Readiness of primary healthcare and community markets for joint delivery of cardiovascular disease prevention services in Kenya: an observational feasibility study of Health Kiosks in Markets (HEKIMA).

Objectives: The increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in Kenya threatens its healthcare system. There is a need for innovative models that improve equitable access to CVD prevention services. Community markets are social establishments with untapped potential to promote public health.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Rural Kenya-2023: Vihiga II.

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among adults in Vihiga County, Western Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was completed. Participants ( = 575) were selected at the household level using a systematic random sample, and sociodemographic, anthropometrical, clinical, and biochemical data were collected.

Methods for Global Health Collaboration on Cardiovascular Disease: Vihiga 1.

Background: Partnership building and understanding of context that addresses global health concerns is essential in global health research. However, limited knowledge is available on the practical experiences of building such relationships.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide a detailed description of the processes involved in establishing international collaboration, gain community involvement and cooperation with gatekeepers, and study populations of rural village areas in Western Kenya.

Contextually appropriate communication strategies for COVID-19 prevention in Kenya border regions: evidence from a mixed methods observational study in Busia and Mandera counties.

Objectives: Kenya has long and porous borders with its neighbouring countries. These regions, predominantly inhabited by highly mobile rural communities with strong cross-border cultural ties, present major challenges in managing movement of people and COVID-19 preventive measures. Our study sought to assess knowledge of COVID-19 prevention behaviours, how these varied by socioeconomic (SEC) factors and the challenges of engagement and implementation, in two border counties of Kenya.

Integrity, use and care of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Kirinyaga County, Kenya.

Background: Vector control is an essential component in prevention and control of malaria in malaria endemic areas. Insecticide treated nets is one of the standard tools recommended for malaria vector control. The objective of the study was to determine physical integrity and insecticidal potency of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) used in control of malaria vector in Kirinyaga County, Kenya.

Improvement of Dietary Diversity and Attitude toward Recommended Feeding through Novel Community Based Nutritional Education Program in Coastal Kenya-An Intervention Study.

Community-based nutritional intervention to improve the practice of dietary diversity and child nutrition by community health workers (CHWs) involving Nyumba Kumi as small neighborhood units (SNUs) in communities has not yet been explored. This study was conducted in two villages in rural Kenya between 2018 and 2019. In total, 662 participants (control vs.

Khat use and psychotic symptoms in a rural Khat growing population in Kenya: a household survey.

Background: Khat is an amphetamine like psychostimulant chewed by over 10 million people globally. Khat use is thought to increase the risk of psychosis among its chewers. The evidence around this however remains inconclusive stemming from the scanty number of studies in this area and small study sample sizes.

Disability-Adjusted Life-Years Due to Stroke in Kenya.

Background: There is little information on stroke morbidity in Kenya to inform health care planning. The disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) are a time-based measure of health status that incorporates both disability and mortality.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective study in Kenya's public tertiary hospitals conducted in 2015-2017.

Spatial distribution, prevalence and potential risk factors of Tungiasis in Vihiga County, Kenya.

Background: Tungiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans also known as jigger flea. Communities living in precarious conditions in tropical and sub tropical countries bear the brunt of the infection. The main objective of this study was to determine the burden of Tungiasis in Vihiga County in Kenya.

Iron Status of Kenyan Pregnant Women after Adjusting for Inflammation Using BRINDA Regression Analysis and Other Correction Methods.

Serum ferritin concentration is the preferred biomarker to assess population iron status in the absence of inflammation. Interpretation of this biomarker is complicated in populations with a high burden of infection, however, because inflammation increases serum ferritin concentration independently of iron status. We aimed to compare estimates of iron status of Kenyan pregnant women, with circulating ferritin concentrations adjusted for inflammation using newly proposed methods by the BRINDA project, or using previously proposed adjustment methods.

Stroke Mortality in Kenya's Public Tertiary Hospitals: A Prospective Facility-Based Study.

Background: Despite the increasing global burden of stroke, there are limited data on stroke from Kenya to guide in decision-making. Stroke occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa has been associated with poor health outcomes. This study sought to establish the stroke incidence density and mortality in Kenya's leading public tertiary hospitals for purposes of informing clinical practice and policy.

Evidence of reduced treatment adherence among HIV infected paediatric and adolescent populations in Nairobi at the onset of the UNAIDS Universal Test and Treat Program.

Objective: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy of the World Health Organization (WHO) "Universal Test and Treat" (UTT) policy, initiated in Kenya in September 2016. Under this policy, every human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected person should be initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We compared intra- and inter-group viral suppression and ART adherence rates for pre-UTT (initiated on ART in March-August 2016) and UTT groups (initiated in September 2016).

Malnutrition and cachexia among cancer out-patients in Nairobi, Kenya.

Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Kenya. However, there is scarce information on the nutritional status of cancer patients to guide in decision making. The present study sought to assess the risk of malnutrition, and factors associated with malnutrition and cachexia, among cancer out-patients, with the aim of informing nutrition programmes for cancer management in Kenya and beyond.

Nutritional status of cancer outpatients using scored patient generated subjective global assessment in two cancer treatment centers, Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Malnutrition is a universal problem in cancer patients renowned as an important factor for increased morbidity, decreased quality of life and high mortality. Early diagnosis of malnutrition risk through nutrition screening followed by comprehensive and timely interventions reduces mortality associated with malnutrition. The Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PGSGA) method has been proved efficient in identifying cancer patients with nutrition challenges and guiding appropriate interventions.

Relationship of the availability of micronutrient powder with iron status and hemoglobin among women and children in the Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.

Background: Micronutrient powder is a potential strategy to improve iron status and reduce anemia in refugee populations.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the availability of home fortification with a micronutrient powder containing 2.5 mg of sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA) on iron status and hemoglobin in women and children in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northwest Kenya.

Adult population as potential reservoir of NTD infections in rural villages of Kwale district, Coastal Kenya: implications for preventive chemotherapy interventions policy.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are major public health problems in developing countries where they contribute to suffering of populations living in poor settings. As part of a research project started in September 2009 in Kwale district, Coast Region, Kenya, a baseline cross-sectional survey was conducted in 5 rural villages to provide information on the status of NTDs, including urinary schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), and lymphatic filariasis. This paper presents the results of a parasitological investigation among adults in the study villages.

Socio-cultural practices of deciduous canine tooth bud removal among Maasai children.

The removal of teeth amongst the Maasai is a traditional practice as part of an initiation or to make space for feeding in an event of diseases locking the jaw. Removal of deciduous canine tooth buds (DCB) among infants below 2 years has been reported in several studies to be common mainly amongst communities in East Africa, Ethiopia and Sudan. The main reason for the practice revolves around the belief that tooth buds or 'maggots' are false teeth, nylon or worms and are responsible for diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and growth retardation in children, amongst other illnesses.

The influence of inflammation on plasma zinc concentration in apparently healthy, HIV+ Kenyan adults and zinc responses after a multi-micronutrient supplement.

Background/objectives: Plasma zinc is an important biomarker of zinc status, but the concentration is depressed by inflammation.

Subjects/methods: Apparently healthy adults, who tested positive twice for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but who had not reached stage IV or clinical AIDS, were randomly allocated to receive a food supplement (n=17 and 21) or the food plus a micronutrient capsule (MN; n=10 men and n=33 women) containing 15 mg zinc/day. We used the inflammation biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), to identify subjects with and without inflammation and determine the effect of inflammation on the response of plasma zinc concentrations to the MN and food supplements.

The influence and benefits of controlling for inflammation on plasma ferritin and hemoglobin responses following a multi-micronutrient supplement in apparently healthy, HIV+ Kenyan adults.

Hemoglobin and ferritin are important biomarkers of iron status but are both altered by inflammation. We used the inflammation biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) to adjust hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations to clarify interpretation of iron status. Apparently healthy adults who tested positive twice for HIV but who had not reached stage IV or clinical AIDS were randomly allocated to receive a food supplement (n = 17 and 21) or the food plus a micronutrient capsule (MN; 10 men and 34 women, respectively) containing 30 mg iron/d.

Using plasma acute-phase protein concentrations to interpret nutritional biomarkers in apparently healthy HIV-1-seropositive Kenyan adults.

Inflammation influences the assessment of nutritional status. For example, inflammation reduces plasma retinol concentrations and vitamin A deficiency is overestimated. Conversely inflammation increases plasma ferritin concentrations and Fe deficiency is underestimated.

Major and minor surgery output at district level in Kenya: review and issues in need of further research.

Major and minor surgery is a service of great importance both for the people in need and for health workers and managers trying to develop a comprehensive primary health care service. While in highly industrialized countries some 5000-9000 major operations are performed per 100,000 people per year, the rates in East Africa in the early 1990s were in the range of 70-500. In our study all surgical operations performed at hospitals and clinics in Meru district during 12 months in 1990-1991 were listed on record forms including age, sex and home address of patients, and type of operation.

Pattern of bone loss in dry mandibles of individuals who died before 1957.

Objective: To map out the pattern of periodontal disease in individuals who died before 1957 and were not exposed to formal dental services.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Setting: National Museums of Kenya.

Effects on haemoglobin of multi-micronutrient supplementation and multi-helminth chemotherapy: a randomized, controlled trial in Kenyan school children.

Objective: To assess the effects of multi-micronutrient supplementation and multi-helminth chemotherapy on haemoglobin concentration (Hb), using schools as a health delivery system. STUDY AREA AND POPULATION: Nine hundred seventy-seven children between 9 and 18 y of age from 19 primary schools in Bondo District, western Kenya, were included in the trial. The 746 (76.

Effects on serum retinol of multi-micronutrient supplementation and multi-helminth chemotherapy: a randomised, controlled trial in Kenyan school children.

Objective: To assess the effects of multi-micronutrient supplementation and multi-helminth chemotherapy on serum retinol concentration, using schools as a health delivery system. STUDY AREA AND POPULATION: From 19 primary schools in Bondo District, western Kenya, 977 children between 9 and 18 y were included in the trial. The 644 (65.