Abstract Tsetse fly is a primary vector of Human African Trypanosomiasis and Animal African Trypanosomiasis. Tsetse fly exploits chemical cues from the environment to distinguish a non- from suitable hosts. Genes in tsetse fly antennae code for proteins and receptors that directly or indirectly mediate chemoreception. While chemoreception-associated genes have been annotated, antennal genes in the Glossina. m. morsitans genome with important functions have not been characterized. Antennaespe...
Abstract The challenge of girls' retention in educational institutions has been identified as a significant obstacle. The inability to maintain the enrollment of female students in secondary schools can be regarded as a squandering of valuable human capital and financial investments made in their primary education, as well as a loss of time invested in their initial enrollment. These young females have the potential to develop into a demographic of women lacking in literacy skills, resulting...
Abstract Background: Preconception care (PCC) is the provision of health interventions to women and couples before conception occurs and is valuable in promoting healthy maternal, birth, and neonatal health outcomes. In Africa, more so in Kenya, maternal and neonatal health indicators have remained poor. The key constraint limiting progress is the gap between what is needed and what exists in terms of skills and availability of human resources & infrastructures in the face of increased deman...
Abstract/Overview Antiretroviral treatment (ART) assists patients in controlling their HIV infection and ensuring long-term survival. Despite this advantage, a significant number of HIV-positive individuals do not attain full virologic suppression. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of low-level viraemia, its impact on outcome, and related factors in HIV-1 infected patients receiving ART at Nyakach County Hospital in Kisumu, Kenya. This observational cohort resea...
Abstract Purpose – This paper seeks to explore the factors affecting provision of service quality in the public health sector in Kenya, focusing on employee capability, technology, communication and financial resources. The paper reviews existing literature and experiences on public health service provision and quality management. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports on empirical evidence drawn from a case study of Kenyatta National Hospital – the largest referral hospital i...
Abstract/Overview The population's antibody response is a key factor in comprehending SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology. This is especially important in African settings where COVID-19 impact, and vaccination rates are relatively low. This study aimed at characterizing the Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) in both SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals in Kisumu and Siaya counties in Western Kenya using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. The IgG and IgM overall seropre...
Abstract The first description of a disease resembling dengue fever (DF) was in the 15 century slave trade era by Spanish sailors visiting the Tanzania coast. The disease, then associated with evil spirits is now known to be caused by four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV1-4) that are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Kenya has experienced multiple outbreaks, mostly associated with DENV-2. In this study, plasma samples obtained from 37 febrile patients during a DF outbreak at Kenya’s south c...
Abstract Introduction Despite documentation on injection drug use (IDU) in Kenya, the nutritional status of people who inject drugs (PWIDs) is under-explored. Elsewhere studies report under-nutrition among PWIDs which is attributed to food insecurity; competing priorities between drugs and food supply; chaotic lifestyle; reduced food intake; substance use induced malnutrition due to inflammation and comorbidities. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that sought to assess the nutritional...
Abstract Management of mentally ill patients is mainly done by psychiatric nurses in Kenya. This study sought to identify the association between nursing students’ psychiatric encounters and the perception towards psychiatric nursing in Kenya using a cross-sectional study design. Cluster and systematic random sampling were used to select the study participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Odds ratio was used to identify the association between variables. A significant associat...
Abstract Background Coxiella burnetii is a widely distributed pathogen, but data on its epidemiology in livestock, and human populations remain scanty, especially in developing countries such as Kenya. We used the One Health approach to estimate the seroprevalance of C. burnetii in cattle, sheep, goats and human populations in Tana River county, and in humans in Garissa county, Kenya. We also identified potential determinants of exposure among these hosts. Methods Data were collected through...
Abstract Primary Health Care (PHC) serves as the foundation for building a working healthcare system that provide good health outcomes. The quality of PHC delivery and the decision to refer patients depends on some behavioural factors (knowledge, skills and behaviour) of primary care providers. The study was conducted at 100 PHC centres sampled using Taro Yamane formula, in Machakos County, Kenya, from March to May 2015. It involved 8 gender-based focus group discussions (FGDs) with patients...
Abstract The CH2Cl2/MeOH (1:1) extract of the aerial parts of Tephrosia subtriflora afforded a new flavanonol, named subtriflavanonol (1), along with the known flavanone spinoflavanone B, and the known flavanonols MS-II (2) and mundulinol. The structures were elucidated by the use of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the flavanonols was determined based on quantum chemical ECD calculations. In the antiplasmodial assay, compound 2 showed the highest activit...
Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Medicinal plants play a major role in many communities across the world, in the treatment and prevention of disease and the promotion of general health. The aim of the study was to escalate documentation from an earlier study of medicinal plants, traditionally used to combat malaria by the Ameru community of Imenti Forest area and Gatunga in Eastern Region of Kenya, and validate their ethnopharmacological claims by evaluating their antiplasmodial effic...
Abstract Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in the world. It remains a major public health problem in Africa and is responsible for the annual death of over one million children below the age of five years. The Plasmodium falciparum is the most widespread etiological agent for human malaria and has become increasingly resistant to standard antimalarial drugs. Therefore, this necessitates a continuous effort to search for new drugs, particularly with novel modes of action...
Abstract Introduction Microbial infections are normally cited as a main environmental factor involved in pathology. The current study aimed at determining frequency of occurrence of pathogens in thyroid pathology.Our study is focused on human data. We have reviewed thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) samples for pathogens. Methods Biopsy by fine-needle aspiration was applied in investigating the nodule for microbial involvement. Two smears were prepared on slides from each sample. The first...