Effectiveness of public health education on the uptake of iron and folic acid supplements among pregnant women: a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial.

Introduction: Iron deficiency is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency in pregnancy globally responsible for nearly 120 000 maternal deaths per year and a fifth of maternal mortality. Over 46% of pregnant women in Africa and 62% of pregnant women in Kenya are anaemic. Anaemia has severe economic and health consequences.

Factors influencing diarrheal prevalence among children under five years in Mathare Informal Settlement, Nairobi, Kenya.

Globally, diarrhoea is the second major cause of death among children under five years. The aim of the study was to establish factors influencing diarrhoeal prevalence among children under five years in Mathare Informal Settlement. Cross-sectional survey was used.

Cross-sectional survey of Rift Valley fever virus exposure in Bodhei village located in a transitional coastal forest habitat in Lamu county, Kenya.

Few studies have focused on Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) transmission in less arid, transitional landscapes surrounding known high-risk regions. The objective of this study was to identify evidence of RVFV exposure in Bodhei Village in a forested area at the edge of the RVFV-epidemic Garissa region. In a household cluster-based survey conducted between epidemics in early 2006, 211 participants were enrolled.

Effect of predation on Anopheles larvae by five sympatric insect families in coastal Kenya.

Background & Objectives: The use of insecticides to eliminate mosquito larvae from ground pools may disrupt atural predator-induced control of mosquito larvae. Detrimental effects on predators may be directly from toxicity or by eliminating prey organisms. Identifying the principal predators responsible for mosquito suppression is needed to select non-target indicator species for insecticide studies.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in certified food-handlers working in food establishments in the City of Nairobi, Kenya.

Most intestinal parasites are cosmopolitan with the highest prevalence in the tropics and subtopics. Rural-to-urban migration rapidly increases the number of food eating places in towns and their environs. Some of these eating estabishments have poor sanitation and are overcrowded, facilitating disease transmission, especially through food-handling.

Factors associated with default from treatment among tuberculosis patients in Nairobi province, Kenya: a case control study.

Background: Successful treatment of tuberculosis (TB) involves taking anti-tuberculosis drugs for at least six months. Poor adherence to treatment means patients remain infectious for longer, are more likely to relapse or succumb to tuberculosis and could result in treatment failure as well as foster emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis. Kenya is among countries with high tuberculosis burden globally.

Lifestyles and practices that enhance malaria and typhoid fever in Njoro District, Kenya.

Unhygienic practices have been associated with the spread of parasitic and bacterial infections in rural areas. This study was designed to verify the link between the frequencies of malaria and typhoid fever with selected rural practices in Njoro District, Kenya. A cross-sectional study involving observations, questionnaires and interviews was conducted to determine the socio-economic variables and practices/lifestyles in 336 randomly selected homesteads.

Anopheles larval abundance and diversity in three rice agro-village complexes Mwea irrigation scheme, central Kenya.

Background: The diversity and abundance of Anopheles larvae has significant influence on the resulting adult mosquito population and hence the dynamics of malaria transmission. Studies were conducted to examine larval habitat dynamics and ecological factors affecting survivorship of aquatic stages of malaria vectors in three agro-ecological settings in Mwea, Kenya.

Methods: Three villages were selected based on rice husbandry and water management practices.

Contribution of different aquatic habitats to adult Anopheles arabiensis and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) production in a rice agroecosystem in Mwea, Kenya.

Studies were conducted to determine the contribution of diverse larval habitats to adult Anopheles arabiensis Patton and Culex quinquefasciatus Say production in a rice land agro-ecosystem in Mwea, Kenya. Two sizes of cages were placed in different habitat types to investigate the influence of non-mosquito invertebrates on larval mortalities and the contribution of each habitat type to mosquito productivities, respectively. These emergence traps had fine netting material covers to prevent adult mosquitoes from ovipositing in the area covered by the trap and immature mosquitoes from entering the cages.

Malaria vector control practices in an irrigated rice agro-ecosystem in central Kenya and implications for malaria control.

Background: Malaria transmission in most agricultural ecosystems is complex and hence the need for developing a holistic malaria control strategy with adequate consideration of socio-economic factors driving transmission at community level. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in an irrigated ecosystem with the aim of investigating vector control practices applied and factors affecting their application both at household and community level.

Methods: Four villages representing the socio-economic, demographic and geographical diversity within the study area were purposefully selected.

The risk of pathogenic intestinal parasite infections in Kisii Municipality, Kenya.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common infections worldwide. Various epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of intestinal parasites is high especially in developing countries, although in many of these, the environmental risk factors have not been clearly elucidated. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of pathogenic intestinal parasites infections in Kisii Municipality.

Distribution of mosquito larvae within the paddy and its implication in larvicidal application in Mwea rice irrigation scheme, Central Kenya.

Distribution of mosquito larvae in inundated rice fields is poorly known despite its profound implications in implementation of vector control programs. Based on oviposition behavior of gravid females and biotic and abiotic conditions of the rice field, distribution of mosquito larvae within the paddy may vary greatly. As a guide to implementation of mosquito vector control program targeting the aquatic stages in the rice fields in Mwea, studies were conducted to determine the distribution of mosquito larvae within the paddy.

Environmental covariates of Anopheles arabiensis in a rice agroecosystem in Mwea, Central Kenya.

Water quality of aquatic habitats is an important determinant of female mosquito oviposition and successful larval development. This study examined the influence of environmental covariates on Anopheles arabiensis mosquito abundance in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Central Province of Kenya, prior to implementation of a malaria vector control program. Experimental rice plots were used to examine the environmental covariates responsible for regulating abundance and diversity of the aquatic stages of malaria vectors.

Influence of biological and physicochemical characteristics of larval habitats on the body size of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) along the Kenyan coast.

Background & Objectives: The number and productivity of larval habitats ultimately determine the density of adult mosquitoes. The biological and physicochemical conditions at the larval habitat affect larval development hence affecting the adult body size. The influence of biological and physicochemical characteristics on the body size of Anopheles gambiae was assessed in Jaribuni village, Kilifi district along the Kenyan Coast.

Mosquito species succession and physicochemical factors affecting their abundance in rice fields in Mwea, Kenya.

The succession of mosquito species and abiotic factors affecting their distribution and abundance in rice (Oryza spp.) fields was investigated over a 16-wk rice growing cycle covering the period between January and May 2006. Fifteen experimental rice plots were sampled for mosquito larvae and characterized based on rice height, number of tillers, floating vegetation cover, water depth, water temperature, turbidity, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, and conductivity.

Dynamics of immature stages of Anopheles arabiensis and other mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in relation to rice cropping in a rice agro-ecosystem in Kenya.

We determined changes in species composition and densities of immature stages of Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes in relation to rice growth cycle in order to generate data for developing larval control strategies in rice ecosystems. Experimental rice paddies (6.3m x 3.

Survival of immature Anopheles arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae) in aquatic habitats in Mwea rice irrigation scheme, central Kenya.

Background: The survivorship and distribution of Anopheles arabiensis larvae and pupae was examined in a rice agro-ecosystem in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, central Kenya, from August 2005 to April 2006, prior to implementation of larval control programme.

Methods: Horizontal life tables were constructed for immatures in semi-field condition. The time spent in the various immature stages was determined and survival established.

Relationship between malaria and filariasis transmission indices in an endemic area along the Kenyan Coast.

Background And Objectives: An entomological survey was conducted to determine the relationship between malaria and lymphatic filariasis transmission by Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An.

Concomitant infections of Plasmodium falciparum and Wuchereria bancrofti on the Kenyan coast.

Background: Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An.

Pupal habitat productivity of Anopheles gambiae complex mosquitoes in a rural village in western Kenya.

The productivity of larval habitats of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae for pupae (the stage preceding adult metamorphosis) is poorly known, yet adult emergence from habitats is the primary determinant of vector density. To assess it, we used absolute sampling methods in four studies involving daily sampling for 25 days in 6 habitat types in a village in western Kenya. Anopheles gambiae s.

Distribution, description, and local knowledge of larval habitats of Anopheles gambiae s.l. in a village in western Kenya.

A sampling census revealed 104 aquatic habitats of 6 types for Anopheles gambiae s.l. larvae in a village in western Kenya, namely burrow pits, drainage channels, livestock hoof prints, rain pools, tire tracks, and pools in streambeds.

Influence of age and previous diet of Anopheles gambiae on the infectivity of natural Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from human volunteers.

The effect of age and dietary factors of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) on the infectivity of natural Plasmodium falciparum parasites was studied. Mosquitoes of various ages (1-3, 4-7 and 8-11 day old) and those fed blood (either single or double meals) and sugar meals were experimentally co-infected with P. falciparum gametocytes obtained from different naturally infected human volunteers.

Relationships between body size of anopheles mosquitoes and Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite rates along the Kenya coast.

The influence of body size of Anopheles gambiae s.s., Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles merus, and Anopheles funestus on the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum was studied at 3 sites along the Kenyan coast.

Resistance of early midgut stages of natural Plasmodium falciparum parasites to high temperatures in experimentally infected Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae).

We studied the effects of high temperature, 30 and 32 versus 27 C on early Plasmodium falciparum development in Anopheles gambiae experimentally infected with gametocytes from 30 volunteers with mean density of 264.1 gametocytes/microl blood (range: 16-1,536/microl). From several batches of mosquitoes, fed by membrane feeding, midguts of individual mosquitoes were dissected at 24 hr for ookinete enumeration and at 7 days to quantify oocysts.