ABSTRACT The use of pit latrines, their eventual fill up and need to desludge them expose humans and the environment to diseases associated with untreated excreta. Based on this, a study was done in Nakuru County to assess prescence of viable parasitic helminthes ova in faecal sludge and pit desludging and disposal practices used. Thirty five pit latrines were sampled and the prescence of parasitic helminthes ova determined at varius pit depths. Pit desludging and disposal practices was also ...
ABSTRACT Lead is a common toxic heavy metal with unique physical and chemical properties that make it suitable for a variety of applications in automobile industry. The artisans in the informal automobile industry are involved in diverse occupational tasks such as spray painting and welding that predispose them to health risks associated with lead exposures. Their work presents risks of inhalation, dermal absorption or ingestion of lead particles. The objective of this study was to evaluate o...
Safe drinking water is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as water that meets WHO guidelines or national standards for physical, chemical and microbial characteristics. Microbial contamination of drinking water can cause diarrheal and other waterborne diseases that cause morbidity and even mortality. Sanitary surveys which are observational checklists highlighting potential risks of contamination can be used because they are easier to implement than microbiological testing. T...
ABSTRACT The basic needs of people such as safe drinking water, improved hygiene and sanitation must be fulfilled for a dignified life of human beings. However, this has not been the case in Isiolo County where there is rampant practice of open defecation and reliance on unprotected water sources for drinking purposes, with little or no regard to adequate drinking water treatment handling and storage. This study sought to establish the contribution of faecal disposal practices among resident...
ABSTRACT Pharmaceuticals are critical in maintaining the health of people and improving the quality of life for millions of Kenyans, but not all pharmaceuticals dispensed are consumed. They become waste when they are no longer usable for intended purpose or are being discarded for other reasons such as contamination and expiration. Improperly disposed pharmaceuticals end up in garbage collection centres and water purification systems which are not sufficiently equipped to manage this form of ...
ABSTRACT Approximately 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation globally. The situation is even worse in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. The practice of open defecation peaks beyond 72% of the population in Turkana. This has resulted into frequent outbreaks of water-related diseases such as cholera outbreak in the year 2013 and 2018. The main aim of this study was to assess socioeconomic factors associated with the persistent practice of open defecation in Lodwar. This ...
ABSTRACT Vegetables constitute an important part of the human diet as a source of nutrients such as vitamins. The emerging lifestyle changes and need to live a healthy life have led to increased consumption of vegetables. There are, however, growing concerns over the indiscriminate use of pesticides and lack of clear safety standards for maximum residue levels for vegetables sold in the local market. This study was done to assess human exposure to pesticide residues through consumption of exo...
ABSTRACT Studies have shown that elevated heavy metal concentrations in water and sediments may be biomagnified along the aquatic food chains/webs and eventually affecting human health through the consumption of metal-contaminated water and/or fish from such water bodies. This study was conducted to assess the concentration of heavy metals in the tissues of Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis, Protopterus aethiopicus and Clarias gariepinus fish species of Lake Baringo and compare the results w...
ABSTRACT Rivers are essential ecosystems that assist in maintaining and supporting functions and ecological processes that are important for sustaining the biodiversity and providing services and resources to people. However, in the tropics they are under threat of deterioration as a result of human encroachment and more so, removal of riparian vegetation. This study aimed at assessing the effects clear-cut of Tumoo forest on water quality, coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) and benthic...
ABSTRACT The use of pit latrines, their eventual fill up and need to desludge them expose humans and the environment to diseases associated with untreated excreta. Based on this, a study was done in Nakuru County to assess prescence of viable parasitic helminthes ova in faecal sludge and pit desludging and disposal practices used. Thirty five pit latrines were sampled and the prescence of parasitic helminthes ova determined at varius pit depths. Pit desludging and disposal practices was also ...
ABSTRACT Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is associated with end-stage renal disease, need for renal replacement therapy and death. There is no African data comparing the efficacy or outcome of patients managed with Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide (CYC) during induction of proliferative LN. Objectives: The study aimed to assess treatment response after induction therapy with MMF or IV CYC in p...