Understanding depression treatment and perinatal service preferences of Kenyan pregnant adolescents: A discrete choice experiment.

Background: Understanding mental health treatment preferences of adolescents and youth is particularly important for interventions to be acceptable and successful. Person-centered care mandates empowering individuals to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of services.

Methods: We conducted a discrete choice experiment to quantitatively measure adolescent treatment preferences for different care characteristics and explore tradeoffs between these.

Validation of the English and Swahili Adaptation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for Use Among Adolescents in Kenya.

Purpose: Our study aimed to validate culturally adapted English and Swahili versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for use with adolescents in Kenya. Criterion validity was determined with clinician-administered diagnostic interviews using the Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia.

Methods: A total of 250 adolescents comprising 148 (59.

Blended-eLearning Improves Alcohol Use Care in Kenya: Pragmatic Randomized Control Trial Results and Parallel Qualitative Study Implications.

Unlabelled: Alcohol use is the 5th most important risk factor contributing to the global burden of diseases, with stigma and a lack of trained health workers as the main barriers to adequate care. This study assesses the impact of providing blended-eLearning courses teaching the alcohol, smoking, and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST) screening and its linked brief intervention (BI). In public and private facilities, two randomized control trials (RCTs) showed large and similar decreases in alcohol use in those receiving the BI compared to those receiving only the ASSIST feedback.

Unemployment in women with psychosocial disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from Tana River County, Kenya.

In low-income settings, the informal economy is a practical alternative to work and employment for persons with disabilities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the informal economy. This study aimed to explore the experiences of women with psychosocial disabilities in Kenya during the pandemic.

A population-based survey of autistic traits in Kenyan adolescents and young adults.

Background: To date, there have been no large-scale population studies of autistic traits (AUT) conducted in Africa.

Aim: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorders in a large sample of Kenyan adolescents and young adults.

Setting: Tertiary academic institutions (87%) and directly from the community (13%).

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening for depression in the first year post delivery in a low-resourced rural setting in Kenya.

Postnatal depression is one of the most common mental disorders among postnatal mothers and may have severe consequences for mothers and their children. Locally validated screening tools that can be self- or lay interviewer-administered are required to identify at-risk women, especially in settings with no mental health specialists. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a culturally adapted version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in a local dialect (Kamba) in a Kenyan setting.

Improving work and employment opportunities for women with psychosocial disabilities: an action research protocol.

In Kenya, employment rates for persons with disabilities are very low and those with psychosocial disabilities have even more dismal rates of employment. This situation has negative impact on the individual's recovery, quality of life, mental and physical health. The systemic exclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities in work and employment disproportionately affects women.

Mental health service preferences of patients and providers: a scoping review of conjoint analysis and discrete choice experiments from global public health literature over the last 20 years (1999-2019).

Background: In designing, adapting, and integrating mental health interventions, it is pertinent to understand patients' needs and their own perceptions and values in receiving care. Conjoint analysis (CA) and discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are survey-based preference-elicitation approaches that, when applied to healthcare settings, offer opportunities to quantify and rank the healthcare-related choices of patients, providers, and other stakeholders. However, a knowledge gap exists in characterizing the extent to which DCEs/CA have been used in designing mental health services for patients and providers.

Burden of HIV-Related Stigma and Post-Partum Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study of Patients Attending Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.

We look at how various HIV-related stigma subtypes, especially internalizing types, interact with postpartum depression (PPD) among women living with HIV. Additionally, we identify key psychosocial risk factors that influence stigma and PPD among women attending Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) clinics. In this cross-sectional design, 123 women living with HIV were recruited.

Personality Traits as Markers of Psychosis Risk in Kenya: Assessment of Temperament and Character.

Specific personality traits have been proposed as a schizophrenia-related endophenotype and confirmed in siblings at risk for psychosis. The relationship of temperament and character with psychosis has not been previously investigated in Africa. The study was conducted in Kenya, and involved participants at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis ( = 268) and controls ( = 251), aged 15-25 years.

Feasibility study on the mhGAP-IG as a tool to enhance parental awareness of symptoms of mental disorders in lower primary (6-10 year old) school-going children: Towards inclusive child mental health services in a Kenyan setting.

Aims: (1) To determine the feasibility of involving parents as key partners in school mental health activities; (2) to determine whether educating parents on mental health treatment Gap Intervention Guideline (mhGAP-IG) section on children leads to enhanced parent perception of mental health symptoms in their children; and (3) to determine context appropriate social demographic predictors of the parental awareness following the psychoeducation using the mhGAP-IG children version.

Methods: Consenting parents completed the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and the Brief Problem Monitor for Parents (BPM-P) about their children at baseline and at 6 months post-baseline respectively. Immediately after post-baseline, they received psychoeducation on the importance of mental well-being in children and how to recognize symptoms of mental disorders, using the mhGAP-IG section on children.

Using the WHO-AIMS to inform development of mental health systems: the case study of Makueni County, Kenya.

Background: In order to develop a context appropriate in mental health system, there is a need to document relevant existing resources and practices with a view of identifying existing gaps, challenges and opportunities at baseline for purposes of future monitoring and evaluation of emerging systems. The World Health Organization Assessments Instrument for Mental Health Systems (WHO-AIMS) was developed as a suitable tool for this purpose. Our overall objective of this study, around which research questions and specific aims were formulated, was to establish a baseline on mental health system as at the time of the study, at Makueni County in Kenya, using the WHO-AIMS.

The psychometric properties of the Washington Early Recognition Center Affectivity and Psychosis (WERCAP) screen in adults in the Kenyan context: Towards combined large scale community screening for affectivity and psychosis.

There is a need for screening for early symptoms of psychosis and affectivity at community level to promote early diagnosis and management. Any screening instrument should have good psychometric properties. One such instrument is the Washington Early Recognition Center Affectivity and Psychosis (WERCAP) Screen that has been used in the USA, Kenya and Rwanda.

Peer- and Mentor-Enhanced Web-Based Training on Substance Use Disorders: A Promising Approach in Low-Resource Settings.

Stigma and insufficient training contribute significantly to the substance use disorder pandemic. This 2014 study assessed the impact in Kenya of online competency-based courses on peer and mentor interactions, using NextGenU.org, the world's only portal to free and accredited higher education.

Toward Community Coverage on Self-Screening, Diagnosis, and Help-Seeking Behavior for Both Gender Victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in a Kenyan Setting: The Development of IPV-Brief Self-Screener (IPV-BSS) Version of the WHO-IPV Instrument.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern. The prevalence of IPV in women in Kenya is in the range of 41% to 45% but has also been reported in 20% of men. The most widely used instrument for the screening and diagnosis of IPV is the World Health Organization-Intimate Partner Violence (WHO-IPV).

Towards Understanding the Relationship Between Psychosocial Factors and Ego Resilience Among Primary School Children in a Kenyan Setting: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

Ego resilience in childhood is linked to positive mental health outcomes but varies across cultures. Kenya presents a unique context in which children are vulnerable to adversity. We therefore hypothesized that Ego resilience traits are found in Kenya.

Relationship between Bullying, Substance Use, Psychiatric Disorders, and Social Problems in a Sample of Kenyan Secondary Schools.

We aimed to investigate how direct bullying and victimization relate with substance use, the presence of psychiatric disorders, poor school performance, disruptive behaviors, and social problems among secondary school students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 20 randomly selected mixed-day secondary school students in forms one to three in Machakos County, equivalent to students in grades 1 to 11. From a random starting point, every sixth student in the class was invited to participate.

Effectiveness of life skills education and psychoeducation on emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents in institutional care in Kenya: a longitudinal study.

Background: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of life skills education (LSE) and psychoeducation in the reduction of Youth Self Report (YSR) scores on institutionalized children using structured activities supported by trained facilitators. LSE involved participation of children in life skills activities to support development of key psychosocial competencies and interpersonal skills.

Methods: The study included 630 children from three institutions.

World Health Organization life-skills training is efficacious in reducing youth self-report scores in primary school going children in Kenya.

Aim: Documented evidence shows that training in life skills for school going children improves their physical and mental health status. Although Kenya has a curriculum and a policy for life-skills training in schools, these have not been implemented because lack of local evidence for efficacy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and effectiveness of the life-skill training curriculum for primary schools developed by the Ministry of Education, Kenya.

Patterns of concordances in mhGAP-IG screening and DSM-IV/ICD10 diagnoses by trained community service providers in Kenya: a pilot cross-sectional study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the extent of concordance between positive screens for mental disorders by various trained community-based health workers using the WHO mental health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) and independently confirmed DSM-IV/ICD-10 diagnoses.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Makueni County, Kenya. 40 nurses/clinical officers, 60 Community Health Workers (CHWs), 51 Faith Healers (FHs), and 59 Traditional Healers (THs) from 20 facilities were trained to screen and refer patients with eight priority mental health conditions using the mhGAP-IG.

Psychological Well-Being and Social Functioning Across the Cancer Stages: Implications for Palliative Care.

Studies conducted regarding cancer care have mainly focused on the management of physical conditions, with few studies assessing psychological well-being throughout illness course. This cross-sectional study (n = 389) examined the psychological well-being and social functioning of patients with cancer across cancer stages, among adult patients attending a cancer clinic at a public referral hospital in Kenya. Social and occupational functioning entails the ability to interact optimally with one's environments including work, social activities, and relationships and fulfill the roles within such environments, as well as engage in meaningful activities of daily life.

FACTORS INFLUENCING LAY AND PROFESSIONAL HEALTH WORKERS' SELF-EFFICACY IN IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION FOR ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND OTHER SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS IN KENYA.

The global burden of substance use disorders (SUDs), including alcohol and tobacco, disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), considering their rising disease burden and low service capacity. Nested within a Kenyan training program, this study explores factors associated with healthcare providers' self-efficacy to treat SUD. Surveys of 206 healthcare workers were used to perform regression and sensitivity analysis assessing various factors association with self-efficacy.

Stigma-related mental health knowledge and attitudes among primary health workers and community health volunteers in rural Kenya.

Background: The study was conducted in rural Kenya and assessed stigma in health workers from primary health facilities.

Aims: This study compared variations in stigma-related mental health knowledge and attitudes between primary health workers (HWs) and community health volunteers (CHVs).

Methods: Participants ( n = 44 HWs and n = 60 CHVs) completed the self-report Mental Health Knowledge Schedule and the Reported and Intended Behavior Scale, along with sociodemographic questions.