Abstract/Overview Superficial fungal infections are common among school-going children due to their involvement in practices that promote the spread at school or home. However, practices, knowledge and attitude of these children on prevention and control of fungal infection are poorly understood. This study assessed the practices, knowledge and attitude on the prevention and control of fungal infections among 163 children aged 5-12 years in western Kenya. A cross-sectional study design an...
Abstract/Overview Demographic factors significantly influenced the uptake of cervical cancer screening. This study aimed at finding out the determinants of uptake of cervical cancer screening services among women of reproductive. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 6 wards in Bondo sub county, Siaya County Kenya. A sample size of 379 was identified from the study population. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data by trained research assistants.
Abstract/Overview How food production first entered eastern Africa ~5000 years ago and the extent to which people moved with livestock is unclear. We present genome-wide data from 41 individuals associated with Later Stone Age, Pastoral Neolithic (PN), and Iron Age contexts in what are now Kenya and Tanzania to examine the genetic impacts of the spreads of herding and farming. Our results support a multiphase model in which admixture between northeastern African–related peoples and east...
Abstract Strong preferences are revealed when patients fail to utilize their nearby facilities and seek health care services at another facility. Bypassing rates for childbirth has been documented in literature and it ranges between 30% and 70 %. At Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital similar observation is made with majority of the women delivering at the facility having bypassed their nearby county health facilities. Thus, the current study sought to identify the individual and health facil...
Abstract/Overview The study investigated the relationship between social support, resilience and drug abuse. A correlation research design was used, and adolescents between the age group of 14-23 years in four secondary schools in Koboko Town Council were randomly selected using a simple random sampling technique and 50 respondents were selected from each school bringing the total to 200 respondents. A three set structured questionnaire which measured adolescent resilience, social support...
Abstract/Overview Low birth weight (LBW) is a major determinant of morbidity, mortality and disability in infancy and childhood and has a long-term impact on health outcomes in adult life. It results in substantial costs to the health sector and imposes a significant burden on society as a whole. This study sought to determine risk factors associated with LBW deliveries in Pumwani Maternity Hospital (PMH), Nairobi, Kenya. It focused on LBW and maternal socio-demographic characteristics, l...
Abstract/Overview The Purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between extraversion and gambling tendencies among secondary school students in Nyamira South Sub County, Kenya. Objective was to determine the association between extraversion and gambling tendencies among students in Nyamira South Sub-County. It was informed by Eysenck’s theory of Personality and a conceptual framework. The study adopted concurrent triangulation research design within the Mixed Method Approach....
Abstract/Overview Prisons have been consistently reported to have high prevalence of mental disorders compared to the general population. Prisons have initiated a number of reforms not only to help the prisoners become self-reliant upon release but also to alleviate the risk of mental disorder. It is necessary to regularly assess the prevalence of mental disorders to determine the effectiveness of the prison reform programs in mitigating the burden of mental disorders among prisoners. Thi...
Abstract/Overview This study investigated the effect of mental disorders on the mental wellbeing of prisoners in selected prisons in Kenya. A mixed method study design was employed in which quantitative and qualitative data was collected concurrently. A sample of 364 respondents was obtained using multistage sampling technique. The study used a structured questionnaire, Warwick-Edinburg Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview, FGD and Key Informant I...
Abstract The relationship between commercial sex work and drug use is complex and the two exacerbate each other. In Kenya, Mombasa County has one of the highest populations of drug users and commercial sex workers. Despite documentation of drug use among sex workers, most of the studies are based on self-reported history which is prone to social desirability and memory recall biases. It is in this context that we sought to establish actual drug use is this sub-population. A cross-sectional s...
Abstract Monkeypox is a DNA virus that belongs to the orthopox virus family with two distinct clades known as West African and Congo Basin. This virus was initially discovered in crab-eating Macaques in 1958 and in 1970s it spread among people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Initially, there were several outbreaks of the disease reported in Africa and other regions of the world. The simultaneous spread in 19 countries in 2022 prompted severe worries. The monkeypox virus is closely r...
Abstract This paper analyses the extent of influence of personality issues on the effectiveness of substance abuse preventive measures among secondary students in Kakamega County through cross sectional survey design. The study was guided by social cognitive theory. The target population was 59675 form three students, 1080 class teachers, 530 G/C teachers and 12 sub-county directors of education in the study area. Multi-stage sampling, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were use...
Abstract Introduction. Depression is the most common mental health disorder worldwide with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 10% in the general population. Our objective was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding depression care. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among consenting healthcare workers in two medium-sized hospitals in Kenya. Data on demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice of depression w...
Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) disease is caused by acid-fast bacilli called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The emergence of drug-resistant TB variants as well as co-infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have complicated treatment for TB. Kenya currently implements TB screening and HIV testing for all patients and their caretakers, regardless of their reason for visiting the hospitals. Drug resistance is tested in all HIV-positive TB suspects to guide the choice of drugs in cases of...
Abstract Context: Giving birth is a traumatic experience for women, and if unresolved, the emotions it causes can have a lasting negative impact on mental health, including depression in the postpartum period. Depression is a prevalent mental illness that can have major repercussions, particularly after giving birth. There is evidence of postpartum depression. However, many studies have concentrated on the prevalence of postpartum depression. In middle-income countries, including Kenya, very...