Citizen science characterization of meanings of toponyms of Kenya: a shared heritage

This paper examines the toponymic heritage used in Kenya’s Authoritative Geographic Information (AGI) toponyms database of 26,600 gazetteer records through documentation and characterization of meanings of place names in topographic mapping. A comparison was carried out between AGI and GeoNames and between AGI and OpenStreetMap (OSM) volunteered records. A total of 15,000 toponymic matchings were found. Out of these, 1567 toponyms were then extracted for further scrutiny using AGI data in the historical records and from respondents on toponyms’ meanings. Experts in toponymy assisted in verifying these data. From the questionnaire responses, 235 names occurred in more than one place while AGI data had 284. The elements used to characterize the toponyms included historical perceptions of heritage evident in toponyms in their localities, ethnographic, toponymical and morphology studies on Kenya's dialects. There was no significant relationship established between the same place name usages among dialects as indicated by a positive weak correlation r (438), = 0.166, p < 0.001 based on the effect of using the related places and the distance between related places. The weak correlation implies that the one name one place principle does not apply due to diverse language boundaries, strong bonds associated with historical toponyms in the form of heritage and significant variations on how names resist changes to preserve their heritage

An open-source framework for publishing geographical names – A case study of Kenya

Az önkéntes földrajzi adatok (volunteered geographic information, VGI) mára egy jelentős erőforrássá váltak, amelyek szabadon elérhetők a világhálón. Közösségi alapú projektként óriási az alkalmazási potenciáljuk a földrajzinév-tárak fejlesztésében, alkalmazásukkal kis költséggel lehet akár a hivatalos nemzeti térképműveket is naprakészen tartani. Jelen cikk célja egy nyílt forráskódú keretrendszer segítségével fejlesztett digitális földrajzinévtárszolgáltatás bemutatása, amelyet egy webes és mobilalkalmazás támogat. A szerzők létrehoztak egy, a Django keretrendszeren alapuló szolgáltatást, mely egy PostgreSQL adatbázisban tárolja az összegyűjtött adatokat. A webes és a mobilalkalmazás összekapcsolása az adatbázissal, a gyűjtött adatok feltöltése egy REST végponton keresztül valósul meg. A földrajzinévtár-szolgáltatás különféle térképi vizualizációs eszközöket kínál a helynevek és a köztük lévő kapcsolatok bemutatására a szöveges korpusz alapján. A szolgáltatás testre szabható bármely földrajzi területen történő használatra a konfiguráció megfelelő beállításával, és az engedélyezett adatmennyiség és a szolgáltatási hitelesítők számkorlátozásának feloldásával, beleértve a funkcionalitás növelését. A névtár-keretrendszer tesztpéldányát az elérhető kenyai földrajzi nevekkel feltöltve és tesztelve az eredmények és a rendszer teljesítménye átlagon felüli eredményeket mutatnak a névtár-bejegyzések frissítése, az információk térképi megjelenítése és földrajzinév-örökség megőrzésének területén. A Django API keretrendszer összes kódfájlja és kódkonfigurációja elérhető az Atlassian online tárhelyen

Performance Evaluation of Land Administration System (LAS) of Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya

This paper aims to evaluate the internal processes of the current land administration in Kenya based on the following parameters that include ownerships, transactions, transfers, inquiries, public records of maps as attributes, issues, and customer satisfaction using stakeholder surveys and focused group discussions. A framework tool was developed for evaluation and shared with potential respondents who were either clients or staff working at the Ministry of Lands to obtain an overview of the performance of the documentation and registration processes of the land administration system (LAS). Data collected were processed and analysed using SPSS 26. To ascertain data reliability, the Cronbach’s alpha test was performed, and a coefficient of 0.908 was calculated, which indicated the presence of high internal consistency of the questions and relevance of the study subjects for the participants. The findings revealed the presence of emerging issues where an average of approximately 28% of clients do not have an idea of land registration transactions. In addition, in Kenya, similarly to other national mapping agencies in the developing world, pre-independence laws have begun, which need to be upscaled or revised to sustain and effectively address issues noted on land administration and policy

Performance Evaluation of Land Administration System (LAS) of Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya

This paper aims to evaluate the internal processes of the current land administration in Kenya based on the following parameters that include ownerships, transactions, transfers, inquiries, public records of maps as attributes, issues, and customer satisfaction using stakeholder surveys and focused group discussions. A framework tool was developed for evaluation and shared with potential respondents who were either clients or staff working at the Ministry of Lands to obtain an overview of the performance of the documentation and registration processes of the land administration system (LAS). Data collected were processed and analysed using SPSS 26. To ascertain data reliability, the Cronbach&rsquo;s alpha test was performed, and a coefficient of 0.908 was calculated, which indicated the presence of high internal consistency of the questions and relevance of the study subjects for the participants. The findings revealed the presence of emerging issues where an average of approximately 28% of clients do not have an idea of land registration transactions. In addition, in Kenya, similarly to other national mapping agencies in the developing world, pre-independence laws have begun, which need to be upscaled or revised to sustain and effectively address issues noted on land administration and policy

Kilifi Malaria Longitudinal Cohort cross-sectional survey and weekly-follow-up surveillance data for the estimation of parasite prevalence and factors associated with gametocyte carriage

Data from a longitudinally monitored cohort of children from Kilifi county located along the Kenyan coast collected between 1998-2016 were analysed to describe the distribution and prevalence of gametocytaemia in relation to transmission intensity, time and age. The datasets comprise data from cross-sectional surveys and weekly follow-up visits carried out within the Kilifi Malaria Longitudinal Cohort based in Kilifi County, Kenya on children aged between 0 – 15 years. The datasets were used to carry out analyses aimed at describing the prevalence of gametocyte carriage in this cohort as well as factors that predispose gametocyte carriage. The overall aim of the analyses was to identify prognostic indicators of populations contributing disproportionately to the infectious reservoir of malaria

Simplifying the ShangRing technique for circumcision in boys and men: Use of the no-flip technique with randomization to removal at 7 days versus spontaneous detachment

To assess safety of the no-flip ShangRing male circumcision technique and to determine clinical course and safety of spontaneous detachment (i.e., allowing the device to fall off), we conducted a case series of no-flip ShangRing circumcision combined with a randomized controlled trial of removal 7 days postcircumcision versus spontaneous detachment at two health facilities in Kenya. The primary outcome was the safety of the no-flip technique based on moderate and severe adverse events (AEs) during the procedure and through 42-day follow-up. A main secondary outcome was clinical course and safety of spontaneous detachment. Two hundred and thirty males 10 years and older underwent no-flip circumcision; 114 randomized to 7-day removal and 116 to spontaneous detachment. All circumcisions were successfully completed. Overall 5.3% (6/114) of participants in the 7-day group and 1.7% (2/116) in the spontaneous group had an AE; with no differences when compared to the 3% AE rate in historical data from African studies using the original flip technique (P = 0.07 and P = 0.79, respectively). Overall 72.4% (84/116) of participants in the spontaneous group wore the ShangRing until it detached. Among the remaining (27.6%; 32/116), the ring was removed, primarily at the participants\u27 request, due to pain or discomfort. There was no difference in AE rates (P = 0.169), visit day declared healed (P = 0.324), or satisfaction (P = 0.371) between randomization groups. The median time to detachment was 14.0 (IQR: 7–21, range: 5–35) days. The no-flip technique and spontaneous detachment are safe, effective, and acceptable to boys and men 10 years and older. Phimosis and penile adhesions do not limit successful ShangRing circumcision with the no-flip technique. See also: Wang, Yi-Fei. Commentary on “Simplifying the ShangRing technique for circumcision in boys and men: Use of the no-flip technique with randomization to removal at 7 days versus spontaneous detachment.” Asian Journal of Andrology 21(4):423-424. Available from: http://www.ajandrology.com/text.asp?2019/21/4/423/25815

Kilifi Malaria Longitudinal Cohort cross-sectional survey and weekly-follow-up surveillance data for the estimation of parasite prevalence and factors associated with gametocyte carriage.

Data from a longitudinally monitored cohort of children from Kilifi county located along the Kenyan coast collected between 1998-2016 were analysed to describe the distribution and prevalence of gametocytaemia in relation to transmission intensity, time and age. The datasets comprise data from cross-sectional surveys and weekly follow-up visits carried out within the Kilifi Malaria Longitudinal Cohort based in Kilifi County, Kenya on children aged between 0 – 15 years. The datasets were used to carry out analyses aimed at describing the prevalence of gametocyte carriage in this cohort as well as factors that predispose gametocyte carriage. The overall aim of the analyses was to identify prognostic indicators of populations contributing disproportionately to the infectious reservoir of malaria. </p

Use of topical versus injectable anaesthesia for ShangRing circumcisions in men and boys in Kenya: Results from a randomized controlled trial

Background: The ShangRing is a disposable, collar clamp circumcision device pre-qualified for use in men and boys 13 years and above. It has been shown to be faster than conventional circumcision with comparable adverse event (AE) rates and high client satisfaction. Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of HIV acquisition in males. However, the fear of pain during circumcision is an important barrier to uptake. Use of topical anesthesia thus presents an opportunity to address this. Objectives: We sought to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and acceptability of the use of topical anaesthesia with ShangRing circumcision of men and boys 10 years of age and above. Methods: Participants were randomised 2:1 to receive topical or injectable anaesthesia. All participants underwent no-flip ShangRing circumcision. The primary outcome measure was pain. Secondary outcomes included ease of use of topical versus injectable anaesthesia, AEs and participant satisfaction. Results: Compared to the topical group, participants in the injectable group reported significantly more pain on administration of the anesthesia and at approximately 20 minutes after the procedure. In the topical group, sufficient anaesthesia with topical cream was not achieved in 21 (9.3%) cases before the start of the procedure; in another 6 (2.6%), supplementary injectable anaesthesia was required as the circumcision was being carried out. The AE rate was significantly lower (p \u3c 0.01) in the topical (0%) vs. the injectable group (4.2%). The most common AE was pain during the post-operative period. All AEs were managed conservatively and resolved without sequeale. 96.7% of participants were satisfied with the appearance of the healed penis and 100% would recommend the ShangRing to others. All seven male circumcision providers involved in the study preferred topical to injectable anaesthesia. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the safety, improved clinical experience, effectiveness, and acceptability of the use of topical anaesthesia in ShangRing circumcision using the no-flip technique. Topical anaesthesia effectively eliminates needlestick pain from the clients’ VMMC experience and thus has the potential to increase demand for the service

Enhanced infection prophylaxis reduces mortality in severely immunosuppressed HIV-infected adults and older children initiating antiretroviral therapy in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe: the REALITY trial

Meeting abstract FRAB0101LB from 21st International AIDS Conference 18–22 July 2016, Durban, South Africa. Introduction: Mortality from infections is high in the first 6 months of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease in sub‐Saharan Africa. Whether an enhanced package of infection prophylaxis at ART initiation would reduce mortality is unknown. Methods: The REALITY 2×2×2 factorial open‐label trial (ISRCTN43622374) randomized ART‐naïve HIV‐infected adults and children >5 years with CD4 <100 cells/mm3. This randomization compared initiating ART with enhanced prophylaxis (continuous cotrimoxazole plus 12 weeks isoniazid/pyridoxine (anti‐tuberculosis) and fluconazole (anti‐cryptococcal/candida), 5 days azithromycin (anti‐bacterial/protozoal) and single‐dose albendazole (anti‐helminth)), versus standard‐of‐care cotrimoxazole. Isoniazid/pyridoxine/cotrimoxazole was formulated as a scored fixed‐dose combination. Two other randomizations investigated 12‐week adjunctive raltegravir or supplementary food. The primary endpoint was 24‐week mortality. Results: 1805 eligible adults (n = 1733; 96.0%) and children/adolescents (n = 72; 4.0%) (median 36 years; 53.2% male) were randomized to enhanced (n = 906) or standard prophylaxis (n = 899) and followed for 48 weeks (3.8% loss‐to‐follow‐up). Median baseline CD4 was 36 cells/mm3 (IQR: 16–62) but 47.3% were WHO Stage 1/2. 80 (8.9%) enhanced versus 108(12.2%) standard prophylaxis died before 24 weeks (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.54–0.97) p = 0.03; Figure 1) and 98(11.0%) versus 127(14.4%) respectively died before 48 weeks (aHR = 0.75 (0.58–0.98) p = 0.04), with no evidence of interaction with the two other randomizations (p > 0.8). Enhanced prophylaxis significantly reduced incidence of tuberculosis (p = 0.02), cryptococcal disease (p = 0.01), oral/oesophageal candidiasis (p = 0.02), deaths of unknown cause (p = 0.02) and (marginally) hospitalisations (p = 0.06) but not presumed severe bacterial infections (p = 0.38). Serious and grade 4 adverse events were marginally less common with enhanced prophylaxis (p = 0.06). CD4 increases and VL suppression were similar between groups (p > 0.2). Conclusions: Enhanced infection prophylaxis at ART initiation reduces early mortality by 25% among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease. The pill burden did not adversely affect VL suppression. Policy makers should consider adopting and implementing this low‐cost broad infection prevention package which could save 3.3 lives for every 100 individuals treated