Assessment of Cultural factors Influencing Youth Participation in Community Development Projects in Turkana County-Kenya

The interplay of local and international cultures enhances people’s ability to adapt to external influences of sustainable action that can support sustainable global development programs and processes. Traditionally, Turkana society has well-defined gender roles that appear to contradict inclusive and participatory approaches determined by government projects and interventions. Furthermore, young people are looking for more economic opportunities and more property rights; however, their participation in community development projects remains low compared to that of older people. The study sought to assess the influence of culture ​​on youth participation in community development projects. Data were collected from a sample of 381 respondents using descriptive design research methods. The study revealed that gender roles and hierarchical interpersonal relationships in the local community are major impediments towards community participation in development projects. The author recommends that the central role of youth in participatory planning should be promoted through the creation of enabling environments that would adopt a holistic approach to addressing the political and sociocultural needs of the yout

Influence of Access to Credit on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Turkana Central Sub-County

The role of micro and small-scale enterprises sector in the development process has been at the Centre of Women's Entrepreneurship in Kenya. Women's access to credit has been of concern but studies have not been conclusive creating a need for a study to be done. The purpose of study was to investigate the socioeconomic factors influencing women’s entrepreneurship development in Turkana Central Sub-County. The objectives of the study were to examine how access to credit influences women’s entrepreneurship development. The study was anchored on Liberal Feminist Theories. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The study employed simple random and purposive sampling techniques. The target population was 39,427. Krejcie and Morgan's table of 1970 was utilized to determine a sample size of 380 respondents. A questionnaire and Interview guide were used to collect data. Supervisors and peers from the Department of Social Work and Development studies ascertained validity of the instruments.  10% of the target population was used for the purpose of pilot study to ascertain the reliability of research instruments, by use of Cronbach Alpha, which was r=> 0.7. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis whereby qualitative data was grouped together, organized into emerging themes and reported. Findings were presented using frequency distribution tables. The findings of this study indicate that 80% of the respondents agreed that women entrepreneurs were facing challenges in accessing credit. The study concluded that access to credit, has an influence on women entrepreneurship development. The study recommends that the government should enhance women entrepreneurs access credit. The findings are useful to the national government, county government, financial institutions and the community in terms of policy formulation in promoting women’s entrepreneurship developmen

Effectiveness of monovalent rotavirus vaccine against hospitalization with acute rotavirus gastroenteritis in Kenyan children

Rotavirus remains a leading cause of diarrheal illness and death among children worldwide. Data on rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. Kenya introduced monovalent rotavirus vaccine (RV1) in July 2014. We assessed RV1 effectiveness against rotavirus-associated hospitalization in Kenyan children. Between July-2014 and December-2017, we conducted surveillance for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in three hospitals across Kenya. We analysed data from children age-eligible for ≥1 RV1 dose, with stool tested for rotavirus and confirmed vaccination history. We compared RV1 coverage among those who tested rotavirus-positive (cases) versus rotavirus-negative (controls) using multivariable logistic regression; effectiveness was 1-adjusted odds ratio for vaccination x100%. Among 677 eligible children, 110 (16%) were rotavirus-positive. Vaccination data were available for 91 (83%) cases; 51 (56%) had received 2 RV1 doses and 33 (36%) 0 doses. Among 567 controls, 418 (74%) had vaccination data; 308 (74%) had 2 doses and 69 (16%) 0 doses. Overall 2-dose effectiveness was 64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35-80%); for children aged <12 months 67% (95%CI: 30-84%) and children aged ≥12 months 72% (95%CI: 10-91%). Significant effectiveness was seen in children with normal weight-for-age (84% [95%CI: 62-93%]), length/height-for-age (75% [95%CI: 48-88%]) and weight-for-length/height (84% [95%CI: 64-93%]); however, no protection was found among underweight, stunted nor wasted children. RV1 in the routine Kenyan immunization program provides significant protection against rotavirus AGE hospitalization. Protection was sustained beyond infancy. Malnutrition appears to diminish vaccine effectiveness. Efforts to improve rotavirus vaccine uptake and nutritional status are important to maximize vaccine benefit. [Abstract copyright: © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Comprehensive transcriptome of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca, from multiple tissue types, developmental stages, and parasitoid wasp exposures

International audienc

BREATHER Plus clinical trial design: A randomised non-inferiority trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and acceptability of short cycle (five days on, two days off) dolutegravir/tenofovir-based triple antiretroviral therapy (ART) compared to daily ART in virologically suppressed adolescents living with HIV aged 12 to <20 years in sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Novel strategies to improve ART adherence, retention in care and quality of life among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are needed. Short-Cycle Therapy (SCT) with 4/5 sequential days on ART, 2/3 days off ART per week has shown non-inferior virological outcomes and high acceptability, but most data are in adults and are very limited for dolutegravir (DTG)-based SCT. Methods: BREATHER Plus is an ongoing 96-week non-inferiority randomised trial evaluating efficacy, safety and acceptability of SCT (5 sequential days on, 2 days off at the weekend) with DTG/tenofovir (TNV)-based triple ART versus continuous (daily) therapy (CT) in ALHIV. Participants are aged 12 to <20 years in Kenya/South Africa/Uganda/Zimbabwe, virologically suppressed (Viral Load (VL) <50copies/mL) for ≥12 months at enrollment, with no prior treatment failure. Randomisation is 1:1 to SCT versus CT. VL monitoring for clinical management is 6–12 monthly aligning with standard-of-care. The primary outcome is confirmed virological rebound ≥50 copies/mL by 96 weeks. The trial employs the Smooth Away From Expected (SAFE) non-inferiority frontier, where the non-inferiority margin depends on the observed event risk in the CT arm. Secondary outcomes include HIV resistance, toxicities, patient-reported outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Enrolment of 470 participants completed in June 2023. Discussion: BREATHER Plus is the first randomised trial specifically evaluating DTG/TNV-triple based SCT. Rapid roll-out of DTG and a pragmatic approach to VL monitoring mean results will be generalisable to ALHIV across sub-Saharan Africa. If SCT provides non-inferior virological suppression to CT, it may offer choice for ALHIV on how they take their ART

Assessment of Cultural factors Influencing Youth Participation in Community Development Projects in Turkana County-Kenya

The interplay of local and international cultures enhances people’s ability to adapt to external influences of sustainable action that can support sustainable global development programs and processes. Traditionally, Turkana society has well-defined gender roles that appear to contradict inclusive and participatory approaches determined by government projects and interventions. Furthermore, young people are looking for more economic opportunities and more property rights; however, their participation in community development projects remains low compared to that of older people. The study sought to assess the influence of culture ​​on youth participation in community development projects. Data were collected from a sample of 381 respondents using descriptive design research methods. The study revealed that gender roles and hierarchical interpersonal relationships in the local community are major impediments towards community participation in development projects. The author recommends that the central role of youth in participatory planning should be promoted through the creation of enabling environments that would adopt a holistic approach to addressing the political and sociocultural needs of the youth</jats:p

Evaluating Respondents’ Reactions to the Daily Nation’s Peace Messages in the Run-up to the 2013 Elections in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to evaluate respondents' reactions to the messages that called for peace from the Daily Nation newspaper in the run-up to the 2013 elections in Kenya. The study relied on descriptive research design, which is a design in qualitative research and premised on Agenda Setting theory by McCombs and Donald Shaw. The study population consisted of respondents from four marked newspaper-vending points within Nakuru town and the selected contents from the Nation newspapers. These newspapers carried messages advocating for peace between the periods of February and April 2013. Purposive sampling was used to choose newspaper contents with peace messages and to select newspaper readers in Nakuru town. Focused Group Discussions and Interviews were used as research instruments. Content and textual analysis was the primary form of data analysis in the study. Research findings showed that Nation newspapers carried peace messages in news and feature stories, editorials, opinion and advertisements. The conclusions of the study show that although media experts and scholars accused the media of ‘indulging’ in peace advocacy and forgetting their watchdog role, the respondents praised the role media played in ensuring after the poll calm, peaceful coexistence and tolerance.</jats:p

Examining the Perceptions of Readers on the Contribution of the Daily Nation’s Peace Messages to the 2013 Elections in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of readers on the contribution of the Daily Nation’s peace messages to the 2013 elections in Kenya. The study relied on descriptive research design, which is a design in qualitative research and premised on Agenda Setting theory by Mc Combs and Donald Shaw. The study population consisted of respondents from four marked newspaper-vending points within Nakuru town and the selected contents from the Nation newspapers. These newspapers carried messages advocating for peace between the periods of February and April 2013. Purposive sampling was used to choose newspaper contents with peace messages and to select newspaper readers in Nakuru town. Focused Group Discussions and Interviews were used as research instruments. Content and textual analysis was the primary form of data analysis in the study. Research findings showed that Nation newspapers carried peace messages in news and feature stories, editorials, opinion and advertisements. The conclusions of the study show that although media experts and scholars accused the media of ‘indulging' in peace advocacy and forgetting their watchdog role, the respondents praised the role media played in ensuring after-poll calm, peaceful coexistence and tolerance.</jats:p

An Assessment of Rural Youth Participation in Community Development Projects in Turkana South Sub-County: An Approach to Community Development and Sustainable Development

The integration of local and international cultures enhances people’s ability to adapt to external influences of sustainable aid and sustainable development programs and processes. The study was conducted in Turkana, where government intervention on projects was made with deliberate efforts to implement inclusive development projects. Traditionally Turkana society has well-defined gender roles that appear to contradict inclusive and participatory approaches determined by government projects and interventions. The study sought to establish a legitimate influence on youth participation and to assess the impact of cultural norms on youth participation in community projects. The study used a descriptive design and targeted 47,359 young people. The study used Krejecie and Morgan’s table and an equally divided sample procedure to obtain a sample of 381 respondents in the study. Research has shown that educated youth will speak well and seek citizenship, and show that the standard of formal education is negatively correlated (-0251) with youth participation in project planning and community development projects (-0.094) respectively, barriers to youth participation in project planning are not limited to learning and training. Therefore political, institutional, financial and technical factors played out in determining whose voice is heard and which decisions are acceptable. There was an inconsistent balance (-0.109) between gender roles and participation in community project planning meetings and gender issues consideration in community projects, respectively. A negative correlation (-0.14) between age and meeting planning has been revealed which means that the patriarchal values ​​system in rural areas favours gender roles and traditional cultural practices ​​that oppose the development, advancement and participation of women in community development.</jats:p