FACTORS ENCOURAGING THE USE OF INSECTICIDE TREATED BED-NETS BY WOMEN FOR MALARIA CONTROL IN NDAVAYA AND KINANGO DIVISIONS IN KINANGO DISTRICT OF KENYA

ABSTRAC

Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions of Village Residents on the Health Risks Posed by Kadhodeki Dumpsite in Nairobi, Kenya.

This study sought to assess the knowledge, attitude and perceptions of the residents of Kadhodeki village on the health risks posed by the Kadhodeki dumpsite. Using households as units of sampling, a descriptive cross sectional survey was carried out in June 2012. Random data were collected using a face-to-face researcher administered structured questionnaire and 323 participants were interviewed. Chi square was used to determine the association between the different variables. Findings indicate that residents possess a significantly low knowledge and a positive attitude (χ2 (1) = 224.03, p < 0.01; χ2 (1) = 8.697, p < 0.01) towards the Kadhodeki dumpsite. They were however no differences in risk perceptions. Participant’s age, duration one had lived in the village and their level of education, were proxy measures of knowledge, attitude and perception. Odds ratio analysis indicates that age and duration did not influence participant’s knowledge, attitude or perceptions. Rudimentary however, education accounted for a non significant 28% variation in respondents’ attitude towards the health risks of the dumpsite (OR= 1.282; CI 0.828- 1.997). Also adequate education significantly accounted for 67% variation in respondents’ health risk perception (OR= 1.671; CI 1.304-2.140). This study would recommend that the ministry of Health come up with health education programmes for the general population on the dangers of uncontrolled waste disposal sites

Use of insecticide treated nets among caregivers of children under five years in Makueni District, Kenya

Background: Insecticide treated nets (ITNs) have been identified as a key strategy in addressing malaria problem among young children and pregnant women. Their utilisation among under fives, however, have been found to be low in some areas. Objective: To identify factors affecting net utilisation (sleeping under insecticide treated net) among caregivers of under fives in Makueni District in Kenya.Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study.Setting: Eight sub-locations in Wote division Makueni district.Subjects: Four hundred caregivers of children aged five years and below.Results: The results indicated that 88.5% of caregivers were aware of ITNs. The proportion of households with children below five years that owned mosquito net were found to be 46.2%, and only 32.0% had at least a treated net. Slightly more than half of treated nets were used by under fives (52.2%) compared to 47.8% used by children over five years including adults. The main reason cited by majority of caregivers as a hindrance to net utilisation was lack of treated nets in households (72.3%). Utilisation of ITNs by under five children was found to be positively associated with knowledge of ITNs (p=0.024), marital status (p=0.018) and occupation (p=0.043).Conclusion: Utilisation of ITNs by under fives was low despite high level of awareness among caregivers. Factors such as awareness of ITNs, marital status and occupation significantly affected ITNs utilisation. Although the government with support from other stakeholders has recently embarked on large scale distribution of nets in high risky districts, more interventions from various stakeholders are needed to increase availability and accessibility of subsidised permanently treated nets, including interventions to address non-compliance to proper utilisation of nets. There is also need for intensive education emphasising on their proper and consistent use. Scaling up proper use of ITNs along with other initiatives can contribute significantly in reducing malaria

Determinants OF HIV-vct utilization among secondary schools teachers in Thika District, Kenya.

Background: HIV/AIDS is a global health problem whose emergence has introduced new dimensions to health care delivery worldwide including Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT). Despite its proven benefits, high knowledge of VCT and its availability, its uptake is varied and often poor. It is commonly argued that teachers in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have relatively high HIV prevalence rates than the general population. AIDS is claiming teachers more quickly than they can be trained in many countries and is the leading cause of death among teachers in the SSA countries.Objective: To identify determinants of HIV-VCT uptake amongst secondary schools teachers.Method: A cross-sectional survey involving 246 secondary school teachers randomly selected in Thika district, central Kenya.Results: HIV-VCT utilization among secondary school teachers was 30.5%. The younger and less experienced teachers were more likely to utilize HIV-VCT services than the older and more experienced ones (Likelihood ratio, P = 0.004). Private school teachers were more likely to utilize HIV-VCT services than those of the public schools (OR = 2.356, 95% CI limit, 1.082-5.128). Teachers who were scared by the HIV prevalence in their area were three times less likely to utilize HIV-VCT services (OR = 0.312, 95% CI, 0.104- 0.936). The teachers who had not sought HIV-VCT service were less likely to perceive HIV-VCT services as beneficial (Likelihood ratio, P =0.027). Various factors were identified as barriers to HIV-VCT uptake; most of them were post test implicated. A number of factors that made some teachers to seek HIV-VCT services were also identified; HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and urges ‘to know status’ were most cited factors.Conclusion: Although HIV-VCT utilization among secondary school teachers was higher than that of the general public, at 30.5% was still low. Various factors were found to influence HIV-VCT uptakeKeywords;Determinants of HIV-VCT Utilization

Social Networks and Decision Making for Clandestine Unsafe Abortions: Evidence from Kenya

Little is known about the role of social networks in promoting clandestine abortions. This study investigated the role social networks play in decision making for and facilitation of clandestine abortions. It was a mixed method study in which 320 women treated for complications of unsafe abortions were interviewed in a cross sectional survey to determine their consultation with social networks and how this ended up in clandestine abortions. Information obtained was supplemented with information from focus group discussions, case studies and key informant interviews. It was found that 95% of women consulted their social networks as part of decision making before aborting clandestinely and unsafely. The man responsible for pregnancy, friend of same sex and woman’s mother were the most consulted at 64%, 32% and 23% respectively. 92% of advice was for the woman to abort. The man responsible for pregnancy and the woman’s mother were the most influential advisors (p˂0.05). Intermediaries linked the woman to clandestine and unsafe abortion and included agents and previous clients of clandestine abortion providers and the woman’s friends and relatives. Decision making and seeking for clandestine abortion were therefore found to be shared responsibilities. It is recommended that programs for reducing unsafe abortions be designed with this fact in mind. Keywords: abortion decisions, social influence, health seeking behavio