Abstract Supply Chain Management is a crucial activity that entails overseeing the movement of materials form the source, throughput, to the end consumer. However, in this endeavour, there are increased instances of uncertainties i.e. speeds of delivery, flexibility and environmental factors that affect the services rendered to the end consumer. This drives the concept of supply chain agility which focuses on the speeds of response to any changes in the consumer demands. The healthcare secto...
Abstract Purpose: The post-pandemic management of COVID-19 infections and any emergent outbreaks is because this endemic disease remains a public health concern. Vaccine hesitancy may continue to hamper efforts to respond to any new disease outbreaks and future epidemics. This qualitative study aimed to explore the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in Kenya to gain deeper insights into this issue. Methods: This study was implemented in western Kenya using key info...
Abstract/Overview Iron deficiency (ID) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection frequently coexist. Little data exist on ID in HIV-infected individuals, partly because the iron marker ferritin is altered by inflammation common in HIV infection. We measured iron biomarkers (ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor [sTfR], hepcidin) and red cell indices (hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume [MCV]) in newly diagnosed, antiretroviral therapy-naive, HIV-infected (N = 138) and uninfected (...
Abstract/Overview Health workers competency is very critical in realization of quality health care which is a major pillar of Universal Health Coverage. This study assessed the influence of healthcare provider competency on Universal Health Coverage utilization in Seme Sub County, Kisumu County. The study targeted community households and health facility managers. The health facilities were stratified according to their tiers and randomly sampled. The catchment population was stratified b...
Abstract/Overview In Kenya, approximately 3.3% to 4% of infants born annually are exposed to HIV due to lack of PMTCT interventions. Factors associated with mother – to – child HIV transmission as not been adequately investigated in Kenya. The study aim was to investigate factors associated with mother – to – child HIV transmission (MTCT) among HIV exposed infants in Siaya County. A retrospective cohort study design was adopted. Data involving 179 HIV exposed infants and their HIV...
Abstract/Overview Brucellosis is a common bacterial zoonotic infection but data on the prevalence among humans and animals is limited in Kenya. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three counties practicing different livestock production systems to simultaneously assess the seroprevalence of, and risk factors for brucellosis among humans and their livestock (cattle, sheep, camels, and goats). A two-stage cluster sampling method with random selection of sublocations and households was...
Abstract/Overview We conducted serological surveys for Coxiella burnetii in archived sera from patients that visited a rural clinic in western Kenya from 2007 to 2008 and in cattle, sheep, and goats from the same area in 2009. We also conducted serological and polymerase chain reaction-based surveillance for the pathogen in 2009–2010, in human patients with acute lower respiratory illness, in ruminants following parturition, and in ticks collected from ruminants and domestic dogs. Antib...
Abstract/Overview Malaria, a major cause of morbidity and mortality, is the most prevalent vector borne disease in Baringo County; a region which has varied house designs in arid and semi-arid areas. This study investigated the association between house structures and indoor-malaria vector abundance in Baringo County. The density of malaria vectors in houses with open eaves was higher than that for houses with closed eaves. Grass thatched roof houses had higher density of malaria vectors ...
Abstract/Overview Objective: To determine and describe the patterns of low birth weight in newborns of a cohort of mothers given intermittent presumptive treatment (IPT) for malaria prevention in a malaria endemic area of Kenya. Design: A longitudinal prospective cohort study. Setting: Got Agulu Health Centre in Usigu Division, Bondo District, Nyanza Province. Subjects: Pregnant women of all parities attending antenatal care services. Only women who gave informed consent for themselves an...
Abstract/Overview The global increase in vector borne diseases has been linked to climate change. Seasonal vegetation changes are known to influence disease vector population. However, the relationship is more theoretical than quantitatively defined. There is a growing demand for understanding and prediction of climate sensitive vector borne disease risks especially in regions where meteorological data are lacking. This study aimed at analyzing and quantitatively assessing the seasonal an...
Abstract/Overview The number of cervical cancer cases is reported to increase among women of reproductive age in the recent past with patients facing challenges with care and management of the illness. However, little is known about the financial challenges these patients undergo in contexts such as western Kenya. This study assessed financial challenges and sources of financial assistance for cervical cancer patients in western Kenya. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 334 cervica...
Abstract/Overview Background Malaria causes the greatest public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa where high mortality occurs mainly in children under 5 years of age. Traditionally, malaria has been reported mainly in the lowlands endemic regions of western Kenya, while the highlands of the Rift Valley have been relatively free except for the sporadic epidemics in some areas. Baringo County is located in the Kenyan highlands. The county generally experiences seasonal transmission of mal...
Abstract/Overview Background: MB2 is a novel Plasmodium falciparum antigen of unknown function expressed in pre-erythrocytic and blood stages of infection in the human host. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-10 responses to other P. falciparum antigens have been associated with protection from clinical malaria, but these responses have not been studied for MB2. The present study was undertaken to characterize IFN-γ and IL-10 responses to P. falciparum MB2 antigen in adults l...
Abstract/Overview We sought to determine the knowledge and attitude of public health workers (PHWs) with respect to emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases and the practice of one health approach in the surveillance of zoonoses in the community. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 randomly selected districts of Nyanza province, Kenya. One hundred and ten randomly-selected PHWs were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected on their knowledge, attitudes and ...
Abstract A viral illness called COVID-19 can be spread from one person to another. 2019 saw the first case of the virus reported in Wuhan, China, while 2020 saw Kenya record the first COVID-19 infection in Sub-Saharan Africa. To stop the virus from spreading, it is crucial to have the proper information, attitudes, and behaviors. There has been increased research on the impact COVID-19 had on the normal lives of people, however, studies of this effect on rural communities are scarce. Hence, ...