Multiple drug resistance Staphylococcus aureus isolated in foods of animal origin in Nairobi, Kenya

Background: StaphylococcuS. aureus is the most important agent, which is known to cause a wide range of diseases in both human and animals. Extended use and misuse of antibiotics in agriculture, stock farming and in the treatment of human diseases, has contributed to the rapid increase of the number of bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobial agents.Objective: To determine the occurrence of S. aureus in foods of animal origin and their reactions to commonly used antibiotic.Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study.Setting: Central Business District of Nairobi (CBDN) and its environment.Subject: Samples of meat (n=280) and dairy products (n=140) were randomly purchased from various butcheries and supermarkets. Additional 251 samples of various pork products were also collected randomly from a nearby pig processing plant for comparison purposes. Baird-Parker agar with 2% egg yolk tellurite emulsion was used as growth medium for isolation of S. aureus. The typical culture confirmed positive of S. aureus were tested for antibiotic susceptibility to eight commonly used antibiotics using the disc diffusion method.Result: Occurrence of S. aureus was 36.2% (152/420) and 39.4% (99/251) from the food outlets and meat processing factory respectively. Proportions of contamination from the two sources were not significantly different (p=0.400). Significantly, more contamination was observed in meat products (40.7%) compared to dairy products (25.0%) (p=0.001). Penicilin G (246; 99.6%) was the most resisted antibiotic followed by Ampicillin (230; 93.1).Conclusion: The results of this study confirms that multi antibiotics resistant S. aureus strains are present not only in hospital setups, but also widespread in foods of animal origin

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION: HIGHER EDUCATION, SMALL MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES GROWTH AND THE FIVE (I) TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL IN KENYA

In Less Developed Countries (LDCs), most graduates from higher institutions learning are absorbed in the informal sector and/or micro and small enterprises. Knowledge development through training, research and experiential learning may lead to creating or discovering new knowledge/technology or creating new value by applying knowledge/technology to societal or business challenges. While the Small Manufacturing Enterprises (SMEs) do not have the capacity to develop knowledge through Research and Development (R&D), it is not clear how universities and institutions of higher learning should help bridge this gap. There is need to develop strategies that enhance acquisition and development of technologies among SMEs in LDCs that in turn makes them competitive in the global market. This paper explores the five (i)s Importation, Imitation, Improvement, Innovation and invention in technology acquisition and development by SMEs and the role played by institutions of higher learning in Kenya. The discourse is informed by primary data collected from 137 SME owner/managers sampled from five (5) municipalities in Kenya and tested using the production function theory that seeks to establish interrelationships between the variables technology Importation, Imitation, Improvement, Innovation and Invention among SMEs in Kenya and the extent to which they influence enterprise growth. Real life Cases are used to illustrate this discourse. The paper establishes significant relationships and concludes that for Kenya and other LDCs to become knowledge based economies, SMEs have to be looped in through empowerment and capacity building, roles universities and institutions of higher learning should brace themselves to undertake. For the SMEs to be innovative and technologically savvy, the five (i) model would come in handy. The government support policies should facilitate the models application and use

Prevalence and factors associated with unmet need for menstrual hygiene management in six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis

Background Menstruation is a normal biological process experienced by more than 300 million women globally every day. Women require clean menstrual absorbents that can be changed as often as needed in a private and safe place with proper hygiene and disposal facilities. These needs must be met consistently throughout the duration of the menstrual cycle. Access to menstrual needs is crucial for women’s health, wellbeing, and dignity. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with unmet need for menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger. Methods We used data from the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) 2020 surveys. We defined the unmet need for MHM as the “lackof resources, facilities and supplies for MHM.” Sample characteristics were summarised using frequencies and percentages, while prevalence was summarised using proportions and their respective confidence intervals (CI). Factors associated with unmet need for MHM were assessed using multilevel logistic regression models. Results The study included 18,048 women of reproductive age from the six countries. The prevalence of unmet need for MHM was highest in Burkina Faso (74.8%), followed by Ethiopia (69.9%), Uganda (65.2%), Niger (57.8%), Kenya (53.5%), and lowest in Ghana (34.2%). Unmet need for MHM was consistently higher among uneducated and multiparous women, those who reused MHM materials, practiced open defecation, and lived in rural areas across all six countries. The odds of unmet need for MHM were higher among younger women under 35 years, unmarried women, those with lower education levels, and those from poorer households. Similarly, the reuse of MHM materials, use of shared or non-improved toilet facilities, and open defecation increased the odds of unmet need for MHM. In contrast, the presence of handwashing facilities reduced the odds of unmet need for MHM. Conclusion More than half of the women in five of the six countries have an unmet need for MHM, with significantly higher odds among younger women, those with low wealth status, the unmarried, and those with inadequate access to sanitary facilities. This study highlights the state of period poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Efforts to end period poverty should consider MHM needs as an integrated whole, as addressing each need in isolation is insufficient

Analysis of Farmers’ Perceptions of the Effects of Climate Change in Kenya: the Case of Kyuso District

A cross-sectional analysis was carried out to evaluate how farmers in Kyuso District have perceived climate change. Data was collected from 246 farmers from six locations sampled out through a multistage and simple random sampling procedure. The logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of climate change. The analysis revealed that 94% of farmers in Kyuso District had a perception that climate was changing.  In this regard, age of the household head, gender, education, farming experience, household size, distance to the nearest input/output market, access to irrigation water, local agro-ecology, access to information on climate change, access to extension services, off farm income and change in temperature and precipitation were found to have significant influence on the probability of farmers to perceive climate change. Since the level of perception to climate change revealed by the study was found to be high (94%), the study suggests that more policy efforts should thus be geared towards helping farmers to adapt to climate change. Key words: Climate change, Perceptions, Logistic regression, Kyuso District

Assessment of Farmers’ Adaptation to the Effects of Climate Change in Kenya: the Case of Kyuso District

The study was carried out to assess how farmers in Kyuso District have adapted to the effects of climate change. Survey data was collected from 246 farmers from six locations that were sampled out through a multistage and simple random sampling procedure. The probit regression model was fitted into the data in order to assess factors influencing farmers’ adaptation to the effects of climate change. The analysis revealed that 85% of the farmers had adapted in various ways to the effects of climate change. In this regard, the age of the farmer, gender, education, farming experience, farm income, access to climate information, household size, local agro-ecology, distance to input/output market, access to credit, access to water for irrigation, precipitation and temperature were found to have significant influence on the probability of farmers to adapt to climate change. The study suggests that more policy efforts should thus be geared towards helping all the farmers in the district to adapt to climate change. Key words: climate change, adaptation, probit regression model, Kyuso District

Maxillary incisor root forms in orthodontic patients in Nairobi, Kenya

Objective:To evaluate, radiographically, the root forms of maxillary incisors in a sample of patients seeking orthodontic treatment in Nairobi, Kenya. Design:A retrospective study of maxillary incisor root forms based on periapical radiographs. Setting: A private dental clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. Materials and Methods:The study comprised 393 maxillary incisors in 100 consecutive subjects (51 boys, 49 girls) aged 9-24 years. Intra-oral periapical radiographs of the incisors were evaluated. An index was used to categorise the roots as follows: 0=normal, 1=short, 2-blunt, 3=apical bend, 4=pippete apex. Results:Normal root form was recorded in 60%, short in 12.5%, blunt in 7%, apicalbend in 13%, and pippete-apex in 7% of the roots. Sixty nine percent of the pippeteapex roots were in central incisors and 94% of the roots with apical bend were in lateral incisors. Seventy three percent of short roots were in females. Conclusion:Based on evidence from previous studies on risk of root resorption which indicates that pipette and blunt roots are the forms mostly involved in this phenomenon, the present data imply that about 14% of the roots may have been at risk of moderate to severe resorption during fixed orthodontic treatment. (East African Medical Journal: 2003 80(2): 101-104

AWARENESS AND CONCERN ABOUT MALOCCLUSION AMONG 12-15 YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN MOSHI, TANZANIA

Objective: To assess awareness and concern about malocclusion in 12-15 year-olds in Moshi, Tanzania.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: Moshi Municipality in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.Subjects: Two hundred and ninety eight randomly selected Public primary school children aged 12-15 years (158 males and 140 females).Results: About 56% of the respondents thought their teeth were properly aligned. However only 29.1% of the respondents reported being dissatisfied with the way their teeth appeared in their mouth. About 25% of the respondents found their teeth to have been worse than most of their agemates.Children who reported to have been teased due to their malocclusion comprised 25.8%. Those who thought it was unpleasant to stay with malaligned teeth constituted 55.7% of the respondents. Subjective orthodontic treatment need was reported by 69.1% of the sample. Majority of the children (75%) were ready to accept orthodontic treatment. There were significant correlations between factors of awareness and those of concern about malocclusion among the subjects.Conclusions: In spite of very little orthodontic treatment exposure in this population, awareness and concern about malocclusion was reported by a significant proportion of the children. These findings form a baseline line for future studies on the trends of awareness and concern towards malocclusion in this population. They will also be useful in the planning of orthodontic services in Tanzania

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT NEEDS AMONG 12-15 YEAR-OLDS IN MOSHI, TANZANIA

ABSTRACTObjective: To assess malocclusion and orthodontic treatment needs among 12-15-year-olds in Moshimunicipality, Tanzania.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: Moshi municipality, Tanzania.Subjects: Two hundred and eighty nine randomly selected primary school children in Moshimunicipality in the year 2003.Results: Maxillary median diastema occurred in 20.1% of the children. Crowding and spacing inthe incisor segments occurred in 41.2% and 28.4% respectively with significantly more crowdingin males than in females (p = 0.009). Anterior irregularities occurred in 46% of the sample in themaxilla and 51.6% in the mandible. These irregularities were significantly more common in thefemales than in males in the maxilla and mandible (p=0.014, p=0.037 respectively). Reverse overjetwas extremely rare (0.3%). Anterior openbite and antero-posterior molar relation discrepanciesoccurred in 6.2% and 32.5% of the sample, respectively. Crowding, irregularities in the incisorsegments and antero-posterior molar relation discrepancies were dominant malocclusion traitsin this population. The sample mean DAI score was 24.6 points (CI 95% 23.86–25.36). There wasno statistically significant gender difference of DAI scores (p = 0.473). About 65% of the subjectshad either no need or had slight need for treatment whereas 35.3% were found with orthodontictreatment needs ranging from elective (21.5%), highly desirable (6.9%) to mandatory (6.9%).There was no significant gender difference in the categories of treatment need (p = 0.942). Unmetorthodontic treatment needs were present in this population with a very small proportion ofsubjects exhibiting handicapping malocclusion.Conclusion: The information from this study forms part of the basis not only for further research,but also for planning orthodontic care in this community where unmet orthodontic treatmentneeds are present