Assessing Access to and Utilization of the Advanced Diagnostic and Management Equipment for Early Keratoconus in Public and Private Healthcare Facilities Across Nyanza and Western Kenya.

Purpose: To evaluate the availability and utilization of the advanced equipment for the diagnosis and management of early keratoconus in the public and private healthcare facilities in Nyanza and Western Kenya.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was applied. An online questionnaire was sent to the eyecare practitioners.

Spatio-temporal characterization of malaria prevalence in a peri-urban resource limited setting of Western Kenya Highlands.

Background: Malaria is the main killer disease in sub-Sahara Africa.

Objective: The study identified malaria prevalence patterns in relation to space and time trends in a peri-urban resource limited setting of Western Kenya highlands aimed at strengthening implementation of malaria control strategies.

Method: A longitudinal study was carried out in Mbale town and its environs, Vihiga County, from December 2019 to November 2020.

Knowledge on physical activity participation among secondary school students in Kakamega County, Kenya: descriptive study on 422 students aged 14-18 years.

Introduction: Physical activity is important for personal growth and development among students. About two million deaths are reported yearly, arising from inactivity. 81% of students do not meet the recommendations; hence they are exposed to unhealthy behaviour.

Predictive and Prognostic Relevance of ABC Transporters for Resistance to Anthracycline Derivatives.

Anthracyclines have been clinically well established in cancer chemotherapy for decades. The main limitations of this drug class are the development of resistance and severe side effects. In the present investigation, we analyzed 30 anthracyclines in a panel of 59 cell lines of the National Cancer Institute, USA.

Antibacterial potency of acyclic diester, oleic acid, and -amyrin tetradecanoate from and against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Introduction: The increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has led to the search of new and effective antimicrobial agents. Natural products from plants may, therefore, serve as alternative sources of substances for the treatment of these infections. Traditional practitioners use concoctions of and extracts for the treatment of wounds, skin diseases, coughs, ulcers, and intestinal ailments.

Associations Between Screen Exposure, Home Media Environments, and Indicators of School Readiness in Toddlers and Preschoolers from Kakamega County, Kenya.

. Early childhood screen-time impacts school readiness, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study examined associations between screen-time and readiness for formal schooling among toddlers and preschoolers in Kakamega County, Kenya.

Influence of mould growth and outdoor exposure on the efficacy of attractive targeted sugar baits against Anopheles arabiensis in western Kenya.

Introduction: Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits (ATSBs) effectively target Anopheles mosquitoes in semi-arid, low-humidity climates. However, high humidity encourages mould growth on ATSB surfaces, and its effect on the efficacy of ATSBs against malaria vectors is yet to be determined. This study explored how mould growth affects the performance of ATSB version 1.

Grains, trade and war in the multimodal transmission of Rice yellow mottle virus: An historical and phylogeographical retrospective.

Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is a major pathogen of rice in Africa. RYMV has a narrow host range limited to rice and a few related poaceae species. We explore the links between the spread of RYMV in East Africa and rice history since the second half of the 19th century.

Diagnostic accuracy of HRP2-based malaria rapid diagnostic tests and antigenemia persistence in Kenyan children from a holoendemic region: implications for case management and surveillance.

Malaria remains a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, with Histidine-Rich Protein 2 (HRP2)-based malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) widely used in endemic regions where microscopy is sometimes not feasible. While these tests offer high sensitivity, persistent HRP2 antigenemia and gene deletions can cause false-positive and false-negative results, compromising their accuracy for malaria case management and surveillance. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance and antigen persistence of HRP2-mRDTs using data from a longitudinal birth cohort of 750 children followed monthly from birth to 36 months in a holoendemic region of Kenya.

Deciphering common bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) microbiome assemblages reveal mechanistic insights into host-pathogen-microbiome interactions.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the primary source of proteins and nutrients in most households in sub-Saharan Africa. However, production of this crop is constrained by several biotic factors.

Synergistic Effects of 2-Deoxyglucose and Diclofenac Sodium on Breast Cancer Cells: A Comparative Evaluation of MDA-231 and MCF7 Cells.

Resistance of breast cancers to chemotherapy remains a global challenge to date. Drug combination studies between anti-cancer agents are increasingly becoming therapeutic strategies, geared towards alleviating breast cancers. Previously, 2-deoxyglucose has been shown to target and interrupt glycolysis.

Barriers and Opportunities for HPV Self-Sampling in Underserved Rural Communities: Insights from a Mixed Methods Study.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in rural areas with limited access to screening. This study explored factors influencing rural Kenyan women's willingness to self-collect samples for HPV-DNA testing. Data were drawn from a mixed methods study in two Kenyan rural counties, including surveys with 174 women and interviews with 21 participants.

Africa's contribution to global sustainable and healthy diets: a scoping review.

Background: A healthy diet is essential for human wellbeing and environmental sustainability. Africa possesses diverse traditional food systems that are nutritionally rich and environmentally sustainable. However, modern dietary transitions and increasing reliance on imported and processed foods threaten the continent's food sovereignty and public health.

Impact of age, HIV1, sickle-cell genotypes, and interferon-gamma gene upstream variants on malaria disease outcomes in a longitudinal pediatric cohort.

This prospective cohort study explored the association between two upstream IFN-γ variants (rs2069709: G > T and rs2069705: A > G) and hazard factors for malaria outcomes in a longitudinal cohort of children (n = 941, 3-36 mos.), followed for three years. The impact of age, sex, previous malaria exposure, HIV1 infection, and sickle-cell genotypes (HbAA, HbAS, and HbSS) was also investigated.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Healthcare Workers regarding Depression Care in Two Medium-Sized Hospitals in Kenya.

Introduction: Depression is the most common mental health disorder worldwide with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 10% in the general population. Our objective was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding depression care.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among consenting healthcare workers in two medium-sized hospitals in Kenya.

The potential role of cultural and religious healing practices in shaping community vulnerability to highly infectious diseases in western Kenya.

Cultural and religious practices and beliefs have historically played a significant role in the management of disease outbreaks globally. This study explored how such beliefs and healing practices shape the vulnerability of communities to highly infectious diseases in three border counties in western Kenya-Homa Bay, Bungoma, and West Pokot. Using an empirical qualitative research design, we conducted 45 key informant interviews with 13 traditional healers, 16 religious healers, and their 16 patients.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake and associated factors among HIV serodiscordant heterosexual couples in Nairobi City County, Kenya.

HIV antiretroviral drugs used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are effective for HIV prevention. This study evaluated determinants of PrEP uptake among HIV-negative spouses in HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual relationships in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Of the 424 participants, 114 reported current PrEP use, resulting in a PrEP uptake of 27% (23-31%).

Parental influences on contact lens uptake among school-aged individuals with myopia in Kenya.

Significance: With the global rise in myopia among school-aged children, effective management strategies, such as contact lenses (CLs), are essential. In Kenya, where myopia prevalence is increasing, understanding parental influence on CL uptake is critical because of parents' key role in healthcare decisions involving their children. This study addresses this significant gap by exploring the parental factors that either promote or hinder CL uptake among school-aged children in Kenya.

Immunomodulatory effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the use of natural products to ameliorate its immunotoxic effects: A review.

Aflatoxin B (AFB ), a potent mycotoxin, is known to be an immunotoxic agent that causes various immune system disorders. It can cause immunosuppression by direct toxic effect on the host or by its ability to interfere with the immune response and thereby lead to secondary infections. The immunomodulatory effects of AFB and its metabolites have been reported in many studies.

Maternal Mortality Determinants in Rural Kenya: An Audit of Three Hospitals.

Background: Global health agencies advocate that no mother should die while giving life, more so from preventable causes. However, there are persistently high maternal mortalities in various regions with a current global maternal mortality ratio of 211/100,000 live births. This study sought to investigate the causes and determinants of maternal mortality.

Assessing the application of adapted theory of planned behaviour in predicting postpartum family planning intentions in a pragmatic randomized control trial in Western Kenya.

Introduction: In developing countries like Kenya, addressing the high population growth rate necessitates a focus on early Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP) use. Despite the critical need for PPFP, few researchers explore the application of health behaviour change theories to enhance FP use among postpartum women. This study assesses the application of adapted Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in predicting intention for early PPFP in postpartum women in Western Kenya.

Mapping the landscape of optometric education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Clinical Relevance: Advancements in optometric education are essential for addressing the global burden of visual impairment by ensuring a well-trained workforce capable of delivering quality eye care services.

Background: The number of optometry schools in Sub-Saharan Africa has significantly increased since 2000, reflecting a growing awareness of the role of optometry in addressing the burden of vision impairment. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current status, challenges, and opportunities within optometry education in the region.

High-Throughput Shotgun Metagenomics of Microbial Footprints Uncovers a Cocktail of Noxious Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya.

A diverse range of pollutants, including heavy metals, agrochemicals, pharmaceutical residues, illicit drugs, personal care products, and other anthropogenic contaminants, pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. The Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, heavily impacted by surrounding human activities, faces potential contamination from these pollutants. However, studies exploring the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the lake remain limited.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of an updated pre-service midwifery curriculum integrated with emergency obstetric and newborn care in Kenya: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Quality midwifery education is central to improving midwifery service delivery and maternal and newborn health outcomes. In many settings, midwifery educators insufficiently prepared for their teaching role and deficient curriculum compared to international standards affect the quality of healthcare provided by the midwifery graduates. This study assessed the effectiveness of an EmONC enhanced midwifery curriculum delivered by trained and mentored midwifery educators on the quality of education and student performance in Kenya.

Unlocking the adsorptive effectiveness of naturally occurring heulandite zeolite for the removal of PO and NO anions from wastewater.

The mitigation of high levels of phosphate (PO) and nitrate (NO) ions in water bodies, particularly in agricultural wastewater, holds paramount importance in curbing eutrophication within aquatic ecosystems. Herein, using experimental and computational techniques, the study explored the potential of naturally occurring South Africa heulandite (HEU) zeolite for the removal of PO and NO ions from synthetic wastewater in batch mode. The percentage removal of PO and NO was 59.