COMMUNITY DIAGNOSIS REPORT FOR NAKASONGOLA SUB-COUNTY, NAKASONGOLA DISTRICT

COMMUNITY DIAGNOSIS REPORT FOR NAKASONGOLA SUB-COUNTY, NAKASONGOLA DISTRICTINVESTIGATORS;AKELLO FAITH, KALUNGI JONATHAN, MUGALU DENIS EDWARD, BALUKU ANDREW, KUNIHIRA CATHERINE, NABUKALU SSENTONGO ANGELA, NDAGIRE REGINA NABIKINDU, ORIBA DAN LANGOYA, TUMWESIGIRE SAMUEL,

ABSTRACTThe study was done to carry out a community diagnosis of Nakasongola subcounty, Nakasongola district a catchment area of Nakasongola HC IV.

Methods used included both quantitative & qualitative.these were questionnaires,interviews,documents review etc.

key informants; LCI, VHT.

Sampling: Household sampling-simple randomized sampling, sample size-120 households, Sample area; Kalubanga, Matuugo and Buruuli villages.

Demography: 81%- female respondents, 57% of households-mother headed, majority of household members-below 5 yrs(45.2%), 6-18 (40.5%). Religion; anglicans, Catholics, Muslims, others 47.6%, 21.4% 14.3% ,16.7% respectively. Occupation; peasants(69%), civil savants(11.9%)

Nutrition and food security: Food source; from own garden(61.1%), rest from market. Availability(meals per day); 3-64.3%, 2-26.2%, 1- 7.1%. Diet-mostly carbohydrates(root tubers, maize & its products.), proteins(animal products).

ABSTRACT CONTDSanitation and hygiene: Water source; Tap water(50%), borehole(40.5%), wells (4.8%). Water treatment; Boiling(54.8%), Chemicals(9.5%). Other aspects; kitchen compound cleanliness rubbish pits.

Health seeking Behavior: Majority from the health facility.

The above results were analyzed using Microsoft Excel spread sheet and presented in form of tables, bar graphs and Pie charts.

INTRODUCTIONCommunity diagnosis is the comprehensive assessment of the health state of an entire community in relationship to its social, physical and biological environmentThis assessment was carried out in Nakasongola sub-county , Nakasongola District. Political hierarchy included;district level-Nakasongola District; county-Nakasongola (originally called Buluuli);subcounty-nakasongola; parish-nakasongola town council; villages - buluuli, matuugo, kalubanga.Economically; the people were mainly dependant on agriculture and a few others indulge in trade & commercial activities and others transport & communication services.Socio-culturally;people generally fall among two established kingdoms which include ; the baganda and the baluuli. Originally these were the same kingdom people established in buganda kingdom but a segment of some people broke off as the a Baluuli people in the name of need to have a separate political structure & region demarcation.

During the assessment, we used questionnaires and a checklist to obtain information on social demographic factors, nutrition, hygiene, and health seeking behavior. The data collected was then analyzed to come up with a report.Biggest health challenges were ; Malaria, Upper respiratory tract infections, and diarrheal diseases.The major economic activity was farming.The results were analyzed using Microsoft excel and presented in form of tables, bar graphs, and pie chartsObjectivesGeneral objective. To carry out the community diagnosis of nakasongola subcounty.Specific objectives. To determine social demographic characteristics of the community.To assess the nutrition status of the communityTo assess the sanitation and hygiene.To identify the commonest diseases.To assess the health seeking behavior of the people in the community.To assess the health service delivery system in this community

Methods and toolsStudy design:- The study design was a non interventional, descriptive cross sectional survey. Study population:- The target group was the community and local leaders.Sample size:- 120 participants from different villages of nakasongola subcounty.Sampling technique:- Simple random sampling.Data collection techniques:- Primary data:- questionnaires and Checklist. Households were selected at random and interviewed using close ended questionnaires. -Key informants included VHT and LCI chairperson; Secondary data:- Documents used included District records, Hospital records.

Methods and tools contdData processing and analysis: Data processing was done manually by researchers with the help of calculators and computers. The analysis was done by microsoft excel and presented in form of tables, Bargraphs and pie charts.

Results and DiscussionSocio-demography; The study showed that the majority of the respondents were females(81%) & the rest being males-as men were out for work by the time the surveys were carried out. Also, most families were mother headed (57.1%) implying a heavy burden loaded onto the females financially, that in a long run greatly impacted onto the maternal health. Households were established in a nuclear setting mainly(80%) with the most age distribution below 18yrs as follows;