Publications

The primary objective of this investigation was to identify the factors influencing the usageof antibiotics among patients seeking care at the Dental Clinic within Kampala InternationalUniversity Teaching Hospital, situated in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Western Uganda.The study employed a cross-sectional hospital-based survey, gathering data betweenFebruary and July 2022. This design enables the collection of specific parameters at asingle point in time. Analyzed data was presented through tables and figures, illustratingfrequencies and proportions. For continuous variables, univariate analysis was conducted,presenting measures of central tendency (such as mean, median, and mode) and measuresof dispersion (like range, interquartile range, and standard deviation) for variousindependent variables. The study revealed that financial constraints were cited by patientsand health center nurses as a significant factor causing delays in seeking dental care andoccasionally resulting in non-attendance at the dental department. From interviews,patient-related factors emerged, including knowledge about oral health services, awarenessof services offered in dental clinics, perceived necessity, fear, anxiety, and access to oralhealth services. Consequently, the study recommended an enhancement in oral healtheducation initiatives, particularly leveraging media channels, due to a shortage ofcommunity oral health personnel. The aim is to extensively educate the population aboutpreventing oral diseases and the appropriate timing for seeking oral health services,enabling individuals to make well-informed decisions regarding their oral health.