Iodine (I) levels in various water sources of the Northern Region of Ghana are related to the underlying geology: the Basement Complex and the Voltaian sediments, and also the occurrence of goitre. Iodine is highest in the underground water(
Abstract/Overview Background: Tungiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by skin penetration by female jigger fleas, predominantly Tunga penetrans, most commonly in resource-limited settings with sub-optimal basic hygiene standards, mainly in developing countries. Objective: We investigated the factors associated with tungiasis management in Ikolomani Sub County, Kakamega County in Western Kenya. Design: Descriptive study using mixed-methods approach, involving clinical observation,...
Abstract/Overview Gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a disorder at pregnancy causing insulin intolerance thus contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate neonatal outcomes associated with gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant women with GDM in Kisumu County, Kenya. A case-control study was carried out among 210 pregnant women in Kisumu County. Screening and diagnosis were performed using the 2013 WHO criteria. Data was collected using a che...
Abstract/Overview Background: Human papillomavirus is the main factor in the etiology of cervical cancer, with over 99.7% of cases being associated with high-risk human papillomavirus infection. Although the majority of HPV infections are asymptomatic and self-limiting, persistent HPV infection can result in genital warts, oropharyngeal cancer, and cervical cancer in women, in addition to various anogenital malignancies and other genital warts in both men and women. Method: This was a cro...
Abstract/Overview Background: Globally there is a rapid increase in the prevalence of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, screening for GDM is not part of the standard routine antenatal (ANC) services in Kenya. There is a paucity of data on the factors associated with and predictors of GDM. Therefore, this study sought to determine factors associated with and predictors of GDM among pregnant women in western Kenya. Methods: ...
Abstract/Overview Background Pneumonia continues to be the second leading cause of both morbidity and mortality in children under five years in Kenya. In part, the high burden of the disease arises from delay and inappropriate health-seeking by caregivers. Caregivers delay seeking care at health facilities due to the administration of home-based remedies. Some home remedies may lead to a prolonged hospital stay and, in many cases, result in death. However, little is known about the home-b...
Abstract/Overview Globally, the proportions of women of reproductive age living with HIV vary between regions, with significantly higher proportions in sub-Saharan Africa. The scale-up of multiple-drug antiretroviral therapy in Africa has changed childbearing dynamics for HIV-positive women, with an impact on pregnancy incidence, although there is little understanding of the factors associated with pregnancy incidence among these women. This descriptive cross-sectional study investigated ...
Abstract/Overview Maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality are major public health concerns in most developing countries and in under resourced settings. Provision of safe motherhood is of utmost importance in the reduction of maternal mortality. Increasing the proportion of babies that are delivered in health facilities is an important factor in reducing the health risks to both the mother and the baby. This study explored maternal healthcare choices of expectant mothers in Lunga Lu...
Abstract/Overview Maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality are major public health concerns in most developing countries and in under resourced settings. Provision of safe motherhood is of utmost importance in the reduction of maternal mortality. Increasing the proportion of babies that are delivered in health facilities is an important factor in reducing the health risks to both the mother and the baby. This study explored maternal healthcare choices of expectant mothers in Lunga Lu...
Abstract/Overview Robert Shihuzire Magomere, , Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease caused by bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Globally 9.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died from the disease in 2014. Bumula Sub-County had 200 patients diagnosed with TB in 2016, with a case notification rate of 454 cases per 100,000 people. The main objective of this study was to establish the clinical and host related factors influencing prevalence of TB in Bumula Su...
Abstract/Overview Despite the increase in the number of health services provided and Kenya’s commitment to equal access to quality healthcare for all by the year 2030, the physically challenged persons still find difficulty in accessing health services for reasons attributable to health care related factors. This study targeted the physically challenged persons in Gem Sub-county, Kenya. Stratified and systematic random sampling was used to select 108 people with physical disability. Dat...
Abstract/Overview Unmet need for contraception persists in Kenya despite an increase in awareness and availability of family planning services. There is a dearth of information on experiences and perceptions of contraception, specifically related to birth outcomes and menstruation patterns, in western Kenya. The aim of this study was to explore knowledge and perceptions on contraception, menstruation, and birth outcomes. In-depth interviews were conducted with 45 respondents; adolescent g...
Abstract/Overview Malaria and HIV infections are both highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with HIV-infected patients being at higher risk of acquiring malaria. HIV-1 infection is known to impair the immune response and may increase the incidence of clinical malaria. However, a positive association between HIV-1 and malaria parasitaemia is still evolving. Equally, the effect of malaria on HIV-1 disease stage has not been well established, but when fever and parasitemia are high, malari...