The high level of transmissibility, associated morbidity and mortality rates, and the tremendous effects on the global economy makes SARS CoV-2 a public health emergence of international repute. Owing to its incredible pathologic and epidemiologic dynamics, a quick and effective intervention is urgently required. Understanding the precise behaviour of the immune system during infection with...
Alexander Flemming’s penicillin discovery was the most important advances of modern science because it reduced mortality and alleviated suffering but Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is threatening such advances. AMR is where infectious microorganisms do not respond to any drug given in equal doses or higher than those required. AMR has become a global concern due to its negative effect on the...
Diarrheal diseases are among the major causes of escalated morbidity and mortality rates among children under 5 years of age in developing countries with approximately 2.5 million annual fatalities globally (Shetty et al., 2012). Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) has been implicated in rising epidemic patterns of infant diarrhea worldwide. DEC strains exist in 6 distinct pathotypes (pathogenic...
Every pregnant woman is at risk of complications and hence Antenatal Clinic (ANC) is recommended to identify these complications early and adequately managed through timely ANC visits. Late attendance of first antenatal visit is a common problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa posing difficulty in accomplishing the targeted maternal mortality ratio of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000...
Every pregnant woman is at risk of complications and hence Antenatal Clinic (ANC) is recommended to identify these complications early and adequately managed through timely ANC visits. Late attendance of first antenatal visit is a common problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa posing difficulty in accomplishing the targeted maternal mortality ratio of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000...
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of mortality worldwide. Africa hosts the highest prevalence with Kenya being among 30 countries with the leading burden of TB. Considering that it is a major cause of death in Kenya, it remains a major public health concern. Nutrition status is one of the determinants for the development of TB. Poor nutrition status affects cell-mediated immunity,...
Background and purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome- Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) is a highly contagious disease that has infected more than 13 million patients and led to more than 580, 000 deaths in less than seven months. Chloroquine is very effective in management of COVID-19. Compounds similar to chloroquine may have the same biological...
Burnout as a progressive process of emotional exhaustion and loss of professional interest due to prolonged period of exposure to high levels of stress emerged in the 1970s. The stress arises from work situations, emerging among professionals who exercise care for others (Jamila Geri, et al., 2014). Maslach, et al. (1996), defined burnout syndrome as comprising of emotional exhaustion,...
Background: Although the benefits of delayed umbilical cord clamping are globally including by the World Health Organization (WHO) Kenya among many Sub-Saharan African Countries continue to record variation in the clamping time in its private and public health facilities.
Objective: This study sought to establish the effects of umbilical cord clamping time on infant nutritional status at 6...
Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women with an estimated 570,000 new cases in 2018 representing 6.6% of all female cancers. Around 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this research was to assess factors affecting uptake of cervical cancer screening among women of reproductive age (15-49years). A cross-sectional study was...
Introduction
Systemic mRNA delivery, although still at its infancy, holds immense potential for application in cancer vaccination and immunotherapy. Its many advantages over DNA transfection makes it attractive in applications where transient expression in desired.Selenium nanoparticles have found a new role in biomedical science as drug delivery vehicles, owing to their biocompatibility,...
Breast cancer is a deadly disease. It is reportedly the most prevalent type of cancer in females and is the chief contributor of cancer related mortalities in women globally. Estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer constitutes the highest percentage of breast cancer cases. Estrogen is a key risk factor associated with the ER+. Therefore, its metabolism is fundamental to understanding...
Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, P. aeruginosa and E. coli are common bacterial pathogens. Multi-drug resistant strains of these pathogens have led to a demand for new treatment options. O. basilicum is an important medicinal plant and has been shown to have therapeutic values. However, there was need to validate its safety and immune modulation potential. The aim of this study was to determine...
ABSTRACT
Background
Pooled evidence suggests that community health workers may improve uptake of implants and the intrauterine device in resource poor settings. However, differential among counties may adversely affect their motivation. Understanding regional how this affects uptake of contraception is important for policy makers.
Objectives
To compare uptake of implants and copper IUD...
Background
Vasectomy is a safe, cheap, easy to perform method of contraception. However, its uptake in Burundi is low. Moreover, matters of family planning are packaged as a female responsibility than male and it is not clear what attitude and knowledge married men and women have towards vasectomy.
Objective
To assess knowledge and attitude of married men and women towards vasectomy as...
Malaria is a deadly infectious parasitic disease that causes devastating morbidity and mortality globally. Despite being a public health concern, an effective vaccine for prevention of the disease remains elusive. Global efforts are exploring possible ways of developing and improving vaccines to counteract the complex nature in which Plasmodium falciparum evades the immune system. A number of...
ABSTRACT
Breast and cervical cancers have commandingly become major public health threats across the world. While studies have reported on the nexus between the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and intrauterine devices (IUDs) as risk factors for breast and cervical cancers, there exists a paucity of explicit data on the nature of the association. Authors report the effect of oral...
Workplace burn-out is characterized as feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one's job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional efficacy (Maslach, 1982; WHO, 2019). Relationship between personality traits and development of burnout has been studied in other parts of the world but literature in Africa,...
Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in renal transplant recipients and is usually multifactorial. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with dyslipidemia in renal transplant recipients attending a nephrology clinic at a tertiary hospital in Kenya
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 110 adult...
Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is rated the second most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men globally. Prostate cancer is dis proportionally high among African men compared to males from other races (Iarc., 2012) In Kenya it is ranked as number one killer cancer (KDHS 2014). We therefore systematically reviewed the available literature on prostate cancer in Urban...
Background Gestational DM is associated with increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality, yet clear screening strategies have not been described in Kenya. The aim of this study is to describe and compare the prevalence of GDM based on selective and universal screening strategies. Methods A cross-sectional study. Study participants between 24- and 32-weeks’ gestation were...
Tonui Josephat1 & Chepkutto Willy2
1 Kabarak University, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences (Medical Microbiology), Nakuru, Kenya
2 Kabarak University, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Nakuru, Kenya
*Corresponding author: josephat@kabarak.ac.ke
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by a newly ...
Malaria continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The burden of malaria is worsened by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a phenomenon that could render currently useful antimalarial medicines obsolete. Chloroquine, once the gold standard in malaria treatment, now offers minimal to zero clinical benefit due to widespread resistance. Use of...
In 2011, WHO reported 56 million abortions worldwide majority in the developing world. Maternal mortality in Kenya is high at 488/100,000 live births, with abortion related deaths contributing to the top five causes of maternal mortality. The Comprehensive post abortion care package (CPAC), which offers holistic care, has been shown to decrease the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity....
Female Sex Workers (FSWs) have complex health needs that predispose them to a higher morbidity and mortality risk than the general population. The healthcare system in Kenya has responded to their physical health needs however there is marginal understanding on how their psychological, social and spiritual needs are met. To meet FSWs needs, a paradigm shift from the disease model to a whole...