Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Improved Metabolic Syndrome in Slum Dwelling Adults in Kenya: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Sociodemographic factors have been implicated in cardiovascular health with differential morbidity and mortality. It is essential to comprehend how sociodemographic factors contribute to the improvement of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), the primary cardiovascular diseases indicator.

Objective: Determine the role of sociodemographic factors in improving MetS among adults residing in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya.

COVID-19 and Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and child marriage: An online multi-country cross sectional survey.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage are prevalent in many countries in Asia and Africa. These practices are a violation of human rights and have significant impacts on the physical and mental well-being of those affected. COVID-19 restrictions such as lockdowns and closure of schools may have influenced the occurrence of FGM/C and child marriage.

The feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and impact of implementing person-centered communication for prevention of female genital mutilation in antenatal care settings in Guinea, Kenya and Somalia.

Background: There is limited evidence on how to engage health workers as advocates in preventing female genital mutilation (FGM). This study assesses the feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and impact of a person-centered communication (PCC) approach for FGM prevention among antenatal care (ANC) providers in Guinea, Kenya and Somalia.

Methods: Between August 2020 and September 2021, a cluster randomised trial was conducted in 180 ANC clinics in three countries testing an intervention on PCC for FGM prevention.

The medicalisation of female genital cutting in Kenya: a threefold exposition.

In Kenya, the prevalence of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) is slowly decreasing. Simultaneously, the practice is increasingly being performed by healthcare providers rather than traditional circumcisers, which may pose the risk of legitimising the practice. To date, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Effectiveness of Trans-Theoretical Model-Based Health Education Intervention in the Promotion of Lifestyle Changes among Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Evidence revealed that, 60% of deaths in the underdeveloped nations are linked to adoption of unhealthy lifestyles. The Trans-theoretical Model (TTM) has been considered a useful interventional approach in smoking cessation, drug addiction and weight control. However, its effectiveness in improving changes in dietary pattern, physical activity and alcohol consumption has not been reported.

Rethinking the Definition of Medicalized Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting.

In 2015, the international community agreed to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by 2030. However, the target is unlikely to be met as changes in practice, including medicalized female genital mutilation/cutting (mFGM/C), challenge abandonment strategies. This paper critically reviews the current World Health Organization (WHO) definition of mFGM/C to demonstrate that mFGM/C, as currently defined, lacks detail and clarity, and may serve as an obstacle to the collection of credible, reliable, and comparable data relevant to targeted FGM/C prevention policies and programs.

Five-year vegetation conversion from pasture to C and C plants affects dynamics of SOC and TN and their natural stable C and N isotopes via mediating C input and N leaching.

Understanding the effects of land-use change on stock and composition of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) is pivotal for sustainable agriculture and climate change adaption. However, previous studies have often overlooked the specific vegetation type in land-use changes. Therefore, a five-year lysimeter block experiment was conducted, involving non-vegetation, eulalia (C plant), and clover (C plant) to investigate the impacts of vegetation conversion from pasture on SOC and N dynamics and their natural stable isotopes.

Effect of a Nurse-Led Intervention on Knowledge of the Modifiable Risk Behaviors of Cardiovascular Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has disproportionately burdened the low- and middle-income countries where awareness and detection rates remain very low. Interventions directed to promote the community's awareness of CVD may help reduce the public's exposure to behavioral risk factors. However, the effectiveness of interventions implemented through a nurse on knowledge of the modifiable behavioral risk factors and preventive measures of CVD has not been determined in Kenya.

Community-based lifestyle intervention improves metabolic syndrome and related markers among Kenyan adults.

Purpose: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and type-2 diabetes. The study aimed to establish the efficacy of a community-based lifestyle intervention on MetS in Kenyan adults using randomized control trial involving a 15-months follow up.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial involving 352 (18-64 years old) adults with MetS spanning 15-months duration.

Quality of services offered to women with female genital mutilation across health facilities in a Kenyan County.

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) curtails women's health, human rights and development. Health system as a critical pillar for social justice is key in addressing FGM while executing the core mandate of disease prevention and management. By leveraging opportune moments, events and experiences involving client-provider interactions, relevant FGM-related communications, behavior change and management interventions can be implemented through health facilities or in communities.

A Situation Assessment of Community Health Workers' Preparedness in Supporting Health System Response to COVID-19 in Kenya, Senegal, and Uganda.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused socio-economic disruptions across the globe. The pandemic disrupted the health system (HS) calling for reengineering in response to high infection rates, deaths, and resultant containment measures. To deal with COVID-19 and promote resilience, community health workers (CHWs) were engaged across countries.

Commentary: What should referral pathways have to improve healthcare experiences of women with female genital mutilation in Australia?

Background: We examined the evidence derived from healthcare professionals' interfacing with women with female genital mutilation (FGM) to comprehend the referral pathways available to these women in Australia.

Main Body: Clinicians encountered FGM-related complications that included ruptured bladder and total urinary incontinence. Midwives and paediatricians indicated a lack of referral pathways for FGM, but used their discretion to refer such cases to social work departments, obstetric/gynaecological units, child protection service providers, psychological counsellors and surgeons.

Association of dietary patterns and practices on metabolic syndrome in adults with central obesity attending a mission hospital in Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Dietary patterns and practices can predispose or protect against metabolic syndrome (MetS) in humans. Despite the growing problem of MetS in adults, the underpinning dietary behaviour is poorly understood. We determined the dietary patterns and practices relevant to MetS in adults with central obesity attending a mission hospital in Kenya.

Co-application of poultry-litter biochar with Azolla has synergistic effects on CH and NO emissions from rice paddy soils.

Poultry-litter biochar and Azolla as green manure amendments are reported to enhance paddy soil fertility and rice yields. However, whether their co-application in lowland rice paddies has synergistic effects and whether those benefits are accompanied by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of poultry-litter biochar (hereafter: biochar) and its co-application with Azolla as green manure (hereafter: Azolla), on the simultaneous methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO) emissions from a lowland paddy soil planted with rice during a single rice growing season in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan.

Counselling and knowledge on iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) among pregnant women in Kiambu County, Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

The increased demand for iron and folic acid during pregnancy is not met through diet due to insufficiency or reduced bioavailability of nutrients among women from low income countries. Thus, iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) is a promising interventional strategy for control of anaemia during pregnancy. Kenya adopted the global IFAS intervention with a target of 80% coverage by 2017, however, the compliance remains low.

Determinants of harmful use of alcohol among urban slum dwelling adults in Kenya.

Background: Harmful alcohol use is a public health problem associated with negative health and socio-economic impacts. However, patterns and dynamics of alcohol use among slum-dwellers in Kenya are poorly understood.

Objective: To establish determinants of harmful alcohol use among adults in an urban slum setting in Kenya.

Female genital mutilation/cutting: Emerging factors sustaining medicalization related changes in selected Kenyan communities.

Although female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) has declined, it is pervasive albeit changing form among communities in Kenya. Transformation of FGM/C include medicalization although poorly understood has increased undermining abandonment efforts for the practice. We sought to understand drivers of medicalization in FGM/C among selected Kenyan communities.

Exploring barriers to seeking health care among Kenyan Somali women with female genital mutilation: a qualitative study.

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a cultural practice associated with health consequences, women rights and deprivation of dignity. Despite FGM/C-related health consequences, circumcised women may encounter additional challenges while seeking interventions for reproductive health problems. Experiences of women/girls while accessing health services for reproductive health problems including FGM/C-related complications in poor, remote and hard to reach areas is poorly understood.

Gender Differences in the Pattern of Socio-Demographics Relevant to Metabolic Syndrome Among Kenyan Adults with Central Obesity at a Mission Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Although the risk factors for MetS are well documented, differences in gender-based demographics among Kenyan adults with central obesity are lacking.

Aim: Determine gender differences in the pattern of socio-demographics relevant to metabolic syndrome among Kenyan adults with central obesity at a mission hospital, Nairobi.

Effect of a community-based approach of iron and folic acid supplementation on compliance by pregnant women in Kiambu County, Kenya: A quasi-experimental study.

Introduction: Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) is an essential and affordable intervention strategy for prevention of anaemia during pregnancy. The supplements are currently provided for free to pregnant women in Kenya during antenatal care (ANC), but compliance remains low over the years. There is need for diversification of IFAS programme implementation by exploring other distribution channels to complement existing antenatal distribution and ensure consistent access to IFAS supplements.

Effect of community based health education on knowledge and attitude towards iron and folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Kiambu County, Kenya: A quasi experimental study.

Introduction: Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) services are currently provided free of charge to pregnant women in Kenya during antenatal care (ANC) but compliance remains low. Poor awareness is an important factor contributing to low utilization of IFAS. Inadequate counselling is one of the key factors associated with poor awareness on IFAS.

Association of lifestyle modification and pharmacological adherence on blood pressure control among patients with hypertension at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Association of lifestyle modification and pharmacological adherence among patients with hypertension attending a national referral hospital in Kenya.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.

Setting: Medical wards and outpatient clinic of a national referral hospital.

Determinants of Health Seeking Behavior among Caregivers of Infants Admitted with Acute Childhood Illnesses at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Poor, delayed, or inappropriate health seeking for a sick infant with acute childhood illness is associated with high morbidity/mortality. Delay in health seeking is implicated with fatal complications and prolonged hospital stay. Thus, caregivers ought to identify danger signs and promptly seek professional help for a sick infant.