Elizeus Rutebemberwa
Biographic Data
| ID | 6679312 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Elizeus Rutebemberwa |
| GIVEN NAMES | Elizeus |
| FAMILY NAME | Rutebemberwa |
| SIGNATURE | RUTEBEMBERWA E |
| AFFILIATIONS | Makerere University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8363-7928 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 21 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Resilience of health systems in Africa to infectious disease shocks
Strong and resilient health systems are those equipped to withstand shocks and continue providing quality services as response measures are implemented. We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis of stakeholders' understanding of health system resilience in Africa, focusing on definitions and attributes. We searched for peer-reviewed articles and grey literature, filtered for Africa, from 1980 to November 2025, using the SPIDER framework. The …
Time to control of anthrax outbreaks in Africa, 2014–2023
Anthrax is a notifiable zoonotic disease targeted for control in Africa, however, outbreaks due to anthrax are still frequent and large. Surveillance systems should monitor and detect anthrax outbreaks early for prompt response. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine anthrax outbreaks epidemiological investigations gaps and time to control in Africa, Jan 2014-Dec 2023. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Schol…
Facilitators and barriers for completion of the diagnostic process among people with presumed tuberculosis in Central Uganda
Uganda has improved its tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic processes over the years since the scale up of the Xpert MTB/RIF testing in 2012. However, there are continued delays in diagnosis and missing people with TB who are either not diagnosed or notified. We explored facilitators and barriers for completion of the TB diagnostic process among people with presumed TB in selected health facilities in Central Uganda. This was a qualitative exploration i…
Multilevel drivers of tobacco use among people living with HIV in West Nile and Karamoja Regions in Uganda
Tobacco cessation strategies should be mode-specific and context-sensitive. In West Nile, where smoking and dual use are common, interventions should target men with low tobacco-related knowledge. In Karamoja, where smokeless tobacco is culturally entrenched and enforcement of existing bans is weak, cessation requires community-based education, facility-based treatment, and post-care support. Addressing multi-level drivers is essential for tobacc…
The GIBACHT fellowship
The German Biosecurity Programme was launched in 2013 with the aim to support partner countries overcome biological threats including natural outbreaks or the intentional misuse of highly pathogenic agents. As part of this programme, this paper describes the development and implementation of a multilateral biosafety and biosecurity training initiative, called ‘Global Partnership Initiated Biosecurity Academia for Controlling Health Threats’ (GIBA…
Geographical, sex, and socioeconomic differences in non-communicable disease indicators
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study examined differences in the burden of NCDs and their risk factors according to geographic, sex, and sociodemographic characteristics in a rural and peri-urban community in Eastern Uganda. We compared the prevalence by sex, location, wealth, and education. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were reported. Indica…
Tobacco smoking clusters in households affected by tuberculosis in an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys
Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through…
The epidemiology of behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable disease and hypertension
In light of the suboptimal noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factor surveillance efforts, the study’s main objectives were to: (i) characterize the epidemiological profile of NCD risk factors; (ii) estimate the prevalence of hypertension; and (iii) identify factors associated with hypertension in a peri-urban and rural Ugandan population. A population-based cross-sectional survey of adults was conducted at the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographi…
The influence of internship training experience on Kenyan and Ugandan doctors’ career intentions and decisions
BACKGROUND: Medical internship is a key period for doctors' individual career planning and also a transition period for the broader labour market. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to understand the complex set of factors influencing the career intentions and decisions of junior doctors, post-internship in Kenya and Uganda. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 54 junior medical officers and 14 consultants to understand doctors' internship exp…
Research for universal health coverage
BACKGROUND: There is international consensus on the need for countries to work towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) whereby the population is given access to all appropriate promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services at affordable cost. The World Health Organisation (2013) urges all countries to undertake research to customise UHC within national development agendas. OBJECTIVE: To describe the process used to priorit…
Health workers’ perceptions on where and how to integrate tobacco use cessation services into tuberculosis treatment; a qualitative exploratory study in Uganda
Tobacco cessation activities should be provided in a continuum starting in the community before the TB patients get to hospital, during the patients' interface with hospital treatment and be given in the community after TB patients have been discharged. This requires collaboration between those who carry out health education in communities, the TB treatment supporters and the health workers who treat patients in health facilities
Integrating capacity development during digital health research
Background: The Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative Research and Development Arm at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, has thus far collected NCD risk factor data from more than 13,000 citizens of three LMICs (Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda), and has actively worked to improve capacity with partners worldwide.Objective: This paper focuses on how a research project, can also act as a capacity building activity through it…
The performance of community health workers in the management of multiple childhood infectious diseases in Lira, northern Uganda – a mixed methods cross-sectional study
BACKGROUND: Community health workers (CHWs) have the potential to reduce child mortality by improving access to care, especially in remote areas. Uganda has one of the highest child mortality rates globally. Moreover, rural areas bear the highest proportion of this burden. The optimal performance of CHWs is critical. In this study, we assess the performance of CHWs in managing malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea in the rural district of Lira, in nor…
What influences availability of medicines for the community management of childhood illnesses in central Uganda? Implications for scaling up the integrated community case management programme
The low medicine stocks for the community management of childhood illnesses calls for strengthening of CHW supervision, medicine prescription and reporting, and increasing availability of functional diagnostic tools
Knowledge and perceptions of brucellosis in the pastoral communities adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda
There was moderate overall knowledge of human and animal brucellosis among the participants. Majority of the participants believed that close proximity to wildlife contributes to the presence of the disease in the area. There is a need for collaboration between the public health, veterinary and wildlife sectors to provide health education on brucellosis for better management of the disease in the communities
Change means sacrificing a good life’
Health promotion should target both community norms and individual awareness regarding obesity, physical activity and diet, and should address the notion that obesity and unhealthy foods represent a good life. Health educators should plan with clients on how to overcome barriers and misconceptions to lifestyle change, leveraging the pervasive perception of type 2 diabetes as a severe disease to motivate change
Use of traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes in Eastern Uganda
BACKGROUND: While there are biomedical drugs for managing diabetes mellitus, some patients with diabetes use traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to explore why patients with diabetes use traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. METHODS: The study was conducted in Iganga and Bugiri districts in Eastern Uganda using four focus group discussions (FGDs) with patients with diabetes; two with female patients and two with male pati…
Yellow fever vaccination coverage following massive emergency immunization campaigns in rural Uganda, May 2011
Our results show that actual yellow fever vaccination coverage was high and satisfactory in Pader district since it was above the desired minimum threshold coverage of 80% according to World Health Organization. Massive emergency vaccination done following an outbreak of Yellow fever achieved high population coverage in Pader district. Active surveillance is necessary for early detection of yellow fever cases
Increasing access to institutional deliveries using demand and supply side incentives
BACKGROUND: Geographical inaccessibility, lack of transport, and financial burdens are some of the demand side constraints to maternal health services in Uganda, while supply side problems include poor quality services related to unmotivated health workers and inadequate supplies. Most public health interventions in Uganda have addressed only selected supply side issues, and universities have focused their efforts on providing maternal services a…
More support for mothers
Immunisation programmes should position themselves to address social contexts. A community programme that empowers women economically and helps men recognise the role of women in decision making for child health is needed. Increasing male involvement and knowledge of immunisation concepts among caretakers could improve immunisation
Spatial analysis of determinants of choice of treatment provider for fever in under-five children in Iganga, Uganda
Spatial analysis of determinants of choice of treatment provider for fever in under-five children in Iganga, Uganda
Increasing access to institutional deliveries using demand and supply side incentives
BACKGROUND: Geographical inaccessibility, lack of transport, and financial burdens are some of the demand side constraints to maternal health services in Uganda, while supply side problems include poor quality services related to unmotivated health workers and inadequate supplies. Most public health interventions in Uganda have addressed only selected supply side issues, and universities have focused their efforts on providing maternal services a…
More support for mothers
Immunisation programmes should position themselves to address social contexts. A community programme that empowers women economically and helps men recognise the role of women in decision making for child health is needed. Increasing male involvement and knowledge of immunisation concepts among caretakers could improve immunisation
Use of traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes in Eastern Uganda
BACKGROUND: While there are biomedical drugs for managing diabetes mellitus, some patients with diabetes use traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to explore why patients with diabetes use traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes. METHODS: The study was conducted in Iganga and Bugiri districts in Eastern Uganda using four focus group discussions (FGDs) with patients with diabetes; two with female patients and two with male pati…
Yellow fever vaccination coverage following massive emergency immunization campaigns in rural Uganda, May 2011
Our results show that actual yellow fever vaccination coverage was high and satisfactory in Pader district since it was above the desired minimum threshold coverage of 80% according to World Health Organization. Massive emergency vaccination done following an outbreak of Yellow fever achieved high population coverage in Pader district. Active surveillance is necessary for early detection of yellow fever cases
Knowledge and perceptions of brucellosis in the pastoral communities adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda
There was moderate overall knowledge of human and animal brucellosis among the participants. Majority of the participants believed that close proximity to wildlife contributes to the presence of the disease in the area. There is a need for collaboration between the public health, veterinary and wildlife sectors to provide health education on brucellosis for better management of the disease in the communities
Change means sacrificing a good life’
Health promotion should target both community norms and individual awareness regarding obesity, physical activity and diet, and should address the notion that obesity and unhealthy foods represent a good life. Health educators should plan with clients on how to overcome barriers and misconceptions to lifestyle change, leveraging the pervasive perception of type 2 diabetes as a severe disease to motivate change
What influences availability of medicines for the community management of childhood illnesses in central Uganda? Implications for scaling up the integrated community case management programme
The low medicine stocks for the community management of childhood illnesses calls for strengthening of CHW supervision, medicine prescription and reporting, and increasing availability of functional diagnostic tools
The performance of community health workers in the management of multiple childhood infectious diseases in Lira, northern Uganda – a mixed methods cross-sectional study
BACKGROUND: Community health workers (CHWs) have the potential to reduce child mortality by improving access to care, especially in remote areas. Uganda has one of the highest child mortality rates globally. Moreover, rural areas bear the highest proportion of this burden. The optimal performance of CHWs is critical. In this study, we assess the performance of CHWs in managing malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea in the rural district of Lira, in nor…
Integrating capacity development during digital health research
Background: The Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative Research and Development Arm at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, has thus far collected NCD risk factor data from more than 13,000 citizens of three LMICs (Bangladesh, Tanzania and Uganda), and has actively worked to improve capacity with partners worldwide.Objective: This paper focuses on how a research project, can also act as a capacity building activity through it…
Research for universal health coverage
BACKGROUND: There is international consensus on the need for countries to work towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) whereby the population is given access to all appropriate promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative services at affordable cost. The World Health Organisation (2013) urges all countries to undertake research to customise UHC within national development agendas. OBJECTIVE: To describe the process used to priorit…
Health workers’ perceptions on where and how to integrate tobacco use cessation services into tuberculosis treatment; a qualitative exploratory study in Uganda
Tobacco cessation activities should be provided in a continuum starting in the community before the TB patients get to hospital, during the patients' interface with hospital treatment and be given in the community after TB patients have been discharged. This requires collaboration between those who carry out health education in communities, the TB treatment supporters and the health workers who treat patients in health facilities
The influence of internship training experience on Kenyan and Ugandan doctors’ career intentions and decisions
BACKGROUND: Medical internship is a key period for doctors' individual career planning and also a transition period for the broader labour market. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to understand the complex set of factors influencing the career intentions and decisions of junior doctors, post-internship in Kenya and Uganda. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 54 junior medical officers and 14 consultants to understand doctors' internship exp…
The GIBACHT fellowship
The German Biosecurity Programme was launched in 2013 with the aim to support partner countries overcome biological threats including natural outbreaks or the intentional misuse of highly pathogenic agents. As part of this programme, this paper describes the development and implementation of a multilateral biosafety and biosecurity training initiative, called ‘Global Partnership Initiated Biosecurity Academia for Controlling Health Threats’ (GIBA…
Geographical, sex, and socioeconomic differences in non-communicable disease indicators
The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study examined differences in the burden of NCDs and their risk factors according to geographic, sex, and sociodemographic characteristics in a rural and peri-urban community in Eastern Uganda. We compared the prevalence by sex, location, wealth, and education. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were reported. Indica…
Tobacco smoking clusters in households affected by tuberculosis in an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys
Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through…
The epidemiology of behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable disease and hypertension
In light of the suboptimal noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factor surveillance efforts, the study’s main objectives were to: (i) characterize the epidemiological profile of NCD risk factors; (ii) estimate the prevalence of hypertension; and (iii) identify factors associated with hypertension in a peri-urban and rural Ugandan population. A population-based cross-sectional survey of adults was conducted at the Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographi…
Time to control of anthrax outbreaks in Africa, 2014–2023
Anthrax is a notifiable zoonotic disease targeted for control in Africa, however, outbreaks due to anthrax are still frequent and large. Surveillance systems should monitor and detect anthrax outbreaks early for prompt response. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine anthrax outbreaks epidemiological investigations gaps and time to control in Africa, Jan 2014-Dec 2023. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google Schol…
Facilitators and barriers for completion of the diagnostic process among people with presumed tuberculosis in Central Uganda
Uganda has improved its tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic processes over the years since the scale up of the Xpert MTB/RIF testing in 2012. However, there are continued delays in diagnosis and missing people with TB who are either not diagnosed or notified. We explored facilitators and barriers for completion of the TB diagnostic process among people with presumed TB in selected health facilities in Central Uganda. This was a qualitative exploration i…
Multilevel drivers of tobacco use among people living with HIV in West Nile and Karamoja Regions in Uganda
Tobacco cessation strategies should be mode-specific and context-sensitive. In West Nile, where smoking and dual use are common, interventions should target men with low tobacco-related knowledge. In Karamoja, where smokeless tobacco is culturally entrenched and enforcement of existing bans is weak, cessation requires community-based education, facility-based treatment, and post-care support. Addressing multi-level drivers is essential for tobacc…
Resilience of health systems in Africa to infectious disease shocks
Strong and resilient health systems are those equipped to withstand shocks and continue providing quality services as response measures are implemented. We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis of stakeholders' understanding of health system resilience in Africa, focusing on definitions and attributes. We searched for peer-reviewed articles and grey literature, filtered for Africa, from 1980 to November 2025, using the SPIDER framework. The …
Medicine (16 works) · Public health (13 works) · Environmental health (12 works) · Nursing (10 works) · Biostatistics (7 works) · Family medicine (7 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (7 works) · Population (7 works) · Qualitative research (6 works) · Focus group (5 works)