Abstract Soil acidity and phosphorus deficiency are some of the constraints hampering agricultural production in tropical regions. The prevalence of soil acidity is associated with phosphorus (P) insufficiency and aluminum saturation. We conducted a two-seasons experiment to evaluate soil phosphorus availability and exchangeable aluminum in response to phosphate rock and organic inputs in acidic humic nitisols. The field experiment was installed in Tharaka Nithi County in the Central Highlan...
ABSTRACT Maternal, infectious and non-communicable causes of death combine to be simultaneously a major health problem for women of reproductive age (WRA) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yet, little is known about the relative risk of each of them when considered together and their demographic impacts. Consequently, the focus of research and funding has been on maternal health. However, the evolving demographic and health transitions in LMIC...
Abstract BACKGROUND: Development of “combination” assays detecting in parallel, within a single test, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antigens and antibodies, not only reduces the window period in HCV-infection but also costs. Reduction of costs is important for developing countries where money and personal resources are limited. METHODS: We compared the Monolisa® HCV Antigen-Antibody Ultra (Bio-Rad Laboratories Limited, Marnes La Coquette, France) with the AXSYM HCV version 3.0 (Abbot Diagnost...
ABSTRACT A WHO report on health workers infections during the 2014-2016 Ebola virus epidemics in Guinea and Liberia found a number of deficiencies from challenges in training to human factors and characteristics of PPE equipment. Studies have highlighted that ineffective management of biohazards in developing countries can compromise the quality of patient care and create occupational and environmental health risks. An assessment conducted in Kenya in 2013 showed that 18-64% of laboratory fac...
ABSTRACT This study involved isolation of compounds from the plant Monanthotaxis littoralis, screening and evaluating the activity of the compounds against mycotoxigenic fungi isolated from maize collected from LVB and structure elucidation of the bioactive compounds. The non volatile secondary metabolites were extracted from the plant using methanol. The methanol extract was suspended in water and extracted with ethyl acetate. Hydro-distillation was used in the extraction of essential oils....
ABSTRACT Owing to the depletion rates of coastal limestone, the characterization of cementitious materials occurring on the dry land is important in order to assess their potential as alternative materials for the manufacture of cement. In this study, a naturally occurring terrestrial rock herein referred to as “Matisaa gray rock” has been studied to determine its potential for the manufacture of cement. Matisaa gray rock is found in Matisaa village, Kitui County, Kenya, and it covers an ...
ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by a blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma. An estimated 249 million people are infected worldwide in about 78 countries with 85% infections occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya, an estimated 5 million people are infected with about 12 million people at risk of infection. Schistosomiasis is a major public health concern due to the morbidities caused. Kagio area borders Mwea irrigation scheme which is an endemic area with a pre...
ABSTRACT It was a survey research conducted in 2013 at ultrasound Laboratories of Ugochukwu Hospital and maternity, St Charles Hospital Boromm, General Hospital Onitsha and Toronto hospital and maternity all in Onitsha. Four research questions of at least. Three items each were used to obtain data from 120 respondents using convenient sampling. Hygiene is commonly understood as preventing infection through cleanliness. In broader call, Scientifically hygiene is the Maintenance of health an...
Abstract Zoonotic diseases, such as brucellosis, Q fever and Rift Valley fever (RVF) caused by Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii and RVF virus, respectively, can have devastating effects on human, livestock, and wildlife health and cause economic hardship due to morbidity and mortality in livestock. Coinfection with multiple pathogens can lead to more severe disease outcomes and altered transmission dynamics. These three pathogens can alter host immune responses likely leading to increased mo...
ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has now spread to all parts of the world with rates particularly high in young people (15-49 years) than older people (>50 years). Despite the global attention being paid to the epidemic of infection with HIV, the rates among older people in the sub-Saharan Africa has been a neglected area of study. This cross-sectional study carried out between the months of November, 2012 and January 2014 sought to determine the prevalence of HIV among elderly pat...
ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has now spread to all parts of the world with rates particularly high in young people (15-49 years) than older people (>50 years). Despite the global attention being paid to the epidemic of infection with HIV, the rates among older people in the sub-Saharan Africa has been a neglected area of study. This cross-sectional study carried out between the months of November, 2012 and January 2014 sought to determine the prevalence of HIV among elderly pat...
ABSTRACT The focus of this research was on exploring the role of the PMTCT Programme in the reduction of the infant mortality rate with particular reference to Chitungwiza in Zimbabwe. HIV/AIDS is a global concern that calls for utmost attention from development practitioners. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV is the most common route of infection in paediatric HIV acquisition. It contributes more than 90% of paediatric HIV infections. Widespread ignorance of the PMTCT Programme has ...
Abstract/Overview Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide (Franco et al, 2003). Epidemiological studies have shown a strong link between human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the development of cervical cancer (Franco et al, carcinogenic process (Chan et al, 2005). Most HPV infections are transient and regress spontaneously and only a minority of women develops persistent infection that with time may evolve into cervical intraepithelia...
Abstract: The typical dry bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, is the essential food legume for direct human consumption. They play a significant role in food security and nutrition. Despite their nutritional importance, its production growth rates have declined in Kenya due to diseases, insect pests, plant nutritional deficiencies, and drought. Therefore, this study's main objective was to determine whether there are differences in bean varieties' tolerance to whitefly transmitted viral diseases. The ...
ABSTRACT Microbial examination of spoilt Avocado fruits was carried out to obtained the causal organism. A total of 60 avocado from Ogbete Main market and New market Enugu were examined by culturing on nutrient agar and sabourand dextrose agar (SM), for bacteria and fungi causing post – harvest spoilage on the fruits; six bacterial species and six fungal species were isolated. The bacteria include Erwinia SP (66.7%), Streptococcus sp, *25%), E. Coli (18.9%) and staphycoccus sp ...