Predictors of post-partum family planning uptake in Webuye Hospital, western Kenya

Background: A short inter-pregnancy interval increases the risk for maternal and neonatal deaths in addition to other pregnancy complications including: preterm delivery, low birth weight, anaemia and premature rupture of membranes. However, only one half of Kenyan women, who have no desire to conceive immediately after birth, are using contraception one year after delivery.   Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of uptake of post-partum family planning (PPFP).   Setting: The study was conducted among post-partum women accompanying their children for their first measles vaccination at Webuye County Hospital (WCH), in western Kenya.   Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 259 randomly sampled post-partum women, accompanying their children for their first measles vaccination. A structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of PPFP uptake.   Results: The uptake of PPFP among women at 9 months post-partum at WCH was found to be 78.4% ± 5.0%. The odds of PPFP uptake among women living with their sexual partners was 88.2% less than among those not living with their partners with the true population effect between 97% and 51% (OR = 0.118; 95% CI: 0.028–0.494; p = 0.003).   Conclusions: Not living with her sexual partner in the same house is the key predictor of a woman’s PPFP uptake in WCH. This study recommends that any programme aimed at improving post-partum contraceptive use in WCH should target women who live with their partners in the same house

African Head and Neck Society Clinical Practice guidelines for thyroid nodules and cancer in developing countries and limited resource settings

Background International thyroid nodule and cancer management guidelines generally fail to take into account potential limitations in diagnostic and treatment resources. Methods Thyroid cancer specialists from the African Head and Neck Society and American Head & Neck Society Endocrine Section developed guidelines for diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and cancer in low resource settings. Recommendations were based on literature review and expert opinion, with level of evidence defined. Results Using the ADAPTE process, diagnostic and treatment algorithms were adapted from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Low resource settings were simulated by systematically removing elements such as availability of laboratory testing, hormone replacement, imaging, and cytopathology from NCCN guidelines. Conclusions Successful management of thyroid nodules and cancer in low resource settings requires adaptation of treatment methodologies. These guidelines define specific scenarios where either more or less aggressive intervention for thyroid pathology may be advisable based on limited available resources

What challenges hamper Kenyan family physicians in pursuing their family medicine mandate? A qualitative study among family physicians and their colleagues

BACKGROUND: Since 2005, Kenyan medical universities have been training general practitioners, providing them with clinical, management, teaching and research skills, in order to enhance access to and quality of health care services for the Kenyan population. This study assesses what expectations family physicians, colleagues of family physicians and policy makers have of family medicine, what expectations family physicians live up to and which challenges they face. METHODS: Family physicians were observed and interviewed about their expectations and challenges concerning family medicine. Expectations among their colleagues were assessed through focus group discussions. Policy makers’ expectations were assessed by analysing the governmental policy on family medicine and a university’s curriculum. RESULTS: Roles perceived for and performed by family physicians included providing comprehensive care, health care management, teaching, and to a lesser extent community outreach and performing research. Challenges faced by family physicians were being posted in situations where they are regarded as just another type of specialist, lack of awareness of the roles of family physicians among colleagues, lack of time, lack of funds and inadequate training. CONCLUSIONS: The ministry’s posting policy has to be improved to ensure that family physicians have a chance to perform their intended roles. Creating an environment in which family physicians can function best requires more effort to enlighten other players in the health care system, like colleagues and policy makers, about the roles of family physicians

An online tool for mapping insecticide resistance in major Anopheles vectors of human malaria parasites and review of resistance status for the Afrotropical region

BACKGROUND: Malaria control programmes across Africa and beyond are facing increasing insecticide resistance in the major anopheline vectors. In order to preserve or prolong the effectiveness of the main malaria vector interventions, up-to-date and easily accessible insecticide resistance data that are interpretable at operationally-relevant scales are critical. Herein we introduce and demonstrate the usefulness of an online mapping tool, IR Mapper. METHODS: A systematic search of published, peer-reviewed literature was performed and Anopheles insecticide susceptibility and resistance mechanisms data were extracted and added to a database after a two-level verification process. IR Mapper ( http://www.irmapper.com) was developed using the ArcGIS for JavaScript Application Programming Interface and ArcGIS Online platform for exploration and projection of these data. RESULTS: Literature searches yielded a total of 4,084 susceptibility data points for 1,505 populations, and 2,097 resistance mechanisms data points for 1,000 populations of Anopheles spp. tested via recommended WHO methods from 54 countries between 1954 and 2012. For the Afrotropical region, data were most abundant for populations of An. gambiae, and pyrethroids and DDT were more often used in susceptibility assays (51.1 and 26.8% of all reports, respectively) than carbamates and organophosphates. Between 2001 and 2012, there was a clear increase in prevalence and distribution of confirmed resistance of An. gambiae s.l. to pyrethroids (from 41 to 87% of the mosquito populations tested) and DDT (from 64 to 91%) throughout the Afrotropical region. Metabolic resistance mechanisms were detected in western and eastern African populations and the two kdr mutations (L1014S and L1014F) were widespread. For An. funestus s.l., relatively few populations were tested, although in 2010–2012 resistance was reported in 50% of 10 populations tested. Maps are provided to illustrate the use of IR Mapper and the distribution of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in Africa. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing pyrethroid and DDT resistance in Anopheles in the Afrotropical region is alarming. Urgent attention should be afforded to testing An. funestus populations especially for metabolic resistance mechanisms. IR Mapper is a useful tool for investigating temporal and spatial trends in Anopheles resistance to support the pragmatic use of insecticidal interventions

Replication Data for: Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies from a one-year National Serosurveillance of Kenyan Blood Transfusion Donors

These data contain anonymised residual donor serum samples used for screening of transfusion transmissible infections collected at the KNBTS regional centres which has been used to compute standardised SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence by age, sex and region using KNBS population as the standard population

Agricultural Information Worldwide, vol. 6, 2014

Agricultural Information Worldwide, Volume 6, 2014In this issue: FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK / Jim Morris-Knower (3); Conference Reflections / Antoinette Paris Greider (4). ARTICLES: Keynote Address: The State of Information Literacy Policy: A Global Priority / Sharon Weiner (5); Framing of Climate Change News in Four National Daily Newspapers in Southern Nigeria / Agwu Ekwe Agwu, Chiebonam Justina Amu (11); Access and Use of Information Communication Technologies by Women Staff of Public Extension Service in the North Central Zone of Nigeria / Agwu Ekwe Agwu, Elizabeth Ene Ogbonnah (18); Providing User Preferred Information Resources for a New Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy, Awka, Nigeria / Chinwe V. Anunobi, Andrew U. Ogbonna (25); Diffusion of Scientific Knowledge in Agriculture: The Case for Africa / Shimelis Assefa, Daniel Gelaw Alemneh, Abebe Rorissa (34); The Use of Social Media in Agricultural Research Workflows in Ghana and Kenya / Justin Chisenga, Richard Kedemi, Joel Sam (48); Towards Mobile Agricultural Information Services in Zimbabwean Libraries: Challenges and Opportunities for Small Sacle Farmers in Utilizing ICTs for Sustainable Food Production / Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita, Thembani Malapela (58); Agriculture and Natural Resource Scientists' Biodiversity Information Needs: Barriers and Facilitators to Use and Access in the U.S. Southeast / Miriam L.E. Steiner Davis, Carol Tenopir, Suzie Allard (66); French Agricultural Research Institute Paves the Way to Open Access: Feedback from CIRAD / Marie-Claude Deboin, Cécile Fovet-Rabot (77); Exploring Relevance of Agro Input Dealers in Disseminating and Communicating of Soil Fertility Management Knowledge: The Case of Siaya and Trans Nzoia Counties, Kenya / T. B. Etyang, J. J. Okello, S. Zingore, P. F. Okoth, F. S. Mairura, A. Mureithi, B. S. Waswa (82); Plantwise Knowledge Bank: Building Sustainable Data and Information Processes to Support Plant Clinics in Kenya / Cambria Finegold, MaryLucy Oronje, Margo C. Leach, Teresia Karanja, Florence Chege, Shaun L.A. Hobbs (96); Innovation in Extension Services for Improved Farmer Access to Agricultural Information in Uganda / Patrick Kasangaki (102); Managing a Web Portal Adapting to New Technologies / Soonho Kim, Kathryn Pace Kincheloe, Yuan Gao, Valdete Berisha (107); Library Outreach to University Farm Staff / Emily MacKenzie, Natalie Waters (114); Enhancing Access to Research in Institutional Repositiories through API / Ryan Miller, Indira Yerramareddy (118); Building Capacity of Smallholder Farmers in Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship Skills in Northern Uganda / Basil Mugonola, Callistus Baliddawa (122); The Data Landscpe of the Coral Triangle / Jeanette Norris (127); Agricultural Information Access Among Smallholder Farmers: Comparative Assessment of Peri-Urban and Rural Settings in Kenya / Dorine Odongo (133); From Local to Global: Launching the New Rangelands West Portals and Database / Jeanne L. Pfander, Barbara S. Hutchinson, Valeria Pesce, Matt Rahr (138); Seed Village Programme: An Innovative Approach for Small Farmers / Dheeraj Singh, M. K. Chaudhary, M. L. Meena, M. M. Roy (143); Transformation of Indian Agricultural Libraries in a Digital and Collaborative Era: A Case Study / Neena Singh, Anil Chikate (147); Collaboration for Impact / Indira Yerramareddy, Luz Marina Alvaré, Katarlah Taylor (157