Eliab Some | United States International University -Africa (original) (raw)

Papers by Eliab Some

East African Orthopaedic Journal, Apr 4, 2019

Background: There is considerable variability in the size of the adult lumbar spinal canal betwee... more Background: There is considerable variability in the size of the adult lumbar spinal canal between and within populations. Objective: This study purposed to determine the prevalence of Developmental Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis (DLSS) in an impoverished population. Assuming DLSS is part of generalized stunting and therefore, influenced by nutrition, a higher prevalence rate of DLSS was expected in the region. This would explain the severity of symptoms encountered in association with chronic low back pain and radiculopathy. Design: Observational cross-sectional survey. Methods: The study was carried out between October 2017 and January 2018. One thousand one hundred and ninety-eight people were recruited and 436 participants were sampled for the study. Basic anthropometric measurements were done. History of hunger and food shortage was taken. Observations were made for presence or absence of enamel hypoplasia and spina bifida. Using axial sections of MRI and CT scans, canal dimensions were measured in each of the 5 lumbar vertebras (L1-L5). Results: Males constituted 50.3% of the sample population, rest were female. The mean age was 45 years. The mean canal depth was 13.8 ±2.5 mm, width 17.8±3.6 mm, and the mean cross-sectional area was 200 ±70 mm 2 . Developmental lumbar spinal canal stenosis was diagnosed when the CSA was less than -2SD. The prevalence rate of DLSS was 19%. Conclusion: The prevalence of DLSS in the African population living in the Coastal regions of Kenya was found to be 19% and highly related to stunting. Keywords: Prevalence, Poverty, malnutrition, Developmental, Stenosis

East African Orthopaedic Journal, 2018

Background: The aetiology of chronic low back pain is largely unknown. A high prevalence of devel... more Background: The aetiology of chronic low back pain is largely unknown. A high prevalence of developmentally narrow canals may explain some of the aetiology or the accompanying nervous tissue compression that often accompany. Objective: To determine the relationship between early life malnutrition and the development of lumbar spinal canal. A relationship between early life malnutrition and developmental narrowing would indirectly incriminate such predictors as poverty, aridity and human development which can be reduced by policy and strategy. Methods: This was an observational cross sectional survey. The participants were screened for Early Life Malnutrition (ELM) using a semi-structured questionnaire. Various observations and measurements were made which included measurement of the dimensions of the spinal canal on MRI or CT scans of the lumbosacral spine. The cross sectional area was used for determination. The frequencies and means were compared in the group with ELM and the one without. Results: The results showed the prevalence of ELM in the adult population of coastal Kenya to be 29% and the prevalence of Developmental Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis (DLSS) was16%. Those with ELM had a higher prevalence of DLSS (20%) than those without (14%), p = 0.003. There were differences in DLSS dimensional means between those with ELM and those without, depth (P = 0.046), cross sectional area (P = 0.042), and in width (P = 0.176). There was a strong negative linear relationship between the canal depth (APD), r =-0.68, cross sectional area (CSA), r =-0.65, and a moderate negative linear relationship with the canal width (TRD), r =-0.50. Conclusions: The present study shows a high prevalence rate of ELM and DLSS in the study population. There is a higher prevalence of DLSS in those with ELM. The two shows a strong negative linear relationship between ELM and DLSS. ELM may partly be responsible for developmentally narrow canals.

PubMed, 1994

A cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the changes in, and the satisfaction with, sour... more A cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the changes in, and the satisfaction with, sources of domestic water made by the community in response to seasons in Kisumu district in July 1990. Out of 15,324 household heads interviewed, 42.8% got their water from taps throughout the year and during the dry season the remaining 58.2% got their water from rivers, streams, boreholes, ponds, roof catchments and one or two other sources. In the wet season three times as many households use roof catchment and fewer households use rivers and streams and boreholes. Only 21.9% were dissatisfied with their supply in the dry season the main reason being dirty water and insufficient quantity. These findings indicate a need to expand the provision of piped water into the rural communities and promote roof water harvesting in the lake basin. Roof catchment would provide safe water in areas without piped water, and as reserve water in those with piped. The safety of water from roofs made of natural and traditional materials, such as grass and palm leaves (makuti) need to be assessed.

PubMed, Nov 1, 1992

In rural Uasin Gishu District in 1990, 78.2% of the households had pit latrines, 11.3% ventilated... more In rural Uasin Gishu District in 1990, 78.2% of the households had pit latrines, 11.3% ventilated improved pit latrines, 0.8% water-borne and 9.7% with no toilet facilities. On inspection, 97% of the toilet facilities were in use. Compost pits were present in 52.3% of the households. Utensil drying racks were found in 56.0% of the households. Compared to previous estimates, these levels represent a tremendous improvement in sanitation service coverage. It is recommended that the impact of water and sanitation programmes on health status needs to be evaluated. There is a need for studies to be done on the value of utensil drying racks in disease control.

PubMed, Nov 1, 1992

A retrospective study was carried out from January to September 1990 in a factory that manufactur... more A retrospective study was carried out from January to September 1990 in a factory that manufactures textiles in Eldoret, Kenya. Over the study period, 1400 factory workers had 303 episodes of illness resulting in a loss of 720 productive man-days. This is an incidence of 289 episodes of illness per 1000 workers per year. On average, each episode of illness resulted in 2.4 man-days loss. Of all the episodes of illness, 58.8% were attributable to infective and parasitic diseases, 10.9% to respiratory system disorders and 21.7% to other conditions. Malaria constituted 53.1% of all episodes of illness, acute respiratory infection (ARI) 10.9%, physical injuries 5.6%, gastro-enteric illnesses 3.4% and other conditions 21.7%. For the productive man-days lost, 53.2% were attributable to malaria, 12.8% to ARI, 5.7% to physical injuries and 28.3% to other conditions. Abortions and worm infections resulted in loss of 7.0 man-days per episode of illness, diarrhoea 3.2, myalgia 3.0, ARI 2.8, eye diseases 2.7 and the rest below the average of 2.4 days. Apart from the physical injuries, there were no other occupational illnesses in the textile factory workers. Episodes of illness that occur during the last and the first week of the month constitute 61.0% of all illnesses. Mondays had 24.4% of the episodes of illness, Sundays 7.9% with the other days of the week constituting an average 13.5%.

PubMed, Feb 1, 1994

A cross-sectional survey involving 15,324 household heads, reporting on a population of 68,487 pe... more A cross-sectional survey involving 15,324 household heads, reporting on a population of 68,487 people in Kisumu district in Kenya, revealed that there was at least one person who regularly used a drug in 6,793 (44.3%) of the households. Out of these 4,497 (66.2%) were concerned with the practice. This gave a reported rate of drug use of 6.4 for alcohol, 2.7 for cigarette smoking, 0.6 for bhang (Cannabis sativa) smoking, and 0.2 for unprescribed medicines per 100 study population. The main reasons for concern consisted of financial problems cited by 49.1% of the household heads; family violence by 19.7%; loss of jobs by 15.1%; chronic coughs by 10.7%; and other reasons that included imprisonment, decline in school performance, and abnormal behaviour. Out of those concerned about half (47.9%) had taken some actions to control the drug use with 26.7% of these reporting the actions having worked. This study points out a need for further research to identify the unprescribed medicines and quantify other drugs used in order to advice on an appropriate local and national drug policy.

PubMed, 1994

This report documents the effects of malaria epidemic and how it was controlled in one highland d... more This report documents the effects of malaria epidemic and how it was controlled in one highland district of Kenya. The effects of the epidemic are presented in terms of mortality, morbidity and school absenteeism; information is from routine and verbal reports. Treatment with chloroquine, amodiaquine and sulphonamide pyrimethamine combinations, limited vector control, and health education were used to control the epidemic. Hospital mortality per month increased by 8.6 times during the epidemic while morbidity went up by 3.7 times. Of the 103 deaths attributed to malaria, 64 (62.1%) occurred in hospital and 39 (37.9%) at home. Most of the home deaths (92.3%), occurred in areas that border the malaria endemic Lake Victoria Basin. The rate of pupil absenteeism ranged from 17.6% to 54.4% in primary schools. The policy implications of the report are discussed.

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), May 14, 2023

UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES E.g. Stigma (seen as crazy, what others may think), persona... more UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES E.g. Stigma (seen as crazy, what others may think), personal preference, attitudinal barriers-experiences, peer pressure, and personality or values

International journal of scientific and research publications, May 6, 2019

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers among women in Kenya. Screening of th... more Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers among women in Kenya. Screening of the cancer is done through self-breast examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography. The success in the management of breast cancer is essentially dependent on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed and therefore screening is helpful at identifying the disease in the early stages. The study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitudes and breast cancer screening practices among women in Thika Town, Kiambu County, Kenya. Methods: The study utilized an analytical crosssectional study design that had mixed methods of data collection; pre-tested self-administered structured questionnaires and Focused Group Discussions. A sample size of 304 respondents was selected through systematic random sampling from both markets while Focus Group Discussion participants were selected through convenience sampling. SPSS version 22 was used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed by use of content analysis. Results: The respondents who were screened by any of the methods were 13.2%. They had high awareness of breast cancer and 95.3% had heard of breast cancer screening. Knowledge of symptoms was high (70.5%) but knowledge of risk factors (50%) was lower among the respondents. Approximately half of the respondents were knowledgeable on the procedure for self-breast examination. All the respondents were afraid of being diagnosed with breast cancer and most (74%) agreed that they were afraid of disfigurement. They (84.9%) did not like the embarrassment associated with clinical breast examination and majority (48.8%) agreed that mammography is painful. Most of the participants would go for treatment if diagnosed with breast cancer as well as support those found with breast cancer. On multivariate analysis knowledge of procedure of self-breast examination (2.62; 95% CI: 1.212-5.665) and level of agreement with statements on breast cancer and screening (8.03; 95% CI: 1.85-34.85) were the strongest predictors for screening among the respondents. Conclusion: In conclusion, uptake of screening was low; there was incomplete knowledge of breast cancer and screening in addition to negative attitudes. There is need for creation of sustained awareness on breast cancer and screening through mass media, healthcare professionals and breast cancer survivors.

Health Policy and Planning, 1999

net treatment and re-treatment that will determine the longterm success or failure of ITBN contro... more net treatment and re-treatment that will determine the longterm success or failure of ITBN control stratagems in Africa. Research is currently underway into appropriate and sustainable delivery mechanisms (TDR 1996). These approaches must allow for regular treatment/re-treatment given that insecticides in current use lose potency between 6-12 months, whilst more frequent re-impregnation may be necessary where nets are washed often (Lines 1996). One of the large mortality trials was conducted on the Kenyan coast (Nevill et al. 1996). We report here the responses on the part of this community to changing delivery systems over the last four to five years through epidemiological surveys of coverage rates compared to an audit of programme activity. Methods Study area In 1993 a community randomized, controlled intervention trial was started to assess the impact of permethrin-treated bed nets on mortality and morbidity attributed to malaria within a geographically defined research study area in Kilifi District on the Kenyan coast. The society represented in the study area is patriarchal and mostly polygamous, with Christian, Muslim and traditional Giriama beliefs co-existing

Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Jul 1, 2000

The use of insecticide-treated bednets (ITBNs) has been shown to be effective in reducing mortali... more The use of insecticide-treated bednets (ITBNs) has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality and morbidity from malaria. However, there is mixed evidence as to whether or not community-wide use of ITBNs engenders a 'mass effect', such that those not sleeping under bednets are offered protection from widespread ITBN use in the area in which they live. We have analysed data collected in Kilifi, Kenya, from a cohort of children followed from birth to investigate how the degree of net usage in the locality of a child affects the risk of developing malaria. This effect was explored using a Cox proportional hazards model. For those not using ITBNs, we found that an increasing level of ITBN usage within the area surrounding each child was associated with a decreasing risk of developing malaria, thus providing evidence in support of a mass community effect. The size and significance of this effect were found to decrease as non-overlapping areas of increasing distance away from a child's home were considered. The effect was significant for areas at distances of up to 1.5 km away from each child.

Cervical cancer screening is an essential routine preventive care program for women of reproducti... more Cervical cancer screening is an essential routine preventive care program for women of reproductive a g . This screening method involved detecting abnormal cervical cells. The abnormal cells may develop into cancer if left untreated. Cervical cancer screening a d early treatment are important in preventing and controlling cervical cancer disease. The awareness on the cervical cancer disease and cervical cancer screeni ng method might encourage elimination of cervical canc er disease in the community. The aim of this designed stu y was to assess the awareness and practice of cervica l cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Misau Local Government, Bauchi State, Nigeria. This research employed cross-sectional descriptive study an questionnaire was used to collect data. It was carr ied out in Misau Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeri a. The result of this study shows that, out of 422 respondents only 95 (22.5%) had heard of cervical cancer disease, 58 (13.7%) were aware of other wome n who suffered cervical cancer and only 43 (10.2%) ar e aware of women who died of cervical cancer disease. It was found that all the 422 respondent of this study were unaware about Pap smear test. Zero level of pap sme ar screening practice was also found. The awareness in other screening method was low in which 6 (1.42%) knew high vaginal swab (HVS), 2 (0.47%) knew HPV testing, 2 (0.47%) knew visual inspection with acet ic acid (VIA), and 2 (0.47%) knew other screening meth od and perhaps practiced opportunistically. Conclusivel y, this study revealed low level of awareness, and poo r practicing of cervical cancer screening. Public awa reness on cervical cancer screening and practicing should be encouraged by policy makers. Citation: Abba Abdullahi. A., Seroney Some. E., Abdalla Suleiman. M., 2017. Assessment of the awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening among the women of rep roductive age in Misau Local Government Area, Bauchi State, N igeria. Nigerian Journal for Cancer. Photon 104, 114-122 All Rights Reserved with Photon. Photon Ignitor: ISJN57295612D849023032017

The purpose of the study was to determine knowledge-related fire hazards reduction capabilities a... more The purpose of the study was to determine knowledge-related fire hazards reduction capabilities amongst households in Kibera Settlements, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was conducted in Kibera Slums. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 423 respondents were used in the study. Data was collected using Questionnaires, observation checklists and Focus Group Discussions. Data analysis was done using SPSS v.20. The study found out that the community’s knowledge and awareness was fairly good, with no respondent (0%) willing to indicate total lack of school-based education. The respondents defined fire hazards as the causes, events and effects of fires without arriving at a clear definition of fire hazards. Males had better reduction capability than females. The study therefore recommends programs by the local authorities to train the community on preventive measures as well as gender-focused fire hazard reduction empowerment. Introduction Over 4 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels and more than 50% of premature deaths among children under 5 because of pneumonia caused by soot inhaled from household air pollution WHO (2014). According to WFSC (2015), all across the globe, people have neglected the need to forecast the possible occurrences of fire when constructing buildings. For Europe as a whole, the annual toll of fire deaths is measured in many thousands, with those suffering fire injuries numbered at many times more. Burns caused by fire hazards are among the most devastating of all injuries, resulting to physical impairments and disfigurement, to emotional and European International Journal of Science and Technology ISSN: 2304-9693 www.eijst.org.uk 2 mental consequences. SCDF (2015) agrees with this burden projected. It states that in 2014, 588 more cases were reported than in 2013 in the whole of Singapore. This was approximately a 14% increase. Despite the fact that injury due to burns is largely preventable, Africa carries an extraordinary burden of fire related injuries. Background Capability refers to the power to handle or just the inherent ability to cope with. In the case of fire hazards, reduction capabilities could cover from factors as small as carelessness to more complex factors such as the makeup of the house such as inclination, access or ventilation. The capability to reduce fire hazards can be measured in terms of preparation, reaction or the risk factors. This study will focus on how all these contribute to an overall rate of fire hazard occurrences (Ono & Da Silva, 2000). Fire is crucial for the development of human society, and it has become an important part of human civilization. Among different types of disasters, fire constitutes a significant threat to life and property in urban and rural areas (Dube, 2015).Fire hazards refer to all types of live flames, causes of sparks, hot objects, and chemicals that are potential for ignition, or that can aggravate a fire to become large; In addition fire hazards could also mean the potential threats to fire prevention practices, firefighting, built-in fire safety systems and situations that restrict the escape of people from an affected building or area in the event of a fire. Some common fire hazards are kitchen fires from unattended cooking, such as frying, boiling, and simmering, electrical systems that are overloaded, resulting in hot wiring or connections, or failed components, combustible storage areas with insufficient protection (Claret et al., 2012). Research Questions The study addressed the following questions: 1. What is the level of fire hazards knowledge and awareness amongst the households in Kibera settlements? 2. What are the demographic characteristics contributing to fire hazards reduction capabilities in Kibera settlements? 3. What are the socio-economic characteristics contributing to fire hazards reduction capabilities in Kibera settlements? Methods Study Subjects The study area was conducted in Kibera Slums within Nairobi County, purposely selected since it was the largest slum in Kenya, as at the time of study. Kibera is located 5km southwest of Nairobi City Central Business District. Kibera has a population of approximately 177,000 (2009) The target population consisted of Kibera residents who were above 18 years and who had been residents for the preceding one year in the study area (Fihlani, 2015). The study population was the household heads at Kibera settlements. Any adult above 18 years present in the absence of a household head also took part. The total number of households used was 1977 (KNBS, 2009). Study Designs Cross-sectional study design was used to determine the fire hazards amongst the households in Kibera settlements. Quantitative data was solicited through questionnaires conducted on house hold heads and Focus Group discussions were also used to compliment the quantitative data. Observation…

Background: Community health strategy (CHS) is an approach of one of the Kenyan Vision 2030 flags... more Background: Community health strategy (CHS) is an approach of one of the Kenyan Vision 2030 flagship projects that intends to improve the health status of communities. The overall goal of CHS is to enhance community access to health care in order to improve productivity and thus reduce poverty, hunger, child mortality, maternal death, as well as improve education. The community is empowered to have knowledge and skills in health promotion, disease prevention, care seeking and compliance with treatment, governance and management of health services and claiming their rights. International initiatives have been taken to address both existing and emerging issues. There has been no breakthrough in improving the health situation of households entrapped in the vicious cycle of poverty and illness. The millennium development goals (reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV and Aids, malaria and other diseases) and primary health care targets have not been fully realised in low income countries. ` Methods: This study was carried out to assess the effects of Community Health Strategy Implementation on Utilization of Health Care Services since its implementation in the year 2009 in Nakuru, Kenya and specifically, to assess perceived level of disease burden, to determine level of awareness the community members have on Community Health Strategy, to evaluate the achievements of Community Health Strategy implementation and to determine the level of community involvement on Community Health Strategy among residents of Nakuru central sub county. The study area was Nakuru central sub county. A descriptive-cross sectional study design was used. Purposive sampling was employed to select sub counties, division, locations and age of respondents. Simple random sampling (for locations and Sub locations, community Units, villages and starting points), Multi-stage sampling technique (to arrive at the respondents), cluster sampling (plots/blocks) and systematic sampling (households). A pilot study was done to determine the clarity and consistency of the questions in the questionnaire. The study used both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Quantitative approach enabled the researcher to systematically collect the data for generalization purposes. Qualitative data enabled the researcher to obtain in-depth information about respondent's views in relation to the variables under study. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Use of the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and description through frequency distributions tables, pie charts and bar charts and percentages). Results: The findings of the study is expected to inform decision making in enhancing the positive Effects of the strategy in order to encourage initiation of more community units to reverse disease trends. Conclusion: Community is yet to overcome malaria disease, the community has awareness on Community Health Strategy, the community is able to control their own health and involve themselves in Community Health Strategy activities. They ensure they seek for health services like completing immunization schedules of their children, treating their

PubMed, Sep 1, 1997

As less than twenty five per cent of persons suffering from malaria seek formal treatment in most... more As less than twenty five per cent of persons suffering from malaria seek formal treatment in most of sub-Saharan Africa, Facility-based morbidity statistics are inadequate for monitoring malaria control programmes. This explorative study assessed whether a health centre equipped with a microscope and trained personnel could monitor malaria transmission within its catchment area. The study was conducted at Chemase Health Centre in Nandi District in Kenya, an area holoendemic for malaria with Anopheles gambiae as the main vector and Plasmodium falciparum as the commonest cause of malaria. From first August to 31 October 1991, first seven children under five years of age on each working day accompanied by their mothers to the maternal and child health clinic were studied. A general examination was performed by a Registered Clinical Officer (Medical Assistant) and thin and thick blood smears made, stained with Giemsa stain and examined for malaria parasites by a Medical Laboratory Technologist. Mothers were interviewed by enrolled community nurses on antimalarial measures they were using in their homes. Four hundred and fifty five children mostly under five years of age, consisting of 48.1% males and 51.9% females, were studied. Malaria parasites were present in 209 (45.9%) blood smears of the children. The percentage of blood smears positive for malaria parasites was high in children below 36 months of age. There was a tendency for low percentage of blood smears positive for malaria in children whose mothers reported using mosquito nets or insecticide sprays. The study did not interrupt the routine of the health centre. Periodic monitoring of new malaria illnesses. and percentage of blood smears positive for malaria parasites in children aged 0 to 35 months should be introduced into health centre practice in Kenya. This catchment area approach could be used to monitor malaria control programmes as well as predicting malaria epidemics.

East African Medical Journal, Jan 13, 2004

Subjects: Four hundred non-institutionalised elderly persons. Results: Four hundred people includ... more Subjects: Four hundred non-institutionalised elderly persons. Results: Four hundred people including 276(69%) women and 124(31%) males were interviewed; 44% had no independent source of livelihood and 51% were widowed. The majority 376(92.5%) of the respondents had been sick within the last three months, preceding the study with 111(27.8%) being sick all the time. The prevalent diseases included musculoskeletal (80%), respiratory (68%), sight (44%) and dental conditions(40%). Three hundred and sixteen (79%) of the respondents were functionally independent in activities of daily living. One hundred and sixty one (40.3%) were satisfied with their current way of life while (63%) perceived themselves as healthy, 24.8% of the respondents lived alone. The reported social problems included:-economic dependency (96%), poor housing (76%), loneliness (60%) and feeling not needed (42%) of the respondents. Only 26% were on treatment, lack of money hindered health care access to 73% of the respondents (p<0.001). Sixty two per cent of the respondents were buying over-the-counter drugs. Walking was under taken by 217(67%) as a physical exercise, and (26%) of the respondents consumed addictive drugs. The focus groups criticised the lack of health facilities for the elderly in the community. Conclusion: The effects of ageing, low economic status and inadequate access to health care contributed to the elderly poor health status. The use of over-the-counter drugs was indicative of the inefficient health facilities in meeting the health needs of the elderly. The study points out the need to formulate policies that will target on the health needs of the elderly.

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Introduction: Due to a lack of information on patient mortality, healthcare planners rarely use l... more Introduction: Due to a lack of information on patient mortality, healthcare planners rarely use local data for resource allocation and hospital management. This results in missed opportunities to build hospital capacity to address common causes of death, as well as a poor hospital reputation, fewer patients seeking hospital care, increased medical errors, and increased inpatient mortality. Objective: To determine trends of hospital mortality between 2018 and 2019 at Level Four Kisumu County Hospital, Kenya. Methods: The study was a cross sectional retrospective study design. The study targeted files of patients who died between January 2018 and December 2022. Systematic sampling was used in which every file per ward was given a serial number. Each department formed a stratum. Sample size was determined using Yamane Taro formula (N/1+N(e2) which yielded 203 as sample size from population of 680. The risk of death based on the presence or absence of doctor and nurse was analyzed by od...

Journal of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, 2017

Young people including adolescents constitute a significant number of the people living with Huma... more Young people including adolescents constitute a significant number of the people living with Human Immune Deficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the world today. The study sought to establish the antiretroviral treatment adherence determinants among HIV/AIDS infected adolescents in Thika level 5 Hospital. The specific objective of the study was to find out how health literacy influence adherence to antiretroviral treatment among HIV/AIDS infected adolescents, The study was cross sectional and adopted a systematic sampling study design targeting 350 active HIV/AIDS infected adolescent aged between 10-19 years. The study also targeted 25 health care providers (HCPs) delivering care and treatment services to HIV/AIDS infected adolescents in Thika Level 5 hospital. A systematic sampling design was used to get the study respondents, purposive sampling was used to select 25 HCPs . The respondents were selected based on systematic sampling and a sampling int...

East African Orthopaedic Journal, Apr 4, 2019

Background: There is considerable variability in the size of the adult lumbar spinal canal betwee... more Background: There is considerable variability in the size of the adult lumbar spinal canal between and within populations. Objective: This study purposed to determine the prevalence of Developmental Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis (DLSS) in an impoverished population. Assuming DLSS is part of generalized stunting and therefore, influenced by nutrition, a higher prevalence rate of DLSS was expected in the region. This would explain the severity of symptoms encountered in association with chronic low back pain and radiculopathy. Design: Observational cross-sectional survey. Methods: The study was carried out between October 2017 and January 2018. One thousand one hundred and ninety-eight people were recruited and 436 participants were sampled for the study. Basic anthropometric measurements were done. History of hunger and food shortage was taken. Observations were made for presence or absence of enamel hypoplasia and spina bifida. Using axial sections of MRI and CT scans, canal dimensions were measured in each of the 5 lumbar vertebras (L1-L5). Results: Males constituted 50.3% of the sample population, rest were female. The mean age was 45 years. The mean canal depth was 13.8 ±2.5 mm, width 17.8±3.6 mm, and the mean cross-sectional area was 200 ±70 mm 2 . Developmental lumbar spinal canal stenosis was diagnosed when the CSA was less than -2SD. The prevalence rate of DLSS was 19%. Conclusion: The prevalence of DLSS in the African population living in the Coastal regions of Kenya was found to be 19% and highly related to stunting. Keywords: Prevalence, Poverty, malnutrition, Developmental, Stenosis

East African Orthopaedic Journal, 2018

Background: The aetiology of chronic low back pain is largely unknown. A high prevalence of devel... more Background: The aetiology of chronic low back pain is largely unknown. A high prevalence of developmentally narrow canals may explain some of the aetiology or the accompanying nervous tissue compression that often accompany. Objective: To determine the relationship between early life malnutrition and the development of lumbar spinal canal. A relationship between early life malnutrition and developmental narrowing would indirectly incriminate such predictors as poverty, aridity and human development which can be reduced by policy and strategy. Methods: This was an observational cross sectional survey. The participants were screened for Early Life Malnutrition (ELM) using a semi-structured questionnaire. Various observations and measurements were made which included measurement of the dimensions of the spinal canal on MRI or CT scans of the lumbosacral spine. The cross sectional area was used for determination. The frequencies and means were compared in the group with ELM and the one without. Results: The results showed the prevalence of ELM in the adult population of coastal Kenya to be 29% and the prevalence of Developmental Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis (DLSS) was16%. Those with ELM had a higher prevalence of DLSS (20%) than those without (14%), p = 0.003. There were differences in DLSS dimensional means between those with ELM and those without, depth (P = 0.046), cross sectional area (P = 0.042), and in width (P = 0.176). There was a strong negative linear relationship between the canal depth (APD), r =-0.68, cross sectional area (CSA), r =-0.65, and a moderate negative linear relationship with the canal width (TRD), r =-0.50. Conclusions: The present study shows a high prevalence rate of ELM and DLSS in the study population. There is a higher prevalence of DLSS in those with ELM. The two shows a strong negative linear relationship between ELM and DLSS. ELM may partly be responsible for developmentally narrow canals.

PubMed, 1994

A cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the changes in, and the satisfaction with, sour... more A cross-sectional study was conducted to describe the changes in, and the satisfaction with, sources of domestic water made by the community in response to seasons in Kisumu district in July 1990. Out of 15,324 household heads interviewed, 42.8% got their water from taps throughout the year and during the dry season the remaining 58.2% got their water from rivers, streams, boreholes, ponds, roof catchments and one or two other sources. In the wet season three times as many households use roof catchment and fewer households use rivers and streams and boreholes. Only 21.9% were dissatisfied with their supply in the dry season the main reason being dirty water and insufficient quantity. These findings indicate a need to expand the provision of piped water into the rural communities and promote roof water harvesting in the lake basin. Roof catchment would provide safe water in areas without piped water, and as reserve water in those with piped. The safety of water from roofs made of natural and traditional materials, such as grass and palm leaves (makuti) need to be assessed.

PubMed, Nov 1, 1992

In rural Uasin Gishu District in 1990, 78.2% of the households had pit latrines, 11.3% ventilated... more In rural Uasin Gishu District in 1990, 78.2% of the households had pit latrines, 11.3% ventilated improved pit latrines, 0.8% water-borne and 9.7% with no toilet facilities. On inspection, 97% of the toilet facilities were in use. Compost pits were present in 52.3% of the households. Utensil drying racks were found in 56.0% of the households. Compared to previous estimates, these levels represent a tremendous improvement in sanitation service coverage. It is recommended that the impact of water and sanitation programmes on health status needs to be evaluated. There is a need for studies to be done on the value of utensil drying racks in disease control.

PubMed, Nov 1, 1992

A retrospective study was carried out from January to September 1990 in a factory that manufactur... more A retrospective study was carried out from January to September 1990 in a factory that manufactures textiles in Eldoret, Kenya. Over the study period, 1400 factory workers had 303 episodes of illness resulting in a loss of 720 productive man-days. This is an incidence of 289 episodes of illness per 1000 workers per year. On average, each episode of illness resulted in 2.4 man-days loss. Of all the episodes of illness, 58.8% were attributable to infective and parasitic diseases, 10.9% to respiratory system disorders and 21.7% to other conditions. Malaria constituted 53.1% of all episodes of illness, acute respiratory infection (ARI) 10.9%, physical injuries 5.6%, gastro-enteric illnesses 3.4% and other conditions 21.7%. For the productive man-days lost, 53.2% were attributable to malaria, 12.8% to ARI, 5.7% to physical injuries and 28.3% to other conditions. Abortions and worm infections resulted in loss of 7.0 man-days per episode of illness, diarrhoea 3.2, myalgia 3.0, ARI 2.8, eye diseases 2.7 and the rest below the average of 2.4 days. Apart from the physical injuries, there were no other occupational illnesses in the textile factory workers. Episodes of illness that occur during the last and the first week of the month constitute 61.0% of all illnesses. Mondays had 24.4% of the episodes of illness, Sundays 7.9% with the other days of the week constituting an average 13.5%.

PubMed, Feb 1, 1994

A cross-sectional survey involving 15,324 household heads, reporting on a population of 68,487 pe... more A cross-sectional survey involving 15,324 household heads, reporting on a population of 68,487 people in Kisumu district in Kenya, revealed that there was at least one person who regularly used a drug in 6,793 (44.3%) of the households. Out of these 4,497 (66.2%) were concerned with the practice. This gave a reported rate of drug use of 6.4 for alcohol, 2.7 for cigarette smoking, 0.6 for bhang (Cannabis sativa) smoking, and 0.2 for unprescribed medicines per 100 study population. The main reasons for concern consisted of financial problems cited by 49.1% of the household heads; family violence by 19.7%; loss of jobs by 15.1%; chronic coughs by 10.7%; and other reasons that included imprisonment, decline in school performance, and abnormal behaviour. Out of those concerned about half (47.9%) had taken some actions to control the drug use with 26.7% of these reporting the actions having worked. This study points out a need for further research to identify the unprescribed medicines and quantify other drugs used in order to advice on an appropriate local and national drug policy.

PubMed, 1994

This report documents the effects of malaria epidemic and how it was controlled in one highland d... more This report documents the effects of malaria epidemic and how it was controlled in one highland district of Kenya. The effects of the epidemic are presented in terms of mortality, morbidity and school absenteeism; information is from routine and verbal reports. Treatment with chloroquine, amodiaquine and sulphonamide pyrimethamine combinations, limited vector control, and health education were used to control the epidemic. Hospital mortality per month increased by 8.6 times during the epidemic while morbidity went up by 3.7 times. Of the 103 deaths attributed to malaria, 64 (62.1%) occurred in hospital and 39 (37.9%) at home. Most of the home deaths (92.3%), occurred in areas that border the malaria endemic Lake Victoria Basin. The rate of pupil absenteeism ranged from 17.6% to 54.4% in primary schools. The policy implications of the report are discussed.

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), May 14, 2023

UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES E.g. Stigma (seen as crazy, what others may think), persona... more UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES E.g. Stigma (seen as crazy, what others may think), personal preference, attitudinal barriers-experiences, peer pressure, and personality or values

International journal of scientific and research publications, May 6, 2019

Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers among women in Kenya. Screening of th... more Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the commonest cancers among women in Kenya. Screening of the cancer is done through self-breast examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography. The success in the management of breast cancer is essentially dependent on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed and therefore screening is helpful at identifying the disease in the early stages. The study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitudes and breast cancer screening practices among women in Thika Town, Kiambu County, Kenya. Methods: The study utilized an analytical crosssectional study design that had mixed methods of data collection; pre-tested self-administered structured questionnaires and Focused Group Discussions. A sample size of 304 respondents was selected through systematic random sampling from both markets while Focus Group Discussion participants were selected through convenience sampling. SPSS version 22 was used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed by use of content analysis. Results: The respondents who were screened by any of the methods were 13.2%. They had high awareness of breast cancer and 95.3% had heard of breast cancer screening. Knowledge of symptoms was high (70.5%) but knowledge of risk factors (50%) was lower among the respondents. Approximately half of the respondents were knowledgeable on the procedure for self-breast examination. All the respondents were afraid of being diagnosed with breast cancer and most (74%) agreed that they were afraid of disfigurement. They (84.9%) did not like the embarrassment associated with clinical breast examination and majority (48.8%) agreed that mammography is painful. Most of the participants would go for treatment if diagnosed with breast cancer as well as support those found with breast cancer. On multivariate analysis knowledge of procedure of self-breast examination (2.62; 95% CI: 1.212-5.665) and level of agreement with statements on breast cancer and screening (8.03; 95% CI: 1.85-34.85) were the strongest predictors for screening among the respondents. Conclusion: In conclusion, uptake of screening was low; there was incomplete knowledge of breast cancer and screening in addition to negative attitudes. There is need for creation of sustained awareness on breast cancer and screening through mass media, healthcare professionals and breast cancer survivors.

Health Policy and Planning, 1999

net treatment and re-treatment that will determine the longterm success or failure of ITBN contro... more net treatment and re-treatment that will determine the longterm success or failure of ITBN control stratagems in Africa. Research is currently underway into appropriate and sustainable delivery mechanisms (TDR 1996). These approaches must allow for regular treatment/re-treatment given that insecticides in current use lose potency between 6-12 months, whilst more frequent re-impregnation may be necessary where nets are washed often (Lines 1996). One of the large mortality trials was conducted on the Kenyan coast (Nevill et al. 1996). We report here the responses on the part of this community to changing delivery systems over the last four to five years through epidemiological surveys of coverage rates compared to an audit of programme activity. Methods Study area In 1993 a community randomized, controlled intervention trial was started to assess the impact of permethrin-treated bed nets on mortality and morbidity attributed to malaria within a geographically defined research study area in Kilifi District on the Kenyan coast. The society represented in the study area is patriarchal and mostly polygamous, with Christian, Muslim and traditional Giriama beliefs co-existing

Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Jul 1, 2000

The use of insecticide-treated bednets (ITBNs) has been shown to be effective in reducing mortali... more The use of insecticide-treated bednets (ITBNs) has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality and morbidity from malaria. However, there is mixed evidence as to whether or not community-wide use of ITBNs engenders a &amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;mass effect&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;, such that those not sleeping under bednets are offered protection from widespread ITBN use in the area in which they live. We have analysed data collected in Kilifi, Kenya, from a cohort of children followed from birth to investigate how the degree of net usage in the locality of a child affects the risk of developing malaria. This effect was explored using a Cox proportional hazards model. For those not using ITBNs, we found that an increasing level of ITBN usage within the area surrounding each child was associated with a decreasing risk of developing malaria, thus providing evidence in support of a mass community effect. The size and significance of this effect were found to decrease as non-overlapping areas of increasing distance away from a child&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s home were considered. The effect was significant for areas at distances of up to 1.5 km away from each child.

Cervical cancer screening is an essential routine preventive care program for women of reproducti... more Cervical cancer screening is an essential routine preventive care program for women of reproductive a g . This screening method involved detecting abnormal cervical cells. The abnormal cells may develop into cancer if left untreated. Cervical cancer screening a d early treatment are important in preventing and controlling cervical cancer disease. The awareness on the cervical cancer disease and cervical cancer screeni ng method might encourage elimination of cervical canc er disease in the community. The aim of this designed stu y was to assess the awareness and practice of cervica l cancer screening among women of reproductive age in Misau Local Government, Bauchi State, Nigeria. This research employed cross-sectional descriptive study an questionnaire was used to collect data. It was carr ied out in Misau Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeri a. The result of this study shows that, out of 422 respondents only 95 (22.5%) had heard of cervical cancer disease, 58 (13.7%) were aware of other wome n who suffered cervical cancer and only 43 (10.2%) ar e aware of women who died of cervical cancer disease. It was found that all the 422 respondent of this study were unaware about Pap smear test. Zero level of pap sme ar screening practice was also found. The awareness in other screening method was low in which 6 (1.42%) knew high vaginal swab (HVS), 2 (0.47%) knew HPV testing, 2 (0.47%) knew visual inspection with acet ic acid (VIA), and 2 (0.47%) knew other screening meth od and perhaps practiced opportunistically. Conclusivel y, this study revealed low level of awareness, and poo r practicing of cervical cancer screening. Public awa reness on cervical cancer screening and practicing should be encouraged by policy makers. Citation: Abba Abdullahi. A., Seroney Some. E., Abdalla Suleiman. M., 2017. Assessment of the awareness and practice of cervical cancer screening among the women of rep roductive age in Misau Local Government Area, Bauchi State, N igeria. Nigerian Journal for Cancer. Photon 104, 114-122 All Rights Reserved with Photon. Photon Ignitor: ISJN57295612D849023032017

The purpose of the study was to determine knowledge-related fire hazards reduction capabilities a... more The purpose of the study was to determine knowledge-related fire hazards reduction capabilities amongst households in Kibera Settlements, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was conducted in Kibera Slums. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 423 respondents were used in the study. Data was collected using Questionnaires, observation checklists and Focus Group Discussions. Data analysis was done using SPSS v.20. The study found out that the community’s knowledge and awareness was fairly good, with no respondent (0%) willing to indicate total lack of school-based education. The respondents defined fire hazards as the causes, events and effects of fires without arriving at a clear definition of fire hazards. Males had better reduction capability than females. The study therefore recommends programs by the local authorities to train the community on preventive measures as well as gender-focused fire hazard reduction empowerment. Introduction Over 4 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels and more than 50% of premature deaths among children under 5 because of pneumonia caused by soot inhaled from household air pollution WHO (2014). According to WFSC (2015), all across the globe, people have neglected the need to forecast the possible occurrences of fire when constructing buildings. For Europe as a whole, the annual toll of fire deaths is measured in many thousands, with those suffering fire injuries numbered at many times more. Burns caused by fire hazards are among the most devastating of all injuries, resulting to physical impairments and disfigurement, to emotional and European International Journal of Science and Technology ISSN: 2304-9693 www.eijst.org.uk 2 mental consequences. SCDF (2015) agrees with this burden projected. It states that in 2014, 588 more cases were reported than in 2013 in the whole of Singapore. This was approximately a 14% increase. Despite the fact that injury due to burns is largely preventable, Africa carries an extraordinary burden of fire related injuries. Background Capability refers to the power to handle or just the inherent ability to cope with. In the case of fire hazards, reduction capabilities could cover from factors as small as carelessness to more complex factors such as the makeup of the house such as inclination, access or ventilation. The capability to reduce fire hazards can be measured in terms of preparation, reaction or the risk factors. This study will focus on how all these contribute to an overall rate of fire hazard occurrences (Ono & Da Silva, 2000). Fire is crucial for the development of human society, and it has become an important part of human civilization. Among different types of disasters, fire constitutes a significant threat to life and property in urban and rural areas (Dube, 2015).Fire hazards refer to all types of live flames, causes of sparks, hot objects, and chemicals that are potential for ignition, or that can aggravate a fire to become large; In addition fire hazards could also mean the potential threats to fire prevention practices, firefighting, built-in fire safety systems and situations that restrict the escape of people from an affected building or area in the event of a fire. Some common fire hazards are kitchen fires from unattended cooking, such as frying, boiling, and simmering, electrical systems that are overloaded, resulting in hot wiring or connections, or failed components, combustible storage areas with insufficient protection (Claret et al., 2012). Research Questions The study addressed the following questions: 1. What is the level of fire hazards knowledge and awareness amongst the households in Kibera settlements? 2. What are the demographic characteristics contributing to fire hazards reduction capabilities in Kibera settlements? 3. What are the socio-economic characteristics contributing to fire hazards reduction capabilities in Kibera settlements? Methods Study Subjects The study area was conducted in Kibera Slums within Nairobi County, purposely selected since it was the largest slum in Kenya, as at the time of study. Kibera is located 5km southwest of Nairobi City Central Business District. Kibera has a population of approximately 177,000 (2009) The target population consisted of Kibera residents who were above 18 years and who had been residents for the preceding one year in the study area (Fihlani, 2015). The study population was the household heads at Kibera settlements. Any adult above 18 years present in the absence of a household head also took part. The total number of households used was 1977 (KNBS, 2009). Study Designs Cross-sectional study design was used to determine the fire hazards amongst the households in Kibera settlements. Quantitative data was solicited through questionnaires conducted on house hold heads and Focus Group discussions were also used to compliment the quantitative data. Observation…

Background: Community health strategy (CHS) is an approach of one of the Kenyan Vision 2030 flags... more Background: Community health strategy (CHS) is an approach of one of the Kenyan Vision 2030 flagship projects that intends to improve the health status of communities. The overall goal of CHS is to enhance community access to health care in order to improve productivity and thus reduce poverty, hunger, child mortality, maternal death, as well as improve education. The community is empowered to have knowledge and skills in health promotion, disease prevention, care seeking and compliance with treatment, governance and management of health services and claiming their rights. International initiatives have been taken to address both existing and emerging issues. There has been no breakthrough in improving the health situation of households entrapped in the vicious cycle of poverty and illness. The millennium development goals (reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV and Aids, malaria and other diseases) and primary health care targets have not been fully realised in low income countries. ` Methods: This study was carried out to assess the effects of Community Health Strategy Implementation on Utilization of Health Care Services since its implementation in the year 2009 in Nakuru, Kenya and specifically, to assess perceived level of disease burden, to determine level of awareness the community members have on Community Health Strategy, to evaluate the achievements of Community Health Strategy implementation and to determine the level of community involvement on Community Health Strategy among residents of Nakuru central sub county. The study area was Nakuru central sub county. A descriptive-cross sectional study design was used. Purposive sampling was employed to select sub counties, division, locations and age of respondents. Simple random sampling (for locations and Sub locations, community Units, villages and starting points), Multi-stage sampling technique (to arrive at the respondents), cluster sampling (plots/blocks) and systematic sampling (households). A pilot study was done to determine the clarity and consistency of the questions in the questionnaire. The study used both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Quantitative approach enabled the researcher to systematically collect the data for generalization purposes. Qualitative data enabled the researcher to obtain in-depth information about respondent's views in relation to the variables under study. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Use of the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and description through frequency distributions tables, pie charts and bar charts and percentages). Results: The findings of the study is expected to inform decision making in enhancing the positive Effects of the strategy in order to encourage initiation of more community units to reverse disease trends. Conclusion: Community is yet to overcome malaria disease, the community has awareness on Community Health Strategy, the community is able to control their own health and involve themselves in Community Health Strategy activities. They ensure they seek for health services like completing immunization schedules of their children, treating their

PubMed, Sep 1, 1997

As less than twenty five per cent of persons suffering from malaria seek formal treatment in most... more As less than twenty five per cent of persons suffering from malaria seek formal treatment in most of sub-Saharan Africa, Facility-based morbidity statistics are inadequate for monitoring malaria control programmes. This explorative study assessed whether a health centre equipped with a microscope and trained personnel could monitor malaria transmission within its catchment area. The study was conducted at Chemase Health Centre in Nandi District in Kenya, an area holoendemic for malaria with Anopheles gambiae as the main vector and Plasmodium falciparum as the commonest cause of malaria. From first August to 31 October 1991, first seven children under five years of age on each working day accompanied by their mothers to the maternal and child health clinic were studied. A general examination was performed by a Registered Clinical Officer (Medical Assistant) and thin and thick blood smears made, stained with Giemsa stain and examined for malaria parasites by a Medical Laboratory Technologist. Mothers were interviewed by enrolled community nurses on antimalarial measures they were using in their homes. Four hundred and fifty five children mostly under five years of age, consisting of 48.1% males and 51.9% females, were studied. Malaria parasites were present in 209 (45.9%) blood smears of the children. The percentage of blood smears positive for malaria parasites was high in children below 36 months of age. There was a tendency for low percentage of blood smears positive for malaria in children whose mothers reported using mosquito nets or insecticide sprays. The study did not interrupt the routine of the health centre. Periodic monitoring of new malaria illnesses. and percentage of blood smears positive for malaria parasites in children aged 0 to 35 months should be introduced into health centre practice in Kenya. This catchment area approach could be used to monitor malaria control programmes as well as predicting malaria epidemics.

East African Medical Journal, Jan 13, 2004

Subjects: Four hundred non-institutionalised elderly persons. Results: Four hundred people includ... more Subjects: Four hundred non-institutionalised elderly persons. Results: Four hundred people including 276(69%) women and 124(31%) males were interviewed; 44% had no independent source of livelihood and 51% were widowed. The majority 376(92.5%) of the respondents had been sick within the last three months, preceding the study with 111(27.8%) being sick all the time. The prevalent diseases included musculoskeletal (80%), respiratory (68%), sight (44%) and dental conditions(40%). Three hundred and sixteen (79%) of the respondents were functionally independent in activities of daily living. One hundred and sixty one (40.3%) were satisfied with their current way of life while (63%) perceived themselves as healthy, 24.8% of the respondents lived alone. The reported social problems included:-economic dependency (96%), poor housing (76%), loneliness (60%) and feeling not needed (42%) of the respondents. Only 26% were on treatment, lack of money hindered health care access to 73% of the respondents (p<0.001). Sixty two per cent of the respondents were buying over-the-counter drugs. Walking was under taken by 217(67%) as a physical exercise, and (26%) of the respondents consumed addictive drugs. The focus groups criticised the lack of health facilities for the elderly in the community. Conclusion: The effects of ageing, low economic status and inadequate access to health care contributed to the elderly poor health status. The use of over-the-counter drugs was indicative of the inefficient health facilities in meeting the health needs of the elderly. The study points out the need to formulate policies that will target on the health needs of the elderly.

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Introduction: Due to a lack of information on patient mortality, healthcare planners rarely use l... more Introduction: Due to a lack of information on patient mortality, healthcare planners rarely use local data for resource allocation and hospital management. This results in missed opportunities to build hospital capacity to address common causes of death, as well as a poor hospital reputation, fewer patients seeking hospital care, increased medical errors, and increased inpatient mortality. Objective: To determine trends of hospital mortality between 2018 and 2019 at Level Four Kisumu County Hospital, Kenya. Methods: The study was a cross sectional retrospective study design. The study targeted files of patients who died between January 2018 and December 2022. Systematic sampling was used in which every file per ward was given a serial number. Each department formed a stratum. Sample size was determined using Yamane Taro formula (N/1+N(e2) which yielded 203 as sample size from population of 680. The risk of death based on the presence or absence of doctor and nurse was analyzed by od...

Journal of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, 2017

Young people including adolescents constitute a significant number of the people living with Huma... more Young people including adolescents constitute a significant number of the people living with Human Immune Deficiency Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the world today. The study sought to establish the antiretroviral treatment adherence determinants among HIV/AIDS infected adolescents in Thika level 5 Hospital. The specific objective of the study was to find out how health literacy influence adherence to antiretroviral treatment among HIV/AIDS infected adolescents, The study was cross sectional and adopted a systematic sampling study design targeting 350 active HIV/AIDS infected adolescent aged between 10-19 years. The study also targeted 25 health care providers (HCPs) delivering care and treatment services to HIV/AIDS infected adolescents in Thika Level 5 hospital. A systematic sampling design was used to get the study respondents, purposive sampling was used to select 25 HCPs . The respondents were selected based on systematic sampling and a sampling int...