ABSTRACT High or raised blood pressure (HBP) is a global public health issue and a major cardiovascular risk factor. While the Kenya StepWise survey of 2015 confirmed that more than half (56%) of Kenyans have never been screened for BP, renewed interests in hypertension in children and adolescents has resulted from the recognition that its presence in adults often has its roots at a younger age. It is also still controversial whether mild thyroid dysfunction affects BP. To understand if iodin...
ABSTRACT Knowledge of one’s HIV status through HIV Testing and Counselling remains the first step towards HIV prevention, appropriate care, support and treatment services. The knowledge needs to be coupled with means of accessing and obtaining essential post test services including appropriate care and treatment for all individuals who test HIV positive. Through linkages with care, treatment and support programs, HTC is expected to contribute to lessening the impact of the HIV epidemic on ...
ABSTRACT Worldwide, there has been an increasing concern about occupational exposures and injuries among welders in both the small scale and large scale manufacturing industries. Occupational hazards include activities, processes, or materials related to welding with the potential to cause harm or adverse health effects on people performing this task. The sprawling of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the developing world provides several challenges to ensuring health and safety p...
ABSTRACT Khat (Catha edulis) is a dicotyledonous evergreen shrub of the family Celastraceae whose fresh leaves are habitually chewed for their euphoric properties. The habit of khat chewing is mainly found in Arabia, Somalia, Kenya and has spread to Asia, Europe and other parts of the world due to improvement in transport and communication. Khat consumption was traditionally confined to adult men of the population. However; today khat chewing has become popular among all segments of the popu...
ABSTRACT Human fungal infections pose serious medical issues. Up to now, more than a hundred thousand fungal species are considered as natural contaminants. During the last decade, the incidence of superficial and deep mycotic infections has continued to increase explosively. There is a general consensus among researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies that new, potent, effective and safe antifungal drugs are needed. Majority of work has been conducted on Camellia sinensis extracts ...
ABSTRACT Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is currently second, after cancer, as the most frequent cause of death among HIV-positive subjects in areas of the world where Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) is widely available. Dyslipidemia is an important adaptable cardiovascular risk factor that is a widespread clinical feature of HIV-infected patients in the present era of HAART. Peanuts are a rich source of magnesium, folate, fibre, α- tocopherol, copper, arginine and resveratrol. ...
ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on selected cooperative societies in Kenya. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was undertaken in six districts of Kenya namely Makueni, Thika, Meru Central, Uasin Gishu, Nandi South and Kericho. Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used with respondents being members of cooperative societies, society’s leaders, employees of the societies and staff of the ministry of cooperatives. Data was analyzed using ...
ABSTRACT Tungiasis is a neglected disease that afflicts four million Kenyans. To control its spread, there is a high demand for sustainable disease control strategies in rural endemic areas. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of tungiasis, associated risk factors, and the species of fleas causing it in rural western Kenya. A crossectional study was done in Otwenya Location, Maseno Division between August and September 2013. Seventy eight (78) randomly selected househo...
ABSTRACT HIV and AIDS is one of the biggest threats to global health and stability. UNAIDS estimated that there were 33.3 million people living with HIV at the end of 2009. In 2009, there were an estimated 2.6 million people who became newly infected with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of new HIV infections continue to occur, an estimated 1.8 million people became infected in the same year; Individuals in their most productive years (15-49 years old) are most commonly infected...
Abstract The agro-climatic conditions in western Kenya present the region as a food surplus area yet people are still reliant on food imports. Numerous interventions through Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) practices to this front have not yielded the expected results. With this background the study sought to: (i) identify the contribution of ISFM interventions to farm productivity, (ii) to identify gaps in knowledge translation and (iii) to establish the major factors determining ...
ABSTRACT Adolescent sexual and reproductive health is a priority in the global agenda because of its associated negative reproductive health outcomes. It is estimated that Homabay County contributes 11.5% of adolescents aged 10-19 years living with HIV in Kenya. The fertility rate among girls aged 15-19 is also high in Homabay with a reported teenage pregnancy rate of 33% and the age-specific fertility rate of 178 births per 1000 girls. This study aimed to determine the influence of school ba...
Across the entire globe, 75% of people are aware of their HIV Status, at the same time 79% of the people living with HIV are now accessing anti-retroviral therapy while 81% of those people are at the same time accessing the treatment and have suppressed viral loads. Nakuru County viral suppression stands at 88.3 % (30,407) below the UNAIDS target and National target (2020). The purpose of the study was to determine the correlates of Viral Suppression in Naivasha Sub-County Hospital, Naku...
Prostate cancer (PCa) is Kenya‘s most frequently diagnosed cancer of men with an incidence rate of 32 per 100,000 and mortality rate of 12 per 100,000. It is also the leading cancer in terms of incidence and mortality in men from Africa and the Caribbean and the numbers may double by 2030. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the main diagnostic biomarker used for screening patients currently. Biopsy histology is the only confirmatory test, but it is invasive and tedious to perform. The...
Maternal mortality is one of the major worldwide health challenges. The high maternal mortality rate is a common subject in global health and development discussions. Globally, about 800 women die daily from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. Men’s involvement during pregnancy and childbirth plays a vital role in the safety of their female partners during pregnancy and childbirth by ensuring access to care and provision of emotional and financial support and guarantying the...
Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of herpesviruses. It is one of the most common causes of congenital and prenatal infections. It is a ubiquitous virus with the ability to establish latency following primary infection, and can be reactivated particularly during episodes of immunosuppression. CMV infection of pregnant women, especially in the first trimester may lead to congenital abnormalities and is often associated with serious complications, such as microcephaly, mental retardatio...