ABSTRACT Underutilized cereals and tubers can contribute to food security and in addition provide nutritional balance in the diet as they form a ready source of essential nutrients yet they have been neglected as the dependence on maize, rice and wheat as main cereals increases. The objective of this study was to assess the consumption of underutilized cereals and tubers in urban households and their contribution towards household food security and dietary diversity. A cross sectional analyti...
ABSTRACT Despite high sexual activity among adolescent girls in Kenya, contraceptive uptake is very low with only about 26 percent sexually active adolescent girls currently using a contraceptive method. This exposes them to HIV infections and unplanned pregnancies which consequently lead to school dropouts, unsafe abortions, and lack of employment opportunities. The study aimed at assessing the utilization of contraceptives among secondary school adolescent girls in Karuri Town Council, Kiam...
ABSTRACT Sexual abuse among children has long history in Kenyan schools. Recent evidence however points out on underreported cases of boy child sexual abuse; rise in incidence of reported crimes of sexual nature and sporadic occurrence of such inhumane treatment of children outside and within learning institutions attest to threatened sexual safety and future reproductive health of children. The study aimed at assessing prevalence and risk factors of sexual abuse among boy child in public p...
Abstract Immunization is a key approach that can be successfully employed to reduce deaths and illnesses among children. Immunization presently averts an estimated 3 million deaths annually for children aged under five. Kenya Expanded Program on immunization has a stipulated immunization schedule guideline that should be adhered to for effective utilization of immunization services for improved health outcome. The study was prompted by the alarming statistics on morbidities related to vaccin...
ABSTRACT Hazardous wastes are wastes that pose danger both to the public and the environment. Of the total waste generated in health care facilities, approximately 20% is hazardous. These wastes have both immediate and long term health effects including kidney problems, asthma, cancers and other diseases. Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) is a challenge both in the developed world and developing countries where wastes generated are not segregated at the point of generation. Hazardous waste re...
ABSTRACT Prostate cancer is an adenocarnoma of significant reproductive health burden in the world. Of the thirteen million cancer cases in the world, prostate cancer accounts for nine hundred thousand cases translating to 13.6% of the total cases and ranks as 5th most common cancer. The mortality rate among black population is 19 per 100,000 while among the Asian populations is 2.5 per 100,000.In Africa, of the six hundred thousand cancer cases reported, prostate cancer accounts for thirty ...
ABSTRACT Unsafe abortion is a major public health problem causing 13% and 30% of maternal deaths globally and in Kenya respectively. Despite this, the drivers of the practice in Kenyan communities are scarcely documented. Further, little is documented about the decision making process for women who chose unsafe abortion and whether social networks have a role on this. In addition, not much is known about the methods unsafe abortion providers use and the outcomes of the methods. The objective...
ABSTRACT The first minute after birth is usually referred to as the golden minute, and the baby should be able to initiate spontaneous breathing, failure to which birth asphyxia ensues. Globally, approximately 5% to 10 per cent of newborns require resuscitation. In subSaharan Africa where over one third of all intrapartum related neonatal deaths occur, the rates of skilled attendance at birth are very low. In Kenya neonatal mortality remains at 22/100,000 live births, majority associated wit...
ABSTRACT Male partner involvement in women's Reproductive Health has recently garnered considerable attention. Encouraging men to promote skilled attendance during delivery is a big step in increasing the proportion of births being attended by skilled professionals hence contributing to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4 and 5 which aim to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health respectively. In investigating for male involvement in promoting deliveries by skilled h...
ABSTRACT High blood pressure continues to be a global public health issue and attention needs to be given to primary preventive measures especially among health practitioners who are a channel to the entire population. Modifiable risk factors for hypertension include overweight and obesity, low consumption of fruits/vegetables, physical inactivity, occupational stress, smoking and excess alcohol consumption. The prevalence of hypertension among health workers in other countries outside and w...
ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance represents a serious problem for clinicians, veterinarians, community and government at large. This involves cost implications as far as treatment is concerned. Multiple drug resistance as a result of empirical treatment have rendered most drugs ineffective .. In view of the above, this descriptive cross-sectional study, aimed at isolating resistant entero-bacteria E. coli from food-handlers working in both high and low budget hotels. Specimens in the form of s...
ABSTRACT HIV/AIDS continues to be a source of concern worldwide and more so in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Kenya is one of the countries with a high rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence estimated at 5.1%. About one million people in Kenya are estimated to live with HIV/AIDS but few know their status hence spreading further HIV. While most sectors of the society have been affected, one sector that has not received adequate focus and attention is education. The high mortality, morbidity and absentee...
ABSTRACT Intrauterine Device is a method of contraception, which is underutilized in Sub Saharan African countries including Kenya despite the method being safe, long acting, reversible and effective in preventing unintended pregnancies. The main objective of this study was to determine the uptake of Intrauterine Device among women seeking Family Planning services at Mbagathi and Mama Lucy Kibaki hospitals in Nairobi County. The specific objectives were to establish the level of Intra Uterin...
ABSTRACT Maternal mortality is a major concern worldwide and more so in Kenya which ranks eleventh country with highest maternal mortality ratio (530 per 100,000) worldwide. Post partum haemorrhage is one of the main causes of maternal death contributing 34% of maternal death in Kenya. Active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL) is an inexpensive and effective technique of preventing post partum haemorrhage. In spite of this technique being adopted in Kenya and internationally, its ac...
ABSTRACT Health care seeking behaviour in late childhood has not received adequate policy and empirical attention in Kenya. This study, analyzed the key factors that influence health-care seeking behaviour of heads of households! caretakers of children aged between 6,·12 years with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in Engashura farm, Nakuru District. A model that integrates social capital and cognitive representation of illness as determinants of healthcare seeking behaviour was us...