ABSTRACT In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Detailed knowledge of spatial variation of malaria epidemiology and associated risk factors is important for planning and evaluating malaria-control measures. This study therefore investigated an approach in the development and application of a GIS-based healthcare management system with abilities to incorporate climate-based risk predicators of malaria transmission in Nyanza Province. Two sites, Siaya...
ABSTRACT Malaria is a major contributor of ill health and death particularly among infants and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. The infected erythrocytes sequester in the placenta and may be present throughout the whole pregnancy period. Although microscopy is the gold standard method currently acceptable in diagnosis of malaria in hospital, it is unreliable because during pregnancy, malaria parasites disappear from peripheral circulation and remain undetectable through microscopic exami...
ABSTRACT Fish feed is one of the critical components in aquaculture production and accounts for over 60% of total operational costs with protein component being the most expensive ingredient. Traditionally, fishmeal (FM) has been the primary dietary animal protein source. However, with dwindling capture fisheries, FM has become increasingly scarce and expensive due to its demand from human consumers and livestock feed manufacturers. This in turn makes the cost of fish feeds expensive leading...
ABSTRACT Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has been successful in dramatically decreasing the morbidity and mortality caused by HIV infection. Levels of adherence in excess of 95% are required to ensure treatment success, adequate viral load suppression, improved immune status and slowing of the disease progression. It has also been reported that a lot of complacency during ART and feeling of reduced infectivity by the patients on ART could lead to high risk sexual behaviour and enhance transmiss...
ABSTRACT Lake Victoria has experienced eutrophication problems. These problems may be attributed to pollution due to expanding population, a rapidly developing technology and increased industrial and food production. Eutrophication in Lake Victoria is evident from the average total nitrogen to total phosphorus (TN: TP) ratio in Winam Gulf Lake Victoria of 5.89 which is below 16.1 the ratio of a balanced aquatic system. Low TN: TP ratio promotes excessive growth of algae which during decomposi...
ABSTRACT There is an increasing need for food security assessment in the wake of today’s challenge of climate change and variability. This study aimed at assessing the impacts climate change and variability on food security in West Pokot County for the period 1980-2012. Objectives of the study were to: characterize rainfall and temperature data for the specified years, evaluate spatial variability in relation to climate change and variability in the county using remote sensing and Geograph...
ABSTRACT There is an increasing need for food security assessment in the wake of today’s challenge of climate change and variability. This study aimed at assessing the impacts climate change and variability on food security in West Pokot County for the period 1980-2012. Objectives of the study were to: characterize rainfall and temperature data for the specified years, evaluate spatial variability in relation to climate change and variability in the county using remote sensing and Geograph...
ABSTRACT The World Health Organization’s global strategy on public health aims to support Member States to improve access to essential medicines. The desire of Kenya Government to implement this is expressed by formulation of Kenya National Pharmaceutical Policy (2010) which encourages local production of essential medicines for self-sufficiency. The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Kenya is engaged in production of various types of dosage forms but its capacity and capability to p...
ABSTRACT Advocacy of the female condom emerged in the context of growing evidence that heterosexual intercourse was placing women at increased risk of HIV infection. Since the approval of the Female Condom (FC) in the United Kingdom and the United States of America in 1992 and 1993 respectively more than 90 developing countries have introduced the FC to the public. The study objectives were to identify the perceptions of the women in Kiambaa Division towards use of the FC, to establish their ...
ABSTRACT The existence of slums has posed a huge problem for achievement of sustainable urban development in most ACP countries. Slum upgrading and redevelopment measures have been adopted worldwide as key components of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) under goal number seven which emphasizes the need to tackle the problems posed by slums. In the Kenyan context, slum upgrading and redevelopment as intervention measures are critical to the attainment of both Vision 2030 and Millennium ...
ABSTRACT Environmental noise is noise emanating from all other sources except the industrial workplace, main sources include road, rail and air traffic, industries, construction, public works and social activities. WHO and NEMA provides permissible environmental noise level standard to be 75 and 60 dB (A) respectively. Noise pollution has been linked to many adverse health effects and there is limited documentation to this effect within the CBD termini of Nairobi.The aim of this study was to...
ABSTRACT HIV and AIDS has become the world’s most devastating epidemic in developing countries. More than 25 million people have died has a result of AIDS related illness since the disease was first diagnosed in 1981. A total of 33.2 million people were living with HIV worldwide in 2007. Everyday, over 6800 persons become infected with HIV and over 5700 persons die from AIDS related illnesses, mostly because of inadequate access to HIV prevention, care and support services. The HIV epidemi...
ABSTRACT Adolescents’ health is a great determinant of a country’s development since adolescents contribute a large proportion of the population. Sexual and reproductive health problems have been identified in several studies to be a major cause of ill health and even death among young people. These problems demand specialized attention which can be achieved through unlocking access to sexual and reproductive health services to young people through adolescent friendly health services. Des...
ABSTRACT Malaria in pregnancy has been linked to utero-placental vascular insufficiency and fetal fatalities. The immunity to placental malaria may be mediated in part by monocytes and T cells that accumulate in the placenta intervillous space. The immunological basis for retention of anti-malarial effector cells in the intervillous space and the role of leucocyte integrins in the intervillous space is not well understood. Leucocytes use surface receptors to mediate binding on endothelial vil...
ABSTRACT Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most significant infections to appear in the recent times. Worldwide it is estimated that 33.4 million people are living with the syndrome 68% of whom are in Sub-Saharan Africa. There are 4 million people worldwide on treatment although another 5 million eligible for treatment do not have access to life prolonging treatment and care. Antiretroviral drugs are used to prolong and improve the quality of life for those infected. T...