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...
Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides biotype Small Colony (MmmSC) is a cattle respiratory disease. It is controlled using live vaccines, movement control and slaughter of affected cattle. The current CBPP vaccine, T144 is associated with several limitations that make delivery in the field difficult. One of main short comings is low efficacy and sub-optimum bacterial titers. This has necessitated modifications in formulation of the vaccin...
Malaria is a major public health problem causing immeasurable human suffering in many countries particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa, which account for about 90% of malaria cases in the world. Many people live in countries with high risk of contracting malaria and 300-500 million cases of malaria are estimated to occur annually. Malaria is transmitted to people of all ages and an estimate of 80% of human-mosquito transmission comes from over-fives with young adolescents forming the pe...
ABSTRACT Maternal and prenatal mortalities and morbidities have remained a challenge in many developing countries like Kenya, despite the fact that the causes are preventable if not avoidable. Utilization of birth plan in preparation for childbirth is one of the strategies utilized by women in middle and low-income countries to reduce maternal and prenatal mortalities. However, the relationship between utilization of individual birth plan and maternal and prenatal mortalities in developing co...
Abstract The Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) 2008 showed that maternal mortality in Kenya is estimated at 488/100,000 live births, and that pregnancy related complications are the leading cause of death (27%) among women of childbearing age (CBS, 2008). Although 92% of women receive antenatal care at least once during pregnancy, a skilled attendant assists only 44% of mothers during childbirth. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the factors determining the choice of bi...