ABSTRACT Obesity is a complex condition that is caused by a mixture of medical, psychological and environmental factors. Childhood obesity is characterized by rise in the number of fat cells. It is one of today’s visible yet neglected Public Health problems with serious health implications such as type2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases that affect individuals in all ages and socio-economic groups. This was a crossectional study aimed at investigating the prevalence of obes...
ABSTRACT Cancer is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with approximately fourteen million new cases and eight million cancer related deaths annually with an approximated 60 per cent of these new cases and 70 percent of these deaths occurring in Africa and other developing countries. Cervical cancer in particular has contributed a fair share of this burden. In Kenya, cervical cancer incidence and prevalence is second to breast cancer and leading cause of cancer rela...
Most hazardous health effects of activities in small scale industries may not be apparent immediately, however they emerge much later in the life of the exposed individuals. One such small scale industrial activity, is spray painting in informal auto garages, popularly known in Kenya as “Jua Kali garages”. Although various disease symptoms may be associated with spray painting, respiratory and skin diseases are the major ones. The objective of this study therefore, was to establish ...
ABSTRACT Knowledge of one’s HIV status through HIV Testing and Counselling remains the first step towards HIV prevention, appropriate care, support and treatment services. The knowledge needs to be coupled with means of accessing and obtaining essential post test services including appropriate care and treatment for all individuals who test HIV positive. Through linkages with care, treatment and support programs, HTC is expected to contribute to lessening the impact of the HIV epidemic on ...
ABSTRACT Worldwide, there has been an increasing concern about occupational exposures and injuries among welders in both the small scale and large scale manufacturing industries. Occupational hazards include activities, processes, or materials related to welding with the potential to cause harm or adverse health effects on people performing this task. The sprawling of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the developing world provides several challenges to ensuring health and safety p...
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 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 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...
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...
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 Effects of Psychosocial Support on ART Adherence and Clinical Outcomes of HIV Patients at Kwale and Machakos, Kenya The effects of psychosocial support on ART adherence and clinical outcomes following an HIV diagnosis have been well documented in western countries where linkages between HIV-related treatment and psychosocial support programs are well established, little is known about those who become engaged with such services in countries of the world where comprehensive HIV-relate...
ABSTRACT Household hazardous waste possess physical, chemical or biological characteristics, which requires special handling and disposal procedures to avoid risk to health and/or environmental effects. The pastoral population of Mandera county has been treated in health facilities with complains of poisoning or reaction resulting from hazardous substances. Health effects of exposure to household hazardous waste could also take time to manifest in people who are exposed to it, such as develo...
ABSTRACT Motorcycle taxis have become a popular means of transportation which generates income for many riders in Kenya. However, there are various factors which expose riders to internal and external shocks and stresses which inevitably influences the riders’ socio-economic wellbeing (SEWB). Studies that have been conducted so far largely focus on “social vices” allegedly being committed by motorcycle taxi riders (MTRs) hence a persistent knowledge gap about SEWB of riders’. Acknow...