Evidence mapPaperPMID 42498947Full record

ArticleBasic and clinical andrology2026

Semen abnormalities and associated factors among men seeking fertility services in Eastern and Central Uganda: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

Ali Abdow Hafsa, Marie Pascaline Sabine Ishimwe, Musa Kasujja, Maxwell Okello, Theodore Nteziyaremye, Chinyere N Anyanwu, Sharifah Namutebi, Sara Liban, Ronard Musinguzi, Dale Mugisha and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Basic and clinical andrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Ali Abdow HafsaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Marie Pascaline Sabine IshimweDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kampala International University, Ishaka, Uganda.
Musa KasujjaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Maxwell OkelloDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Theodore NteziyaremyeDepartment of Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Chinyere N AnyanwuDepartment of Microbiology, Kampala International University, Ishaka, Uganda.
Sharifah NamutebiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Sara LibanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Ronard MusinguziDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Dale MugishaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Healingway Fertility and Diagnostic Center, Kampala, Uganda.
Amina Aden AhmedDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Amina Mohamed MireDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Bahja Ahmed MumimDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Amos MuhumuzaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda.
Akib Surat OlabisiDepartment of Pathology, Kampala International University, Ishaka, Uganda.
Theoneste HakizimanaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kampala International University, Bushenyi, Ishaka, Uganda. theonestehakizimana5@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMale-factor infertility contributes substantially to the burden of infertility, yet evidence on semen abnormalities and their associated factors in Uganda remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence, patterns, and factors associated with abnormal semen values among men seeking fertility services in Eastern and Central Uganda.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 155 men attending Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital, and Healingway Diagnostic and Fertility Centre between September 2025 and January 2026. Semen analysis was performed using World Health Organization criteria. Factors associated with abnormal semen values were assessed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

resultsOverall, 52 of 155 participants had at least one abnormal semen parameter, giving a prevalence of 33.5% (95% CI: 26.5-41.4). The prevalence did not differ significantly across study sites (p = 0.841). Teratozoospermia (42.3%) and asthenozoospermia (38.5%) were the most common abnormalities, followed by hypospermia (26.9%), necrozoospermia (25.0%), oligozoospermia (23.1%), and azoospermia (23.1%). Hypertension (AOR = 5.23; 95% CI: 1.10-24.93), diabetes mellitus (AOR = 4.82; 95% CI: 1.85-12.57), medication use (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.11-6.71), history of mumps infection (AOR = 5.29; 95% CI: 1.25-22.31), and occupational hazard exposure (AOR = 4.23; 95% CI: 1.60-11.13) were independently associated with abnormal semen parameters.

conclusionsApproximately one in three men seeking fertility services in Eastern and Central Uganda had at least one abnormal semen parameter, with abnormalities in sperm morphology and motility being the most common findings. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, medication use, history of mumps infection, and occupational hazard exposure were associated with abnormal semen parameters. Assessment of medical conditions, previous infections, medication use, and occupational exposures may therefore be useful when evaluating men presenting with infertility.

Identifiers

PMID42498947
PMCPMC13397786

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.