Above-ground carbon stocks and its functional relationship with tree species diversity: the case of Kakamega and North Nandi Forests, Kenya.

Estimating aboveground carbon (AGC) dynamics and tree diversity functionality relationships is critical in understanding the role of vegetation in implementing climate change mitigation strategies and promoting sustainable forest management. This study aimed to evaluate AGC stocks and their functional relationship with tree species diversity in Kakamega and North Nandi Forests, Kenya. A nested approach was adopted in sampling aboveground vegetation for biomass estimation in least disturbed, transformed, and disturbed sites.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and associated predictors among mothers of preterm infants in Western Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: mothers of preterm infants are exposed to stress leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Preterm births have increased lately with World Health Organization (WHO) reporting an estimated prevalence of up to 5-18% and Kenya reporting a prevalence of 18.3%.

The effect of self-compassion-based programs for infertility (SCPI) on anxiety and depression among women pursuing fertility treatment: a three-armed, randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: To examine the effects of self-compassion training using videos (SCV) versus self-compassion training using digital stories (SC-DS) as compared to a control group (CG) on reducing anxiety and depression symptoms among women pursuing fertility treatment.

Methods: A three-armed, randomised controlled trial randomly assigned 200 eligible women to SCV(n = 65), SC-DS (n = 67), and CG (n = 68). All three randomised groups completed questionnaires immediately after randomisation (T1), after completing the interventions (T2), and 10 weeks after the interventions (T3).

High seroprevalence of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals amidst vaccination roll-out in western Kenya.

The population's antibody response is a key factor in comprehending SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology. This is especially important in African settings where COVID-19 impact, and vaccination rates are relatively low. This study aimed at characterizing the Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) in both SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals in Kisumu and Siaya counties in western Kenya using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays.

Effectiveness of targeted antenatal family planning information provision on early postpartum family planning uptake in Kisumu County: Protocol for a simple randomized control trial (I DECIDE Study).

Overlooking the contraceptive needs of postpartum women constitutes missed opportunities in health system. Inter-birth interval of at least three years can prevent poor maternal, perinatal and neonatal outcomes and afford women socio-economic benefits of family planning (FP). The unmet need for FP in the postpartum period remains unacceptably high and far exceeds the FP unmet need of other women.

Semiochemical signatures associated with differential attraction of Anopheles gambiae to human feet.

Background: Several human-produced volatiles have been reported to mediate the host-seeking process under laboratory conditions, yet no effective lure or repellent has been developed for field application. Previously, we found a gradation of the attractiveness of foot odors of different malaria free individuals to Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto Giles. In this study, foot odor of the individual with the most attractive 'smelly' feet to the An.

Empowering HIV-infected women in low-resource settings: A pilot study evaluating a patient-centered HIV prevention strategy for reproduction in Kisumu, Kenya.

Background: Female positive/male negative HIV-serodiscordant couples express a desire for children and may engage in condomless sex to become pregnant. Current guidelines recommend antiretroviral treatment in HIV-serodiscordant couples, yet HIV RNA viral suppression may not be routinely assessed or guaranteed and pre-exposure prophylaxis may not be readily available. Therefore, options for becoming pregnant while limiting HIV transmission should be offered and accessible to HIV-affected couples desiring children.

Full-Length Genome Sequences of Recombinant and Nonrecombinant Sympatric Strains of from Western Kenya.

Five isolates of from western Kenya were fully sequenced. One isolate of strain S4lv had been collected in 1966. Two isolates belonged to the emerging strain S4ug recently described in Uganda.

Community outreach programs and major adherence lapses with antiretroviral therapy in rural Kakamega, Kenya.

We investigated features of major adherence lapses in antiretroviral therapy (ART) at public Emusanda Health Centre in rural Kakamega County, Kenya using medical records from 2008 to 2015 for all 306 eligible patients receiving ART. Data were modelled using survival analysis. Patients were more likely to lapse if they received stavudine (hazard ratio (HR) 2.

Toll-like receptor gene variants and bacterial vaginosis among HIV-1 infected and uninfected African women.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal syndrome associated with altered microflora that increases the risk of preterm delivery and acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases. The cause of BV is unknown although toll-like receptors (TLRs), that are central to innate immune responses, may be important. We evaluated associations between TLR SNPs and BV among HIV-1 infected and uninfected African women.

Differential attractiveness of human foot odours to Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto (Diptera: Culicidae) and variation in their chemical composition.

Counter flow geometry (CFG) traps (American Biophysics) baited with foot odours (adsorbed overnight on a combination of a nylon and a cotton socks) from 4 groups of 4 male volunteers were initially used in a screen-house to compare and grade the attractiveness of Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto to these odours. Ten individuals were then selected from the 4 groups for further grading in which mosquito attractiveness to odours adsorbed on socks worn by each of the individuals was compared against a control (clean, un-worn cotton and nylon socks). A gradation of attractiveness was found, with the most attractive foot odour catching 8-fold more mosquitoes than the least attractive one (t-test, p=0.

Cytokine expression in malaria-infected non-human primate placentas.

Malaria parasites are known to mediate the induction of inflammatory immune responses at the maternal-foetal interface during placental malaria (PM) leading to adverse consequences like pre-term deliveries and abortions. Immunological events that take place within the malaria-infected placental micro-environment leading to retarded foetal growth and disruption of pregnancies are among the critical parameters that are still in need of further elucidation. The establishment of more animal models for studying placental malaria can provide novel ways of circumventing problems experienced during placental malaria research in humans such as inaccurate estimation of gestational ages.