Impact of five years of peer-mediated interventions on sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since 2000, peer-mediated interventions among female sex workers (FSW) in Mombasa Kenya have promoted behavioural change through improving knowledge, attitudes and awareness of HIV serostatus, and aimed to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infection (STI) by facilitating early STI treatment. Impact of these interventions was evaluated among those who attended peer education and at the FSW population level.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A pre-intervention survey in 2000, recruited 503 FSW using snowball sampling. Thereafter, peer educators provided STI/HIV education, condoms, and facilitated HIV testing, treatment and care services. In 2005, data were collected using identical survey methods, allowing comparison with historical controls, and between FSW who had or had not received peer interventions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over five years, sex work became predominately a full-time activity, with increased mean sexual partners (2.8 versus 4.9/week; <it>P </it>< 0.001). Consistent condom use with clients increased from 28.8% (145/503) to 70.4% (356/506; <it>P </it>< 0.001) as well as the likelihood of refusing clients who were unwilling to use condoms (OR = 4.9, 95%CI = 3.7–6.6). In 2005, FSW who received peer interventions (28.7%, 145/506), had more consistent condom use with clients compared with unexposed FSW (86.2% versus 64.0%; AOR = 3.6, 95%CI = 2.1–6.1). These differences were larger among FSW with greater peer-intervention exposure. HIV prevalence was 25% (17/69) in FSW attending ≥ 4 peer-education sessions, compared with 34% (25/73) in those attending 1–3 sessions (P = 0.21). Overall HIV prevalence was 30.6 (151/493) in 2000 and 33.3% (166/498) in 2005 (<it>P </it>= 0.36).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Peer-mediated interventions were associated with an increase in protected sex. Though peer-mediated interventions remain important, higher coverage is needed and more efficacious interventions to reduce overall vulnerability and risk.</p

Introduction and evaluation of improved banana cultivars for agronomic and yield characteristics in Kenya

Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most important food and cash crops in Kenya. However, most of the cultivars grown particulary the local ones are low yielders and are thus not very suitable for commercial production. To address this constraint, a study was conducted at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Thika to evaluate introduced improved cultivars for agronomic and yield characteristics. The study involved six FHIA and four Cavendish type of bananas obtained from Bioversity International. Different growth and yield parameters werecollected for the first, second and third crop cycles. Cultivar SH3436-9 took the longest time to reach the shooting stage, while SH3640 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 took the longest time from shooting stage tomaturity, while FHIA 23 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 had the highest bunch weight in the first and third crop cycles, while FHIA 17 had the highest weight in the second crop cycle. Overall, GCTCV-119 produced the smallest bunch. For finger length, FHIA 21 and FHIA 25 led in the first and second crop cycle, respectively. Cultivars FHIA 17, FHIA 18 and FHIA 25 were identified as the most promising for commercial production, but further evaluation is required in other zones to establish whether this impressive performances would be sustained

Introduction And Evaluation Of Improved Banana Cultivars For Agronomic And Yield Characteristics In Kenya

Banana ( Musa spp.) is one of the most important food and cash crops in Kenya. However, most of the cultivars grown particulary the local ones are low yielders and are thus not very suitable for commercial production. To address this constraint, a study was conducted at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Thika to evaluate introduced improved cultivars for agronomic and yield characteristics. The study involved six FHIA and four Cavendish type of bananas obtained from Bioversity International. Different growth and yield parameters were collected for the first, second and third crop cycles. Cultivar SH3436-9 took the longest time to reach the shooting stage, while SH3640 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 took the longest time from shooting stage to maturity, while FHIA 23 took the shortest time. FHIA 25 had the highest bunch weight in the first and third crop cycles, while FHIA 17 had the highest weight in the second crop cycle. Overall, GCTCV-119 produced the smallest bunch. For finger length, FHIA 21 and FHIA 25 led in the first and second crop cycle, respectively. Cultivars FHIA 17, FHIA 18 and FHIA 25 were identified as the most promising for commercial production, but further evaluation is required in other zones to establish whether this impressive performances would be sustained.La banane ( Musa spp). Est l&apos;une des nourriture les plus importantes et de production des revenus au Kenya. Cependant, la plupart des cultivars dévéloppées particulièrement local est moins productitif et est moins convenable pour la production commerciale. Pour adresser cette contrainte, une étude a été dirigée à Institut de Recherche Agricole au Kenya, Thika pour évaluer des cultivars améliorés introduits pour les caractéristiques agronomique et de rendement. L&apos;étude a impliqué six FHIA et quatre types de bananes Cavendish obtenues d&apos;INIBAP. Les différentes croissances et nivequx de rendement ont été recueillis pour les premiers deuxièmes et troisièmes cycles de récolte. Le cultivar SH3436-9 a pris le temps le plus long pour atteindre l&apos;étape de l&apos;emergence de rejetons, pendant que SH3640 a pris le temps le plus court. FHIA 25 ont pris le temps le plus long concernant l&apos;emergence de rejetons d&apos;étape à l&apos;échéance, pendant que FHIA 23 a pris le temps le plus court. FHIA 25 a eu le regime de plus haut poids dans le premier et troisième cycle de récolte, pendant que FHIA 17 a eu le poids le plus haut dans le deuxième cycle de récolte. En général, GCTCV-119 a produit le plus petit regime. Pour la longueur de doigts des bananes, FHIA 21 et FHIA 25 ont respectivement mené dans le premier et deuxième cycle de récolte. Les cultivars FHIA 17, FHIA 18 et FHIA 25 ont été identifiés comme le plus promettant pour la production commerciale, mais l&apos;évaluation plus poussée est recmmandée dans les autres zones pour établir si ces performances impressionnantes seraient soutenues