The Prevalence, Causes And Effects Of Drug Use And Abuse On Performance Indicators Among Secondary School Students In Teso South Constituency, Kenya

The use of drugs has become more rampant today than at any other time. In learning institutions, especially secondary schools, the use of drugs has resulted in poor concentration in classwork, high rate of absenteeism and failure in exams leading to poor academic performance. The purpose of this study therefore was to: establish the prevalence of drug use among students in Teso South Constituency, establish the causes of drug use and identify the effects of drug use on academic performance indicators among secondary school students in Teso South Constituency.  The constituency has a total of 25 public secondary schools with a total of 8023 students. Krejcie and Morgan’s formula was used to select 192 students and data was collected from the field using questionnaires and later analyzed using percentages. Results indicate that 54.7%, 22.4%, 6.7%, 4.7% 4.2%, 3.1% of the students use Tobacco, Miraa, Cocaine, Tranquilizers, Kuber and Marijuana respectively. Also, the most influential causes of drug abuse among them were Peer influence at 90.1%, family background at 57.1% and availability of drugs at 30.8%. Lastly, 89.6% of the students had poor grades due to drug abuse alongside 78.6% of them affected by low concentration span and lack of interest in studies. The study, therefore, inferred that there is a high of drug ab prevalence use amongst secondary school students with family, peers as well as availability contributing to the onset of drug abuse.The study concluded that drug abuse interferes with academic performance indicators of secondary school students in Teso South Constituency

Dividuality, masculine respectability and reputation: exploring the link between men's uptake of HIV treatment and their masculinity in rural eastern Uganda

This thesis discusses the link between men’s HIV treatment seeking behaviour and their masculinity. It is based generally on ethnographic research conducted in Busia district, rural eastern Uganda, and specifically on 26 interviews conducted between 2009 and 2010 with different categories of men: treated for HIV, tested but dropped out of treatment, not tested but suspect HIV infection, and those with other health problems unrelated to HIV. The study explored how masculinity is constructed and discussed among the men from the Iteso ethnic group, how those notions of masculinity influence men’s uptake of HIV treatment, and how HIV diagnosis and/or its treatment, in turn, affects men’s perception of their masculinity. Thematic framework analysis identified recurrent themes and variations across the data. The thesis argues that there are, essentially, two forms of masculinity in rural Uganda, one based on reputation, the other on respectability, and that these emerge in different contexts, and have different effects on men’s behaviours regarding HIV testing and treatment. Respectable masculinities are endorsed largely by the wider society, while reputational masculinities are endorsed predominantly by the men themselves, although some ideals are shared by both. Theoretically, this categorisation is consistent with the distinction between the value systems of respectability and reputation as described by PJ Wilson (1969). Men’s dividuality (Helle-Valle 2004), allowed them to, unproblematically, adopt the different and sometimes contradictory, forms of masculinity, in different social circumstances and phases of life. Individual men can engage in a variety of HIV treatment seeking behaviours that typically correspond with different masculine ideologies and dividualities; some discouraging treatment seeking for HIV, others encouraging it. On the one hand, acknowledging illness is incompatible with men’s notion of strength. Being diagnosed with HIV threatens respectability and ability to work and earn an income, hence treatment is delayed, while couple testing threatens men’s freedom to engage in extramarital sex. On the other hand, HIV treatment may be undertaken and adhered to, in order to regain and maintain health, so as to fulfill family and societal expectations, notably that of provider and being a role model. Through the core themes of ‘dented’ and ‘resuscitated’ masculinities, this study suggests that HIV diagnosis negatively affected masculinity while treatment led to more positive ways to express masculinity

Determining the Causal Role of Malaria in Elevating Blood Pressure and Pulse Wave Velocity in Kenyan Adolescents and Adults

Introduction: High blood pressure is recognized as a leading risk factor for stroke and death in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). While many studies have examined the role of established risk factors such as obesity and salt consumption, less is known about other factors, such as infection, that could be of particular importance in sSA. Ambulatory blood pressure measurement has emerged as the optimal method in recent years in Western settings, but there has been limited use to date in sSA. This work presents the results of a study investigating whether malaria, which is widespread in sSA could contribute to the development of high blood pressure using ambulatory measurements. Methods: Preliminary work involved determining the prevalence of hypertension in Kilifi, Kenya and examining the population-level effects of using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for diagnosing hypertension. A literature review outlining the basis of the malaria-high blood pressure hypothesis and the Mendelian randomization method for testing the hypothesis was conducted. Sickle cell trait and alpha (+) thalassemia were chosen as instrumental variables to represent malaria exposure because they protect against malaria. Two studies were performed in Nairobi, Kenya among the same cohort to confirm that sickle-cell trait and alpha-thalassemia do not influence blood pressure in the absence of malaria and were therefore valid instrumental variables to test the malaria-high blood pressure hypothesis in Kilifi where there is malaria transmission. A Mendelian randomization study was then conducted in Kilifi, Kenya where 24-hour blood pressure and arterial stiffness indices were compared in individuals with and without sickle cell trait and alpha thalassemia. Results: The prevalence of hypertension in Kilifi, a rural area, was found to be as high as in urban areas of Kenya despite the low frequency of classical risk factors such as obesity and excessive salt consumption. Use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for diagnosing hypertension was found to improve the accuracy of detection of high blood pressure. Neither Sickle-cell trait (SCT) nor alpha+ thalassemia influenced blood pressure or arterial stiffness indices among adolescents that had been lifelong residents of Nairobi, where there is no malaria transmission. Among individuals that had been lifelong residents of Kilifi, Kenya where there has been on-going malaria transmission, blood pressure was found to be lower among individuals with SCT, which protects against malaria episodes compared to those without SCT. The difference in BP by SCT status was larger in women than in men. There were no significant differences in arterial stiffness based on SCT status. Conclusion: This work suggests that malaria contributes to the burden of hypertension in sSA, and the control of malaria may lead to a reduction in blood pressure in this group. Future work should focus on confirming the findings using alternative study designs such as examining blood pressure in cohorts born before and after complete malaria elimination in parts of the world where this has been achieved. Subsequent work would involve delineating the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in malaria induced BP elevation with a view to generating new drugs to control hypertension

Efficacy of Adaptation of Smallholder Maize Production to Climate Variability in Selected Countries of Kenya

Maize is a staple food for 96 percent of Kenyans. Smallholders supply up to 75 percent of maize produced in Kenya but are affected by unpredictable timing, duration, and distribution of rainfall, especially during the growing season. To enhance maize productivity adoption of robust adaptation measures is vital. The study aimed to evaluate the level of efficacy of adaptation of smallholder maize production to climate variability in Kitui and Laikipia counties. Data from 273 smallholder maize producers drawn from Kitui and Laikipia counties was analyzed. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on demographic, socio-economic characteristics, and adaptation choices. The level of efficacy of adaptation was derived based on the Multiple Criteria Evaluation. Results showed that the majority of smallholders in the study (47 percent) reported a low level of efficacy of adaptation most of whom were from Laikipia County (54 percent) as compared to Kitui County (44 percent). Overall, a very small proportion of smallholders reported a high level of efficacy of adaptation (7 percent).  The study concluded that the level of efficacy of adaptation of smallholder maize production to climate variability in semi-arid areas was low. The County Governments through the department of agriculture and environment could establish guidelines for a robust combination of adaptation choices to ensure the suitability and enhancement of maize production

Efficacy of Adaptation of Smallholder Maize Production to Climate Variability in Selected Countries of Kenya

Maize is a staple food for 96 percent of Kenyans. Smallholders supply up to 75 percent of maize produced in Kenya but are affected by unpredictable timing, duration, and distribution of rainfall, especially during the growing season. To enhance maize productivity adoption of robust adaptation measures is vital. The study aimed to evaluate the level of efficacy of adaptation of smallholder maize production to climate variability in Kitui and Laikipia counties. Data from 273 smallholder maize producers drawn from Kitui and Laikipia counties was analyzed. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on demographic, socio-economic characteristics, and adaptation choices. The level of efficacy of adaptation was derived based on the Multiple Criteria Evaluation. Results showed that the majority of smallholders in the study (47 percent) reported a low level of efficacy of adaptation most of whom were from Laikipia County (54 percent) as compared to Kitui County (44 percent). Overall, a very small proportion of smallholders reported a high level of efficacy of adaptation (7 percent).  The study concluded that the level of efficacy of adaptation of smallholder maize production to climate variability in semi-arid areas was low. The County Governments through the department of agriculture and environment could establish guidelines for a robust combination of adaptation choices to ensure the suitability and enhancement of maize production

Assessment of Usability Issues in Digital Financial Products in Ghana

Undergraduate thesis submitted to the Department of Computer Science, Ashesi University, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems, May 2022The proliferation of digital financial products, such as mobile money, has brought new opportunities for billions of people in developing countries to access financial services. Digital financial products are playing a crucial role in bridging the financial inclusion gap that exists between developed and developing countries. In Ghana, financial exclusion is more common among women and people living in rural areas. However, digital financial products on mobile phones (i.e., mobile banking and mobile money) and other platforms, such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and internet banking are accelerating financial inclusion in Ghana. Yet, there are challenges that users face when using digital financial products. In this thesis, we assess the usability issues in digital financial products. Our focus is on mobile money and popular mobile banking applications used by Ghanaians. The study provides user-centered design recommendations that interface designers, financial service providers, and other entrepreneurs can use to design apps that suit user needs and offer improved usability.Ashesi Universit

Efficacy of Adaptation of Smallholder Maize Production to Climate Variability in Selected Countries of Kenya

Maize is a staple food for 96 percent of Kenyans. Smallholders supply up to 75 percent of maize produced in Kenya but are affected by unpredictable timing, duration, and distribution of rainfall, especially during the growing season. To enhance maize productivity adoption of robust adaptation measures is vital. The study aimed to evaluate the level of efficacy of adaptation of smallholder maize production to climate variability in Kitui and Laikipia counties. Data from 273 smallholder maize producers drawn from Kitui and Laikipia counties was analyzed. A questionnaire was administered to collect data on demographic, socio-economic characteristics, and adaptation choices. The level of efficacy of adaptation was derived based on the Multiple Criteria Evaluation. Results showed that the majority of smallholders in the study (47 percent) reported a low level of efficacy of adaptation most of whom were from Laikipia County (54 percent) as compared to Kitui County (44 percent). Overall, a very small proportion of smallholders reported a high level of efficacy of adaptation (7 percent).  The study concluded that the level of efficacy of adaptation of smallholder maize production to climate variability in semi-arid areas was low. The County Governments through the department of agriculture and environment could establish guidelines for a robust combination of adaptation choices to ensure the suitability and enhancement of maize production

Comparison of bedside inoculation of culture media with conventional cerebrospinal fluid culture method in patients with bacterial meningitis

Background: The yield of bacterial cultures from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is very low. Bedside inoculation of culture media with CSF may improve yields. Objective: To compare the culture yield of CSF inoculated onto culture medium at the bedside to that of CSF inoculated onto culture medium in the microbiology laboratory. Design: Cross-sectional comparative study. Setting: Accident and Emergency Department and medical wards at Kenyatta National Hospital. Subjects: Cerebrospinal fluid from patients at KNH with a clinical diagnosis of acute meningitis. Results: Two hundred and twenty CSF specimens were obtained during a four monthperiod. S. pneumaniae was isolated from 24 CSF samples and H. influenzae from one. Bacterial cultures were positive in 25 (11.4%, 95% CI 7.0-15.6%) samples inoculated at the bedside and 23 (10.5%, 95% CI 6.5- 14.5%) samples inoculated at the laboratory.Bacteria were isolated 5 hours earlier in samples inoculated at the bedside (95% CI 4.34- 6.86 hrs,

The Malaria-High Blood Pressure Hypothesis.

RATIONALE: Several studies have demonstrated links between infectious diseases and cardiovascular conditions. Malaria and hypertension are widespread in many low- and middle-income countries, but the possible link between them has not been considered. OBJECTIVE: In this article, we outline the basis for a possible link between malaria and hypertension and discuss how the hypothesis could be confirmed or refuted. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed published literature on factors associated with hypertension and checked whether any of these were also associated with malaria. We then considered various study designs that could be used to test the hypothesis. Malaria causes low birth weight, malnutrition, and inflammation, all of which are associated with hypertension in high-income countries. The hypothetical link between malaria and hypertension can be tested through the use of ecological, cohort, or Mendelian randomization studies, each of which poses specific challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Confirmation of the existence of a causative link with malaria would be a paradigm shift in efforts to prevent and control hypertension and would stimulate wider research on the links between infectious and noncommunicable disease