Eric Were - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Eric Were

Research paper thumbnail of Laboratory assessment of the antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera Lam Azadirachta indica L and Jatropha curcas L on Pantoea spp and Sphingomonas spp in rice seed in Benin

The antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera Lam., Azadirachta indica L. and Jatropha curcas L. o... more The antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera Lam., Azadirachta indica L. and Jatropha curcas L. on Pantoea spp and Sphingomonas spp was assessed in rice seeds in Benin Republic. Isolates of three bacteria - Pantoea stewartii (IIIV11BE2_Sterw), Pantoea ananatis (IIIV6LIB1_Anan) and Sphingomonas spp (IIIV27BE_Sphingo) - were used. The treatments were neem oil (Azadirachta indica) and neem seed powder, Moringa oleifera. seed and leaf powder, and Jatropha curcas. oil. The diameter of the inhibitory zone for each treatment was measured at 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours after incubation (HAI). The effects of the treatments on the size of the inhibition zone of IIIV11BE2_Sterw and IIIV27BE_Sphingo were not significant 72 HAI but were significant on both isolates 96, 120 and 144 HAI. The largest diameters of the inhibition zone of IIIV11BE2_Sterw (0.27 cm at 96 HAI; 0.23 cm at 120 HAI and 0.23 cm at 144 HAI) were recorded with moringa seed extract. For Sphingomonas spp (IIIV27BE_Sphingo), the hi...

Research paper thumbnail of Pre and Post Natal HIV/STDs Prevention From Mother to Infant

Research paper thumbnail of Individual and contextual factors associated with community health workers’ performance in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a multilevel analysis

BMC Health Services Research, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of refresher training to community health workers and their supervisor and defaulter tracing activity in nyanza province

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to measure the impact of refresher training to community ... more Purpose: The purpose of this study were to measure the impact of refresher training to community health workers and their supervisor in terms of leadership, facilitation skill, case management and data management and community referral and defaulter tracing activities. Methods: This study was cluster randomized control trial conducted from Aug,2011 to Sep,2012. All 64 sub-location which have been covered by community health workers by May,2011 in 4 district, Nyanza province, Kenya were targeted. We randomly divided into 3 groups with consideration on contamination, control group, group one (refresher training only) and group two (refresher training and defaulter tracing activity). The refresher training was conducted as one day intensive training per month from Jan to July,2012. In addition, referral and defaulter tracing mechanism were developed and launched from April,2012. Results: Compared with control group, CHW's and their health knowledge were significantly improved and h...

Research paper thumbnail of Determinants of health facility utilization for childbirth in rural western Kenya: cross-sectional study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2014

Background: Skilled attendance at delivery is recognized as one of the most important factors in ... more Background: Skilled attendance at delivery is recognized as one of the most important factors in preventing maternal death. However, more than 50% of births in Kenya still occur in non-institutional locations supported by family members and/or traditional birth attendants (TBAs). To improve this situation, a study of the determinants of facility delivery, including individual, family and community factors, was necessary to consider effective intervention in Kenya. Methods: This study was conducted to identify the factors which influence the place of delivery in rural western Kenya, and to recommend ways to improve women's access to skilled attendants at delivery. A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out from August to September 2011 in all 64 sub-locations which were covered by community health workers (CHWs). An interviewer-administered questionnaire on seventeen comprehensive variables was administered to 2,560 women who had children aged 12-24 months. Results: The response rate was 79% (n = 2,026). Of the respondents, 48% of births occurred in a health facility and 52% in a non-institutional location. The significant determinants of facility delivery examined using multivariate analysis were: maternal education level, maternal health knowledge, ANC visits, birth interval, economic status of household, number of household members, household sanitation practices and traveling time to nearest health facility. Conclusions: The results suggest that the involvement of TBAs to promote facility delivery is still one of the most important strategies. Strengthening CHWs' performance by focusing on a limited number of topics and clear management guidance might also be an effective intervention. Stressing the importance of regular attendance at ANC (at least four times) would be effective in enhancing motivation for a facility delivery. Based on our findings, those actions to improve the facility delivery rate should focus more on pregnant women who have a low education level, poor health knowledge and short pregnancy spacing. In addition, women with low economic status, a large number of family members and a long distance to travel to a health facility should also be targeted by further interventions.

Research paper thumbnail of Forecasting, warning, and detection of malaria epidemics: a case study

The Lancet, 2003

Our aim was to assess whether a combination of seasonal climate forecasts, monitoring of meteorol... more Our aim was to assess whether a combination of seasonal climate forecasts, monitoring of meteorological conditions, and early detection of cases could have helped to prevent the 2002 malaria emergency in the highlands of western Kenya. Seasonal climate forecasts did not anticipate the heavy rainfall. Rainfall data gave timely and reliable early warnings; but monthly surveillance of malaria outpatients gave no effective alarm, though it did help to confirm that normal rainfall conditions in Kisii Central and Gucha led to typical resurgent outbreaks whereas exceptional rainfall in Nandi and Kericho led to true malaria epidemics. Management of malaria in the highlands, including improved planning for the annual resurgent outbreak, augmented by simple central nationwide early warning, represents a feasible strategy for increasing epidemic preparedness in Kenya.

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of and factors related to possession of a mother and child health handbook: an analysis using propensity score matching

Health Education Research, 2015

Background: Mother and Child Health handbooks (MCH handbooks) serve as useful health education to... more Background: Mother and Child Health handbooks (MCH handbooks) serve as useful health education tools for mothers and sources of information that allow health care professionals to understand patient status. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the effectiveness of and identify the factors related to possession of an MCH handbook among parents in rural Western Kenya using propensity score matching (PSM). Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted in rural western Kenya from August to September, 2011. We targeted 2560 mothers with children aged 12-24 months. Both PSM and multivariate logistic analyses were used in this study. Results: Impacts of 5.9, 9.4, and 12.6 percentage points for higher health knowledge and for proper health-seeking behavior for fever and diarrhea, respectively, were statistically significant. The significant factors affecting possession of the MCH Handbook were the child's sex, the caregiver's relationship to the child, maternal age, health knowledge, birth interval, household wealth index and CHW performance accordingly. Conclusions: An MCH handbook was an effective tool for improving both health knowledge and health-seeking behavior in Kenya. The further distribution and utilization of an MCH handbook is expected to be an effective way to improve both maternal and child health.

Research paper thumbnail of Laboratory assessment of the antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera Lam Azadirachta indica L and Jatropha curcas L on Pantoea spp and Sphingomonas spp in rice seed in Benin

The antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera Lam., Azadirachta indica L. and Jatropha curcas L. o... more The antibacterial effect of Moringa oleifera Lam., Azadirachta indica L. and Jatropha curcas L. on Pantoea spp and Sphingomonas spp was assessed in rice seeds in Benin Republic. Isolates of three bacteria - Pantoea stewartii (IIIV11BE2_Sterw), Pantoea ananatis (IIIV6LIB1_Anan) and Sphingomonas spp (IIIV27BE_Sphingo) - were used. The treatments were neem oil (Azadirachta indica) and neem seed powder, Moringa oleifera. seed and leaf powder, and Jatropha curcas. oil. The diameter of the inhibitory zone for each treatment was measured at 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours after incubation (HAI). The effects of the treatments on the size of the inhibition zone of IIIV11BE2_Sterw and IIIV27BE_Sphingo were not significant 72 HAI but were significant on both isolates 96, 120 and 144 HAI. The largest diameters of the inhibition zone of IIIV11BE2_Sterw (0.27 cm at 96 HAI; 0.23 cm at 120 HAI and 0.23 cm at 144 HAI) were recorded with moringa seed extract. For Sphingomonas spp (IIIV27BE_Sphingo), the hi...

Research paper thumbnail of Pre and Post Natal HIV/STDs Prevention From Mother to Infant

Research paper thumbnail of Individual and contextual factors associated with community health workers’ performance in Nyanza Province, Kenya: a multilevel analysis

BMC Health Services Research, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of refresher training to community health workers and their supervisor and defaulter tracing activity in nyanza province

Purpose: The purpose of this study were to measure the impact of refresher training to community ... more Purpose: The purpose of this study were to measure the impact of refresher training to community health workers and their supervisor in terms of leadership, facilitation skill, case management and data management and community referral and defaulter tracing activities. Methods: This study was cluster randomized control trial conducted from Aug,2011 to Sep,2012. All 64 sub-location which have been covered by community health workers by May,2011 in 4 district, Nyanza province, Kenya were targeted. We randomly divided into 3 groups with consideration on contamination, control group, group one (refresher training only) and group two (refresher training and defaulter tracing activity). The refresher training was conducted as one day intensive training per month from Jan to July,2012. In addition, referral and defaulter tracing mechanism were developed and launched from April,2012. Results: Compared with control group, CHW's and their health knowledge were significantly improved and h...

Research paper thumbnail of Determinants of health facility utilization for childbirth in rural western Kenya: cross-sectional study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2014

Background: Skilled attendance at delivery is recognized as one of the most important factors in ... more Background: Skilled attendance at delivery is recognized as one of the most important factors in preventing maternal death. However, more than 50% of births in Kenya still occur in non-institutional locations supported by family members and/or traditional birth attendants (TBAs). To improve this situation, a study of the determinants of facility delivery, including individual, family and community factors, was necessary to consider effective intervention in Kenya. Methods: This study was conducted to identify the factors which influence the place of delivery in rural western Kenya, and to recommend ways to improve women's access to skilled attendants at delivery. A community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out from August to September 2011 in all 64 sub-locations which were covered by community health workers (CHWs). An interviewer-administered questionnaire on seventeen comprehensive variables was administered to 2,560 women who had children aged 12-24 months. Results: The response rate was 79% (n = 2,026). Of the respondents, 48% of births occurred in a health facility and 52% in a non-institutional location. The significant determinants of facility delivery examined using multivariate analysis were: maternal education level, maternal health knowledge, ANC visits, birth interval, economic status of household, number of household members, household sanitation practices and traveling time to nearest health facility. Conclusions: The results suggest that the involvement of TBAs to promote facility delivery is still one of the most important strategies. Strengthening CHWs' performance by focusing on a limited number of topics and clear management guidance might also be an effective intervention. Stressing the importance of regular attendance at ANC (at least four times) would be effective in enhancing motivation for a facility delivery. Based on our findings, those actions to improve the facility delivery rate should focus more on pregnant women who have a low education level, poor health knowledge and short pregnancy spacing. In addition, women with low economic status, a large number of family members and a long distance to travel to a health facility should also be targeted by further interventions.

Research paper thumbnail of Forecasting, warning, and detection of malaria epidemics: a case study

The Lancet, 2003

Our aim was to assess whether a combination of seasonal climate forecasts, monitoring of meteorol... more Our aim was to assess whether a combination of seasonal climate forecasts, monitoring of meteorological conditions, and early detection of cases could have helped to prevent the 2002 malaria emergency in the highlands of western Kenya. Seasonal climate forecasts did not anticipate the heavy rainfall. Rainfall data gave timely and reliable early warnings; but monthly surveillance of malaria outpatients gave no effective alarm, though it did help to confirm that normal rainfall conditions in Kisii Central and Gucha led to typical resurgent outbreaks whereas exceptional rainfall in Nandi and Kericho led to true malaria epidemics. Management of malaria in the highlands, including improved planning for the annual resurgent outbreak, augmented by simple central nationwide early warning, represents a feasible strategy for increasing epidemic preparedness in Kenya.

Research paper thumbnail of Effectiveness of and factors related to possession of a mother and child health handbook: an analysis using propensity score matching

Health Education Research, 2015

Background: Mother and Child Health handbooks (MCH handbooks) serve as useful health education to... more Background: Mother and Child Health handbooks (MCH handbooks) serve as useful health education tools for mothers and sources of information that allow health care professionals to understand patient status. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the effectiveness of and identify the factors related to possession of an MCH handbook among parents in rural Western Kenya using propensity score matching (PSM). Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted in rural western Kenya from August to September, 2011. We targeted 2560 mothers with children aged 12-24 months. Both PSM and multivariate logistic analyses were used in this study. Results: Impacts of 5.9, 9.4, and 12.6 percentage points for higher health knowledge and for proper health-seeking behavior for fever and diarrhea, respectively, were statistically significant. The significant factors affecting possession of the MCH Handbook were the child's sex, the caregiver's relationship to the child, maternal age, health knowledge, birth interval, household wealth index and CHW performance accordingly. Conclusions: An MCH handbook was an effective tool for improving both health knowledge and health-seeking behavior in Kenya. The further distribution and utilization of an MCH handbook is expected to be an effective way to improve both maternal and child health.