The conference has 4 conference tracks: Social Determinants of Health for NCDs and NTDs; Social Determinants for Health for communicable/infectious diseases; SDH for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Models and approaches for multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDH). These will focus on creating a deeper understanding of the influence of social determinants on health outcomes. The tracks aim to create an appreciation of the role of other sectors beyond the health system in addressing persistent health challenges in the country.
The conference is expected to inspire, accelerate actions and commitments for greater attention towards SDH for improved health and development outcomes.
We recognize the importance of strategic communications; advocacy; digital technology; health outcomes in humanitarian and emergency settings, meaningful and inclusive youth participation; research, and monitoring, evaluation and learning in addressing SDH to improve health and development outcomes. These will therefore be cross cutting issues for this conference. Abstracts should focus on any of the four conference tracks below:
Conference tracks:
Addressing social determinants which contribute to the increasing burden of non communicable diseases (NCDs) and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is more urgent than ever before in Uganda. This track will elaborate social determinants of health for NCDs and NTDs as well as explore practical, community-driven approaches to addressing them. The track will focus on the following key areas:
- SDH for NCDs and NTDs and actions to address them at individual, community and society
level - Self-care approaches for NCDs with special attention to the roles and responsibilities of
individuals, families and communities - Health education and promotion for NCDs and NTDs
- Telemedicine and digital solutions for addressing NCDs and NTDs
- Non-clinical interventions for NCDs
- Community-led initiatives for addressing NCDs and NTDs
- Sustainable Financing to address SDH for NCDs and NTDs
- Lived experiences of individuals and communities.
- Legal and human rights issues relating to SDH for NCDs and NTDs including legal and social protection
Addressing social determinants of communicable diseases is crucial to preventing, controlling and eliminating communicable diseases which are acerbated by the frequent disease outbreaks such as Ebola and M-pox. A comprehensive multi-sectoral approach that involves healthcare systems, other sectors of government, private sector, communities and individuals is critical in mitigating increase of the disease burden and mitigating impact. Through this track, we aim to foster a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between social determinants of health and communicable disease
management, paving the way for other sectors beyond the health system to contribute solutions. This track will therefore focus on the following key areas:
- Understanding and addressing SDH for communicable and infectious diseases at individual, community, and societal levels.
- Uganda’s resilience to disease outbreaks through integrated preparedness, community
engagement, and multi-sectoral collaboration. - Self-care interventions for communicable diseases, focusing on individual approaches.
- Health education and promotion for communicable/infectious diseases
- Telemedicine and digital solutions for addressing communicable/infectious diseases
- Non-clinical interventions for managing communicable and infectious diseases.
- Community-led initiatives in addressing communicable/infectious diseases.
- Lived experiences of individuals and communities.
- Legal and human rights issues related to SDH for communicable diseases, including legal
protection and social safeguards. - Financing strategies for addressing SDH in communicable disease management and epidemic preparedness.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are influenced by a complex mix of social, economic, and environmental factors that determine how people access healthcare, obtain information, and receive essential services. This track will examine the effects of these factors on SRHR at the individual, family, community, and societal levels and will focus on the following key areas:
- Addressing SDH for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) at individual, family, community, and societal levels.
- Selfcare interventions and community-led strategies for SRHR.
- Health education and promotion for SRHR
- Telemedicine and digital solutions for addressing SRHR
- The role of youth advocacy and leadership in addressing SDH for SRHR.
- Legal, social protection, and financing strategies for improving SRHR.
- Amplifying the impact of community-led initiatives in achieving better SRHR outcomes.
Multi-sectoral collaboration is key to tackling the social factors that influence health. This track will discuss creative ways to involve the private sector in improving health equity and funding, along with partnerships with local governments and other organizations. It will also examine how international policies and funding decisions affect Uganda’s healthcare system and disease prevention and will cover the following areas
- Approaches for engaging the private sector on health equity and financing, local authorities and non-health agencies
- Geopolitical influences on Uganda’s healthcare system, including international policies and funding decisions impacting disease prevention and response
- Health-in-all-policy partnerships
- Examining the role of policies, legal frameworks, and multi-sectoral collaboration in advancing SDH
- Integration of Health and Social services
- One health Approach
- Climate Justice and Gender Justice as social determinants of Health
Please note:
- Abstracts may be submitted for oral presentation (15min) or poster or workshop presentations.
- Authors are encouraged to indicate their presentation preference.
- Abstracts are to be submitted in English.
- All abstracts must be submitted via the online system, using the link on the UCHD conference
website page. E-mailed abstracts will not be accepted. - Abstracts should be no more than 350 words excluding details of the author(s).
- Abstracts are to be submitted in the template provided online.
- Presenting authors will need to provide a photograph and a bio of no more than 800 characters.
- You will need the abstract, author photograph and bio on hand when you submit your abstract online.
- Early submission is encouraged.
Format for oral/poster presentations:
- Topic derived from the focus areas described under each conference track
- Abstract title
- Preference for presentation style (oral or poster or workshop). However, the final decision will be made by the abstract review and selection committee
- First and last name of maximum of 4 authors, institution affiliations and country. Submitting and presenting author might differ and you will be required to indicate who of the four will be the presenting author to guide conference programme development.
- Author contacts: Only applicable to submitting and presenting authors. Please provide 2 telephone contacts – one mandatory and another optional; 2 email addresses – one mandatory and another optional.
Format for symposium/ workshop abstracts:
- Topic derived from the focus areas described under each conference track
- Session title
- Session organizer/coordinator – First and last name, Organisation, District/City, Country of the
organization, Email address(s), Telephone number(s) and Website of the organization