Mubangizi, Vincent http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4636-7847
Maling, Samuel
Obua, Celestino
Tsai, Alexander C.
Funding for this research was provided by:
Fogarty International Center and the National Institute on Aging of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (3D43TW010128-04S1)
Article History
Received: 23 September 2019
Accepted: 6 February 2020
First Online: 10 February 2020
Ethics approval and consent to participate
: Ethical approval to conduct this study was obtained from the Mbarara University of Science and Technology Research Ethics Committee (reference number 13/10–18). Consistent with national guidelines, clearance for the study was granted by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (reference number SS 4842). We obtained administrative permission to enter the study communities from the district administrative head at each site. All study participants (informants and caregivers) provided written informed consent to participate. If a signature could not be obtained for literacy reasons, verbal informed consent was obtained in the presence of a witness and the study participant was permitted to indicate a signature using a thumbprint. For study participants who could not provide informed consent due to cognitive difficulties (for example, presumed dementia), informed consent to participate was obtained from a caregiver, and the study participant was permitted to provide assent. All participants who screened positive dementia were referred to the nearest hospital (Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Rugarama Hospital [Kabale], Kisiizi Hospital [Rukungiri], Nyakibale Hospital [Rukungiri], Itojo Hospital [Ntungamo], Kitagata General Hospital [Sheema], Kampala International University Teaching Hospital [Ishaka], or Ishaka Adventist Hospital [Ishaka]) for further clinical assessment and management.
: Written permission to publish the findings was sought from all participants, who were assured of anonymity and confidentiality in reporting.
: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.