Female Genital Schistosomiasis: Addressing Diagnostic and Programmatic Gaps to Advance Elimination Efforts.

This report underscores the critical need to include Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) within schistosomiasis elimination frameworks and sexual and reproductive health programs. Affecting an estimated 40-56 million women, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, FGS is often underdiagnosed and neglected in public health programs. This paper highlights FGS as a vital gap in schistosomiasis control and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, advocating for integrated approaches that address FGS awareness and diagnosis within disease elimination initiatives and health services.

Patterns of self-harm presentations at a Tertiary Urban Hospital in Kenya: A retrospective 5-year study (2018-2022).

Introduction: Self-harm represents a complex and multifaceted public health issue of global significance, exerting profound effects on individuals and communities alike. It involves intentional self-poisoning or self-injury with or without the motivation to die. Although self-harm is highly prevalent, limited research has focused on the patterns and trends of self-harm among hospital populations in low- and middle-income countries, particularly within Africa.

Coding-complete genome sequence of a GI-13 infectious bronchitis virus from commercial chicken in India.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) causes a highly contagious, acute upper respiratory disease in chickens characterized by nasal discharge, coughing, and rales. Here, the complete genome sequence of a recombinant GI-13 IBV strain ck/IN/A2332039-001/24 was sequenced from a choanal sample of a commercial broiler chicken in India using nontargeted next-generation sequencing.

Predicting the impact of targeted fence removal on connectivity in a migratory ecosystem.

Fencing is one of the most widely utilized tools for reducing human-wildlife conflict in agricultural landscapes. However, the increasing global footprint of fencing exceeds millions of kilometers and has unintended consequences for wildlife, including habitat fragmentation, movement restriction, entanglement, and mortality. Here, we present a novel and quantitative approach to prioritize fence removal within historic migratory pathways of white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) across Kenya's Greater Masai Mara Ecosystem.

Investing in equitable healthy aging: Why Africa must reform social pension schemes to improve Alzheimer's disease and dementia outcomes.

The eligibility criteria for social pension schemes in Africa hinder equitable and healthy aging. In 2019, women in 14 sub-Saharan African countries had an average life expectancy of 67 years but a healthy life expectancy of only 57 years, leaving them 5 years in poor health before receiving a pension at age 62. Men had a similar situation-a life expectancy of 62 years and a healthy life expectancy of 53 years, spending 10 years in poor health before becoming eligible for pensions at age 63.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Waterborne and Foodborne Protozoan Pathogens in Kenya: A One Health Perspective.

Intestinal infections affect approximately 450 million people globally, predominantly impacting children and immunocompromised individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions, poverty, malnutrition, and low literacy. In Kenya, the prevalence of intestinal infections is elevated by warm tropical climates and socioeconomic factors. This scoping review evaluates the national prevalence, risk factors, and contamination sources of intestinal protozoa in Kenya, using a One Health approach to synthesize existing data from various human, animal, and environmental studies.

Cross-sectional study on prevalence and risk factors of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes among patients with hypertension attending St. Orsola Catholic Mission Hospital, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya.

Introduction: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) were a major cause of death in 2022 accounting for 4 million (74%) of deaths worldwide. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are the two illnesses that are not contagious but linked closely. The objective of the research was to establish the prevalence and risk factors of undiagnosed diabetes among patients with hypertension attending St.

Intimate partner sexual violence is associated with unhealthy alcohol use among Kenyan women engaged in sex work.

Aim: Unhealthy alcohol use is often correlated with experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). We investigated how different types of IPV (sexual, physical, emotional, and financial) were associated with unhealthy alcohol use among women engaged in sex work in Mombasa, Kenya.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 283 HIV-negative women who engaged in sex work recruited from an ongoing cohort study.

Atypical hyperendemicity of Rift Valley fever in Southwestern Uganda associated with the rapidly evolving lineage C viruses.

Introduction: Recent Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemiology in eastern Africa region is characterized by widening geographic range and increasing frequency of small disease clusters. Here we conducted studies in southwestern (SW) Uganda region that has since 2016 reported increasing RVF activities.

Methods: A 22-month long hospital-based study in three districts of SW Uganda targeting patients with acute febrile illness (AFI) or unexplained bleeding was followed by a cross-sectional population-based human-animal survey.

A qualitative study of how maternal morbidities impact women's quality of life during pregnancy and postpartum in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Aim: Maternal morbidities present a major burden to the health and well-being of childbearing women. However, their impacts on women's quality of life (QoL) are not well understood. This work aims to describe the extent to which the morbidities women experience during pregnancy and postpartum affect their QoL and identify any protective or risk factors.

The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior.

Push-pull technology (PPT) continues to gain relevance among smallholder farmers across the East African region in managing the constraints affecting cereal crop yields including stemborers, fall armyworm, striga weed, and low soil fertility. While previous research has emphasized the significance of socioeconomic factors in explaining farmers' decisions to adopt PPT, the social-psychological factors that influence farmers' adoption intentions have not been extensively studied. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of social-psychological factors on the intention to adopt or increase the land area under PPT based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Unraveling the Potential of Black Soldier Fly Larvae as a Sustainable Protein Source for Nile Tilapia Production in Diverse Aquaculture Systems.

Aquaculture plays a critical role in global food security, with Nile tilapia () recognized for its adaptability and robust growth. However, traditional feeds, heavily reliant on fishmeal (FM) and soybean meal, face economic and environmental challenges. In response, black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) has emerged as a promising, nutrient-dense alternative.

Potential of carbon micro/nanofibers derived from lignocellulose biomass valorisation for CO adsorption: A review on decarbonization biotechnology for climate change solutions.

Biomass, as a source of lignocellulose, can be valorized into carbon micro/nanofibers for adsorbing greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions, especially CO. This article is derived from systematic evidence evaluation of published studies, presenting new, innovative, and systemic approaches to lignocellulose-based carbon micro/nanofiber studies. The review covers a general overview of carbon micro/nanofiber studies, mapping chronicles of the studies, carbon micro/nanofiber types for CO uptake, carbon micro/nanofibers fabrication and characterization, obtained carbonaceous material activation and performances, regulatory frameworks, and sustainability.

Consensus recommendations for measuring the impact of contraception on the menstrual cycle in contraceptive clinical trials.

Objective: We sought to develop consensus recommendations for measurement and analysis of data on contraceptive-induced menstrual changes (CIMCs) in contraceptive clinical trials. We built upon previous standardization efforts over the last 50 years and prioritized input from a variety of global experts and current regulatory authority guidance on patient-reported outcomes.

Study Design: We completed a formal consensus-building process with an interdisciplinary group of 57 experts from 30 organizations and 14 countries in five global regions who work across academia, nonprofit research organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, and funding agencies.

Global impact of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on pneumococcal meningitis in all ages: the PSERENADE project.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) introduced in childhood national immunization programs lowered vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), but replacement with non-vaccine-types persisted throughout the PCV10/13 follow-up period. We assessed PCV10/13 impact on pneumococcal meningitis incidence globally.

Methods: The number of cases with serotyped pneumococci detected in cerebrospinal fluid and population denominators were obtained from surveillance sites globally.

HIV co-infection is associated with increased HLA-DR expression by Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4 T cells in people with latent tuberculosis infection.

Infection with HIV is associated with dysregulated CD4 T cell responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and increased risk of developing tuberculosis. Mtb-specific CD4 T cells in people with HIV have diminished Th1 cytokine production capacity, thus we utilized a flow cytometry-based assay to measure CD40L expression by Mtb-specific CD4 T cells in a cytokine-independent manner. We evaluated the frequency and phenotype of Mtb-specific CD4 responses in Kenyan adults with latent Mtb infection and found that the majority of Mtb-specific CD4 T cells expressed CD40L in the absence of IFN-γ, regardless of HIV infection status.

Epidemiology and impact of travellers' diarrhoea differs during UK military training exercises in Kenya and Oman.

Background: Gastrointestinal illnesses are common during military training and operational deployments. We compared the incidence and burden of travellers' diarrhoea (TD) reported by British service personnel (SP) during recent training exercises in Kenya and Oman.

Methods: SP completed a validated anonymous questionnaire regarding clinical features of any diarrhoeal illness, associated risk factors and impact on work capability after 6-week training exercises in 2018 in Kenya and 2018-2019 in Oman.

Behind closed doors: Homeboundness and psychosocial outcomes. Evidence from a longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives: To examine how homeboundness is associated with psychosocial outcomes in terms of life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect and loneliness among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Longitudinal data were taken from the nationally representative sample German Ageing Survey (wave 1 to wave 4; n = 18,491 observations). This study included community-dwelling individuals aged 40 years and over in Germany.

Navigating the complexities of managing placenta accreta spectrum: A case series and literature review.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) poses a significant risk for maternal morbidity and mortality. There is a global rise in incidence of PAS in tandem with an increase in rates of cesarian section. Previous cesarian section and presence of placenta previa are two independent risk factors for development of PAS.

Low-Level Zoonotic Transmission of Clade C MERS-CoV in Africa: Insights from Scoping Review and Cohort Studies in Hospital and Community Settings.

Human outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are more common in Middle Eastern and Asian human populations, associated with clades A and B. In Africa, where clade C is dominant in camels, human cases are minimal. We reviewed 16 studies (n = 6198) published across seven African countries between 2012 and 2024 to assess human MERS-CoV cases.

Co-Infection of Mosquitoes with Rift Valley Fever Phlebovirus Strains Results in Efficient Viral Reassortment.

Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne pathogen endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula which causes Rift Valley fever in ruminant livestock and humans. Co-infection with divergent viral strains can produce reassortment among the L, S, and M segments of the RVFV genome. Reassortment events can produce novel genotypes with altered virulence, transmission dynamics, and/or mosquito host range.

Assessing the Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Low-Income Communities: Challenges and Solutions.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a group of chronic and debilitating infections that affect more than one billion people, predominantly in low-income communities with limited health infrastructure. This paper analyzes the factors that perpetuate the burden of NTDs, highlighting how poor health infrastructure, unfavorable socioeconomic conditions and lack of therapeutic resources exacerbate their impact. The effectiveness of current interventions, such as mass drug administration (MDA) programs and improved sanitation, in reducing disease prevalence is examined.

Assessment of Vaccination Impact in PPR-Control Program Implemented in Southern States of India: A System Dynamics Model Approach.

Mass vaccination against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in two southern states of India, namely Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, has reduced disease outbreaks significantly. The sporadic outbreaks reported now can be attributed in part to the recurring movement of sheep and goats between these contiguous states. This study assessed the present level of economic burden and impact of vaccination on the local system (one state), considering the exposure from the external system (neighboring state) using a system dynamic (SD) model.

Mapping the Drivers of Multisectoral Nutrition Governance and Its Link to Nutrition Outcomes in Kenya: A Qualitative Inquiry.

Background: Malnutrition remains a significant public health issue in Kenya. Multisectoral Nutrition Governance (MNG) is increasingly being acknowledged as a catalyst for enhancing nutrition programming and outcomes. Effective MNG establishes policies, systems, and mechanisms that enable coordinated, adequately funded, and sustainable nutrition actions across sectors; however, its understanding and progress assessment remain inadequate.

Quantitative Trait Loci for Phenology, Yield, and Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Cowpea.

Background/objectives: Cowpea is an important legume crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and beyond. However, access to phosphorus (P), a critical element for plant growth and development, is a significant constraint in SSA. Thus, it is essential to have high P-use efficiency varieties to achieve increased yields in environments where little-to- no phosphate fertilizers are applied.