Effect of integrating paediatric tuberculosis services into child healthcare services on case detection in Africa: the INPUT stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial.

Introduction: Paediatric tuberculosis (TB) underdiagnosis is a critical concern. The INPUT stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial assessed the impact of integrating child TB services into child healthcare on TB case detection among children under age 5 years.

Methods: We compared the standard of care, providing TB care in specific TB clinics (control phase), with the Catalysing Paediatric TB Innovations (CaP-TB) intervention, integrating TB services across all child health services (intervention phase).

Biopsychosocial factors associated with physical activity among Resettlers of the former Soviet Union in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis.

Objective: Previous research suggests an overall lower cardiovascular disease mortality among ethnic German Resettlers from the Former Soviet Union. However, evidence points to a high burden of metabolic risk factors and chronic conditions among Resettlers, factors which are correlated to lower levels of physical activity. Thus, this study aims to assess factors associated with physical activity among Resettlers, by investigating the interplay between biopsychosocial factors and physical activity between men and women.

Comparison between the Smart Triage model and the Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment guidelines in triaging children presenting to the emergency departments of two public hospitals in Kenya.

Several triage systems have been developed, but little is known about their performance in low-resource settings. Evaluating and comparing novel triage systems to existing triage scales provides essential information about their added value, reliability, safety, and effectiveness before adoption. This study included children aged < 15 years who presented to the emergency departments of two public hospitals in Kenya between February and December 2021.

Effect of COVID-19 on paediatric TB service delivery and patients' comfort receiving TB services in Cameroon and Kenya during COVID: a qualitative assessment.

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a setback to the gains achieved in tuberculosis (TB) control by impairing TB diagnosis, delaying treatment initiation and aggravating TB deaths. This study explored the effect of COVID-19 on paediatric TB services provided through the Catalysing Paediatric TB Innovations (CaP-TB) project among caregivers of children receiving TB services and healthcare workers (HCWs) providing TB services in Cameroon and Kenya.

Methods: From March to September 2021, in-depth interviews (44) were conducted with caregivers whose children under 5 years had gone through TB services and programme managers (10) overseeing the CaP-TB project.

External validation of a paediatric Smart triage model for use in resource limited facilities.

Models for digital triage of sick children at emergency departments of hospitals in resource poor settings have been developed. However, prior to their adoption, external validation should be performed to ensure their generalizability. We externally validated a previously published nine-predictor paediatric triage model (Smart Triage) developed in Uganda using data from two hospitals in Kenya.

A cost benefits analysis of the adoption of system of rice intensification: Evidence from smallholder rice farmers within an innovation platform in Oluch irrigation scheme, Kenya.

In the wake of climate change and dwindling natural resources, system of rice intensification has been fronted as an approach to improve rice production in several countries. Besides the benefits such as improved rice productivity, reduced water usage that have widely been observed, there is need to quantify the economic benefits of system of rice intensification accrued to farmers, thereby promoting it as an innovation to improve livelihoods of rice farmers. This aim of this paper is to quantify the economic benefits of undertaking SRI among smallholder rice farmers.

HIV matters when diagnosing TB in young children: an ancillary analysis in children enrolled in the INPUT stepped wedge cluster randomized study.

Background: Children under age five years, particularly those living with HIV (CLHIV), are at risk for rapid progression of tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to describe TB clinical presentations, diagnostic pathways and treatment outcomes in CLHIV compared to children without HIV in Cameroon and Kenya.

Methods: This sub-analysis of a cluster-randomized trial evaluating the integration of pediatric TB services from May 2019 to March 2021 enrolled children age < 5 years with TB.

Antiretroviral treatment failure and associated factors among people living with HIV on therapy in Homa Bay, Kenya: A retrospective study.

Despite large numbers of patients accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Kenya, few studies have explored factors associated with virologic failure in Western Kenya, specifically. We undertook a study in Homa Bay County, Kenya to assess the extent of virologic treatment failure and factors associated with it. This was an observational retrospective study conducted from September 2020 to January 2021.

Adherence challenges and opportunities for optimizing care through enhanced adherence counseling for adolescents with suspected HIV treatment failure in Kenya.

Background: Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) experience higher mortality and are more likely to have poor antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and unsuppressed viral load (VL) compared to adults. Enhanced adherence counseling (EAC) is a client-centered counseling strategy that aims to identify and address barriers to optimal ART use and can be tailored to the unique needs of adolescents. This study aimed to better understand adherence barriers among ALHIV with suspected treatment failure and their experience with EAC to inform future programming.

Self-rated health among migrants from the former Soviet Union in Germany: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To assess the status and change in self-rated health among Aussiedler, ethnic German immigrants from the former Soviet Union, as a predictor for premature death 10 years after first assessment. Moreover, to identify subgroups which are particular at risk of anticipated severe health impairment.

Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire.

Pilot study of single-use obstetric emergency medical kits to reduce maternal mortality.

Objective: To describe the experience at a single facility regarding single-use emergency medication kits to treat obstetric emergencies in a resource-poor setting.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between October 2009 and October 2010 using data from the medical records of all patients treated with a single-use obstetric emergency medical kit (E-kit) during admission at the Riley Mother and Baby Hospital Wing, Eldoret, Kenya. Descriptive analyses were performed to quantify proportions of emergencies treated using E-kits in the first year of implementation.

Performance outcomes of a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic in the rural, resource-constrained setting of Eldoret, Kenya.

Background: It is recommended that warfarin therapy should be managed through an anticoagulation monitoring service to minimize the risk of bleeding and subsequent thromboembolic events. There are few studies in Sub-Saharan Africa that describe warfarin management in spite of the high incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and rheumatic heart disease.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital anticoagulation monitoring service and compare its performance with clinics in resource-rich settings.

Spinal cord compression due to tumours at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

Objective: To determine the frequency of different types of tumours associated with cord compression, their mode of presentation and treatment outcome.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), a teaching and referral hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, from January 1985 to December 1994.