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All Profiles

Dr Moses Ocan

Call Career Development Fellowship (CDF)
Programme EDCTP2
Start Date 2021-01-01
End Date 2023-12-31
Project Code TMA2019CDF-2662
Status Active

Title

Predictors of local emergence and spread of Artemisinin resistance among Ugandan Plasmodium falciparum parasites (Pfkelch13 emergence)

Host Organisation

Institution Country
Makerere University Uganda

Current Organisation

Makerere University, College of Health Sciences

Current Job Title

Lecturer

Awards

2021 MaKRIF

Students Supervised

Type Name Title University Start Date End Date
PhD Hindum Lanyero Assistant lecturer Makerere University, College of Health Science 2018 2022
PhD Kimbowa Isaac Assistant lecturer Makerere University, College of Health Science 2018 2022

Memberships

Role Committee/board Start Date End Date

Education

Institution Degree Year
Makerere University, Uganda Bachelor of Science 2003-08-23
Makerere University, Uganda Master of Science in Pharmacology 2011-02-12
Makerere University, Uganda Philosophy 2017-02-12

Areas Of Specialisation

Malaria

Grants

Publications

K13-propeller gene polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasite population: a systematic review protocol of burden and associated factors.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Akena D , author
Nsobya S , author
Kamya MR , author
Senono R , author
Kinengyere AA , author
Obuku E , author
Date:
2018-11-01
Journal:
Systematic reviews
Content:
Antimicrobial stewardship: Attitudes and practices of healthcare providers in selected health facilities in Uganda
Authors:
Date:
2022-02-03
Journal:
PLOS ONE
Content:
Though antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes are the cornerstone of Uganda’s national action plan (NAP) on antimicrobial resistance, there is limited evidence on AMS attitude and practices among healthcare providers in health facilities in Uganda. We determined healthcare providers’ AMS attitudes, practices, and associated factors in selected health facilities in Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional study among nurses, clinical officers, pharmacy technicians, medical officers, pharmacists, and medical specialists in 32 selected health facilities in Uganda. Data were collected once from each healthcare provider in the period from October 2019 to February 2020. Data were collected using an interview-administered questionnaire. AMS attitude and practice were analysed using descriptive statistics, where scores of AMS attitude and practices for healthcare providers were classified into high, fair, and low using a modified Blooms categorisation. Associations of AMS attitude and practice scores were determined using ordinal logistic regression. This study reported estimates of AMS attitude and practices, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were reported. We adjusted for clustering at the health facility level using clustered robust standard errors. A total of 582 healthcare providers in 32 healthcare facilities were recruited into the study. More than half of the respondents (58%,340/582) had a high AMS attitude. Being a female (aOR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47–0.92, P < 0.016), having a bachelor’s degree (aOR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.24–2.63, P < 0.002) or master’s (aOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.13–3.75, P < 0.018) were significant predictors of high AMS attitude. Most (46%, 261/582) healthcare providers had fair AMS practices. Healthcare providers in the western region’s health facilities were less likely to have a high AMS practice (aOR: 0.52, 95% CI 0.34–0.79, P < 0.002). In this study, most healthcare providers in health facilities had a high AMS attitude and fair AMS practice.
Covid-19 Infection, Illness and Deaths Among Healthcare Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review Protocol
Authors:
Moses Ocan , author
Brenda Allen Kawala , author
Ephraim Kisangala , author
Regina Ndagire , author
Rachel Nante Wangi , author
Daniel Semakula , author
Alison Annet Kinengyere , author
Nelson K. Sewankambo , author
Thomas Katairo , author
Allen Eva Okullo , author
Fred Nalugoda , author
Eve Namisango , author
Kevin Ojiambo Ouma , author
Robert Apunyo , author
Loyce Nakalembe , author
Ash Luwambo , author
Ekwaro Anthony Obuku , author
Date:
2021-09-27
Journal:
Content:
A systematic review of the risk factors for suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt and completed suicide among children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa between 1986 and 2018: protocol for a systematic review of observational studies
Authors:
Date:
2018-12-01
Journal:
Systematic Reviews
Content:
Factors predicting home storage of medicines in Northern Uganda.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Bbosa GS , author
Waako P , author
Ogwal-Okeng J , author
Obua C , author
Date:
2014-06-01
Journal:
BMC public health
Content:
Patterns and predictors of self-medication in northern Uganda.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Bwanga F , author
Bbosa GS , author
Bagenda D , author
Waako P , author
Ogwal-Okeng J , author
Obua C , author
Date:
2014-03-01
Journal:
PloS one
Content:
Sero-prevalence of brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers in Bahr el Ghazal region, South Sudan.
Authors:
Madut NA , author
Ocan M , author
Muwonge A , author
Muma JB , author
Nasinyama GW , author
Godfroid J , author
Jubara AS , author
Kankya C , author
Date:
2019-05-01
Journal:
BMC infectious diseases
Content:
Use of antibacterials in the management of symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections among children under five years in Gulu, northern Uganda: Prevalence and determinants.
Authors:
Lanyero H , author
Eriksen J , author
Obua C , author
Stålsby Lundborg C , author
Nanzigu S , author
Katureebe A , author
Kalyango JN , author
Ocan M , author
Date:
2020-06-01
Journal:
PloS one
Content:
Barriers and facilitators to implementing clinical imaging guidelines by healthcare professionals using theoretical domains framework: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol
Authors:
Date:
2021-01-01
Journal:
BJR|Open
Content:
Objectives: To identify, categorize, and develop an aggregated synthesis of evidence using the theoretical domains framework (TDF) on barriers and facilitators that influence implementation of clinical imaging guidelines (CIGs) by healthcare professionals (HCPs) in diagnostic imaging Methods: The protocol will be guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual 2014. Methodology for JBI Mixed Methods Systematic Reviews and will adhere to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA-P). Information source will include databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library), internet search (https://www.google.com/scholar), experts’ opinion, professional societies/organizations websites and government bodies strategies/recommendations, and reference lists of included studies. Articles of any study design published in English from 1990 to date, having investigated factors operating as barriers and/or facilitators to the implementation CIGs by HCPs will be eligible. Selecting, appraising, and extracting data from the included studies will be independently performed by at least two reviewers using validated tools and Rayyan – Systematic Review web application. Disagreements will be resolved by consensus and a third reviewer as a tie breaker. The aggregated studies will be synthesized using thematic analysis guided by TDF. Results: Identified barriers will be defined a priori and mapped into 7 TDF domains including knowledge, awareness, effectiveness, time, litigationand financial incentives Conclusion: The results will provide an insight into a theory-based approach to predict behavior-related determinants for implementing CIGs and develop strategies/interventions to target the elicited behaviors. Recommendations will be made if the level of evidence is sufficient Advances in knowledge: Resource-constrained settings that are in the process of adopting CIGs may opt for this strategy to predict in advance likely impediments to achieving the goal of CIG implementation and develop tailored interventions during the planning phase. Systematic review Registration: PROSPERO ID = CRD42020136372 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO).
A systematic review of the risk factors for suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt and completed suicide among children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa between 1986 and 2018: protocol for a systematic review of observational studies.
Authors:
Rukundo GZ , author
Kemigisha E , author
Ocan M , author
Adriko W , author
Akena DH , author
Date:
2018-12-01
Journal:
Systematic reviews
Content:
Prevalence of chloroquine resistance alleles among Plasmodium falciparum parasites in countries affected by malaria disease since change of treatment policy: a systematic review protocol.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Akena D , author
Nsobya S , author
Kamya MR , author
Senono R , author
Kinengyere AA , author
Obuku EA , author
Date:
2018-07-01
Journal:
Systematic reviews
Content:
Adherence to Clinical Guidelines in Integration of Mental Health Services Into Primary Health Care in Mbarara, Southwestern Uganda: a Medical Record Review
Authors:
Wakida EK , author
Ocan M , author
Rukundo GZ , author
Sebutinde P , author
Maling S , author
Okello ES , author
Talib ZM , author
Obua C , author
Date:
2021-03-01
Journal:
Content:
Covid-19 Infection, Illness and Deaths Among Healthcare Workers in Low- and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review Protocol
Authors:
Moses Ocan , author
Brenda Allen Kawala , author
Ephraim Kisangala , author
Regina Ndagire , author
Rachel Nante Nante Wangi , author
Daniel Semakula , author
Alison Annet Kinengyere , author
Nelson K. Sewankambo , author
Thomas Katairo , author
Allen Eva Okullo , author
Fred Nalugoda , author
Eve Namisango , author
Kevin Ojiambo Ouma , author
Robert Apunyo , author
Loyce Nakalembe , author
Ash Luwambo , author
Ekwaro Anthony Obuku , author
Date:
2021-02-10
Journal:
Content:
Prevalence of K13-propeller gene polymorphisms among Plasmodium falciparum parasites isolated from adult symptomatic patients in northern Uganda
Authors:
Moses Ocan , Ocan et al. BMC Infectious Diseases (2016) 16:428
Date:
2016-08-19
Journal:
Malaria Journal
Content:

Background: In the absence of an effective vaccine, malaria treatment and eradication is still a challenge in most
endemic areas globally. This is especially the case with the current reported emergence of resistance to artemisinin
agents in Southeast Asia. This study therefore explored the prevalence of K13-propeller gene polymorphisms among
Plasmodium falciparum parasites in northern Uganda.
Methods: Adult patients (≥18 years) presenting to out-patients department of Lira and Gulu regional referral hospitals
in northern Uganda were randomly recruited. Laboratory investigation for presence of plasmodium infection among
patients was done using Plasmodium falciparum exclusive rapid diagnostic test, histidine rich protein-2 (HRP2) (Pf).
Finger prick capillary blood from patients with a positive malaria test was spotted on a filter paper Whatman no. 903.
The parasite DNA was extracted using chelex resin method and sequenced for mutations in K13-propeller gene using
Sanger sequencing. PCR DNA sequence products were analyzed using in DNAsp 5.10.01software, data was further
processed in Excel spreadsheet 2007.
Results: A total of 60 parasite DNA samples were sequenced. Polymorphisms in the K13-propeller gene were detected
in four (4) of the 60 parasite DNA samples sequenced. A non-synonymous polymorphism at codon 533 previously
detected in Cambodia was found in the parasite DNA samples analyzed. Polymorphisms at codon 522 (non-synonymous)
and codon 509 (synonymous) were also found in the samples analyzed. The study found evidence of positive selection in
the Plasmodium falciparum population in northern Uganda (Tajima’s D=−1.83205; Fu and Li’s D=−1.82458).
Conclusions: Polymorphism in the K13-propeller gene previously reported in Cambodia has been found in the Ugandan
Plasmodium falciparum parasites. There is need for continuous surveillance for artemisinin resistance gene markers in
the country.

Persistence of chloroquine resistance alleles in malaria endemic countries: a systematic review of burden and risk factors
Authors:
Moses Ocan , author
Dickens Akena , author
Sam Nsobya , author
Moses R. Kamya , author
Richard Senono , author
Alison Annet Kinengyere , author
Ekwaro A. Obuku , author
Date:
2019-12-01
Journal:
Malaria Journal
Content:
A systematic review on academic research productivity of postgraduate students in low- and middle-income countries.
Authors:
Obuku EA , author
Lavis JN , author
Kinengyere A , author
Ssenono R , author
Ocan M , author
Mafigiri DK , author
Ssengooba F , author
Karamagi C , author
Sewankambo NK , author
Date:
2018-08-01
Journal:
Health research policy and systems
Content:
Pharmacopeial quality of artemether– lumefantrine anti-malarial agents in Uganda
Authors:
Moses Ocan, Loyce Nakalembe, Caroline Otike, Denis Omali, Allan Buzibye and Sam Nsobya , Ocan et al. Malaria Journal (2023) 22:165
Date:
2023-05-26
Journal:
Malaria Journal
Content:

Background Substandard anti-malarial agents pose a significant challenge to effective malaria control and elimina- tion efforts especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The quality of anti-malarials in most low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) is affected by several factors including inadequate regulation and limited resources. In this study, the phar- macopeial quality of artemether–lumefantrine (AL) in low and high malaria transmission settings in Uganda was assessed.

Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted among randomly selected private drug outlets. The AL anti- malarials available in drug outlets were purchased using overt method. The samples were screened for quality using visual inspection, weight uniformity, content assay and dissolution tests. The assay test was done using liquid chro- matography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The samples were considered substandard if the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content was outside 90–110% range of the label claim. Dissolution test was conducted following United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) method. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented as means with standard deviations, frequencies, and proportions. Correlation between medicine quality and independent vari- ables was determined using Fisher’s exact test of independence at 95% level of significance.

Results A total of 74 AL anti-malarial samples were purchased from high (49/74; 66.2%) and low (25/74; 33.8%) malaria transmission settings. The most common batch of AL was LONART, 32.4% (24/74), with 33.8% (25/74) being ‘Green leaf’. Overall prevalence of substandard quality artemether–lumefantrine was 18.9% (14/74; 95% CI: 11.4–29.7). Substandard quality AL was significantly associated with setting (p = 0.002). A total of 10 samples (13.5%) failed artemether content assay test while, 4 samples (5.4%, 4/74) failed the lumefantrine assay test. One sample from a high malaria transmission setting failed both artemether and lumefantrine assay content test. Of the samples that failed artemether assay test, 90% had low (< 90%) artemether content. All the samples passed visual inspection and dissolu- tion tests.

Conclusion Artemether–lumefantrine agents, the recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria with APIs outside the recommended pharmacopeial content assay limit is common especially in high malaria transmission settings. There is need for continuous surveillance and monitoring of the quality of artemisinin-based anti-malarials across the country by the drug regulatory agency.

Prevalence of K13-propeller gene polymorphisms among Plasmodium falciparum parasites isolated from adult symptomatic patients in northern Uganda.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Bwanga F , author
Okeng A , author
Katabazi F , author
Kigozi E , author
Kyobe S , author
Ogwal-Okeng J , author
Obua C , author
Date:
2016-08-01
Journal:
BMC infectious diseases
Content:
Medicine use practices in management of symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infections in children (≤12 years) in Kampala city, Uganda.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Aono M , author
Bukirwa C , author
Luyinda E , author
Ochwo C , author
Nsambu E , author
Namugonza S , author
Makoba J , author
Kandaruku E , author
Muyende H , author
Nakawunde A , author
Date:
2017-09-01
Journal:
BMC public health
Content:
Prevalence of brucellosis among patients attending Wau Hospital, South Sudan.
Authors:
Madut NA , author
Nasinyama GW , author
Muma JB , author
Sube KLL , author
Ocan M , author
Muwonge A , author
Godfroid J , author
Jubara AS , author
Kankya C , author
Date:
2018-06-01
Journal:
PloS one
Content:
Registration of antimicrobials, Kenya, Uganda and United Republic of Tanzania, 2018.
Authors:
Lyus R , author
Pollock A , author
Ocan M , author
Brhlikova P , author
Date:
2020-06-01
Journal:
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Content:
Household antimicrobial self-medication: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the burden, risk factors and outcomes in developing countries.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Obuku EA , author
Bwanga F , author
Akena D , author
Richard S , author
Ogwal-Okeng J , author
Obua C , author
Date:
2015-08-01
Journal:
BMC public health
Content:
Antibody levels and protection after Hepatitis B vaccine in adult vaccinated healthcare workers in northern Uganda
Authors:
Date:
2022-01-21
Journal:
PLOS ONE
Content:
Hepatitis B vaccine has contributed to the reduction in hepatitis B virus infections and chronic disease globally. Screening to establish extent of vaccine induced immune response and provision of booster dose are limited in most low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Our study investigated the extent of protective immune response and breakthrough hepatitis B virus infections among adult vaccinated healthcare workers in selected health facilities in northern Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 randomly selected adult hepatitis B vaccinated healthcare workers in Lira and Gulu regional referral hospitals in northern Uganda. Blood samples were collected and qualitative analysis of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (HBsAb), Hepatitis B envelop antigen (HBeAg), Hepatitis B envelop antibody (HBeAb) and Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) conducted using ELISA method. Quantitative assessment of anti-hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBs) levels was done using COBAS immunoassay analyzer. Multiple logistic regression was done to establish factors associated with protective anti-HBs levels (≥ 10mIU/mL) among adult vaccinate healthcare workers at 95% level of significance. A high proportion, 81.3% (244/300) of the study participants completed all three hepatitis B vaccine dose schedules. Two (0.7%, 2/300) of the study participants had active hepatitis B virus infection. Of the 300 study participants, 2.3% (7/300) had positive HBsAg; 88.7% (266/300) had detectable HBsAb; 2.3% (7/300) had positive HBeAg; 4% (12/300) had positive HBeAb and 17.7% (53/300) had positive HBcAb. Majority, 83% (249/300) had a protective hepatitis B antibody levels (≥10mIU/mL). Hepatitis B vaccine provides protective immunity against hepatitis B virus infection regardless of whether one gets a booster dose or not. Protective immune response persisted for over ten years following hepatitis B vaccination among the healthcare workers.
Prevalence and predictors of prior antibacterial use among patients presenting to hospitals in Northern Uganda.
Authors:
Ocan M , author
Manabe YC , author
Baluku H , author
Atukwase E , author
Ogwal-Okeng J , author
Obua C , author
Date:
2015-09-01
Journal:
BMC pharmacology & toxicology
Content:
Asymptomatic Plasmodium Parasites among Adults in Eastern Uganda: A Case of Donor Blood Screening at Mbale Regional Blood Bank.
Authors:
Inyimai SP , author
Ocan M , author
Wabwire B , author
Olupot-Olupot P , author
Date:
2018-07-01
Journal:
Journal of tropical medicine
Content:
K13-propeller gene polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasite population in malaria affected countries: a systematic review of prevalence and risk factors
Authors:
Moses Ocan , author
Dickens Akena , author
Sam Nsobya , author
Moses R. Kamya , author
Richard Senono , author
Alison Annet Kinengyere , author
Ekwaro Obuku , author
Date:
2019-12-01
Journal:
Malaria Journal
Content:

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