lubega, Neema Nakyaanjo et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2015
The current combination HIV prevention services by the RHSP need to be enhanced with more government involvement including ensuring sustainable supply of ART and circumcision services since they are reportedly highly demanded. Community involvement through the engagement of popular peers could also help in the campaign to change the HIV predisposing culture, misconceptions and risky social norms of the population. Social Context HIV Transmission …
Effectiveness of Peer Support on Care Engagement and Preventive Care Intervention Utilization Among Pre-antiretroviral Therapy, HIV-Infected Adults in Rakai, Uganda
Open AccessLarry W Chang, Gertrude Nakigozi et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2015
Suubi4Her
Open AccessFred M Ssewamala, Laura Gauer Bermudez et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2018
Clinical Trials NCT03307226 (Registered: 10/11/17)
Does Economic Strengthening Improve Viral Suppression Among Adolescents Living with HIV? Results From a Cluster Randomized Trial in Uganda
Open AccessLaura Gauer Bermudez, Fred M Ssewamala et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2018
The impact of intimate partner violence on women's contraceptive use
Open AccessLauren Maxwell, Heena Brahmbhatt et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2018Cited by: 4References: 42
Caregiver versus self-reported activities of daily living among HIV-positive persons in Rakai, Uganda
Alice Kisakye, Deanna Saylor et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2019
Assessment of an individual's functional status, as measured by activities of daily living (ADL), is an essential element in the diagnosis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) but individuals with cognitive impairment may not accurately report ADL. We assessed agreement between self- and caregiver-reported ADL in HIV-positive persons. Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-positive persons (n = 321) and HIV-negative controls (n = 134…
Antiretroviral treatment sharing among highly mobile Ugandan fisherfolk living with HIV
Joseph G Rosen, Neema Nakyanjo et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2020
Antiretroviral treatment (ART) diversion from prescribed to non-prescribed users (i.e., sharing or selling) is an understudied dimension of HIV treatment adherence. We sought to explore ART diversion patterns in high-prevalence fishing communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda. We implemented a qualitative study in two fishing communities on Lake Victoria in south-central Uganda to identify facilitators of and pathways to ART diversion. We conducted 2…
Transactional Sex, Alcohol Use and Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the Rakai Region of Uganda
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Eileen V Pitpitan et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2020
Qualitative Assessment of Barriers and Facilitators of PrEP Use Before and After Rollout of a PrEP Program for Priority Populations in South-central Uganda
Open AccessWilliam G Ddaaki, Susanne Strömdahl et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2021
Not Enough Money and Too Many Thoughts
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Leo Ziegel et al.ARTICLEQualitative Health Research2021Cited by: 2References: 54
Mental health disorders account for a heavy disease burden in Uganda. In order to provide culturally appropriate mental health prevention and treatment approaches, it is necessary to understand how mental health is conceptualized in the population. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) and 31 in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with men and women aged 14 to 62 years residing in rural, urban, and semi-urban low-income communities in central a…
The Long-term (5-year) Impact of a Family Economic Empowerment Intervention on Adolescents Living with HIV in Uganda
Open AccessRachel Brathwaite, Fred M Ssewamala et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2022
Hopes, joys and fears
Open AccessNicholus Nanyeenya, Godfrey Siu et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2023
Uganda applies the World Health Organization threshold of 1,000 copies/ml to determine HIV viral non-suppression. While there is an emerging concern of low-level viraemia (≥50 to
Prevalence and predictors of use of long-term and short-acting reversible contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Wakiso and Hoima districts, Uganda
Open AccessMalachi Ochieng Arunda, Babirye Mary Estellah et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2023
Modern contraceptive use has increased globally, but unmet needs persist in low- and middle-income countries. This study in Uganda aimed to examine the prevalence and factors influencing the use of short-acting reversible contraceptives (SARC) like pills and long-term methods such as intrauterine devices. Limited evidence exists on the use of SARC and long-term methods in Uganda. Data from the Africa Medical and Behavioural Sciences Organization …
Identifying longitudinal patterns of HIV treatment (dis)engagement and re-engagement from oral histories of virologically unsuppressed persons in Uganda
Open AccessJoseph G Rosen, Neema Nakyanjo et al.ARTICLESocial Science & Medicine2023References: 68
The longitudinal impact of an evidence‐based multiple family group intervention ( Amaka Amasanyufu ) on family cohesion among children in Uganda
Open AccessWilliam Byansi, Ozge Sensoy Bahar et al.ARTICLEFamily Process2024
Family functioning plays a critical role in childhood disruptive behavior disorders ( The Family Journal , 2003, 11 (1), 33–41; Research in Nursing and Health , 2016, 39 (4), 229–243). Yet, there is limited research on the impact of evidence‐based family strengthening interventions on improving family cohesion as a protective factor among children experiencing behavioral challenges. To address this gap, we analyzed data ( N = 636) from the SMART …
Estimation of cause-specific mortality in Rakai, Uganda, using verbal autopsy 1999-2019
Open AccessDorean Nabukalu, Júlia Almeida Calazans et al.ARTICLEGlobal Health Action2024
BACKGROUND: There are scant data on the causes of adult deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. We estimated the level and trends in adult mortality, overall and by different causes, in rural Rakai, Uganda, by age, sex, and HIV status. OBJECTIVES: To estimate and analyse adult cause-specific mortality trends in Rakai, Uganda. METHODOLOGY: Mortality information by cause, age, sex, and HIV status was recorded in the Rakai Community Cohort study using verbal …
Motivational interviewing experiences from a community health worker-led HIV prevention and care intervention in rural Uganda
Holly Nishimura, Rose Pollard Kaptchuk et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2024
Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Community Health Workers (CHWs) are increasingly utilized in global settings to improve HIV outcomes, yet research exploring implementation strategies using MI and CHWs is lacking. We examined the experiences of CHWs and their clients in a counseling intervention which used MI-informed counseling to increase engagement in HIV prevention and treatment. This study was nested within the mLAKE cluster-randomized tri…
Mental health phenotypes of well-controlled HIV in Uganda
Open AccessLeah H Rubin, Kyu Cho et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2025
Introduction The phenotypic expression of mental health (MH) conditions among people with HIV (PWH) in Uganda and worldwide are heterogeneous. Accordingly, there has been a shift toward identifying MH phenotypes using data-driven methods capable of identifying novel insights into mechanisms of divergent MH phenotypes among PWH. We leverage the analytic strengths of machine learning combined with inferential methods to identify novel MH phenotypes…
Implementation, sustainability, and impact of Common Elements Treatment Approach in Ugandan healthcare facilities
Open AccessAmanda P Miller, Gertrude Nakigozi et al.ARTICLESSM - Mental Health2025
The health and social consequences of untreated mental health disorders and heavy alcohol use are substantial, particularly in settings with high HIV-prevalence. Transdiagnostic approaches may offer a more efficient public health response, particularly where behavioral health services are limited. The present study explored the implementation of Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), a transdiagnostic intervention, in Western Uganda, from the…
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, use, and discontinuation among Lake Victoria fisherfolk in Uganda
Open AccessKauthrah Ntabadde, Joseph Kagaayi et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2025
There is limited population-level data on the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care continuum in eastern Africa. Here, we assessed the PrEP care continuum following PrEP rollout in a Ugandan community with ~40% HIV seroprevalence. We used cross-sectional population-based data collected between September 3 and December 19, 2018 from a Lake Victoria fishing community in southern Uganda to measure levels of self-reported PrEP awareness, ever-use, and…