Abstract Study Objective(s): The main study objective was to report on surveillance data from, assess the preparedness and challenges of home-based care for COVID-19 patients and hhealth workers in four Counties (Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia) in Kenya. Design, setting and Participants: The study design and setting used was both qualitative and quantitative and it involved random sampling and snowballing sampling, to obtain data from health workers and patients in Home-Based Isolation. Pa...
Abstract Introduction: in Kenya, about 1.5 million people are living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Antiretroviral therapy aids in viral suppression. However, drug-resistance threaten the gains of the HIV infection control program. To determine the prevalence of HIV-1 drug-resistant mutations among adults on ARV therapy attending Khunyangu sub-county hospital in Busia County, Kenya, 50 blood samples were analyzed. Methods: the samples were collected from November 2019 to Janua...
Abstract The healthcare sector has undergone significant changes within the past decades, and amidst these changes, attaining efficient and effective healthcare service delivery has remained a distant prospect. This study, therefore, sought to find out the effect of supply chain information systems on service delivery in the public health care sector in the county governments of the western region. The study was anchored on the theory of human service delivery and health network metrics. The...
Abstract Malaria and malnutrition remain primary causes of morbidity and mortality among children younger than 5 years in Africa. Studies investigating the association between malnutrition and subsequent malaria outcomes are inconsistent. We studied the effects of malnutrition on incidence and prevalence of malaria parasitemia in data from a cohort studied in the 1990s. Data came from the Asembo Bay cohort study, which collected malaria and health information on children from 1992 to 1996 in...
Abstract Background: In Kenya, the increased use of motorcycles for transport has led to increased morbidity, mortality, and disability. These injuries exert a burden on the public health system, yet little information exists on health care resource usage by motorcycle crash injury patients. We aimed to estimate the burden of motorcycle crash injuries on the health system in Kisumu City. Methods: We conducted a 6-month prospective study of all motorcycle crash injury patients who presented t...
Abstract Introduction: Strong health systems are essential platforms for accessible, quality health services, and population health and attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs). Descriptive methods have been used to assess the health systems strength and impact, however, there is inadequate knowledge on methods of analyzing huge number of indices to provide systematic evidence that service readiness is improving or deteriorating over time. Methods: We utilized data from a cross ...
Abstract Background: Skin conditions were the fourth leading cause of nonfatal burden globally, expressed as years lost due to disability and eighteenth leading cause of health burden worldwide, expressed as disability adjusted life years. From Busia County health sector strategic and investment plan 2018-2023 report, skin diseases was third leading cause of morbidity in the county with 6.5%. Skin diseases, though very common in many developing countries, are not often regarded as a signific...
Abstract Introduction: Depression is the most common mental disorder among people living with HIV/AIDS and has a negative impact on HIV treatment outcomes. Training lay HIV counselors to identify and manage depression may contribute to improved patient access and adherence to treatment, and reduce stigma and discrimination among lay health workers toward both HIV and depression. The purpose of this study was to assess the current knowledge and attitudes of lay HIV counselors toward managing ...
Abstract High risk human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections ultimately cause cervical cancer. Human Immunodefi ciency Virus (HIV) infected women often present with multiple high-risk HPV infections and are thus at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. However, information on the circulating high-risk HPV genotypes in Kenya in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women is still scanty. This study is aimed at determining the phylogeny and the HPV genotypes in women with respect to their H...
Abstract The prevalence of Human Herpes Virus type 8 (HHV-8), Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis is high in Sub- Saharan Africa. Studies on HHV-8 in Kenya are few and data on its coinfection with HIV and syphilis scanty. This crosssectional study among female sex workers (FSWs) in Malindi, Kenya, aimed to determine the prevalence of HHV-8, HIV, and syphilis mono/coinfections and identify associated risk factors. A total of 268 FSWs consented and were administered a structured q...
Abstract OBJECTIVE: Developing countries are undergoing an epidemiologic transition accompanied by increasing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) linked to urbanization and lifestyle modifications. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of CVD risk factors whose extent in Kenya remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and factors associated with its occurrence among an urban population in Kenya. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a household...
Abstract Abstract: Background: Malaria is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Kenya. The diseases displays varying degrees of endemicity in different regions in the country, however the knowledge, attitudes and practices of communities about the disease prevention and control measures are in many cases not in tandem. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of the communities towards malaria prevention and control options. Methodology: A cross se...
Abstract Background: Anopheles gambiae is the main carrier for parasites that cause malaria and filariasis as well as viruses that cause yellow fever, dengue fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever, chikungunya and encephalitis. Culex quinqefasciatus on the other hand is the main vector for parasites that cause filariasis and the virus that cause encephalitis. Insecticide use to control these vectors has led to the development of mosquito resistance, environmental pollution, and undesirable effects...
Medical delivery is a critical service in any nation because it determines how quickly medical supplies are delivered to consumers in the market. One of the nations where medical delivery is a key service is Germany (Weller et al.,2022). This is because a significant proportion of the nation’s population suffers from various health conditions that require constant use of medication (Wallert al., 2022). For example, 40% of all deaths in Germany are attributed to cardiovascular diseases, mea...
Abstract: This study sought to evaluate awareness and knowledge of diabetes mellitus, an important global disease, among staff at a large private university in Botswana. Findings point to a general lack of awareness and knowledge about the disease among the university staff. Respondents consisted of 63% lecturing and 37% non-lecturing staff. The distribution by gender was roughly 50-50. Overall awareness of diabetes mellitus was 66% of respondents awareness being higher for females at (34%) ...