Abstract The high incidence and prevalence of nosocomial pressure injuries pose a threat to safe hospitalization and additional strain on the healthcare system. Analysis of pressure injury risk factors is necessary for efficient prevention and management as part of the program to ensure that no patient experiences any preventable harm while receiving care, as per the international patient safety goals. This study evaluated the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for pressure injury among co...
Abstract Musculoskeletal pain (MSK) is a common and often distressing symptom among children diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite the recurrent and often severe pain episodes these children endure, there has been limited research into the factors that influence the management of this pain. This study sought to delve into the various factors that impact the management of MSK pain in children with SCD in Western Kenya. It took a comprehensive approach, considering psychological, e...
Abstract Context: Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), spread across the globe, causing distress among various populations, including healthcare providers. This disease has had an unparalleled effect on the world's economic situation, livelihood, and mental and physical well-being across the globe. Aim: To assess the healthcare providers' psychological responses and related demographic and soc...
Abstract ineffective area of health system. In Kenya triage system is considered under developed and there is no National acceptable Accident and Emergency (A&E) triage system. Objective: The main objective of the study was to assess triage competency and its associated factors among healthcare providers in emergency department at selected hospitals in Kakamega County. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study design. Census sampling was used to select the General Practitioner hospitals. Sys...
Abstract Background and study aim: Hepatic derangements are emerging as prominent causes mortality and morbidity among HIV patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Among this population, high HIV viremia, low CD4+ count and HAART have been established as risk factors for hepatic injury. Although HAART mitigates these risks, it is unknown whether non-adherence to it contributes to the development of hepatic derangements. The current study aimed at exploring whether non-adhere...
Abstract Context: The goal of triage is to prioritize patients who require the most urgent care and increase efficiency when resources are insufficient to treat all patients as per their degree or grade of injury. An effective and efficient emergency center triage system should be able to sort both trauma and non-trauma patients according to the level of acuity and involves treatment as per the physiological parameters, either coded as red, orange, yellow, green, or black. Kenyatta National ...
Abstract Background Although injection drug use drives antiretroviral drug resistance, the prevalence of protease inhibitor (PI) resistance among Kenyan IDUs remains undetermined. We, therefore, explored PI resistance mutations and their association with viral load and CD4+ T cell counts in HIV-1 infected IDUs (ART-naive, n = 32; and -experienced, n = 47) and non-drug users (ART-naive, n = 21; and -experienced, n = 32) naive for PI treatment from coastal Kenya. Results Only IDUs harboured ma...
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 is disseminated by respiratory aerosols. The virus uses the spike protein to target epithelial cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor on the host cells. As a result, effective vaccines must target the viral spike glycoprotein. However, the appearance of an Omicron variant with 32 mutations in its spike protein raises questions about the vaccine’s efficacy. Vacc...
Abstract The issue of drug and substance abuse has become a major concern in Kenya, particularly in the coastal region. In response, the government has implemented various programs to mitigate the problem. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the government's programs for mitigating drug and substance abuse in the Kilifi and Mombasa Counties of thecoastal region of Kenya.Social learning theory and functionalism theory served as the study's guiding principles. The study was further und...
Abstract Background: Cytokines play an important role in signaling the immune system to build an adequate immune response against HIV. HIV distorts the balance between pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines causing viral replication. Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) acts by trying to restore pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance. It is not clear how HAART non-adherence influences circulating cytokine levels. This study therefore determined cytokine levels in HAART non-adheren...
Abstract Objectives: The study sought to determine mental health outcomes and associated predictors among mothers of preterm infants in the Neonatal Care Unit (NCU). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study design was used to answer the research question. One hundred and eighty-two (182) mothers with preterm babies admitted to the Neonatal Care unit were interviewed. Data was collected from June to August 2021 using semi-structured pretested questionnaires and mental health ...
Abstract Poor health service delivery has been linked to the devolution of health services, with some health workers walking off the job due to inadequate pay and unsafe working conditions. This research aimed at establishing the influence of organizational culture on public health service delivery in County Governments in Western Kenya Region, Taking a positivist approach, the study was anchored on Organizational Culture Theory. Descriptive survey and causal-comparative research designs wer...
Abstract Poor hygiene might be a risk factor for early childhood development (ECD). This study investigated the associations of three hygiene practices (‘wash hands before a meal,’ ‘wash hands after going to the toilet,’ and ‘brush teeth’), separately and combined, with ECD. Six thousand six hundred ninety-seven children (4 [0.8] years) from the East Asia-Pacific Early Child Development Scales validation study were included in this cross-sectional analysis. The hygiene variables ...
Abstract Background Red cell distribution width (RDW) measures the extent of variation in red blood cell (RBC) volume in terms of coefficient of variation. It reflects the degree of variation in RBC’s sizes and shapes, characteristic of iron deficiency and anemias involving RBC destruction, especially hemoglobinopathies. Its values are often available as one of the RBC indices generated as complete blood cell count (CBC) using automated hematology analyzers. Hemoglobinopathies are highly p...
Abstract Stingless bees live in tropical and subtropical areas around the world, however, stingless bee honey and other products have traditionally been used in the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world to treat various diseases since ancient times. Little has been done to document these traditional medicinal uses, particularly in Africa. Therefore, an ethnomedical survey was conducted in Baringo County, Kenya to document knowledge on medicinal uses ofstingless bee honey. The study wa...