Prevalence of psychological symptoms amongst spinal cord injury survivors in selected counties in Kenya

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological symptoms amongst spinal cord injury survivors, in Nairobi, Nakuru and Machakos Counties in Kenya. Design: A cross-sectional study Setting: Community Main outcome measure: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) version 21 was used to measure the dimensions of depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS). Subjects: 186 rehabilitated spinal cord injury survivors (SCI). Methods: The data regarding socio-demographic characteristics were obtained using a standardized questionnaire. The data were then analysed using SPSS version 25 for the descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A prevalence rate of 69.35% (n=129) of psychological symptoms (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) was recorded. Majority were male, young and lowly educated. Correlation analysis indicated that males 46.77% (n=87; p-value=0.117) had a higher prevalence of psychological symptoms after SCI rehabilitation compared to women 22.58 % (n=42; p-value=0.148). Regression analysis revealed that there was moderate and statistically significance (r=0.531, p-value=.000) relationship between age and depression, similarly between anxiety (r=0.611, p-value=.000) and stress (r=0.602, p-value=.000). Socio-demographic characteristics play significant influence on psychological symptom status for the participants with 94.7% variation (R2=.947). Conclusion: Psychological symptoms were common amongst the participants and poor young male adults with low education. This study highlights the need for psychological care during and after rehabilitation

Prevalence and characterization of musculoskeletal disorders amongst women attending antenatal clinics at selected health facilities in Nairobi Kenya

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and to characterize Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) amongst women attending antenatal clinics (ANC) at selected health facilities in Nairobi, Kenya. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study with multi-stage random sampling Setting: Antenatal clinics. Main outcome measures: Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) was used to screen musculoskeletal discomfort. Subjects: 287 pregnant women Method: Data concerning socio-demographic characteristics were obtained using a NMQ. It was then analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A prevalence rate of 78.4 % (n=225) MSDs was recorded. Majority of women 79.1% (n= 178), reported lower quadrant disorders with only 20% (n=45) reporting both upper and lower quadrants disorders. The most prevalent MSDs were lower back pain (LBP) (54%; n=155), hips/thigh/buttocks pains (49.5%; n=142) and ankles/feet pains (41.5%; n= 119). Wrists and hands (11.85%, n= 34) MSDs were common in the upper quadrant. Over a half of the participants (55.1%, n=124) reported MSDs in third trimester (24-36 weeks), while 27.6% (n=62) and 17.3 % (n=39) in the second (12-24 weeks) and first (1-12 weeks) respectively. There was a  statistically significant association between having upper back (p= 0.049), LBP (p< 0.001) and hip/thighs/buttocks (p< 0.001) MSDs and the gestation stages. Conclusion: Over 3 out of 4 women attending ANC have MSDs. Advancement in gestation weeks characterized increase in prevalence of MSDs. The study highlights the importance of developing ANC programs that would enable women cope with pregnancy-related MSDs changes

Managing phosphate rock to improve nutrient uptake, phosphorus use efficiency, and carrot yields

The objectives of this study were to assess (a) the efficiency of lemon and pineapple juices and the concentration and time needed to release more than 50% of available phosphorus from phosphate rock (PR), and (b) the effect of different types of PR management on carrot yields, nutrient uptake, and phosphorus use efficiency. Field trials were set up at two sites with humic andosols and orthic acrisols over two seasons in Kenya. In a randomized complete block design, replicated three times, the following treatments were compared: (i) composted dissolved PR in lemon juice; (ii) powdered PR composted; (iii) dissolved PR in lemon juice added to compost; (iv) powdered PR and compost; (v) triple superphosphate and compost; (vi) compost alone; (vii) triple superphosphate and Tithonia diversifolia mulch; with (viii) un-amended soil as a control. Lemon juice was effective in solubilizing PR, releasing 63% of the total phosphorus applied into available phosphorus, compared to 11% for pineapple juice and 6% for water. The combined application of compost and PR dissolved in lemon juice at planting significantly increased phosphorus and potassium uptake, phosphorus use efficiency, and carrot yields that was comparable to the use of triple superphosphate and compost. The study concludes that the dissolution of phosphate rock with lemon juice at a ratio of 1:5 phosphate rock to lemon juice and its combined application (immediately after dissolution) with compost at planting improves nutrient uptake, phosphorus use efficiency, and crop yields. We recommend further studies to explore the possibility of using citrus peels or other acidic organic materials to enhance the solubility of phosphate rock, and to assess their practical feasibility and the economic advantage(s) in the large-scale production of high value crops