APPRECIATIVE PROJECT DESIGN ORIENTATION AND ORPHANED LEARNERS’ EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: PERSPECTIVES OF CARE GIVERS IN HOMA BAY COUNTY, KENYA

The purpose of the study was to examine the perspectives of care givers on the influence of appreciative project design orientation on the educational achievements of orphaned learners enrolled in orphan support projects in Homa County, Kenya. The cross-sectional study was grounded on pragmatism. A total of 363 care givers participated in the study. Care Givers’ Survey Questionnaire was used to collect data. To ensure validity and reliability of the research instrument, pilot testing was conducted in a community based orphan support project in the neigbouring Kisumu County. Cronbach alpha at α =0.05 level of significance was used to compute the reliability coefficient of the pre-test instruments. Simple, multiple linear regressions and Pearson Correlation Coefficient models were used. Tests of statistical assumptions were carried out before data analysis to avoid invalidation of statistical analysis. One hypothesis was tested at α=.05 level of significance. The null hypothesis (H01: Appreciative Project Design Orientation does not significantly influence Orphaned Learners’ Educational Achievements in Homa Bay County) was rejected since (F(10,353)= 11.1945.265, P –Value <0.05; and so it was safe to suggest that at least one of the explanatory variables is significantly related to the Orphaned Learners’ Educational Achievements. It is recommended that orphan support projects should integrate and intensify the use of appreciative project design orientation approaches to ensure sustainable educational achievements for orphaned learners. Since this study delimited itself to orphaned learners’ educational achievements, further research should be carried out to examine the extent to which appreciative project design orientation influence the educational achievements of orphaned learners’ test scores in examinable subjects.  Article visualizations

Stakeholder Empowerment and Implementation of Sustainable Community Food Security Projects in Nyando Basin, Kenya

Implementation of sustainable community food security projects is a major challenge not only in Kenya, but also in many developing countries affected by acute food insecurity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that stakeholder empowerment may have an influence on implementation of community food security projects. However, few studies have established the association between stakeholder empowerment and implementation of community. The study was conducted in the Nyando basin of Western Kenya. The Nyando basin is one of the regions in Kenya that experiences serious food insecurity. The perennial flooding and with the basin exposes the families and communities in the Nyando Basin not only to food insecurity but also to diseases that cumulatively affect the productive capacity of the families and communities living within the basin.  A cross-sectional study design was used. The target population was 769 people composed of members of three food security projects (cassava, sorghum and sweet potato projects), agricultural extension officers, county government officials, managers of non-governmental organizations providing technical support to community food security projects within the basin.  A sample size of 260 was computed using Krecjie and Morgan (1970) sample size estimation. Data was collected using questionnaire. Simple random sampling and stratified sampling procedures were used. Descriptive and inferential data were analysed. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, means and standard deviation, while inferential statistics included Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination, ANOVA and regression coefficients. There was statistically significant relationship between stakeholder empowerment and implementation of sustainable community food security projects ((r = 0.292 and p = 0.000; thus, p value of 0.000 < 0.05). It is recommended that stakeholder empowerment processes should be prioritized in community food security projects to make them sustainable. It is also recommended that stakeholder empowerment should be integrated in community food security policies and projects. Keywords: Stakeholder Empowerment, Food Security, Sustainable Community Food Security Projects, Nyando Basin. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-4-15 Publication date: February 29th 202

Experiences among adults and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic from four locations across Kenya—Study description

To control the spread of coronavirus, the COVID-19 National Emergency Response Committee (NERC) in Kenya, chaired by the Ministry of Health (MOH), has implemented prevention and mitigation measures. To inform the Government of Kenya’s shorter- and longer-term response strategies, the Population Council COVID-19 study team utilizes rapid phone-based surveys to collect information on knowledge, attitudes, practices and needs among a longitudinal cohort of heads of household sampled from existing prospective cohort studies. The first was carried out across five Nairobi urban informal settlements; the baseline survey (n=2,009) was conducted March 30–31 with subsequent follow-up surveys conducted April 13–14 (n=1,764), May 10-11 (n=1,750), and June 13-16 (n=1,529) (to be carried out one per subsequent quarter dependent on funding). Adolescents in the Nairobi cohort (n=1,022) were also interviewed in the June round of data collection. The survey was expanded to communities with existing prospective cohort studies in Wajir County (adults n=1,322 and adolescents n=1,234), Kilifi County (adults n=1,288 and adolescents n=1,178), and Kisumu County (adults n=858 and adolescents n=973), adapted for rural settings with the first round conducted between July–August 2020, the second between February–March 2021, and the third between June–August 2021

Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision: Translating Research into the Rapid Expansion of Services in Kenya, 2008–2011

Zebedee Mwandi and colleagues discuss Kenya's scale-up of voluntary medical male circumcision services, highlighting government leadership, a clear implementation strategy, and program flexibility and innovation as keys to Kenya's success

Use of Integrated Malaria Management Reduces Malaria in Kenya

BACKGROUND: During an entomological survey in preparation for malaria control interventions in Mwea division, the number of malaria cases at the Kimbimbi sub-district hospital was in a steady decline. The underlying factors for this reduction were unknown and needed to be identified before any malaria intervention tools were deployed in the area. We therefore set out to investigate the potential factors that could have contributed to the decline of malaria cases in the hospital by analyzing the malaria control knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) that the residents in Mwea applied in an integrated fashion, also known as integrated malaria management (IMM). METHODS: Integrated Malaria Management was assessed among community members of Mwea division, central Kenya using KAP survey. The KAP study evaluated community members' malaria disease management practices at the home and hospitals, personal protection measures used at the household level and malaria transmission prevention methods relating to vector control. Concurrently, we also passively examined the prevalence of malaria parasite infection via outpatient admission records at the major referral hospital in the area. In addition we studied the mosquito vector population dynamics, the malaria sporozoite infection status and entomological inoculation rates (EIR) over an 8 month period in 6 villages to determine the risk of malaria transmission in the entire division. RESULTS: A total of 389 households in Mwea division were interviewed in the KAP study while 90 houses were surveyed in the entomological study. Ninety eight percent of the households knew about malaria disease while approximately 70% of households knew its symptoms and methods to manage it. Ninety seven percent of the interviewed households went to a health center for malaria diagnosis and treatment. Similarly a higher proportion (81%) used anti-malarial medicines bought from local pharmacies. Almost 90% of households reported owning and using an insecticide treated bed net and 81% reported buying the nets within the last 5 years. The community also used mosquito reduction measures including, in order of preference, environmental management (35%), mosquito repellent and smoke (31%) insecticide canister sprays (11%), and window and door screens (6%). These methods used by the community comprise an integrated malaria management (IMM) package. Over the last 4 years prior to this study, the malaria cases in the community hospital reduced from about 40% in 2000 to less than 10% by 2004 and by the year 2007 malaria cases decreased to zero. In addition, a one time cross-sectional malaria parasite survey detected no Plasmodium infection in 300 primary school children in the area. Mosquito vector populations were variable in the six villages but were generally lower in villages that did not engage in irrigation activities. The malaria risk as estimated by EIR remained low and varied by village and proximity to irrigation areas. The average EIR in the area was estimated at 0.011 infectious bites per person per day. CONCLUSIONS: The usage of a combination of malaria control tools in an integrated fashion by residents of Mwea division might have influenced the decreased malaria cases in the district hospital and in the school children. A vigorous campaign emphasizing IMM should be adopted and expanded in Mwea division and in other areas with different eco-epidemiological patterns of malaria transmission. With sustained implementation and support from community members integrated malaria management can reduce malaria significantly in affected communities in Africa

Access to artesunate-amodiaquine, quinine and other anti-malarials: policy and markets in Burundi

BACKGROUND: Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in post-conflict Burundi. To counter the increasing challenge of anti-malarial drug resistance and improve highly effective treatment Burundi adopted artesunate-amodiaquine (AS-AQ) as first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria and oral quinine as second-line treatment in its national treatment policy in 2003. Uptake of this policy in the public, private and non-governmental (NGO) retail market sectors of Burundi is relatively unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate access to national policy recommended anti-malarials. METHODS: Adapting a standardized methodology developed by Health Action International/World Health Organization (HAI/WHO), a cross-sectional survey of 70 (24 public, 36 private, and 10 NGO) medicine outlets was conducted in three regions of Burundi, representing different levels of transmission of malaria. The availability on day of the survey, the median prices, and affordability (in terms of number of days' wages to purchase treatment) of AS-AQ, quinine and other anti-malarials were calculated. RESULTS: Anti-malarials were stocked in all outlets surveyed. AS-AQ was available in 87.5%, 33.3%, and 90% of public, private, and NGO retail outlets, respectively. Quinine was the most common anti-malarial found in all outlet types. Non-policy recommended anti-malarials were mainly found in the private outlets (38.9%) compared to public (4.2%) and NGO (0%) outlets. The median price of a course of AS-AQ was US$0.16 (200 Burundi Francs, FBu) for the public and NGO markets, and 3.5-fold higher in the private sector (US$0.56 or 700 FBu). Quinine tablets were similarly priced in the public (US$1.53 or 1,892.50 FBu), private and NGO sectors (both US$1.61 or 2,000 FBu). Non-policy anti-malarials were priced 50-fold higher than the price of AS-AQ in the public sector. A course of AS-AQ was affordable at 0.4 of a day's wage in the public and NGO sectors, whereas, it was equivalent to 1.5 days worth of wages in the private sector. CONCLUSIONS: AS-AQ was widely available and affordable in the public and NGO markets of hard-to-reach post-conflict communities in Burundi. However greater accessibility and affordability of policy recommended anti-malarials in the private market sector is needed to improve country-wide policy uptake

Dataset: COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices in urban slums in Nairobi, Kenya

To control the spread of coronavirus, the Kenyan Ministry of Health COVID-19 Taskforce has implemented initial prevention and mitigation measures. Of concern are the densely overcrowded, poor urban slums where sanitation and social distancing measures are near impossible. COVID-19 would spread rapidly and be devastating under these conditions. To inform the Taskforce strategy, the Population Council COVID-19 study team utilizes rapid phone-based surveys to collection information on knowledge, attitudes and practices among ~2,000 heads of household sampled from existing prospective cohort studies across five Nairobi urban slums. Iterations of the survey will be conducted every 1-2 weeks. Baseline findings on awareness of COVID-19 symptoms, perceived risk, awareness of and ability to carry out preventive behaviors, misconceptions, and fears will inform Taskforce interventions. In subsequent rounds, behavior change messages will be randomly assigned to measure effectiveness, or if randomization is not feasible, survey questions on exposure and response to government campaigns will be evaluated using causal inference approaches

Cumulative circumcisions done in Kenya, 2008–2011.

<p>Cumulative circumcisions done in Kenya, 2008–2011.</p

Monthly circumcisions done in Kenya, 2008–2011.

<p>Monthly circumcisions done in Kenya, 2008–2011.</p