Public and Community Health Research Papers/Topics

Children as caregivers of older relatives living with HIV and AIDS in Nyang'oma division of western Kenya

Abstract/Overview There is growing debate about the situations of children who care for a relative with HIV-related illness, especially in developing countries with high HIV prevalence. In particular, there is inadequate information on the long-term consequences of children taking on this caregiving role. The article reanalyses data collected between January and November 2006 in a rural setting in western Kenya where 19 children caring for a total of 15 people living with HIV or AIDS (PLHIV)...

UPTAKE OF COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH INSURANCE AND ITS EFFECT ON HOUSEHOLD HEALTH EXPENDITURE IN HARAMAYA AND KERSA DISTRICTS IN EASTERN HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the determinant of household uptake in community-based health insurance and the effect of uptake in community-based health insurance on household health expenditure in Haramaya and Kersa District. The study used cross-sectional survey research design and quantitative approach. A survey was conducted by using 360 structured close-ended questionnaires distributed equally to community-based health insurance adopters and non adopters in the dist...

Factors Associated with Utilization of Malaria Preventive and Control Measures among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Kisumu County Referral Hospital in Kisumu City Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview In Kenya, one of the strategies to control malaria during pregnancy is through the use of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) and insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in conjunction with other intervention methods. But the uptake of these services among pregnant women is not fully optimized. The study assessed the knowledge on malaria and determined factors associated with utilization of malaria preventive and control measures among pregnant w...

Awareness of the Spectrum Condition of Autism among Pre-Primary School Teachers in Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview Autism is a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders exhibited in early childhood with variable manifestations as children grow up. However, the level of awareness of the condition is poorly understood among pre-primary school teachers. This study, therefore, assessed the awareness of the spectrum condition of autism among pre-primary school teachers in western Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed and data collected from 321 participants using s...

Comorbidities Associated with Increased Risk of Death among Children Aged 2-59 Months with Severe Pneumonia in Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview Globally, severe pneumonia remains the leading infectious cause of death in children younger than 5 years. Comorbidities increase the risk of death among children with severe pneumonia across age groups and regions; however, the data is scanty on specific comorbidities. The study, therefore, was aimed at improving an understanding of the risk of death due to different comorbidities among children with severe pneumonia. The findings will not only inform the clinical pract...

Determinants of Malaria Prevalence among Children below Five Years in North West Kisumu Ward, Kisumu County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract/Overview Globally, malaria remains a major public health problem. In 2019 an estimated 229 million cases of malaria were reported, WHO African region accounted for 94% of total cases. In Kenya, malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years living in malaria endemic zones. This study investigated the factors that are associated with malaria prevalence among children under-five years living in North West Kisumu Ward, Kisumu County. This cross...

Determinants of the Uptake of Free Maternity Services among Pregnant Mothers in Malava Sub-County, in Kakamega County, Kenya

Abstract/Overview Over the past decade, Kenya has made tremendous efforts to enhance maternal and child health. Secure maternity policies such as free maternity care are one of the initiatives that have enhanced maternal and child health in all public health facilities. Despite these attempts, public health facilities for maternal and child health are still underused. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive study design to identify determinants of free maternal health services b...

Determinants of the Uptake of Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy with Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine in Sabatia Sub County, Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview Annually, 125.2 million pregnant women worldwide risk contracting malaria, including 30.3 million and 1.5 million in Sub-Saharan Africa and Kenya respectively. At least three doses of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp-SP) is recommended for optimal benefit. Kenya recorded low IPTp-SP optimal uptake in 2015. This study investigated the prevalence of and factors influencing IPTp-SP optimal uptake in Sabatia Sub C...

Antiretroviral (ARV) Drug Resistance and HIV-1 Subtypes among Injecting Drug Users in the Coastal Region of Kenya

Abstract/Overview HIV-1 genetic diversity results into the development of widespread drug-resistant mutations (DRMs) for the first-line retroviral therapy. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the relationship between DRMs and HIV-1 subtypes among HIV-positive injecting drug users (IDUs). This study therefore determined the association between HIV-1 genotypes and DRMs among the 200 IDUs. Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database was used to interpret DRMs. The five HIV-1 genotypes circ...

Diabetes Awareness and Risk Reduction Behaviors among Pre-Diabetic Patients in Busia County, Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview One-third of people with pre-diabetic condition progress to type 2 diabetes within five years. However, with adequate knowledge on diabetes risk reduction behaviors, progression to diabetes can be controlled. We therefore recruited 220 suspected cases of pre-diabetic patients at Busia County Referral Hospital assessed their knowledge, and adaption of risk reduction behavior. A cross-sectional study design and a systematic sampling approach were used. The findings show th...

Uptake of Preconception Care Services among Women of Reproductive Age at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisumu

Abstract/Overview Preconception care involves the provision of health interventions to women and couples before conception and aims at improving their health status, reducing behaviors, individual and environmental factors that contribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes. It has potential to further reduce global maternal and child mortality and morbidity, especially in low-income countries where the highest burden of pregnancy-related deaths and disability occurs. Most often, p...

Factors Influencing Preconception Care Services Among Women of Reproductive Age at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisumu

Abstract/Overview Preconception care involves the provision of health interventions to women and couples before conception and aims at improving their health status, reducing behaviors, individual and environmental factors that contribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes. It has potential to further reduce global maternal and child mortality and morbidity, especially in low-income countries where the highest burden of pregnancy-related deaths and disability occurs. Most often, p...

Effect of socio-economic factors on malaria prevalence in a Peri-urban setting in Vihiga County, Western Kenya Highlands

Abstract Background: Malaria is the leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: The study assessed the effect of socio-economic factors on high malaria prevalence in a peri-urban setting in Vihiga County, Western Kenya highlands aimed at strengthening implementation of cost-effective malaria control strategies at household level. Method: A longitudinal study was carried out in the study area from December 2019 to November 2020. From patients who presented themselves at Mba...

Assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in Cervical Cancer Patients in Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important health outcome in the holistic management of patients especially those suffering from life limiting conditions such as cervical cancer. In Kenya, Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer among women. However, little is known and documented on HRQoL of cervical cancer patients. This study assessed HRQoL of cervical cancer patients in western Kenya. A cross-sectional study involving 334 cervical cancer patients was ...

The Cost Implications of Reaching Universal Coverage of Maternity Health Services in Siaya County, Western Kenya

Abstract/Overview In Kenya, no studies have attempted to model alternative scenarios of the cost-implications of reaching universal coverage (i.e. 95% population coverage) of the existing maternity health services network at the ward administrative level. A cross-sectional study design used publicly available geospatial data in combination with routine data from the web-based district health information software (DHIS2) platform. AccessMod (version 5) was used for scaling up analysis. Arc...


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