A Qualitative Study on Alcohol and Drug Abuse among Undergraduate (University Students) in The Coastal Region of Kenya

BACKGROUND: Substance use poses a significant threat to the health, social and economic fabric of families, communities and nations. In Kenya, alcohol and drug abuse has been identified as a hindrance to education, development and by extension, to national development. Alcohol and drug abuse has been associated with crime and indiscipline e.g. poor class attendance, poor performance, school dropout and destructive strikes that lead to damage the institution property or even death. Alcohol and drug abusers are also likely to lower their morals and engage in risky sexual activities that can lead to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infection and AIDS. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study therefore was to explore on the perceptions and the magnitude of substance abuse among undergraduate (University students) in the two public Universities in the coastal region of Kenya. Also find amicable solutions to curb the menace that can destroy the future of a generation aged between 18–29 years at the peak of their life. METHODOLOGY: This was a qualitative study involving undergraduate (University students), dean of students and counsellors from Pwani University and Technical University of Mombasa. Focus Group Discussions(FGDs) and Key informant interviews were used to collect data. The number of KIIs was guided by data saturation. Thematic analysis was done by identifying, coding, and categorizing patterns or themes found in the data. RESULTS: The problem of alcohol and substance abuse among undergraduate students was a reality. The commonly abused substances were alcohol, miraa (khat), marijuana (cannabis) and cigarettes. Some of the factors predisposing students to abuse drugs were; easy accessibility to drugs, peer pressure, availability of funds, excess freedom, male gender, stress, not being active in religious activities, poor parenting and the African culture that uphold substances such as alcohol as an acceptable social drink. Participants noted that alcohol and drug abuse had led to various negative effects. The major ones affecting the students being poor performance, risky sexual behaviour, and mental disturbances. Participants suggested that Universities ought to intensify awareness campaigns to sensitize students against substance use. CONCLUSION: The commonly abused substances were alcohol, marijuana, miraa (Khat) and tobacco. Alcohol and drug abuse has left a negative impact among undergraduates (university students). The main consequences being; discontinuation of studies, mental disturbances and risky sexual activities. All stakeholders must take action creating awareness among students on the negative effects of substance abuse. Universities should set up programs with an aim to curb substance abuse in the institutions of higher learning. The government should reinforce the set laws and regulations and deal with trafficking of illicit substances into the country. Keywords: Alcohol and drug abuse, substance abuse, undergraduate students, qualitative study, Keny

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus infection by age and cervical cytology in Thika, Kenya

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections cause cervical cancer and premalignant dysplasia. Data on HPV and cervical cancer in Kenya are scarce. Type-specific HPV prevalence data provides a basis for assessing the impact of HPV vaccination programs on cervical cytology and how HPV based screening will influence cervical cancer prevention. To investigate HPV infections in a population in Kenya, we obtained cervical cells specimen from 498 women in a population in Thika district. We report HPV type specific prevalence and distribution data for 498 women (age range 18-74 years; mean age 36 years) recruited into the study in relation to age and cervical cytology. The study was conducted between January to May 2010. Pap smears were performed, HR HPV DNA were detected by Digene Hybrid capture 2® (hc2) test and HPV genotyping was performed with Multiplex Luminex HPV genotyping kit (Multimetrix, Progen, Germany). Samples from 106 women (21.3%) tested positive for HPV. Multiple HPV types were detected in 40 (37.7% of HC2-positive samples) and the rest had infection with single HPV type. The most common HR HPV type at all ages was HPV16, 52, 56, 66, and 18. There was a marked decline in the prevalence of HR-HPV with age. The pattern of HR HPV distribution in this population was slightly different from existing literature, which has important consequences for HPV vaccination and prevention programs

Silica vesicles increase stability of Salmonella-specific phages isolated from chicken in environments mimicking the gastrointestinal tract

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) enterica serovar Enteritidis is one of the major causes of foodborne infections worldwide. This NTS serovar is mainly transmitted to humans through poultry products. Bacteriophages (phages) are a promising alternative to antibiotics to reduce NTS incidences in poultry farms. The ability to survive the harsh environment encountered in the chicken gastrointestinal tract (GIT), such as low pH, high temperature and enzymatic digestion, can be valuable in selecting phages with high therapeutic potential. In this study, we characterized 13 newly isolated Kenyan S. Enteritidis-specific phages for their ability to survive in pH-adjusted media, different temperatures, and simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF and SIF, respectively). Furthermore, we evaluated the possibility of using silica vesicles (SV) to increase the stability of these phages in these environments. All phages were relatively stable from pH 4 to 12 and from 25℃ to 42℃ following 12 hours of incubation. At pH 3, phages lost up to 3 logs in viral titres after three hours of incubation. They remained more stable at pH 9, with phage titres 2 logs higher than at pH 3. In SGF, they were stable for 20 minutes; afterwards, they started losing their viability up to 5 logs, while they were relatively stable in SIF for up to two hours. Moreover, significant differences were observed among the different phages in surviving these environments. Encapsulating phages with SV demonstrated a slow but long rate of phage release upon adsorption for 96 hours. Preliminary data indicate that SV 140 C18 can protect phages longer than other silica vesicles tested. In contrast, free phages in SGF had an average reduction of 7 logs PFU/ml after 60 minutes of incubation. These data suggest that a number of these phages can potentially survive through the chicken GIT and that SV can be an ideal technology to prolong the stability of phages in acidic environments

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers

Salmonella Enteritidis bacteriophages isolated from Kenyan poultry farms demonstrate time-dependent stability in environments mimicking the chicken gastrointestinal tract

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica Enteritidis is one of the major causes of foodborne illnesses worldwide. This non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovar is mainly transmitted to humans through poultry products. Bacteriophages (phages) offer an alternative to antibiotics for reducing the incidence of MDR NTS in poultry farms. Phages that survive the harsh environment of the chicken gastrointestinal tract (cGIT), which have low pH, high temperatures, and several enzymes, may have a higher therapeutic or prophylactic potential. In this study, we analysed the stability of 10 different S. Enteritidis phages isolated from Kenyan poultry farms in different pH-adjusted media, incubation temperatures, as well as simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF and SIF, respectively). Furthermore, their ability to persist in water sources available in Kenya, including river, borehole, rain and tap water, was assessed. All phages were relatively stable for 12 h at pHs ranging from 5 to 9 and at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 42 °C. At pH 3, a loss in viral titre of up to three logs was observed after 3 h of incubation. In SGF, phages were stable for 20 min, after which they started losing infectivity. Phages were relatively stable in SIF for up to 2 h. The efficacy of phages to control Salmonella growth was highly reduced in pH 2- and pH 3-adjusted media and in SGF at pH 2.5, but less affected in SIF at pH 8. River water had the most significant detrimental effect on phages, while the other tested waters had a limited impact on the phages. Our data suggest that these phages may be administered to chickens through drinking water and may survive cGIT to prevent salmonellosis in poultry

Enhanced utilization of biotechnology research and development innovations in Eastern and Central Africa for agroecological intensification

The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) through its Agrobiodiversity and Biotechnology Programme is enhancing the utilization of biotechnology research and development innovations in Eastern and Central Africa (ECA). We present successes in the application of biotechnology to enhance the productivity of cassava, sweet potato, banana, maize and sorghum in ECA. These products—drought tolerant maize, sorghum resistant to striga, as well as the technology for producing and distributing disease free planting materials of cassava, sweet potato and banana to farmers—are central for the agro-ecological intensification of farming systems in the central African highlands