The Health and Socio-Economic Status of the Buvuma Main Island Community in Buvuma District, Uganda

Abstract

Uganda Christian University’s Department of Public Health with Buvuma District local government, the local communities and the local Anglican Church of Uganda conducted a study to assess the household health and socio-economic status of communities on Buvuma’s main island. The Study design was cross-sectional and descriptive. The sample was 212 households and data were collected using Pretested Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informants Interviews. Most respondents (59.9%) were female, aged 18-59 years (89.9%) with primary education (48.1%). About 21% of respondents had no formal education. Housing was mainly (73.1%) one or two roomed with earthen floors in 84.4%.; the lake was a source of water in 41% of households and water was used untreated in 36.8% of households; latrine coverage was 62.7%. Wood (70.5%) and charcoal (29.5%) were the energy sources for cooking and solar energy was used for lighting in 54.3% of the households. Malaria was the commonest cause of morbidity; 100% of households had nets, but 32.1% did not use them. 92% of mothers received antenatal care but 88.2% delivered in health facilities. Income was mostly from subsistence farming (74%) with per capita income of 20,000 to 50,000 Uganda shillings for 45% households. Most income (54%) was spent on children’s education. About 50.9% of respondents did not own land but 89.6% had a garden to grow food. Overall, the study community, in a hard to reach island district, had poorer health and socio-economic indicators than the Country.