Development of a graphic blood glucose monitoring chart for glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus: a modified Delphi method study.

Background: In Kenya 30% of patients admitted with ketoacidosis due to hyperglycaemia die within 48 hours of hospitalisation. Effective monitoring of blood glucose levels is critical for glycaemic control and prevention of mortality. Kenya public hospitals lack a graphic blood glucose monitoring tool.

Kenya's emergency-hire nursing programme: a pilot evaluation of health service delivery in two districts.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of utilizing a small-scale, low-cost, pilot evaluation in assessing the short-term impact of Kenya's emergency-hire nursing programme (EHP) on the delivery of health services (outpatient visits and maternal-child health indicators) in two underserved health districts with high HIV/AIDS prevalence.

Methods: Six primary outcomes were assessed through the collection of data from facility-level health management forms-total general outpatient visits, vaginal deliveries, caesarean sections, antenatal care (ANC) attendance, ANC clients tested for HIV, and deliveries to HIV-positive women. Data on outcome measures were assessed both pre-and post-emergency-hire nurse placement.

The public sector nursing workforce in Kenya: a county-level analysis.

Background: Kenya's human resources for health shortage is well documented, yet in line with the new constitution, responsibility for health service delivery will be devolved to 47 new county administrations. This work describes the public sector nursing workforce likely to be inherited by the counties, and examines the relationships between nursing workforce density and key indicators.

Methods: National nursing deployment data linked to nursing supply data were used and analyzed using statistical and geographical analysis software.

Study protocol for promoting respectful maternity care initiative to assess, measure and design interventions to reduce disrespect and abuse during childbirth in Kenya.

Background: Increases in the proportion of facility-based deliveries have been marginal in many low-income countries in the African region. Preliminary clinical and anthropological evidence suggests that one major factor inhibiting pregnant women from delivering at facility is disrespectful and abusive treatment by health care providers in maternity units. Despite acknowledgement of this behavior by policy makers, program staff, civil society groups and community members, the problem appears to be widespread but prevalence is not well documented.

The impact of out-migration on the nursing workforce in Kenya.

Objective: To examine the impact of out-migration on Kenya's nursing workforce.

Study Setting: This study analyzed deidentified nursing data from the Kenya Health Workforce Informatics System, collected by the Nursing Council of Kenya and the Department of Nursing in the Ministry of Medical Services.

Study Design: We analyzed trends in Kenya's nursing workforce from 1999 to 2007, including supply, deployment, and intent to out-migrate, measured by requests for verification of credentials from destination countries.

Developing a nursing database system in Kenya.

Objective: To describe the development, initial findings, and implications of a national nursing workforce database system in Kenya.

Principal Findings: Creating a national electronic nursing workforce database provides more reliable information on nurse demographics, migration patterns, and workforce capacity. Data analyses are most useful for human resources for health (HRH) planning when workforce capacity data can be linked to worksite staffing requirements.

Health financing reform in Kenya - assessing the social health insurance proposal.

Kenya has had a history of health financing policy changes since its independence in 1963. Recently, significant preparatory work was done on a new Social Health Insurance Law that, if accepted, would lead to universal health coverage in Kenya after a transition period. Questions of economic feasibility and political acceptability continue to be discussed, with stakeholders voicing concerns on design features of the new proposal submitted to the Kenyan parliament in 2004.