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Alex Male Kato,1 Winnie Kibone,2 Jerom Okot,3 Joseph Baruch Baluku,4 Felix Bongomin3 1Department of Public Health, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 2School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 4Division of Pulmonology, Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Winnie Kibone, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, P O BOX 7072, Kampala, Uganda, Email Kibonewinnie@gmail.comBackground: The prevalence of hypertension (HTN) differs among regions and income groups, showing a substantial increase in low- and middle-income countries. The development of hypertension is modulated by modifiable lifestyle factors, and uncontrolled hypertension poses a risk for the onset of cardiovascular diseases.Objective: To determine the community-level point-prevalence and factors associated with self-reported HTN among adults in Butambala district, central Uganda.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged ≥ 18 years in Budde subcounty, central Uganda. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and behavior were collected using a semistructured questionnaire. Self-reported HTN was assessed using a single question: “Do you have high blood pressure?” Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of self-reported HTN.Results: A total of 565 participants (53.5% female) with a median age of 38 years (IQR: 26– 52) were included in the study. The prevalence of self-reported hypertension was 18.9%. Factors independently associated with HTN were age 60 years or older (aOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.64– 5.23, p< 0.001), female sex (aOR: 3.3, 95% CI: 2.3– 6.3, p< 0.001), being widowed (aOR: 10.4, 95% CI: 1.25– 87.14, p=0.03), secondary (aOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.20– 0.85, p=0.016) and tertiary (aOR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.09– 0.64, p=0.005) education, unemployment (aOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.11– 7.96, p=0.03), tobacco use (aOR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.83– 4.53, p< 0.001), having had at least one blood pressure measurement during antenatal visit (aOR: 4.7, 95% CI: 1.97– 11.33, p< 0.001) or medical checkup (aOR: 10.7, 95% CI: 6.06– 18.Conclusion: We observed a high prevalence of self-reported HTN affecting approximately one in five participants. More efforts are required to enhance routine screening, health education, and accessibility to HTN services in rural areas, with a particular emphasis on implementing HTN prevention and control strategies to effectively reduce the prevalence of HTN.Keywords: self-reported hypertension, high blood pressure, blood pressure, Uganda

Christopher Okot,1 Florence Laker,1 Pamela Okwir Apio,2 Grace Madraa,3 Winnie Kibone,4 Francis Pebalo Pebolo,5 Felix Bongomin6 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 2Makerere Lung Institute, School of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Rural Development and Agri-Business, Faculty of Agriculture, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 4School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 5Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda; 6Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, UgandaCorrespondence: Felix Bongomin, Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, P.O. Box, 166 Gulu, Uganda, Email drbongomin@gmail.comBackground: Teenage pregnancy remains a common public health and social problem associated with negative health outcomes. We determined the prevalence and factors associated with teenage pregnancy among teenage girls aged 13– 17 years in Agago district, Uganda.Methods: We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study between October and November 2020 in Lapono Sub-County, Agago district among teenage girls 13– 17 years. Multi-stage sampling technique was used. Parishes, villages, and households were randomly selected (computer generated random numbers were used for household selection). In each household, one participant was randomly selected for interview and pregnancy testing. We collected data on socio-demographic factors using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. All eligible participants were tested for urine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to determine independent predictors of teenage pregnancy, with p< 0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 289 eligible participants, with a mean age of 15.1± 1.5 years, were enrolled. Most (n=246, 81.5%) participants had attained primary education, 18 (6.2%) were married, 41 (14.2%) used alcohol, 62 (21.5%) had a history of sexual intercourse and 32 (11.1%) were sexually abused. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 2.8% (n=8). Factors significantly associated with teenage pregnancy were alcohol consumption (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 13.2, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 1.7– 100.6, p=0.013) and having secondary/tertiary education (aOR: 10.2, 95% CI: 1.5– 71.9, p=0.02).Conclusion: The study findings suggest that teenage pregnancy is still a public health and social problem in Agago district, Uganda. Interventions discouraging alcohol consumption and promoting education among teenagers are key in addressing the burden of teenage pregnancies in the district.Keywords: teenage pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin, Agago, Uganda