Impact of internalized stigma on HIV prevention behaviors among HIV-infected individuals seeking HIV care in Kenya

In general, an initial diagnosis of HIV is likely to be correlated with the onset of HIV stigma. HIV-positive individuals are likely to internalize stigma, may suffer from psychosocial issues, or engage in maladaptive behaviors to cope with the diagnosis. Internalized stigma stems from fear of stigmatization also known as felt stigma. The current study examined the impact of HIV felt stigma on overall health and success of HIV prevention behaviors among 370 participants living with HIV and receiving care at an urban HIV clinic in Kenya. An 18-item instrument was cross culturally adapted to measure felt stigma. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses examined the data. Findings indicate that 25.9% (n=96) of participants who reported experiencing high levels of felt stigma related to other people's attitudes toward their condition, ostracizing, and a disruption of their personal life, were likely to not adhere to prescribed HIV medication and not disclose their HIV serostatus to one other person. Those who also experienced felt stigma related to a disruption of their personal lives while mediated by depression were likely to report poor overall health. Findings support having HIV clinics and interventions develop relevant HIV prevention strategies that focus on the emerging dimensions of felt stigma which can significantly impact disclosure of serostatus, medication adherence, and overall health

A comparison of serum biochemical changes in two breeds of sheep (Red Masai and Dorper) experimentally infected with Fasciola Gigantica

Twelve Red Masai and 12 Dorper sheep aged between 6 and 9 months, were acquired from a flukefree area and sheep of each breed divided into two equal groups of six. Each animal in one group of each breed was experimentally infected with 400 viable metacercariae of Fasciola gigantica. The other groups acted as uninfected controls. Blood samples were taken at weekly intervals for the determination of serum bilirubin, albumin, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels. Following the establishment of infection, albumin levels declined in both breeds of infected animals without any significant difference between the two breeds. However, serum bilirubin and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the infected animals were elevated significantly more in the Dorper than in the Red Masai sheep. Based on these findings, it would appear that Dorper sheep are more susceptible to the infection than Red Masai sheep.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat v.9 was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).mn201

Some Causes of Poor Performance and Chick Mortality in Farmed Ostriches in Alabama (USA) and Kenya

Commercial ostrich farming is rapidly becoming a desirable alternative source of profitable meat production among smallholder farmers. However, ostrich ranching, particularly, ostrich production is severely constrained by a very high chick mortality rate (up to 40 %). To help rural farmers including those in the developed countries such a s United States of America gain a successful foothold in this potentially lucrative farming enterprise, the causes of chick mortality must be identified and controlled. The present collaborative study was designed to characterize and compare disease causes of mortality in chicks in smallholder ratite farms in Macon and adjoining Counties of Alabama and some selected localities in Kenya. The study established that, in both Alabama (USA) and Kenya, ostrich farmers incur losses of considerable magnitude from a wide range of causes, some of which could not be established. Losses are experienced right from the embryonic stages whereby embryos may develop poorly causing death before hatching. In USA, hatchability was 72 % while in Kenya; hatchability was only 56 % on average. In Kenya, a high mortality rate in the early weeks of life (< 3 weeks) [27-40%] was noted. Pathogens isolated at postmortem from inflamed tissues and septic yolk sacs were mainly common bacteria [abstract truncated]. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 28 2005: pp. 6-1

A ¤comparison of serum biochemical changes in two breeds of sheep (Red Masai and Dorper) experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica

Twelve Red Masai and 12 Dorper sheep aged between 6 and 9 months, were acquired from a flukefree area and sheep of each breed divided into two equal groups of six. Each animal in one group of each breed was experimentally infected with 400 viable metacercariae of Fasciola gigantica. The other groups acted as uninfected controls. Blood samples were taken at weekly intervals for the determination of serum bilirubin, albumin, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels. Following the establishment of infection, albumin levels declined in both breeds of infected animals without any significant difference between the two breeds. However, serum bilirubin and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) in the infected animals were elevated significantly more in the Dorper than in the Red Masai sheep. Based on these findings, it would appear that Dorper sheep are more susceptible to the infection than Red Masai sheep.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat v.9 was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).mn201

Dietary patterns and dental caries in nursery school children in Nairobi, Kenya

(East African Medical Journal, 2001: 78 (12): 673-677

Oedema (exudative diathesis) in Ostriches in Kenya

Ostriches of various ages, unhatched embryos and chicks found to have oedema during postmortem examination are described here. Unhatched eggs and chicks originated from a commercial farm, where there was a complaint of poor hatchability of eggs and high chick mortality. Of 35 embryos examined, 29 (82.9%) had severe subcutaneous oedema either generalized (23) or localized (6). Of 311 chicks, 232 (74.6%) had oedema of varying degrees of severity. In 10 chicks, the oedema was subcutaneous and severe, in 5 it was only serous effusions in body cavities and in 217 it was manifested as wetness of subcutaneous tissues. Adult and juvenile ostriches originated from three farms, where they were kept as pets. Of 22 birds, 16 (72.7%) developed a general sickness and 10 (62>3%) of them died. Postmortem examination revealed emaciation and either subcutaneous oedema or serous effusion in body cavities. Additional lesions included combinations of steatites, haemorrhages and pneumonia. The sick birds responded to improved diets that were also supplemented with multivitamins and minerals. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 28 2005: pp. 11-1