Perceptions Regarding Formed Sexual Identities among Secondary School Students in Ubungo District

This study sought to investigate students’ and teachers’ perceptions regarding formed sexual identities among secondary school students in Ubungo District. Specifically, the study was guided by two objectives that sought to: determine the ways used to identify sexual identities and examine the reasons for accepting a particular sexual identity among secondary school students. Mixed research approach and convergent research design were employed to collect quantitative and qualitative data through questionnaires and interviews. Purposive and stratified sampling were also used to obtain a representative sample of 20 professional teachers and 232 adolescent students from selected schools. The obtained qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis and presented in quotes of respondents’ voices; while the quantitative ones were subjected to descriptive analysis that indicate frequencies and percentage and presented in tables. The findings indicate that students and teachers perceive formed sexual identities as sexual labels that are formed through comparing themselves with friends/same-sex peers, self-evaluation based on physical appearance and sexual feelings, adherence to the advice and sexual information obtained from parents/guardians and moralists like elders/religious leaders, or through searching certain sexual identity contents via social media accounts. Also, they are formed due to personal conviction toward homosexuality/bisexuality, addiction to same-sex sexual intercourse, obtained parental advice and sexual information, adherence to the natural law of sex, diminished sexual desire/arousal, moral and religious acceptability, early childhood experiences, and issues related to impotence. Therefore, it is recommended that parents/guardians and teachers should continue to advise adolescent students on matters of sexuality and prepare programs that will enrich students with possible ways to overcome identity confusions and appropriately recognize their identities.&nbsp

Analysis and Discussion Concerning Death

The analysis and discussion concerning death as intended by the Researcher depicts that death is an irreversible condition or state encountered by beings (all living creatures), due to a total dysfunction of the body organs. Such an irreversible condition is an enemy of human beings, which supersedes humanity, causing unexpected changes in life.  It came as a punishment of abusing the supernatural power and finally it became a fact of not living forever. By the use of different literatures, Interviews and Documents, the research explored diverse concerns of death and drew its conclusion. Some of those concerns are “how is death detected? What are the causatives of death? Does death have its remedy? Where are dead people? Why do we bury the dead? And what is next after death?” The findings reveal that Doctors prove death by assessing and measuring the vital signs such as Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate and Body Temperature. Moreover, the causatives of death include chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, ischemia, stroke, dehydration, infections and pain as well as old age. Those who encounter death are laid in the graves because God commanded it to be so and they produce unpleasant smell and stink. The remedy of it depends on the supernatural power that is believed to have ability of restoring the lost lives at consummation. That’s why Christians believe that on the second coming of Jesus Christ, all the dead shall rise. Hence, human beings have to be kin enough in lifetime, so that they may prolong a bit their lifespan through observance of health principles and guidelines

The Story of Swahili

Swahili was once an obscure dialect of an East African Bantu language. Today more than one hundred million people use it: Swahili is to eastern and central Africa what English is to the world. From its embrace in the 1960s by the black freedom movement in the United States to its adoption in 2004 as the African Union’s official language, Swahili has become a truly international language. How this came about and why, of all African languages, it happened only to Swahili is the story that John M. Mugane sets out to explore. The remarkable adaptability of Swahili has allowed Africans and others to tailor the language to their needs, extending its influence far beyond its place of origin. Its symbolic as well as its practical power has evolved from its status as a language of contact among diverse cultures, even as it embodies the history of communities in eastern and central Africa and throughout the Indian Ocean world. The Story of Swahili calls for a reevaluation of the widespread assumption that cultural superiority, military conquest, and economic dominance determine a language’s prosperity. This sweeping history gives a vibrant, living language its due, highlighting its nimbleness from its beginnings to its place today in the fast-changing world of global communication.https://ohioopen.library.ohio.edu/oupress/1013/thumbnail.jp

Married Couples’ Perceptions towards Marital Sex: A Case of Kihesa Ward in Iringa, Tanzania

This study sought to find how married couples perceived marital sex, using the survey Research Design. A total of 200 respondents came from selected marriages found in Kihesa Ward. Such number was obtained through the purposive sampling technique which was followed by effective distribution of questionnaires in gathering the information which was analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The study established that married couples perceived marital sex as a practice that binds them together emotionally and psychologically. It alienates prostate cancer, irregular menstrual cycles and cardiovascular diseases; it naturally communicates affection and love to the spouses, especially when done into satisfaction. It is helpful in the continuation of spouses’ generation after fusion of gametes, fertilization and conception have taken place. Moreover, married couples agreed that they enjoy doing sex with their spouses. Marital sex should take place in a form of penile-Vaginal penetration, because it is proven to be the most satisfying one as designed by the creator of humanity

Integrating telepsychiatry services in a care setting in Kenya: a case report

Globally, health providers and patients alike have been forced to adapt rapidly to the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although telepsychiatry has been tested and found just as effective as face-to-face care, there still remains little uptake of this form of care provision in sub-Saharan Africa. This case study highlights the use of telepsychiatry in a previously telemedicine-naive private mental health facility in Kenya. We describe the challenges and lessons learned from the experience. We conclude on the need to test the effectiveness and acceptability of this mode of therapy in sub-Saharan Africa

Use of mobile learning technology among final year medical students in Kenya

Introduction: Mobile phone penetration has increased exponentially over the last decade as has its application in nearly all spheres of life including health and medical education. This study aimed at assessing the use of mobile learning technology and its challenges among final year undergraduate students in the College of Health sciences, University of Nairobi. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among final year undergraduate students at the University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences. Self-administered, anonymous questionnaires were issued to all final year students in their lecture rooms after obtaining informed consent. Data on demographics, mobile device ownership and mobile learning technology use and its challenges was collected. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS®. Chi-square and t-test were used for bivariate analysis. Results: We had 292 respondents; 62% were medical students, 16% were nursing students, 13% were pharmacy students and 9% were dental surgery students. The majority were female (59%) and the average age was 24 years. Eighty eight percent (88%) of the respondents owned a smart device and nearly all of them used it for learning. 64% of the respondents used medical mobile applications. The main challenges were lack of a smart device, lack of technical know-how in accessing or using apps, sub-optimal internet access, cost of acquiring apps and limited device memory. Conclusion: Mobile learning is increasingly popular among medical students and should be leveraged in promoting access and quality of medical education.Pan African Medical Journal 2015; 2

Harnessing social media in mental health practice in Kenya: a community case study report

The use of social media to increase awareness on mental health is rapidly gaining momentum globally. However, despite evidence of a growing trend in social media use in sub Saharan Africa, little has been reported on tapping the potential of social media within a mental health practice to not only increase awareness but also facilitate linkage to specialist care. We describe one such mental health practice and its process of integration of the different social media platforms to promote mental health and increase linkage to specialist care. We further highlight the challenges and practical implication of social media use in the Kenyan setting. We conclude by advocating for this integration to raise awareness and also encourage peer support for persons with mental health problems and recommend research that measures the impact of such interventions in sub-Saharan Africa

The last frontier for global non-communicable disease action: The emergency department—A cross-sectional study from East Africa

Introduction: Deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have surpassed those due to communicable diseases globally and are projected to do so in Africa by 2030. Despite demonstrated effectiveness in high-income country (HIC) settings, the ED is a primary source of NCD care that has been under-prioritized in Africa. In this study, we assess the burden of leading NCDs and NCD risk factors in Kenyan Casualty Department patients to inform interventions targeting patients with NCDs in emergency care settings. Materials and methods: Using the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) tool and the Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), we conducted a survey of 923 adults aged 18 and over at Kenyatta National Hospital Emergency Department (KNH ED) between May-October 2018. Age, income, household size(t-test), sex, education, marital status, work status, and poverty status (chi-squared test or fisher’s exact test) were assessed using descriptive statistics and analyzed using covariate-adjusted logistic analysis. Results: Over a third of respondents had hypertension (35.8%, n = 225/628), 18.3% had raised blood sugar or diabetes (18.3%, n = 61/333), and 11.7% reported having cardiovascular disease (11.7%, n = 90/769). Having lower levels of education was associated with tobacco use (OR 6.0, 95% CI 2.808–12.618, p \u3c 0.0001), while those with higher levels of education reported increased alcohol use (OR 0.620 (95% CI 0.386–0.994, p = 0. 0472). While a predominant proportion of respondents had had some form of screening for either hypertension (80.3%, n = 630/772), blood sugar (42.6%, n = 334/767) or cholesterol (13.9%, n = 109/766), the proportion of those on treatment was low, with the highest proportion being half of those diagnosed with hypertension reporting taking medication (51.6%, n = 116/225). Conclusions: This study establishes the ED as a high-risk population with potential for high impact in East Africa, should targeted interventions be implemented. Comprehension of the unique epidemiology and characteristics of patients presenting to the ED is key to guide care in African populations

African Linguistics in Central and Eastern Europe, and in the Nordic Countries

Non peer reviewe