Epidemiology of head injuries and helmet use among motorcycle crash injury: a quantitative analysis from a local hospital in Western Kenya

Introduction: injury from motorcycle is a considerable cause of deaths and disability in the world. It is becoming one of the most serious public health problems, not only in developed countries but more in low and middle-income countries. Methods: descriptive cross sectional study for patients who sustained head injuries related to motorcycle crashes between March 2017 and March 2018. Participant bio data, injury history and neurological examination findings were collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaires. Frequencies, Mean (SD) and chi-square was employed in the analysis. Results were considered significant at p<0.05. Results: a total of 341 motorcycle crash injury patients participated in the study. One hundred and forty three (42%), sustained head injuries while 198 (58%) sustained other types of injury. In regard to safety helmets, 94 (28%) wore helmets at the time of crash. One hundred and forty three (42%), of the respondents without helmets at the time of crash sustained head injuries. Riders and passengers who wore helmets at the time of motorcycle crash, suffered less frequent head injuries compared to those who did not wear helmets and this was statistically significant (χ2=55.78, P<0.00). Non use of safety helmet during crash was associated with sustaining mild to severe head injury. Most of the crashes 165 (48.3%), occurred as a result of collision between motorcycles versus vehicle. Majority of the crashes occurred in the afternoon hours 174 (51%). The days of the week recording the highest number of injuries were Friday (16.1%) and Monday (15.8%). The day of Involvement in motorcycle crash during the week was not significantly associated with head injury (χ2=13.103, p=0.785). Conclusion: majority of motorcycle crash injury victims sustained head injury. Few of the victims used safety helmets at the time of the motorcycle crash. Use of helmets was protective of sustaining mild to severe head injuries among crash injury victims

Effects of Recycled Tyre Steel Fibres on the Compressive, Splitting Tensile and Flexural Strengths of Structural Lightweight Concrete Using Palm Kernel Shells as Partial Replacement of Coarse Aggregates

The improper handling and disposal of waste tyres in many African countries is still a serious problem which has caused environmental and health hazards. Like waste tyres, the proper reuse of agricultural wastes, such as palm kernel shells, is also a challenge as the production has increased over the years. In the field of civil engineering, effort have been made to recycle waste tyres and palm kernel shells in concrete production to mitigate some of the environmental problems arising from these wastes. The recycling of such waste for civil engineering applications has been heightened with the development of new technologies. This study was carried out to evaluate and assess the effects of recycled tyre steel fibres and palm kernel shells on the compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strengths of structural lightweight concrete, using recycled tyre steel fibres for reinforcement and palm kernel shells as partial replacement of coarse aggregates. Recycled tyres steel fibres were added in normal-weight concrete at 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% (Viz., 6, 12 and 18 kg/m3) content and aspect ratio of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% to determine the optimal fibres content and aspect ratio. The results show that recycled tyres steel fibres obtained from pyrolysis can improve the compressive and splitting strengths of normal-weight concrete. The optimal fibres content and aspect ratio were used with palm kernel shells at 25, 50, and 75% content to determine the optimal partial replacement of coarse aggregates with palm kernel shells. The maximum compressive and splitting tensile strengths values were obtained at an aspect ratio of 80, palm kernel shell content of 25% and steel content of 0.50%. Normal-weight concrete strength values in flexure were higher than lightweight concrete made with optimal values. Additionally, beams with 25 and 50% content of palm kernel shells with optimal fibre content and aspect ratios qualified as structural lightweight concrete. Keywords: palm kernel shells, recycled tyres steel fibres, waste tyres, lightweight concrete, normal-weight concrete, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength. DOI: 10.7176/CER/11-6-06 Publication date:July 31st 201

Mechanical Properties of Compressed Earth Block Stabilized with Sugarcane Molasses and Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer

This research aims to investigate the mechanical performance of compressed earth blocks (CEBs) stabilized by a combination of metakaolin-based geopolymer (MKG) and sugarcane molasses (SM), to remedy the limitations present in CEBs stabilized with MKG alone. Two schemes of stabilization were used. In the first, the optimum MKG content for stabilizing CEB was partially substituted with various percentages of SM (10% MKG + 0% SM, 8% MKG + 2% SM, 6% MKG + 4% SM, 4% MKG + 6% SM, 2% MKG + 8% SM). The second stabilization scheme consisted of fixing 5% MKG and varying SM from 2% to 8% (5% MKG + 0% SM, 5% MKG + 2% SM, 5% MKG + 4% SM, 5% MKG + 6% SM, 5% MKG + 8% SM). The mechanical properties of the CEBs stabilized with SM and MKG were analyzed in terms of compressive strength, dry density, and water absorption. The test results showed that the combination of MKG and SM for stabilizing CEBs was not as effective as MKG alone in increasing the compressive strength of CEBs. However, this combination solved the high porosity of CEBs stabilized with just MKG by increasing their dry density and decreasing their water absorption capacity. In terms of compressive strength and water absorption, the optimum values were obtained respectively with 5% MKG + 4% SM (4.163 MPa at 28 days) and 6% MKG + 4% SM (8.73% at 28 days). Therefore, the suggested innovative stabilization approach is suitable for improving the overall mechanical properties of CEBs and addressing the shortcomings of CEBs stabilized only with MKG. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-04-012 Full Text: PD

Correlates of contraceptive use among HIV discordant couples in Kenya

Despite risks of HIV transmission to infants born of the HIV positive women, contraceptive use is uncommon among women in HIV discordant partnerships. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with contraceptive use in a clinical trial cohort of HIV serodiscordant couples based in Thika and Eldoret, Kenya. Data were analyzed from 481 HIV discordant couples enrolled in the Partners in Prevention HSV/HIV Transmission Study at the Thika and Eldoret sites. The primary study outcome was self-reported use of contraception other than condoms. Using a marginal longitudinal logistic model based on generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach we assessed the association of various demographic and behavioral factors with contraceptive use. At baseline the prevalence of non barrier contraceptive use among HIV positive and negative women was 24.3% and 25.7%, respectively. At month 12 of follow-up, the prevalence of contraceptive use was 44.4% among the HIV positive and 26% among the HIV negative women while at month 24, the prevalence of contraceptive use was 38.6% among the HIV positive and 18.2% among the HIV negative women. HIV positive women were more likely to report using contraception than HIV negative women (odds ratio (OR) 1.61 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-2.47). Additionally, being married (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-5.0), attending Thika site clinic (OR 6.1, 95% CI 4.2-9.0), and having two or more children (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8) were significantly associated with use of non barrier contraceptives. Future programs should focus on interventions to increase contraceptive use among HIV serodiscordant couples, with a special emphasis on HIV negative women, unmarried women and women with few children

Towards a Common Vision of Climate Security in Kenya

The security implications of climate variability and change, commonly referred to as the climate-security nexus, have been widely discussed in both policy circles and academia. While climate is rarely the sole cause of conflict, it can exacerbate conflict risks and outcomes by affecting societies’ economic performance, amplifying patterns of marginalization and exclusion, and challenging the capacity of already strained institutions (von Uexkull & Buhaug, 2021). Because of its significant dependence on rain-fed agriculture, with high seasonal variations in the availability of water and pasture and high levels of political fragility, the Horn of Africa has often been portrayed as one of the regions more likely to suffer from climate-related political instability (Krampe et al., 2020). Kenya, in particular, has been the subject of several studies by research institutes and international organizations that explore whether and how climate change may affect peace and security in the country. While climate impacts will increasingly have destabilizing effects on societies and communities across Kenya, the question of how this is happening remains partially unaddressed. This report presents and summarizes the findings of the first ClimBeR Climate Security Workshop held in Nairobi on the 22nd and 23rd of June 2022