ABSTRACT Contraceptives uptake among the youth has been a sensitive and controversial issue in the society that has resulted to various social problems that include unwanted pregnancies and sexual transmitted infections among others. This calls for intervention measures that will promote contraceptive use in order to reduce unwanted pregnancies, sexual transmitted diseases and slow down the spread of HIV/AIDS among university students. The main objective of this study was to determine the uti...
Abstract Occupational Health Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 was recognized internationally as an auditable system to manage safety and health risks at workplaces since 1999. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of OSHAS 18001 management system on safety performance at How Mine, a gold mining company in Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study were to analyze the occupational accidents before and after the adoption of OHSAS 18001 and to evaluate occupational injury frequency rate a...
ABSTRACT The loss to follow up (LTFU) has reversed the successful strengthening of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programmes globally. The factors associated with the LTFU still remain a challenge to many countries, becoming a critical barrier to effective scaleup of HIV services. Kenya is one of the four HIV high burden countries in Africa (alongside Mozambique and Uganda) with the retention rate of about 81% which is below the set 90%. The HIV prevalence in the country is at 5.9% with 29% adu...
Abstract Uptake of VCT and other HIV prevention strategies among rural African women is affected by various socio-cultural and economic factors which need elucidation. Our aim was to establish the responsiveness to HIV education among rural women attending three dispensaries in Kenya. This study was designed to assess gender and psycho-social factors that influence HIV dynamics in rural Kenya. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire based study of 1347 women, conducted in October 2009. Socio...
Abstract The study sought to assess the impact of occupational stress on employee performance at Hwange Colliery Company Limited. The study aimed at identifying sources of occupational stress, determining the impact of occupational stress on employee performance, as well as examining the strategies to curb occupational stress on employee performance. The research employed quantitative (Questionnaires) and qualitative (interviews) research methods. The research established that job insecurity...
ABSTRACT The devastating effect of cancer is a worldwide concern. In Kenya, cancer is ranked third cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately current therapeutic modalities have been found to possess side effects coupled with the emergence of anticancer drug resistance. This has necessitated the search for novel therapeutic products with better efficacy, safety and affordability through identification of anti-tumor agents from natural products. In this study th...
ABSTRACT Land use changes, rapid population growth, poverty, climate change variability and lack of livelihoods diversification aggravate watershed degradation through inappropriate land use methods resulting to water scarcity, land and water pollution, and governance issues. Soil erosion and siltation has led to land denudation, habitat loss and farm lands losing their soil fertility and compromising food security. The main objective of the study was to find out how land use methods influenc...
ABSTRACT Current global efforts as embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) state the need to reduce Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. In 2015, MMR in Kenya was 510 per 100,000 live births. Increased utilization of antenatal care (ANC) service is an essential strategy in reducing risks associated with pregnancy and child bearing while post-natal period is particularly important for women, since during this period they may develop life-...
ABSTRACT About 1.6 million Kenyans are living with HIV and AIDS while an estimated 1.5 million have already died of the virus. Marrying or looking for a lifetime soul mate or partner in the era of HIV and AIDS pandemic is therefore problematic, worrying and a nightmare. Due to changing lifestyles and limited time for interaction amongst age groups in any one given population, dating has been elevated to media platform amongst sexually active men and women. However, HIV and AIDS is a reality a...
ABSTRACT Proper diagnosis and management of clinical diseases requires succinct understanding of well-established human physiological reference values. Despite the high prevalence rates of HIV, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis infection in Kisumu area of Western Kenya, there are no locally developed hematological values that can be used as reference values of normal biological or homeostatic processes from which pathogenic, pathologic or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention can be ...
ABSTRACT The global burden of Diabetes is increasing. It is estimated by the year 2035 over 592 million people in the world will suffer from Diabetes. In Kenya, the prevalence of Diabetes is 4.56% while about 14% have impaired glucose metabolism. Since Diabetes is a complex disease affecting all areas of a person’s life, management by the patient remains central to the control and reduction of short term and long term complications. Diabetes self-management is a process in which the knowled...
ABSTRACT The goal of service delivery of any government is to provide quality essential priority health packages that are acceptable, affordable and accessible to all its citizens. The declaration of free maternal Health Care services by the National Government of Kenya is a positive step to fulfilling the affordability and to some extent accessibility aspects of Maternal and Child health service delivery. Kisumu County still has the highest proportion of mothers dying in the post-partum peri...
ABSTRACT Ascariasis is the most common human helminthic infection; globally an estimated 1.5 billion people are infested with approximately 60,000 deaths annually. Infestation is most prevalent in Southeast Asia and Africa and in children aged 2-10 years. Heavy Ascaris lumbricoides worm load in children can lead to intestinal and pancreatic duct obstruction that requires surgical interventions. Although preventable, Ascariasis contributed to 84 (5%) pediatric admissions while, 27(90%) of acut...
ABSTRACT Substance abuse is a worldwide public health challenge. Globally, 210 million people abuse drugs resulting in approximately 263,000 deaths annually. An estimated 10-15 % of medical students risk substance abuse in their lifetime as they are not immune to the predisposing factors associated with the abuse. Substance abuse by students in medical training colleges (MTCs) may impact negatively on their health, future professional conduct and consequently, safety of patients. In Kenya, su...
ABSTRACT Malaria remains one of the most prevalent vector borne diseases especially in Sub Saharan Africa contributing to morbidity and mortality of both adults and children. Knowledge in malaria control and prevention methods especially environmental management can reduce the population density of the vectors thus lessen malaria prevalence. The objectives of this study were to: determine knowledge on environmental management for malaria control, identify the most effective environmental mana...